SciFi VC
SciFi VC is a San Francisco-based, family-controlled early-stage venture capital firm founded by Max and Nellie Levchin in 2011, investing seed and Series A capital in fintech, AI, and science startups with hands-on strategic support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SciFi VC does
SciFi VC is a San Francisco-based, family-controlled early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2011 by Max Levchin and Nellie Levchin. The firm operates as a generalist investor with stated emphasis on fintech, artificial intelligence, and science, while also writing opportunistic checks into enterprise software, healthcare, and security markets described as "hard, regulated, or technical." Its disclosed portfolio includes Aven (credit and payments), Brex (business financial services), Loft (real estate technology), Folio (hospitality procure-to-pay), Capchase (B2B vendor financing / BNPL), and Panthalassa (wave-powered offshore AI data centers), demonstrating active deployment across credit, payments, vertical SaaS, and deep-tech infrastructure.
The firm engages founders at the "Brainstorm Stage" — typically before company formation — and leads or co-leads seed and Series A rounds, with occasional participation in later-stage strategic financings. Value-add is delivered through hands-on product and strategy definition, network introductions, follow-on capital, and operational support across fundraising (debt and equity), partnerships, and credit structuring. Deal sourcing is driven primarily by ecosystem relationships, founder referrals, and the Levchin brand rather than traditional distribution channels, with thought leadership published on a Substack (scifivc.substack.com).
The operating model is small and lean — 1–10 employees per disclosed firmographics — with a named team of two founders, two additional partners (Brooks Hosfield, Matt Therian overseeing finance and operations), and an executive assistant. As a private investment vehicle owned entirely by the Levchin family with no institutional LPs or parent company disclosed, SciFi VC generates revenue through conventional fund economics (management fees and carried interest) on undisclosed committed capital, with no product pricing applicable. The firm is operationally active, making investments through 2025 and 2026 per public sources.
SciFi VC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SciFi VC
- Legal name
- SciFi VC
- Website
- https://scifi.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SciFi VC is a San Francisco-based, family-controlled early-stage venture capital firm founded by Max and Nellie Levchin in 2011, investing seed and Series A capital in fintech, AI, and science startups with hands-on strategic support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SciFi VC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD), Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)
Keywords
Where SciFi VC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
SciFi VC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
Go-to-market motion1 record
Marketing channels1 record
SciFi VC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SciFi VC is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in and partners with founders building companies in fintech, artificial intelligence, and science-based technologies. The fund typically leads seed and Series A rounds, working with founders from the brainstorming stage through product and strategy definition, and provides ongoing support with fundraising, partnerships, and operating advice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use SciFi VC
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SciFi VC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SciFi VC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SciFi VC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Founders Fund: Peter Thiel's venture firm investing across stages including fintech and deep tech. Comparable as a brand-driven, founder-led fund with a generalist/contrarian thesis and high-profile principals.
- Sequoia Capital: One of the most established US VCs, active across seed, venture, and growth stages including fintech and AI. Comparable as a top-tier fund where founders seek brand and network effects, though at much larger scale.
- Andreessen Horowitz (a16z): Major US VC firm with significant fintech and crypto franchises. Comparable as a founder-brand-led fund operating across fintech, AI, and deep tech, with operating-partner support model similar to SciFi's hands-on approach.
- Lightspeed Venture Partners: Multi-stage VC with strong fintech and enterprise AI portfolios. Comparable as an investor in similar founder profiles and stages, though operating at materially larger fund sizes.
- Coatue Ventures: Growth-stage firm with active fintech and AI investing. Comparable in thesis overlap (fintech/AI) though operating primarily at later stages and larger check sizes.
Direct peers
- Initialized Capital: Early-stage VC founded by Garry Tan (ex-YC) with brand-driven deal flow in tech and fintech. Highly comparable as a small, founder-anchored seed/Series A fund with sector breadth in deep tech and consumer.
- Homebrew: Early-stage fund led by Hunter Walk and Satya Patel. Comparable as a small, focused seed fund with operator-led thesis across consumer, fintech, and enterprise — similar scale and stage to SciFi VC.
- Forerunner Ventures: Early-stage consumer and fintech VC led by Kirsten Green. Comparable as a thesis-driven, brand-led fund with sector specialization in fintech-adjacent categories at the seed/Series A stage.
- Thrive Capital: VC firm led by Josh Kushner with a strong fintech, crypto, and software thesis. Comparable as a brand-driven, thesis-led investor; SciFi VC has co-invested alongside Thrive (Folio Series A, Jul 2025).
- 500 Global (500 Startups): Global early-stage VC and accelerator with significant fintech exposure. Comparable as a seed-focused fund participating in similar founder profiles and stage, though operating at much larger geographic scale.
Market position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
SciFi VC social profiles
Digital presenceSciFi VC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SciFi VC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
SciFi VC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SciFi VC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments76 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SciFi VC
What does SciFi VC do?
SciFi VC is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in and partners with founders building companies in fintech, artificial intelligence, and science-based technologies. The fund typically leads seed and Series A rounds, working with founders from the brainstorming stage through product and strategy definition, and provides ongoing support with fundraising, partnerships, and operating advice.
Is SciFi VC a public or private company?
SciFi VC is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was SciFi VC founded?
SciFi VC was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SciFi VC based?
SciFi VC is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
Who are SciFi VC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Lightspeed Venture Partners and Coatue Ventures. Direct peers are Initialized Capital, Homebrew, Forerunner Ventures, Thrive Capital and 500 Global (500 Startups).
Does SciFi VC have an API?
No public API is recorded for SciFi VC.
What industry is SciFi VC in?
SciFi VC's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B), with a secondary code of FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.