100 Funds for Startups

Sometimes, the only thing standing between you and your business goals is funding.

Let's face it — more money can solve a lot of problems in the startup world. And with the right investors, you're getting a lot more than just cash.

This is the ultimate list of funds that can support startups at every stage, including pre-seed, seed-stage, and beyond.

Let's get started.

Accelerator Funds

First up, accelerator funds provide capital to startups through accelerator programs, which are aimed at driving rapid growth for early-stage startups.

Accelerator funds typically take equity in exchange for a variety of opportunities, like networking, mentorship, structured learning resources, and — in some cases — ongoing post-program support.

1. Y Combinator

Headquarters: Mountain View, CA

Active Since: 2005

Founder(s): Paul Graham, Jessica Livingston, Trevor Blackwell, and Robert Morris

Notable Companies:

• Airbnb
• Coinbase
• Stripe
• Dropbox
• Reddit

Y Combinator is a community-driven accelerator that hosts biannual programs, offering a standard deal of $500,000 per startup for 7% equity. Since 2005, YC has funded over 5,000 startups with a cumulative valuation of $800 billion — primarily in software, fintech, consumer tech, and AI industries.

Learn more about Y Combinator here.

1. Techstars

Headquarters: Boulder, CO

Active Since: 2006

Founder(s): David Cohen, Brad Feld, David Brown, and Jared Polis

Notable Companies:

• ClassPass
• SendGrid
• Sphero
• DigitalOcean

Techstars is a well-known, international accelerator that runs an impressive 50 accelerator programs annually. The company lives by its motto — "Do More Faster" — by investing $20,000 plus an optional $100,000 convertible note in exchange for 6% equity.

1. 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups)

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2010

Founder(s): Dave McClure and Christine Tsai

Notable Companies:

• Canva
• Grab
• Credit Karma
• Talkdesk

500 Global is an international VC with $2.3 billion invested in early-stage and fast-growing tech startups across 81 countries. As of writing, the firm's cumulative portfolio valuation is upwards of $300 billion.

1. Forum Ventures (formerly Acceleprise)

Headquarters: New York, NY and San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2014

Founder(s): Michael Cardamone

Notable Companies:

• RevOps
• ChartHop
• Catalyst

Forum Ventures specializes in accelerating the growth of pre-seed and seed-stage B2B SaaS startups. Aside from funding, the firm also offers hands-on support stemming from a network of seasoned investors and advisors.

1. Plug and Play Tech Center

Headquarters: Sunnyvale, CA

Active Since: 2006

Founder(s): Saeed Amidi

Notable Companies:

• PayPal
• Dropbox
• LendingClub
• Honey

Plug and Play Tech Center is another California-based VC firm that focuses on tech startups. The firm's portfolio encompasses verticals like energy, fintech, cryptocurrency, aerospace, sportstech, and deeptech.

1. MassChallenge

Headquarters: Boston, MA

Active Since: 2009

Founder(s): John Harthorne and Akhil Nigam

Notable Companies:

• Desktop Metal
• The Hustle
• Ginkgo Bioworks

MassChallenge is an innovation-focused accelerator that offers early-stage funding, challenge programs, mentorship, and various other startup support services. What makes it highly desirable for fast-growth companies is that the firm takes zero equity.  

1. StartX

Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA

Active Since: 2011

Founder(s): Cameron Teitelman and Dan Ha

Notable Companies:

• Patreon
• Lime
• Ethos
• Lucira Health

If you're a Stanford alumnus or faculty staff member, look into the StartX zero-equity startup accelerator program for exclusive networking events, lifelong education, tailored mentorship, and funding. The accelerator also offers specialized resources for AI and med-tech verticals.

1. AngelPad

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA and New York, NY

Active Since: 2010

Founder(s): Thomas Korte and Carine Magescas

Notable Companies:

• Postmates
• Buffer
• Coverhound
• Pipedrive

AngelPad is an accelerator that offers a 10-week program every six months — supporting only 15 startups out of a pool of around 2,000 applicants. The fund maintains consistent top rankings across MIT, Brown University, and the University of Richmond.

1. Alchemist Accelerator

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Active Since: 2012

Founder(s): Ravi Belani

Notable Companies:

• Rigetti Quantum Computing
• Launch Darkly
• SafeAI

Alchemist Accelerator focuses on accelerating early-stage startups in the SaaS, AI, and IoT spaces. One of its core value propositions is its prestigious network, comprised of thousands of industry experts, Fortune 100 companies, and veteran investors.  

