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Step Ahead Capital

Full company profile

uuid00246ah

Namestring
Step Ahead Capital
Legal namestring
Step Ahead Capital
Websiteurl
stepaheadcap.com
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearstring
-
Descriptiontext

Step Ahead Capital is a privately held venture capital firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, that invests in growth-stage technology companies typically two to three years prior to their anticipated IPO or acquisition. The firm executes both primary and secondary transactions, focusing on four thematic areas: fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning tools, and no-code solutions. The firm operates without a proprietary technology platform, deriving its value proposition from deal selection, disciplined valuation, and provision of alternative liquidity solutions to early investors and employees of late-stage private companies.

The firm's core offering is investment management and capital markets advisory rather than a software product. It is staffed by a four-person team comprising two General Partners (Julian Zegelman, formerly Founding Partner of Jaguar Capital Advisors and General Partner at TMT Investments Fund II; and Rostislav Shorgin, formerly Entrepreneur-in-Residence at XSeed Capital with prior product roles at Yandex and Airtable), a Venture Advisor (Robert Siegel, Stanford GSB faculty and board member at LUUM and Avochato), and a Capital Markets Advisor (Jerry Newman, with prior investment banking roles at Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, and JP Morgan). Deal sourcing is conducted via direct founder engagement and professional network referrals.

The disclosed portfolio comprises 13 companies spanning fintech and crypto (Robinhood, Bitso, Chainalysis, Carta), developer and collaboration tools (GitLab, Coda), AI and analytics (Grammarly, Hive, ThoughtSpot), decentralized infrastructure (Protocol Labs), online community (OpenWeb), HR technology (Listo Global), and foodtech (GrubMarket). The firm earns revenue from returns on equity investments realized through IPOs, acquisitions, and secondary transactions, supplemented by capital markets advisory services. The firm does not publicly disclose pricing, fund size, or revenue.

Short descriptiontext

Step Ahead Capital is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm that executes primary and secondary investments in growth-stage technology companies two to three years prior to their anticipated IPO or acquisition, with thematic focus on fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning, and no-code solutions.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
1–10
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
HQ citystring
Los Angeles
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices1 record

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
growth-stage venture capital, private equity investing, secondary market investments, fintech venture investing, pre-IPO capital
Industry2 codes
1Late-Stage Venture Capital (Series C+)
CodeFSANAAACPrimaryYes
2Secondary Venture Funds (VC Secondaries)
CodeFSANAAAKPrimaryNo
NAICS code2 codes
  • Other Investment Pools and Funds5259
  • All Other Financial Investment Activities52399
SIC code1 code
  • Investment Advice6282
Product category
Growth-Stage Venture Capital
Social media profiles1 record
GTM motion1 record

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model1 record
1Investment Returns
TypeTransaction Fee
Description

Returns on equity investments in growth-stage companies through IPOs, acquisitions, and secondary transactions. The firm invests 2-3 years prior to anticipated liquidity events.

stepaheadcap.com
Marketing channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components3 values
Personnel, Operations, Others
GTM typeB2B
B2B
Offering typeServices
Services
Core offering1 text field

Step Ahead Capital is a venture capital firm that provides growth capital to late-stage private technology companies in fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning tools, and no-code solutions. The firm invests 2-3 years prior to the portfolio company's anticipated IPO or acquisition, executing both primary (direct to company) and secondary (from existing shareholders) transactions. It also offers liquidity solutions to early investors and employees of private portfolio companies.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Product overview1 text field

Step Ahead Capital is a next-generation venture capital firm that provides investment management services to growth-stage companies. The firm executes both primary and secondary investments in fast-growing private companies, focusing on fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning tools, and no-code solutions. Rather than a product portfolio, the company offers investment expertise and capital markets advisory services through its team of General Partners and advisors. The firm does not offer standalone software products or modules; its core offering is venture capital investment services combined with strategic guidance for companies 2-3 years prior to their anticipated IPO or acquisition.

Scale indicator1 record

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Recent move3 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Peers10 records
1Coatue Management
TypeDirect peer
Description

Coatue is a technology-focused investment firm that invests in public and private companies across stages. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in its focus on technology growth investments and willingness to do both primary and secondary transactions.

2General Atlantic
TypeDirect peer
Description

General Atlantic is a global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support to growth-stage companies. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in providing growth capital to later-stage private companies, though typically at much larger scale.

3D1 Capital Partners
TypeDirect peer
Description

D1 Capital Partners is a global investment firm that focuses on technology and technology-enabled companies across stages. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in its late-stage tech focus and willingness to do both primary and secondary investments.

