Welcome to First Row Partners Founder Hub
Resources for First Row Portfolio Founders
Thank you for letting us be a part of your company journey! We are thrilled to be partnering with you. If you have any questions about this page, or have ideas about what should be added, let us know.
Easiest way to connect? Through our Founders Slack.
Quick tips
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Founded in the innovation hub of the Pacific Northwest, First Row’s Founding Partners Minda Brusse and Yoko Okano have invested in 20+ pre-seed startups across the US and Canada since 2020.
First Row funds startups where technology delivers superpowers to the emerging brand builders, content creators, and storytellers who blend expertise with imagination.
Looking ahead to First Row Partners Fund II — With the signals of success from our Fund I portfolio, we are now talking with existing and new investors about Fund II that will follow the same thesis and approach, but with larger investments ($250k - $400k.)
Considering a follow-on fund would not be possible without the strong set of founders and opportunities in Fund I. Thank YOU for being part of First Row’s success.
Average check size (Fund I): $100-150K
Geographic focus: N. America / US entity preferred
Pre-seed specialization
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Founders who are raising a round. We love founder referrals! Please share this form with them.
Founders who would like mentoring on capital strategy. It’s never too early to connect us with great founders you know. Even if they are unsure whether venture capital is the best next step for them, or not a fit for our investment thesis, we are happy to meet and discuss potential pathways. Calendly links to our mentoring slots are below:
Angel investors / potential angel investors wanting to learn more about angel investing. We often run workshops to help demystify the investor experience, and this is a great starting point for many angels. Our website will have the latest on the upcoming workshops here. You’re also welcome to connect them directly with Yoko via email.
Investors who would like First Row’s perspective on our investment (reference for following rounds). We are happy to share our thoughts and experiences with prospective investors. Please reach out to your lead to coordinate.
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Share your open job listings with us! We’re happy to share listings on our newsletter and other outlets. Please include them in your regular updates and/or email them to us directly.
Open our networks for specific skills/perspectives/experiences. If there are specific types of skills or perspectives you’re looking for, let us know so we can comb our network.
Dive deeper on our workshop content. We’ve made our workshop content accessible to you to peruse at your own pace. If there are topics you’d like to discuss in-depth, please book time with us using the scheduling links above.
Founder Perks Platform
Powered by GetProven
As a First Row founder, you have access to exclusive perks and partnerships designed to help you move faster, save money, and scale smarter.
We’ve curated discounts, credits, and partner programs across AI, cloud, hiring, software, and growth tools — all negotiated with early-stage startups in mind. Don’t miss out on thousands of dollars in savings + direct access to tools and experts who want to support your journey.
How It Works
Browse the perks through our platform.
Click through to claim credits or discounts directly.
Let us know what’s missing — we’ll keep building the marketplace with your needs in mind.
Why We Do This
We know early dollars matter. These perks are here to help you:
Extend your runway
Test faster with top-tier tools
Save thousands on things you’d pay for anyway
Stay In-the-Loop
We’ll announce featured & new perks in Slack as they launch — keep an eye out!
Featured Partner:
Humanly – AI Hiring at Startup Pricing
🚀 AI Video Interviews for $3-$30/interview
Let our AI Interviewers screen, score, schedule, and interview candidates for you. No more wasting time interviewing for roles where you don’t have the expertise (e.g., sales, finance, ops).
👤 Human Sourcing (Talent Partner) for $10K/role
Work with a dedicated Humanly Talent Partner who sources and delivers 10 qualified candidates a day for your open role.
These deals are exclusive to First Row companies at well below market rates
Learn More → https://www.humanly.io/c/first-row
Workshop Content
We’ve made our workshop content accessible to you to peruse at your own pace. If there are topics you’d like to discuss in-depth, please book time with us.
Reference Bookshelf
Check out the First Row Reference Bookshelf for a selection of books we have found valuable for ourselves and others. You’ll also find a form to request a book, and we’d be delighted to send a book to each of you.
Service Provider Network
Don’t miss out on our curated network of service providers—trusted partners across legal, finance, recruiting, marketing, and more, all recommended by fellow founders and vetted by our team. Whether you need a quick intro or a long-term collaborator, this list is designed to save you time and help you move faster. Be sure to check it out and let us know if you need a warm connection!
Deals & Drinks
A relaxed, arts-based event series that explores the craft of angel investing through live founder pitches and open discussion—welcoming participants of all experience levels and backgrounds from across the startup ecosystem. Designed as an educational experience, it’s open to everyone, regardless of accreditation or investing activity.
The Self-guided Tour
A thinking blog for founders that offers open-ended prompts instead of prescriptive advice. Each monthly post is like a stop in an evolving “art gallery” of startup-building topics—designed to spark insight through thoughtful questions, not checklists. Grounded in conversations with high-performing founders, this zero-advice approach helps readers reframe challenges and uncover their own answers.
Founders Slack
Join our Founders Slack—a private space for portfolio founders to connect, ask questions, share insights, and tap into real-time support from our team and each other. Whether you're troubleshooting a hire, swapping tools, or just need a gut check, this is where the conversation happens. We’d love to see you there!
Reach out to us
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.
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Founding Partner
206.713.4472
LinkedIn
Areas of Expertise
GTM, hiring, fundraising, retail/ecommerce, supply chain, marketplace
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Founding Partner
206.499.1166
LinkedIn
Areas of Expertise
Product, fundraising, growth, operations, digital media