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Learn which startups Founder Collective invests in, what size check sizes they write, and who their partners are (e.g. Eric Paley).
Founder Collective is a seed-stage venture capital fund, built by a collection of successful entrepreneurs. The firm is headquartered in New York City and Cambridge, but makes investments all over the world. With $50M under management, the fund is focused on East coast investments. Founder Collective is industry agnostic, but the firm prefers companies that have an information technology component.
Key people at Founder Collective.
Key people at Founder Collective.
Founder Collective is a seed-stage venture capital firm with a mission to be the most aligned partner for founders building transformative companies from the earliest stages. The firm is known for its founder-first philosophy, intentionally keeping fund sizes small to maintain focus and flexibility, and prioritizing deep, long-term relationships with entrepreneurs. Founder Collective invests across sectors but has a strong track record in startups with information technology components, supporting both East Coast and global ventures. Its impact on the startup ecosystem is marked by backing high-growth companies that have gone on to become unicorns and decacorns, shaping the next generation of innovation.
Founded in 2009 by a group of successful entrepreneurs—including David Frankel, Eric Paley, and Micah Rosenbloom—Founder Collective was born out of a desire to create a venture fund that truly understood the founder experience. The partners themselves were founders first, bringing firsthand operational insight to their investing approach. Over the years, the firm has evolved to remain at the forefront of seed investing, maintaining its commitment to early-stage support while adapting to a rapidly changing market. Its East Coast roots have expanded into a global network, but the core ethos—backing founders with empathy, expertise, and a hands-on approach—has remained constant.
Founder Collective is riding the wave of democratized innovation, where early-stage startups—especially those with IT and digital components—are increasingly able to disrupt traditional industries. The firm’s timing is critical: as the seed market has become more competitive, Founder Collective’s founder-centric model stands out in a landscape crowded with larger, more rigid funds. By focusing on the East Coast and global markets, the firm helps bridge regional gaps in access to capital and expertise. Its influence is evident in the success of its portfolio companies, many of which have gone public or achieved significant scale, reinforcing the importance of early-stage support in the broader tech ecosystem.
Founder Collective is poised to continue shaping the future of seed investing by staying true to its mission while thoughtfully evolving its strategy. As the venture landscape becomes more competitive and founders demand more flexible, empathetic partners, the firm’s founder-first approach will remain a key differentiator. The ongoing debate around pro rata rights and opportunity funds suggests that Founder Collective may further refine its model to balance alignment with growth opportunities. In the years ahead, its influence will likely expand as it continues to back visionary founders building the next wave of transformative technology companies—proving that the most powerful investments are those made with both capital and conviction.