First Round Capital is an early stage venture capital firm managed by Joshua Kopelman, Chris Fralic, Rob Hayes and Howard Morgan. We look to partner with entrepreneurs to build innovative technology companies.

We are seed-stage investors, often providing a company’s first outside capital, and are not afraid of investing in pre-revenue companies. We understand the challenges of launching a new product. We look to take an active role in most of the companies we invest in. We believe our experience, insight and expertise are far more valuable than our capital -- and we look for entrepreneurs who feel the same. 

What we look for:

We are early investors, often providing the company’s first outside capital at sizes of just a few hundred thousand dollars, and are not afraid of investing in pre-revenue companies and often participate in first angel rounds.

We look for companies that are able to leverage advances in distribution, technology or marketing to change industry economics or invent a new business model.

We tend to focus on companies and markets where we have a strong experience baseand ability to add value. Speaking broadly, this tends to focus us around technology-based, marketing focused companies – with an emphasis on consumer-facing business. [Note: We reject more deals for this reason than any other. We only invest in what we know -- and a rejection from us doesn't mean your business won't succeed...it just means we can't help it succeed].

Too many companies treat marketing and sales as a tactical afterthought. We believe marketing is strategic and seek companies that are marketing focused – with marketing requirements driving product development.

We have invested in the following New York City companies: