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Learn which startups Brickyard invests in, what size check sizes they write, and who their partners are (e.g. Matt Patterson).
Key people at Brickyard.
Brickyard provides an intensive, in-person environment for early-stage companies to achieve product/market fit. It offers substantial seed funding, typically $300,000 to $500,000, to select ventures annually. Unlike traditional accelerators, Brickyard delivers a focused workspace and deep operational support. Portfolio teams relocate for 18-24 months, dedicated to execution until a $1 million revenue benchmark.
The firm was co-founded in 2021 by Cam Doody and Matt Patterson, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Their insight identified a need for an immersive setting where early-stage founders could intensely focus on product development. Doody and Patterson leveraged their entrepreneurial backgrounds to design a model prioritizing concentrated creation and practical application.
Brickyard serves ambitious startup founders prepared for rigorous, hands-on company building, supporting 20 to 25 portfolio companies collaboratively on-site. Its long-term vision is to be a premier destination for ventures committed to profound product validation and sustainable scaling. The firm aims to cultivate resilient companies through an unparalleled environment for concentrated growth.
Brickyard is an early-stage venture firm and startup residency program based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, focused on helping pre-seed founders achieve product-market fit (PMF) and scale to $1 million in revenue. Unlike traditional accelerators, Brickyard operates as a "zero-distraction, max-urgency black site" where founders relocate to work full-time in a highly focused, in-person community environment. It provides capital (typically $300K-$500K checks), operational support, accountability, and a collaborative founder ecosystem rather than structured programming or cohorts. Brickyard invests broadly across technology sectors including SaaS, marketplaces, crypto, AI, fintech, healthtech, and edtech, supporting startups primarily in the U.S. but also attracting international founders. Its impact lies in creating a founder-driven ecosystem that fosters deep focus and community, helping startups cross the challenging "trough of sorrow" to reach sustainable growth[1][3][5][6].
Brickyard was founded by Matt Patterson and Cam Doody, serial entrepreneurs who previously co-founded Bellhop, a tech-driven moving logistics company that scaled significantly and raised substantial venture capital. After their success with Bellhop, they sought to create a new kind of venture firm that breaks the traditional accelerator mold by emphasizing radical founder focus and operational support. They launched Brickyard with a $17 million investment fund and a residency program designed to attract and retain early-stage founders in Chattanooga. The founders’ background in scaling a marketplace and logistics startup informs Brickyard’s hands-on, founder-centric approach. Since inception, Brickyard has hosted 24 founding teams from 19 cities, including international founders from Europe, Canada, and South America, who relocate to Chattanooga to join the community and benefit from the intense focus environment[1][4][5].
Brickyard rides the trend of founder-centric, operationally supportive venture models that emphasize deep focus on product-market fit rather than rapid scaling or demo-day hype. Its timing is significant as early-stage startups increasingly struggle with distractions and lack of community, especially outside major tech hubs. By creating a dedicated physical space with capital and operational support, Brickyard leverages market forces favoring remote and regional innovation hubs, while fostering a new kind of startup ecosystem in Chattanooga. This model challenges traditional accelerator and VC approaches by prioritizing founder resilience and product validation over rapid fundraising cycles, influencing how early-stage venture support can evolve in the U.S. and beyond[1][4][5].
Brickyard’s future likely involves scaling its residency model and investment fund to support more pre-seed founders aiming to break through the PMF barrier. As startup ecosystems decentralize and founders seek more focused, community-driven support, Brickyard’s approach may gain wider adoption or inspire similar models elsewhere. Trends such as increased remote work, founder mental health awareness, and the need for operationally savvy venture partners will shape its journey. Its influence may grow as a proving ground for founder-first venture capital, potentially expanding its sector focus and geographic reach while maintaining its core philosophy of "burning the ships" to force commitment and focus. This positions Brickyard as a pioneering force redefining early-stage startup support beyond traditional accelerators and VC firms[1][4][5][6].
Key people at Brickyard.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2025 | Warrant | $720K Seed | — | — |
| Feb 12, 2024 | Prosal | $400K Seed | Christopher Klaus | Alumni Ventures, Mana Ventures, Raiz Capital, Recursive Ventures |
| Apr 1, 2023 | Coast | $2.0M Seed | — | Alt Capital, General Catalyst, Notion Capital, Anil Dharni, Dave Balter, Dylan Field, Humberto Ayres Pereira, James Beshara, Liu Jiang, Mario Götze, Rich Miner, Sara Lannin, Arash Ferdowsi, Calvin French-Owen, GTMfund, Liquid 2 Ventures, Y Combinator |
| Nov 3, 2022 | Krepling | $1.0M Pre-Seed | Jason Calacanis, Jon Oringer, Brickyard, LAUNCH | — |