Xfund

Xfund is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2014 that invests at pre-seed and seed stage. The firm operates as a partnership between venture capital firms and research universities in the United States and abroad, with a focus on entrepreneurs connected to those institutions. Its current vehicle, Xfund 3, is a $120 million fund dedicated to pre-seed and seed investing.

The investment thesis is directed at founders who work across disciplines rather than within a single technical field. Xfund backs multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary technology innovation, including the commercialisation of university research. Founders from a range of backgrounds are within scope: students, faculty, staff, alumni and self-taught entrepreneurs. The firm has stated that it values curiosity, execution ability and a liberal arts mindset alongside technical talent.

Post-investment, Xfund draws on a network of investors, university faculty and industry advisers to support portfolio companies. The partnership structure with research universities underpins sourcing and diligence across both US and international institutions. Sectors of interest include early-stage technology startups and, more broadly, ventures emerging from higher education and research environments.

Further detail on the firm's approach and current fund is set out on its website at https://www.xfund.com/.