Cowboy Ventures
Venture capitalPalo Alto · Pre-Seed–Series A · 33 people tracked
Also known as COWBOY CAPITAL, LLC
Investment thesis
Cowboy Ventures is purpose-built for partnering with founders at the seed stage. The firm concentrates on pre-seed and seed-stage startups, with a large share of its investments made pre-product. It aims to help founders build generational companies by contributing connections, operating experience, and hands-on, human-centered support throughout the journey from seed to Series A.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 33 people
from the firm's website & curated & public directories
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What they invest in
from 19 of 99 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×7Enterprise Software ×7SaaS ×7Consumer ×5E-commerce ×3Developer Tools ×2Direct to Consumer ×2GovTech ×2
HQs:United States×20
Investments · 99 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathSan Francisco, US
Board seatTed Wang· per SEC Form D · $14.2M raise · filed Feb 2021
San Diego, US
Board seatTed Wang· per SEC Form D · $126.8M raise · filed Mar 2025
Oakland, US
Ted Wang(Director)Michael DeVries(Executive Officer, Director)Bala Krishna Kandula(Executive Officer, Director)John Wallace(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatTed Wang· per SEC Form D · $2M raise · filed Mar 2019
Arcol is an authoring platform that enables architects and design teams to create buildings using AI agents and construction intelligence integrated into the design process.
AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechDeveloper Tools
Provides AI-powered email security that detects and blocks phishing threats, including business email compromise (BEC), email-borne malware, and multi-channel link-based attacks across email and collaboration apps.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityEnterprise Software
San Francisco, US
Michael Levit(Director)David Wu(Director)Jason Johnson(Executive Officer, Director)
Branch is an AI-powered mobile measurement partner (MMP) and omnichannel linking platform that helps brands measure marketing impact and guide customers across apps, web, email, paid media, social, and connected TV.
AdTechAI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaS<UNKNOWN>, US
Mada Seghete(Founder)Mike Molinet(Founder)
San Francisco, US
Ido Leffler(Director)Tina Sharkey(Executive Officer, Director)
Brit + Co is a digital media company that inspires and educates women through content, online classes, and products focused on creativity and DIY lifestyle.
ConsumerCreator EconomyMedia & Entertainment
Brit Morin(Founder)
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ChartHop provides a people operations platform that unifies people data and HR workflows including onboarding, compensation management, performance reviews, and employee engagement surveys.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHR TechSaaSBrooklyn, US
Ian White(Executive Officer, Director)
Document sharing and analytics service; acquired by Dropbox.
Dollar Shave Club offers razors and grooming products through a subscription model, delivering sharp stainless steel blades and shaving essentials directly to consumers at lower price points.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceLos Angeles, US
Michael Dubin(Founder)inMichael Jones(Director)David Pakman(Director)Christopher Marshall(Director)Daniel Murray(Executive Officer)Kevin Datoo(Executive Officer)
AI-native security assurance platform for GRC transformation.
Drop is a gaming collaboration hub under CORSAIR that partners with video game titles to create branded hardware and merchandise, including gaming peripherals, streaming equipment, and accessories for gamers and esports enthusiasts.
ConsumerGamingHardware
St. George, US
Lawrence Kosick(Executive Officer, Director)Neil D'Souza(Executive Officer, Director)Matthew Greenfield(Director)
Ironclad is an AI platform for digital contract management that helps companies execute faster deals, reduce contract surprises, and measure value.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLegalTechSaaSSan Francisco, US
Jason Boehmig(Founder/CEO)inJason Springer(Chief Executive Officer)Jeremy Smith(President)Vedavati Verma(Chief Technology Officer)Jason Herman(Chief Product Officer)Steve Loughlin(Director)
Kimono Labs provides browser-based tools that allow users to convert unstructured website data into machine-readable APIs without coding knowledge, using a bookmarklet or Chrome extension to automate web scraping and crawling.
Developer ToolsEnterprise SoftwareLos Angeles, US
Ryan Rowe(Founder)in
Mon Ami provides outcome measurement and impact documentation software for social service agencies, helping them prove program effectiveness, comply with regulatory requirements, and secure funding by centralizing evidence from assessments, service hours, and caseworker notes.
