Hustle Fund
Hustle Fund is an early-stage venture capital fund that invests in hustlers at the pre-seed and seed stages. Based in San Carlos, California, Hustle Fund has become known for its fast decision-making, founder-friendly approach, and irreverent culture. The firm invests $50,000 to $750,000 in early-stage startups and has backed companies including Webflow and NerdWallet. 1
Hustle Fund is distinctive in the VC world for being accessible, quick to decide, and genuinely helpful beyond capital. Their motto is "we invest in hilariously early startups" and they mean it - they will take meetings with founders at very early stages. 1
Why Hustle Fund is Different
Fast Decisions: Hustle Fund can make an investment decision within 1-2 meetings and wire money within the week. They do not wait for someone else to lead a round. This is incredibly valuable for founders who need capital quickly. 1
No Pretentiousness: Unlike many VCs, Hustle Fund is known for being approachable and not wasting founder time. They have an irreverent, fun culture while still being serious about helping founders succeed.
Redwood School: One of the most unique offerings is Redwood School, a free sales training program for portfolio founders. This teaches practical sales and customer acquisition skills. 3
Angel Squad: Hustle Fund runs Angel Squad, a program that teaches angel investing and gives members access to invest alongside Hustle Fund in portfolio companies. This creates a larger ecosystem of support for founders. 1
Investment Focus
Hustle Fund invests across industries but has specific areas of interest:
What They Look For:
- Founders who are hustling (hence the name)
- Early-stage companies (pre-seed to seed)
- Companies with strong potential for growth
- Founders who are coachable and open to learning
Industries:
- SaaS
- Fintech
- Consumer apps (sometimes)
- B2B services
- AI and automation
They explicitly state they look at "what you're hustling" - meaning they care about the problem you're solving and how relentlessly you're pursuing it. 1
Support for Founders
Beyond the check, Hustle Fund provides:
Redwood School: A complete sales training program that teaches founders how to acquire customers. This is free for portfolio companies and includes modules on outbound sales, inbound marketing, and building a sales engine. 3
Network Access: When you're in the Hustle Fund family, you get access to their network of over 1,000 VCs and many angels and operators. This is particularly valuable for first-time founders. 1
Events: They host regular events including:
- Founder Friends: Regular meetups for founders to connect
- Batter Up: Pitch practice sessions
- Camp Hustle Asia: An annual investor event in Bali (shows their global outlook)
Resources: Free blogs, books, and content including "Raise Millions" and "Deck Doctors" guides written by the team. 1
Notable Portfolio
Hustle Fund has backed several notable companies:
- Webflow: No-code website builder, now a major company
- NerdWallet: Personal finance platform that went public
The firm's portfolio spans hundreds of companies across various stages and industries. 5
How to Connect
Application Process: Simply fill out their typeform application at https://hustlefund.typeform.com/to/UGTnIt. They explicitly say "just hit us up with what you're hustling" - the application is straightforward and not formal. 4
Speed: If you're a fit, expect a decision within 1-2 meetings. They will not drag you along for months.
Pro Tip: Hustle Fund is particularly founder-friendly and known for saying yes quickly when they see the right fit. Do not over-polish your pitch - they appreciate authentic, hustling founders. If you have momentum (even small revenue or user growth), lead with that.
What Makes a Difference:
- Clear articulation of the problem you're solving
- Evidence that you're actively hustling (not just planning)
- Coachability - willingness to learn and adapt
- A strong why - why this, why now
Events: Attend their events (Founder Friends, Batter Up) to meet the team in person and build relationships. These are often more casual than typical VC events. 6
Where to Find Them:
- Twitter: @hustlefundvc
- YouTube: youtube.com/hustlefund (for content)
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hustle-fund
- Office hours posted regularly on the events page
The best path to Hustle Fund is a warm introduction from a founder in their portfolio, but they are genuinely accessible so applying directly works too. 1