Lightspeed Venture Partners is a global venture capital firm founded in 2000, with a long-standing reputation for backing category-defining technology companies from inception through scale. The firm operates as a multi-stage platform with deep roots in Silicon Valley and a global presence across major technology hubs. Lightspeed manages over $40 billion in assets and is widely recognized for its early and sustained conviction in AI, enterprise software, and frontier technologies.
Lightspeed invests across the full company lifecycle, from seed to growth, with a strong emphasis on AI-driven innovation, enterprise software, fintech, consumer technology, healthtech, and frontier technologies. The firm has been an early pioneer in AI investing, backing foundational and application-layer companies shaping the intelligence economy. Lightspeed targets large, durable markets where technology creates structural change rather than incremental improvement.
Lightspeed recently closed over $9 billion in committed capital across six distinct investment vehicles, marking the largest and most strategic fundraise in the firm’s history. The raise includes Lightspeed Venture Partners Fund XV-A at $980 million and Fund XV-B at $1.2 billion, both focused on early-stage investments, alongside Lightspeed Select VI at $1.8 billion for later-stage growth rounds and Lightspeed Opportunity Fund III at $3.3 billion for inflection-stage and expansion capital.
The firm also closed a $600 million co-investment fund to support concentrated positions alongside core vehicles, as well as $1.25 billion in single-investor vehicles in 2025. This bespoke fund architecture allows Lightspeed to support founders consistently from company formation through IPO-scale outcomes, while remaining highly selective at each stage. A significant portion of the capital continues to be deployed at seed, Series A, and Series B, particularly in AI-native companies, where Lightspeed has invested over $5.5 billion across 165 startups since 2012.
Leadership
Lightspeed was founded by Ravi Mhatre, Barry Eggers, and Chris Schaepe, and is led today by a global partnership of experienced investors and operators. Ravi Mhatre remains actively involved as Founder and Partner, while Bejul Somaia serves as Partner and Leader, shaping the firm’s global strategy and AI focus. The broader partnership spans the US, Europe, Israel, India, and Southeast Asia, reflecting Lightspeed’s global operating model.
Investment Strategy
Lightspeed takes a conviction-driven approach, often leading rounds and building concentrated ownership in companies it believes can define new categories. The firm invests early, frequently at seed or Series A, and continues to support companies through multiple growth phases with dedicated capital and platform resources. Its strategy emphasizes long-term partnerships with founders, proactive portfolio management, and coordinated investing across stages rather than isolated bets. Lightspeed is known for backing technically ambitious teams and staying invested through market cycles.
Notable Investments:
Lightspeed has been an early or first investor in many of the most influential technology companies of the past two decades, including:
The firm has also supported emerging AI leaders such as xAI, Thinking Machines, Reflection AI, and SSI, underscoring its deep exposure across foundational models, infrastructure, and applied AI.
Notable Exits
Lightspeed portfolio companies Rubrik, Netskope, and Navan completed major IPOs in 2024 and 2025, representing some of the most significant technology listings in a challenging public market environment. Lightspeed was the largest institutional investor in these companies at the time of their public debuts. Over its history, the firm has also generated liquidity through acquisitions and public listings across enterprise, consumer, and fintech sectors.
Other
Founders should know that Lightspeed is designed to be a long-term capital partner with the ability to lead early and continue investing aggressively through growth. The firm is particularly well-suited for companies building large platforms in AI, enterprise, and frontier technology that require sustained capital, strategic coordination, and global scaling support. Lightspeed’s selective model means high expectations, but also deep commitment once conviction is established.
United States
