Outlander VC
Outlander VC is a pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital firm that funds visionary founders building disruptive technology companies. Based in San Francisco, Outlander has backed some of the most successful companies in the world including Stripe, SpaceX, Lyft, Gusto, Scale AI, and Twitter. The firm invests $750,000 to $2.5 million in companies at the earliest stages, often before revenue or product-market fit. 1
What sets Outlander apart is their "founder-first" philosophy. They have a track record of being the first institutional investor in companies that became household names. Their strategy focuses on identifying exceptional founders rather than waiting for perfect pitch decks or traction metrics. 2
Investment Approach
Founder-First: Outlander invests in people, not pitch decks. They look for founders with the vision, intelligence, character, and execution capability to handle the chaos of a startup lifecycle. This means they will invest at the earliest stages, sometimes even before a company has generated revenue. 2
Stage: Pre-seed to seed, with checks ranging from $750K to $2.5M. They are comfortable being the first check in and can lead rounds or participate alongside other investors.
Track Record: Outlander has made over 150 early-stage investments over two decades. Remarkably, 10% of their seed-funded investments have become unicorns - an extraordinary hit rate. 1
Notable Portfolio
Outlander has backed some of the most transformative companies in tech:
Unicorns:
- Stripe: Payment infrastructure company valued at billions
- SpaceX: Space exploration company valued at over $100B
- Lyft: Ride-sharing company that went public
- Gusto: Payroll and HR platform
- Scale AI: Data labeling and AI infrastructure
- Twitter: Social media giant acquired for $44B
- Klarna: European fintech leader
- ClassPass: Fitness subscription platform
- Opendoor: Real estate tech
- Postmates: Delivery company acquired by Uber
- Andela: Engineering talent platform
- Bird: Electric scooter company
- Wish: E-commerce platform
- Omaze: Charitable gaming platform
- ID.me: Identity verification
This portfolio demonstrates Outlander's ability to identify founders who would go on to build generational companies. 3
Founder Support
Outlander is built by founders for founders. The team includes former operators who have built and scaled companies to thousands of employees and hundreds of millions in revenue. They understand the journey because they have lived it. 1
What They Provide:
- Hands-on operational support from experienced operators
- Network of successful founders and investors
- Guidance through fundraising, hiring, and scaling
- Ability to open doors with major VCs for follow-on funding
Geographic Focus
While based in San Francisco, Outlander invests nationally and even globally. They explicitly seek out founders in "non-core" tech markets - meaning outside the traditional Silicon Valley bubble. Their data shows deal flow and success coming from cities across the US including Seattle, Austin, Denver, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and New York. 2
How to Connect
Application Process: Submit through their website at outlander.vc. They accept applications on a rolling basis. There is also a dedicated pitch form for founders. 1
What They Look For:
- Founders with vision to change entire industries
- Ability to execute under uncertainty
- Character and integrity
- Big thinking - they back ambitious visions, not incremental improvements
Pro Tip: Outlander is known for moving fast when they see something they like. If you catch their attention, expect a quick response. They are also known for being founder-friendly and reasonable on terms.
Team Members:
- AJ Smith and team - check the team page for current partners
- They are active on Twitter (@outlandervc)
Events: Outlander hosts events and publishes "Field Guides" - helpful resources for founders. These are worth reading even if you are not pitching them, as they contain practical advice and insights into what VCs are looking for. 5
Key Value: If you are building something genuinely transformative and need a partner who understands the journey, Outlander is an excellent choice. Their check size is substantial for pre-seed, and their network can open doors that would otherwise be closed to first-time founders. 2
The best path is a warm introduction from someone in their network, but they also review applications directly. If you are building something that feels too big or too crazy for traditional VCs, Outlander might be exactly who you need to talk to. 1