Long Journey Ventures

Long Journey Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, co-founded by seasoned operators Ben Ling and Josh Elman. Both founders bring extensive experience from prominent tech companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as prior venture capital roles at Khosla Ventures and Greylock, respectively. The firm primarily focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments, aiming to be the first institutional capital for promising startups. Their operational backgrounds provide a unique perspective, enabling them to offer hands-on guidance and strategic support to their portfolio companies beyond just capital.

The firm's investment thesis centers on backing exceptional founders building innovative products that address significant market opportunities. While sector-agnostic to some extent, Long Journey Ventures has shown a keen interest across various domains, including consumer technology, enterprise software, fintech, and healthcare. They seek companies demonstrating strong product-market fit potential and a clear vision for growth. In 2020, Long Journey Ventures successfully closed its debut fund at $50 million, quickly establishing itself as a notable player in the early-stage ecosystem. Building on this momentum, they subsequently raised a second fund, closing it at $75 million in 2022, further solidifying their capacity to support nascent ventures.

Long Journey Ventures typically writes initial checks ranging from $500,000 to $3 million, positioning them to lead or co-lead early funding rounds. Their approach emphasizes deep engagement with founders, leveraging their operational expertise to help navigate critical early challenges such as product development, team building, and go-to-market strategies. The firm is known for its founder-friendly approach, providing not just financial backing but also strategic mentorship and access to a robust network. This comprehensive support system aims to accelerate the growth trajectory of their portfolio companies, making them an attractive partner for early-stage entrepreneurs.