Amplify Partners is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park and San Francisco, California, founded in 2012. The firm specializes in backing technical founders from the earliest stages, focusing on sectors such as infrastructure, developer tools, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital biology. Amplify is known for its hands-on approach, providing not only capital but also strategic support through its Build Team, which comprises former leaders in sales, marketing, and recruiting from technical companies.
Amplify Partners targets early-stage investments in companies led by technical founders, particularly those operating in infrastructure, developer tools, AI, and digital biology. The firm seeks to partner with founders who are deeply involved in both the technical and business aspects of their startups, aiming to support them throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
In June 2025, Amplify Partners announced the close of three new funds totaling $900 million:
Leadership
Amplify Partners is led by a team of experienced investors and operators, including General Partners Sunil Dhaliwal, Mike Dauber, Lenny Pruss, and Sarah Catanzaro. The firm's leadership brings a wealth of experience in identifying and supporting technical founders across various sectors. The addition of Elliot Hershberg as a Partner for Amplify Bio I further strengthens the firm's expertise in digital biology.
Investment Strategy
Amplify Partners employs a hands-on investment approach, focusing on early-stage companies led by technical founders. The firm provides comprehensive support through its Build Team, assisting with go-to-market strategies, hiring, and other operational aspects. Amplify's investment strategy emphasizes long-term partnerships, aiming to support founders from the inception of their companies through various stages of growth.
Notable Investments
Amplify Partners has invested in several high-profile companies, including:
In the digital biology sector, the firm has backed companies such as Recursion ($RXRX), Chai Discovery, Axiom, Achira, Bexorg, and Tahoe Therapeutics.
Notable Exits
Amplify Partners has seen successful exits with companies like Datadog and Fastly, both of which have gone public. These exits underscore the firm's ability to identify and support companies with significant growth potential.
