Draper Associates is a Silicon Valley venture capital firm founded by Tim Draper, one of the most prominent and outspoken investors in technology and cryptocurrency. Established in 1985, the firm has built a four-decade track record backing transformative companies and fostering entrepreneurship worldwide. Draper Associates is part of the broader Draper Venture Network and is known for making bold bets on disruptive ideas and founders with global ambitions.
While the firm invests broadly in transformative technology companies, it has developed a strong specialization in blockchain and cryptocurrency ventures, alongside fintech, frontier tech, and high-growth consumer and enterprise companies. Draper Associates often backs companies aiming to reshape industries through innovative, scalable solutions.
In July 2025, Draper Associates closed Draper Associates Fund 8 with $200 million in committed capital, according to a filing with the SEC.
This latest fund follows the firm’s $124 million Fund 7 raised in 2022. The new vehicle adds to the firm’s $2 billion in assets under management and comes during a period of significant momentum in the crypto sector, with the total market capitalization surpassing $4 trillion.
Fund 8 positions Draper Associates to continue backing early- and growth-stage startups with disruptive potential, particularly in crypto and related sectors.
Leadership
The firm is led by founder and managing partner Tim Draper, a veteran investor whose portfolio includes iconic successes such as Skype, Baidu, Hotmail, Tesla, SpaceX, Robinhood, Coinbase, Ledger, and Polymarket. Draper gained early recognition in the crypto industry after purchasing 30,000 Bitcoin from a US government auction in 2014, a move that has become one of the most successful Bitcoin investments in history.
Investment Strategy
Draper Associates seeks founders who can drive large-scale, industry-defining change.
The firm invests with a high-conviction approach, often taking significant early stakes in companies with disruptive technologies.
In crypto, Draper Associates has consistently supported ventures that build core infrastructure, marketplaces, and applications that expand the ecosystem’s reach and utility. Its strategy blends long-term vision with an appetite for high-risk, high-reward opportunities.
Notable Investments
The firm’s track record spans multiple sectors, with notable portfolio companies including:
These investments demonstrate Draper Associates’ ability to identify breakout companies across both traditional tech and emerging blockchain ecosystems.
Notable Exits
Draper Associates has achieved numerous high-profile exits, including the acquisitions of Skype, Hotmail, and Baidu’s IPO. These outcomes have reinforced the firm’s reputation as a backer of category-defining companies.
Other
The firm operates with a founder-friendly, visionary approach and has one of the most recognizable personal brands in venture capital, offering portfolio companies extensive visibility and access to a global network of investors and partners.
