Mode VC
Mike Edelhart

Mike Edelhart

Managing Partner atSocial StartsSan Francisco
LinkedIn X Social Starts websiteFirm profile

Mike Edelhart has worked in tech journalism, startups, and VC for over four decades. He is currently Managing Partner of Joyance Partners and hosts the podcast Inception.

What Mike can write

Writes checks of$25K to $500K
Comes in atSeries AMostly follows a lead
Pitch pageSubmit on their siteThe firm asks founders to apply here.

Social Starts writes $25K to $500K checks, larger than 1% of firms in the atlas.

Bars: how many firms report each check band. Highlighted: Social Starts.

Career

  1. Olive Software · CEO
  2. Inman News · CEO
  3. Zinio · CEO
  4. Redleaf · partner
    early 2000s
  5. Joyance Partners · Managing Partner
  6. PC Magazine
    1980s
  7. SoftBank
  8. Social Starts · Managing Partner
    Now

Companies founded

PC Magazine

Focus

tech journalismproduct testingstartupsventure capitalVC

Also at Social Starts

Andrew Nealon
Andrew NealonPartner & CTO
Bradley Welch
Bradley WelchInvestment Partner
Charles C. Smith
Charles C. SmithInvestment Partner

Partners like Mike

At firms with a similar stage, sector and check size.

Natalie MassenetGP, Imaginary Ventures
Ben ZisesFounder & General Partner, SuperAngel.Fund
Shad F. AzimiFounder & Managing Partner, Vanterra Capital
Ben Sontheimer
Ben SontheimerCO-FOUNDER & GENERAL PARTNER, Elizabeth Street Ventures
Dan Ahrens
Dan AhrensManaging Partner, Left Lane Capital
David RoweManaging Partner, Legendary Ventures

Alert me when Social Starts is active

One email when Mike's firm raises a fund, adds a partner or shows new activity.

Founders and investors at a Mode VC gathering

Send Mode VC your deck

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

Send your deck

Questions

Who is Mike Edelhart?

Mike Edelhart has worked in tech journalism, startups, and VC for over four decades. He is currently Managing Partner of Joyance Partners and hosts the podcast Inception.

How much does Mike Edelhart invest?

Mike Edelhart invests through Social Starts, which writes checks of $25K to $500K at series a.

How do I pitch Mike Edelhart?

A warm intro from a founder Social Starts backed works best. A short LinkedIn note with one line on traction is the next best route.

What did Mike Edelhart do before Social Starts?

CEO at Olive Software; CEO at Inman News; CEO at Zinio; partner at Redleaf; Managing Partner at Joyance Partners; PC Magazine; SoftBank.

Last updated 2026-10-15. Is this you? Ask for a correction.