# Outset Capital

Outset Capital is a Private Equity based in San Francisco, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Private Equity
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** San Francisco, CA, United States
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** outsetcapital.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/outset-capital

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 313827
- **Registration status:** Registered
- **Reports private funds:** Yes
- **IAPD record:** https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/313827

## About

Outset Capital is both investors and builders, with AI practitioners investing in AI, devtools, robotics, and the future of work. They are led by AI practitioners and YC founders. They write small checks rather than lead rounds and aim to invest before anyone else, providing hands-on support while remaining active but not activist.

## Sectors

- AI/ML
- Robotics & Automation
- Enterprise Software
- Industrial Tech

## People

- Ali Rohde — Managing Partner
- Kanjun Qiu — General Partner
- Josh Albrecht — General Partner

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Outset Capital?

Investment decisions are made by Managing Partner Ali Rohde and General Partners Kanjun Qiu and Josh Albrecht. Qiu and Albrecht simultaneously serve as CEO and CTO of Imbue, the AI-agent company they co-founded. The three partners evaluate opportunities personally, without a formal investment committee structure disclosed publicly.

### Does Outset Capital participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

Outset Capital exclusively pursues direct, non-lead investments in operating companies. The firm states it writes small checks into pre-seed and seed-stage startups and does not lead rounds. There is no public disclosure of fund-of-fund commitments or LP investments into other venture capital vehicles.

### What investment stages does Outset Capital typically target?

The firm targets pre-seed and seed-stage companies. It writes small checks and explicitly avoids leading rounds, taking a minority position while offering hands-on operational support. This early-entry posture aligns with its stated goal of investing before other investors concentrate in a round.

### How does Outset Capital source proprietary deal flow?

Deal flow originates from the partners' deep integration in the Bay Area AI ecosystem through their operating roles at Imbue and their history as Y Combinator founders. The firm also convenes a curated community of engineers and researchers via monthly dinners and potlucks, and previously ran the Archive, a co-living house for 22 founders and technical researchers, which created a proprietary network for early-access referrals.

## Related profiles

- [Outrun Ventures](https://altss.com/profile/outrun-ventures)
- [Outset Ventures](https://altss.com/profile/outset-ventures)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:41.444Z

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