Integrity Comes First: We value honesty, transparency, consistency, and forthrightness above all else. While we look for the right Team, large TAM (Total Addressable Market), and market Tailwinds, we recognize that early-stage companies often pivot. That’s why we prioritize founder–market fit above everything else.
When we believe in a founder’s vision, we move quickly — with deep conviction and a full commitment to support them through every stage of their journey. We don’t aim to be the leader, but we take pride in being the leader’s most trusted guide.
We’re often the first major check on the cap table and frequently lead rounds. We invest at fair valuations, on fair terms, with complete transparency — when your term sheets are clean, there’s nothing to hide. Our average initial investment is $2.5 million, targeting an initial ownership position between 12% and 15%. When we commit, we go beyond capital — we open doors, leveraging our network to help fill out your round with high-quality, aligned investors who add more than just money.
Founders choose Uncork because of how we show up: with steady guidance, hard-won perspective, and meaningful support that moves the needle. We stay close during the early years — the most critical, intense, and defining period in a company’s life. As new investors join and boards evolve, we make space when it’s time, but we never disappear. When others lose their conviction or composure, we remain steady and engaged. Just ask our founders.
Our commitment is for the long haul. We offer perspective and support whenever it’s needed — even when the advice is tough to hear. The trust we build endures. Many of the most successful founders we’ve backed have chosen to partner with us again — for their next venture, and the one after that.
From tools that help CTOs and developers sleep at night to virtual prayer communities and AI-generated content detection — heck, we even invest in satellites and lab-grown diamonds.
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Yes, cash matters. But founders don’t choose Uncork just for the check. They choose us because of how we show up: steady, honest, and fully in it. We bring real perspective, hard-won through years of building, backing, and navigating the unknown. We know how much the early days matter. We help where it counts.
This is how we work. Direct. Committed. Founder-first. Always.
Every startup is different. We won’t hand you a formula. Instead, we collaborate one-on-one to help you build the version of your company only you can build. We offer tailored support, adapt alongside you, and connect you with trusted experts from our network. We say what we mean: our feedback is honest, direct, and always in service of your long-term success.
We help you raise the right money, from the right people, at the right time. Our team stays tapped into what matters at other VC firms—people, pace, and priorities—so you can frame your story and raise your next round with confidence.
Things will go sideways. Something breaks. A PR meltdown. Co-founders clash. A container gets held in customs. We've seen it all. When it gets messy, we don’t flinch. We lean in. You can count on us to listen, strategize, and stay with you through the hard parts.
A strong early team accelerates everything. We help you build it. We advise on hires, coach you through executive decisions, and help you shape a culture that scales. We bring pattern recognition, and we show up in the details.
At Uncork Capital, we believe founders are the driving force behind innovation, and one of our core missions is to help them bring their visionary ideas to life. Through carefully curated events — from intimate dinners and curated conversations to large-scale summits — we foster meaningful connections and encourage the exchange of ideas. Our expanding library of founder-focused playbooks provides actionable insights and proven strategies to address key challenges at every stage of company building.
We pride ourselves on supporting entrepreneurs through every milestone, from funding announcements and contract negotiations to hiring decisions and beyond. Every member of our team serves as a dedicated resource for Uncork founders, and we actively tap into the broader Uncork Community — a network of founders, investors, advisors, and top-tier service providers — to deliver comprehensive, hands-on support to our portfolio companies.
The Uncork platform has been developed over the years thanks to our strategic partnership with Goodwin & Silicon Valley Bank
Most founders find us through our network: other founders, co-investors, operators, and accelerators. Can’t find a warm intro? No problem. Send your pitch to: pitches@uncorkcapital.com. If it’s a fit, we’ll be in touch.
Uncork Capital has been backing bold founders at the seed-stage since before seed was a category. We started in 2004, raised one of the first institutional seed funds in 2007, and have since invested in 275+ companies — with 100+ outcomes that have collectively generated $59B of enterprise value and, yes, a few total wipeouts (because that’s part of the journey).
Our companies have raised more than $8B in follow-on capital from the world’s best venture capital firms. Today, we’re in the final stages of investing out of our $200M seed fund (Uncork VII) and a $200M opportunity fund (Plus III) for breakout winners. And on May 1st, 2025, we announced the raise of a $225M seed fund (Uncork VIII) and a $75M opportunity fund (Plus IV) that we will deploy over the next three years. Read our announcement here.