Fireroad is a pre-seed fund that backs founders who are helping small businesses stay local, scale efficiently, and compete in the AI economy. Technology should strengthen local ownership, not replace it. Small businesses face increasing pressure from national chains and private equity consolidation. Meanwhile, their tech stack is designed for enterprise users—a fundamental mismatch for the operational realities these businesses face daily. Closing the innovation gap for SMBs AI and modern development tools now let small founding teams build enterprise-grade technology faster and more cost-effectively than ever. This will unlock a new generation of startups serving small businesses. 45% of annual software spending comes from SMBs, but only 3% of venture capital goes to SMB-focused startups The best founders building these companies come from inside the industries they serve. Operators who understand the real problems. People who have run restaurants, construction companies, logistics businesses, and service organizations. These are the founders Fireroad backs.