Ben Lerer is the Managing Partner of Lerer Hippeau, an early-stage venture capital firm in New York. See portfolio, sector focus and contact routes.
Ben Lerer is the Managing Partner of Lerer Hippeau, an early-stage venture capital firm in New York, and previously founded the digital media brand Thrillist in 2004 before serving as CEO of Group Nine Media. He focuses on directing seed-stage capital into emerging consumer brands, enterprise software, digital media platforms, e-commerce, SaaS, and marketplaces. His typical investment check size ranges from $100,000 to $3.0 million with a sweet spot of $1.5 million, and the firm aims to be the founder’s “first and most aligned institutional partner” from the initial check through exit. Notable portfolio companies include Warby Parker, Allbirds, Glossier, Casper, BuzzFeed, and Thrive. Lerer has publicly emphasized a distinctive point of view that the firm does not fund merely “good companies,” arguing instead for backing category-defining brands with transformative potential. His background as a successful digital media entrepreneur informs his thesis on consumer technology and digital brands, distinguishing his approach from traditional VC playbooks.
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