Contrary Capital

Contrary Capital is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 by Eric Tarczynski. The firm focuses on identifying and investing in exceptional entrepreneurs across various sectors, including technology, retail, financial services, and education, with a particular emphasis on enterprise software, fintech, AI/ML, defense, climate/energy, and consumer industries. Contrary Capital operates in the United States and India, supporting companies from seed to scale.

The firm's investment strategy is talent and research-driven, concentrating capital in a select number of founders and providing long-term support throughout their careers. Contrary Capital has invested in notable companies such as Anduril, Ramp, Zepto, and Hallow. The firm has raised multiple funds, including Contrary Capital Fund III, announced in March 2022, with approximately $198.6 million in assets under management as of March 29, 2024.

In addition to capital investment, Contrary Capital operates content and research platforms under its brand, including Contrary Research, an annual Tech Trends Report, and the Foundations & Frontiers essay series. These initiatives aim to inform both internal investing and external founder ecosystems, reinforcing the firm's research-driven identity and commitment to supporting exceptional entrepreneurs across various stages of their ventures.