4TPG Growth
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

TPG Growth is the growth equity platform of TPG, focused on growth-stage investments across technology and other sectors. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in providing growth capital to late-stage companies, though within a much larger alternative asset manager.

5Founders Fund
TypeDirect peer
Description

Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that invests in companies across stages with strong tech focus. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in its focus on transformative technology companies and Silicon Valley roots.

6Tiger Global Management
TypeDirect peer
Description

Tiger Global is a leading global investment firm that invests in public and private companies, with strong focus on late-stage internet and software companies. Highly comparable in late-stage tech focus and ability to execute primary and secondary investments.

7TMT Investments Fund II
TypeEmerging player
Description

TMT Investments is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on technology, media, and telecommunications companies. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital as Julian Zegelman was previously a GP at TMT Investments Fund II, and it operates in overlapping tech sectors.

8Insight Partners
TypeDirect peer
Description

Insight Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm focused on growth-stage technology investments. It is highly comparable to Step Ahead Capital in its focus on late-stage tech companies, with a similar thesis around investing in established growth-stage businesses.

9Andreessen Horowitz (Growth Fund)
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Andreessen Horowitz is a major venture capital firm with dedicated growth funds investing in late-stage technology companies. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in growth-stage tech focus, though operates at significantly larger scale with broader sector coverage.

10Blackstone Growth
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Blackstone Growth is the growth equity arm of Blackstone focused on majority and significant minority investments in growth-stage companies. Comparable in late-stage focus but operates within one of the world's largest alternative asset managers.

Market position
Strengths4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat2 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles4 records

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

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

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment5 records

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

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

Step Ahead Capital

Growth-Stage Venture Capitalstepaheadcap.com

Step Ahead Capital is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm that executes primary and secondary investments in growth-stage technology companies two to three years prior to their anticipated IPO or acquisition, with thematic focus on fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning, and no-code solutions.

What Step Ahead Capital does

Step Ahead Capital is a privately held venture capital firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, that invests in growth-stage technology companies typically two to three years prior to their anticipated IPO or acquisition. The firm executes both primary and secondary transactions, focusing on four thematic areas: fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning tools, and no-code solutions. The firm operates without a proprietary technology platform, deriving its value proposition from deal selection, disciplined valuation, and provision of alternative liquidity solutions to early investors and employees of late-stage private companies.

The firm's core offering is investment management and capital markets advisory rather than a software product. It is staffed by a four-person team comprising two General Partners (Julian Zegelman, formerly Founding Partner of Jaguar Capital Advisors and General Partner at TMT Investments Fund II; and Rostislav Shorgin, formerly Entrepreneur-in-Residence at XSeed Capital with prior product roles at Yandex and Airtable), a Venture Advisor (Robert Siegel, Stanford GSB faculty and board member at LUUM and Avochato), and a Capital Markets Advisor (Jerry Newman, with prior investment banking roles at Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, and JP Morgan). Deal sourcing is conducted via direct founder engagement and professional network referrals.

The disclosed portfolio comprises 13 companies spanning fintech and crypto (Robinhood, Bitso, Chainalysis, Carta), developer and collaboration tools (GitLab, Coda), AI and analytics (Grammarly, Hive, ThoughtSpot), decentralized infrastructure (Protocol Labs), online community (OpenWeb), HR technology (Listo Global), and foodtech (GrubMarket). The firm earns revenue from returns on equity investments realized through IPOs, acquisitions, and secondary transactions, supplemented by capital markets advisory services. The firm does not publicly disclose pricing, fund size, or revenue.

Step Ahead Capital firmographics

Firmographics
Name
Step Ahead Capital
Legal name
Step Ahead Capital
Website
https://stepaheadcap.com
Company type
Private
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
1–10 employees
Short description
Step Ahead Capital is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm that executes primary and secondary investments in growth-stage technology companies two to three years prior to their anticipated IPO or acquisition, with thematic focus on fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning, and no-code solutions.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Step Ahead Capital industry classification

Industry
Product category
Growth-Stage Venture Capital
NAICS
Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)
SIC
Investment Advice (6282)
akta.pro primary industry
Late-Stage Venture Capital (Series C+) (FSANAAAC)
akta.pro secondary industry
Secondary Venture Funds (VC Secondaries) (FSANAAAK)

Keywords

  • Growth-stage venture capital
  • Private equity investing
  • Secondary market investments
  • Fintech venture investing
  • Pre-IPO capital

Where Step Ahead Capital is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Los Angeles
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Step Ahead Capital business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B
Offering type
Services
Cost components
Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

  1. Investment Returns: Returns on equity investments in growth-stage companies through IPOs, acquisitions, and secondary transactions. The firm invests 2-3 years prior to anticipated liquidity events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Step Ahead Capital product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Step Ahead Capital is a venture capital firm that provides growth capital to late-stage private technology companies in fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning tools, and no-code solutions. The firm invests 2-3 years prior to the portfolio company's anticipated IPO or acquisition, executing both primary (direct to company) and secondary (from existing shareholders) transactions. It also offers liquidity solutions to early investors and employees of private portfolio companies.