1. Dreamit Ventures

Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA

Active Since: 2008

Founder(s): Steve Welch, David Bookspan, and Michael Levinson

Notable Companies:

• LevelUp
• Tissue Analytics
• Accuknox
• SeatGeek

Despite the website's headline, Dreamit Venture also companies outside the cybersecurity landscape. With their investments and hands-on coaching, the firm has accelerated the growth of successful companies in healthtech and data analytics as well.

1. ERA (Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator)

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2011

Founder(s): Murat Aktihanoglu and Jonathan Axelrod

Notable Companies:

• Trendalytics
• SeamlessDocs
• TripleLife

Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator invests $150,000 for 6% equity into 10-15 startups biannually. In addition to the capital and in-depth mentorship, the fund also runs its four-month programs in a productive co-working environment to ensure seamless collaboration.

1. MuckerLab

Headquarters: Santa Monica, California

Active Since: 2012

Founder(s): Erik Rannala and William Hsu

Notable Companies:

• Honey (now acquired by PayPal)
• ServiceTitan
• Butter

MuckerLab is an accelerator that contributes millions of capital to 20-25 companies per year. The fund implements a tailored approach to ensure each startup acquires the specific guidance and resources they need to hit company objectives.

1. Gener8tor

Headquarters: Madison, WI

Active Since: 2012

Founder(s): Troy Vosseller and Joe Kirgues

Notable Companies:

• Bright Cellars
• Curate
• Pretty Litter

Gener8tor is a Wisconsin-based accelerator with over $2.2 billion invested in over 1,300 underrepresented software, climate tech, and fintech startups. It's an international fund that offers investor connections, mentorship, and various vendor perks.

1. Founders Factory

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

Active Since: 2015

Founder(s): Brent Hoberman and Henry Lane Fox

Notable Companies:

• AccuRx
• Sentiance
• Kaya

Founders Factory is a London-based accelerator and venture studio that can connect startup founders with big-name corporate partners, like Deutsche Telekom, L'Oréal, and Aviva. The fund also has offices in New York, Johannesburg, and Paris — enabling U.S. entrepreneurs to network with a global founder community.

1. Boost VC

Headquarters: San Mateo, CA

Active Since: 2012

Founder(s): Adam Draper

Notable Companies:

• Polychain Capital
• Colossal Biosciences
• 21 Shares

Boost VC is a deep tech accelerator that puts emphasis on innovative companies that tackle high-impact problems. Its portfolio currently holds $200 million in assets while also offering office space, mentorship, and even housing for their startups.

1. Launch Factory

Headquarters: San Diego, CA

Active Since: 2019

Founder(s): Brad Chisum and James Hereford

Notable Companies:

• VaultOne
• Omnisync
• EyePop AI

Launch Factory helps ideate, fund, and launch early-stage startups through their 12-week accelerator program. The fund offers corporate guidance, networking assistance, and seed funding between $250,000 and $500,000 to scalable startup ideas, primarily in computer vision AI, real estate tech, and business process automation.

1. Blueprint Health

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2012

Founder(s): Brad Weinberg and Mathew Farkash

Notable Companies:

• RubiconMD
• Health Recovery Solutions
• HealthKick

Blueprint Health is a mentorship-first startup accelerator providing three-month programs to healthcare and technology companies. In addition to funding and strategy development guidance, it also provides marketing and sales training to help startups land their first customers.

1. Pasadena Angels

Headquarters: Pasadena, CA

Active Since: 2000

Founder(s): DuWayne Peterson

Notable Companies:

• Carterra
• MindBody
• SupplyFrame

Pasadena Angels is a tightly-knit, ever-expanding group of experienced investors driven to help Southern California's entrepreneurs turn ideas into profitable businesses. The firm provides mentorship, funds, and access to follow-on investors like the Tech Coast Angels.

1. Capital Innovators

Headquarters: St. Louis, MO

Active Since: 2010

Founder(s): Judy Sindecuse

Notable Companies:

• Newsy
• Pixel Press
• AppDetex

Capital Innovators offers accelerator programs, Series A venture investments, and corporate innovation. Portfolio companies can take advantage of the St. Louis office space, global startup network, and exclusive mentorship from proven technical experts.

