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Menlo Ventures

We are investors and company builders—we know what it takes to turn a budding idea into a scalable business. Menlo works with early-stage founders to find product-market fit, develop go-to-market strategies, scale their organizations, and support them as they grow.

Menlo Park, CA, USA

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Description

Madrona Venture Group is a premier venture capital firm headquartered in San Francisco and Menlo Park, California. Founded in 1976, it is one of the oldest and most established firms in Silicon Valley, known for being an early backer of iconic companies like Uber, Roku, and Gilead Sciences. 
  • Seed to Series B: This is the firm’s "sweet spot" where they act as a lead or co-lead investor.
  • Expansion & Growth: Through the Menlo Inflection Fund, the firm provides large-scale capital for Series C and later stages to support global expansion.
  • Network-Driven: Like most top-tier institutional VCs, Menlo Ventures heavily prioritizes warm introductions from their network of founders, co-investors, and executive advisors.
  • Direct Engagement: Founders can engage with specific sector partners via Menlo Ventures' Team Page or attend industry-specific events hosted by the firm.
  • Materials: A high-conviction pitch deck and a clear roadmap for achieving "Product-Market Fit" or "Inflection" are required.

Eligibility

  • Sectors: Core focus areas for 2026 include Applied AI, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Healthcare/Bio-IT, and Cloud Infrastructure.
  • Geography: Primarily North America, with a strong concentration in Silicon Valley and NYC, though they invest globally in category-defining companies.
  • Founder Profile: They seek "high-velocity" teams building defensible technology in massive addressable markets. 

Process

  1. Thesis Alignment: The investment team evaluates the startup against their core themes (e.g., "The Modern Enterprise" or "AI-First Platforms"). 
  2. Diligence: A rigorous 4–8 week process including technical vetting, customer calls, and a deep-dive into unit economics. 
  3. Active Partnership: Post-investment, partners typically take a board seat and provide intensive support via the Menlo Fuel platform, which offers dedicated resources for talent, marketing, and business development. 

What an Applicant can Obtain

  1. High-Signal Capital: Funding from a firm that has seen over 80 IPOs and 100+ M&A exits. 
  2. Menlo Fuel: Access to a dedicated platform team that assists with executive recruiting (Menlo Talent), go-to-market strategy, and PR. 
  3. Strategic Network: Direct introductions to C-suite executives at Fortune 500 companies who serve as the firm’s "Strategic Advisors."