Coughdrop Capital

Coughdrop Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm founded by brothers Stu and Austin Smith in 2015. Based in Bend, Oregon, with a presence in San Francisco and Los Angeles, the firm typically invests $25-50K in pre-seed and seed-stage startups across various sectors. Their investment philosophy centers on backing smart, ambitious founders regardless of the industry​. The firm has a diverse portfolio that includes notable investments in companies such as Superhuman, Lattice, Mercury, Ware, Dreamship, Ever Loved, Housable, Fast, and Catch. Coughdrop Capital is known for its founder-friendly approach, often providing strategic guidance, valuable introductions, and operational support to its portfolio companies​. Stu Smith brings extensive experience from his roles at WarnerMedia and Teespring, focusing on driving innovation in the entertainment and media sectors. Austin Petersmith, on the other hand, is the founder and CEO of Capiche, a platform for honest conversations about SaaS, and has a background in growth and marketing roles at early-stage startups​. Coughdrop Capital's investment strategy emphasizes quick decision-making and maintaining a supportive relationship with founders. They have been praised for their helpfulness, integrity, and ability to stay out of the way when not needed, while being available to offer support and resources when required.