Charles Hudson

Charles Hudson is the founder and managing partner of Precursor Ventures, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm focused on being the first institutional investor in early-stage companies. Precursor Ventures invests in B2B software applications, B2C software and services, and connected hardware, with a focus on the first institutional round of investment. The firm has raised multiple funds, invested in more than 450 companies, and supported over 1,000 founders. With $230 million in assets under management, Precursor Ventures has backed companies such as Bobbie, Carrot Fertility, Modern Health, Pair Eyewear, Rad AI, and The Athletic, which was acquired by New York Times for $525 million.

Before founding Precursor Ventures, Hudson built a career in technology, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. He worked at In-Q-Tel, the strategic venture capital group for the Central Intelligence Agency, where he identified investment opportunities with value for both the CIA and the commercial market. Hudson also held a role in New Business Development at Google, focusing on partnerships for early-stage products in advertising, mobile, and e-commerce. He was co-founder and CEO of Bionic Panda Games, an Android-focused mobile games startup, and previously served as vice president of business development for Serious Business until its acquisition by Zynga. Hudson founded the Virtual Goods Summit and Social Gaming Summit, conferences in the free-to-play games industry.

Hudson was a partner at SoftTech VC, now Uncork Capital, where he focused on mobile infrastructure, mobile applications, and marketplaces. He established Precursor Ventures with the premise that all entrepreneurs, regardless of background, benefit from early-stage venture capital support. The firm operates as an institutional friends and family investor, backing first-time entrepreneurs at the earliest stage, often pre-launch, and supporting founders who may lack traditional networks or credentials.

Hudson holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Arts in economics and Spanish from Stanford University. He serves as a lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Hudson has chaired the NVCA Board of Directors and serves on the San Francisco Opera Advisory Board. He is active in the venture capital community, serving on advisory boards and mentoring emerging managers. Hudson has appeared on "The Pitch" podcast, investing in startups and discussing trends in pre-seed investing. With more than two decades of experience in venture capital, including roles at Precursor Ventures, Uncork Capital, and In-Q-Tel, Hudson is recognized for his work in early-stage venture capital, technology investment, and startup mentorship.