Defy.vc (also known as Defy Partners) is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2016 by Neil Sequeira and Trae Vassallo and based in Woodside, California. The firm has raised three funds totaling over $700 million, with its most recent $300 million Fund III focused on seed and pre-Series A investing.
Defy targets seed and Series A rounds, with initial check sizes ranging from $3 million to $10 million, reserving more than double the initial investment for follow-on capital. A distinctive feature of the firm is its "Sage" model, where experienced serial founders and current CEOs — including Brian Lee and Sujal Patel — receive fund-level economics in exchange for deeply hands-on involvement with portfolio companies.
The firm invests across enterprise SaaS, fintech, AI, healthcare, consumer, and marketplaces, and has recorded 3 IPOs and 25 acquisitions across its 97 portfolio investments. Notable investments include The Honest Company, Wealthfront, Triller, Apploi, and Reveal Technology. Recent deals from the provided data include ChampAI, Synthpop, Birches Health, and Rocksalt.
People
- Neil Sequeira, Co-Founder & Partner
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