Standard Capital is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm structured around an "AI-native Series A" investment model. Founded by Dalton Caldwell, Paul Buchheit, and Bryan Berg, the firm targets post-product/market-fit startups at Series A, aiming to streamline the fundraising process by reducing its disruption to founding teams.
The firm's approach is characterised by standardised investment documents, founder-led round terms, and a fast application and interview path. Standard Capital targets approximately 10% ownership in its lead investments and does not charge legal fees to portfolio companies. Notably, the firm does not take board seats. In place of traditional board meetings, it convenes portfolio founders for quarterly in-person group meetings in San Francisco.
This operating model - standardising the mechanics of the round while replacing board governance with structured peer gatherings - reflects a deliberate bet that reducing fundraising friction and conventional oversight yields better outcomes for both founders and investors at the Series A stage.
