First Round Capital: The VC Firm That Bets on Day One (And Why That Matters)

Look, I get it. You're probably wondering why First Round Capital keeps popping up in every successful startup story you read. Let me break this down for you.

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The Raw Truth About First Round Capital

I'll tell you straight up - First Round isn't your typical VC firm. While others are chasing unicorns, these folks are hunting for something different: founders at day one.

Think about that for a second.

Day. One.

Why First Round's Approach Hits Different

Here's what makes them special:

• They write checks when most VCs won't even take your call
• Their average check size? $500K to $3M
• They've backed companies like Uber, Notion, and Square before anyone knew their names

But here's the real kicker...

The First Round Playbook (That Nobody Talks About)

Want to know what really happens when First Round invests?

You don't just get money.

You get:

• Access to their platform team
• A network of 400+ founders
• Engineering resources
• Recruiting help
• And yeah, the money too

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The Numbers That Matter

Let me hit you with some reality:

• 6x better returns than industry average
• 300+ active portfolio companies
• $1B+ under management
• 50% of their investments go to first-time founders

What Most Founders Get Wrong About First Round

Listen, I see founders make the same mistakes over and over.

They think:

• "I need a perfect pitch deck"
• "My metrics aren't good enough"
• "I'm too early"

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

How to Actually Get First Round's Attention

Here's the truth:

• Build something people want
• Show traction (even if it's small)
• Prove you can execute
• Be transparent about what's not working

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The Real Questions You Should Be Asking

Let's tackle the FAQs:

Q: Do I need warm intro?A: Helps, but not required. They actually read cold emails.

Q: What stage is too early?A: No such thing. They've invested in napkin ideas.

Q: What industries do they prefer?A: Tech-enabled anything. But they care more about founders than sectors.

The Bottom Line

First Round Capital isn't just another VC firm - they're the ones who spot rockets before they take off.

Think about that next time you're wondering who to pitch.

Remember: First Round Capital backs founders when they're just getting started, because that's where the real magic happens.

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