# How to Pitch Scale Venture Partners

November 13, 2026 · By [Josh May](https://www.pitchprotocol.vc/team.html#josh-may)

How Scale Venture Partners leads Series A and B rounds in AI and B2B software, its $5M to $50M checks, the $500K to $5M ARR it says it looks for, and the partner-first way in it publishes. It does not invest at seed.

**TL;DR:** Scale Venture Partners is a Bay Area firm, founded in 2000, with $2.8B in assets and a $900M Fund VIII. It leads 80% of the Series A and B rounds it joins and typically takes a board seat; initial checks run $5M to $50M. It does not name seed as a stage: it wants signed customers and repeatable demand, typically $500K to $5M ARR. Its FAQ says to go directly to the partner who covers your space, and that warm intros help but are not required.

## Scale at a glance

Checked against Scale's own pages and filings, November 2026

**Firm:** "Founded in 2000 and based in the Bay Area, Scale manages $2.8 billion in assets." It began as BA Venture Partners, Bank of America's venture arm, and became independent in 2007. [1] San Mateo, California. [4]

**Funds:** "Investing out of our $900M Fund VIII." [2] The SEC Form D for Scale Venture Partners VIII, L.P. reports $900M sold, signed September 27, 2022. [3] No Fund IX is on file as of November 2026.

**Stages:** Series A and B, not seed. "Scale leads 80% of the Series A and Series B rounds we invest in," and "we typically take a board seat." [1] "Eighty percent of our investments are lead checks at Series A and B." [2] The FAQ and approach pages never name seed as a stage.

**First check:** "Initial checks usually range from $5 million to $50 million, sized to the round and the business." [1] Ownership target not published.

**Traction:** "We typically partner with companies that have signed their first customers and are making the journey from Founder-led growth to go-to-market machine." What it needs before a pitch: "Signed customers and repeatable demand." "We care less about a revenue threshold than proof that customers buy, stay, and expand-typically $500K-$5M ARR." [1]

**Focus:** "AI, B2B, and vertical software," across applications, developer tools and infrastructure, and security. [1] "Scale is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on AI and B2B software." [2]

**Geography:** "From the Bay Area, into companies across North America, Europe, and Israel." [1]

**Partners:** [Rory O'Driscoll](https://www.scalevp.com/team/rory-odriscoll) (AI-enabled business applications, digital and physical), [Stacey Bishop](https://www.scalevp.com/team/stacey-bishop) (AI apps, including go-to-market tech and the CFO suite), [Andy Vitus](https://www.scalevp.com/team/andy-vitus) (AI infrastructure and devops), [Alex Niehenke](https://www.scalevp.com/team/alex-niehenke) (vertical markets), [Ariel Tseitlin](https://www.scalevp.com/team/ariel-tseitlin) (infrastructure and security), [Jeremy Kaufmann](https://www.scalevp.com/team/jeremy-kaufmann) (the application layer of AI), [Javier Redondo](https://www.scalevp.com/team/javier-redondo) (infrastructure and devops, open source) and [Siddharth Ramakrishnan](https://www.scalevp.com/team/siddharth-ramakrishnan) (applications and infrastructure). The team page shows titles; focus comes from each profile. [5]

**Recent Series A and B leads:**

- GC AI, $60M Series B, led, November 2025 [6]
- Prime Security, $20M Series A, co-led, December 2025 [7]
- Namespace, $42M Series B, led, October 2026 [8]

Amounts are whole rounds, not Scale's share. Seed leads: none in the window; seed is not a stated stage.

**Programs:** For portfolio companies: GTM Advisory from operators who have scaled companies, Scale Studio benchmarking, AI Labs and go-to-market working sessions and summits. [9] Agents at Scale is a fellowship for students, not founders. [12]

**How to reach:** "Go directly to the partner who covers your space." "Warm introductions help but aren't required." "Tell us what you build, who buys it, and where you are on the journey." [1] No pitch form or submissions inbox is published.

**Process:** Not published as steps or a timeline. "When we commit, we see it all the way through." [1] "Founder-honest over Founder-friendly." [2]

**Portfolio:** [scalevp.com/portfolio](https://www.scalevp.com/portfolio): Box, JFrog, CodeRabbit, Tavus, Bland, Rillet, Namespace, GC AI, Thatch and Generalist; partner bios add HubSpot, BILL, DocuSign and WalkMe. [11] Homepage: "We partner with early-stage AI companies on the journey from Founder-led growth to go-to-market machine." [10]

