Designer Fund

Designer Fund is a venture capital firm founded by designers that backs early-stage technology startups where design is used to improve health, sustainability and prosperity. The firm invests from pre-seed through Series A, targeting companies in which design can constitute a meaningful competitive advantage. Check sizes and fund structure are not disclosed.

Portfolio companies named by the firm include Stripe, Gusto, Notion, Framer, Omada Health, Commure and Netlify - a spread across payments, workforce software, productivity, design tooling, digital health and developer infrastructure. The technical domains in which the firm operates include product design, brand design, design systems and venture investing, reflecting its origins as a partnership of practitioners rather than a generalist fund.

Alongside capital, Designer Fund provides portfolio founders with tailored product and brand feedback, product testing, and guidance on design systems and rebranding. It supports design hiring through referrals, job promotion and mentorship, and assists with fundraising preparation, including refining the fundraising story and making investor introductions. Founders also gain access to a community of peers, advisors and design leaders through online and in-person resources and events. The firm characterises its relationships with founders as long-term partnerships rather than transactions.