StartFast Ventures

What StartFast Ventures does

StartFast Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in B2B SaaS companies based outside major US startup hubs, spanning geographies from Charlotte to Phoenix to Buffalo and into Mexico/Latin America. Founded in 2011–2012 by Nasir Ali and Chuck Stormon in Upstate New York, the firm writes Seed and Series A checks of $500K–$2MM, leading or co-investing alongside a national network of VC/PE partners. The firm has backed 60+ companies across fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, education technology, HR, marketplaces, and automotive AI; notable positions include Blackbird.ai, CodeCombat, Patient Pattern (acquired by PointClickCare in April 2023 — Fund II's first exit), KredosAI, SelectFI, Kanarys, and Hitch.

The firm operates through three successive funds. Fund I (2012–2020) achieved a 33% IRR and 3.4x MOIC/TVPI. Fund II (2021 vintage) has produced multiple up-rounds and at least one exit. Fund III, launched in February 2025, is a $100M vehicle with an explicit B2B AI thesis spanning fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, and commerce, targeting a 5.2x MOIC over a 10-year life with a 2% management fee (stepping to 1% after year five) and 20% carried interest. Deal flow is sourced through a proprietary 23-filter screening process and the Upstate Venture Connect ecosystem, which Nasir Ali co-founded and which reaches 15,000+ community members across six angel funds.

The business model is classic fund management: revenue is generated from management fees on committed/deployed capital plus carried interest on realized returns above hurdle. The team comprises three General Partners (Nasir Ali, Chuck Stormon, Olivia Goldstein) and three Venture Partners (Mark Zitter, Jeffrey Allan, Sanjeev Chawla), all with operating-founder backgrounds. Distribution is direct to founders via inbound, referrals from the mentor/subject-matter-expert network, and content marketing through the 'Fast Thoughts' blog and podcast appearances; for Fund III, the firm is also actively soliciting Registered Investment Advisors as LPs.

Name

StartFast Ventures

Legal name

StartFast Ventures

Website

https://startfastventures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

StartFast Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm backing B2B SaaS founders outside major US startup hubs. It manages three funds; its $100M Fund III (2025) is dedicated to B2B AI startups across fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, and commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399), 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

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA), Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

Keywords

• Venture capital
• Early-stage investing
• Seed funding
• B2B SaaS investing
• Series A capital

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fund Management Fees: StartFast generates revenue through management fees charged on funds under management. Fund III charges 2% management fee for 5 years, then 1% thereafter.
2. Carried Interest (Carry): The firm earns 20% carried interest on investment returns, aligned with investor success and providing incentive to maximize fund performance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

StartFast Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests $500K-$2MM in B2B SaaS companies at Seed and Series A stages, with a particular focus on founders located outside major US venture capital hubs (Charlotte to Phoenix to Buffalo). The firm manages three funds: Fund I (2012-2020, 33% IRR), Fund II (2021-present), and Fund III (2025, $100M) which is specifically focused on B2B AI startups in fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, and commerce. Portfolio companies receive capital, operational guidance from operator-partners, access to a 15,000+ member mentor network via Upstate Venture Connect, and referrals to co-investors and later-stage investors.

Product overview

StartFast Ventures is a venture capital firm offering three distinct investment funds (Fund I, Fund II, and Fund III) rather than a unified software platform. Fund I (2012-2020) was the inaugural fund achieving 33% IRR and 3.4x MOIC. Fund II (2021-present) invests in diverse B2B SaaS founders outside major VC hubs. Fund III ($100M, 2025) is the flagship fund focused exclusively on B2B AI startups across fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, and commerce. The firm also provides portfolio companies with operational support, access to coinvestors, mentor networks, and strategic partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• StartFast Fund I The inaugural venture fund launched in 2012 with a focus on early-stage technology investments outside major VC hubs. The fund achieved a 33% IRR and 3.4x MOIC/TVPI over its 2012-2020 lifecycle. The fund invested in B2B SaaS companies and built the firm's initial track record.
• StartFast Fund II A venture fund formed in 2021 to invest in diverse B2B SaaS founders outside major VC hubs. The fund has generated multiple up-rounds, successful exits including Patient Pattern's acquisition by PointClickCare, and strong early performance. Fund II focuses on backing diverse founding teams in B2B SaaS.
• StartFast Fund III A $100M early-stage venture fund (2025) focused on B2B AI startups in fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, and commerce sectors. The fund targets 5.2x MOIC returns and offers institutional-grade structure with 10-year fund life, 2% management fee for 5 years then 1% thereafter, and 20% carried interest. Includes 50% follow-on reserve to support top-performing investments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fund I (2012-2020): 33% IRR | 3.4x MOIC/TVPI
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Upstate Venture ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNasir Ali co-founded Upstate Venture Connect, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that has helped organize six angel funds in Upstate New York, built an online platform reaching 15,000+ startup community members, and created the UNY50 Entrepreneur Leadership group.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• M25: Early-stage venture firm investing in tech startups outside Silicon Valley, particularly across the Midwest. Shares StartFast's regional/non-major-hub thesis and Seed/Series A focus with comparable check sizes.
• Costanoa Ventures: Early-stage venture firm focused on B2B SaaS and enterprise software from Seed to Series A, with comparable check sizes and operator-driven investment model. Both firms share a thesis-led approach to backing B2B SaaS founders.
• SaaS Ventures: Seed and Series A B2B SaaS-focused venture firm; co-investor alongside StartFast in KredosAI (2024). Highly comparable check size, sector focus, and stage, making it a direct peer.
• Rise of the Rest (Revolution): Steve Case's seed fund explicitly investing in startups outside of Silicon Valley, NYC, and Boston. Closely aligned with StartFast's geographic thesis and Seed-stage focus.
• Foundry Group: Venture firm with a long-standing thesis around B2B SaaS and enterprise software investing. Comparable thematic focus on B2B SaaS founders, though at a larger fund scale than StartFast.

Broad incumbents

• Bain Capital Ventures: Multi-stage venture arm of Bain Capital with strong B2B SaaS and AI investment theses. Larger and broader incumbent operating in similar Seed/Series A B2B SaaS space, including AI.
• Emergence Capital: Well-established B2B SaaS-focused venture firm with broader AUM and later-stage activity. Comparable in thesis (B2B SaaS investing) but larger and more institutionally entrenched than StartFast.
• Techstars: Global accelerator and venture firm that has previously co-invested with StartFast (e.g., In-Seam). Comparable in backing early-stage B2B founders and providing accelerator/operational support.

Regional players

• Hyde Park Venture Partners: Early-stage venture firm based in the Midwest investing in B2B SaaS and tech startups outside coastal hubs. Directly comparable in regional thesis, though operating primarily in Chicago rather than Upstate NY.
• gener8tor: Accelerator and venture firm investing in early-stage startups across the Midwest and other non-coastal US regions. Comparable in operating accelerator programs and Seed-stage investing outside major VC hubs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/start_fast
• Facebookfacebook.com/StartFast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startfast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments55 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about StartFast Ventures