500 Startups is a Silicon Valley venture capital seed fund and start-up accelerator founded by former PayPal and Google alumni. Since its inception, 500 Startups has invested in over 2,200 companies via its 4 global funds and 15 thematic funds dedicated to either specific geographic markets or verticals. Its 100+ team members are located in 20 countries around the world in order to support the 500 Startups global portfolio of investments which spans more than 74 countries. Beyond providing seed capital, 500 supports startups via their Seed Accelerator Programs which emphasize digital marketing, customer acquisition, lean startup practices, and fundraising for pre-Seed companies. 500 Startups further contributes to the development of innovation ecosystems by supporting startups and investors through educational programs, events, conferences, and partnerships with corporations and governments around the world. 500 Startups typically invests between $25,000 and $250,000 in its first check; however, it also makes selective follow-on investments at series A/B of up to $1 million.