Catapult Ventures
About Catapult Ventures
Catapult Ventures was founded in 2017 by Darren Liccardo and Rouz Jazayeri, who are co-founders and managing directors. Liccardo was the founding director of Tesla's Autopilot engineering group and earlier set up DJI's Silicon Valley office. Jazayeri led early-stage hard-tech investing at Kleiner Perkins after working as chief of staff to John Doerr. The firm's first fund was $55 million, aimed at AI and machine learning, automation, robotics, hardware and IoT startups. Public sources list no fund sizes beyond that first fund.
Catapult says it invests at the intersection of hardware, embedded systems and software, and that the founders' operating backgrounds shape how it evaluates founders. Its AI exposure comes through its wider focus on AI, automation, robotics and IoT. Startupintros lists a $13 million round in Mythic, an AI chip company, in March 2023. It also lists a $4.0 million seed in Biostate AI in July 2024, led by Matter Venture Partners, with Catapult among the participants. Catapult took part in HYFIX's $15 million seed in April 2026. The firm says it often leads rounds but also syndicates with other investors, and it keeps reserves for later rounds.
Catapult invests at the pre-seed and seed stages in North America. Waveup reports checks of $500,000 to $5 million. The firm's own website does not publish a check size range.
- Mythic: AI chip company; a $13 million round listed in March 2023
- Biostate AI: $4.0 million seed in July 2024, led by Matter Venture Partners
- HYFIX: spatial intelligence company; $15 million seed in April 2026 with Catapult participating
- Pickle Robot: AI-enabled collaborative package handling robot for e-commerce supply chains
- pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/265469-50
- hub.waveup.com/funds/catapult-ventures-us
- catapult.vc
- linkedin.com/company/catapultventures
- startupintros.com/orgs/catapult-vc
- startupintros.com/orgs/catapult-ventures
- theventurecodex.com/funds/catapult-ventures
- tracxn.com/d/venture-capital/catapult-ventures/**rtO5IzakMK9msGZG2Y0NL
Investing activity
Catapult Ventures has made 26 investments according to Crunchbase across 19 portfolio companies, and has led 7 rounds and seen 3 exits.
Catapult Ventures appears in 1 AI deal tracked by the AI Lounge deals desk, rounds totalling $15M. The rounds are mostly Seed, with a median round size of $15M. The most recent is HYFIX Spatial Intelligence (Seed, $15M, Apr 2026).
Catapult Ventures most often invests alongside Craft Ventures, Multicoin Capital, Sky Dayton and Finality Capital Partners, and the companies it backs on AI Lounge are mostly in AI.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Catapult Ventures
Does Catapult Ventures invest in AI startups?
Yes. Its stated focus covers AI alongside automation, robotics, IoT and embedded systems, at pre-seed and seed stages. Recent AI rounds include HYFIX and Biostate AI.
What stage does Catapult Ventures invest in?
Catapult invests at the pre-seed and seed stages, mainly in North American companies. It often leads rounds and also syndicates with other investors.
How large are Catapult Ventures checks?
Waveup reports check sizes of $500,000 to $5 million. Catapult's own site does not publish a range.
Who founded Catapult Ventures?
Darren Liccardo and Rouz Jazayeri founded the firm in 2017. Both are co-founders and managing directors based in the Bay Area.
How big is Catapult Ventures' first fund?
The first fund was $55 million. Sizes of later funds are not public in the sources reviewed.
What AI companies has Catapult Ventures invested in?
Catapult Ventures's AI investments include HYFIX Spatial Intelligence. The 1 round on AI Lounge are listed on this page with amounts, dates and co-investors.
Where is Catapult Ventures based?
Catapult Ventures is based in Los Altos, California, United States.
What stage does Catapult Ventures invest at?
In the rounds tracked on AI Lounge, Catapult Ventures has invested at Seed, with a median round of $15M.
Who does Catapult Ventures co-invest with?
Catapult Ventures's most frequent co-investors on AI Lounge are Craft Ventures (1 deal), Multicoin Capital (1 deal), Sky Dayton (1 deal) and Finality Capital Partners (1 deal).
How can founders reach Catapult Ventures?
Founders on AI Lounge can see Catapult Ventures's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with the firm under Warm Paths, and add Catapult Ventures to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.