Why Fuse VC Is Betting Big on Space | Brendan Wales on Investing in the Final Frontier
What happens when you mix a Lamborghini, Lake Washington, and a venture capitalist who's writing checks into space? In this special episode of Full Burn, host Trevor Smith is joined by Brendan Wales, founding partner at Fuse VC, for a drive through Seattle’s elite neighborhood—and a conversation about building billion-dollar companies in the final frontier. They dig into: • How Brendan helped build Fuse into a $450M+ venture firm • Why space investing is heating up (and where the best returns may lie) • Backing Star Cloud, Portal Space Systems, and Quindar • The critical need for SpaceX competition •…
Seattle Venture Capitalists Say AI Boosts Startup Opportunities but Competition Is Fierce
Seattle-area venture capitalists highlight that AI advancements make now an excellent time to start startups due to lower capital needs and broad industry opportunities, but warn of intense competition as many similar ventures emerge rapidly. Founders are encouraged to develop unique advantages to stand out and attract investment amid a flood of new ideas and competitors.
Seattle Venture Firm Fuse Launches $1M Space Startup Program Backed by $250M Fund in 2023
Seattle-based venture capital firm Fuse has launched the Fuse Space Program to invest $1 million or more in promising early-stage space startups, focusing on the Seattle space ecosystem. Backed by a $250 million fund raised in 2023, Fuse plans to support around 10 companies, leveraging expertise from leaders of Lumen Orbit and Quindar.
PortX Raises $16.5M Series B Led by Fuse and Curql, Forms Subsidiary to Serve Credit Unions
Seattle-based fintech startup PortX raised $16.5 million in a Series B funding round led by Fuse and Curql to develop AI and automation tools and create a new subsidiary serving credit unions. PortX has now raised $26.5 million total and will use the funds to enhance its banking infrastructure software for community banks and credit unions.
Building A Localised VC Firm - Brendan Wales, Founding Partner, FUSE
In this episode, Richard Kerby from Equal Ventures talks with Brendan Wales, Founding Partner of FUSE. Fuse is a Bellevue, Washington-based early-stage venture firm focused on Pacific North-West companies. Their 1st fund was $170 Million and they recently closed a $250 Million fund to back promising startups in the region. Here's a glimpse of what we discussed: The Significance of Local Venture Firms: - Brendan highlights how venture firms like Sequoia and Benchmark have thrived by owning specific ecosystems. - How being hyper-local gives them an edge in finding startups before everyone else? - The unique opportunity Fuse Ventures has…
Bellevue VC Fuse Raises $250M Second Fund, Reaching $420M Total Since 2020
Bellevue-based venture capital firm Fuse raised $250 million for its second fund, bringing its total raised to $420 million across two funds since launching in 2020. The firm will continue investing in Pacific Northwest and western Canada B2B tech startups, leading seed and Series A rounds with $1 million–$10 million checks.
Seattle VC Firm Fuse Raises $250M Second Fund to Back 30-35 Pacific Northwest Startups
Seattle-based venture capital firm Fuse raised $250 million for its second fund to invest in early-stage enterprise software startups across the Pacific Northwest, aiming to back 30-35 companies despite a broader venture capital slowdown. Founded in 2020 with an initial $170 million fund, Fuse credits its growth to the strong local talent and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Fuse closes $250M second fund to back 30–35 Pacific Northwest software and AI startups
Seattle-area VC firm Fuse has closed a $250 million second fund to invest in 30–35 Pacific Northwest software and AI-enabled startups, writing $1M–$10M checks and co-leading rounds. Backers include state-affiliated accounts, foundations, universities and prominent Seattle software executives, and Fuse aims to back companies that automate business processes or augment workers.
Seattle Startup ModusBox Spins Out PortX with $10M Series A Led by Fuse and BankTech Ventures
Seattle-based ModusBox is spinning out its financial services tech business into a new company called PortX, which raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Fuse and BankTech Ventures. PortX, focused on financial services integration software, employs 51 people while ModusBox has 19, both headquartered near Seattle.
Seattle VC Firm Fuse, Led by Three Under-40 Partners, Raised $170M and Seeks $250M for Second Fund
Seattle venture capital firm Fuse, led by three general partners all aged 35 or younger, raised $170 million for its first fund and is currently raising $250 million for its second. The firm focuses on early-stage Pacific Northwest software startups and is notable for both its youthful leadership and sizable funds.
Seattle VC Fuse announces $170 million inaugural fund, backing 17 Pacific Northwest B2B startups
Seattle-based early-stage VC firm Fuse disclosed its inaugural fund is $170 million, which has backed 17 Pacific Northwest B2B software startups and plans 25–30 total investments.
CostCertified & Fuse Venture Partners
Discover the untold stories behind the venture capital fundraise. Join Alex Norman as he leads candid conversations with founders of venture-backed companies and the partners that made the bet. In this episode: Michael Bignold, Founder & CEO at CostCertified, and Brendan Wales, Founding Partner at FUSE. 0:00 Welcome to Founders & Funding 1:29 Introduction 4:19 Investment journey & path to funding 9:17 Choosing the right investor 11:37 Choosing the right founder to invest in 13:35 Lessons learned for success 16:40 The investor and founder relationship post-investment 21:19 Takeaway: Advice to founders Watch all Founders & Funding episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGtwiyttrm4&list=PLIEpKVFvGwLNryaHRQcmTssSBdPwiQ9zI&t=0s Listen…
Former Rover CTO Scott Porad named Dolly’s first CTO as Dolly plans headcount, sales expansion; Regi Vengalil to become Metromile CFO in May
Scott Porad, former Rover CTO, has joined Seattle peer-to-peer moving app Dolly as its first chief technology officer as the startup plans to double headcount and sales; Regi Vengalil will leave Egencia in May to become CFO of Metromile, a pay-per-mile insurer.
Brendan Wales joins Seattle VC Fuse as third founding GP as firm raises more than $118M for Fund I
Brendan Wales, a longtime Bay Area startup investor, has joined Seattle-based VC firm Fuse as its third founding general partner, and Fuse has raised over $118 million (nearly $120M) for its first fund to invest in B2B software across the Pacific Northwest.
