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Key people at fresh.fund.
fresh.fund operates as a pre-seed investment firm, providing catalytic capital and support to early-stage startups. The firm primarily focuses on being the first institutional investor for ambitious founders, concentrating its efforts within the Israeli entrepreneurial ecosystem. It offers a crucial initial financial injection coupled with strategic guidance designed to help nascent companies navigate their foundational stages.
The fund's origins trace back to 2016, initially established as Israel's first university-focused venture fund. Founded by Zaki Djemal, the firm has since expanded its scope, evolving into a prominent and active pre-seed investor in the region. This evolution reflects a broader commitment to nurturing innovative ventures from their earliest conceptual phases.
The firm's primary clients are ambitious Israeli founders embarking on their startup journeys. Fresh.fund aims to support these entrepreneurs by providing essential early-stage funding, enabling them to transform their visions into viable businesses. Its overarching mission is to kickstart the growth of promising ventures, fostering the development of the next generation of Israeli tech companies.
# Fresh.fund: Israel's Premier Pre-Seed Catalyst
Fresh.fund operates as one of Israel's largest and most active dedicated pre-seed investment funds, positioning itself as a "first-check" investor for ambitious Israeli founders[1][3]. The fund's mission centers on providing catalytic capital and comprehensive support to early-stage startups at the moment they transition from founder-led operations to institutional backing. Rather than chasing later-stage deals or following other investors, Fresh.fund deliberately targets companies at their earliest institutional funding stage, believing that identifying exceptional founders early creates outsized value creation opportunities.
The fund's investment philosophy emphasizes conviction-driven decision-making combined with broad sector openness. Fresh.fund maintains a deliberate strategy of leading or co-leading investment rounds based on proprietary evaluation processes, while remaining curious and willing to explore markets and domains outside their historical focus areas[2]. This approach reflects a belief that the best opportunities often emerge in unexpected places, and that founder talent matters more than sector trends at the pre-seed stage.
Fresh.fund evolved from Israel's first university-focused venture fund, established in 2016[1]. This academic roots heritage shaped the fund's DNA—a commitment to identifying exceptional talent early and supporting founders through their formative scaling phases. The fund has since matured into a more broadly-focused pre-seed investor while maintaining its core belief in backing visionary founders at the earliest possible moment.
The fund has raised approximately $70 million in assets under management across two funds and special purpose vehicles, with the second fund capitalized at $35 million and currently actively deploying capital[2]. This capital base reflects institutional confidence in Fresh.fund's pre-seed investment thesis and track record of identifying breakout companies before they become obvious.
Fresh.fund's typical initial check sizes range from $500,000 to $750,000, with flexibility to deploy smaller or larger amounts up to $1 million[2]. This sizing strategy positions the fund as a meaningful first institutional investor without overwhelming early-stage cap tables, allowing founders to maintain control while gaining experienced capital partners.
The fund typically leads or co-leads rounds rather than following other investors[2]. This approach requires deep conviction in founder quality and market opportunity, but it also grants Fresh.fund significant influence in round structuring, valuation, and investor syndication. The fund actively helps attract additional investors to rounds, leveraging its reputation and network to strengthen founder fundraising outcomes.
Fresh.fund extends its value proposition well beyond check-writing. The fund provides ongoing advisory support, helps with business development connections through its growing network, assists with fundraising materials and investor introductions, and occasionally takes board observer seats[2]. At the pre-seed stage, the fund prioritizes helping companies develop healthy board practices and governance rhythms rather than imposing formal governance structures.
The fund's limited partner base consists primarily of high-net-worth individuals and family offices, supplemented by institutional funds of funds, venture capital firms, and operating partners[2]. This diversified LP composition provides stability while maintaining the flexibility characteristic of pre-seed investing.
Fresh.fund explicitly prioritizes fairness, openness, and humility in its operations[1]. This cultural positioning attracts founders seeking partners who view early-stage investing as a collaborative journey rather than a transactional relationship.
Fresh.fund occupies a critical position in Israel's venture capital ecosystem as a dedicated pre-seed investor at a time when the pre-seed category has become increasingly professionalized and capital-intensive. The fund's existence and scale reflect a broader market recognition that exceptional founders often need institutional support before they're ready for traditional Series A rounds, yet many venture firms have abandoned early-stage investing in pursuit of larger check sizes and later-stage returns.
By maintaining focus on Israeli founders specifically, Fresh.fund serves as a crucial bridge between university innovation, founder ambition, and global venture capital. Israel's startup ecosystem has matured into one of the world's most productive innovation hubs, and Fresh.fund's positioning as a first-check investor means the fund influences which founders receive validation and capital at the critical moment when their ventures transition from idea to institutional company.
The fund's willingness to invest broadly across sectors and domains—rather than specializing narrowly—reflects confidence in founder-driven innovation and adaptability. This approach also positions Fresh.fund to identify emerging trends early, before they become crowded with capital.
Fresh.fund represents a sophisticated answer to a fundamental venture capital question: where do the best companies come from? By committing capital and operational support to founders at the pre-seed stage, the fund captures optionality on exceptional talent before market validation becomes obvious. The fund's track record of being "first investors in many visionary startups" suggests this strategy has generated compelling returns[1].
Looking forward, Fresh.fund's influence will likely expand as the pre-seed category continues professionalizing and as Israeli founders increasingly compete for global markets. The fund's combination of early conviction, comprehensive support, and network access positions it well to remain a preferred first institutional partner for ambitious Israeli entrepreneurs. As venture capital increasingly bifurcates between mega-funds pursuing large later-stage opportunities and specialized early-stage investors, Fresh.fund's dedicated pre-seed focus becomes a strategic advantage rather than a limitation.
The fund's future trajectory will depend on whether its portfolio companies achieve meaningful scale and exit success—the ultimate validation of any pre-seed thesis. Given the fund's active deployment from its second $35 million fund and its demonstrated ability to attract quality founders and co-investors, Fresh.fund appears well-positioned to continue shaping Israel's next generation of global technology companies.
Key people at fresh.fund.
