
Goodwater Capital
Description
Goodwater Capital is a prominent venture capital firm headquartered in Burlingame, California, with a singular focus on the global consumer technology sector. Founded in 2014 by Chi-Hua Chien and Eric J. Kim, the firm distinguishes itself through a data-driven investment approach, leveraging proprietary analytics to identify and support disruptive consumer-facing businesses worldwide. Goodwater Capital invests across all stages of a company's lifecycle, from early-stage seed rounds to late-stage growth equity, demonstrating a flexible and long-term commitment to its portfolio companies.
The firm has consistently demonstrated its capacity to deploy substantial capital, having successfully raised significant funds. In 2021, Goodwater Capital closed two new funds, Goodwater Capital VIII and Goodwater Capital Select IV, each totaling $500 million, bringing their capital under management to a considerable sum. This was followed by another successful fundraising effort in 2023, where they secured an additional $1 billion across Goodwater Capital IX and Goodwater Capital Select V, further solidifying their position as a major player in consumer tech investing. These large fund sizes enable them to write substantial checks, supporting companies through multiple funding rounds.
Goodwater Capital's investment thesis centers on empowering exceptional entrepreneurs who are leveraging technology to redefine consumer experiences. Their portfolio spans a wide array of consumer tech sub-sectors, including social platforms, e-commerce, fintech, digital health, and entertainment. While they invest globally, they maintain a strong presence in the U.S. and actively seek opportunities in emerging markets. Typical initial investment sizes for Goodwater Capital can range from approximately $1 million for early-stage opportunities, extending up to $50 million or more for significant growth equity rounds, reflecting their multi-stage investment mandate and robust capital base.
Investor Profile
Goodwater Capital has backed more than 789 startups, with 34 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 95 rounds, about 12% of its total and boasts 22 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Pre Seed, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, India, South Korea.
- Strong thematic focus on FinTech, Financial Services, Software.
- Led 11 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $1M – $50M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (47%)
- Pre Seed (21%)
- Series Unknown (12%)
- Series A (8%)
- Series B (5%)
- Series C (3%)
- Series D (2%)
- Series E (1%)
- Series G (1%)
- Convertible Note (1%)
Country Focus
- United States (51%)
- India (9%)
- South Korea (6%)
- Mexico (4%)
- United Kingdom (4%)
- Singapore (3%)
- Indonesia (3%)
- Canada (3%)
- Vietnam (2%)
- Brazil (2%)
Industry Focus
- Fintech
- Financial Services
- Software
- Apps
- Health Care
- Mobile Apps
- E-commerce
- Information Technology
- Internet
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
Frequently Asked Questions
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