VCs and programs that actively back single-founder companies
Solo founders face a well-documented skepticism from institutional investors who often insist on co-founded teams. Research from First Round Capital and others shows co-founded teams outperform solo founders on average — but that average masks significant variance. Some of the most consequential companies (Craigslist, 37signals/Basecamp, Notion, Canva under Melanie Perkins) were built by essentially solo founders in their early stages. A growing set of investors explicitly back solo founders, recognizing that a single exceptional person with deep domain expertise can outcompete mediocre two-person teams. The key is finding these investors efficiently and positioning your solo status as a sign of conviction rather than a liability.
Federal Agencies
Solo founders qualify for federal SBIR grants. No co-founder requirement. Technical merit and small business status are the key criteria.
Awesome Foundation
Monthly micro-grants for awesome ideas. No team size requirement. Simple application with fast turnaround.
State Economic Development Agencies
Many state programs provide matching grants for early-stage businesses regardless of team composition. Check your state's economic development office.
Additional opportunities available in our full grants database.
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Craig Newmark
Craig built one of the most-trafficked websites in history entirely solo before eventually hiring. Proof that solo execution at scale is possible.
Ivan Zhao (solo for first 2 years)
Notion was essentially a solo project for its first two years. Ivan raised from Index Ventures and others after reaching meaningful ARR, demonstrating that traction matters more than team structure.
A step-by-step fundraising roadmap tailored for solo founders.
Advisors with equity stakes (0.1-0.5%) signal that domain experts trust your vision. This is the most effective counter to the solo founder objection.
Y Combinator explicitly accepts solo founders and has backed many successful solo-founded companies. Apply in the batch that gives you the most prep time.
Revenue eliminates the team-size concern for most investors. A solo founder generating $10K MRR gets meetings that a solo founder at zero does not.
Clearco, Pipe, Capchase, and Lighter Capital all provide non-dilutive growth capital to solo founders with revenue. No team composition requirements.
Solo founders who have raised capital are more sympathetic to the solo founder narrative. Search LinkedIn and AngelList for solo-founded exits and reach out directly.
Many will, though it is more difficult than raising with a team. Y Combinator, Pioneer, Tiny Seed, and numerous angels explicitly back solo founders. Building strong traction before fundraising significantly improves success rates.
Research shows that co-founded teams have higher success rates on average, complementary skills reduce single points of failure, and co-founders provide accountability. That said, many successful companies were built by solo founders — investors are increasingly aware of this.
A strong advisory board with equity stakes is the most effective substitute. Advisors with relevant expertise can fill skill gaps and provide the accountability dynamic investors value in co-founded teams.
No. Bringing on the wrong co-founder creates more risk than raising solo. The wrong co-founder split is one of the most common causes of early startup failure. Raise solo and be transparent about your decision.
Yes. Tiny Seed, Calm Fund, Indie.vc, and Pioneer specifically target solo or near-solo founders. Revenue-based financing from Clearco and Capchase has no team size requirements.