Organization · Venture Capital
1517 Fund
1517 Fund is a venture capital firm based in Telluride, Colorado, that invests in early-stage technology startups, particularly those led by non-traditional founders. The firm emphasizes support for individuals without college degrees, including dropouts and deep-tech scientists.
Overview
What 1517 Fund does
What 1517 Fund is
1517 Fund is a venture capital firm based in Telluride, Colorado, that invests in early-stage technology startups, particularly those led by non-traditional founders. The firm emphasizes support for individuals without college degrees, including dropouts and deep-tech scientists.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Venture Capital
- Founded
- Founded in 2015
- Approximate age
- About 11 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Community
- Last reviewed
- April 30, 2026
Official channels
Find 1517 Fund elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
1517 Fund as a funder
Investment thesis
1517 Fund believes that major technical and scientific breakthroughs often come from individuals who are not yet recognized or credentialed by traditional institutions. The fund focuses on supporting young, nontraditional founders, particularly dropouts and deep-tech scientists, by providing capital and mentorship.
Focus narrative
1517 Fund invests in early-stage companies led by founders who often lack traditional credentials. The fund provides capital and micro-grants to support innovative projects that advance technology and science. It emphasizes working with individuals before they formally identify as founders, nurturing their interests and guiding them through their educational and career paths.
Value beyond capital
1517 Fund adds value to its portfolio companies by providing not only capital but also mentorship and community support. The fund's unique approach includes offering no-strings grants and fostering a collaborative environment where young innovators can thrive and develop their ideas into successful ventures.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $1,000–$1,000,000
- Sweet spot
- $400,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Friends and Family · Angel · Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- Biotech & Life Sciences
- Regions
- Global · North America · United States
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
Portfolio context
Notable portfolio companies include: Lambda: Focused on deep learning cloud and hardware solutions. Symba: Provides workforce management solutions. Loom: Known for its asynchronous video communication platform. Cents: A vertical SaaS for laundromats. nTop: Next-generation engineering design SaaS. Luminar: An autonomous-driving sensor company.
Capability profile
1517 Fund as a community
Community overview
1517 Fund is a venture capital fund founded in 2015 by Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson. Based in the United States, it focuses on supporting young entrepreneurs, particularly those who are dropouts, students, or deep tech scientists. The organization aims to take uncredentialed individuals seriously and assist them in starting, building, and growing their ventures.
Community focus
1517 Fund invests in early-stage companies led by founders who often lack traditional credentials. The fund provides capital and micro-grants to support innovative projects that advance technology and science. It emphasizes working with individuals before they formally identify as founders, nurturing their interests and guiding them through their educational and career paths.
Member value
Members of the 1517 Fund community benefit from access to capital, mentorship, and a supportive network of like-minded individuals. The fund offers minimum $1,000 no-strings grants, angel checks, and leads pre-seed rounds up to $1 million, fostering an environment where unconventional thinkers can thrive.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- online
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Students
- Benefits
- mentorship, network-access, and grant-funding
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- Biotech & Life Sciences
- Regions
- Global · North America
Community activity
Events and activity
1517 Fund hosts the 1517 Summit, an irregular gathering that brings together innovators and entrepreneurs. More details can be found on their official site.
Notable members
Notable portfolio companies include Lambda, Symba, and Loom, which are recognized for their contributions to education technology, workforce management, and asynchronous video communication, respectively.
Common questions
What to know about 1517 Fund
Upseed classifies 1517 Fund under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 30, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.