1517 Fund Champions Unconventional Innovators with "Misfits, Mutants, and Outlaws" Investment Strategy

San Francisco, CA – 1517 Fund, a venture capital firm co-founded by Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson, continues to solidify its unique investment philosophy, actively seeking out and backing unconventional founders. This distinctive approach was recently highlighted by biohacker Josie Zayner, who lauded the firm on social media for its commitment to empowering individuals outside traditional systems. Zayner stated in her tweet, > "Tbh @1517fund @DStrachman @William_Blake find the misfits, mutants and outlaws, the ones too unruly to survive in the system, and shield them while they set fire to the future. If you want polite, look elsewhere, if you want impossible, 1517 is where it begins." The reference to "William Blake" appears to be a metaphorical nod to the visionary and rebellious spirit of the renowned English poet, aligning with the fund's anti-establishment ethos.

Established in 2015 by the co-founders of the Thiel Fellowship, 1517 Fund positions itself as an "anti-establishment educational institution" rather than a conventional VC firm. Its core mission is to support "uncredentialed" individuals, renegade scientists, and college dropouts who are developing groundbreaking technologies. This philosophy stems from the belief that significant innovation often originates from those overlooked by traditional higher education and investment pathways.

The fund provides early-stage capital, offering grants, pre-seed, and seed funding to technology startups. Initial investments typically range from $50,000 for R&D or idea-stage projects up to $1,000,000 for deep tech and sci-fi seed-stage companies, with an average pre-seed check size of $400,000. 1517 Fund focuses on sectors including software, hardware with a data component, deep tech, and biotech, prioritizing the potential of the founder over conventional credentials.

1517 Fund has amassed a diverse portfolio of over 100 companies, including notable successes like Luminar, Loom, and Figma. In line with its ongoing commitment to its unique mandate, the firm made recent investments in 2025, including a $5.9 million seed round for Marathon Fusion and a $6.3 million seed round for cloud seeding startup Rainmaker in 2024. These investments underscore 1517 Fund's dedication to fostering innovation from unexpected sources, providing crucial support to those aiming to disrupt established norms and create the "impossible."