Beta Boom

Beta Boom is a pre-seed venture capital firm that invests in founders who defy the Silicon Valley mold. Founded in 2018 by Sergio Pereira and Kimmy Paluch after leaving the Silicon Valley bubble, Beta Boom focuses on finding passionate, tenacious founders outside traditional tech hubs who are building solutions for real problems. The firm invests $350,000 to $500,000 in pre-seed software startups led by founders who do not fit the traditional venture capital pattern matching. Beta Boom has made 74% of its investments at pre-seed stage, making it one of the most active pre-seed funds in the country. ¹

The firm's thesis is simple: amazing founders are building huge, impactful tech companies in every corner of the United States, from Milwaukee to Miami, but they often lack access to capital and operational expertise that Silicon Valley founders take for granted. Beta Boom aims to bridge both gaps. ²

Origin Story

Beta Boom was born from frustration with Silicon Valley groupthink. In 2017, founding partner Sergio Pereira was reading about Juicero, the $400 internet-connected juicing machine that raised $118 million from top VCs before failing spectacularly when people realized a human hand could squeeze juice better than the device. [@techcrunc-juicero]

At the same time, founders outside Silicon Valley solving real problems could not raise $100K from the same investors. Sergio and Kimmy, his wife and business partner for over a decade, decided to leave the bubble. On MLK weekend in 2018, they sold their house in Oakland and launched Beta Boom to invest in founders from rising tech hubs and diverse backgrounds. ²

Investment Criteria

Beta Boom invests in pre-seed software startups based in the United States outside traditional Silicon Valley bubble. The firm specifically looks for founders who do not fit the traditional venture capital pattern matching. They evaluate founders based on potential, not pedigree. ⁴

What They Look For:

• Founders who are building for real problems, not shiny tech
• Diverse teams from non-traditional backgrounds
• Companies based outside the Bay Area, NYC, and LA
• Pre-seed to seed stage software startups
• Founders who are scrappy and tenacious

Industries They Focus On:

• Enterprise SaaS
• Healthcare
• Cybersecurity
• Vertical AI
• Future of Work
• Fintech ¹

How Beta Boom Supports Founders

Beyond capital, Beta Boom provides hands-on operational support which sets them apart from traditional VCs. The founding team has experience building product, engineering, and marketing teams at top startups and brands like Google and Bank of America. ²

Support Includes:

• Daily operational and strategic support
• Marketing and sales expertise
• Fundraising guidance
• Connections to operational expertise
• Help building product, engineering, and marketing teams ¹

Notable Focus Areas

Beta Boom is particularly focused on supporting founders in rising tech hubs across the country:

• Chicago: Beta Boom has done tech hub spotlights for Chicago founders
• Dallas-Fort Worth: Active in the Texas ecosystem
• Washington DC Metro Area: Supports founders in the DC area
• Seattle: Active in the Pacific Northwest

They also have specific resources for underrepresented founders including a Female Founders Guide. ¹

How to Connect

Application Process: Beta Boom accepts applications through their website. They have a dedicated apply page for pre-seed investment. The process is designed to be accessible to founders outside traditional networks. ³

What They Look For:

• Founders who have faced real challenges and built solutions from them
• Teams that do not fit Silicon Valley pattern matching
• Companies solving real problems for everyday Americans
• Diverse founding teams

Who to Reach Out To:

• Sergio Pereira (@sergpereira on Twitter) - Founding Partner
• Kimmy Paluch (@kimmy_paluch on Twitter) - Founding Partner

Pro Tip: Beta Boom explicitly looks for founders others turn down. If you have been rejected by traditional VCs for not fitting the mold, you are exactly who they want to meet. Do not self-filter - apply anyway. ³

Fast Process: They are known for relatively quick turnaround compared to traditional VCs. Submit your application through the apply page. ¹

References

1. Beta Boom - Official Website(accessed Apr 19, 2026)
2. Beta Boom Origin Story(accessed Apr 19, 2026)
3. Apply for Investment(accessed Apr 19, 2026)
4. Investment Criteria(accessed Apr 19, 2026)
5. Juicero Story - TechCrunch(accessed Apr 19, 2026)
6. Top Pre-Seed VC Funds - Beta Boom(accessed Apr 19, 2026)