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Fathom Fund is a venture assistance organization founded in 2022 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. The firm focuses on supporting technical founders in building category-defining companies across various sectors. With a fund size of $100 million, Fathom Fund aims to enable advancements in critical infrastructure through strategic investments in deep-tech and hard-tech domains.
The organization has quickly established itself in the venture capital landscape, emphasizing its commitment to fostering innovation in areas such as advanced computing, energy transition, materials and manufacturing, and aerospace and defense. Fathom Fund's approach combines rigorous investment diligence with a focus on early-stage companies, particularly those in the pre-commercialization or early commercialization phase.
Fathom Fund's notable milestones include its rapid deployment of capital, with six portfolio companies established within a short timeframe. The firm is dedicated to addressing the challenges of technical and scale-up risks, making it a unique player in the venture capital space.
Fathom Fund invests in several key sectors, including AI, energy, defense, climate, biotech, and frontier technologies. The firm primarily targets companies at the pre-seed, seed, seed-plus, and Series A stages, focusing on those in the pre-commercialization or early commercialization phase. The fund emphasizes technical and scale-up risks, seeking founders with significant operating experience and strong technical backgrounds.
Investment areas include advanced computing, where the fund looks for innovations in compute infrastructure and AI applications; energy transition, focusing on new power generation and chemical synthesis; materials and manufacturing, targeting next-generation materials; and aerospace and defense, exploring military and commercial applications in space. Fathom Fund's thesis centers on supporting technical founders in building category-defining companies that address critical infrastructure challenges.
Fathom Fund's portfolio includes six notable companies that exemplify its commitment to breakthrough innovations:
These companies reflect Fathom Fund's focus on innovative technologies that address critical infrastructure challenges across various sectors.
Paul Sheng: Managing Partner and Co-founder. Paul has decades of experience at McKinsey & Company, where he led the Global Energy & Materials practice. His expertise lies in industrial and energy verticals, making him a key asset in evaluating investments in these sectors.
Eric Bielke: Managing Partner and Co-founder. Eric previously served as Director at Temasek's Emerging Technologies Fund. He brings a strong institutional growth-investor background, complementing Paul Sheng's operational focus.
To pitch Fathom Fund, founders should submit their proposals through the firm's website at ff.vc. It is important to include a detailed pitch deck that outlines the technology, market opportunity, and the founding team's qualifications. While specific response times are not disclosed, founders are encouraged to provide a comprehensive overview of their business to facilitate a thorough review.
Warm introductions are preferred, but not mandatory. Founders should ensure that their pitches align with Fathom Fund's investment focus on deep-tech and hard-tech sectors.
On March 23, 2026, Fathom Fund made a notable investment in Kandou AI, further expanding its portfolio in advanced AI technologies. This investment highlights the firm's commitment to supporting innovative companies in the deep-tech sector.
In March 2025, Fathom Fund participated in a $15 million funding round for ReSource Chemical, a company specializing in sustainable chemistry. This investment underscores the fund's focus on addressing critical infrastructure challenges through innovative solutions.
What are Fathom Fund's investment criteria?
Fathom Fund primarily invests in companies at the pre-seed, seed, seed-plus, and Series A stages. The firm focuses on sectors such as AI, energy, defense, climate, biotech, and frontier technologies. They seek founders with significant operating experience and strong technical backgrounds, particularly in deep-tech and hard-tech domains.
How can I pitch Fathom Fund?
Founders can pitch Fathom Fund through their website at ff.vc. It is advisable to include a clear description of the technology, market potential, and the founding team's expertise in the pitch deck.
What makes Fathom Fund different from other VCs?
Fathom Fund applies growth-stage diligence to early-stage investments, providing rigorous analysis and support typically reserved for later-stage companies. This approach helps mitigate technical and scale-up risks associated with deep-tech ventures.
What is the geographic focus of Fathom Fund?
The firm primarily invests in companies based in the United States, particularly those that align with their focus on critical infrastructure and breakthrough innovations.
What is the fund size and check size range?
Fathom Fund has a total fund size of $100 million. While specific check sizes are not disclosed, the firm invests across various stages, indicating flexibility in funding amounts based on the company's needs.
What kind of post-investment support does Fathom Fund provide?
Fathom Fund offers valuable insights and support to portfolio companies as they scale, leveraging the extensive experience of its team in energy, materials, and technology sectors.
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