Mode VC
California

Vela Partners

Vela Partners, based in California, backs seed-stage generalist startups, can lead rounds, and writes checks from $100k to $500k, including investments like Bear Robotics and Phaidra.

WebsitePortfolioPitch pageTeam page
Entry stageSeed
Check size$100K to $500K
Leads roundsYes
FocusGeneralist
Latest fundn/a
Investing team2 peopleNo activity since Sep

Who you would pitch at Vela Partners

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

Fuat AlicanCo-founder & General PartnerHe has experience in banking, software, and academic research.
Yigit IhlamurCo-founder & General PartnerHe previously worked at Google and studied at the University of Oxford.

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Writes $100K to $500K checks. Its smallest check is larger than 5% 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

Bear RoboticsCartkenInterviewing.ioPhaidraAkoolNominalProtoPieMeditopiaCerbyPolymer

In their words

Vela Partners. AI-Native Quant VC Funding AI FoundersWe fund AI founders in days, not months. The AI-native quant VC backing seed-stage startups with $100K–$500K checks and soft commits in 2–7 days.vela.partners
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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Firms like Vela Partners

Abstract Ventures$100K to $1M · active Oct 1
Bloomberg Beta$100K to $1M · active Sep 27
Coelius Capital$100K to $1M · active Oct 6
igniteXL Ventures$100K to $500K
Ritual Capital$100K to $500K
20Sales$100K to $500K

On these lists

Seed investors in United States2836Seed investors in California699Seed investors3020

Questions

What stage does Vela Partners invest in?

Vela Partners reports entry at seed.

How much does Vela Partners invest?

Vela Partners reports checks of $100K to $500K.

Does Vela Partners lead rounds?

Yes. Vela Partners says it can lead.

Who are the partners at Vela Partners?

Fuat Alican (Co-founder & General Partner), Yigit Ihlamur (Co-founder & General Partner).

Is Vela Partners active right now?

No recent activity since September 2026.

Work at Vela Partners? Claim or correct this profile.