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Afore Capital

Investing outside the lines Proven product and investment expertise, on your side on Day 0 — helping you build now and raise later

San Francisco, CA, USA

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Application Deadline
01/26/2026 12:00 PM

Description

Afore Capital is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that specializes exclusively in pre-seed investments, often acting as the "day zero" partner for product-oriented founders. In early 2025, the firm launched "Pre-Seed 2.0" with a new $185 million fund to offer more flexible capital and support for founders even before they have a concrete idea. 
  • Direct Pitch: Founders can pitch directly via an online form; no warm introduction or referral is required.
  • Programs: They offer specialized application tracks for their Founders-in-Residence (FIR) program, a student-specific FIR University, and Afore Alpha for founders raising their first institutional round.
  • Requirements: Typically requires a pitch deck, business details, and information about the founding team's technical and operational background.

Eligibility

  • Founder Profile: Product-oriented, technical builders (software engineers, product managers).
  • Sector: Primarily Software and tech-enabled businesses.
  • Geography: Primarily United States (San Francisco/Silicon Valley focus), though open to high-impact founders globally.
  • Specific Tracks: FIR University is for current students or recent graduates (within 2 years).

Process

  1. Submission: Founders submit materials through the relevant portal on the Afore Capital website.
  2. Review: The team reviews applications on a rolling basis, focusing on the potential of the founders over the rigidity of the initial idea.
  3. Interview: Selected teams typically go through 4 to 6 rounds of interviews, including technical case studies and deep dives into the founder's insights.
  4. Residency (if applicable): FIR participants join a 2-month intensive program in San Francisco focused on product discovery and market validation.
  5. Investment: Funding can be committed as quickly as 24 hours after a decision is made. 

What an Applicant can Obtain

  • Capital: Standard pre-seed checks between $500,000 and $2 million.
  • Residency Support: $20,000–$100,000 for university participants or $100,000+ for standard FIR participants.
  • Grants: $1,000 non-dilutive micro-grants for founders under 21.
  • Resources: 1:1 mentorship from partners with 16+ years of product experience, access to office space in San Francisco, and introductions to a network of 200+ top VCs.