Sarah Smith Fund
Category: Venture Capital
Early-stage venture capital fund using AI tools to invest efficiently in startups, primarily within the Stanford ecosystem. Sarah Smith Fund was founded in 2022. The company is led by Sarah Smith. Based in San Francisco Bay Area, USA. Team size: 1. Total funding raised: $16 million. Latest round: Fund I. Key investors include Pear VC, Ulu Ventures, Verdis Investment Management, Foundation Capital.
- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- San Francisco Bay Area, USA
- Team size
- 1
- Total funding
- $16 million
Value proposition
Provides fast investment decisions without committee delays and enhanced founder support through proprietary AI-driven processes, enabling a single GP to manage a large portfolio effectively.
Products and solutions
Investment checks of $100K-$250K+, CEO 360 Review (comprehensive performance review for investments >$250K), People Ops Office Hours (on-demand support for investments >$100K), Portfolio management powered by custom AI tools
Unique value
A solo General Partner model enabled by the deep integration of generative AI into all aspects of the venture capital workflow, from due diligence to founder support.
Target customer
Early-stage, high-growth startups, with a focus on those affiliated with Stanford University.
Industries served
Technology, Software as a Service (SaaS), Marketplaces, Future of Work, Fintech, Developer Tools
Technology advantage
Leverages generative AI to scale operations, manage a large portfolio solo, and deliver value to founders more efficiently than traditional VC firms.
How they differentiate
Differentiates through its AI-powered solo operator model, a deep focus on the Stanford University ecosystem, and faster decision-making cycles. The most direct competition comes from other solo GP and AI-driven venture funds.
Main competitors
Felicis Ventures, Hitachi Ventures
Key partnerships
Pear VC, Ulu Ventures, Verdis Investment Management
Notable customers
Scope Zero, Bandana, Finia, Pinnacle, Kernel, Concept Art, Soulside, Pika, Casca, Flitch, Takeoff AI, Costa Security, Streamlane, Animation, Howie, Boltwise, Rowspace, Mosaic, Fractal Labs, Skyfire, Galini, Skyward, Anyreach, Tessel Bio, Viewpoints AI, Mundane, TrueMeter, Unreal Labs, F2, Pravāh, Hexagon, Predictive Horizons, Tely AI, Soverin, The Compute Index, GenPeach AI, Rork, Mirai, Finrank
Major milestones
Successfully closed a $16M institutional solo GP fund., Pioneered the use of generative AI workflows across the entire venture investment lifecycle.
Growth metrics
Invested in approximately 39 companies out of a planned 50 for Fund I, with accelerated deployment post-Fund I close.
Market positioning
A niche, AI-native venture capital firm positioned to efficiently source and support early-stage startups from a specific, high-value ecosystem.
Geographic focus
Silicon Valley/Bay Area, with a primary focus on companies connected to Stanford University.
Patents and IP
Not applicable
About Sarah Smith
Sarah Smith is the Founder and Managing Partner of Sarah Smith Fund, a pre-seed and seed stage venture capital fund. She is also a Lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. Previously, she was a Partner at Bain Capital Ventures and Graph Ventures, and held operating roles at Quora and Facebook.
Official website: https://www.sarahsmith.fund