Founders' Co-op
Overview
Founders' Co-op is a seed-stage venture capital firm based in Seattle, Washington, USA. Established in 2008 by Chris DeVore and Aviel Ginzburg, the firm focuses on investing in early-stage startups primarily in the Pacific Northwest. It is renowned for providing the first check-in for ambitious technical founding teams, especially those at the pre-product or pre-revenue stage. Over the years, Founders' Co-op has backed several successful companies, including Remitly, Outreach, and Auth0. As of 2025, their portfolio spans numerous tech sectors, emphasizing regional talent and community impact.
Recent Developments
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November 2025: Founders' Co-op announced their sixth fund, amounting to $50 million. This fund aims to support early-stage tech startups in the Pacific Northwest, consistent with their longstanding strategy of being the best first-check investor in their chosen market rather than scaling to compete with larger investment firms.
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October 2025: The firm made an investment in Logic, a San Francisco-based company within the Business/Productivity Software industry.
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March 2025: Founder Aviel Ginzburg launched 'Foundations,' a new Seattle-area hub for entrepreneurs to cultivate community engagement among local startup founders. This initiative enhances investment opportunities for Founders' Co-op.
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2024-2025: Throughout this period, they made several investments, including in land-use data startup Aarden AI and business automation AI company Logic. They also witnessed successful exits such as that of Shelf Engine earlier in 2025.
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Highlights from 2024: During the year, Founders' Co-op invested in organizations like Goodbill, a startup focused on uncovering and challenging medical billing errors.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington, USA |
| Founders | Chris DeVore, Aviel Ginzburg |
| Revenue | N/A |
| Profits | N/A |
| Key Investors | Limited partners include both regional and extra-regional backers |
| Industry | Venture Capital, Investment |
| Number of Employees | Small team, led by the founders |
Early History
Founders' Co-op was founded in 2008 during a time when Seattle was beginning to emerge as a significant tech hub. Co-founders Chris DeVore and Aviel Ginzburg, both former entrepreneurs, aimed to fill a gap in the local ecosystem by providing early-stage investment and support without the inflationary growth associated with larger venture capital firms. By focusing on pre-product and pre-revenue startups, they carved out a niche in the highly competitive Pacific Northwest region. Significant early investments include companies like Remitly and Outreach, which have become prominent players in their respective fields.
Company Profile and Achievements
Founders' Co-op operates uniquely with a lean team led directly by the founders. Their investment philosophy centers on placing early and significant bets on technical founding teams from the Pacific Northwest.
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Investment Strategy: Founders' Co-op specializes in being the first investor, often securing 10% ownership in companies at the seed stage by issuing substantial early-stage investments.
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Community Focus: Beyond capital, they are deeply invested in fostering a startup community in Seattle through initiatives like Foundations, which serves as a catalyst for startup growth by enhancing collaboration and resource-sharing among founders.
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Notable Achievements: Over 17 years, they've made 156 investments and counted 34 exits by 2025, with companies like Auth0, now owned by Okta, highlighting their investment foresight.
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Portfolio Management: Their portfolio includes a wide array of tech companies; most of which aim to tackle significant problems in fields like AI, enterprise software, and automation tools.
Current Operations and Market Position
Today, Founders' Co-op is recognized as a vital component of Seattle's startup ecosystem. Their consistent focus on local talent and regional growth has positioned them as a key player in nurturing the next generation of tech leaders in the Pacific Northwest. They continually seek to position themselves as the preferred early-stage backers who provide not only financial support but strategic guidance and community resources.
Conclusion
As of 2025, Founders' Co-op continues to be a significant force in early-stage venture capital across the Pacific Northwest. Their commitment to backing technical founders and fostering community through initiatives like Foundations underscores their unique approach to venture capital. Looking ahead, the firm aims to remain integral to Seattle's evolving tech landscape, promoting innovation and maintaining its reputation as a premier first-check investor.