500 Global

500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) is a venture capital firm founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, investing in founders building fast-growing technology companies around the world.

The firm pursues a globally diversified strategy from pre-seed to pre-IPO, focusing on markets where technology, innovation, and capital can unlock long-term value and drive economic growth, and combines investment with ecosystem-building programs for governments, corporations, and local partners.

500 Global manages more than $2.4–$2.7 billion in assets under management and has backed over 5,000 founders representing roughly 2,600–2,900 companies across 75–80 countries, with a portfolio that includes over 50 unicorns and more than 140 companies valued above $100 million, such as Canva, Grab, Bukalapak, Talkdesk, Credit Karma, Innovaccer, Insider, and Mejuri.

The firm is one of the world’s most active early-stage investors, running flagship accelerators and seed programs in hubs like Palo Alto while operating dedicated regional funds and accelerator cohorts in Latin America, MENA, Southeast Asia, and Africa, often providing an initial seed check of around $150,000 for approximately 6% ownership through its flagship accelerator.

Beyond capital, 500 Global offers structured founder and investor education (including its VC Unlocked programs), and works closely with public and private institutions to design and scale innovation ecosystems, underscoring its mission of “uplifting people and economies through entrepreneurship” and cementing its role as a leading global platform for early-stage tech investing