1. Boomtown Accelerators

Headquarters: Boulder, CO

Active Since: 2014

Founder(s): Toby Krout and Jennie Krant

Notable Companies:

• Stryd
• Bitsbox
• Specdrums

Boomtown Innovators offers intensive, 12-week accelerator programs for startups and budding entrepreneurial minds in tech-driven sectors. The fund is committed to strategizing and executing tailored growth solutions for each individual startup.

Pre-Seed Funds

Behind every successful business is a great idea — and sufficient funding.

At the pre-seed stage, investors inject cash into startups for research, team formation, and validation. It's also normal for investors to jump in while the company is still building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

Below are the top investors if you're looking for pre-seed funding:

1. Dorm Room Fund

Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA

Active Since: 2012

Founder(s): Josh Kopelman

Notable Companies:

• The Rounds
• Dandy
• Anysphere

Dorm Room Fund is a student-built fund that invests $40,000 to $250,000 into pre-seed startups in enterprise software, logistics, and healthcare. It prioritizes current student founders as well as fresh graduates as long as they see potential in their business idea.

1. Hustle Fund

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2017

Founder(s): Elizabeth Yin, Eric Bahn, and Shiyan Koh

Notable Companies:

• NerdWallet
• Webflow
• Rupa Health

Hustle Fund is another global venture capital fund investing in pre-seed and seed-stage startups across Asia, Africa, and North America. Its portfolio of 500+ companies includes big-name brands like NerdWallet and Webflow.

1. The House Fund

Headquarters: Berkeley, CA

Active Since: 2016

Founder(s): Jeremy Fiance

Notable Companies:

• Kiwi Campus
• Berbix
• Hearth

The House Fund takes pride in betting on early pre-seed startups across a spectrum of industries, including consumer tech, enterprise software, and AI. The fund invests a minimum of $250,000 in exchange for 5% to 10% equity.

1. Nido Ventures

Headquarters: Cambridge, MA

Active Since: 2021

Founder(s): Maria Gutierrez Peñaloza and Ana Carolina Mexia Ponce

Notable Companies:

• Lilo
• Flipzen
• Arkham

Nido Ventures invests in pre-seed startups across the US/Mexico corridor, focusing on B2B tech (e.g., ecommerce, fintech, and SaaS). Its key advantage over other funds is the strong investor community and their expertise in nearshoring along with industrial collaboration.

1. MBA Ventures

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2018

Founder(s): Monica Aznar and Clark Winter

Notable Companies:

• Piper
• Canveo
• Evil Genius Games

MBA Ventures is a VC that supports promising MBA students and graduates with solid startup ideas in fintech, enterprise software, and healthcare. It maintains a relatively small portfolio, focusing instead on in-depth focus and personalized guidance rather than quick diversification and expansion.

1. GoAhead Ventures

Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA

Active Since: 2018

Founder(s): Clancey Stahr, Phil Brady, and Takeshi Mori

Notable Companies:

• Pave
• Loop
• HackerRank

GoAhead Ventures is a pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital firm, investing up to $1 million into tech businesses. The fund is also known for its fast deal process, which leads to an investment offer in less than a week as long as you have the right idea.

1. Beta Boom

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, UT

Active Since: 2018

Founder(s): Kimmy Paluch and Sergio Paluch

Notable Companies:

• Parakeet Financial
• CyrenCare
• EdVisorly

Beta Boom is an award-winning pre-seed and seed-stage VC firm that invests almost exclusively in tech startups outside Silicon Valley. The firm prioritizes companies that align with their representation, diversity, impact, and innovation goals.

1. Seedcamp

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

Active Since: 2007

Founder(s): Reshma Sohoni and Carlos Espinal

Notable Companies:

• Wise
• Revolut
• UiPath

With nearly two decades of experience, Seedcamp can spot industry-denting startups primarily in the EU — but the fund remains open to U.S. founders, with 41 portfolio companies currently on this side of the pond. The firm invests in fintech, AI, enterprise, and software.

1. LaunchCapital

Headquarters: Cambridge, MA

Active Since: 2008

Founder(s): Elon Boms

Notable Companies:

• Warby Parker
• Spotify
• Snapchat

LaunchCapital targets a diverse mix of pre-seed and seed-stage portfolio companies, spanning industries like consumer tech, healthtech, entertainment, finance, and ecommerce. The firm takes a founder-focused approach, rapidly injecting funding and providing engaged mentorship to fast-track growth.

