
Draper Dragon
Description
Draper Dragon, formerly known as DFJ DragonFund, is a prominent cross-border venture capital firm based in San Mateo, California. Established as a joint venture between the globally recognized Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) and Draper Dragon, the firm leverages a powerful network and deep expertise to bridge the innovation ecosystems of the United States and China. This unique positioning allows them to identify and support groundbreaking technology companies with significant global market potential, fostering growth and market expansion across continents.
The firm primarily focuses on early-stage to growth-stage investments, targeting companies that are developing disruptive technologies across a diverse range of sectors. Their investment thesis centers on areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), fintech, biotech, new materials, advanced manufacturing, and consumer technology. Draper Dragon seeks out visionary entrepreneurs who are building scalable solutions and possess the ambition to expand their reach across international markets, benefiting from the firm's extensive network and strategic guidance in both Eastern and Western markets.
Draper Dragon has demonstrated a consistent ability to raise substantial capital, reflecting investor confidence in their cross-border strategy and investment acumen. Their most recent fund, Draper Dragon Fund IV, successfully closed at $400 million, underscoring their capacity to make significant investments. While specific check sizes can vary based on the stage and needs of the company, their typical initial investment for early to growth-stage ventures generally ranges from $2 million to $15 million, with potential for substantial follow-on capital. This allows them to support companies from their nascent stages through significant growth milestones, providing not just capital but also strategic support and access to a global network of partners and resources.
Investor Profile
Draper Dragon has backed more than 80 startups, with 13 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 14 rounds, about 18% of its total and boasts 1 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Singapore, China.
- Strong thematic focus on Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, FinTech.
- Led 2 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $2M – $15M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (48%)
- Series A (21%)
- Series Unknown (9%)
- Pre Seed (5%)
- Angel (5%)
- Series B (4%)
- Initial Coin Offering (4%)
- Private Equity (3%)
- Series C (1%)
- Series D (1%)
Country Focus
- United States (46%)
- Singapore (10%)
- China (6%)
- Canada (5%)
- France (5%)
- India (5%)
- Hong Kong (4%)
- United Kingdom (3%)
- Puerto Rico (3%)
- Cayman Islands (1%)
Industry Focus
- Blockchain
- Cryptocurrency
- Fintech
- Information Technology
- Web3
- Financial Services
- Finance
- Software
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Bitcoin
Frequently Asked Questions
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