Belief Capital has officially announced the final close of its inaugural $20 million fund, marking a notable new entry in the solo general partner landscape. Led by founding partner Kevin Costa, the fund will concentrate on pre-seed and seed-stage startups across Europe and the United States. Its core mission is to provide deep, concentrated support to a new generation of technical founders building in high-growth sectors.
A New Player in Early-Stage Venture
The new $20 million vehicle is strategically designed to support companies at their earliest stages of development. Belief Capital will focus its investments on promising ventures in both the European and American markets. The firm has a specific mandate to back founders innovating in artificial intelligence, robotics, and critical infrastructure technologies.
The fund's investment strategy involves writing checks ranging from $500,000 to $3 million in exchange for a 5-10% ownership stake. This approach will result in a concentrated portfolio of just 10 to 15 companies, allowing for deeper engagement. Furthermore, Costa has confirmed that significant follow-on capital is reserved to support portfolio companies through subsequent growth stages.
The Founder-Focused Philosophy
Kevin Costa's vision for Belief Capital is to be an incentive-aligned partner, moving away from the common venture model of treating early investments as mere call options. He emphasizes that founders dedicate their lives to one company, and their primary investor should reflect that same level of commitment. The fund is therefore built to be a long-term, concentrated partner for founders pursuing ambitious goals.
The fund specifically targets young, deeply technical founders, often between the ages of 18 and 30, who lead small, high-leverage teams. Costa notes that these "AI-native" entrepreneurs are less constrained by legacy thinking and are more willing to pursue non-consensus ideas. This founder profile is seen as the driving force behind the next wave of transformative technology companies.
Sourcing and Supporting Innovation
Belief Capital employs a multifaceted strategy for discovering investment opportunities, combining digital outreach with traditional networking. Costa actively sources deals from online platforms like X, where young technical founders often share their ideas early. He also leverages a strong network of referrals from entrepreneurs he has previously supported, creating a trusted deal flow pipeline.
A key part of the firm's strategy involves maintaining a close presence near leading academic institutions known for technological innovation. Costa spends considerable time engaging with communities around universities like Oxford and Imperial College in the UK. In the US, he focuses on talent hubs such as Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech to connect with emerging engineers and researchers.
A Strong Foundation of Support
The new fund is supported by a distinguished group of limited partners, lending significant credibility to its launch. Investors include general partners from established venture capital firms such as Hummingbird, Point Nine, and Adjacent. Additionally, the San Francisco-based fund-of-funds GREE has also committed capital, underscoring the institutional confidence in Belief's model.
Further bolstering its network, Belief Capital has attracted investments from successful founders like Wise’s Taavet Hinrikus and Pitch’s Christian Reber. Costa himself brings valuable experience from his time as an investor at La Famiglia, which later merged with General Catalyst. His selection for Mountside Ventures’ inaugural VC accelerator also highlights his recognition as an emerging fund manager.
The launch of Belief Capital's $20 million fund represents a compelling new force in the early-stage venture ecosystem. Its concentrated investment philosophy and sharp focus on young, technical founders in AI and robotics set it apart in a crowded field. As it begins deploying capital, the firm is well-positioned to become a crucial partner for the innovators shaping the future of technology.
Source: Sifted