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Key people at Founders Co-op.
Founders' Co-op is a seed and early-stage venture capital firm, providing initial investments to technology companies. It targets ambitious technical founding teams solving complex enterprise problems at pre-product and pre-revenue stages. The firm's strategy emphasizes conviction in founders, swift decisions, and transparent support for early development.
Established in 2008 by experienced founders Aviel Ginzburg and Chris DeVore, the firm arose from recognizing a significant gap. Seattle, despite its engineering talent, lacked early-stage entrepreneurial support. Ginzburg and DeVore aimed to establish a dedicated launchpad for high-potential technical founders in the Pacific Northwest, connecting them to later-stage capital.
The firm supports technical founders in its regional network. Its vision is to empower exceptional individuals to lead generational technology companies. They cultivate a founder community, offering essential early backing and preparing ventures for specialist investors.
Key people at Founders Co-op.
Founders’ Co-op is a Seattle-based venture capital firm founded in 2008 with a mission to empower extraordinary technical founders in the Pacific Northwest. The firm specializes in seed and early-stage investments, focusing on backing ambitious teams at the earliest stages—often before product-market fit or even a finished product. Founders’ Co-op prioritizes technical talent, founder-market fit, and the ambition to build enduring, scalable technology companies. Its investment philosophy centers on being the first institutional check, providing not just capital but hands-on guidance, deep community engagement, and access to a powerful regional network. The firm has played a pivotal role in shaping the Pacific Northwest’s startup ecosystem, helping launch and scale companies that have gone on to attract major venture capital and achieve significant exits.
Founded in 2008, Founders’ Co-op emerged as a response to the lack of early-stage capital and support for technical founders outside Silicon Valley. The firm was co-founded by Chris DeVore, a prominent figure in Seattle’s tech community and former head of Techstars Seattle, and Aviel Ginzburg, co-founder of Simply Measured and former managing director of Amazon’s Alexa Accelerator. Over the years, Founders’ Co-op has evolved into a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest’s venture ecosystem, known for its hands-on approach and deep ties to the region’s entrepreneurial hubs. The firm’s proximity to Foundations, a leading Seattle founder community, has further amplified its deal flow and influence.
Founders’ Co-op is riding the wave of decentralization in the tech industry, as more founders choose to build outside traditional hubs like Silicon Valley. The firm’s focus on the Pacific Northwest aligns with broader trends of regional innovation and the rise of distributed teams. By supporting technical founders at the earliest stages, Founders’ Co-op helps bridge the gap between local talent and global venture capital, enabling the region to compete on a national and international scale. The firm’s influence extends beyond its portfolio, shaping the culture and trajectory of the Pacific Northwest’s tech ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Founders’ Co-op is well-positioned to continue its role as a catalyst for innovation in the Pacific Northwest. As the region attracts more talent and investment, the firm’s deep community ties and early-stage expertise will remain critical. The ongoing trend of distributed teams and remote work will likely amplify the firm’s impact, enabling it to support founders across a broader geographic footprint. Founders’ Co-op’s ability to identify and nurture technical talent at the earliest stages will continue to shape the future of the region’s tech landscape, ensuring its influence endures for years to come.
