About

We invest before others see the opportunity.

12x is an early-stage fund in San Francisco. We write $10–100K checks to founders applying to, interviewing with, or recently accepted into top-tier accelerators. We invest while the company is still early, and we help founders prepare for accelerator interviews.

Why 12x

One outlier returned more than 12× the entire fund.

12×
The return generated by one company in the first fund our managing partner invested in

The name comes from the first fund our managing partner invested in. One company returned more than twelve times the value of that entire fund.

That experience shaped our approach: a small number of exceptional companies create most venture returns. Finding them means meeting exceptional founders early—before the accelerator, before the major round, and before the opportunity looks obvious.

How we invest

A specific moment, a clear founder profile, and a useful first check.

We focus on the period around a founder's entry into a top-tier accelerator. At that stage, the company is early enough for conviction to matter and close enough to a major milestone for progress to become visible quickly.

When

Around the accelerator

We meet founders while they are applying, interviewing, or newly accepted. You do not need to wait for demo day—or even acceptance—to contact us.

Who

Founders moving fast

We look for founders who learn quickly, build with urgency, and can explain why they are the right people to solve the problem.

How much

$10–100K

We typically invest on a standard SAFE. The check is designed to fit early rounds without asking founders to reshape the round around us.

What to expect

A direct process and a clear answer.

01

Tell us what you are building

Email lz@12x.vc with a short introduction, what the company does, and where you are in the accelerator process. A deck or demo is useful, but neither is required.

02

Talk with a partner

We meet in San Francisco or by video call. If an accelerator interview is coming up, we can help you sharpen how you explain the company, prepare for likely questions, and communicate what makes the team stand out.

03

Receive a clear decision

We give you a direct yes or no the same day or the next day. After investing, we can help with accelerator preparation, important hires, fundraising decisions, and introductions to later-stage investors.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions, clear answers.

Who do you invest in? +
We invest in ambitious early-stage founders who are applying to, interviewing with, or recently accepted into a top-tier accelerator. We back both technical and non-technical founders, but the full founding team must be able to understand the problem deeply, build the product, attract strong people, and move quickly.
How much do you invest? +
We write checks from $10,000 to $100,000, typically on a standard SAFE. The exact amount depends on the company, the round, and where we can be most useful without asking the founder to reshape the round around us.
Do I need to be accepted into an accelerator already? +
No. You can contact us while preparing an application, before an interview, or shortly after acceptance. We prefer to meet founders early, so there is no reason to wait for acceptance or demo day.
Do founders need to be in San Francisco? +
No. 12x is based in San Francisco, but we invest in founders wherever they are. Meetings can happen in person or by video call.
Are you focused on specific sectors? +
We invest across sectors. We are especially interested in products that make powerful tools more accessible and products that become part of their users' everyday behavior.

Pitch us.

If you are building something ambitious and preparing for a top-tier accelerator, tell us what you are working on. We reply to every founder.

lz@12x.vc ↗