Hustle Fund Review: The "Hilariously Early" Pre-Seed Fund Backing Technical Founders
Everything you need to know about Hustle Fund: their investment thesis, notable portfolio companies, typical check size, and how to position your startup for funding.
If you're a technical founder with a bold vision at the earliest stages, Hustle Fund might be your ideal investor. They're known for writing small checks to founders when most other investors won't even look.
Founded by Elizabeth Yin, Eric Bahn, and Shiyan Koh (all former operators), Hustle Fund has a unique approach: they invest in companies at the "hilariously early" stage and measure success by tracking week-over-week execution velocity. With $90M+ AUM, they've backed over 150 companies.
In this guide, we'll cover what Hustle Fund looks for, their investment criteria, notable portfolio companies, and how to position your startup to catch their attention.
Investment Focus & Thesis
Hustle Fund focuses on pre-seed SaaS and enterprise companies. Their thesis centers on backing technical founders early and measuring success by execution speed.
Stage Focus
Pre-seed stage. They invest ~$25K-$150K per company as initial funding.
Check Size
~$25K to $150K per investment. Average check is around $50K.
Hustle Fund invests across several core areas:
- SaaS — B2B software-as-a-service companies
- Enterprise — Enterprise software and infrastructure
- Developer Tools — Tools for developers and engineers
- Fintech — Financial technology and services
- Real Estate / Proptech — Real estate technology
Recent Investment Activity
Hustle Fund has remained highly active, deploying capital through their funds. They make 150+ investments per fund through their model.
| Company | Sector | Round | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rupa Health | Healthcare / SaaS | Pre-seed | 2025 |
| Gamma | SaaS / Productivity | Pre-seed | 2025 |
| Various Developer Tools | DevTools | Pre-seed | 2024-2025 |
| Early-Stage SaaS | SaaS | Pre-seed | Ongoing |
They also connect founders with their Angel Squad community of 2,000+ angels who co-invest alongside them.
Notable Portfolio Companies
Hustle Fund has backed over 150 companies. Here are some notable ones:
Acorns
The micro-investing app that made investing accessible to millions. Now a major fintech company.
Rupa Health
Healthcare SaaS platform connecting practitioners with lab testing.
Gamma
AI-powered presentation and content creation tool.
The portfolio spans SaaS, fintech, developer tools, and more, with a focus on technical founders.
What Hustle Fund Looks For
Based on public statements and their investment patterns, here's what Hustle Fund typically evaluates:
- Technical founders — They prefer founders who can build, not just sell.
- Execution velocity — They track week-over-week progress using a scoring system.
- Bold vision — They back founders with ambitious plans, even at the earliest stages.
- Speed of iteration — Founders who ship fast and learn quickly.
- "No a-holes" culture — They have a casual brand but take founder character seriously.
Pro Tip
Hustle Fund is known for their structured scoring system. They measure companies on execution velocity each week. If you're a technical founder moving fast, highlight your speed.
How to Connect With Hustle Fund
Getting a meeting with Hustle Fund is more accessible than most VCs. Here's what we recommend:
Apply Directly
They accept cold applications. Be concise about your vision and why you're the right team.
Join Angel Squad
Their 2,000+ angel community co-invests. Building relationships here can help your pitch.
Show Execution Velocity
Demonstrate that you're shipping fast and iterating quickly. They measure this.
Be Technical
Emphasize your technical abilities. They prefer builders over non-technical founders.
The Value of Financial Preparedness
Even though Hustle Fund invests at the earliest stages, they still value founders who understand their financials. This is where many first-time founders struggle.
Why Investors Care
- • Demonstrates business acumen
- • Shows you understand unit economics
- • Enables smarter decision-making
- • Speeds up future fundraising
What You Need
- • Basic financial model with assumptions
- • Understanding of burn rate and runway
- • Realistic projections for growth
- • Basic unit economics
How Eagle Rock Helps
We help early-stage companies build financial infrastructure that impresses investors. From pitch deck financials to runway analysis, our fractional CFO services ensure you're ready for due diligence.
Ready to Strengthen Your Fundraising Deck?
Whether you're preparing to pitch Hustle Fund or other top VCs, having professional financials can set you apart. Our team has helped companies raise over $200M in venture capital.
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