Description
Platform Venture Studio is a San Francisco–based venture studio and early-stage company builder that partners with founders to co-create, launch, and scale startups from the 0→1 stage. Unlike accelerators or traditional VCs, Platform acts as a hands-on co-founder, contributing capital, team, infrastructure, and execution support in exchange for meaningful equity.
Platform focuses on building venture-scale companies by pairing validated unmet needs with strong founders and then embedding studio resources directly into company formation and early growth.
Specific Funding Stage
Idea / Pre-Seed (Core Focus)
- Platform primarily operates before traditional pre-seed and seed rounds, often at:
- Idea stage
- Problem-validation stage
- Pre-incorporation or early incorporation
- Many ventures are conceived inside the studio and then built with a Founder-in-Residence or matched founder.
Early Seed (Spin-Out Phase)
- Once the company reaches MVP + early traction, Platform supports:
- Seed fundraising
- Spin-out into an independent venture
- Introduction to external VCs and angels
Investment Amount and Percentage Equity (Company-Level)
Capital Model
- Platform deploys pre-seed capital into the companies it co-builds, but does not publish standardized check sizes.
- Funding is bundled with:
- Engineering
- Product & design
- GTM support
- Shared ops (legal, finance, hiring)
Equity Taken
- As a venture studio, Platform typically takes a significant equity stake compared to accelerators or VCs.
- Equity is negotiated per company and reflects Platform’s role as:
- Co-founder
- Builder
- Early investor
- While exact percentages are not public, venture studios commonly hold material ownership relative to their operational contribution.
Equity Structure
- Platform’s equity is established at formation or pre-seed, not via standardized SAFEs like accelerators.
- Structure reflects:
- Capital invested
- Studio resources deployed
- Duration and depth of operational involvement
- Over time, Platform supports dilution through external seed and Series A rounds as the company matures.
Application / Submission Method
How Founders Engage
- Founders typically engage Platform through:
- Direct outreach
- Founder-in-Residence (FIR) roles
- Warm introductions
- Platform’s internal venture ideation pipeline
Interaction Model
- This is not a cohort-based accelerator.
- Engagement is selective, long-term, and highly collaborative.
Process
Problem Identification: Platform identifies or validates a high-potential unmet need.
Founder Matching: Founder selected or paired via FIR process.
Co-Build Phase: Studio and founder build MVP, validate market, and refine thesis.
Company Formation: Equity and governance structured.
Spin-Out & Fundraise: External seed round with Platform as a core shareholder.
