Description
The Hive is a Palo Alto–based venture studio and early-stage venture capital firm that co-founds, incubates, and invests in enterprise technology companies, with a strong focus on AI, data infrastructure, fintech, SaaS, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. Founded by Ray Lane (former COO of Oracle), The Hive operates as a company-creation platform rather than a traditional accelerator.
The Hive is best known for building companies from the ground up in close partnership with founders, often acting as a co-founder and long-term investor.
Specific Funding Stage
Idea / Company Formation (Core Focus)
- The Hive is most active at the 0→1 stage, including:
- Idea conception
- Problem validation
- Company formation
- Many portfolio companies are conceived internally and launched with Hive support.
Pre-Seed / Seed (Follow-On)
- After formation, The Hive typically provides pre-seed and seed capital and continues backing companies through early institutional rounds.
Investment Amount and Percentage Equity (Company-Level)
Capital Model
- The Hive invests foundational capital into companies it helps create.
- It does not publish standardized check sizes, but investments typically span pre-seed through seed, often alongside Hive’s operational build-out.
Equity Taken
- As a venture studio, The Hive usually takes a meaningful equity position at formation — larger than a traditional VC but aligned with its role as:
- Co-founder
- Incubator
- Early institutional investor
- Exact equity percentages are not public and are negotiated per company, reflecting capital, IP, and operational contribution.
Equity Structure
- Equity is typically established at company formation rather than via off-the-shelf SAFEs.
- The Hive contributes:
- Initial capital
- Engineering and product leadership
- Strategy, governance, and GTM support
- Over time, Hive supports external seed and Series A fundraising, diluting alongside founders and new investors.
Application / Submission Method
How Founders Engage
- Engagement typically happens through:
- Warm introductions
- Direct outreach to The Hive partners
- Founder-in-Residence or co-founder discussions
- This is not a cohort-based accelerator and does not run open application cycles like YC or Techstars.
Interaction Model
- Highly selective, relationship-driven, and long-term.
- The Hive partners deeply with a small number of founders at a time.
Eligibility
Sector Focus
The Hive concentrates on enterprise-grade technology, including:
- Artificial intelligence & applied ML
- Data platforms & infrastructure
- Fintech & financial infrastructure
- Cybersecurity
- Enterprise SaaS
- Cloud, automation, and digital transformation
Stage
- Idea → pre-seed
- Best fit for founders who want to co-build a company with a studio, not just raise capital.
Founder Profile
- Experienced operators, technologists, or domain experts
- Founders comfortable with a co-founder-like studio relationship
- Often second-time founders or senior enterprise leaders (though not exclusively)
Geography
- Primarily Silicon Valley (Palo Alto / Bay Area), with flexibility depending on company needs.
Process
Problem Identification: Market gaps identified internally or with founders.
Founder Matching: Founder paired with opportunity (or brings opportunity to Hive).
Company Formation: Equity, governance, and strategy defined.
Build Phase: Product development and early customer validation.
External Fundraise: Seed/Series A with Hive as core investor and sponsor.
What an Applicant can Obtain
Company Co-Creation: Hands-on support from ideation to launch
Pre-Seed & Seed Capital: Foundational funding aligned with company formation
Operational Support: Product strategy, hiring, GTM, enterprise sales insight
Enterprise Network: Access to senior executives, CIOs, CISOs, and enterprise buyers
Fundraising Support: Help raising external seed and Series A rounds
Long-Term Partnership: The Hive often remains involved well beyond early stages
