Boldstart Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2010 and headquartered in Miami. Known for its conviction-led approach, Boldstart specializes in backing founders at the earliest stages of company formation, often when they are still working off a basic concept or a back-of-the-envelope business plan. The firm prides itself on speed and selectivity, typically partnering with 10 to 12 founding teams per year and providing hands-on support from day one.
Boldstart focuses on:
The firm is especially interested in technical founders building foundational technologies. Its investments are almost always pre-product and pre-revenue, making it one of the first believers in a company’s potential.
In July 2025, Boldstart Ventures announced the closing of Fund VII, a $250 million vehicle dedicated to investing in AI-focused startups. This marks the firm’s 10th overall fund and reinforces its commitment to being early and agile in a hyper-competitive AI market.
Fund VII is tailored to support founders at the embryonic stage of company development, with initial check sizes ranging from $500,000 to $15 million. The firm can continue supporting portfolio companies through its $175 million Opportunities Fund III, which is reserved for follow-on rounds.
Fund VII was raised primarily from institutional investors and brings Boldstart’s total assets under management to approximately $1.1 billion. The strategy behind Fund VII is to remain small and nimble, enabling quick decision-making and deep engagement with a limited number of startups each year.
Leadership
Boldstart is led by Founder and General Partner Ed Sim, a seasoned early-stage investor known for his founder-first mentality and fast-moving style. He is joined by General Partner Eliot Durbin and Partner Ellen Chisa, each bringing a mix of operational and investment experience that complements the firm’s technical focus.
Investment Strategy
Boldstart operates as a day-zero partner to technical founders, emphasizing speed, conviction, and deep founder relationships.
The firm typically invests before there is a product or even a team, focusing on a founder’s technical insight, past accomplishments, and vision.
Talent assessment plays a crucial role in their selection process, including evaluating the founder’s ability to attract top-tier talent and execute rapidly in dynamic markets.
Notable Investments
Boldstart was an early investor in cybersecurity startup Protect AI, which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks, and email productivity company Superhuman, which was recently acquired by Grammarly.
The firm also maintains a strong presence in the broader AI and enterprise software ecosystems through a portfolio that spans infrastructure, dev tools, and frontier applications.
Notable Exits
Recent exits include Protect AI’s acquisition by Palo Alto Networks in April 2025, and Superhuman’s acquisition by Grammarly in July 2025.
These exits highlight Boldstart’s ability to identify and support breakout companies from inception to acquisition.
Other
Boldstart is one of the few firms that routinely commits to startups without a formal pitch deck or product, often based solely on founder conversations and referrals. Founders looking to work with Boldstart typically come through warm introductions within its trusted network. The firm’s reputation for speed and high conviction makes it a valuable partner in the highly competitive AI startup landscape.
