Collide Capital has successfully closed a $95 million Fund II to back early-stage startups in fintech, future-of-work, and supply chain tech. Raising this oversubscribed fund over 13 months highlights the resilience of emerging managers with clear theses, bringing the firm’s AUM to $170 million. For founders, Collide’s focus on Gen-Z targeted enterprise tools and its robust operational support network offer a strategic blueprint for navigating the current fundraising environment.
Emerging Managers Defy the Venture Winter
Collide Capital, founded by industry veterans Brian Hollins and Aaron Samuels, has announced the close of its $95 million Fund II. This milestone brings the firm’s total assets under management (AUM) to $170 million. The fact that this fund was raised over 13 months in a notoriously difficult LP environment—securing backing from heavyweights like UC Regents, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan—sends a strong signal to the market. It demonstrates that while capital allocation has slowed, institutional investors are still aggressively backing emerging managers who possess a highly differentiated thesis and top-quartile track records (as seen in Collide’s Fund Zero and Fund I).
Strategic Focus: Fintech, Future-of-Work, and Supply Chain
Collide’s investment thesis centers on three high-growth verticals: fintech, future-of-work, and supply chain technologies. The macroeconomic tailwinds are significant. The fintech market is projected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2032, while the future-of-work sector is expanding at an 18% CAGR, driven by the permanent shift to hybrid models and AI integration. Supply chain tech, a crucial focus amid ongoing global volatility, is growing at a 22% CAGR. What sets Collide apart is its specific lens: they are aggressively seeking platforms that cater to a Gen-Z workforce. This means prioritizing real-time collaboration, AI-driven automation, and data-centric decision-making tools tailored for modern enterprise environments.
More Than Capital: The Rise of Operational Moats
Writing checks between $1 million and $3 million for pre-seed and Series A startups, Collide plans to back over 30 companies in the next 3.5 years. However, their true value proposition lies in their operational moat. Collide provides its portfolio with direct access to critical infrastructure through cloud credits from Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Anthropic. Furthermore, they facilitate introductions to Fortune 500 decision-makers, a crucial hurdle for early-stage B2B startups. Their ‘Collide Campus’ initiative, active across 20+ top-tier universities, also serves as a proprietary talent pipeline, placing top students directly into their portfolio companies. This holistic support structure is essential for founders looking to scale rapidly with lean teams.
Actionable Takeaways for Founders
Founders operating in these verticals should take note of Collide’s strategy. First, when building enterprise software, integrating “Gen-Z friendly” UX and AI automation is no longer optional; it is a core investment criteria. Second, founders should strategically target emerging managers who offer deep operational support and specific network access (like Fortune 500 intros), rather than solely chasing mega-funds. Third, securing early pilot programs with large enterprises should be a primary objective, and leveraging your VC’s network to achieve this can significantly accelerate your path to Series A. In a tight capital market, aligning your product roadmap with the specific demographic and technological theses of active funds is the most viable path to securing funding.