Changing the face of Entrepreneurship

We're looking to build with and invest in entrepreneurs building the technology of the future.

Here's a guideline for what we're looking for when co-founding & investing:

1. Who's being served?

We build and invest in innovations that are solving important issues faced by women and people of color in the United States. The primary consumer and company headquarters must be based in the U.S.

2. Which industries do we like?

We only build and invest in companies whose primary product is software. This predominantly falls into four main verticals: 

  • Marketplaces & Small Business SaaS
  • Digital Health & Wellness
  • EdTech & Future of Work
  • FinTech & InsurTech

3. Which industries do we avoid?

Beyond serving women and multicultural consumers, there are some industries in which we do not invest:

  • No hardware or physical products
  • No vice (alcohol, gambling, etc.)
  • No dating
  • No biotech/pharmaceuticals
  • No crypto
  • No social media

4. What stage do we co-found?

We co-found with founders who are pre-seed. During this stage, we invest sweat equity (team, tech, marketing, and resources) to build a working prototype or MVP to prove that the product fulfills a market need.

5. What stage do we invest?

Once we've co-founded and have successfully launched the concept to market we invest $150K – $350K (convertible notes) in seed-stage capital. We define 'success' as:

  • Working prototype or product in the market
  • The company has acquired customers and has proven traction
  • Rounds are $2M or less with valuations/valuation caps that are $10M or less

6. Where do we invest?

We invest in companies that are headquartered in rising tech hubs in the United States. This means all U.S. regions, except those based in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley. We do not invest in companies headquartered outside the U.S.

7. Who are we looking for? (founder profiles)

We are committed to recruiting and providing equitable access, funding, and support for entrepreneurs who are Female, Black, Hispanic and Latino, Indigenous American, and/or Pacific Islander.

Our Ideal Founder Profiles:

  • Serial Founder - Has founded or co-founded another startup company that raised significant capital, achieved a significant amount of revenue, or had a successful exit. ``
  • High Growth Startup - an early employee at a high-growth startup and had a successful exit 
  • Tech Wiz - Has been building small companies since they were a child. Embodies a ton of experience and grit (even if you haven’t had a large exit yet)
  • Early Career - A high potential early-career young professional with intense drive without connections to capital

8. How to apply to the Startup Studio

In order to be considered, you must submit a Studio Intake Form. This includes: 

  • Startup Story (why you started your company. What epic problem you are solving & why are you the perfect person to solve that problem) 
  • Website 
  • Business Plan
  • Executive Summary
  • Pitch Deck
  • Elevator Pitch (60-second elevator pitch) 

Ready to apply to the Startup Studio?


Startup Studio

We co-found with and invest in passionate, diverse founders at the pre-seed stage and help them grow their startups with daily support from product, marketing, and fundraising startup experts.

How We Invest

Pitch Us

Podcast

Resources

For Founders

Studio Criteria

Build with Us

For Investors

How We Invest

Invest with Us

For Startups

Startup Marketing Agency

Talent & Recruiting Agency

Press

In the News

Press Inquiries

Location

We're 100% virtual.

HQ'd in Dallas, Texas.

Contact Us

Pitch Us for Investment

Email other Inquiries


Copyright © 2023 Startup Studio VC. All rights reserved.