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AAL VC is a venture capital fund founded in 2023 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Named after Augusta Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, AAL VC is dedicated to supporting deeply technical founders. The fund operates across North America, Europe, and Israel, leveraging a community of engineers to enhance deal flow, due diligence, and support for portfolio companies.
As of now, AAL VC manages a portfolio of eight companies, focusing on sectors such as artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, developer tools, and open-source technologies. The firm emphasizes a community-led approach, which allows it to provide tailored guidance and resources to its portfolio companies. AAL VC's unique positioning as a technical-founder-first fund enables it to understand the specific challenges faced by engineering startups.
AAL VC invests primarily in sectors including artificial intelligence (AI), data infrastructure, developer tools, and open-source technologies. The fund targets companies at the Seed and Series A stages, with a check size of up to $500,000. AAL VC's geographic focus spans North America, Europe, and Israel, allowing it to tap into diverse markets and talent pools.
The firm emphasizes backing technical founders who possess a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by engineering startups. AAL VC does not lead rounds but prefers to co-invest alongside top-tier lead investors, ensuring that its portfolio companies receive the best possible support and validation. This model allows AAL VC to maintain a moderate to high volume of deal activity while focusing on its core thesis of investing in deeply technical talent.
AAL VC's portfolio includes eight notable companies, each contributing to the fund's focus on technical innovation:
This diverse portfolio showcases AAL VC's commitment to investing in companies that leverage advanced technologies to solve complex problems.
Eugene Mikhaylov: Co-founder, General Partner, and Managing Partner at AAL VC. He has over 7 years of investment experience and is CAIA-designated. Eugene writes publicly on Substack, sharing insights on venture capital and technology.
Dmitry Stepanov: Partner at AAL VC, contributing to the firm's investment strategy and portfolio management.
Ash Vardanian: Chief Technology Officer, responsible for overseeing technical due diligence and supporting portfolio companies with engineering expertise.
Roman Chernin: Original co-founder and expert in the field, bringing valuable insights and experience to the team.
To pitch AAL VC, founders should send an email to startups@aal.vc. It is recommended to include a comprehensive pitch deck that outlines the startup's vision, technology, and market potential. AAL VC does not have a formal application portal, and response times may vary based on deal flow.
As of April 2026, AAL VC has been actively building its portfolio, which currently includes eight notable companies in the tech sector. The firm has published updates on its activities via Substack, with recent posts in September 2024 and January 2025, highlighting its commitment to supporting technical talent.
AAL VC's investment strategy emphasizes collaboration with top-tier lead investors, including Gradient Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and NVIDIA (NVentures), showcasing its strong validation pattern in the AI and infrastructure sectors.
What are AAL VC's investment criteria?
AAL VC focuses on investing in deeply technical founders at the Seed to Series A stages. The firm primarily targets sectors such as artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, developer tools, and open-source technologies.
How can startups apply or pitch to AAL VC?
Startups can reach out to AAL VC via email at startups@aal.vc. It is advisable to include a detailed pitch deck that outlines the startup's vision, technology, and market potential.
What makes AAL VC different from other venture capital firms?
AAL VC distinguishes itself by its community-led approach, leveraging a network of engineers to enhance deal flow and due diligence. This model allows the firm to provide tailored support to its portfolio companies, particularly those led by technical founders.
What is AAL VC's geographic scope?
The firm primarily invests in North America, Europe, and Israel, allowing it to tap into diverse markets and access a wide range of technical talent.
What is the typical check size for investments?
AAL VC typically invests up to $500,000 in its portfolio companies, focusing on providing sufficient capital to support early-stage growth.
What is AAL VC's post-investment involvement like?
AAL VC maintains an active role in supporting its portfolio companies through its community of engineers, offering resources and guidance tailored to the unique challenges faced by engineering startups.
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