Slack Fund

High-Level Overview

The Slack Fund is a corporate venture capital arm focused on investing in companies that build productivity-enhancing tools for remote work teams and collaborative environments. Its mission is to foster a more productive and collaborative work environment by strategically partnering with startups that develop applications and services integrating with the Slack platform. The fund targets early to late-stage companies primarily in the United States, investing between $500,000 and $10 million across diverse sectors such as enterprise software, marketing, telecom, education, fintech, legal, and event technology. By supporting startups that enhance workplace productivity, the Slack Fund plays a significant role in shaping the future of work and collaboration[1][2].

Origin Story

Founded in 2015, the Slack Fund was established as part of Slack’s broader mission to innovate the future of work through technology. Over time, it has evolved from a smaller $25 million fund to its current $100 million third fund, reflecting its growing commitment and expanded investment scope. The fund is managed by key partners who focus on mentoring and partnering with promising companies that address challenges in collaboration, mental health, coaching, and hardware related to work. Its portfolio includes notable companies like Loom, Hightouch, and WorkRamp, which have demonstrated significant growth and impact in their respective niches[2][1].

Core Differentiators

• Unique Investment Model: As a corporate VC, the Slack Fund leverages Slack’s platform and ecosystem to identify and support startups that can integrate and enhance Slack’s productivity tools.
• Network Strength: The fund benefits from Slack’s extensive user base and partnerships, providing portfolio companies with access to a large collaborative environment and potential customers.
• Track Record: With over 100 investments and portfolio companies raising approximately $5.5 billion in aggregate, the Slack Fund has a proven history of backing successful startups like Clara Labs, Troops, and Onna[1][2].
• Operating Support: Beyond capital, the fund offers hands-on mentorship and strategic guidance, helping startups scale from seed to IPO stages, often in collaboration with Salesforce Ventures after Slack’s acquisition by Salesforce[2][6].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

The Slack Fund rides the wave of the ongoing digital transformation of work, especially the shift toward remote and hybrid work models. The timing is critical as organizations increasingly demand tools that enhance asynchronous communication, collaboration, and employee well-being. Market forces such as the rise of SaaS, cloud computing, and distributed teams favor the fund’s focus on enterprise software and productivity tools. By investing in startups that integrate with Slack’s platform, the fund influences the broader ecosystem by accelerating innovation in workplace technology and enabling seamless workflows across diverse industries[2][1][6].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, the Slack Fund is poised to deepen its influence by leading and co-leading larger investment rounds, expanding into new categories like mental health and hardware, and continuing to support startups throughout their lifecycle. Trends such as AI-driven collaboration, hybrid work models, and employee experience platforms will likely shape its investment focus. As part of Salesforce Ventures, the Slack Fund’s reach and resources will grow, enabling it to back more transformative companies that redefine how work gets done globally[2][6]. This continued momentum ties back to its core mission of enhancing productivity and collaboration in the evolving world of work.