Ahead VC: Funding, Team & Investors

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Ahead VC: Funding, Team & Investors | Startup Intros

About

Ahead VC is an early-stage venture capital firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area that invests in business-to-business startups, specifically supporting Indian founders building software for global markets. The firm focuses exclusively on pre-seed and seed-stage equity investments across enterprise software, software-as-a-service, artificial intelligence, and developer tools. Operating as a cross-border fund, the organization provides its portfolio companies with hands-on operational guidance for initial United States market entry, go-to-market strategies, and subsequent institutional fundraising rounds. While the venture firm does not publicly disclose its total assets under management or current employee count, its investment portfolio and associated angel investments include recognizable technology companies such as Groww, Devtron, Jar, and Skydo. Ahead VC was established by founder and managing partner Prateek Sharma, an operator whose previous technology startup, Mygola, was successfully acquired by MakeMyTrip.

Financial History

Total Raised

N/A

Valuation

N/A

Investments Made

Date	Company	Round	Lead Investor(s)	Co-Investor(s)
Jul 1, 2025	Olto	$5.0M Seed	Nexus Venture Partners, The General Partnership	Felicis Ventures, Greylock, Otherwise Fund, Y Combinator, Paul Graham, Afore Capital, Firsthand Alliance, Ligature VC, Recall Capital
Jul 1, 2025	Drizz	$3.0M Seed	—	Better Capital
Jul 1, 2025	Giga	$61.0M Series A	Satish Dharmaraj	Nexus Venture Partners, The General Partnership, Y Combinator
Mar 1, 2025	Flex	$25.0M Series A	Jackson Cummings	305 Ventures, Amplify.LA, Andreessen Horowitz, Banana Capital, Mark Kahn, Bullpen Capital, First Round Capital, FTX Ventures, Gotham Gal Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Jeff Richards, Positive Sum VC, Precursor Ventures, Resolute Ventures, SV Angel, Umami Capital, Y Combinator, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller, Saxon Baum
Feb 1, 2024	Manufactured	$20.0M Series A	Positive Sum VC	Amplify.LA, Bullpen Capital, Eos Venture Partners, Gotham Gal Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Jeff Richards, Resolute Ventures, Umami Capital, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller, Joseph Malchow
Oct 1, 2023	Giga	$4.0M Seed	—	Cedar Capital Group, E1 Ventures, Expedite Ventures, Lakeside Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, SparkLabs Group, Sterling Equity, Summit Partners, The General Partnership, Y Combinator, Adeel Hussain, David S., Mattia Astori, Richard Cooperstein, Garry Tan, 8vdx, Liquid 2 Ventures, Y Combinator
Sep 1, 2023	Flex	$20.0M Series A	—	305 Ventures, Amplify.LA, Andreessen Horowitz, Banana Capital, Mark Kahn, Bullpen Capital, First Round Capital, FTX Ventures, Gotham Gal Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Jeff Richards, Positive Sum VC, Precursor Ventures, Resolute Ventures, SV Angel, Umami Capital, Y Combinator, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller
May 1, 2022	Curebase	$40.0M Series B	Industry Ventures	Addition, Amplify.LA, BoxGroup, Bullpen Capital, Company Capital, Endpoint Ventures, Felicis Ventures, Future Planet Capital, General Atlantic, Gotham Gal Ventures, Launchpad Capital, MS&AD Ventures, Notable Capital, Plug & Play Ventures, Positive Sum VC, Resolute Ventures, TCV, Umami Capital, Xfund, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller, Mathieu Guerville, Michael Lombardi, Patrick S. Chung, Acrew Capital, Bold Capital, Gaingels, GGV Capital, Matt Bryant, World Innovation Lab
Apr 1, 2022	OpenChefs	$500K Pre-seed	—	Amplify.LA, Bullpen Capital, Gotham Gal Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Jeff Richards, Positive Sum VC, Resolute Ventures, Umami Capital, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller
May 1, 2021	Curebase	$15.0M Series A	Jeff Richards	Amplify.LA, Bullpen Capital, ClimacticVC, Gotham Gal Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Notable Capital, Pareto Holdings, Positive Sum VC, Resolute Ventures, Streamlined Ventures, Umami Capital, Xfund, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller, Patrick S. Chung, Bold Capital
Aug 1, 2020	ReturnLogic	$2.0M Seed	—	Amplify.LA, Autotech Ventures, Bullpen Capital, Cultivation Capital, Gotham Gal Ventures, Ingeborg Investments, LAUNCH, M25, Matter Venture Partners, MS&AD Ventures, Jeff Richards, Positive Sum VC, Resolute Ventures, Umami Capital, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller, Sandy Khaund, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Revolution, SaaS Ventures, SpringTime Ventures, Stout Street Capital
Aug 1, 2020	Barn2Door	$6.0M Series A	Bullpen Capital	Amplify.LA, Gotham Gal Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Jeff Richards, Positive Sum VC, Resolute Ventures, Umami Capital, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller, Global Founders Capital, Lead Edge Capital, Quiet Capital, Raine Ventures, Sugar Mountain Capital
Apr 1, 2020	AI.Reverie	$6.0M Seed	—	Amplify.LA, Bullpen Capital, Gotham Gal Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Jeff Richards, Positive Sum VC, Resolute Ventures, Umami Capital, Vulcan Capital, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller
Jun 1, 2019	MAX	$7.0M Series A	—	Amplify.LA, Bullpen Capital, Gotham Gal Ventures, IFC Venture Capital Group, Lazerow Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Jeff Richards, Novastar Ventures, Offline Ventures, Partech Ventures, Positive Sum VC, Resolute Ventures, Slow Ventures, Umami Capital, Colin Carrier, Dave Pell, Ian Schafer, John M. Mueller, Greg Schroy, Michael Lazerow, Alitheia Capital, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Goodwell Investments, Olive Tree Capital, Right Side Capital Management, Shell Foundation, Techstars, Venture Garden Group, Yamaha Motor Ventures, Zrosk Investment Management
May 1, 2018	Porter Road Butcher	$4.0M Seed	—	Amplify.LA, Bullpen Capital, Craft Ventures, Four Rivers Group, Friále, Gotham Gal Ventures, Gradient Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital, HOF Capital, Hummingbird Ventures, LombardStreet Ventures, Max Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Neotribe Ventures, Jeff Richards, Positive Sum VC, Presight Capital, Resolute Ventures, Saga, Umami Capital, Unruly Capital, UpHonest Capital, Venrock, Dave Pell, Greg Schroy, John M. Mueller, Konstantin von Unger, Louis Beryl, Zachary Hargreaves, BoxGroup, Collaborative Fund, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Slow Ventures, Tribeca Venture Partners

