Chris DeVore
Chris DeVore is Founder and Founding Managing Partner at Founders Co-op and Managing Director at Techstars Seattle. He founded Founders' Co-op, which is still running, and previously co-founded Judy's Book, Inc., which closed. His expertise includes venture capital, startup investing, and building early-stage companies.
Logcat.ai Raises $2.55M Pre-Seed to Automate Android and Linux OS Debugging for Device Makers
Logcat.ai raised $2.55 million in a 2025 pre-seed round led by Founder’s Co-op to expand Delta, its automated Android and Linux OS debugging platform that helps device makers analyze logs and reduce manual investigation of complex defects.
Nick Hanauer Critiques Progressive Taxation and Calls for Defining Which Capitalism America Supports
Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer argues that the debate should focus on which form of capitalism America supports, responding to Chris DeVore’s call for Democrats to embrace capitalism. Hanauer critiques current progressive tax policies in Washington state as counterproductive, while emphasizing that capitalism is not a monolith but has many variations.
Chris DeVore’s Founders’ Co-op Raises $50M Fund to Invest Up to $1.5M Each in 30 Pacific Northwest Startups
Seattle-based Founders’ Co-op, led by Chris DeVore, launched its sixth $50 million fund to back early-stage Pacific Northwest startups, offering up to $1.5 million per company and prioritizing technical founders and regional innovation.
Founders' Co-op raises $50M to back ~30 Pacific Northwest early-stage tech startups with up to $1.5M each
Seattle venture capital firm Founders' Co-op raised a $50 million fund to invest up to $1.5 million each in about 30 early-stage Pacific Northwest tech startups, with a focus on enterprise software. The firm aims to shore up local founders amid uneven regional investment compared with San Francisco while local startup funding showed volatility in 2025.
Seattle's Founders' Co-op Raises $50M Sixth Fund to Back Early-Stage Pacific Northwest Tech Startups
Seattle venture firm Founders' Co-op has raised a $50 million sixth fund, focusing on early-stage Pacific Northwest tech startups with initial investments of $1 million to $1.5 million. Founded in 2008, the firm has backed billion-dollar companies like Remitly, Outreach, and Auth0 and aims to invest in about 30 new companies without targeting specific verticals.
VCs Urge Startups to Focus Long-Term Despite $3 Trillion Market Loss from Trump’s Tariff Announcement
Venture capitalists advise startups to maintain a long-term focus despite uncertainty caused by President Trump’s new tariffs, which triggered a $3 trillion market value loss. While tariffs pose short-term challenges for hardware and manufacturing startups, many emphasize resilience and product-centric growth strategies.
Seattle VC Firm Founders’ Co-op Raises Nearly $23M for New Fund, Following $50M Fifth Fund in 2021
Seattle venture capital firm Founders’ Co-op is raising a new fund with nearly $23 million secured according to SEC filings. The firm, led by Chris DeVore and Aviel Ginzburg, previously raised $50 million in 2021 and invests in early-stage startups in the Pacific Northwest.
Pioneer Square Labs' Greg Gottesman Forecasts Generative AI Will Transform Venture Capital Operations by 2033
Greg Gottesman of Pioneer Square Labs predicts venture capital will fundamentally change in the next 5-10 years, increasingly leveraging generative AI to provide startups with more than just funding, including operational and coding support. Sheila Gulati of Tola Capital adds that early-stage investing is becoming more democratized, with a broader investor pool amid the recent AI-driven revival in venture capital.
Aviel Ginzburg Launches Seattle Foundations to Support Tech Startups with Non-Equity Accelerator in Capitol Hill
Aviel Ginzburg and a team of entrepreneurs are launching Seattle Foundations, a new invite-only entrepreneurial community and shared workspace in Seattle, aiming to support tech founders with mentorship and resources without taking equity. The initiative, set to open later this year in Capitol Hill, will offer co-working space, events, and six-month memberships focused on startup acceleration.
Chris DeVore Reflects on Techstars Seattle Closure and Future of Local Startup Scene
Chris DeVore, former managing director of Techstars Seattle, reflects on the accelerator's closure and discusses its evolution and impact on Seattle's tech community. He expresses optimism about Seattle's entrepreneurial future despite the end of Techstars Seattle amid organizational shifts in the broader Techstars network.
BONUS: Seattle after Techstars, with guest Chris DeVore
Entrepreneur and investor Chris DeVore had an inside view of Techstars Seattle as one of the original leaders of the local startup accelerator in 2010, serving as its managing director from 2014 to 2019. His Feb. 21 post "What went wrong at Techstars," looked closely at the organization's evolution — including its increased focus on corporate sponsorships and shift to centralized fundraising — as the backdrop for the news last week that Techstars is closing its Seattle accelerator as part of a broader reset. So where should Seattle's tech community go from here? And what role do startup accelerators serve…
Techstars CEO Maëlle Gavet Rebukes Former Seattle MD Chris DeVore Over Criticism Amid Seattle Program Closure
Techstars CEO Maëlle Gavet responded critically to former managing director Chris DeVore's blog post blaming strategic decisions for the closure of Techstars Seattle, emphasizing ongoing support for local entrepreneurs despite the program's shutdown. DeVore had publicly criticized Techstars' reliance on corporate sponsors and changes in incentives prior to the announcement.
Techstars Shuts Down Seattle Program After Driving $80M in Funding Since 2020, Raising Concerns Over Local Startup Support
Chris DeVore reflects on the closure of Techstars Seattle (TS SEA), a top-performing program that helped founders raise over $80 million since 2020 and significantly contributed to the Pacific Northwest startup ecosystem. Despite its strong track record and community support, TS SEA was shut down due to company-wide consolidation, leaving concerns about a void in local entrepreneurial support.
