We bring more than capital—we deliver hands-on expertise and unwavering support to supercharge your journey.

It all began in a small studio nestled in the heart of New York

Team

Team

Giuseppe
Stuto

Founder & Managing Partner

Hot take

Every dinner table must have a seating arrangement

Fun Fact

I built my first website in the days of dial up internet…seriously.

Giuseppe is a first-generation Italian-American entrepreneur who was raised in a blue collar, 100% immigrant household. From a young age, he was immersed in an "everyone pitches in" family that demanded hustle, independence, and resilience. By age 11 (2001-2002), he was helping to pay the bills at home by building websites on AOL and upgrading RAM in friends’ computers, and by college he was teaching himself to code in the early days of the iPhone and App Store (2009 - 2010) and waiting tables on weeknights and weekends to pay his way through Boston University.

In 2013, he co-founded Fam (originally SmackHigh), a group video chat app that grew to over 7 million users. Fam was eventually acquired by DraftKings. Giuseppe joined to lead aspects of product and strategy through a phase of hypergrowth and IPO preparation. He went on to become a full-time executive at Pison Technologies, a deep tech AI company working on some of the earliest neural interface infrastructure in the US, and began angel investing in over 30 early-stage companies. In 2021, he co-founded 186 Ventures, an oversubscribed $37M institutional fund, where he led all 29 investments and built one of Boston’s most vibrant founder communities.

Giuseppe believes early-stage VC isn’t about chasing themes or signals — it’s about understanding how founders view the world, how they approach problem sets, their intensity, and whether they operate with genuine customer empathy. His personal and professional journey gives him unmatched relatability and precision in backing early builders, and a deep conviction that venture is best when it’s founder-led, not investor-driven.

Academically, he obtained a B.S.B.A. from the Boston University Questrom School of Business and attended Malden Catholic High School. Giuseppe was a recipient of Boston Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award.

Sophie Panarese

Partner

Hot take

Everything tastes better out of a tiny bowl

First Side Hustle

A pink lemonade stand

Sophie began her career at Cambridge Associates, where she built a strong foundation in portfolio construction, asset allocation, and client service while working closely with leading private equity and venture capital investors. She then joined TJX Companies, working on the Financial Planning & Strategy team. 

In 2022, Sophie joined 186 Ventures as the firm’s first team member. She played a central role in shaping the fund’s platform and operations strategy, building founder-facing programming, and professionalizing firm infrastructure as the team scaled its first fund. 

At Offscript, Sophie brings the same founder-first ethos and competitive drive to building a next-generation venture platform. She thrives on working side-by-side with founders and believes the best operational frameworks and community activation strategies can be catalytic in helping early-stage companies break through.

Sophie earned her degree in Government and English from Georgetown University, where she captained the Division I Women’s Varsity Tennis Team. Outside of work, she enjoys gourmet cooking, spending time outdoors, and playing almost any sport—her current favorites are padel and golf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you partner with Offscript?

Because we’ve lived the startup journey ourselves — the zero to one, the pivot, the near-misses, the breakthrough moments, and the exit. We’re not just investors; we’re builders. We know how lonely and nonlinear building can be. At Offscript, you get a partner who brings real-world operating experience, fast decisions, and honest advice. We stick with you through build, scale, and everything in between.

What types of companies does Offscript invest in?

We invest in founders, not categories. Our focus is on high-agency builders tackling big problems with unconventional insights, often before the rest of the market sees it. Whether pre-product or scaling early traction, we look for teams with conviction, technical depth, and the courage to build what others overlook.

What is Offscript’s investment process?

We like getting to know you — and we want you to know us. We’re a small, founder-led team, which means we move fast, stay flexible, and make decisions quickly. Before an initial meeting, we’ll review whatever you share — a deck, product demo, or even a short note — to understand what you’re building and why it matters. From there, we’ll spend time with you digging deeper: exploring the market, understanding your insight, and speaking with people who can help us learn more. We also encourage founders to ask us hard questions and to reference us — this is a two-way diligence process. When it’s a fit, we close quickly. Every process is different, but we can move as fast as conviction demands.

How much does Offscript typically invest?

We write checks in the region of $250K to $1M, at the pre-seed and seed stage. We reserve real time, attention and hands-on support for each founder, not just capital commitments. If we invest, you get access to our full operational firepower.

How can I pitch the Offscript team?

