Loading organizations...
Key people at SoftTech VC.
Uncork Capital, previously SoftTech VC, operates as a focused seed-stage venture capital firm. It provides early capital and hands-on guidance to nascent technology companies during their critical initial 18 months. The firm partners directly with promising startups, serving as a foundational investor to facilitate development and market entry.
The firm was established by Jean-Francois "Jeff" Clavier, who founded SoftTech VC in May 2004. Clavier's insight stemmed from identifying a clear need for dedicated early-stage investment and practical support for technology startups. Leveraging his background, he aimed to address challenges founders face at this stage.
Uncork Capital primarily serves early-stage technology founders, aspiring to be their trusted guide. Its vision is to foster impactful companies by committing early and collaborating closely through initial growth. The firm seeks to empower founders to build enduring businesses that capitalize on market opportunities.
Key people at SoftTech VC.
Uncork Capital (formerly SoftTech VC) is a seed-stage venture capital firm founded in 2004, based in San Francisco (previously Palo Alto), focused on early-stage investments in B2B software, SaaS, developer tools, marketplaces, consumer services, and frontier technologies.[5][1][2] Its mission is to commit early, provide hands-on support through challenges, and remain invested long-term, managing multiple institutionally-backed funds including the recent $225M Uncork VIII and $75M Plus IV in 2025, with a track record of over 260 investments in companies like Postmates, Eventbrite, Fitbit, LaunchDarkly, and ClassDojo.[5][8][3] The firm targets 10-15% ownership stakes via $500K-$1M seed checks, often leading or co-leading rounds, and follows on in later stages, influencing the startup ecosystem through consistent deal flow (20+ per year historically) and expertise in high-growth tech verticals like connectivity, media, and AI-related tools.[3][2][5]
SoftTech VC was founded in 2004 by Jeff Clavier, a prominent Web 2.0 angel investor who formalized his portfolio into a structured seed fund, evolving from individual investments into institutional vehicles like SoftTech VC II (raised 2007, targeting 20 companies/year at $100K-$500K checks), III ($55M in 2011), and IV ($85M in 2014).[1][3][5] Key partners include Andy McLoughlin (ex-Huddle), Susan Liu (ex-Scale Venture Partners), Tripp Jones (ex-August Capital), and Amy Saper (ex-Accel), expanding the firm's operational depth.[5] The focus shifted from broad consumer internet and mobile to refined B2B/SaaS and marketplaces; in 2017, it rebranded to Uncork Capital to reflect its enduring "uncorking" of startup potential, continuing with larger funds like $100M SoftTech VC V (2016), Uncork VI ($100M + $100M Plus II in 2019), VII ($400M total in 2023), and VIII ($300M total in 2025).[5][3]
Uncork Capital rides the seed-stage resurgence in AI-driven developer tools, SaaS marketplaces, and frontier tech amid maturing cloud ecosystems and remote work shifts, where early validation is critical for scaling amid high burn rates.[5][8] Timing aligns with 2025's fundraises ($300M total), capitalizing on post-2023 recovery and AI hype, enabling larger follow-ons in a market favoring resilient B2B over pure consumer plays.[5][3] Favorable forces include abundant dry powder for seeds, geographic hubs like SF/NY fostering talent density, and the firm's influence via alumni networks boosting ecosystem liquidity—e.g., backing tools like LaunchDarkly that power Fortune 500 AI deployments.[8][5] It shapes the landscape by democratizing seed access for non-mega-round founders, bridging angels to VCs.
Uncork Capital's trajectory points to deepened AI and developer ecosystem bets, leveraging its 20+ year playbook for 50+ new deals from VIII/Plus IV amid 2025's optimistic VC rebound. Trends like progressive feature rollout, enterprise AI prompts, and marketplace consolidation will amplify its portfolio, potentially yielding more unicorns akin to Fitbit/Eventbrite. Influence may evolve toward opportunity funds for breakouts, solidifying its role as a steadfast seed partner in an increasingly specialized tech landscape—echoing its origins as a Web 2.0 pioneer now uncorking AI's next wave.[5][8][3]
