At a Glance
Rise of the Rest Seed Fund was founded by AOL co-founder Steve Case as part of his broader Rise of the Rest movement to democratize entrepreneurship across America. The fund specifically targets startups in what Case calls the "81%" - cities outside of Silicon Valley, New York, and Boston that receive only 19% of venture capital despite representing 81% of the population. The firm takes a thesis-driven approach to identifying and supporting high-potential entrepreneurs in emerging startup ecosystems, often investing in cities like Austin, Denver, Nashville, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh. Beyond capital, Rise of the Rest provides portfolio companies with access to mentorship, strategic partnerships, and the Revolution network. The fund has been instrumental in validating that world-class startups can emerge from anywhere, helping to shift venture capital allocation toward previously overlooked markets and founders.
“Investing in exceptional entrepreneurs building innovative companies in cities across America beyond the traditional tech hubs.”
Rise of the Rest Seed Fund primarily invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages. This means they focus on companies that are at the earliest idea or prototype phase.
Rise of the Rest Seed Fund is headquartered in Austin, TX. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
Rise of the Rest Seed Fund focuses on investments in Enterprise, Consumer, Digital Health. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
Rise of the Rest Seed Fund's typical investment check size ranges from $100K to $1M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
Rise of the Rest Seed Fund manages approximately $150M in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.