1. Pear VC

Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA

Active Since: 2012

Founder(s): Mar Hershenson and Pejman Nozad

Notable Companies:

• DoorDash
• Robinhood
• Branch Metrics

Pear VC specializes in pre-seed and seed-stage investments in a handful of industries, like AI, SaaS, enterprise software, healthcare, fintech, biotech, and consumer tech. The firm doesn't shy away from big commitments of up to $6 million for startups in exchange for anywhere between 5% and 10% equity.

1. Antler

Headquarters: Singapore

Active Since: 2017

Founder(s): Magnus Grimeland

Notable Companies:

• Airalo
• Synthesia
• Reebelo

Antler can help pre-seed startups for steps as early as idea validation — putting up to $500,000 in exchange for 9% to 12% equity. The firm also has a diverse portfolio, covering an impressive 30+ industries worldwide.

1. Pioneer Fund

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2017

Founder(s): Jason Gray

Notable Companies:

• OpenAI
• Rippling
• Curebase

Pioneer Fund is a venture capital fund backed by over 450 Y Combinator alumni, investing a minimum of $50,000 in other Y Combinator startups. It's a great way for Y Combinator alumni to gain extra resources, mentorship, and support to push the bounds of their startup.

1. 1984 Ventures

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2016

Founder(s): Ramy Adeeb

Notable Companies:

• Hallow
• Feather
• Lunchclub

1984 Ventures invests in pre-seed and seed-stage startups through funding, recruitment, and close mentorship. The firm handpicks startups that not only display innovativeness and expertise, but also a strong engineering culture.

1. Contrary Capital

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2016

Founder(s): Eric Tarczynski

Notable Companies:

• Zepto
• Anduril
• Pangea Health

Contrary Capital breaks from the usual venture capital mold — evaluating startups based on certain founder characteristics and talent alongside fundamental indicators like market opportunity, product quality, and diversity. It invests up to $200,000 in pre-seed and seed-stage startups, taking 5% to 10% equity.

1. Wonder Ventures

Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA

Active Since: 2014

Founder(s): Dustin Rosen

Notable Companies:

• Locker
• ProductHunt
• Papaya Payments

Wonder Ventures is on a mission to provide early-stage funding and much-needed mentorship to innovative LA-based founders. The firm also helps founders connect with industry experts, senior executives, VC professionals, and other founders to quickly fill knowledge gaps.

1. Ada Ventures

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

Active Since: 2019

Founder(s): Check Warner and Matt Penneycard

Notable Companies:

• Toothfairy
• Oxford Medical Products
• Gizmo

If you're looking for a VC in the UK and Northern Europe, consider Ada Ventures as your top pre-seed stage backer. The fund aims to elevate UK and Northern Europe startups — putting more emphasis on companies that explore solutions in climate equity, economic empowerment, and healthy aging.

1. Everywhere Ventures

Headquarters: Remote-first

Active Since: 2020

Founder(s): Jenny Fielding and Scott Hartley

Notable Companies:

• Backdrop
• Hopin
• Career Karma

Everywhere Ventures is a pre-seed VC with a unique yet straightforward value proposition — to make funding, top-class mentorship, and momentum-gaining resources accessible to startups from anywhere in the globe. The firm focuses on fintech, healthcare, and productivity management software, investing up to $250,000 in companies for up to 10% equity.

1. XFactor Ventures

Headquarters: Boston, MA

Active Since: 2017

Founder(s): Anna Palmer, Aubrie Pagano, and Chip Hazard

Notable Companies:

• Little Spoon
• Allspice
• Venus Aerospace

XFactor Ventures commits to a unique value proposition that prioritizes women founders in a range of verticals, including B2B SaaS, fintech, deeptech, and even D2C ecommerce. The VC is spearheaded by a team of 23 women founder-investors, providing guidance on strategy and the unique challenges that women founders might contend with.  

1. Precursor Ventures

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2015

Founder(s): Charles Hudson

Notable Companies:

• Bobbie
• Modern Health
• Carrot Fertility

Precursor Ventures is a VC for pre-seed startups that don't have the metrics or proof of traction required to receive capital from elsewhere. By understanding and recognizing personal characteristics required for success, the firm built a robust portfolio of profitable startups with a diverse group of entrepreneurs (including first-time entrepreneurs).

1. Deciens Capital

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2012

Founder(s): Dan Kimerling

Notable Companies:

• Mercury
• Chipper Cash
• Zeta

Deciens Capital is another international VC firm supporting early-stage startups across multiple industries — with an emphasis on financial services. With investments reaching up to $3 million in fintech startups, the firm makes sure to only support startups with a clear vision and impactful competitive edge.

