Think

Safa Rashtchy brings over 16 years of experience as a Silicon Valley investor, advisor, and board member. Prior to founding Think+ Ventures, he worked for 10 years on Wall Street as a top-ranked analyst covering the technology and internet sectors.

• Managing Director at Piper Jaffray (1997-2007)
• MBA, summa cum laude, from Boston University
• Bachelor's degree in engineering from Purdue University
• Named Investment Analyst of the Year (2007)
• Wall Street Journal's "Best on the Street" analyst (2002)

Safa developed his thesis on consumer value proposition and market-driven investments that have been at the core of Think+ Ventures. He focuses on entrepreneurs who are solving big market pain points with:

Safa pioneered the concept of "Teen Focus Groups" for internet and online trends and has continued his mission to encourage companies to get close to their customer and to listen to them.

Throughout his career, Safa has worked with and advised numerous public companies, including:

• Google
• Alibaba
• Netflix
• Yahoo
• And other leading technology companies

He has invested in over 60 companies, including ApplyBoard, Signifyed, Bina Technologies (acquired by Roche), Tubi.tv (acquired by Fox Media), and Nimble VR (acquired by Facebook).

Think+ Ventures has built a diverse portfolio of 56 companies across multiple sectors, with several notable success stories:

Think+ has strategically invested across multiple sectors, with particular focus on:

This diversified approach allows Think+ to leverage cross-sector insights while maintaining focus on their core investment thesis of market-driven solutions with strong consumer value propositions.

While primarily focused on North American startups, Think+ has strategically expanded its geographic footprint:

This geographic distribution positions Think+ to identify global trends while maintaining deep expertise in the US market. The firm has opportunity to expand further internationally, particularly in emerging markets.

Think+ employs a disciplined investment approach with the following parameters:

• Stage Focus: Seed to Series A
• Initial Check Size: $200K-$500K
• Follow-on Strategy: Reserves capital for promising portfolio companies
• Ownership Target: 5-10% initial stake
• Due Diligence: Rigorous market analysis and founder assessment

This approach allows Think+ to make meaningful initial investments while maintaining the ability to support companies through their growth journey.

Think+ portfolio has demonstrated strong performance across key metrics:

These metrics demonstrate Think+'s ability to identify promising startups and support their growth trajectory, resulting in strong portfolio performance.

Beyond capital, Think+ provides significant value to portfolio companies through:

• Strategic Guidance: Leveraging Safa's Wall Street and Silicon Valley experience
• Network Access: Connections to potential customers, partners, and investors
• Market Intelligence: Proprietary research and market analysis
• Talent Acquisition: Support in building high-performing teams
• Follow-on Funding: Assistance in securing additional capital

This hands-on approach has contributed to the firm's strong portfolio performance and founder satisfaction.

Think+ Ventures operates in the competitive early-stage venture capital landscape, with several firms of comparable size and focus. However, the firm has established a differentiated position through:

• Research-Driven Approach: Leveraging Safa's Wall Street analytical background
• Consumer Value Focus: Emphasis on market-driven solutions with strong user value
• Sector Expertise: Deep knowledge in digital health, AI/robotics, and fintech
• Founder Support: Hands-on guidance and strategic assistance

This positioning allows Think+ to compete effectively for deals despite the crowded VC landscape.

Several venture capital firms operate in a similar space as Think+ Ventures:

Think+ Ventures maintains several key advantages in the competitive landscape:

• Analytical Rigor: Wall Street-style market analysis combined with Silicon Valley innovation focus
• Founder Experience: Safa's background as both an analyst and investor provides unique perspective
• Sector Expertise: Deep knowledge in key verticals like digital health and AI
• Network Quality: Strong connections to later-stage investors and strategic acquirers
• Thesis-Driven: Clear investment thesis focused on market pain points

Despite its strengths, Think+ faces several competitive challenges:

• Fund Size: Smaller fund size compared to some competitors limits follow-on capacity
• Team Scale: Relatively small team compared to larger firms
• Brand Recognition: Lower brand awareness among founders compared to established firms
• Geographic Reach: Limited international presence despite global investment opportunities
• Technology Infrastructure: Opportunity to enhance deal sourcing and evaluation tools

Within the early-stage venture capital ecosystem, Think+ has established a growing presence:

These metrics indicate that Think+ has established a solid position in the early-stage VC ecosystem, with particular strength in co-investor relationships.

Implement machine learning algorithms for startup identification and evaluation, leveraging Think+'s analytical expertise.

Establish presence in key markets (Europe, Asia) to access global deal flow and diversify portfolio geographically.

Develop strategic relationships with Fortune 500 companies for deal flow, co-investment, and portfolio company support.

Establish Think+ as a thought leader through research publications, events, and media presence focused on market trends and investment insights.

Create a structured platform for supporting portfolio companies with resources, connections, and expertise to accelerate growth and increase success rates.

Develop a proprietary data platform that leverages market intelligence, startup metrics, and predictive analytics to enhance investment decisions.