Cherryrock Capital Launches New Fund Backing Under‑Invested Founders

Stacy Brown‑Philpot and Phil Pot’s Cherryrock Capital is a venture fund that targets under‑invested founders with focused Series A and B investments, aiming to diversify the VC landscape while delivering strong returns.

Cherryrock Capital: A Fresh Take on Venture Funding

In a market dominated by mega‑rounds and headline‑grabbing AI deals, Cherryrock Capital stands out by returning to the fundamentals of venture capital: backing promising entrepreneurs at the critical growth stage with thoughtful, smaller checks. Launched in early 2025 by former TaskRabbit CEO Stacy Brown‑Philpot and seasoned investor Phil Pot, the firm’s mission is to close the capital gap for “under‑invested entrepreneurs” who often slip through the cracks of larger funds.

Founders’ Vision and Background

Stacy Brown‑Philpot: From Google to TaskRabbit to VC

Stacy spent a decade at Google, where she helped shape product strategy for some of the company’s most successful consumer services. She later became CEO of TaskRabbit, steering the platform to a high‑profile acquisition by IKEA. After the exit, she identified a persistent market failure: talented founders, especially those from non‑traditional backgrounds, struggled to secure growth‑stage capital. This insight sparked the creation of Cherryrock Capital, a fund designed to “invest where others aren’t looking.”

Phil Pot: The Deal‑Making Engineer

Phil Pot brings a deep technical and operational pedigree, having led product teams at several high‑growth SaaS startups. His experience in scaling engineering organizations gives Cherryrock a unique edge when evaluating the technical viability of prospective portfolio companies. Together, Brown‑Philpot and Pot blend strategic vision with execution expertise, creating a partnership that resonates with founders seeking both capital and hands‑on guidance.

Fund Structure, Size, and Investment Strategy

Cherryrock’s debut fund closed at $150 million in February 2025, backed by institutional LPs such as JPMorgan, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and Melinda Gates’s Pivotal Ventures. The fund is deliberately sized to enable a concentrated portfolio of 12‑15 high‑impact companies, a stark contrast to the “spray‑and‑pray” approach of many seed funds.

• Targeting Series A and B rounds where product‑market fit is proven but scaling capital is scarce.
• Checks typically range from $3 million to $7 million, allowing founders to retain meaningful ownership.
• Rigorous due‑diligence framework that scores founders on market potential, team diversity, and capital efficiency.
• Active involvement through a Workflow automation studio that streamlines post‑investment operational support.
• Commitment to transparent reporting, aligning with California’s new VC diversity‑reporting law.

The fund’s disciplined pace—only five investments in the first year—mirrors the “old‑school” VC model where partners spend months vetting each opportunity. This approach not only reduces the risk of over‑deployment but also builds deeper relationships with founders, positioning Cherryrock as a long‑term partner rather than a fleeting capital source.

Portfolio Highlights: Driving Diversity and Innovation

Cherryrock’s early bets illustrate its thesis: backing founders who combine technical depth with a mission to serve underserved markets.

These companies not only showcase strong market potential but also embody Cherryrock’s commitment to measurable diversity. By tracking founder demographics, the fund meets “table‑stakes” compliance while proving that inclusive investing can generate outsized returns.

Cherryrock at the TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026

The upcoming TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 in Boston will feature a panel where Brown‑Philpot and Pot discuss “Scaling with Purpose.” The event gathers over 1,100 founders, offering a platform for Cherryrock to showcase its portfolio and attract the next wave of under‑invested entrepreneurs. Attendees can expect actionable insights on:

• Structuring Series A deals that preserve founder equity.
• Leveraging AI tools—such as AI marketing agents—to accelerate go‑to‑market strategies.
• Building diverse teams that outperform homogeneous counterparts.

How UBOS Amplifies Cherryrock’s Vision

UBOS provides a low‑code Web app editor and a suite of AI‑powered integrations that align perfectly with Cherryrock’s portfolio needs. For example, the OpenAI ChatGPT integration enables founders to embed conversational AI into their products without writing extensive code. Meanwhile, the Chroma DB integration offers scalable vector search for AI‑driven applications.

Startups can also tap into the UBOS templates for quick start, such as the “AI Article Copywriter” or “AI Video Generator” templates, accelerating MVP development and shortening time‑to‑revenue—key metrics that Cherryrock monitors during its due‑diligence process.

What This Means for Founders and Investors

Cherryrock Capital demonstrates that a disciplined, diversity‑focused fund can thrive even when the broader market chases headline‑making mega‑deals. For founders, the fund offers more than capital: it provides a partnership that values long‑term growth, operational support via UBOS’s Workflow automation studio, and a network of seasoned operators.

For investors, Cherryrock’s model offers a clear risk‑adjusted return profile—smaller check sizes, concentrated portfolios, and a measurable diversity lens that aligns with emerging regulatory expectations.

If you’re a founder seeking a partner that truly understands the challenges of scaling a software business, or an LP looking to back a fund that blends financial performance with social impact, Cherryrock Capital is worth a deeper look.

Explore more about how AI can accelerate your startup journey:

• AI marketing agents
• Enterprise AI platform by UBOS
• UBOS partner program
• UBOS pricing plans
• About UBOS

For a full read of the original announcement, see the TechCrunch article. Stay tuned to our blog for ongoing analysis of venture trends, AI‑driven startup tools, and how platforms like UBOS are reshaping the investment landscape.