Expa

Expa is a distinctive venture firm established in 2013 by Garrett Camp, co-founder of Uber and StumbleUpon. Operating with a hybrid model, Expa functions both as a venture studio that conceptualizes and builds companies from the ground up, and as a traditional venture capital fund that invests in promising external early-stage startups. This dual approach allows Expa to leverage its deep operational expertise and network to support its portfolio, whether they are internally incubated or externally sourced.

As a venture studio, Expa actively participates in the creation process, providing significant resources in design, engineering, and product development to transform ideas into viable businesses. This hands-on methodology aims to de-risk the initial stages of company formation, focusing on sectors like consumer technology, SaaS, and marketplaces. Companies like Reserve (acquired by Resy/Amex) and Current are examples of ventures that have emerged from Expa's studio model, showcasing their capacity to build and scale innovative solutions.

Beyond its studio activities, Expa's venture capital arm strategically invests in Seed and Series A rounds of external companies. The firm typically seeks to partner with founders who are addressing large markets with disruptive technologies. Expa announced its second fund, Expa II, in 2019, with a total capital commitment of $100 million, demonstrating its continued commitment to early-stage investing. Their investment strategy emphasizes providing not just capital, but also strategic guidance and access to their extensive network of industry leaders and operators.

For its initial investments, Expa generally writes cheques ranging from $500,000 for seed-stage companies up to $5,000,000 for Series A rounds. This range reflects their focus on providing substantial early capital to help startups achieve critical milestones. The firm's value proposition extends beyond funding, offering a unique blend of operational support, strategic insights, and a founder-centric approach, making them a significant player in the early-stage venture ecosystem.