Character

What is Character?

Character is an investment fund that focuses on Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A funding rounds. They primarily invest in FinTech and Financial Services, Retail and E-commerce, HealthTech and Fitness, Blockchain and Cryptos, Medical Devices and Hospital Services, Healthcare and Wellness, and the broader Consumer sector.

Their investment capacity ranges from a minimum of $500,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000, with a sweet spot of $500,000 for initial investments. Character seeks opportunities where they can add value beyond capital, targeting innovative startups in their preferred industries that are poised for growth and scale. One particular area of interest signaled by Character is in the sphere of workplaces and wellness, where they see potential for significant impact and returns.

The fund is associated with Jake Knapp, a New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Character.

Before creating Character, Knapp was instrumental in building products such as Microsoft Encarta and Gmail, co-founding Google Meet, and inventing the Design Sprint—a method used by hundreds of teams worldwide, including Miro, Slack, LEGO, IDEO, and NASA, to shape product strategy and manage time effectively.

His expertise in product development and process improvement is a key differentiator for the fund, providing portfolio companies with access to his experience and insights. Character leverages this deep operational knowledge to support startups not just financially, but also strategically, by guiding them through product innovation frameworks and growth optimizations.

What they say:

We are a firm founded by John Zeratsky, Eli Blee-Goldman, and Jake Knapp, providing both capital and operational support.

What we look for: We invest in groundbreaking ventures.