Bolt

About The Fund

Bolt is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California that specializes in seed, early-stage, and Series A financing for startups, with a notable focus on hardware and related areas. The fund aims to invest in companies at the crossroads of the digital and physical worlds, targeting sectors such as software, IT, business solutions, hardware and manufacturing, IoT, HealthTech, logistics, robotics, aerospace and defense, healthcare and wellness, investment management, mobile, and consumer products. Bolt provides not only capital but also hands-on support by offering access to full-time engineering and design experts and a robust prototyping shop to aid in product development and manufacturing. They typically engage with companies that are preparing to ship products within the next 6-12 months, particularly those in the B2B and enterprise connected devices space. Bolstered by a team with experience in developing commercially successful hardware products, managing the conception and production of millions of units, and steering significant venture capital investments, Bolt aims for a proactive role in helping companies grow. The firm's investment range lies between $100,000 to $1,000,000, with a 'sweet spot' of about $250,000 per startup. They showcase an impressive portfolio with successful companies such as DipJar, Kuvee, Petnet, and Understory, and prioritize launching companies into the next stage by assisting them in securing additional, intelligent follow-on capital. Bolt has an established track record with its second fund closing in February 2015 with $25 million in commitments from strategic investors, including a combination of returning and new partners like Autodesk, Logitech, Grishin Robotics, and Cisco Investments. Through their website content and their featured blog posts and community projects, Bolt emphasizes their commitment to investing in startups that blend technology with cultural impact, focusing on user experience, cultural intersection, and product conviction.