1517 Fund

General contacts
Investor type

VC

Founded

2015

AUM

$175 M

Location

San Francisco, California, United States

Investment Ticket

$1-5 m

Investment Stage

Pre-seed Seed

Region of investment

North America
Investor profile last updated: 16 August, 2026

Profile

1517 Fund is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, founded in 2015 by Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson. The firm is unique in its focus on supporting young entrepreneurs, particularly those without traditional academic credentials, at the earliest stages of their ventures. Inspired by the Thiel Fellowship, 1517 Fund seeks out individuals who challenge conventional norms and have a strong interest in technology and science. The team is small but dedicated, often engaging with potential founders through events and mentorship long before they are ready for traditional venture capital.

The firm invests in a range of sectors including AI, Blockchain/Crypto, Software, Digital, and Mobile/Apps, with a primary focus on North America. Investment sizes typically range from $50,000 to $1 million, reflecting their commitment to early-stage companies. 1517 Fund manages over $175 million in capital, utilizing both traditional venture funding and special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for select investments. While specific limited partners are not disclosed, the firm is known for its community-driven approach, supporting over 6000 members and deploying more than 200 grants annually.

Notable investments by 1517 Fund include Ethereum - blockchain platform, Figma - web-based design tool, OYO Rooms - hospitality service, Luminar - lidar and perception technology, and Lambda - AI training platform. The firm has a reputation for backing founders who push the boundaries of science and technology, often before they are recognized by mainstream institutions.

Industry

Energy MedTech AI Blockchain/Crypto Travel Transportation Telecommunications Sports/SportsTech Software Security Robotics Real Estate Other Mobile/Apps Media and Entertainment Marketing and Advertising Healthcare Services Gaming Foodtech Food and Beverage Fintech Financial Services Fashion/Beauty Digital LegalTech HealthTech AdTech TravelTech Biotechnology Consumer Products Consumer Services (B2C) Hardware SaaS CleanTech Machine Learning (ML)

1517 Fund Funds

Name Type
Questionare
Industry
Questionare
Stage
Questionare
Region 		Size AUM Launch date
1517 Fund I
Venture Capital (VC)
Biotechnology
Consumer Products
Consumer Services (B2C)
Hardware
SaaS
Security
Software
CleanTech
Machine Learning (ML)
Pre-seed
Seed
North America
$5-10 m
$20 M
June 2015
1517 Fund III
Venture Capital (VC)
Biotechnology
Consumer Products
Consumer Services (B2C)
Hardware
SaaS
Security
Software
Machine Learning (ML)
Pre-seed
Seed
North America
$5-10 m
$65 M
June 2022

Contacts

Name
Title
Email
Social Networks
avatar
Harry Gandhi Founder turned investor
Founder turned investor
h•••@•••
LinkedIn
avatar
Michael Patrick Gibson Co-founder and General Partner
Co-founder and General Partner
m•••@•••
LinkedIn
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FAQs about 1517 Fund

1517 Fund is a venture capital firm. It backs companies at Pre-seed and Seed, writing tickets of $1-5 m.
1517 Fund is located in San Francisco, California, United States.
1517 Fund was founded in 2015.
1517 Fund invests in companies and startups in Energy, MedTech, AI, Blockchain/Crypto, Travel, Transportation, Telecommunications, Sports/SportsTech, Software, Security, Robotics, Real Estate, Other, Mobile/Apps, Media and Entertainment, Marketing and Advertising, Healthcare Services, Gaming, Foodtech, Food and Beverage, Fintech, Financial Services, Fashion/Beauty, Digital, LegalTech, HealthTech, AdTech, TravelTech, Biotechnology, Consumer Products, Consumer Services (B2C), Hardware, SaaS, CleanTech, Machine Learning (ML).
1517 Fund invests in companies and startups in North America.
1517 Fund invests in companies and startups at Pre-seed, Seed.
1517 Fund usually invests $1-5 m on average.
1517 Fund has around $175m assets under management.
1517 Fund last fund was created/launched in 2022-06-15
1517 Fund can be reached through its website 1517fund.com, its LinkedIn page and its X account. Its general enquiries address is [email protected]. Cold-mailing a general inbox rarely reaches a partner, so Private Equity List also lists the investment-team contacts for 1517 Fund — names, roles, verified work emails and LinkedIn profiles — available on a Pro plan from $129/month (see pricing). Contacts are sourced from the firm's website and LinkedIn and re-verified on a rolling cycle. Spot a stale contact, or none at all? Report it — we re-run that firm within 48h and get back to you.
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Private Equity List re-verifies investor profiles on a rolling cycle, pulling from the firm's own website and LinkedIn rather than a one-off import. This profile was last updated on 16 August, 2026. Something out of date here? Report it — we re-run that firm within 48h and get back to you.