Cambrian Ventures is a fintech-focused venture capital firm founded by Rex Salisbury, a solo general partner with a deep-rooted passion for financial technology. Based in San Francisco, Cambrian operates with a mission to back the next generation of founders building the future of financial services. The firm is known for its highly curated community and network within the fintech ecosystem, which includes thousands of founders and operators.
Cambrian Ventures invests exclusively in fintech startups at the pre-seed and seed stages. The firm backs companies across a wide range of financial services, including:
Salisbury favors startups with strong execution potential and a compelling vision, particularly those leveraging emerging technologies such as AI to reimagine financial products.
In July 2025, Cambrian Ventures announced the launch of its second fund, securing $20 million in committed capital.
This follows the success of its inaugural $20 million fund, which backed 33 startups and demonstrated strong performance, with about half of the portfolio graduating to Series A.
The second fund continues to follow the same thesis: high-conviction, early-stage bets on fintech founders with novel product ideas. Backers of this second vehicle include returning limited partners from top fintech companies like NerdWallet, Plaid, Betterment, and Melio, as well as new institutional LPs such as a bank and a life insurance company.
Salisbury remains the sole GP, which allows for focused, founder-first decision-making and relationship building.
The fund also takes advantage of advances in AI, with a particular interest in startups that are able to build multi-product platforms from the outset, like portfolio company Every.
Leadership
Cambrian Ventures is led solely by Rex Salisbury, who brings unique expertise as a founding member of Andreessen Horowitz’s fintech practice. During his tenure at a16z, he invested in breakout companies such as Deel.
Salisbury also previously founded a fintech community that hosts monthly events and supports a Slack group with over 1,800 founders. His strong community-building background underpins Cambrian's founder-focused ethos.
Investment Strategy
Cambrian’s investment strategy centers on backing pre-seed and seed-stage fintech startups led by ambitious, execution-focused founders. The firm seeks companies with differentiated product visions and strong early traction.
Salisbury places heavy emphasis on founder relationships, leveraging his extensive network to offer early-stage teams access to industry peers, potential hires, and follow-on investors.
Cambrian typically invests at the earliest stages and supports startups through active guidance and network connectivity rather than a high-volume approach.
Notable Investments
Cambrian Ventures’ portfolio includes early investments in fintech startups such as:
Salisbury’s track record also includes prior investments in high-growth fintech companies like Deel during his time at a16z.
Notable Exits
As Cambrian Ventures was launched in the early 2020s and is still operating its first and second funds, there are no publicly disclosed exits to date.
Other
Cambrian’s strong community foundation is a key differentiator, providing founders with peer support, hiring pipelines, and exposure through its events and media channels.
Salisbury’s reputation and previous ties to a16z help attract high-quality deal flow and limited partners.
Founders interested in raising from Cambrian should understand the firm’s deep vertical specialization and long-term orientation.
