Solo GP · Pre-seed · First checks
I back founders before the thesis is obvious.
Kindling is a solo GP fund. Small checks, real conviction, and one person who actually picks up.
Most early-stage funds have grown into asset managers — bigger funds, slower partnerships, less time per founder. I’m one person writing my own checks, built for the gap that opened.
I write small checks early, into companies whose value won’t be obvious for another five years. I back fewer founders on purpose — and stay closer to every one of them.
our MANDATE
Three filters before any meeting
If you don’t fit all three, you’ll hear it from me within 24 hours — with the why. If you do, we’ll find time this week.
How I operate
Most funds publish a thesis. I publish how I show up.
8 days
Average time from first meeting to term sheet
100%
Response rate on cold inbound pitches
~8
Investments I make each year
Latest investments
The companies I’ve backed most recently. Pre-seed bets I made because I couldn’t stop thinking about the founder, the market, or both.
Behind the Dealflow
The essays, papers, and breakdowns shaping how I think about the founders I back.
Building your MVP
Why your first version should ship at 1% of your ultimate vision & what that 1% should look like.
How to scale from basic RAG
Most early-stage companies fail because what worked at 100 docs breaks at 100,000.
Hiring early talent
Your first ten hires set the ceiling on the next ten years. Here's how to think about each one.
Getting your first customers
Distribution is a craft. How to find your first 100 customers without burning the runway.