At a Glance
Collab Fund, formerly known as Collaborative Fund, was founded in 2010 by Craig Shapiro with a unique investment philosophy centered around backing companies that benefit from collaborative behaviors rather than competitive zero-sum dynamics. The New York-based firm applies what they call the 'Villain Test' - avoiding investments in companies that could become harmful monopolistic giants. The fund focuses on consumer and climate investments at the seed and Series A stages, seeking businesses that create positive network effects and align individual incentives with collective benefit. Notable portfolio companies include Lyft, Reddit, Warby Parker, and AngelList - all companies that exemplify collaborative or democratizing business models. The firm has been particularly prescient in identifying companies that harness the power of community and shared value creation. Under current leadership, Collab Fund continues to emphasize investments in sustainable and socially beneficial businesses while maintaining strong financial returns.
“Invests in companies that benefit from collaborative behaviors and avoid those that rely on harmful or extractive business models.”
Collab Fund primarily invests at the Seed, Series A stages. This means they focus on companies that are building their initial product and finding product-market fit.
Collab Fund is headquartered in New York, NY. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
Collab Fund focuses on investments in Consumer, Climate. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
Collab Fund's typical investment check size ranges from $500K to $1M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
Collab Fund manages approximately $150M in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.
