Masha Bucher is a woman who knows what she wants, and she’s not afraid to go after it. As a venture capitalist, she understands that success requires taking bold risks, especially at the earliest stages.
Through her firm, Day One Ventures, Masha has seen remarkable success over the past six years by taking a unique approach to the industry. By prioritizing public relations for their portfolio companies, Day One Ventures has helped them stand out in the competitive market.
Masha and her team have built a portfolio of 22 exits and have backed eight unicorns, including well-known companies like Superhuman, Remote, and DuckDuckGo. Their success is reflected in their growth from managing $11 million to over $450 million.
Masha has surrounded herself with top industry experts, including Sanjiv Sanghavi, co-founder of ClassPass, who joined the firm in 2022 to focus on investing in climate tech.
On Tuesday, Day One Ventures announced the launch of Fund III, with $150 million available to invest in early-stage founders. The fund emphasizes the importance of addressing pressing global issues, such as wealth disparities, climate change, and social isolation.
In addition to this new fund, Masha has revealed that Day One Ventures intends to integrate art and culture into their investment strategy, alongside their expertise in storytelling and PR.
What makes Masha’s journey even more impressive is her background. Originally from Russia, she began her career at just 18 years old, founding a social media agency that quickly grew to 80 employees within six months. She then transitioned into the world of public relations and marketing, honing her skills and gaining valuable insights into the operations of businesses.
In 2010, Masha met Serg Bell, co-founder of Runa Capital, on Twitter. After learning about his impressive background as the founder of three unicorns, Masha joined the team and worked as PR director until 2013. She then moved on to become the vice president of communications at Acronis, a data protection startup.
Masha’s move to the United States in 2014 led her to open M&A PR Studio, where she worked with clients such as Houzz and HotelTonight. However, she quickly realized that her expertise extended far beyond public relations and began investing in startups as an angel investor.
In 2017, she decided to take a leap of faith and start Day One Ventures, combining her passion for entrepreneurship and PR. For the past six years, the firm has focused on AI, fintech, climate, future of work, and web3, but Masha believes that AI is the key to solving major societal issues. With the launch of Fund III, Day One Ventures also plans to prioritize investments in the “Future of Human,” a category that explores the intersection of technology and humanity.
One of their recent investments includes Rainmaker, a cloud seeding startup that aims to bring rain to drought-stricken areas. They have also backed Cradle Healthcare, a company working on technology to cryogenically freeze bodies with the goal of preserving memories and personalities for the future.
Masha’s journey has had its fair share of challenges, including her teenage ties to Russia, which were highlighted in a 2022 documentary called “Putin’s Kiss.” However, she has persevered and continues to make bold moves in the world of venture capitalism.
As Masha noted, “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day one.” Day One Ventures’ fresh perspective and innovative approach make them one to watch in the industry, and Masha’s determination and expertise will undoubtedly lead to even greater success in the future.
