186 Ventures

186 Ventures is a Boston-based venture capital firm, established in 2021, managing a $37M seed fund. Co-founded by Giuseppe Stuto and Julian Fialkow, the firm focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments, primarily in software sectors. They have a strong presence in fintech, AI, healthtech, blockchain, and SaaS. While their primary focus is on the Northeastern U.S., they also target high-growth startups across other major hubs like New York and San Francisco. 186 Ventures takes a generalist approach, investing in a wide range of tech-enabled companies but prioritizes capital-efficient startups that can demonstrate sustainable business models. With over 30 companies in their portfolio, including notable names like Centaur Labs, SuperWorld, and Monitaur, the firm aims to build out its portfolio further with 8-10 new investments in 2024. They are particularly founder-focused, offering strategic and operational support while leveraging their extensive network of operators and industry leaders to drive growth. Their average check size varies, but they typically lead early-stage rounds, with a keen eye on startups with strong capital efficiency and rapid growth potential. The team at 186 Ventures is highly accessible and hands-on, valuing founder alignment and supporting businesses through both market highs and lows​.