Kevin Mahaffey

Kevin Mahaffey is a prominent entrepreneur and angel investor based in San Francisco, widely recognized for his foundational role in the mobile security and AI sectors. He co-founded Lookout, a pioneering mobile security company that raised over $280 million in venture capital, providing him with deep insights into scaling technology businesses and navigating complex market landscapes. This experience has significantly shaped his approach to investing, focusing on disruptive technologies and strong founding teams. Mahaffey's investment philosophy is characterized by an early-stage focus, often participating in seed and Series A rounds of companies poised for significant growth and impact.

Mahaffey's investment portfolio showcases a keen eye for transformative technology companies across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, space, and enterprise software. His notable investments, as tracked by platforms like Crunchbase, include early stakes in highly successful ventures such as OpenAI, Figma, Anthropic, Anduril Industries, and Instacart. He has demonstrated a willingness to back ambitious projects from their nascent stages, leveraging his operational expertise to support founders. For instance, he participated in the seed round of Humane, a company focused on AI-powered devices, and was a lead investor in Stork Club, a fertility benefits platform that secured a $2.7 million seed round.

As an active angel, Kevin Mahaffey typically deploys capital in the range characteristic of successful founders and "super angels." While specific check sizes are not always publicly disclosed, his participation in significant seed and Series A rounds suggests initial investments generally fall between $100,000 and $1,000,000. This range reflects his capacity to provide meaningful early capital to promising startups, often alongside institutional venture capital firms. His track record includes two reported exits, Cruise and Instacart, underscoring his ability to identify and support companies that achieve successful liquidity events. Mahaffey continues to be an influential figure in the startup ecosystem, contributing both capital and strategic guidance to the next generation of innovators.