Ed Fries
VCGeneral Partner, 1Up Ventures
Xbox co-creator funding indie game studios
Kirkland, WA~$500K checks2 notable investments
Pre-SeedSeed
GamingMediaConsumer
Background
Ed Fries is the General Partner and co-founder of 1Up Ventures, a fund dedicated to supporting independent game developers worldwide, which he founded in 2019. He previously spent decades at Microsoft, culminating as Vice President leading game publishing through the launch of the original Xbox. At 1Up Ventures, he makes small checks ($500K) into approximately 50 game studios per fund, building a tight-knit founder community. The fund is based in Kirkland, Washington and has a portfolio of 67+ indie game studios.
Investment Thesis
Community-first investing in indie game studios with equal focus on diverse founders
Investment Focus
Stages
Pre-SeedSeed
Typical check: ~$500K
Sectors
GamingMediaConsumer
Based in: Kirkland, WA (North America)
Notable Investments
Last updated: Jun 11, 2026