Reach out directly. We don’t hide behind forms or gatekeepers. The best way to connect is to email us directly at hello@offscriptvc.com (include your deck or context about what you’re building), or come meet us at one of our ecosystem gatherings in Boston or New York. We’re founder-first, and always open to ambitious builders doing things their own way.

Why the name Offscript?

Because the best founders don’t follow scripts — they write new ones. The name embodies our ethos: we back those who build differently, think independently, and turn conviction into impact. Going Offscript isn’t about rebellion for its own sake; it’s about creating something original and enduring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you partner with Offscript?

Because we’ve lived the startup journey ourselves — the zero to one, the pivot, the near-misses, the breakthrough moments, and the exit. We’re not just investors; we’re builders. We know how lonely and nonlinear building can be. At Offscript, you get a partner who brings real-world operating experience, fast decisions, and honest advice. We stick with you through build, scale, and everything in between.

What types of companies does Offscript invest in?

We invest in founders, not categories. Our focus is on high-agency builders tackling big problems with unconventional insights, often before the rest of the market sees it. Whether pre-product or scaling early traction, we look for teams with conviction, technical depth, and the courage to build what others overlook.

What is Offscript’s investment process?

We like getting to know you — and we want you to know us. We’re a small, founder-led team, which means we move fast, stay flexible, and make decisions quickly. Before an initial meeting, we’ll review whatever you share — a deck, product demo, or even a short note — to understand what you’re building and why it matters. From there, we’ll spend time with you digging deeper: exploring the market, understanding your insight, and speaking with people who can help us learn more. We also encourage founders to ask us hard questions and to reference us — this is a two-way diligence process. When it’s a fit, we close quickly. Every process is different, but we can move as fast as conviction demands.

How much does Offscript typically invest?

We write checks in the region of $250K to $1M, at the pre-seed and seed stage. We reserve real time, attention and hands-on support for each founder, not just capital commitments. If we invest, you get access to our full operational firepower.

How can I pitch the Offscript team?

Reach out directly. We don’t hide behind forms or gatekeepers. The best way to connect is to email us directly at hello@offscriptvc.com (include your deck or context about what you’re building), or come meet us at one of our ecosystem gatherings in Boston or New York. We’re founder-first, and always open to ambitious builders doing things their own way.

Why the name Offscript?

Because the best founders don’t follow scripts — they write new ones. The name embodies our ethos: we back those who build differently, think independently, and turn conviction into impact. Going Offscript isn’t about rebellion for its own sake; it’s about creating something original and enduring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you partner with Offscript?

Because we’ve lived the startup journey ourselves — the zero to one, the pivot, the near-misses, the breakthrough moments, and the exit. We’re not just investors; we’re builders. We know how lonely and nonlinear building can be. At Offscript, you get a partner who brings real-world operating experience, fast decisions, and honest advice. We stick with you through build, scale, and everything in between.

What types of companies does Offscript invest in?

We invest in founders, not categories. Our focus is on high-agency builders tackling big problems with unconventional insights, often before the rest of the market sees it. Whether pre-product or scaling early traction, we look for teams with conviction, technical depth, and the courage to build what others overlook.

What is Offscript’s investment process?

We like getting to know you — and we want you to know us. We’re a small, founder-led team, which means we move fast, stay flexible, and make decisions quickly. Before an initial meeting, we’ll review whatever you share — a deck, product demo, or even a short note — to understand what you’re building and why it matters. From there, we’ll spend time with you digging deeper: exploring the market, understanding your insight, and speaking with people who can help us learn more. We also encourage founders to ask us hard questions and to reference us — this is a two-way diligence process. When it’s a fit, we close quickly. Every process is different, but we can move as fast as conviction demands.

How much does Offscript typically invest?

We write checks in the region of $250K to $1M, at the pre-seed and seed stage. We reserve real time, attention and hands-on support for each founder, not just capital commitments. If we invest, you get access to our full operational firepower.

How can I pitch the Offscript team?

Reach out directly. We don’t hide behind forms or gatekeepers. The best way to connect is to email us directly at hello@offscriptvc.com (include your deck or context about what you’re building), or come meet us at one of our ecosystem gatherings in Boston or New York. We’re founder-first, and always open to ambitious builders doing things their own way.

Why the name Offscript?

Because the best founders don’t follow scripts — they write new ones. The name embodies our ethos: we back those who build differently, think independently, and turn conviction into impact. Going Offscript isn’t about rebellion for its own sake; it’s about creating something original and enduring.