Footwork

Footwork is an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, co-founded by Mike Smith and Nikhil Basu Trivedi in 2021. The firm focuses on Seed and Series A investments in consumer technology and the consumerization of enterprise technology, aiming to support startups with early signs of product-market fit. Footwork's investment strategy is centered on leading or co-leading funding rounds in promising early-stage companies. They prioritize founders who are building category-defining companies in sectors like enterprise applications, health tech, and sustainability. The firm has a particular interest in companies that blend consumer and enterprise tech, a reflection of the founders' backgrounds at Stitch Fix and Shasta Ventures. Since its inception, Footwork has invested in several innovative startups, including Cradlewise, GPTZero, and WindBorne Systems. They typically target investments in the U.S. but have also backed companies in other regions, like New Zealand. Their portfolio is designed with a high-conviction approach, meaning they focus on a smaller number of investments where they believe they can make a significant impact.