
Primera Capital
Description
Primera Capital is an Oakland, California-based venture capital firm established in 2005, dedicated to funding early-stage technology companies. The firm primarily focuses on Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds, seeking out innovative startups with strong potential for market disruption. With a strategic emphasis on companies that are either generating revenue or are on the cusp of doing so, Primera Capital aims to back ventures with clear business models and pathways to growth. Their investment approach is characterized by a hands-on partnership with founders, leveraging their extensive industry experience to guide portfolio companies through critical development phases.
The firm raised its inaugural fund, Primera Capital I, totaling $100 million, which has been deployed across a diverse portfolio of technology ventures. This fund has enabled Primera Capital to make approximately 28 investments since its inception, demonstrating a consistent commitment to the early-stage ecosystem. Their investment thesis often revolves around disruptive technologies in sectors such as enterprise software, cloud computing, and consumer internet, aligning with the evolving landscape of the tech industry.
Primera Capital boasts a strong track record of successful exits, with 12 companies achieving liquidity events. Among their most notable successes are Xoom, a digital money transfer service acquired by PayPal for $890 million, and OpenDNS, a cloud security provider that was acquired by Cisco for $635 million. Other significant exits include Virsto (acquired by VMware) and the IPOs of companies like RingCentral and CloudFlare, underscoring their ability to identify and nurture high-growth potential. These exits highlight Primera Capital's acumen in selecting companies that not only achieve significant scale but also deliver substantial returns for their limited partners.
Overall, Primera Capital has established itself as a seasoned early-stage investor with a clear focus on value creation. Their disciplined investment strategy, coupled with a history of backing successful ventures, positions them as a key player in the Silicon Valley and broader tech investment landscape, continuing to seek out promising technology companies for their portfolio.
Investor Profile
Primera Capital has backed more than 35 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 6 rounds, about 17% of its total and boasts 8 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series Unknown, Series A, Seed rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Israel, Canada.
- Strong thematic focus on Health Care, Internet, Software.
- Typical check size: $1M – $5M.
Stage Focus
- Series Unknown (23%)
- Series A (23%)
- Seed (17%)
- Series C (14%)
- Series B (14%)
- Pre Seed (6%)
- Debt Financing (3%)
Country Focus
- United States (69%)
- Israel (14%)
- Canada (11%)
- United Kingdom (6%)
Industry Focus
- Health Care
- Internet
- Software
- Education
- Biotechnology
- Advertising
- Automotive
- Publishing
- Saas
- Information Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.