Notation Capital

Notation Capital, established in 2015 by Nicholas Chirls and Alex Lines, is a pioneering pre-seed venture capital firm based in Brooklyn, New York. Specializing in early-stage investments, Notation Capital supports technical teams at the inception of their business journeys, often at the idea stage. Notation's notable investments include Spruce, Livepeer, Bison Trails, and Parsec, showcasing their focus on hard tech, infrastructure, and product-centric startups. The fund is heavily focused on the New York City area but does not limit itself geographically if the opportunity aligns well with their investment philosophy. They typically lead the first round of financing with investment sizes ranging from $250K to $750K. Their strategy emphasizes deep involvement from day one, providing not just capital but also substantial operational support, leveraging their extensive network of advisors, founders, and LPs to accelerate growth and product development. Key team members include Nicholas Chirls, who brings expertise in product development and growth strategies from his previous role at betaworks, and Alex Lines, a seasoned software engineer with a decade of experience in building scalable products. Startups looking to engage with Notation Capital should demonstrate a strong technical foundation and a compelling vision for disruptive innovation. They prefer founders who are deeply product-focused and exhibit a strong determination to execute their vision.