Basis Set Ventures

Basis Set Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with a distinct focus on artificial intelligence and its practical applications. Founded by Lan Xuezhao, a former General Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners and an early employee at Google, the firm leverages deep industry expertise to identify and support companies at the forefront of AI innovation. Basis Set Ventures primarily targets B2B software companies that are building AI-first solutions for enterprise challenges, including infrastructure, developer tools, and vertical SaaS applications. Their investment philosophy centers on backing founders who are not just integrating AI, but fundamentally rethinking existing workflows and creating new markets through intelligent systems.

TheThe firm is known for its hands-on approach, providing strategic guidance and operational support to its portfolio companies from the seed to Series A stages. They seek out companies that demonstrate strong technical differentiation, a clear path to commercialization, and a team capable of executing ambitious visions. Basis Set Ventures emphasizes the importance of data moats and proprietary AI models that can deliver significant value to businesses, driving efficiency, automation, and new capabilities across various industries.

Basis Set Ventures has steadily grown its capital base, reflecting its commitment to the AI ecosystem. The firm closed its first fund with $136 million in 2018, followed by a $165 million second fund in 2020, and a $200 million third fund in 2022, bringing their total assets under management to approximately $500 million. For initial investments, Basis Set Ventures typically writes checks ranging from $1 million to $5 million, often leading or co-leading seed and Series A rounds. This strategic capital deployment allows them to support promising startups through critical early growth phases, helping them scale their technology and expand their market reach.