Mode VC
California

Haystack

Haystack, based in California, backs generalist startups at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A, writing $500k to $3 million checks and can lead rounds, with notable investments like DoorDash and Figma.

Website
Entry stagePre-seed, Seed, Series A
Check size$500K to $3M
Leads roundsYes
FocusGeneralist
Latest fund$85M$85M (Haystack Ventures VIII core fund)
Investing team3 peopleNo activity since Sep

Who you would pitch at Haystack

3 people on the investing team, 2 of them partners who can make the call. Partners are listed first.

Semil ShahFounding PartnerHe previously held product and operational roles at early-stage startups.
Aashay SanghviPartnerHe studied economics and history at Harvard.
Divya DhulipalaPrincipalShe has worked at the firm for the last couple of years.

Work here and something is wrong? Ask for a correction.

Writes $500K to $3M checks. Its smallest check is larger than 71% of firms in the atlas.

Bars: how many firms in the atlas report each band. Highlighted: this firm.

No recent activity since September 2026. Quiet does not mean closed.

Weekly count of activity updates. Activity is not a confirmed deal.

Notable investments

DoorDashInstacartOpendoorFigmaHashiCorpCartaApplied IntuitionIroncladAstranisSuno
Founders and investors at a Mode VC gathering

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Raising a pre-seed or seed round? We write $1M to $5M first checks and help founders with distribution. A partner reads every deck.

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One email when this firm shows new activity. Nothing else.

Firms like Haystack

1984 Ventures$500K to $3M · active Oct 14
Julian Capital$500K to $3M · active Oct 14
Scribble Ventures$500K to $3M · active Oct 13
Cowboy Ventures$500K to $10M · active Oct 13
Javelin Venture Partners$500K to $10M · active Sep 23
The Longevity Fund$500K to $10M · active Sep 24

On these lists

Seed investors in United States2836Series A investors in United States1790Pre-seed investors in United States1561Seed investors in California699Series A investors in California480Pre-seed investors in California434Seed investors3020Series A investors1867

Questions

What stage does Haystack invest in?

Haystack reports entry at pre-seed, seed, series a.

How much does Haystack invest?

Haystack reports checks of $500K to $3M.

Does Haystack lead rounds?

Yes. Haystack says it can lead.

Who are the partners at Haystack?

Semil Shah (Founding Partner), Aashay Sanghvi (Partner).

Is Haystack active right now?

No recent activity since September 2026.

Work at Haystack? Claim or correct this profile.