Mode VC
Active Sep 25Confirmed by the firmCalifornia

Playground Global

Playground Global is a California-based deep tech specialist that leads Seed and Series A rounds, writing checks from $3 million to $10 million, and backs firms like PsiQuantum and Agility Robotics.

Website LinkedInPortfolioTeam page
Entry stageSeed, Series A
Check size$3M to $10M
Leads roundsYes
FocusDeep tech
Latest fund$475M$475M Fund IV (announced 2026-05-18)
Investing team11 people1 activity update, latest Sep 25

Who you would pitch at Playground Global

11 people on the investing team, 5 of them partners who can make the call. Partners are listed first.

Bruce Leak
Bruce LeakGeneral PartnerHe focuses on areas including agriculture technology and robotics, as evidenced by his blog posts and interviews.
Jory Bell
Jory BellGeneral PartnerHe previously founded OQO and worked at Apple, with a background in engineering and climate research.
Pat Gelsinger
Pat GelsingerGeneral PartnerHe also serves as Executive Chair of xLight and on the board of Gloo.
Peter Barrett
Peter BarrettGeneral PartnerFocus: deep tech and hard science.
Benjamin Kim
Benjamin KimPartnerFocus: engineered biology.
Daniel Yum
Daniel YumPrincipalFocus: software, automation, AI, and machine learning.
Marissa Ramirez de Chanlatte
Marissa Ramirez de ChanlattePrincipalInvests in quantum computing, AI, and robotics.
Rahul Meka
Rahul MekaPrincipalHe previously worked at Magna International, Akasha Imaging, and Intrinsic.
Austin Yu
Austin YuInvestorFocus: deep tech startups in next-generation compute and semiconductors.
Nicole Sonnert
Nicole SonnertInvestorShe has a background in antibody discovery and a PhD from Yale, with venture capital experience from Canaan Partners.
Rasheed Auguste
Rasheed AugusteAnalystFocus: deep tech in industrial transformation.

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

Writes $3M to $10M checks. Its smallest check is larger than 93% of firms in the atlas.

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

1 activity update since September, latest Sep 25.

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

Before you pitch

Ownership target> 12%
Does not invest inNFT, Web3, Cryptom, SaaS
How to reach them[email protected]

Notable investments

psiQuantumAgility RoboticsVelo3DUltima GenomicsD-MatrixAyar LabsNextSiliconStrandManifold BioRobust AI
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 Playground Global

Root Ventures$3M to $10M
BMW i Ventures$3M to $10M
Celesta Capital$3M to $30M
Airbus Ventures$1M to $10M
DCVC$10M to $30M+ · active Oct 8
Intel Capital$1M to $30M+ · active Oct 14

On these lists

Seed deep tech investors in California94Series A deep tech investors in California68Seed investors in United States2836Series A investors in United States1790Seed investors in California699Series A investors in California480Seed deep tech investors200Series A deep tech investors146

Questions

What stage does Playground Global invest in?

Playground Global reports entry at seed, series a.

How much does Playground Global invest?

Playground Global reports checks of $3M to $10M.

Does Playground Global lead rounds?

Yes. Playground Global says it can lead.

Who are the partners at Playground Global?

Bruce Leak (General Partner), Jory Bell (General Partner), Pat Gelsinger (General Partner), Peter Barrett (General Partner), Benjamin Kim (Partner).

Is Playground Global active right now?

Playground Global has shown 1 activity update since September 2026, the latest on 2026-09-25.

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