Techstars to Close Seattle Accelerator by Fall 2024, Shifting Focus to Cities with Higher VC Activity
Techstars announced it is shutting down its Seattle accelerator program by Fall 2024 to focus on cities with more robust venture capital activity like San Francisco, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles. The Seattle program, a foundational part of the local startup ecosystem since 2010, graduated over 200 companies that collectively raised more than $2.8 billion.
Seattle Startups Report 12% Down Rounds in 2023, Lower Than Bay Area's 17% and NYC's 24%, Reflecting Revenue Focus
Seattle startups experienced fewer down rounds in funding during the first nine months of 2023 compared to Bay Area and New York City, with 12% versus 17% and 24% respectively. This is attributed to Seattle founders' focus on revenue and profitability, which aligns better with current investor preferences amid broader tech market challenges.
Washington Supreme Court Upholds 7% Capital Gains Tax on Stock Sales Over $250,000, Impacting Seattle Startup Founders
Washington state's Supreme Court upheld a new 7% capital gains tax on stock and bond sales over $250,000, affecting startup founders and employees. Reactions from Seattle tech entrepreneurs and investors were mixed, with concerns about its impact on the business environment.
Seattle Health Benefits Startup Pebble Launches with $17.3M Funding Including $12M Seed Round to Serve Small Businesses
Seattle-based startup Pebble, which uses AI to create health benefits plans for small businesses, has publicly launched and secured $17.3 million in total funding, including a $12 million second seed round. The company aims to provide startups and small businesses access to comprehensive health benefits similar to those of large firms, helping them attract and retain talent.
Seattle VC Aviel Ginzburg Launches Double Dinosaur Farm on 40 Acres in Oregon, Applying Startup Lessons to Farming
Aviel Ginzburg, a Seattle-based venture capitalist and general partner at Founders’ Co-op, bought a 40-acre farm in Oregon and started Double Dinosaur Farm, finding new entrepreneurial inspiration. He relates the lessons learned from farming, such as adaptability and resilience, to guiding startup founders amid economic challenges.
GeekWire Summit 2022 to Feature Top Tech Leaders Including Magic Leap, Aurora, Microsoft, Amazon, and U.S. Senator Cantwell on October 6-7
The 11th annual GeekWire Summit takes place on October 6-7 in Seattle and online, featuring key technology and business leaders discussing innovations like augmented reality, autonomous vehicles, and robotics. Speakers include Magic Leap CTO Julie Larson-Green, Aurora CEO Chris Urmson, Microsoft EVP Charlie Bell, Amazon VP Ken Washington, and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell.
Seattle VC Chris DeVore: Enterprise Software Startups in Pacific Northwest Poised for Resilience Amid Economic Downturn
Seattle's startup scene, centered on enterprise software and cloud infrastructure, may be more resilient during economic downturns according to VC Chris DeVore of Founders' Co-op. The region's focus on solving essential business problems positions its startups to endure better than those in more glamorous sectors.
Pack Ventures launches 506(c) pre-seed fund to back University of Washington founders, pledges 10% of returns to UW
Pack Ventures (Pack VC), a pre-seed and seed 506(c) fund, launched to invest in University of Washington-affiliated founders and broaden accredited investor access; leaders pledge 10% of personal fund returns to UW and will host an online introduction for accredited investors on Feb. 17.
NFTs, Metaverse, Web3, and new realities of startup investing, with Founders Co-op’s Aviel Ginzburg
So much of what happens in the startup world comes from serendipitous moments, random interactions that lead to fresh insights and new collaborations. And so much of that has traditionally happened at events, meetups, coffee meetings, and other in-person gatherings. Two years into the pandemic and remote work, what are the implications? That's our first topic on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, with entrepreneur, software engineer and investor Aviel Ginzburg, general partner at Seattle-based seed-stage venture fund Founders Co-op. The former Techstars Managing Director for Amazon's Alexa Accelerator, Ginzburg was co-founder of social analytics platform Simply Measured, acquired by…
LevelTen Energy raises $35M Series C led by NGP Energy Capital with Google participating, total funding $62.3M
Seattle-based LevelTen Energy raised $35 million in a Series C led by NGP Energy Capital with participation from Google, bringing total funding to $62.3 million as demand for renewable power and related marketplaces grows. The company operates marketplaces for power purchase agreements, physical project transactions, and tracking renewable energy agreements, and says it has facilitated over $5 billion in transactions.
Pioneer Square Labs spins out 25 startups in five years; six launched during pandemic surge
Seattle startup studio Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) spun out 25 startups in five years — six during a six-month pandemic stretch — by rapidly testing ideas, though it has yet to produce a breakout unicorn and faces criticism over founder dilution.
GeekWire Awards 2020 Goes Virtual; Ally Wins Startup of the Year as Bill Gates and Celebrities Celebrate
GeekWire held a virtual GeekWire Awards livestream honoring top Pacific Northwest tech companies and leaders across 12 categories, with winners accepting via Zoom and special video messages from figures like Bill Gates. Seattle startup Ally won Startup of the Year, and the event included entertainment such as The Drunken Tenorperforming an "Opera di Zoom."
Organizations
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Founders' Co-op Founder and Founding Managing Partner 2008–present, Former Techstars Seattle Managing Director · current
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Techstars Seattle Managing Director · current
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Techstars Managing Director, Techstars Seattle 2014–2019, Director 2010–2014, CEO 2019 · past
Education
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Stanford University Graduate School of Business MBA (Incomplete), Business Administration and Management, General · 1997–1998
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Yale University BA, American Studies · 1986–1990
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Lakeside School 1982–1986
