Uncommon Projects

Uncommon Projects targets pre-seed and seed-stage companies in enterprise software, AI/ML, fintech, and climate resilience. The firm writes first checks, typically in the $500,000 to $2 million range, and takes a high-engagement approach that resembles a venture studio rather than a passive seed fund. It concentrates its portfolio on a small number of technical founding teams per year.

Uncommon Projects operates with a hybrid posture. Legally structured as a venture capital firm, its operating model — hands-on product and go-to-market support, deep founder engagement before institutional seed rounds form — mirrors the venture studio approach. The firm is not a multi-company studio that originates ideas internally, but it provides operational scaffolding that goes well beyond typical seed-fund value-add.

The firm invests primarily in North America, with a strong bias toward West Coast technical founder networks. Its Los Angeles base gives it access to the growing Southern California startup ecosystem, though it is not restricted by geography and evaluates opportunities across the United States.

Yes. Uncommon Projects positions itself as a lead or co-lead investor for seed rounds and maintains reserve capital for follow-on investments in portfolio companies that demonstrate strong product-market traction. This follow-on capacity is built into the firm's concentrated portfolio model.

The firm has not publicly articulated an avoidance list, but its disclosed sector tags and investment thesis suggest it does not actively pursue consumer social, hardware-intensive deep tech, life sciences, or capital-intensive industrial manufacturing. Its focus remains on software and software-enabled businesses in enterprise, AI, and climate where technical founder-product fit is paramount.

Uncommon Projects has not publicly disclosed fund sizes, closes, or limited partner composition. The firm maintains a low public profile regarding its capitalization structure. Its deployment pattern and check sizes suggest a fund size consistent with emerging managers in the sub-$50 million range, though this is an inference rather than a confirmed figure.

The firm's concentrated, early-entry model suggests it prefers to set terms and build syndicates rather than joining them passively. It has not publicly disclosed formal co-investment programs or club structures with external general partners, and its communications emphasize direct founder relationships over GP-to-GP syndication.