About 500 startups
500 Startups: Investing in the Future of Technology
500 Global is a venture capital firm that invests early in founders building fast-growing technology companies. With more than $2.7 billion¹ in assets under management, 500 Global has become one of the most prominent venture capital firms globally.
Founded in 2010 by Dave McClure and Christine Tsai, 500 Global has invested in over 2,400 companies across more than 75 countries. The firm's mission is to discover and back the world's most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems.
The company's name "500" comes from its original goal of investing in 500 startups. However, since then, it has surpassed this number by a significant margin and continues to grow its portfolio every year.
Investment Strategy
At its core, 500 Global invests early-stage seed funding into startups with high growth potential. The company typically invests between $100K to $250K initially but can follow on with additional funding rounds as needed.
The firm focuses on several key areas when evaluating potential investments:
1) Founders: They look for passionate founders who have a deep understanding of their market and are committed to building successful businesses.
2) Market Opportunity: They seek out markets that are large enough to support significant growth opportunities for their portfolio companies.
3) Product/Service: They evaluate products or services that solve real problems for customers and have strong potential for adoption.
4) Traction: They look for evidence of customer traction through user engagement metrics or revenue growth.
5) Competitive Advantage: They seek out startups with unique competitive advantages such as proprietary technology or intellectual property that can help them stand out from competitors.
Portfolio Companies
Over the years, 500 Global has invested in some notable companies such as Udemy (an online learning platform), Canva (a graphic design tool), Talkdesk (a cloud-based call center software), Credit Karma (a personal finance company), among others.
These investments have helped these companies grow significantly over time while also providing substantial returns on investment for the firm's limited partners (LPs).
In addition to providing financial support through investment dollars, 500 Global also offers mentorship programs designed to help portfolio companies succeed. These programs include access to experienced mentors who provide guidance on everything from product development to fundraising strategies.
Global Reach
One unique aspect of 500 Global is its global reach; they have invested in over seventy-five countries worldwide. This approach allows them access to diverse talent pools while also helping build thriving startup ecosystems around the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you're an entrepreneur looking for seed funding or an investor looking for exposure into promising new technologies globally - then you should consider partnering with one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent venture capital firms - "500 Startups". With a proven track record of success investing early-stage seed funding into high-growth tech startups worldwide coupled with their extensive mentorship programs designed specifically around helping entrepreneurs succeed – it’s no wonder why so many promising young tech ventures choose “the five hundred” as their partner-of-choice!
500.co
