Paul Sethi

Paul Sethi is a prominent early-stage venture capitalist based in New York, best known as a co-founder and Managing Partner at 2048 Ventures. This firm focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments, primarily targeting B2B software companies across various sectors, including SaaS, AI/ML, developer tools, fintech, healthcare IT, and deep tech. Sethi's investment philosophy at 2048 Ventures emphasizes backing technical founders who are building innovative solutions for complex problems. The firm is known for its hands-on approach, providing strategic guidance and operational support to its portfolio companies beyond just capital.

Under Sethi's leadership, 2048 Ventures has demonstrated significant growth in its fund sizes, reflecting increasing investor confidence and an expanding investment capacity. The firm successfully raised its inaugural fund, Fund I, at $27 million, which was announced in 2019. This was followed by a $50 million Fund II in 2021, and most recently, a $75 million Fund III announced in 2023. This progression underscores the firm's expanding reach and ability to support a larger number of promising startups.

Paul Sethi's typical initial check sizes through 2048 Ventures range from $250,000 for pre-seed rounds up to $1.5 million for seed-stage investments. This flexible approach allows the firm to engage with companies at very early stages of their development, providing crucial foundational capital. While 2048 Ventures is his primary public investment vehicle, Sethi also operates Trajectory Capital Partners, which is described as a family office, suggesting a more private or personal investment capacity alongside his institutional fund activities. His extensive background in technology and entrepreneurship informs his investment decisions, making him a valuable partner for early-stage founders navigating the complexities of building and scaling tech companies.