Neo (venture capital firm)

Neo
Company typePrivate
IndustryVenture capital
Founded2017 (2017)
FounderAli Partovi
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California, U.S.
WebsiteOfficial website

Neo is an American technology startup accelerator and venture capital firm based in San Francisco. The firm has over $1 billion in assets under management and was founded by chief executive officer Ali Partovi.[1] Notable early investments include Anysphere, Kalshi, and Cognition AI.[2]

Background

Neo was founded in 2017 by Ali Partovi, known for early investments Facebook, Airbnb, and Dropbox.[3] The firm was intended to fund college students.[4]

In 2018, Neo debuted with a $80 million fund.[5] In 2021, Neo raised $130 million for its second fund.[6] The firm raised $235 million in 2023.[7] Its fourth fund raised $320 million.[8]

Programs

Neo Scholars Program

The Neo Scholars Program is a fellowship designed for students still in college. The program provides a grant with mentorship from experienced startup founders and other programs.[9]

Neo Accelerator

The firm's accelerator provides funding and mentorship to early-stage startups. Companies accepted receive approximately $600,000 investment.[7]

References

  1. ^ Nieva, Richard (April 16, 2025). "Y Combinator Rival Neo Is Harder To Get Into Than Harvard". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  2. ^ Bass, Dina (2023-03-21). "New AI Startup Accelerator Will Partner With OpenAI, Microsoft". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  3. ^ Rafieyan, Darius. "Ali Partovi learned to code in a war zone. Now, he's trying to build a new kind of venture fund". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  4. ^ Carson, Biz. "An Early Facebook Investor Is Creating A Scouting Network For Brilliant Engineers". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  5. ^ Loizos, Connie (2018-08-21). "Neo, a new 'communal' venture fund by Ali Partovi, has closed with $80 million". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  6. ^ Cai, Kenrick. "VC Firm Neo Raises $150 Million Second Fund For Its Engineering Talent Network". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  7. ^ a b Loizos, Connie (2023-05-23). "VC firm Neo looks to up the ante with $235M across two new funds". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  8. ^ Mathews, Anshika (2025-04-22). "Neo Is More Similar to What Y Combinator Was in the First Place". AIM Media House. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  9. ^ Hempel, Jessi. "Silicon Valley's Latest Innovation Looks A Lot Like a Social Club". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2025-11-03.