Join the Allied VC Scout Program

Become a Venture Scout & Earn Carry by Referring Startups

Want to build your deal-sourcing track record and partner with a leading early-stage VC? We are excited to announce the launch of our all-new Venture Scout Program for entrepreneurs & investors.

Apply to Allied’s Venture Scout Program and earn carry when your referrals lead to investments.

How it works:

1. Find a great founder or company raising their Seed or Series A.

2. Make an introduction using the Startup Referral Form.

3. If we invest, you’ll earn 20% of our carry on the first investment in exchange for your assistance & expertise in identifying, assessing, and negotiating the investment.

For example, our typical carry per investment is 20%. So, if we invest $100k into a company you help us identify, you’ll receive 20% of our carry in exchange for your assistance, as if you made a $4,000 investment in the company yourself.

Additionally, if you decide to invest in the company, you’ll pay zero carry on your personal investment – double win!

Unlocking a new way to invest in startups

Historically, the only ways to share in a startup's financial growth were to invest as an accredited investor or become an employee. This limited the opportunities to only a select few.

One of our founding principles at Allied Ventures is to democratize access to early-stage VC and make angel investing more accessible to a greater number of people.

With the launch of our VC Scout Program, you’ll not only participate in the value creation of great companies you help identify, but you’ll also have a unique opportunity to build your VC apprenticeship, sharpening your ability to spot attractive investment opportunities through analysis and feedback.

Why Join & Who Qualifies

Why Join?

• Earn carried interest (carry) by contributing deal flow.

• Build your track record and credibility in the VC ecosystem.

• Receive feedback and mentorship as you sharpen VC skills.

• Participate even if you’re not accredited — so long as you deliver value in sourcing and evaluation.

• Read our comprehensive guide to learn more about becoming a venture capital scout and the different scout programs.

Who’s Eligible?

• Entrepreneurs, angel investors, startup operators, or ecosystem builders.

• Anyone who can proactively identify high-potential startups.

• You may hold roles in incubators, accelerators, founder groups, or advisory networks.

• Non-accredited participants are welcome, provided you add meaningful deal contribution.

• Not sure if being a VC scout is the right choice for you? Take our VC Scout Readiness Assessment.

Our Investment Criteria

Industries: We are software and technology-focused, and industry-agnostic (excluding Biotech, Medtech, Healthtech, Climate, Cannabis, Govtech, and pure hardware).

Verticals: Our preferred domains include B2B enterprise SaaS, marketplaces, platforms, fintech, blockchain, AI/ML, payments, logistics, analytics, security, and certain B2C consumer software applications like e-commerce, gaming, and subscriptions.

Stage, Traction & Check Size: Our stage focus is Seed to Series A, post-revenue, post-product, with a maximum post-money valuation of $25M USD. Our typical check size is $100k-$350k USD.

Round Dynamics: We do not currently lead rounds, but prefer to participate alongside a notable angel investor or VC firm that is leading and has set the terms. We will invest via a SAFE note, Convertible Note, or Preferred Shares (but not Common Shares), and we require pro-rata rights if it’s our first time investing in the company.

Geography: Our geographical focus includes companies based and registered in North America (Canada and the USA), with a preference for Delaware C Corps.

For additional clarification regarding our investment thesis and areas of focus, please visit allied.vc/thesis or download our one-page thesis for future reference.

Ready to get started?

Bookmark this URL (or click the button below) and let us know each time you come across a great company you think we should meet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is “carry” in venture capital?

  Carry (or carried interest) is the share of profit from a successful exit that a scout or fund receives. In our program, scouts receive 20% of our carry on the first deal they source that leads to an investment.

  click here to learn more about carry

• How do I know if I'm ready to be a VC Scout?

  Take the VC Scout Readiness Assessment to evaluate your potential to become a venture capital scout through a comprehensive assessment of key VC competencies.

• What does the carry share agreement look like?

  See a preview agreement

• Do I need to sign an agreement to join the scout program?

  No, you’ll only need to sign a carried interest transfer agreement once we finalize an investment into a company that you referred.

• Can I participate in the Scout Program if I am not accredited?

  Yes, as long as you provide substantial assistance in identifying, assessing, and negotiating the investment. To the extent you do so, you can be accredited by virtue of conducting those activities for the fund.

  This typically includes activities such as assisting in the understanding of a potential portfolio company's business model, assessing the share price, understanding and negotiating the terms of the investment, monitoring the investment after it is made, and performing the same functions for any subsequent investments made by the fund.

• How long does a typical end-to-end investment process take?

  Our investment process typically takes four weeks or less, from the first founder meeting to the final wire and investment close.

  After an introductory call with the founder, we'll run through our due diligence process, which can typically be completed in less than a week if the founder is responsive and has a data room prepared.

  Following diligence, if a startup fits our investment criteria and we feel it would be a good opportunity for our group, we'll prepare an investment memo to share with our investor network.

  Investors then have approximately two weeks to decide, after which we can close, sign, and wire the investment within three business days.

• How do scouts know if a company has already been seen by Allied?

  The easy way is to send us an email via our contact page. Simply ask if we’ve already seen company XYZ and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

• How should the process of scouting be communicated with founders?

  Prior to sharing any company information, we encourage you first to ask founders if it's OK to share the opportunity with your network of potential VCs. Let them know that you’re a scout and would like to float the idea past certain members of your network.

  Most founders will not have a problem with this, and if they've already pitched in a public setting, their information is public.

• Should I wait until the company has found a lead before referring them?

  No. We prefer initiating conversations with prospective companies before they have secured a lead investor, and we may even be able to assist them in finding one. Please introduce us!

• How in-depth does the analysis need to be when scouting a prospective company?

  Open the referral form to gain a better idea of the types of items we’re looking for. We don’t ask for rigorous, in-depth analysis (although you can provide it if you’d like). Simply provide some high-level details about the company, how you met them, and why you like the opportunity.

• Are there any other advantages or perks for Allied Scouts?

  In addition to receiving shared carry on each successful referral, you may also choose to invest in the company through our SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle). If you decide to invest, you'll pay 0% carry on your personal investment. 

  U.S. citizens can also invest through their IRA, which offers significant tax advantages. 

  Note: Although you do not need to qualify as an accredited investor to be a scout, the accredited investor rule still applies if you wish to invest.

Still have questions? Try our new AI-powered VC assistant: Ask Allied