500 Global

500 Global is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm and seed accelerator founded in 2010 by Dave McClure and Christine Tsai, formerly known as 500 Startups. The firm has grown into one of the world's most prolific early-stage investors, managing approximately $2.3 to $2.7 billion in assets under management and backing more than 2,600 companies across over 80 countries. 500 Global operates under a 'lots of little bets' philosophy, providing seed capital alongside accelerator programming, mentorship, and access to a global founder network. Standard seed investments are structured at $150,000, though the firm also manages larger follow-on vehicles and regional funds targeting specific geographies. The portfolio includes 38 to 51 unicorns and more than 140 companies valued above $100 million, with notable exits including Twilio (NYSE: TWLO), Credit Karma (acquired by Intuit for $7.1 billion), and Grab (Nasdaq: GRAB). The firm has built dedicated programs and regional funds across Southeast Asia, MENA, Latin America, Africa, India, and Japan, giving it a uniquely global footprint for an early-stage investor. More than half of the firm's partners are women. Beyond capital, 500 Global provides founders with go-to-market support, investor introductions, and community programming through its global accelerator network. The firm is one of the most active investors in the AI ecosystem with more than 350 AI-related investments, including Canva, Talkdesk, and Fin by Intercom, ten of which are valued above $1 billion.