ResilienceVC, a new seed-stage fintech venture capital firm based in Washington, D.C., has announced its $56 million debut fund, exclusively shared with TechCrunch. Founded by Tahira Dosani and Vikas Raj in 2023, the firm's mission is to invest in fintech companies that help Americans achieve financial stability.

The debut fund will focus on backing startups that address challenges such as becoming homeowners, getting affordable insurance, and accessing government benefits. According to Raj, "We invest entirely in visionary startup entrepreneurs that are leveraging new technologies and new business models ultimately to drive financial resilience for all Americans." The duo believes that the current financial system is not serving many Americans, and their fund aims to bridge this gap.

Dosani and Raj bring a wealth of experience in investing in companies that promote financial inclusion. They previously worked together as co-managing directors at Accion Venture Lab, where they invested in over 50 companies, including several unicorns, during their eight-year tenure. The pair has been raising capital for ResilienceVC's first fund for about 18 months, with the final close taking place in late 2024.

The fund is "oversubscribed," with an initial target of $50 million, and plans to make 25 investments. Portfolio companies include Alice, Chaiz, EarlyBird, Foyer, Mirza, OS Benefits, PartnerSlate, and Suma, among others. Initial investment per company is around $1 million. Notably, 75% of the portfolio companies have underrepresented founders.

Dosani and Raj expect to follow on in roughly 50% of their companies, looking to double their stake in their next round. The firm's limited partners include institutions, banks, family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and foundations, such as MetLife, Skoll Foundation, and Ally Financial.

ResilienceVC's decision to base its headquarters in Washington, D.C. is intentional, allowing the firm to leverage its location and relationships with regulators and policymakers. Raj believes that being in D.C. provides a unique advantage in the rapidly changing regulatory environment. "We think it's an important place to be if you're investing in fintech in particular," he said.

Dosani also highlighted the benefits of being outside Silicon Valley, which provides a vantage point to identify founders operating in other cities around the country. The pair hopes to buck the trend of fintech investing, which often focuses on high-net-worth customers or large enterprises, leaving a significant gap in the market.

"We want to sit in that gap — and invest exclusively in the best fintech startups that are explicitly serving the mass market," Raj said. With ResilienceVC, Dosani and Raj aim to drive financial resilience for all Americans, promoting a more inclusive and equitable financial system.

The launch of ResilienceVC's debut fund marks a significant development in the fintech industry, highlighting the need for investments that prioritize financial stability and inclusion. As the firm begins to deploy its capital, it will be interesting to see the impact of its investments on the broader fintech ecosystem.