
SciFi VC
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $500K – $10M
- Stage
- Seed, Series A
- AUM
- $200M+
- Sectors
- Deeptech, AI, Robotics +1
- Founded
- 2010
- HQ
- San Francisco, CA
About SciFi VC
SciFi VC is a deep technology venture firm that positions itself at the intersection of science fiction and reality, investing in companies developing breakthrough technologies that seem futuristic but have clear paths to commercialization. The firm focuses on areas like advanced manufacturing, robotics, space technology, and artificial intelligence, seeking entrepreneurs who are building solutions to humanity's most complex challenges. Founded by Ryan Bethencourt and other experienced investors, SciFi VC takes a hands-on approach with portfolio companies, providing not just capital but also technical expertise and strategic guidance. The firm's investment philosophy centers on identifying technologies that have the potential to fundamentally transform industries and create new markets, often backing companies that traditional VCs might view as too ambitious or technically risky.
Investment Thesis
“Backs founders building the science fiction technologies that will shape our future.”
Leadership Team
Max Levchin is the partner behind SciFi VC. He co-founded Confinity in 1998, the company that became PayPal, and served as its chief technology officer through eBay's 2002 acquisition; he later founded Slide and now runs the lending company Affirm. Born in Kyiv in 1975 and raised in Chicago after emigrating in 1991, he took a computer science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1997. Nellie Levchin is the fund's other partner, and published accounts credit her with sourcing several of its most successful positions as well as her own angel investments. Brooks Hosfield is a partner, Matt Therian is partner for finance and operations, and Mikaela Encarnacion runs the executive office. Five people are named in all, which keeps decisions inside a household rather than an investment committee and explains the fund's tolerance for technically ambitious, long-duration positions.
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
Fund History
SciFi VC is the personal venture vehicle of Max and Nellie Levchin rather than an institutional fund raised from outside limited partners, and it publishes no fund names, vintages or closed-capital figures. A federal Form D search returns no exempt-offering filing under the SciFi VC name, so no fund size is verifiable from the public record. The firm describes itself in the first person as a fund that partners with management teams solving hard problems requiring intense curiosity, intellectual depth and, often, science. Its published mandate spans fintech, AI infrastructure and breakthrough science covering energy, biotechnology, brain-computer interfaces and quantum computing, with secondary activity in enterprise software, healthcare and security. Selected positions it names include Anduril, Brex, Stripe, Uber, PsiQuantum, Virta, Clipboard Health, Aven, Capchase, Coast, Pomelo, Bland, Merge Labs, Panthalassa and Tekton Dynamics. Published accounts date the fund to 2010, which would make it one of the longer-running single-family venture platforms in Silicon Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does SciFi VC invest at?
SciFi VC 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.
Where is SciFi VC located?
SciFi VC is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
What sectors does SciFi VC focus on?
SciFi VC focuses on investments in Deeptech, AI, Robotics, Space. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is SciFi VC's typical check size?
SciFi VC's typical investment check size ranges from $500K to $10M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
How much does SciFi VC have under management?
SciFi VC manages approximately $200M+ in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.
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