1864 Fund
Seed Stage Capital For High Growth, Disruptive Startups | Led by Exited Founders & Operators
The 1864 Fund is Actively Raising
With $10M earmarked for seed-stage investments, the 1864 Fund is championing the growth of nascent enterprises and visionary founders. We invite strategic partners to join us in shaping the future by contributing to this impactful initiative.
Our Focus
We believe that value and talent found outside of traditional venture enclaves (California, Massachusetts, New York) present an exceptional return opportunity absent provincial exuberance.
We like to lead deals in the “gold zone” and syndicate with partners all other regions except “no go” metros, where deals tend to be overpriced.
Stage
We lead or participate in seed rounds across sectors as clear-sighted supporters of companies with pragmatic value propositions and exceptional teams.
Goal
We drive opportunistic returns while making an impact in the communities we serve through economic development, diversification, and resiliency.
Business
Capital efficient companies addressing outsized market opportunities with technology driven competitive advantages.
How We Invest
- Checks $150K -$500K
- Seed Rounds $500K -$2.5M, depending on valuation
- Achievable exit scenarios returning 50x per investment (2X fund size)
- The deal has a realistic and reasonable valuation supported by the company’s progress and industry exit comparables.
- Lead where appropriate, with board seat and neutral board
- Every opportunity QSBS qualified
- Target 1864 ownership: 5%, deal dependent (as part of round size for 15%-20%, valuation target in mid-seven figures)
- “Dream Deal”: $1M round with $5M valuation (20%) for a company in a large market with founders who can execute and current run rate of $500k in annual recurring sales, growing at 10% or more month over month.
Why Invest?
- Portfolio diversification independent from traditional equity or fixed income investments
- Early access through StartUpNV’s extensive network
- Nevada investments matched 1:1 by the State of Nevada through SSBCI funding
- Support for entrepreneurs, job creation, economic diversification, and growth impacting Nevada and the American West
1864 Partners
Spanning the Boomer, GenX, and Millennial generations, our partners are former operating founders with seven successful exits, an eye for driven founders with scalable startups in large markets, and the discipline to invest at the right entry valuation with win-win terms.
Jeff Saling
Piotr Tomasik
Steve Hurst
Leith Martin
About
As a $10M seed-stage fund, the 1864 Fund is affiliated with StartUpNV’s programs supporting early-stage companies and founders. The Fund is based in Nevada but invests regionally. We partner with local economic authorities to maximize the access founders from American interior have to capital. Investments are generally between $250k and $500k in rounds from $500k – $2.5M.
