Organization · Venture Capital
Draper Associates
Draper Associates is a seed-stage venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, founded in 1985. It focuses on early-stage investments in transformative technology companies across various sectors.
Overview
What Draper Associates does
What Draper Associates is
Draper Associates is a seed-stage venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, founded in 1985. It focuses on early-stage investments in transformative technology companies across various sectors.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder 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 1985
- Approximate age
- About 41 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder
- Last reviewed
- February 26, 2026
Official channels
Find Draper Associates elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Draper Associates as a funder
Investment thesis
Seed-stage investing in entrepreneurs transforming industries with new technologies. Tim Draper's personal fund. Notable: Tesla, Skype, Baidu, Twitch, Cruise.
Focus narrative
Seed-stage technology investing. Encourages entrepreneurs to drive businesses to greatness and transform industries.
Value beyond capital
Draper Associates provides Tim Draper's legendary early-stage investing pedigree and extensive Silicon Valley network. Part of broader Draper ecosystem.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $250,000–$5,000,000
- Sweet spot
- $1,000,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Regions
- North America
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Investments in the last 12 months
- 8
- Last recorded investment
- December 1, 2025
- Recorded notable exits
- Tesla, Skype, Baidu, Twitch, and Cruise Automation
Portfolio context
Notable: Tesla, Skype, Baidu, Twitch, Cruise Automation. $190M fund (2016).
Common questions
What to know about Draper Associates
Upseed classifies Draper Associates under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder 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
February 26, 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.