At a Glance
Union Square Ventures is a pioneering New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2003 by Fred Wilson and Brad Burnham. USV has established itself as one of the most influential early-stage investors through a distinctive thesis-driven approach focused on large networks of engaged users. The firm gained prominence with prescient early investments in transformative companies including Twitter, Tumblr, Etsy, and Coinbase, often backing entrepreneurs building platforms in markets that were initially underestimated. USV's investment philosophy centers on the belief that networks become more valuable as they grow, and they particularly focus on decentralized systems and protocols that can create new forms of economic value. The firm has been notably ahead of trends, investing in the sharing economy, blockchain technologies, and creator economy platforms before they became mainstream. With partners like Fred Wilson becoming influential voices in the venture community through thought leadership and blogging, USV has maintained its position as a top-tier seed and Series A investor while staying true to its network-focused investment thesis.
“Invests in large networks of engaged users, often in underestimated and under-served markets, with a focus on decentralized systems and protocols.”
USV (Union Square Ventures) 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.
USV (Union Square Ventures) is headquartered in New York, NY. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
USV (Union Square Ventures) focuses on investments in Consumer, Web3, Marketplace. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
USV (Union Square Ventures) manages approximately $1B in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.