Dolby Family Ventures

Dolby Family Ventures (DFV) is a San Francisco-based early-stage venture firm founded in 2014 by David Dolby to carry on the legacy of Ray Dolby and the family's multi-generational commitment to supporting visionary entrepreneurs. The firm is structured as an evergreen vehicle funded by family capital and past exits, and is unaffiliated with Dolby Laboratories. DFV invests primarily at the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages, with occasional follow-on investments across a portfolio company's lifecycle. It focuses on four sector pillars: precision neuroscience (neurodegeneration, psychiatry, neurotech), life sciences platforms (de novo drug discovery, computational biology, regenerative medicine), climate tech (materials science, manufacturing, energy), and digital deep tech (aerospace, connectivity, security). The firm takes a poly-solution approach to complex diseases and engineering challenges, typically investing alongside strong syndicate partners and often holding a fiduciary or observer board position. Historical check sizes have ranged from approximately $300K to $3M per company.