Draper Associates
Silicon Valley · Pre-Seed–Series A · 17 people tracked
Investment thesis
Draper Associates invests in founders building transformational businesses that reinvent entire industries, particularly in frontier sectors like AI, robotics, cryptocurrency, healthcare innovation, and aerospace. The firm is stage-agnostic and sector-agnostic, moving early from pre-seed through Series A. Beyond capital, the firm provides strategic guidance, network access, and conviction drawn from four decades of backing category-defining companies that reshape markets and industries.
Source: firm website, verified Jul 19, 2026.
Team · 17 people
from the firm's website
CEO of DraperU and partner at DraperU Ventures seeding founders in frontier tech at intersection of AI, aerospace, defense, and critical infrastructure. Seeded 3 unicorns and made over 57 investments. Works with 60+ governments to bring frontier technologies to local communities.
Tim Draper, a third-generation venture capitalist, co-founded Draper Fisher Jurvetson and now invests through Draper Associates. He is known for early bets on Hotmail, Skype, Tesla, and Twitch, a headline-making 2014 purchase of US Marshals-auctioned bitcoin, and Draper University, his entrepreneurship school in San Mateo.
Partner at Draper Associates and founding partner at Draper Dragon with over 20 years of venture investing. Seeded over 15 technology unicorn companies across software/AI, healthcare/biotech, crypto/fintech, and deep-tech. Previously worked in R&D at MIT and Intel, then investment banking and corporate venture roles.
Principal leading blockchain and cryptocurrency investments and founder of the BitcoinFi Accelerator. Heads the NYC office. Previously worked as trader at BNP Paribas and in blockchain roles including business development at Fluidity and leading Atari's blockchain division.
Principal leading healthcare and biotech investments with interest in regenerative medicine and AI & robotics applications. Co-head of NYC office. Previously co-founded FLIK, worked at On Deck leading the Longevity Biotech arm, and conducted research in infectious disease and neuroimaging.
Venture partner and Member of the House of Lords. Advisor to C3 AI and DigitalOcean. Founded NetZeroAg, an agtech business. Previously analyst at 3i Group and managing director at The Electrum Group with expertise in cross-border transactions.
Venture partner focused on deep tech investing including dual-use and space technologies. Over two decades of investing experience spanning investment banking, hedge funds, and venture capital with deep tech expertise.
Venture partner and founder of Dalma Capital and AIM Summit. Over 15 years in financial services specializing in cross-border transactions and M&A. Expertise spans education, EdTech, AI, datacenter, blockchain, and fintech with global deal experience across six continents.
Data advisor and founder/general partner of Ensemble VC, an early-stage firm backing audacious technology teams. Led the first human-powered Arctic Ocean crossing and developed investment playbook emphasizing trust, curiosity, and endurance.
Assistant Controller managing fund financials with 18 years of tenure at the firm.
Member of the investment team based in Austin, Texas. Previously Vice President at Blackstone focusing on growth financing for energy companies. Term member of the Council of Foreign Relations.
Chief Financial Officer with over 25 years at the firm leading financial and compliance functions. Previously worked in public accounting and tax advisory at PWC Hong Kong and GROCO serving multinational corporations.
Showrunner and Director of Meet the Drapers, the VC pitch show featuring the Draper family and international entrepreneurs pitching with viewer investment opportunities.
Chief of Staff to Andy Tang supporting strategic initiatives, operations, and cross-functional collaboration. Brings strong analytical and operational expertise to firm operations.
Investor focused on early-stage ventures with interests in fintech and Web2-to-Web3 adoption. Co-founder of CUBE Summit connecting top university blockchain communities. Previously served as Assistant Controller managing fund financials.
What they invest in
from 12 of 146 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×5Enterprise Software ×5SaaS ×5Biotech ×2Cloud Computing ×2Fintech ×2Advanced Manufacturing ×1Construction Tech ×1
HQs:United States×8Canada×1
Investments · showing 60 of 146
founders shown can be your intro path1000Memories lets families upload and organize historical photographs while building family trees and sharing memories with relatives. The platform serves as a digital archive for preserving and discovering old photos across generations.
ConsumerSan Francisco, US
Rudy Adler(Founder)inJonathan Good(Founder)inBrett Huneycutt(Founder)in
AI-powered business insurance platform
Customized insurance and risk management for agriculture with traceability
Material Hub provides AI-powered material intelligence and coordination software for the construction industry, offering a comprehensive database of 250,000+ building products with performance and sustainability data that integrates with design tools like Revit to synchronize specifications and documentation across stakeholders.
AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechSaaS
Space-based solar power generation via satellite constellation
AI-powered fact-checking for text, audio, and video verification
Exclusive AI-powered B2B deal-making platform for qualified business meetings
Electric flying car combining road and air travel
AI platform automating legal research for law firms
Alexi is an AI platform designed for law firms that unifies knowledge, workflows, and expertise into a secure environment to enhance performance across litigation and transactional practices. The platform integrates with existing systems and learns through use to generate legal research memos and apply firm playbooks and templates to client work.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLegalTechToronto, CA
CRISPR-based therapeutics discovery for cancer and inflammation
Algen uses CRISPR and machine learning to identify RNA targets involved in cancer and inflammatory disease, with the goal of developing new drug candidates that modulate these molecules at the single-cell level.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechHealthtechSan Francisco, US
AI-driven platform for building materials decision-making
Digital TV demodulator chips and SoC solutions
Bitcoin Lightning Network analytics and infrastructure
Family history and consumer genomics platform
Decentralized broadband network using Solana blockchain
AngelList is a platform that provides fund management tools and services for venture capital firms, rolling funds, and syndicates, along with access to a network of startups and investors for deal sourcing and portfolio management.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Venture fundraising and investment platform
AI Agent payment network powered by blockchains
Creator-owned infrastructure for content, community, and commerce
Arctic Wolf provides an AI-powered managed security operations center platform that uses superintelligence and agentic AI to automate and simplify cybersecurity operations for organizations of any size.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecuritySaaS
Bitcoin layer-two solutions for scalability
Blockchain analytics and transparency-focused crypto exchange
Service delivery management software for enterprise operations
AI-driven enterprise collaboration solutions
Cloud-based healthcare platform for clinical workflows
AI platform serving as autonomous chief of staff for executives
AI-driven drug discovery using machine learning
Rapid air transport using autonomous blended-wing aircraft
Mobile app for phone camera interaction
Autonomous vehicle orchestration platform
China's leading search engine and AI technology company
Decentralized liquidity network for token conversions
Enterprise SaaS for genomics data analysis and visualization
Fast, smart, and safe automated walkway technology
Cloud-based R&D platform for biotech research
Benchling provides an AI-powered cloud platform for scientific research teams to design experiments, automate lab workflows, and manage structured data from biomolecules to cell lines. The platform integrates predictive models, lab automation, and data capture to help researchers in biotech and life sciences accelerate discovery cycles.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSan Francisco, US
Sajith Wickramasekara(Founder/CEO)
In-silico platform modeling microbiome impact on drug efficacy
Cultured meat production for pet food
Biometric smart gun with fingerprint and facial recognition
Non-invasive neuromuscular interface for robotic control
Decentralized digital currency and blockchain network
Bitcoin-based gaming studio and AI game creation platform
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Draper Associates invest at?
- Draper Associates invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does Draper Associates focus on?
- Draper Associates focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Crypto & Web3, Deep Tech, Robotics, Sector Agnostic, Space Tech.
- Where is Draper Associates located?
- Draper Associates is headquartered in Silicon Valley, US.
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