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Symbol
Symbol is a private equity based in San Francisco, founded 2021; the Altss profile covers its classification, headquarters, registration, AUM band, and key...
Symbol
Symbol is an SEC-registered investment adviser in San Francisco, CA, registered since 2012. It is based there.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2021
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
Israel
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
Tel Aviv, Israel
Principals
Yuval Ariav
Founder & Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment decisions at Symbol?
Yuval Ariav, the founder and managing partner, is the central decision-maker. Ariav previously co-founded Fundbox, a credit-analytics platform for small businesses, and served in an Israeli military intelligence unit focused on large-scale data systems. Symbol does not publish a partnership roster, indicating a concentrated governance structure rather than a broad investment committee.
What investment stages does Symbol target?
Symbol writes initial checks at the seed stage, occasionally extending into pre-seed when the technical team is unusually deep. The firm does not lead growth rounds and typically does not follow on beyond Series A. Its capital serves to get companies from prototype to a revenue-adjacent milestone that attracts larger institutional venture funds.
Is Symbol a fund or does it deploy a single LP's capital?
Symbol does not publicly disclose its capital structure. There is no record of a fund close announcement, LP names, or regulatory filing that would clarify this. The firm's deployment pattern — small, infrequent checks into highly technical Israeli startups — is consistent with both a proprietary-capital vehicle and a low-profile committed fund.
Which sectors does Symbol avoid?
Symbol has no known investments in consumer internet, e-commerce, gaming, or advertising technology. Its portfolio gravitates toward enterprise infrastructure, computational biology, cybersecurity, and AI-native tooling. The firm does not appear to back marketplace or transaction-volume-dependent business models.
How does Symbol source deals?
The firm's deal flow runs through founder relationships tied to Israeli military intelligence units, particularly Unit 8200, and through Ariav's own network among deep-tech founders and angel investors. Symbol does not operate a public application process or maintain a visible fellowship program.
Does Symbol participate in follow-on rounds or reserve capital for pro-rata?
Symbol's follow-on behavior is opaque. There are no public records of the firm exercising pro-rata rights in subsequent rounds. Founders who work with Symbol typically raise Series A from US-based multi-stage funds rather than relying on Symbol for continuation capital.
Does Symbol have any connection to Fundbox or Ariav's prior ventures?
Yuval Ariav co-founded Fundbox and served as its technology executive before transitioning fully into venture investing. Symbol is a separate entity from Fundbox and does not serve as a corporate venture arm. There is no structural overlap between the two organizations.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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