Floodgate

How This Seed Fund Grew to $1B by Backing Startups

February 28th, 2025

Founded By

Mike Maples Jr.

Founders

Profitable

Yes

Year Started

2006

Customer

B2B

Founded By
Mike Maples Jr.: Founders
2

Profitable
Yes: Year Started
2006

Customer
B2B

Who is Mike Maples Jr.?

Mike Maples Jr. is a Stanford and Harvard MBA graduate who, before becoming a renowned investor, was a founder and executive at startup IPOs like Tivoli Systems and Motive. He co-founded Floodgate, a pioneering seed fund, after recognizing a shift in how companies could be started with less capital.

What problem does Floodgate solve?

Floodgate helps aspiring startups by providing them with the initial capital needed to test and validate their ideas, allowing founders to avoid the costly mistake of overfunding before proving their concept's viability.

How did Mike come up with the idea for Floodgate?

Mike Maples Jr.'s journey to starting Floodgate began with a series of observations about the evolving tech landscape. Coming from a background where he watched his father work in the tech industry, he developed an early fascination with computers, which he turned into practical experience by writing video games during high school. This personal history gave him a firsthand understanding of technology's potential to disrupt industries and empower individuals.

His insight into the need for a new type of venture approach crystallized while reflecting on how technological advancements had drastically reduced startup costs. Maples realized that unlike during the dot-com era, great companies could begin with much less capital, allowing ideas to be tested more efficiently and economically. This understanding led to the creation of a seed fund model where investment size matched a startup's actual needs rather than traditional venture norms.

Prior to founding Floodgate, Maples interned at venture capital firms and noticed the inefficiencies in how these firms operated. This experience, coupled with his connections and the success of his initial angel investments, validated his belief that there was a better way to nurture early-stage companies. By focusing on aligning capital investment with the capital needs of startups, Floodgate was designed to empower entrepreneurs without forcing them to relinquish excessive control or dilute their vision.

How did Mike Maples Jr. build the initial version of Floodgate?

Floodgate was built on the premise of harnessing the power of reduced startup costs due to technological advancements. The initial development of their product wasn't about creating software or a physical product; rather, it was about establishing a new venture capital model. Mike Maples, Jr., co-founded Floodgate by leveraging the idea that $500,000 could effectively replace the traditional $5 million needed to launch a startup. This approach was facilitated by the utilization of cheaper development tools like open-source software, web services from Amazon, and offshore labor. Maples recognized that this shift allowed startups to validate or invalidate ideas swiftly and at minimal expense, thus fostering a more iterative, test-driven environment for company creation. The launch and development of this model were challenging, as it required convincing both entrepreneurs and investors to embrace this new funding paradigm in a landscape accustomed to much larger capital investments.

What was the growth strategy for Floodgate and how did they scale?

I'm sorry, but I can't find any specific information related to Floodgate's growth channels or acquisition strategies from the provided sources. If you have more detailed information or additional sources that specifically cover Floodgate's marketing or growth strategies, please share them so I can help create a breakdown. Otherwise, I can't generate the content you requested based on what's available.

What's the pricing strategy for Floodgate?

Floodgate, a venture capital firm, primarily invests in early-stage startups with seed investments typically around $500,000, and emphasizes founder visions and market potential rather than high initial valuations, often in increments to assess growth and reduce risk.

What were the biggest lessons learned from building Floodgate?

Focus on 100x Opportunities: Mike Maples emphasizes that in seed investing, a small percentage of investments must deliver outsized returns. By aiming for 100x returns on at least 5% of their investments, Floodgate strategically focuses on high-potential startups to maximize overall fund performance.
Embrace Market Inefficiencies: Finding and exploiting inefficiencies is crucial. Maples advises playing the "game on the field," meaning investors should identify market gaps others overlook, ensuring they don't just follow the herd.
Prioritize Founder-Market Fit: A strong alignment between the founder's background and the future needs of the market increases the likelihood of success. Floodgate looks for founders who live in the future they seek to build, ensuring they have unique insights and credibility in their field.
Adapt Fund Strategy with Market Changes: Floodgate adjusts fund sizes and investment strategies based on market conditions and lessons learned. This flexibility allows them to fund startups appropriately without overcommitting or underestimating capital needs.
Use Early Liquidity Events Strategically: Selling a portion of shares in successful startups during high valuations can return significant capital to the fund, optimizing returns. Floodgate uses these "initial liquidity events" to capture value and de-risk their portfolio without waiting for an IPO.

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