Masha Bucher: Pioneering Early-Stage Venture Capital with a Unique Approach
Masha Bucher is a woman who knows her passions and pursues them wholeheartedly. Her approach embodies the essence of venture capitalism: taking calculated risks, especially in the early stages. This audacity has proven successful for Bucher, the founder and general partner of Day One Ventures, over the past six years. The early-stage venture capital firm has carved out a distinctive niche by actively managing public relations for its portfolio companies.
Investment Success and Portfolio Growth
Through Fund I, which raised $20 million, and Fund II, totaling $50 million, Day One Ventures has celebrated 22 successful exits, including an IPO with Terran Orbital. The firm has backed eight unicorns, including breakthroughs like Superhuman, Remote, Worldcoin, Truebill (which was acquired by Rocket Companies in 2021), and DuckDuckGo.
A Remarkable Journey
Bucher revealed that just five years ago, Day One Ventures managed $11 million in assets, which has now surged to over $450 million. She attributes this growth to a talented team of subject-matter experts, such as ClassPass co-founder Sanjiv Sanghavi, who joined the firm in 2022 to specialize in climate tech investments. Recently, the firm announced its Fund III, which raised $150 million to support early-stage founders tackling humanity's most urgent challenges, from wealth inequality to climate change and social isolation.
“This new fund represents a significant evolution, integrating art and culture more deeply into our established storytelling and PR expertise,” Bucher noted.
From Russia to Venture Capital
Bucher's journey has not been without its risks. Growing up in Russia as Masha Drokova, her past connections were scrutinized in a Washington Post article detailing her teenage involvement with Vladimir Putin's youth organization, Nashi. Bucher remarked that she was too young to choose her path and labeled the article “inaccurate,” clarifying that she never met wealthy Russians to secure funding.
“I cannot return to Russia because I’m deemed an enemy of the state,” Bucher shared. “I cannot see my grandparents, and I fundamentally disagree with the actions of the government, especially the harm caused to my relatives in Ukraine.”
Bucher’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 18 with a social media agency that rapidly grew to 80 employees within six months. She later pivoted to public relations to gain deeper insights into business operations.
In 2010, she connected with Serg Bell, co-founder of Runa Capital, on Twitter. “He was already a founder of three unicorns, which was astonishing,” Bucher recalled. “He introduced me to startups and his quantum technology initiatives in Singapore and London, showing me a broader vision than social media marketing.”
Inspired, Bucher joined Runa Capital in 2011 as a PR director and later served as vice president of communications for Acronis. After moving to the U.S. in 2014, she established M&A PR Studio, working with prominent clients like Houzz and HotelTonight. During this time, Bucher realized that her expertise extended beyond PR; many founders sought her advice on various strategic issues.
“It became clear that I could offer valuable insights beyond our contracts, which intrigued me,” she explained.
In 2017, Bucher transitioned to angel investing, allowing her to take risks freely and provide PR support without the constraints of traditional contracts. She invested in companies like Lithic and Truebill, then launched Day One Ventures the following year.
Investing in the Future with AI
In its six years of operation, Day One Ventures has concentrated on sectors including AI, fintech, climate tech, the future of work, and web3. While some areas have fallen out of favor, particularly in light of the AI boom, Bucher remains optimistic. “On average, only two AI startups out of every 1,000 will thrive unless they possess both insight and business acumen to navigate the industry,” Bucher stated.
However, she believes AI holds immense potential for social improvement. “We face significant issues like climate change and healthcare disparities, and I am confident AI can help address them,” Bucher emphasized. “AI has the capacity to unlock abundant resources and enhance human well-being. Take Superhuman, for example; the way it composes emails in my unique style is simply mind-blowing.”
Fund III: A New Chapter Ahead
With the launch of Fund III, Day One Ventures is introducing a focus on the “Future of Human.” Bucher envisions this category as pivotal in leveraging technological advancements for human progress, while also integrating art and culture more profoundly into their investment strategy.
Recent investments include innovative companies like Rainmaker, a cloud-seeding startup, Astroforce, focused on asteroid mining, Affiniti, which provides tailored credit cards for small businesses, and the blockchain network Layer N. Notably, Day One Ventures has also invested in Cradle Healthcare, which is advancing technology to rapidly cryogenically freeze bodies, aiming to preserve memories and personalities more effectively.
“Cradle’s mission is to safeguard your personality and memories for posterity,” Bucher explained, highlighting the challenges of traditional freezing methods. “Past techniques often damaged the brain. Cradle's swift freezing process prevents that degradation, allowing for true preservation.”
Through her ventures, Masha Bucher continues to challenge the status quo in venture capital, demonstrating how innovative thinking and risks can redefine possibilities for the future.
Ranking
