Toolbox

Toolbox

Toolbox was established in 2012 by serial entrepreneurs Kevin and Julia Hartz, following the sale of online money transfer platform Xoom to PayPal and before Eventbrite — the ticketing and events marketplace they co-founded — went public in 2018. The office formalizes the Hartzes' personal angel investing activity, which dates back over a decade, and reflects the pattern of operator-founders in the Bay Area converting concentrated equity positions into a structured investment vehicle. The firm deploys capital into early-stage technology companies, predominantly at seed and Series A, with a focus on marketplace businesses, enterprise software, and fintech infrastructure. Toolbox invests directly, writing checks from several hundred thousand dollars up to low-single-digit millions, and is known for moving quickly — often committing before a dedicated lead investor is in place. Confirmed positions include Airbnb, where Kevin Hartz was an early advisor and investor, along with Stripe, Coinbase, Gusto, and Clever. Deal flow draws from the Hartzes' deep networks in Silicon Valley founder circles and Eventbrite's ecosystem, with a geographic concentration in the United States. The office operates with a lean structure, likely fewer than ten professionals, relying on the principals' direct involvement in sourcing and diligence. In addition to direct investments, Toolbox has served as a limited partner in select early-stage venture funds managed by peers in the Hartzes' network. Kevin Hartz has simultaneously held operating roles — he co-founded and served as CEO of Axiom Space in 2016 and joined Founders Fund as a partner in 2023 — while Julia Hartz leads Eventbrite as CEO. This dual operator-investor rhythm defines Toolbox's cadence: concentrated personal capital deployed alongside active company-building. Toolbox's structural differentiator is its operator density. Unlike family offices that transition to a dedicated CIO model, the Hartzes evaluate startups through the lens of active founders currently running public and growth-stage companies. The office does not market itself, does not raise external capital, and maintains no LP reporting infrastructure. For co-investors, that means an informal, high-conviction partner whose capital is truly proprietary — a posture that mirrors the earliest Sequoia scouts model but with permanent personal balance sheets.