
Rise Capital
Description
Rise Capital is a San Francisco-based global investment firm that strategically focuses on expansion-stage internet businesses within high-growth emerging markets. Founded by Nazar Yasin, the firm's investment thesis centers on identifying and backing companies that leverage technology to address significant market needs and achieve rapid scale across regions such as Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Their approach involves providing substantial capital and strategic support to accelerate the growth trajectories of their portfolio companies in these dynamic economies.
The firm primarily targets Series B and C funding rounds, demonstrating a robust capacity to deploy significant capital. Rise Capital has successfully raised multiple funds, underscoring its strong fundraising track record and investor confidence. For instance, the firm closed Rise Capital III at $120 million in 2019, followed by the even larger Rise Capital IV, which secured $250 million in 2022. These fund sizes enable them to make meaningful investments that can significantly impact a company's development and market penetration.
Rise Capital's typical first check sizes generally range from $10 million to $30 million, though they frequently participate in larger syndicated rounds alongside other prominent investors. Their portfolio reflects a commitment to backing market leaders and innovators in their respective sectors. Notable investments include Latin American super-app Rappi, used car marketplace Kavak, grocery delivery service Cornershop, and African fintech giant Flutterwave, all of which exemplify Rise Capital's strategy of fostering digital transformation and economic growth across diverse emerging markets.
Investor Profile
Rise Capital has backed more than 26 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 6 rounds, about 23% of its total and boasts 1 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series A, Series B, Seed rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in Brazil, Mexico, Egypt.
- Strong thematic focus on E-Commerce, Furniture, Home Decor.
- Typical check size: $10M – $30M.
Stage Focus
- Series A (35%)
- Series B (23%)
- Seed (15%)
- Series C (12%)
- Series D (12%)
- Series Unknown (4%)
Country Focus
- Brazil (23%)
- Mexico (23%)
- Egypt (12%)
- India (12%)
- Chile (8%)
- Nigeria (8%)
- Taiwan (4%)
- United States (4%)
- United Arab Emirates (4%)
- United Kingdom (4%)
Industry Focus
- E-commerce
- Furniture
- Home Decor
- Retail
- Personal Finance
- Internet
- Automotive
- Direct Sales
- Consumer Goods
- Fintech
Frequently Asked Questions
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