Seed-stage VC, US

Lux Capital

Venture capital firm · Menlo Park · Founded 2000

Quick read

Lux Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2000, headquartered in Menlo Park, US, with a presence in New York. It backs early-stage science and technology companies across AI, defense, life sciences, aerospace, and advanced hardware — areas others find too hard or too early. In January 2026, the firm closed its largest fund ever at $1.5B, bringing total AUM to over $7B across 44 people.

Key facts

Founded
2000
Founders
Josh Wolfe, Peter Hebert
Employees
44
Sectors
ai, hardware, healthcare, generalist
Website
www.luxcapital.com

Investment thesis

Lux backs early-stage science and technology companies at the frontier of what others consider too hard, too early, or too confusing — spanning AI, defense, life sciences, aerospace, and advanced hardware. The firm targets founders who are scientists, engineers, and inventors challenging physical limits, and stays invested across the full arc of company-building from first check to growth.

Recent activity

  • Apr 2026leadership
    Lux published a post welcoming Zachary Iscol as a Venture Partner. Iscol previously served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Emergency Management and as deputy director of the Joint New York Medical Station during COVID-19. luxcapital.com
  • Apr 2026press
    Lux released its Q1 2026 report, authored by Josh Wolfe, covering portfolio and market developments. luxcapital.com
  • Apr 2026product
    Lux announced the 2026 f(Lux) Fellowship, offering a $15,000 non-dilutive grant, dual mentorship from the Lux investment team and portfolio, and two all-expenses-covered retreats. Applications closed May 26, 2026. linkedin.com
  • Mar 2026investment
    Lux backed Crosby, a legal-tech startup aiming to end the billable hour for lawyers. luxcapital.com
  • Jan 2026fundraise
    Lux closed Fund IX — Lux Ventures IX — at $1.5 billion, its largest fund ever, raised in roughly three months. Total AUM reached $7 billion. The fund targets defense, aerospace, AI, robotics, and energy. techfundingnews.com
  • Jan 2026investment
    Brandon Reeves led Lux's participation in Cognition AI's $1 billion-plus raise at a $26 billion valuation, co-led with General Catalyst and 8VC. Cognition's run-rate revenue hit $492 million. linkedin.com
  • 2025product
    Lux launched the Lux Helpline to support academic researchers facing funding cuts. en.wikipedia.org
  • 2025leadership
    American diplomat Brett McGurk joined Lux as a Venture Partner. en.wikipedia.org
  • Jan 2026fundraise
    Lux Capital closed Fund IX (Lux Ventures IX) at $1.5 billion — the largest fund in the firm's 25-year history. The fund was raised in roughly three months and brings total AUM to $7 billion. It targets aerospace, defense, biotech, automation, and robotics, with check sizes from $100K to over $100M. digitalmarketreports.com
  • May 2025product
    Lux Capital launched the Lux Helpline to support academic researchers facing funding cuts. en.wikipedia.org
  • Nov 2024investment
    Portfolio company Chronosphere, a cloud observability startup, was acquired by Palo Alto Networks for $3.35 billion. en.wikipedia.org
  • Feb 2024investment
    Portfolio company Matterport, a spatial data company, was acquired by CoStar Group for $2 billion. en.wikipedia.org

Notable investments

Key people

Named individuals at the firm. We don't expose direct email or phone — use their LinkedIn for outreach.

  • Josh Wolfe · Co-Founder & Partner
    LinkedIn
  • Peter Hebert · Co-Founder & Partner
    LinkedIn
  • Shahin Farshchi · General Partner
    LinkedIn

Sources

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Frequently asked

What is Lux Capital?+

Lux Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2000, headquartered in Menlo Park, US, with a presence in New York. It backs early-stage science and technology companies across AI, defense, life sciences, aerospace, and advanced hardware — areas others find too hard or too early.

Where is Lux Capital headquartered?+

Lux Capital is headquartered in Menlo Park, United States.

When was Lux Capital founded?+

Lux Capital was founded in 2000 by Josh Wolfe, Peter Hebert.

What sectors does Lux Capital invest in?+

Lux Capital focuses on ai, hardware, healthcare, generalist. They primarily invest in these sectors.

How do I prepare for a meeting with Lux Capital?+

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Generated by briefthecall.com from public web sources. Last updated July 22, 2026. Each claim is linked to its source above.

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