GovTechImpact & Social GoodPalo Alto, US
Joy Zhang(Co-founder)Madeline Dangerfield-Cha(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
BoardClint Korver(Director)
Mutiny is an AI-powered GTM assistant that helps customer-facing teams create branded marketing assets, conduct account research, and manage sales workflows.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSales TechNew York City, US
Nikhil Mathew(Founder)inJaleh Rezaei(Founder)inBogomil Balkansky(Director)
Rows marked “SEC filing” are inferred from directors named on the company's SEC Form D — public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Cowboy Ventures invest at?
- Cowboy Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is Cowboy Ventures's typical check size?
- Cowboy Ventures typically writes checks of $500K – $4M.
- What sectors does Cowboy Ventures focus on?
- Cowboy Ventures focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Consumer, Enterprise Software, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Cowboy Ventures located?
- Cowboy Ventures is headquartered in Palo Alto, US.
- Does Cowboy Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Cowboy Ventures leads investment rounds.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamE988 Cowboy Ventures' Aileen Lee on pioneering diversity in tech & VC, lessons from backing winners
This Week in Startups · Aileen Lee
Aileen Lee (Cowboy Ventures) & Emily Chang (Bloomberg) - Ten Years of Unicorns: What's next?
Startup Grind · Aileen Lee
4 Lessons from Aileen Lee @ Cowboy Ventures
ConfluenceVC: The VC Operating Playbook · Aileen Lee
The Unicorn Club 10 years later with Cowboy Ventures’ Aileen Lee | Equity Podcast
TechCrunch · Aileen Lee
'Unicorn' headquarters dispersing to different cities after COVID: Cowboy Ventures' Aileen Lee
Aileen Lee · cnbc.com
Aileen Lee (Cowboy Ventures) + Rachel Carlson (Guild Education) | TechCrunch
Aileen Lee · techcrunch.com
Images
Co-investors · 97
Both backed Charthop · Dollar Shave Club
Both backed Branch · Kimono Labs
Both backed August Home · Guild
Both backed Dollar Shave Club · Mon Ami
Both backed Mon Ami · Guild
Both backed Arcol · Effx
Both backed Guild · Uplimit
Both backed Arcol
▶85 more co-investors
Greylock PartnersUncork CapitalInsight PartnersSV AngelDCVC (Data Collective)Tiger Global ManagementMayfield FundAdditionMaveronAugust CapitalBaseline VenturesUpside PartnershipReach CapitalLightShed VenturesGeneral CatalystLightspeed Venture PartnersNew Enterprise Associates (NEA)Index VenturesNotable CapitalBain Capital VenturesFirst Round CapitalKleiner PerkinsBoxGroupCoatue ManagementTrue VenturesIVP (Institutional Venture Partners)CRV (Charles River Ventures)ACME CapitalLiquid VenturesAfore CapitalFloodgateBond Capital ManagementAcrew CapitalTrinity VenturesTrajectory VenturesHack VCNot Boring CapitalSocial LeverageHarrison Metal2048 VenturesQueensBridge Venture PartnersUpfront VenturesVibe CapitalLightbankHustle FundGSV AccelerationSalesforce Japan Co.,Ltd.NorthzoneThe Chernin Group (TCG Crypto)FootworkNext Play VenturesNextGen Venture PartnersCompany CapitalHighland Capital PartnersAnthemis VentureMucker CapitalBrand Foundry VenturesRecursive VenturesFormation GroupLa FamigliaConvictionMakers FundMorado Venture PartnersEnsemble VCGFT VenturesDefy PartnersCoalition OperatorsCrane Venture PartnersVista Venture PartnersSchematic VenturesCambrian VenturesEvolve VC FundsFin CapitalFirework VenturesM25C2 VenturesDream MachineSaturn PartnersCrossover VCEveningDispersion Capital1982 VenturesU&I VenturesBull City Venture PartnersVerity Venture Partners
Firms observed investing alongside Cowboy Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Cowboy Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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