Steve Schlafman

Steve Schlafman is a Managing Partner at 8VC based in New York City, where he leads early-stage investments across enterprise software, artificial intelligence, and frontier technology. Since joining the firm in March 2022, he helped lead the $450 million close of 8VC's Fund V in June 2024 and participated in the Series B funding round for xAI. Previously, Schlafman spent nine years as a General Partner at Primary Venture Partners, where he managed over $1 billion in assets under management and executed more than 50 investments. His broader investment portfolio features prominent technology companies including Vercel and several other early-stage ventures. Earlier in his career, he held operational roles at IAC after earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Schlafman currently focuses on advising founders and scaling startups within the emerging technology sectors.