From Engineer and YouTuber to $12M VC Fund Manager
Gabriel Jarrosson, a French engineer turned YouTuber and now venture capitalist, has carved out a unique niche in early-stage investing by exclusively backing Y Combinator (YC) startups. His firm, Lobster Capital, recently closed a $12 million debut fund, surpassing its $8 million target, and is already preparing a larger follow-up fund, according to SEC filings. Jarrosson’s investment philosophy is straightforward: he will not invest in startups unless they have been through YC. This disciplined approach is rooted in YC’s proven track record of producing a disproportionate share of unicorns and high-growth companies.A Data-Driven Focus on Y Combinator’s Track Record
Jarrosson’s conviction rests on compelling statistics. Approximately 4.5% of YC companies become unicorns, nearly double the 2.5% rate for other seed-stage startups. Additionally, around 45% of YC-backed startups secure Series A funding, compared to 33% for their peers. YC has funded over 90 unicorns, with about a quarter reaching decacorn status. This exceptional track record justifies Jarrosson’s willingness to invest at premium valuations, sometimes in the $20 million to $40 million range at the seed stage, which many investors might avoid.“If you think about the VC math and the returns, these outcomes are obviously great for your portfolio. As investors, you have to ask yourself, can this company become the next unicorn? If the answer is yes, it’s often okay to invest even at a slightly higher valuation.” — Gabriel Jarrosson, Founder and Managing Partner, Lobster CapitalLeveraging Content Creation and Founder Background for Deal Flow
Jarrosson’s journey began in 2017 when he launched a French-language YouTube channel to share his investment insights amid limited access to promising French startups. The channel grew into one of Europe’s largest angel syndicates, deploying $36 million since 2020, primarily into YC alumni. His reputation within the YC network, combined with strong reviews on YC’s internal platform Bookface, grants him preferential access to competitive allocations. His podcast, featuring YC founders, and a LinkedIn following of over 40,000, further amplify his visibility and credibility. Jarrosson emphasizes that his entrepreneurial background—having launched and exited startups—enables him to support founders effectively, a trait that sets him apart from many investors without operational experience.“I try to do well by founders. People also hear about the firm from social media, and as a former founder, they know I can help them because many funds are built by people who have not been operators before.” — Gabriel JarrossonRiding the AI Wave: Focus on High-Growth Startups
Lobster Capital has actively invested in AI-first startups emerging from recent YC batches, which have set new records for revenue growth, with some companies achieving millions in annual recurring revenue (ARR) within months. While acknowledging risks related to fragile revenue and churn-heavy contracts, Jarrosson believes early revenue milestones are the most challenging to clear and that retention issues can be addressed over time. The fund has also backed nearly 30 startups across sectors such as B2B SaaS, fintech infrastructure, and AI tools, including notable names like Jeeves, Baubap, FlutterFlow, and Metriport.A Growing Trend: Personal Branding in Venture Capital
Jarrosson is part of an expanding cohort of investors who harness personal brands and content platforms to build venture funds. He cites inspirations like Harry Stebbings, who raised a $400 million fund, and Garry Tan, who grew Initialized Capital to $3 billion in assets before becoming YC’s CEO. This approach not only aids deal sourcing but also attracts limited partners who often discover funds through podcasts and social media before reviewing formal materials. Other funds such as Initialized, Pioneer Fund, Phosphor Capital, and Rebel Fund have similarly adopted exclusive YC investment strategies, validating Jarrosson’s thesis.FinOracleAI — Market View
Gabriel Jarrosson’s disciplined focus on Y Combinator startups leverages robust historical data indicating superior outcomes in unicorn creation and Series A progression. His dual strategy of combining personal brand-driven deal sourcing with a founder-centric approach positions Lobster Capital well within a competitive early-stage VC landscape.- Opportunities: Access to a proven pipeline of high-growth startups; early entry into AI-first and fintech infrastructure sectors; strong founder relationships enhancing deal flow.
- Risks: Elevated seed-stage valuations could compress returns if startups fail to scale; dependency on YC’s continued market dominance; potential saturation of investor interest at YC Demo Days.
Impact: Jarrosson’s strategy reflects a positive market impact by optimizing venture capital deployment toward startups with statistically higher success rates, supported by innovative content-driven sourcing and founder empathy.
