Investor Profile: XYZ Venture Capital — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

For founders in fintech and enterprise software who need more than a cheque, XYZ Venture Capital funding is built around speed and connections. The San Francisco firm was founded by Ross Fubini and announced itself publicly in December 2020 with its second fund, after a first fund whose early investments were already worth over $6 billion in aggregate value. If you are exploring how to get funding from XYZ Venture Capital, the firm's promise is to act as an extension of your early team.

Investment thesis

XYZ Venture Capital backs early-stage companies in fintech infrastructure, enterprise collaboration and what it calls tech-forgotten industries, such as insurance and the public sector. The idea is that these sectors are large, slow to change and underserved by modern software, so a focused team with the right introductions can carve out a new space faster than a generalist. The firm also stresses transparency: from due diligence onwards, it works with founders on milestones, first customers and the story that will win the next round.

Sectors and stages

The core focus is fintech and enterprise technology at pre-seed, seed and Series A. XYZ Venture Capital positions itself for the hardest stretch of company building, between formation and Series A, when founders must work out what to build, with whom, and who the first customers are.

Fund size and cheque size

Fund II, announced in December 2020, was an $80 million early-stage fund. The firm does not publish a standard cheque size on its public site, so its cheque size is not publicly disclosed. By its own announcement it had made more than 40 investments at that point.

Notable portfolio

• Anduril — defence technology, one of the firm's best-known early backings, linked to founder Ross Fubini's long Palantir network.
• Mosaic — financial planning software for modern finance teams.
• Saltbox — flexible warehousing and logistics space for small businesses.
• Newfront Insurance — technology-led insurance brokerage.
• Nova Credit — cross-border credit data for newcomers and lenders.
• Very Good Security — data security and compliance infrastructure.

Partners and team

Ross Fubini is the founder and managing partner, formerly of Kapor Capital, Canaan Partners and Village Global. He is known for introductions that changed companies, including connecting Palantir's first business hire with its earliest engineer. Partner Chauncey Hamilton, recruited from First Round Capital, joined to help build the firm alongside him.

Programs run, credits and perks

XYZ Venture Capital runs no named accelerator programme and publishes no standard credits or perks package. Its programme, in effect, is hands-on help: deciding what to build, finding first customers, and connecting founders with the people who can lead the next round. That network, built over a decade advising leaders at Palantir and beyond, is the firm's main non-capital offer.

How to apply for funding

There is no public application form on xyz.vc for founders to pitch through. The practical route is a warm introduction from a founder, operator or investor who knows the team, ideally with a short note on the problem, the wedge into a tech-forgotten market, and the first customers you can already name.