Mercury CEO Launches $26M Fund to Support Early-Stage Startups

Mercury co-founder and CEO Immad Akhund has announced the launch of a $26 million fund dedicated to backing early-stage startups. This initiative formalizes Akhund’s extensive history as an angel investor, which began in 2016 and includes investments in over 350 startups such as Airtable, Applied Intuition, Decagon, Gecko Robotics, Linear, and Substack.

Akhund expressed his passion for supporting entrepreneurs, stating that both building Mercury and investing energize him and provide deep satisfaction. The creation of a dedicated fund allows him to deepen his commitment and back founders more meaningfully while remaining fully focused on Mercury’s continued growth.

The fund will be managed with the support of Yash Doshi, an early investor in Mercury and a longtime collaborator with Akhund. The investment focus targets founders with a proven track record of building impactful products in markets valued at $10 billion or more. The fund prioritizes startups pursuing solutions that advance humanity, reflecting Akhund’s vision as a former part-time partner at Y Combinator.

This announcement follows Mercury’s recent $300 million funding round, led by Sequoia and other prominent investors, which doubled the company’s valuation to $3.5 billion. Mercury is recognized as one of the most widely used business banking platforms globally, and this fund represents a strategic extension of Akhund’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Broader Impact of Structured Early-Stage Investing

By formalizing his angel investing through a dedicated fund, Akhund aims to provide more structured and meaningful support to founders. This approach enables more strategic allocation of capital and resources, fostering innovation in high-impact sectors. Startups backed by such funds benefit from not only financial investment but also mentorship and operational guidance, increasing their chances of success.

This move reflects a growing trend among successful entrepreneurs who leverage their experience and networks to empower the next generation of innovators. With the backing of seasoned investors like Akhund, early-stage startups can access critical resources and insights that accelerate growth and impact.

Why This Matters to Developers and Tech Leaders

For developers and tech leaders, the emergence of funds like Akhund’s signals increased opportunities to secure early-stage funding and strategic partnerships. Startups focused on building impactful software solutions in large markets can benefit from the fund’s targeted approach, which emphasizes meaningful innovation and scalability.

Moreover, the fund’s focus on advancing humanity aligns with broader industry trends prioritizing ethical technology development and social impact. This creates a fertile environment for startups that combine technical excellence with purpose-driven missions.

In summary, Immad Akhund’s $26 million fund represents a strategic evolution in early-stage investing, offering structured support to promising founders and fostering innovation in high-value markets with a focus on impactful technology.