Plug and Play is a Silicon Valley accelerator and pre-seed/seed investor that backs founders solving a 'must have' (not 'good to have') problem they personally felt, then surrounds them with the world's largest corporate-partner ecosystem so they can win the largest global brands as B2B customers. Founder Saeed Amidi co-invests side-by-side with VCs and angels on reasonable terms rather than dictating his own, and weights passionate, smart, high-energy teams above almost everything. The firm's edge is access: it builds an ecosystem around each industry and uses it to put startups in front of dozens of corporations in a matter of weeks.
A 'must have' problem the founders personally experienced and can crystallize — not a 'good to have'. The strongest founders felt the pain themselves and can articulate exactly what the need is before building the solution.
“You have to find a problem that it's must have, not good to have, and then you have to have enough smarts to build it and launch it.” — The Iranian Exile Who Made It Big In Silicon Valley - with Saeed Amidi
“They had a need themselves and then they could crystallize and articulate what that need is and then find a solution to solve that need.” — Saeed Amidi
A product the founders have the 'smarts' to actually build and launch, aimed at a defensible business. Plug and Play wants teams building the durable, defensible companies of the future, not thin features.
“You have to find a problem that it's must have, not good to have, and then you have to have enough smarts to build it and launch it.” — The Iranian Exile Who Made It Big In Silicon Valley - with Saeed Amidi
“our goal is to fund the teams that are building the defensible businesses of the future” — Ventures | Plug and Play APAC
Evidence the opportunity is genuinely large and global; Amidi sizes a market by the magnitude of the incumbents in the category and believes the odds of building a global company are now structurally higher.
“Exxon Mobil in this category, which is polyethylene's has a $6 billion business.” — The Iranian Exile Who Made It Big In Silicon Valley - with Saeed Amidi
“We invest in over 250 early stage startups a year alongside the world's best VC firms.” — Plug and Play APAC | Innovation | Startups | Venture Capital
Early signs of real customer demand — early customers, recurring transactions and a path toward cash-flow positivity. The firm's biggest lever is helping startups land the largest global corporations as B2B customers, so demonstrated or addressable enterprise pull matters.
“And then by the end of the first year I had several customers, several transactions a month and I was, you could say, cash flow positive.” — The Iranian Exile Who Made It Big In Silicon Valley - with Saeed Amidi
“We could put this startup in front of 30 insurance company in 90 days” — Saeed Amidi
Passionate, smart, high-energy founders with strong work ethic and grit who push through hard times. Amidi reads a founder's energy and intelligence first; a great team and great technology is the bar to even reach his panel of VCs and corporates.
“I like to be passionate. I like them to be smart.” — The Iranian Exile Who Made It Big In Silicon Valley - with Saeed Amidi
“Do they have the energy? Do they have the hard work ethics, that when things get stuff they're going to get tougher and go through it?” — Saeed Amidi
“it has to be a great team, great technology.” — Saeed Amidi
A model aimed at a real corporate/enterprise need that can monetize through the firm's first-corporate-client channel; Plug and Play co-invests on the same terms as VCs and angels rather than imposing bespoke ones.
“We don't ask for anything unreasonable. We ask to invested side-by-side with venture capitalist and angels.” — The Iranian Exile Who Made It Big In Silicon Valley - with Saeed Amidi
“If you're looking for your first corporate client, or your 50th, if you're raising your seed round or your Series C, we can help you elevate your company to that next level.” — Ventures | Plug and Play APAC
A defensible wedge into an industry where Plug and Play has built an ecosystem; founders should be able to win against incumbents, and the firm's network of 300+ VCs and 500+ corporations gives portfolio companies an unfair advantage in their category.
“By leveraging our capital, our network of VCs, and our corporate partners” — Ventures | Plug and Play APAC
“we give our portfolio companies an unfair advantage” — Ventures | Plug and Play APAC
“We have partnered with over 300 of the world's most prominent VCs” — Ventures | Plug and Play APAC
A timing thesis tied to a structural shift. Amidi believes location, timing and connections are the most important things in technology, and that the whole industry is moving so fast that he must look worldwide for the best entrepreneurs and technology.
“I think in the technology world, location timing connections are the most important thing” — LA Venture: Saeed Amidi - Plug and Play
“The whole industry is moving so fast” — Saeed Amidi
A round the firm can join alongside other investors on reasonable terms, with named co-investors. Plug and Play co-invests $25K-$500K side-by-side with VCs and angels and does not want bespoke terms or equity for participating in the program.
“We don't ask for anything unreasonable. We ask to invested side-by-side with venture capitalist and angels.” — The Iranian Exile Who Made It Big In Silicon Valley - with Saeed Amidi
“We don't believe that our entrepreneurs should give up their hard-earned equity to join an accelerator” — Ventures | Plug and Play APAC
“You have to find a problem that it's must have, not good to have, and then you have to have enough smarts to build it and launch it.”