Solo Investor Ashley Smith Raises $25 Million for AI Startups

Ashley Smith closed a $25 million fund in July 2026—roughly double her first fund from early 2025—in just four months, mostly from repeat backers. As a solo investor (no partners involved in decisions), her speed signals confidence that one person can manage money at this scale. The fund backs AI infrastructure, security tools, and developer software, with average bets of $500,000 to $1 million each.