Josh Buckley
Description
Josh Buckley has transitioned from a successful entrepreneur to a highly regarded venture capitalist, founding Buckley Ventures to back promising early-stage companies. His journey includes co-founding the mobile gaming startup MinoMonsters, which was acquired by Glu Mobile, and serving as CEO of Product Hunt, a prominent platform for new product discovery. This operational background provides him with a unique, founder-centric perspective on venture investing.
Buckley Ventures operates with a focused strategy, primarily targeting seed and Series A rounds. The firm initially launched with a $10 million first fund, quickly demonstrating its ability to identify and support high-potential startups. Following its early success, Buckley Ventures significantly scaled its operations, raising a $100 million second fund to expand its investment capacity. The typical first check size from Buckley Ventures ranges from $500,000 to $5 million, allowing the firm to make meaningful contributions to its portfolio companies' initial growth phases.
Buckley's investment thesis often gravitates towards consumer-facing applications, social platforms, gaming, and developer tools, areas where his own entrepreneurial experience offers significant value. He is known for being a high-conviction investor who provides hands-on support and strategic guidance to founders, leveraging his deep understanding of product development and user acquisition. His approach emphasizes long-term partnerships and a commitment to helping companies navigate the challenges of scaling from inception.
Investor Profile
Josh Buckley has backed more than 46 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 6 rounds, about 13% of its total and boasts 6 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, Norway.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), FinTech.
- Typical check size: $500K – $5M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (57%)
- Series A (17%)
- Series B (15%)
- Pre Seed (4%)
- Series C (4%)
- Convertible Note (2%)
Country Focus
- United States (76%)
- United Kingdom (7%)
- Norway (2%)
- Canada (2%)
- Japan (2%)
- Poland (2%)
- India (2%)
- Ghana (2%)
- Pakistan (2%)
- Indonesia (2%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Fintech
- Financial Services
- Health Care
- Mobile Apps
- Developer Apis
- Consumer
- Internet
- Information Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
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