Bain Capital Ventures launched its venture scout program in May 2017 to gain greater visibility into early-stage investment opportunities and expand deal sourcing beyond the firm's direct network. The program represents BCV's commitment to partnering with distributed investors and scouts who can identify promising founders and companies at the earliest stages. BCV's scout program operates through AngelList, a platform designed specifically to facilitate scout investing. This structure differs from traditional in-house scout networks, as it provides transparency about which venture firms are supporting particular scouts, addressing a key market concern about conflicts of interest when scouts also advise on venture funding decisions. Managing director Salil Deshpande articulated BCV's philosophy: scouts write "small, angel-size checks into early-stage startups, funded by BCV," and the firm wants "founders to feel that the experience of taking money from a BCV scout is nearly indistinguishable from working with an angel who is investing their own dollars." This emphasis on scout authenticity and independence helps maintain founder relationships and deal quality.