Product overview

Step Ahead Capital is a next-generation venture capital firm that provides investment management services to growth-stage companies. The firm executes both primary and secondary investments in fast-growing private companies, focusing on fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning tools, and no-code solutions. Rather than a product portfolio, the company offers investment expertise and capital markets advisory services through its team of General Partners and advisors. The firm does not offer standalone software products or modules; its core offering is venture capital investment services combined with strategic guidance for companies 2-3 years prior to their anticipated IPO or acquisition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Companies that use Step Ahead Capital

Customer profile

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Step Ahead Capital technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Step Ahead Capital partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Step Ahead Capital competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

  • Coatue Management: Coatue is a technology-focused investment firm that invests in public and private companies across stages. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in its focus on technology growth investments and willingness to do both primary and secondary transactions.
  • General Atlantic: General Atlantic is a global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support to growth-stage companies. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in providing growth capital to later-stage private companies, though typically at much larger scale.
  • D1 Capital Partners: D1 Capital Partners is a global investment firm that focuses on technology and technology-enabled companies across stages. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in its late-stage tech focus and willingness to do both primary and secondary investments.
  • Founders Fund: Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that invests in companies across stages with strong tech focus. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in its focus on transformative technology companies and Silicon Valley roots.
  • Tiger Global Management: Tiger Global is a leading global investment firm that invests in public and private companies, with strong focus on late-stage internet and software companies. Highly comparable in late-stage tech focus and ability to execute primary and secondary investments.
  • Insight Partners: Insight Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm focused on growth-stage technology investments. It is highly comparable to Step Ahead Capital in its focus on late-stage tech companies, with a similar thesis around investing in established growth-stage businesses.

Broad incumbents

  • TPG Growth: TPG Growth is the growth equity platform of TPG, focused on growth-stage investments across technology and other sectors. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in providing growth capital to late-stage companies, though within a much larger alternative asset manager.
  • Andreessen Horowitz (Growth Fund): Andreessen Horowitz is a major venture capital firm with dedicated growth funds investing in late-stage technology companies. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital in growth-stage tech focus, though operates at significantly larger scale with broader sector coverage.
  • Blackstone Growth: Blackstone Growth is the growth equity arm of Blackstone focused on majority and significant minority investments in growth-stage companies. Comparable in late-stage focus but operates within one of the world's largest alternative asset managers.

Emerging players

  • TMT Investments Fund II: TMT Investments is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on technology, media, and telecommunications companies. Comparable to Step Ahead Capital as Julian Zegelman was previously a GP at TMT Investments Fund II, and it operates in overlapping tech sectors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Step Ahead Capital social profiles

Digital presence

Step Ahead Capital financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Step Ahead Capital leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Step Ahead Capital funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

Step Ahead Capital M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments5 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Step Ahead Capital

What does Step Ahead Capital do?

Step Ahead Capital is a venture capital firm that provides growth capital to late-stage private technology companies in fintech, digital assets infrastructure, machine learning tools, and no-code solutions. The firm invests 2-3 years prior to the portfolio company's anticipated IPO or acquisition, executing both primary (direct to company) and secondary (from existing shareholders) transactions. It also offers liquidity solutions to early investors and employees of private portfolio companies.

Is Step Ahead Capital a public or private company?

Step Ahead Capital is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.

When was Step Ahead Capital founded?

Step Ahead Capital was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is Step Ahead Capital based?

Step Ahead Capital is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.

How does Step Ahead Capital make money?

One revenue line is on record: investment Returns.

Who are Step Ahead Capital's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Coatue Management, General Atlantic, D1 Capital Partners, Founders Fund, Tiger Global Management and Insight Partners. Broad incumbents are TPG Growth, Andreessen Horowitz (Growth Fund) and Blackstone Growth. TMT Investments Fund II is listed as an emerging player.

Does Step Ahead Capital have an API?

No public API is recorded for Step Ahead Capital.

What industry is Step Ahead Capital in?

Step Ahead Capital's product category is Growth-Stage Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAC, Late-Stage Venture Capital (Series C+), with a secondary code of FSANAAAK, Secondary Venture Funds (VC Secondaries). Its NAICS code is 5259 and its SIC code is 6282.

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