Darling Ventures

Darling Ventures is a San Francisco venture firm that writes first cheques for pre-seed software startups. It invests only in North America, across both the United States and Canada, and is working from its third fund.

Products and services

• Pre-seed investment: leads or joins the first round of financing for a young company.
• Path to Series A: works with founders on a plan for the seed stage through to their next raise.
• Positioning help: assists with the value proposition and marketing materials.
• Network access: introduces founders to an advisory board of domain experts and to later-stage venture and corporate investors.
• International expansion: supports moves into Europe and Asia-Pacific through overseas contacts.

Who it works with

Founders of software startups in North America who use data intelligence, automation or decentralisation, and who have deep expertise in the problem they tackle.

Key facts

• Based in: San Francisco, USA
• Stage: pre-seed
• Funding source: its backers are family offices and individuals outside the United States