1517 Fund: Investor Profile Snapshot
| Firm Overview | https://www.1517fund.com/ |
|---|---|
| Base | San Francisco, California |
| Typical Check Sizes | $0–$100K $100K–$500K |
| Stages They Join | Pre-Seed Seed |
| Stages They Lead | Pre-Seed Seed |
| Focus Areas | SaaS Deeptech Enterprise Devtools Future of Work |
| Primary Markets | USA |
1517 Fund occupies a singular position in the global venture ecosystem by intentionally rejecting conventional academic, credential-based, and institutional filters. Instead of optimizing for polished pitch decks or traditional founder resumes, the firm operates as what it describes as an anti-establishment educational institution. At its core, 1517 exists to support individuals working on ideas so early, strange, or technically ambitious that they would normally be dismissed by mainstream capital.
The philosophy behind 1517 is rooted in the belief that breakthrough progress often comes from outsiders. These are founders who question existing systems, leave formal education early, or pursue research directions that resemble science fiction more than near-term commercial products. By positioning itself as the first believer, the firm aims to intervene at the moment when conviction matters more than validation.
Origins and Contrarian Identity
1517 Fund was created to challenge how society identifies talent and allocates early capital. Rather than viewing dropout status or unconventional backgrounds as risk factors, the firm treats them as signals of independence and curiosity. This contrarian identity is not marketing-driven, but operationally embedded into how opportunities are sourced and evaluated.
The firm invests before consensus forms, often long before a company exists in any formal sense. 1517 Fund treats early intellectual exploration as investable, reframing research and experimentation as the foundation of future companies rather than side projects waiting for permission.
Investment Thesis and Core Beliefs
The central thesis guiding 1517 Fund is that the most important technologies of the future will initially look impractical, uncommercial, or socially uncomfortable. These ideas often fail traditional venture screens because they lack immediate markets or established comparables. The firm deliberately embraces this ambiguity.
1517 Fund prioritizes conviction over credentials. Founders are evaluated on intellectual depth, originality, and persistence rather than educational attainment or prior exits. This belief system creates space for founders who operate outside institutional pathways but possess rare insight into complex problems.
Extreme Inception and First-Believer Capital
1517 Fund invests at a stage earlier than most pre-seed funds, often before incorporation, product definition, or business models exist. Initial checks typically support research and development rather than customer acquisition or revenue generation. This capital is designed to buy time and focus.
By entering at extreme inception, 1517 Fund absorbs uncertainty that others avoid. This allows founders to explore ideas honestly, without prematurely shaping them to fit investor expectations. The firm’s role is to protect intellectual exploration during its most fragile phase.
Grant Programs and Non-Dilutive Support
A defining feature of the platform is its grant-based pipeline. The 1517 fund grant initiatives include micro-grants for experimental projects that may never become companies. These grants are intentionally lightweight, fast, and founder-friendly.
The 1517 fund medici grant is a flagship example of this approach, providing early funding for technically ambitious research that sits outside traditional academic or corporate structures. Through these grants, 1517 Fund creates optionality without forcing premature equity decisions.
Founder Profile and Preferences
The typical 1517 fund founder does not resemble a conventional startup archetype. Many are students who left university early, self-taught engineers, teenage researchers, or scientists working outside formal labs. A lack of undergraduate degree is often viewed as neutral or even positive rather than disqualifying.
The firm looks for founders who demonstrate obsessive curiosity, intellectual courage, and long-term commitment to hard problems. These individuals are often already building, researching, or hacking long before capital enters the picture.
Deep Tech and Science-Fiction Adjacency
1517 Fund focuses heavily on deep technology, including advanced computing, biotech, materials science, space, and speculative physics. Many of the ideas funded would sound implausible to non-technical audiences, which is precisely the point.
The firm intentionally embraces projects that feel like science fiction today but could define reality decades from now. This long time horizon shapes both portfolio construction and founder relationships.
Pre-VC Pipeline and Community Building
Rather than sourcing deals transactionally, 1517 Fund operates a long-term talent pipeline. This includes teen programs, research camps, and one of the largest hacker communities in the world, with thousands of participants globally. Many founders are known for years before receiving capital.
This community-first approach allows the firm to observe how individuals think, collaborate, and persist over time. 1517 Fund often invests after witnessing sustained intellectual effort rather than a single impressive moment.
Portfolio Construction and Outcomes
The 1517 fund portfolio reflects its unconventional strategy. Companies often emerge from years of experimentation rather than rapid ideation cycles. Some evolve into venture-backed startups, while others remain research-driven for extended periods.
This portfolio construction favors optionality over immediate returns. 1517 Fund accepts that many ideas will fail, but believes that a small number of breakthroughs can redefine entire fields.
Relationship With Traditional Venture Capital
1517 Fund does not attempt to replace traditional venture capital, but rather to precede it. The firm functions as a feeder system, preparing founders and technologies for later-stage investment once technical feasibility is clearer.
By the time companies raise institutional rounds, they often possess deeper technical moats than peers. 1517 Fund’s early involvement helps founders retain intellectual control while navigating the transition to commercial scaling.
Long-Term Perspective for Investors
For investors, 1517 Fund represents exposure to the earliest layers of innovation. Returns are driven not by trend alignment, but by access to ideas and people before they become visible. This model requires patience, tolerance for ambiguity, and trust in human potential.
The firm’s success depends less on market timing and more on its ability to identify rare individuals capable of reshaping reality. This makes 1517 Fund fundamentally different from funds optimized for short-cycle deployment.
Why This Model Matters
1517 Fund demonstrates that venture capital can function as an educational and cultural institution, not just a financial one. By funding curiosity and dissent, the firm expands the boundaries of what innovation looks like.
In a world increasingly optimized for conformity, 1517 Fund provides capital to those willing to think differently, work longer, and imagine futures others cannot yet see.
FAQ’s
How does 1517 Fund decide which founders to support
Decisions are based on intellectual originality, technical depth, and long-term commitment rather than formal credentials or traditional metrics.
What is the role of the 1517 fund grant programs
Grants allow experimentation without dilution, enabling founders to explore ideas before formal company formation.
How does the 1517 fund portfolio differ from traditional VC portfolios
The portfolio includes extremely early-stage, research-driven projects that may take years to commercialize.
Why does the 1517 fund medici grant matter
It supports unconventional research that falls outside academic and corporate funding structures, preserving intellectual freedom.
