Hustle Fund

Hustle Fund is a venture capital firm established in 2017, specializing in early-stage investments, particularly at the pre-seed and seed stages. The firm is known for its founder-friendly approach, focusing on entrepreneurs who demonstrate exceptional speed, execution, and grit, often referred to as "hustlers." They aim to democratize wealth through startups by providing capital, knowledge, and networks globally. Hustle Fund typically writes initial checks ranging from $25,000 to $500,000, often being the very first institutional investor in a startup.

The firm was co-founded by Elizabeth Yin, Eric Bahn, and Shiyan Koh, who met at Stanford University. Their mission stemmed from a desire to support founding teams that might not possess traditional pedigrees or credentials but exhibit strong execution capabilities. Hustle Fund employs a unique investment model where they quickly provide a small initial check to promising teams, then collaborate on a growth project to observe their "hustle" before deciding on larger follow-on investments.

Hustle Fund invests across a diverse range of sectors, including information technology, healthcare, financial services, B2B software, digital health, fintech, health technology, SaaS, blockchain, AI, consumer, and real estate. Notable companies in their portfolio include HoneyBook, The Pill Club, Nova Credit, and Berbix. The firm has made hundreds of investments, with recent activity in areas like multimedia and design software, network management software, and business/productivity software.

The team at Hustle Fund comprises experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and operators, including co-founders Elizabeth Yin, Eric Bahn, and Shiyan Koh, along with partners like Haley Bryant. They emphasize providing hands-on support, mentorship, and access to their extensive network. Hustle Fund also operates the "Angel Squad," a community of over 2,000 angel investors who co-invest alongside the firm and receive education on venture investing, further expanding their ecosystem of support for startups.