
Upside Partnership
Description
Upside Partnership is a venture capital firm founded by renowned investors Chris and Crystal Sacca, based in Mill Valley, California. Launched with a distinct focus on seed-stage investments, the firm aims to partner with exceptional founders who are building companies poised for significant impact and high profile. Leveraging the Saccas' extensive experience and network from Chris's highly successful Lowercase Capital, Upside Partnership adopts a more curated and deeply engaged approach to early-stage funding. Their strategy is rooted in identifying visionary entrepreneurs and providing not just capital, but also strategic guidance and hands-on support to help scale nascent ventures.
The firm's investment philosophy is highly selective, often prioritizing founders with whom they have a pre-existing relationship or a strong, personal conviction. Upside Partnership seeks to be a true partner, emphasizing long-term relationships and providing comprehensive support beyond the initial capital injection. They are known for their founder-friendly terms and a commitment to helping portfolio companies navigate the challenges of early growth. This hands-on approach reflects their belief that the right support at the seed stage can significantly accelerate a company's trajectory towards becoming a market leader.
Upside Partnership typically deploys initial capital in the range of $250,000 to $500,000, focusing on the earliest stages of company development. While these initial checks are designed to provide crucial runway for product development and initial market validation, the firm also maintains the capacity to participate in follow-on rounds for their most promising portfolio companies. Their investment decisions are driven by the potential for disruptive innovation and the strength of the founding team, rather than strict sector limitations, though they have a history of backing transformative companies in consumer technology and enterprise software.
In essence, Upside Partnership represents a strategic evolution for the Saccas, allowing them to apply their proven investment acumen to a more concentrated portfolio of high-potential seed-stage ventures. Their reputation for identifying and nurturing groundbreaking companies, combined with their commitment to deep founder partnerships, positions Upside Partnership as a highly sought-after early-stage investor in the competitive venture capital landscape.
Investor Profile
Upside Partnership has backed more than 97 startups, with 2 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 2 rounds, about 2% of its total and boasts 18 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Pre Seed rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Canada, Israel.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Enterprise Software, Information Technology.
- Typical check size: $250K – $500K.
Stage Focus
- Seed (59%)
- Series A (26%)
- Pre Seed (7%)
- Series B (6%)
- Series Unknown (1%)
- Series C (1%)
Country Focus
- United States (97%)
- Canada (2%)
- Israel (1%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Enterprise Software
- Information Technology
- Internet
- Machine Learning
- Saas
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Fintech
- Human Resources
- Financial Services
Frequently Asked Questions
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