Financial History

Total Raised

N/A

Valuation

N/A

Deep Dive

High-Level Overview

Ahead VC is a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage startups in India and the US, with a strong emphasis on founders building applied AI solutions such as agentic automation, vision, voice-based applications, and robotics. Their mission centers on backing "brilliant outsiders" who challenge the status quo by providing the first checks and supporting access to capital and customers. Key sectors include applied AI, fintech, healthcare, electric equipment, IT data solutions, and infrastructure, reflecting a broad interest in technology-driven innovation. Ahead VC plays a significant role in the startup ecosystem by enabling founders to build products for global markets, fostering innovation in emerging technologies, and supporting startups through capital and network access[2][1].

Origin Story

Ahead VC was founded with a vision to invest in exceptional founders often overlooked by traditional investors, focusing on early-stage startups primarily in India and the US. While specific founding year and key partners are not detailed in the available data, the firm has evolved to specialize in applied AI and related technologies, positioning itself as a first believer in disruptive innovators. Their investment approach has expanded to include anchor investments in SME IPOs in India, demonstrating a growing footprint in the Indian startup ecosystem[2][1].

Core Differentiators

Unique Investment Model: Ahead VC focuses on being the first investor in "brilliant outsiders," emphasizing early-stage funding to founders who challenge conventional norms.
Sector Focus: Strong specialization in applied AI technologies including agentic automation, vision, voice applications, and robotics.
Network Strength: Provides startups with access to capital and customer networks in both India and the US.
Track Record: Active anchor investor in over 26 SME IPOs in India, with a majority showing positive market performance.
Operating Support: Beyond capital, Ahead VC supports founders in scaling their businesses globally, leveraging its expertise in cross-border markets[2][1].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Ahead VC rides the wave of increasing global interest in applied AI and automation technologies, sectors poised for rapid growth due to advancements in machine learning, robotics, and voice/vision interfaces. The timing is critical as startups in India and the US are increasingly building solutions for global markets, supported by digital infrastructure and investor appetite. Ahead VC’s dual-market focus allows it to bridge innovation ecosystems, accelerating the globalization of Indian startups and fostering cross-border technology transfer. Their investments in SME IPOs also contribute to the maturation of India’s startup ecosystem by enabling companies to access public capital markets[2][1].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Ahead VC is well-positioned to capitalize on the accelerating adoption of AI-driven technologies and the globalization of startup ecosystems. Moving forward, the firm is likely to deepen its focus on applied AI sectors while expanding its portfolio in emerging tech verticals. Trends such as agentic automation and robotics will shape their investment thesis, and their influence may grow as they continue to support startups in accessing both capital and global customers. Ahead VC’s role as a first believer in outsiders suggests it will remain a key enabler of disruptive innovation, helping founders in India and beyond build for global markets[2][1].

Sources

Deep Dive

High-Level Overview

Origin Story

Core Differentiators

Unique Investment Model: Ahead VC focuses on being the first investor in "brilliant outsiders," emphasizing early-stage funding to founders who challenge conventional norms.
Sector Focus: Strong specialization in applied AI technologies including agentic automation, vision, voice applications, and robotics.
Network Strength: Provides startups with access to capital and customer networks in both India and the US.
Track Record: Active anchor investor in over 26 SME IPOs in India, with a majority showing positive market performance.
Operating Support: Beyond capital, Ahead VC supports founders in scaling their businesses globally, leveraging its expertise in cross-border markets[2][1].