Lachy Groom

Lachy Groom is a prominent solo general partner and angel investor, widely recognized for his deep operational expertise gained as an early employee and leader at Stripe. His tenure at Stripe, where he held various roles including Head of Business Operations and Global Payments, provided him with invaluable insights into scaling technology companies and building critical infrastructure. This background heavily influences his investment approach, positioning him as a founder-operator who understands the nuances of early-stage growth.

Groom primarily focuses on early-stage investments, typically spanning pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds. His investment thesis centers on backing companies that are building foundational software, developer tools, fintech infrastructure, and B2B SaaS solutions. He seeks out founders with strong product vision and a deep understanding of their target markets, often gravitating towards businesses that address fundamental pain points in the digital economy.

As a solo GP, Lachy Groom is known for his high-conviction investment style, often writing significant first checks and providing hands-on support to his portfolio companies. His typical initial check sizes generally range from $250,000 for very early pre-seed rounds up to $5,000,000 for leading or co-leading seed and Series A rounds. For instance, his third fund, raised in 2021, secured $175 million, demonstrating his capacity to deploy substantial capital into promising startups. He aims to be a long-term partner, leveraging his operational experience to help founders navigate challenges related to product, go-to-market, and scaling.

Groom's portfolio includes a roster of high-growth companies that have gone on to achieve significant valuations, such as Ramp, Vercel, and Retool, among others. His ability to identify and support disruptive technologies early on has solidified his reputation as a shrewd and founder-friendly investor in the Silicon Valley ecosystem. He often takes a concentrated approach, allowing him to dedicate meaningful time and resources to each investment.