1. [Scale Venture Partners: Frequently asked questions](https://www.scalevp.com/frequently-asked-questions)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Approach](https://www.scalevp.com/approach)
1. [SEC Form D: Scale Venture Partners VIII, L.P. (September 2022)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1944913/000194491322000001/primary_doc.xml)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Privacy policy (San Mateo address)](https://www.scalevp.com/privacy-policy)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Team](https://www.scalevp.com/team)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Announcing our investment in GC AI (November 2025)](https://www.scalevp.com/blog/announcing-our-investment-in-gc-ai)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Announcing our investment in Prime Security (December 2025)](https://www.scalevp.com/blog/announcing-our-investment-in-prime-security)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Announcing our investment in Namespace (October 2026)](https://www.scalevp.com/blog/announcing-our-investment-in-namespace)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Founder experience](https://www.scalevp.com/founder-experience)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Home](https://www.scalevp.com/)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Portfolio](https://www.scalevp.com/portfolio)
1. [Scale Venture Partners: Fall 2026 Agents at Scale fellows (November 2026)](https://www.scalevp.com/blog/fall-2026-agents-at-scale-fellows)

[Compare 27 top firms side by side](https://www.pitchprotocol.vc/blog/how-to-pitch-top-vc-firms/)

Scale Venture Partners is a Series A and B firm, and it says so plainly. Founded in 2000 as Bank of America's venture arm and independent since 2007, it manages $2.8 billion and invests out of a $900 million eighth fund. Its partners' bios name Box, HubSpot, BILL, DocuSign, JFrog and WalkMe; its current portfolio page leads with CodeRabbit, Tavus, Bland, Rillet, Namespace and GC AI. If you are raising a seed round, this guide will save you a pitch: Scale does not name seed as a stage.

## What Scale Is

Scale's FAQ is the most complete statement of terms in this series. Stage: "Scale leads 80% of the Series A and Series B rounds we invest in," and "we typically take a board seat." Check: "Initial checks usually range from $5 million to $50 million, sized to the round and the business." Entry point: companies "that have signed their first customers and are making the journey from Founder-led growth to go-to-market machine." Geography: "From the Bay Area, into companies across North America, Europe, and Israel."

Its 2026 record is Series A and B: it led GC AI's $60 million Series B and Namespace's $42 million Series B, and co-led Prime Security's $20 million Series A. It also joined later rounds, including Rillet's $100 million Series C and Thatch's $108 million Series C.

## What Scale Looks For

**1. Proof that customers buy, stay and expand.** "We care less about a revenue threshold than proof that customers buy, stay, and expand-typically $500K-$5M ARR." That sentence is the firm's own bar.

**2. Signed customers and repeatable demand.** The FAQ's answer to what traction you need before pitching.

**3. AI and B2B software.** "AI, B2B, and vertical software," across applications, developer tools and infrastructure, and security. The homepage frames it as partnering with "early-stage AI companies on the journey from Founder-led growth to go-to-market machine."

**4. A go-to-market transition.** Scale's product is help with that transition: GTM Advisory from operators, Scale Studio benchmarking, and go-to-market working sessions. The pitch that fits is one where the next twelve months are about building the sales machine.

**5. Honesty over friendliness.** "Founder-honest over Founder-friendly," and "Here, partnership is measured in years, not rounds."

## What Scale Needs to See

Scale publishes the numbers: typically $500,000 to $5 million in ARR, with customers that buy, stay and expand, at the point where founder-led sales is turning into a repeatable motion. It takes a board seat in most of the rounds it leads. If you are pre-revenue or at seed, the firm's own words put you outside its stage; its FAQ never names seed, and its last seed lead on record is from 2022. Come back at Series A with the customer evidence it describes.

## How to Get a Scale Meeting

- **Go to the partner who covers your space**: the FAQ's own instruction. AI-enabled business applications to Rory O'Driscoll; AI apps for go-to-market and the CFO suite to Stacey Bishop; AI infrastructure and devops to Andy Vitus or Javier Redondo; vertical markets to Alex Niehenke; infrastructure and security to Ariel Tseitlin; the application layer of AI to Jeremy Kaufmann; applications and infrastructure to Siddharth Ramakrishnan
- **Warm or cold**: "Warm introductions help but aren't required"
- **What to say**: "Tell us what you build, who buys it, and where you are on the journey"
- **Students**: the Agents at Scale fellowship puts students on applied AI work inside the firm; it is not a founder program

## What Gets You Passed

- **Seed or pre-revenue**: seed is not a stated stage, and the traction bar is signed customers with repeatable demand
- **Outside North America, Europe and Israel**: the FAQ names those regions
- **Not AI or B2B software**: the firm's three sub-areas are applications, developer tools and infrastructure, and security

## A second track: Pitch Protocol

Warm paths into a fund like Scale take time. Pitch Protocol is not a route into Scale; it is a second track you can run alongside your outreach. Applying is free, your own AI agent submits one application in about ten minutes with no web form, and the funds in our network whose thesis matches reach out to you directly. [Apply to the First 100 Founders Cohort →](https://www.pitchprotocol.vc)

