Obvious Ventures

Obvious Ventures is a pioneering venture capital firm headquartered in San Francisco, California, dedicated to investing in 'world positive' companies. Founded in 2014 by internet entrepreneur Ev Williams (co-founder of Twitter and Medium), James Joaquin, and Vishal Vasishth, the firm operates on the fundamental belief that the most valuable companies of our time will be those solving humanity's biggest problems. This ethos underpins their investment strategy, which meticulously combines profit with purpose, seeking to generate both significant financial returns and profound societal and environmental impact.

Serving early-stage, purpose-driven entrepreneurs, Obvious Ventures focuses on reimagining trillion-dollar industries across three core pillars: planetary health, human health, and economic health. In planetary health, they back innovations in sustainable systems, clean energy, electric mobility, and carbon reduction, including sustainable agriculture technology and climate technology. For human health, their focus spans healthcare, biopharma, consumer wellness, and personalised medicine. Under economic health, they support advancements in financial services, fintech, education, workforce development, and artificial intelligence. This holistic approach sets them apart, moving beyond traditional venture capital to foster a new generation of businesses built for lasting positive change.

Distinguished by their commitment to ethical standards in investing, Obvious Ventures is a Certified B Corporation, reflecting its adherence to rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Their investment philosophy prioritises identifying founders with audacious visions and values-driven leadership, aiming for a significant ownership stake at the seed stage. They are known for a disciplined deployment strategy, typically making around 12 to 14 investments annually and partnering with these companies for at least a decade, offering deep operating experience and strategic guidance.

Over the past decade, Obvious Ventures has built an impressive portfolio of over 100 companies, including notable successes and public exits such as Beyond Meat, Planet Labs, and Recursion Pharmaceuticals. Their continued fundraising success is evident in their distinctive fund sizes, such as Fund V closing in January 2026 at a numerically significant $360,360,360, bringing their total assets under management to over US$1.6 billion. The leadership team, including co-founders James Joaquin and Vishal Vasishth, alongside managing directors Andrew Beebe, and partners Kahini Shah and Rohan Ganesh, brings extensive entrepreneurial and operational experience, further solidifying the firm's impact in the world of venture capital.