Builders VC is an early-stage venture capital firm in San Francisco. Its own site says it is "backing founders solving complex, mission-critical problems with tech that transforms legacy systems and reshapes essential industries" and that "We go deep in sectors where complexity is the norm and legacy systems dominate. We bet on technologies that turn chaos into clarity, and the status quo into opportunity." Its companies page groups investments under Agriculture, Construction and Real Estate, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrials and Life Sciences, and labels each as Early, Growth, Incubation or Acquired. Alongside the funds the firm runs a company-building arm: the bio of Mark Goldstein on the firm's site says he "oversees the Venture Builders Studio" and aims to launch new companies with first-time founders in health and wellness. At launch in December 2016 the founders described the approach as thesis driven and said they would write $3 million to $10 million cheques.
2016
Jim Kim and Paul Lee launch the firm as Builders; Builders VC Fund I, L.P. is incorporated in 2016 and files its Form D on 28 November 2016 with a $200,000,000 target and a first sale of 29 November 2016. Contemporaneous coverage places the firm in San Francisco and Chicago.
2016
Roniin, the Chicago startup studio Paul Lee launched after leaving Lightbank in 2014, is rebranded as Builder Studios to support the fund's portfolio companies, per TechCrunch, 9 December 2016.
2018
The Form D/A for Builders VC Fund I, L.P. filed 29 June 2018 records $115,520,000 sold against the $200,000,000 target, with Jim Kim and Paul Lee named as the Managing Members of the General Partner. Builders VC Entrepreneurs Fund I, L.P. files its Form D the same day.
2018
Alberta Enterprise Corporation and BDC Capital invest US$22.5 million in Builders VC Fund I; the firm is described as having offices in San Francisco, Calgary and Chicago. Builders VC Fund I (Canada), L.P. files its Form D on 6 November 2018.
2020
Builders VC Fund II, L.P. is incorporated and files its Form D on 28 October 2020 with a $250,000,000 target and a first sale of 30 October 2020; the Form D/A of 28 October 2021 records $235,930,000 sold.
2023
Builders VC Fund I (Canada), L.P. files a Schedule 13D on Notable Labs, Ltd. (Nasdaq: NTBL) on 19 October 2023.
2024
Builders VC Fund III, L.P., incorporated in 2023, files its Form D on 26 January 2024 with an indefinite offering amount, nil sold and the date of first sale recorded as "Yet to occur". No amendment had been filed as of 8 September 2026 and no close figure has been published.