Hanabi Capital
Hanabi Capital is a Palo Alto-based venture capital firm investing in early-to-growth-stage AI and technology companies. The firm provides capital and strategic guidance to portfolio companies focused on AI infrastructure, foundation models, robotics, sovereign AI, and AI-native applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hanabi Capital does
Hanabi Capital is a Palo Alto-based, private venture capital firm (1–10 employees) that invests in early-to-growth-stage AI and technology companies. The firm's stated investment focus is next-generation AI infrastructure and foundation-model businesses, spanning sovereign AI for critical infrastructure, embodied robotics, behavioral simulation, AI-native creative tooling, and real-time voice/video infrastructure for AI applications. Revenue is generated through traditional VC fund mechanics: management fees on assets under management plus realized carried interest from portfolio exits — there are no product sales or disclosed LP economics in the input.
The team's composition is the firm's primary operating asset. General Partner Mike Volpi is a retired Index Ventures partner and former Cisco Chief Strategy Officer; Partners Bryan Offutt and Ishani Thakur also came from Index Ventures, with Offutt's background at Palantir and SingleStore and Thakur's research at DeepMind and MIT; Partner Shreyan Jain joined from Elad Gil's investment operation after engineering roles at Ramp and Robust Intelligence. Operating Partner Rachel Hansen runs internal operations after senior marketing roles at Index Ventures and Dropbox, while Executive Assistant DeAnna McDaniel supports the firm from prior roles at Patient Square Capital and the University of Michigan. The team is built around AI-domain operating experience and a syndicate-oriented deal model.
Across the first half of 2026, Hanabi has participated in five disclosed rounds: LiveKit ($100M Series C at a $1B valuation, January), Flora ($42M Series A, January), Simile ($100M Series A, February), Generalist AI ($400M at a $2B valuation, June), and 1001 ($30M Series A, June). The firm typically co-invests as a minority participant with category-leading VCs — Lux Capital, Radical Ventures, Index Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, and a16z Games — and alongside strategic angels including Fei-Fei Li, Andrej Karpathy, and Stanford researcher Chris Ré. Total funding raised by Hanabi itself, fund size, AUM, and LP composition are undisclosed.
Hanabi Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hanabi Capital
- Legal name
- Hanabi Capital
- Website
- https://hanabi.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hanabi Capital is a Palo Alto-based venture capital firm investing in early-to-growth-stage AI and technology companies. The firm provides capital and strategic guidance to portfolio companies focused on AI infrastructure, foundation models, robotics, sovereign AI, and AI-native applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hanabi Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity (FSANACAD)
Keywords
Where Hanabi Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Hanabi Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Hanabi Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hanabi Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage AI and technology companies. The firm provides investment capital, strategic guidance, and operational expertise to portfolio companies operating in sectors including AI, robotics, voice/video infrastructure, generative AI simulation, and creative tools. It does not offer technology products or services; its offering consists of investment capital and strategic support.
Product overview
Hanabi Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage AI and infrastructure companies. The firm does not offer technology products or services; its offering consists of investment capital and strategic support to portfolio companies operating in sectors including AI, robotics, voice infrastructure, and creative tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Hanabi Capital
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Hanabi Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hanabi Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hanabi Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Index Ventures: Top-tier global VC where three of Hanabi's four partners previously worked. Index led rounds in LiveKit and Simile with Hanabi participating. Most direct comparator on AI thesis and team pedigree, though broader and larger.
- Bain Capital Ventures: Co-invested alongside Hanabi in Simile's $100M Series A. Bain Capital Ventures invests across AI, fintech, and infra — broader portfolio than Hanabi but overlapping AI thesis.
- Union Square Ventures: Co-invested alongside Hanabi in Generalist AI. USV is a well-known generalist VC with growing AI exposure, comparable on deal participation though broader in portfolio.
- Redpoint Ventures: Co-invested with Hanabi in Flora (lead) and LiveKit. Redpoint is a large-stage generalist fund with strong AI infrastructure exposure, comparable on AI deals but broader in scope.
- NVentures (NVIDIA): NVIDIA's venture arm, co-invested alongside Hanabi in Generalist AI. NVentures is a strategic investor in AI infrastructure with effectively unlimited capital, comparable as a frequent co-investor in frontier AI rounds.
Direct peers
- Radical Ventures: AI-focused VC fund. Radical led Generalist AI's $400M round at $2B valuation with Hanabi participating. Both funds concentrate on foundation models and AI infrastructure, serving the same founder profile.
- Lux Capital: Early-stage deep tech and AI investor. Lux led the $30M Series A in 1001 alongside Hanabi, and both firms share a thesis on frontier AI infrastructure. Comparable as a focused AI/deep-tech fund of similar size and stage.
- 8VC: Co-invested in Generalist AI's $400M round. 8VC is a thesis-driven fund focused on AI, infrastructure, and defense — overlapping with Hanabi's frontier-tech mandate and comparable as a mission-driven emerging manager.
- Elad Gil: Solo AI investor where Hanabi's Shreyan Jain previously worked. Elad writes checks across AI stages and shares Hanabi's focus on AI infrastructure and frontier tech. Comparable as a high-conviction AI-focused emerging manager.
- A* (A-Star Partners): Co-invested alongside Hanabi in Simile's $100M Series A. A* is an emerging AI-focused fund with a similar founder-friendly, technically-credible approach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Hanabi Capital social profiles
Digital presenceHanabi Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hanabi Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Hanabi Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hanabi Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments20 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hanabi Capital
What does Hanabi Capital do?
Hanabi Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage AI and technology companies. The firm provides investment capital, strategic guidance, and operational expertise to portfolio companies operating in sectors including AI, robotics, voice/video infrastructure, generative AI simulation, and creative tools. It does not offer technology products or services; its offering consists of investment capital and strategic support.
Is Hanabi Capital a public or private company?
Hanabi Capital is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Hanabi Capital founded?
Hanabi Capital was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hanabi Capital based?
Hanabi Capital is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Hanabi Capital's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Index Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Union Square Ventures, Redpoint Ventures and NVentures (NVIDIA). Direct peers are Radical Ventures, Lux Capital, 8VC, Elad Gil and A* (A-Star Partners).
Does Hanabi Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hanabi Capital.
What industry is Hanabi Capital in?
Hanabi Capital's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAD, Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.