ACCEL RAISES $3.5B FOR EARLY-STAGE BETS

Accel, which operates offices across Silicon Valley, London, and Bangalore, structured the capital to address evolving market dynamics in early-stage investing. The $1.35 billion global expansion fund specifically targets larger early-stage rounds and rapid follow-on investments, enabling the firm to increase check sizes as companies mature faster than in previous cycles. The new capital represents a significant commitment to early-stage venture at a time when seed funding has become more competitive. Accel's multi-geography presence positions the firm to deploy capital across North America, Europe, and Asia simultaneously. The raise reinforces Accel's standing among top-tier venture firms amid broader market consolidation in the VC industry. The firm has previously backed companies including Slack, Dropbox, and Atlassian.