Collide Capital has closed its second round of fundraising at $95 million and this marks a steady expansion of its early-stage investment strategy. Founded by Brian Hollins and Aaron Samuels in 2021, the firm focuses on fintech, supply chain, and future-of-work startups. The latest fundraise comes amid a challenging environment for emerging fund managers, underlining investor confidence in Collide’s track record and network.
The firm had earlier raised a $66 million debut fund in 2022 and has since backed 75 startups. With Fund II, Collide plans to deploy capital over the next three-and-a-half years, targeting at least 30 companies. Average cheque sizes will range between $1 million and $3 million, positioning the firm firmly in early-stage dealmaking.
The fund has drawn support from a mix of institutional and financial heavyweights. The University of California Endowment, Accolade Partners, Fairview Capital, and Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, which are both major banks, serve as the main limited partners. The large institutions that continue to support niche, thesis-driven venture firms show they remain interested in these firms, even though overall funding has decreased.
Hollins brings prior experience from Goldman Sachs, Lightspeed, and Slow Ventures, while Samuels has worked with Bain and Lightspeed and co-founded AfroTech. The combined experience and networks of the two individuals have enabled Collide to establish itself as a dedicated fund that prioritizes founders.
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Collide Capital focuses on platforms that provide automated systems and enable users to collaborate in real time and make quick decisions. The firm has already deployed capital into five startups from the new fund, with previous portfolio companies including Culina Health and Helios. The firm extends its operations beyond capital deployment through its Collide Campus initiative.
The program, which started in 2022, trains undergraduate and graduate students to operate venture capital businesses and create new ventures. The organization operates more than 20 campuses, including Harvard and Johns Hopkins, and has helped more than 50 students secure positions at top venture capital firms.
Collide combines capital with talent development to build a sustainable pipeline of founders and investors, with the expectation of long-term results.