Immad Akhund, founder and CEO of fintech startup Mercury, has officially launched a $26 million venture capital fund aimed at supporting early-stage startups. This move marks the formalization of Akhund’s years of activity as an angel investor and signals a continued commitment to fostering innovation in the startup ecosystem.
The newly established fund, backed by institutional and individual limited partners, will focus on seed in addition to pre-seed rounds across a broad range of technology sectors. While specific startup categories targeted by the fund were not disclosed, Akhund’s personal investing history provides some insight; he has previously invested in more than 200 startups, including notable names in fintech, crypto, artificial intelligence, and SaaS.
In a statement, Akhund emphasized his passion for early-stage investing and the importance of helping founders at their most critical phases. “I’ve always enjoyed working with founders from the very beginning — that zero to one stage is where I can offer the most value,” he said.
While continuing to lead Mercury, Akhund is expected to run the fund in a capacity that complements his current role. Mercury, a fast-growing digital banking platform for startups and small businesses, has achieved success in its own right, serving more than 100,000 customers since its inception.
The decision to create a dedicated fund stems not only from Akhund’s desire to provide startups with capital but also from his commitment to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs. He expressed that forming the fund gives him the structure and scale necessary to deepen his involvement and impact in the startup community.
The venture capital landscape has seen a growing number of successful founders transitioning into formal investment roles, and Akhund’s new fund is part of this broader trend. His extensive experience in building and scaling Mercury provides valuable perspective for the startups he aims to support.
With this new fund, Akhund joins the ranks of operator-investors using their entrepreneurial experience to guide and finance the future of innovation. The fund’s launch highlights a strong continued interest in early-stage investing, even as overall venture funding has cooled in recent economic conditions.
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