Garage (YC W24) has officially raised $13.5 million in its Series A round, led by an impressive group of investors including Infinity Ventures, Benchstrength, Wayfinder Ventures, and FJ Labs. Founded by Martin Hunt and Alaz Sengul, Garage is emerging as one of the most promising Y Combinator alumni of 2024, focused on reshaping how founders launch, scale, and sustain their companies in an increasingly competitive ecosystem.

This milestone not only validates Garage’s vision but also reflects broader market momentum for platforms that empower founders at the earliest stages of their journey.

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What Garage Is Building

Garage is positioning itself as more than just a startup support platform - it’s an infrastructure for founder success. By combining resources, mentorship, and a curated network of operators and investors, Garage provides early-stage entrepreneurs with the tools they need to move from idea to execution at speed.

At its core, Garage offers:

• Capital Access: Helping startups connect with investors who align with their industry and growth stage.
  
• Mentorship and Network: Leveraging YC alumni and veteran operators to guide founders through common pitfalls.
  
• Operational Infrastructure: Providing frameworks, tooling, and back-office support to help teams focus on product-market fit.
  

In a landscape where 90% of startups fail within the first five years, Garage’s model directly addresses the need for stronger scaffolding at the earliest points of company formation.

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Why This Series A Matters

The $13.5M Series A isn’t just another funding headline - it’s a signal of where venture is headed. Investors are increasingly looking to back companies that enable ecosystems rather than just building standalone products. Garage is one of those rare players that is building infrastructure for builders.

According to Crunchbase, early-stage startup investment in Q1 2025 remained steady at $5.4 billion in Europe and $12.6 billion globally, showing resilience despite a more cautious VC climate. Within that, seed-to-Series A platforms like Garage are drawing outsized attention because they create compounding effects across portfolios.

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Market Outlook: The Early-Stage Ecosystem is Heating Up

The startup ecosystem market continues to grow at an unprecedented pace. Global venture capital reached over $285 billion in 2024, and though mega-rounds slowed, early-stage funding remained robust as investors sought the next breakout unicorns.

Meanwhile, Y Combinator-backed companies continue to dominate the narrative. YC alumni have created over $600 billion in combined valuation, with breakout names like Airbnb, Stripe, and Coinbase paving the way. With Garage emerging from the Winter 2024 batch, this Series A positions it among the next generation of YC-backed ventures poised for scale.

The founder support market itself - covering accelerators, incubators, and venture studios - is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% through 2030, driven by demand for structured support in markets with increasing competition for capital and talent.

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The Deeper Lesson

The companies that scale fastest are those that make other companies succeed. Garage isn’t just building a product - it’s building leverage. Every startup that thrives because of Garage increases its value, network effects, and influence.

For founders, the lesson is simple but powerful: ask yourself, “Am I building a tool, or am I building leverage?” Tools solve problems, but leverage compounds outcomes. That compounding effect - where every new participant strengthens the network - is what gets VCs excited in today’s climate.

Garage’s model shows that founder-focused infrastructure isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s the backbone of tomorrow’s startup economy.

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The Role of Garage’s Investors

Garage’s investor list underscores the strategic importance of this round:

• Infinity Ventures is known for backing fintech and infrastructure startups that transform entire industries.
  
• Benchstrength brings deep experience in scaling operational systems and talent networks.
  
• Wayfinder Ventures focuses on founders building for the long haul, aligning perfectly with Garage’s ethos.
  
• FJ Labs, a prolific investor in marketplaces and platform plays, adds both credibility and global reach.
  

Together, these investors represent not just capital, but strategic muscle to accelerate Garage’s vision.

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Competitive Positioning

Garage enters a competitive yet expanding field of accelerators and venture studios. Players like Techstars, Antler, and Entrepreneur First have established strong brands. However, Garage differentiates itself by focusing on end-to-end operational scaffolding, merging mentorship, tooling, and capital pathways into a unified platform.

With its YC pedigree and a fresh infusion of capital, Garage has the potential to not only compete but also set a new standard for how early-stage companies are launched and scaled.

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What’s Next for Garage

With $13.5M secured, Garage plans to:

• Expand its founder support infrastructure with more robust tools and frameworks.
  
• Grow its team of advisors and operators, particularly among YC alumni and seasoned entrepreneurs.
  
• Scale internationally, extending its reach beyond the U.S. and into global startup hubs.
  
• Develop founder-friendly capital products to bridge the gap between seed and Series A.
  

If executed effectively, Garage could evolve into a category-defining venture studio for the next wave of global startups.

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Conclusion

Garage’s $13.5 million Series A, led by Infinity Ventures, Benchstrength, Wayfinder Ventures, and FJ Labs, marks a pivotal moment for YC W24’s most promising startups. By building the infrastructure for founders to thrive, Garage is tapping into one of the most resilient and high-growth niches in the venture landscape.

For the broader ecosystem, this raise is more than capital - it’s a statement: the future belongs to companies that create leverage for others.

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