CRV, formerly known as Charles River Ventures, is a 55-year-old venture capital firm founded in 1970 and based in the United States. The firm has a long history of backing category-defining startups, with over 750 companies funded and 80 of them going public. Known for its early conviction in disruptive founders, CRV has built a reputation for identifying breakout companies across consumer and developer-focused markets.
CRV primarily invests in seed and Series A stage startups, with a particular emphasis on consumer companies and developer tools. The firm seeks founders building products with strong user adoption potential and scalability, aiming to lead early rounds and provide hands-on support.
In August 2025, CRV announced the close of its twentieth flagship fund with $750 million in committed capital. The raise was completed in just four weeks, with LP demand reaching twice the targeted amount.
The new fund is smaller than its $1 billion early-stage fund from 2022, reflecting a strategic decision to focus exclusively on early-stage deals. CRV will not raise another late-stage Select fund, having previously returned $275 million of unallocated capital from its prior $500 million Select vehicle to investors.
The firm determined that late-stage follow-on rounds were unlikely to deliver the same level of returns as early-stage investments.
Leadership
CRV is led by a seasoned team of partners with decades of combined investing experience. The partnership includes industry veterans such as Saar Gur, who has been instrumental in many of the firm’s high-profile deals. The team combines deep operational backgrounds with strong networks across technology and venture capital.
Investment Strategy
CRV’s strategy centers on leading early-stage investments in high-potential startups and providing them with the resources, guidance, and network access necessary to accelerate growth.
By focusing on a smaller number of core investments, the firm ensures a high level of partner engagement. CRV is particularly drawn to companies with strong product-led growth dynamics in consumer and developer ecosystems.
Notable Investments
CRV’s portfolio includes some of the most successful startups in recent years, such as leading DoorDash’s seed financing and the Series A rounds for Mercury and Vercel, the latter recently valued at $3.25 billion.
The firm’s latest investments include CodeRabbit, an AI-powered code review platform, and Outtake, an AI-driven cybersecurity company.
Notable Exits
Over its five-decade history, CRV has seen 80 portfolio companies go public, underscoring its ability to identify and nurture ventures that achieve large-scale market success.
Other
CRV’s smaller fund size in 2025 reflects a deliberate focus on maximizing early-stage returns, backed by a highly competitive fundraising process and strong LP demand.
