K9 Ventures

K9 Ventures is a technology-focused micro-VC fund based in Palo Alto, California. The firm specializes in providing funding and support to concept-stage and seed-stage technology companies, often engaging with entrepreneurs even before a company has been formed. K9 Ventures primarily invests in startups within the San Francisco Bay Area that have strong entrepreneurial teams and ideas with clear paths to revenue.

The firm's investment strategy focuses on capital-efficient companies where they can add value. K9 Ventures typically leads investment rounds, taking board seats and actively working with founders to build their companies. Their initial investments range between $250,000 and $750,000, with a preference for the sweet spot around $400,000. To maintain a high level of engagement, K9 Ventures invests in only 4-6 companies per year.

K9 Ventures emphasizes building deep relationships with founders, aiming to be the first institutional capital raised by the companies they invest in. They value respect, honesty, transparency, and humility in their interactions. The firm structures all investments as priced equity rounds based on Series Seed documents and does not use Convertible Notes or SAFEs. Their portfolio includes companies in sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, fintech, and mobile applications.

K9 Ventures was founded by Dr. Manu Kumar, who serves as the Chief Firestarter. The firm has made 77 investments and has had 17 exits, including notable companies like Aurora, Lyft, and Auth0. Their most recent investment was in Row Zero on May 6, 2025. The firm has raised three funds, with the latest being K9 Ventures III, L.P., announced on August 14, 2017. K9 Ventures has also made 22 diversity investments, with the most recent on December 15, 2021, in Forethought.

For more information, visit their official website at https://www.k9ventures.com/.