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SignalFire is an AI-native venture capital firm founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm was established to disrupt traditional venture capital by leveraging data and technology to address challenges faced by early-stage startups. Since launching its first fund in 2015, SignalFire has grown to manage approximately $3 billion in assets under management (AUM), following a significant capital raise of over $1 billion in April 2025.
With a team of 85 professionals, including in-house recruiters, data scientists, and go-to-market leaders, SignalFire operates with a unique structure akin to a technology company. The firm’s proprietary machine learning platform, Beacon AI, tracks 650 million individuals and 80 million organizations, providing valuable insights to its portfolio companies. SignalFire has established a strong presence in the venture capital space, with a portfolio that includes 302 investments and 10 unicorns.
SignalFire's investment strategy is hyper-focused on applied AI, deliberately avoiding investments in AI foundation model builders. The firm targets companies with defensible business models and data moats across various sectors, including healthcare, cybersecurity, enterprise SaaS, and consumer products. SignalFire invests at stages ranging from pre-seed to Series B, with check sizes typically between $1 million and $100 million, allowing for concentrated investments in breakout companies.
The firm employs a sector-specific investment strategy, building long-term relationships with founders and providing support through its proprietary Beacon AI platform. This platform enhances SignalFire's investment approach by offering insights into talent intelligence and market trends, which are crucial for the growth of its portfolio companies.
SignalFire's portfolio includes a diverse range of companies across multiple sectors, with notable investments and exits. The firm has made 302 investments, including 10 unicorns. Key portfolio companies include:
Recent investments include Solace Health, which raised $130 million in a Series C round in February 2026, and Clutch Security, which secured $20 million in a Series A round in January 2025.
Chris Farmer - Founder and CEO of SignalFire, Chris has extensive experience in venture capital and technology. He has led numerous successful investments and is known for his data-driven approach to venture.
Matt Loper - CEO, Matt brings a wealth of experience in scaling technology companies and has been instrumental in SignalFire's growth.
Ilya Kirnos - Partner and CTO, Ilya has a strong background in engineering and technology, overseeing the development of SignalFire's Beacon AI platform.
Aayush Sharma - Senior Associate, Aayush focuses on sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities across various sectors.
Andrew Reid - Director of GTM Recruiting, Andrew specializes in helping portfolio companies build effective go-to-market strategies.
Diane Tang - Google Fellow, Diane brings deep expertise in AI and machine learning, contributing to SignalFire's investment thesis.
Jerry Yang - Founding Partner at AME Cloud Ventures, Jerry has a rich history in technology investments and provides strategic insights to SignalFire.
Startups interested in pitching to SignalFire should visit their website for detailed application instructions. The firm prefers pitches that include comprehensive information about the startup's market opportunity, competitive landscape, and growth strategy. While warm introductions can be beneficial, they are not strictly required. Response times may vary, but founders can expect timely feedback on their submissions.
SignalFire offers an Executive-in-Residence (XIR) program, which connects experienced operators with portfolio companies to provide mentorship and guidance. Additionally, the firm conducts 100 skill-building workshops each year, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of founders and their teams. These programs are designed to foster growth and operational excellence within the portfolio.
In April 2025, SignalFire raised over $1 billion, marking its largest fundraising effort to date and pushing its AUM to approximately $3 billion. This capital raise included a significant commitment of $100 million from CalPERS, marking their first investment in SignalFire. In January 2025, SignalFire led a $20 million Series A investment in Clutch Security, and in February 2026, the firm participated in a $130 million Series C round for Solace Health. These investments reflect SignalFire's ongoing commitment to deploying capital in the applied AI sector.
Q?
What are SignalFire's investment criteria?
SignalFire focuses on applied AI companies with defensible business models and data moats. The firm invests from pre-seed to Series B stages, with check sizes ranging from $1 million to $100 million.
Q?
How can startups pitch to SignalFire?
Startups can pitch by visiting SignalFire's website and following the application process outlined there. The firm encourages detailed presentations that highlight the startup's unique value proposition and market potential.
Q?
What makes SignalFire different from other venture capital firms?
SignalFire operates like a technology company, utilizing its proprietary Beacon AI platform to track market trends and talent intelligence. This data-driven approach enhances the support provided to portfolio companies.
Q?
What is SignalFire's geographic focus?
SignalFire primarily invests in North America, with some activities in Switzerland.
Q?
What kind of post-investment involvement does SignalFire have?
SignalFire offers extensive support through its in-house team, including recruiters, data scientists, and go-to-market leaders, as well as skill-building workshops and an Executive-in-Residence program.
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