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The Sarah Smith Fund is a venture capital firm founded in late 2022 by Sarah Smith, located in Menlo Park, California. The fund specializes in pre-seed and seed investments, primarily targeting early-stage companies led by founder CEOs. Sarah Smith, who has a background with Bain Capital Ventures and f7 Ventures, established the fund to leverage her extensive network and expertise in supporting entrepreneurs. The fund has a total size of $16 million and aims to build a portfolio of approximately 50 companies.
Since its inception, the Sarah Smith Fund has made 17 investments, focusing on sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, and marketplaces. The firm emphasizes the importance of strong educational backgrounds, particularly degrees from Stanford, in its selection process. This focus on founder CEOs with robust academic credentials is reflected in the fund's portfolio, where nearly 50% of the founders have Stanford degrees.
Notable milestones include the fund's final close in July 2025, which solidified its capital base for future investments. The Sarah Smith Fund is committed to fostering trusting relationships with its portfolio companies, providing them with essential resources and support to navigate the challenges of early-stage growth.
The Sarah Smith Fund invests in early-stage companies at the pre-seed and seed stages, with a minimum check size of $250,000. The fund primarily targets founder CEOs, particularly those with strong educational backgrounds, such as degrees from Stanford. This focus on educational pedigree is a key component of the fund's investment thesis, as it seeks to partner with entrepreneurs who demonstrate both ambition and capability.
Investment sectors include artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, and marketplaces. The fund's strategy emphasizes building trusting relationships with founders, which is facilitated through unique offerings such as a proprietary CEO 360 review process. This process provides comprehensive performance evaluations and actionable recommendations tailored to each CEO's needs. Additionally, the fund offers on-demand office hours for people operations, assisting CEOs in managing HR and recruiting effectively.
The Sarah Smith Fund's approach is characterized by a supportive environment that encourages founders to realize their visions. The firm leverages AI to enhance operational efficiency and streamline its investment processes, ensuring that it can effectively support its portfolio companies as they scale.
The Sarah Smith Fund has built a diverse portfolio of 17 companies across various sectors, primarily focusing on AI, fintech, and marketplaces. Notable portfolio companies include:
This diverse portfolio reflects the fund's commitment to investing in innovative solutions across various industries, particularly those that leverage AI technology to drive efficiency and growth.
Sarah Smith: Founder & Managing Partner. Sarah has a background in venture capital, having previously worked at Bain Capital Ventures and f7 Ventures. She leverages her extensive network, particularly within the Stanford ecosystem, to source deals and support portfolio companies. Sarah is known for her focus on founder CEOs and her commitment to providing tailored support through unique offerings like the CEO 360 review process.
To pitch to the Sarah Smith Fund, founders should email Sarah Smith at sarah@sarahsmith.fund. It is essential to include a well-structured pitch deck that outlines the business model, market opportunity, and team qualifications. The fund prefers detailed presentations that clearly articulate the startup's vision and operational strategy.
Response times may vary, but founders can expect to hear back within a few weeks. The fund encourages warm introductions, particularly from mutual connections within the Stanford network or the broader venture capital community, to enhance the chances of a successful pitch.
As of March 2026, the Sarah Smith Fund has made a total of 17 investments from its first fund, which has a target of approximately 50 companies. The fund's final close occurred in July 2025, securing $16 million for future investments. The firm continues to actively deploy capital in pre-seed and seed stage companies, emphasizing its focus on founder CEOs with strong educational backgrounds.
Recent activity highlights include the addition of several innovative startups to the portfolio, particularly in the AI and fintech sectors. The fund's unique approach, which includes a CEO 360 review process and on-demand office hours for people operations, has garnered attention within the venture capital community.
What are the investment criteria for the Sarah Smith Fund?
The Sarah Smith Fund primarily invests in pre-seed and seed stage companies led by founder CEOs, particularly those with strong educational backgrounds, such as degrees from Stanford. The fund looks for innovative solutions in sectors like AI, fintech, and marketplaces.
How can I apply or pitch to the Sarah Smith Fund?
Founders can pitch their ideas by emailing Sarah Smith directly at sarah@sarahsmith.fund. It is recommended to include a detailed pitch deck outlining the business model, market opportunity, and team background.
What makes the Sarah Smith Fund different from other venture capital firms?
The Sarah Smith Fund emphasizes a supportive approach, offering unique services such as a CEO 360 review process and on-demand office hours for people operations. This focus on founder support sets it apart from many traditional venture capital firms.
What is the geographic scope of the fund's investments?
The Sarah Smith Fund primarily invests in companies based in North America, focusing on early-stage startups that align with its investment thesis.
What is the average check size for investments?
The fund typically invests $250,000 or more in each portfolio company, providing substantial capital to support early-stage growth.
What kind of post-investment involvement can founders expect?
Founders can expect ongoing support through the fund's CEO 360 review process and access to on-demand office hours for people operations, ensuring they have the resources needed to navigate challenges and scale their businesses effectively.
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