## Founder FAQ

### Which Scale partner should I pitch for my sector?

Scale's [FAQ](https://www.scalevp.com/frequently-asked-questions) says to "go directly to the partner who covers your space," and each profile on the [team page](https://www.scalevp.com/team) states a focus. AI-enabled business applications: [Rory O'Driscoll](https://www.scalevp.com/team/rory-odriscoll). AI apps including go-to-market tech and the CFO suite: [Stacey Bishop](https://www.scalevp.com/team/stacey-bishop). AI infrastructure and devops: [Andy Vitus](https://www.scalevp.com/team/andy-vitus) and [Javier Redondo](https://www.scalevp.com/team/javier-redondo) (open source). Vertical markets: [Alex Niehenke](https://www.scalevp.com/team/alex-niehenke). Infrastructure and security: [Ariel Tseitlin](https://www.scalevp.com/team/ariel-tseitlin). The application layer of AI: [Jeremy Kaufmann](https://www.scalevp.com/team/jeremy-kaufmann).

### Does Scale lead seed rounds?

No. Seed is not a stage Scale names; its [FAQ](https://www.scalevp.com/frequently-asked-questions) says "Scale leads 80% of the Series A and Series B rounds we invest in," and its 2026 leads were GC AI's $60M Series B, Namespace's $42M Series B and Prime Security's $20M Series A (co-led).

### What is Scale's typical check size?

"Initial checks usually range from $5 million to $50 million, sized to the round and the business," per the [FAQ](https://www.scalevp.com/frequently-asked-questions). It does not publish an ownership target; it says it typically takes a board seat.

### Does Scale invest outside the United States?

Yes. Its [FAQ](https://www.scalevp.com/frequently-asked-questions): "From the Bay Area, into companies across North America, Europe, and Israel."

### How long does Scale take to decide?

Scale does not publish a decision timeline or process steps. Its FAQ says "When we're invited in, we collaborate with urgency," and "when we commit, we see it all the way through."

### Does Scale take cold inbound?

Its [FAQ](https://www.scalevp.com/frequently-asked-questions) says "Warm introductions help but aren't required," and to "go directly to the partner who covers your space" with "what you build, who buys it, and where you are on the journey." No pitch form or submissions inbox is published.

### What traction does Scale want before a pitch?

"Signed customers and repeatable demand." The FAQ adds: "We care less about a revenue threshold than proof that customers buy, stay, and expand-typically $500K-$5M ARR," and that it partners with companies "making the journey from Founder-led growth to go-to-market machine."

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does Scale provide after it invests?

Its [founder experience page](https://www.scalevp.com/founder-experience) describes support from day one to IPO: GTM Advisory from operators who have scaled companies, Scale Studio benchmarking, AI Labs and go-to-market working sessions, and summits. The firm's approach page sums up its posture as "Founder-honest over Founder-friendly."

### Can I apply through Pitch Protocol instead of waiting for a warm intro?

Pitch Protocol is not a back door into Scale, and we do not share which funds review an application before it is in. What it does: applying is free, your own AI agent (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any agent that can read a URL) submits one application in about ten minutes with no web form, and the funds in our network whose thesis matches reach out to you directly. Founders anywhere can apply. Keep working your warm path to Scale in parallel. [Apply to the First 100 Founders Cohort →](https://www.pitchprotocol.vc)

## Related guides

- [Bessemer Scaling Playbook: How to Pitch Bessemer Venture Partners](https://www.pitchprotocol.vc/blog/how-to-pitch-bessemer/): Bessemer's scaling playbook explained: State of the Cloud and State of AI benchmarks, how its partners decide, and what earns a term sheet from BVP.
- [How to Pitch Insight Partners](https://www.pitchprotocol.vc/blog/how-to-pitch-insight-partners/): How Insight Partners invests in software from seed to buyout, its $12.5 billion 2025 funds, how its analysts find companies, and how to reach the firm.
- [How to Pitch Battery Ventures](https://www.pitchprotocol.vc/blog/how-to-pitch-battery-ventures/): How Battery invests from seed to buyout across four practices, what its $3.25 billion Fund XV means for early founders, and how to find the right partner.
- [How to Pitch ICONIQ Growth](https://www.pitchprotocol.vc/blog/how-to-pitch-iconiq-growth/): How ICONIQ Venture & Growth invests from seed to pre-IPO, its $5.75 billion fund, the partners behind its 2026 seed deals, and how to reach the firm.

Published by [Pitch Protocol](https://www.pitchprotocol.vc) · A [Growth Factory Ventures](https://growthfactory.vc) studio project · Published November 13, 2026

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