Gradient Ventures

AI-only seed fund founded with Google in 2017; now independent as 'Gradient', investing from a $220M Fund 5.

VC Seed 📍 San Francisco, CA Founded 2017

AUM

Not Disclosed

Strategic / Balance-Sheet

PRIVATE

Gradient (formerly Gradient Ventures) was founded in 2017 in close partnership with Google as an early-stage fund focused exclusively on AI, and says it has backed more than 500 AI founders. On March 17, 2026 it announced an oversubscribed $220M Fund 5 and its status as a fully independent firm, with Google remaining an LP; General Partners are Darian Shirazi and Zach Bratun-Glennon.

Firm Profile

Firm Type

Subtype

Seed

Founded

2017

San Francisco, CA

Country

USA

Active Fund

Gradient Fund 5 ($220M) · 2026

Notable Partners

Darian ShiraziZach Bratun-Glennon

Portfolio Companies (8)

Openlylambda ouraStreamlitwriter kreaCentMLPrepared

Investment Focus

Stages

Pre-seed · Seed · Series A

Sectors

AI · Enterprise · Developer Tools · Deep Tech

VCSeedSJ Top 100

Investor data reflects publicly disclosed AUM, fund sizes, and portfolio holdings as of recent date. Refreshed periodically.