Seed-Stage Funds

While pre-seed funds can be used for validating ideas and building prototypes, seed-stage funders are looking for companies that already have a proven concept. At this level, investors are looking to push high-potential startups through the initial challenges of growth and operational scaling.

1. First Round Capital

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2004

Founder(s): Josh Kopelman, Chris Fralic, Rob Hayes, and Howard Morgan

Notable Companies:

• Uber
• Notion
• Roblox

First Round Capital invested in some of the most well-known tech startups in recent history, including Roblox, Uber, Notion, Looker, and K2 Space. The firm currently has $2 billion in assets under management, assisting startups in consumer tech, enterprise software, fintech, and healthtech through its "Fast Track" program.

1. Initialized Capital

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2016

Founder(s): Garry Tan, Harjeet Taggar, and Alexis Ohanian

Notable Companies:

• Instacart
• Opendoor
• Patreon

Speaking of well-known portfolio companies, Initialized Capital also backed a handful of category-defining startups like Patreon, Coinbase, Reddit, and Instacart. The firm invests up to $2 million in tech startups — becoming lifelong growth partners and advisors in exchange for 5% to 10% equity.

1. General Catalyst

Headquarters: Cambridge, MA

Active Since: 2000

Founder(s): Joel Cutler, David Fialkow, Bill Fitzgerald, and Tad Yanagi

Notable Companies:

• Snapchat
• Airbnb
• Grammarly

General Catalyst is a global, seed-stage fund that leans toward applied AI, manufacturing, energy, consumer tech, and healthcare startups. The firm provides networking opportunities, events, and lifelong mentorship to its ever-expanding list of portfolio companies.

1. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z Seed Program)

Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA

Active Since: 2009

Founder(s): Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz

Notable Companies:

• Instagram
• Lyft
• Databricks

Andreessen Horowitz, AKA "a16z," is a reputable and tech-focused VC firm responsible for helping businesses expand the boundaries of what's possible with software. As of writing, its committed capital exceeds a whopping $45 billion — helping seed-stage founders through their journey as sharp decision makers and influential experts.

1. Alpaca VC

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2017

Founder(s): Ryan Freedman, Evan Stein, and Steven Cohn

Notable Companies:

• Gameflip
• Looped
• OpenSpace

Alpaca VC aims to supercharge the growth of startups, including those in Series B and further, through its research-driven Field Study program. Portfolio companies also gain access to downstream capital, hands-on mentorship, and community-sourced operational support through the firm's OneHerd platform.

1. Index Ventures Seed Program

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA (including London, United Kingdom and Geneva, Switzerland)

Active Since: 1996

Founder(s): Neil Rimer, David Rimer, and Giuseppe Zocco

Notable Companies:

• Figma
• Dropbox
• Robinhood

Index Ventures is a founder-focused seed program that offers funding as well as game-changing resources for unlocking rapid growth. This includes The Index Network for expert mentorship, First Hires for team-building, and Early Adopters for expedited networking with key decision-makers from well-known companies.

1. Bessemer Venture Partners Seed Track

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 1911

Founder(s): Henry Phipps Jr.and Kent Bennett (modern Seed Track)

Notable Companies:

• Shopify
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn
• Twitch

The longevity of Bessemer Venture Partners, which traces back to the Carnegie Steel era, proves the firm's discipline and keen eye for potential when it comes to its investments. You can learn more about their strategy and industry focus by reading their investment roadmaps, from AI to vertical market software.

1. Lightspeed Venture Partners

Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA

Active Since: 2000

Founder(s): Barry Eggers, Ravi Mhatre, Christopher Schaepe, and Peter Nieh

Notable Companies:

• Rubrik
• Snapchat
• Nutanix

The Lightspeed Ventures portfolio includes an impressive 70 unicorns like such as Nutanix. It invests in seed-stage tech startups across verticals like AI, consumer tech, gaming, fintech, and more.

1. Floodgate Fund

Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA

Active Since: 2006

Founder(s): Mike Maples Jr. and Ann Miura-Ko

Notable Companies:

• Okta
• Lyft
• Rappi

Floodgate Fund invests in tech startups primarily based in New York and Silicon Valley. Similar to Lightspeed Ventures, the firm also provided much-needed capital, mentorship, and the right connections to nurture big-time tech companies like Okta, BigCommerce, and Lyft.

1. Accel Seed Program

Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA

Active Since: 1983

Founder(s): Arthur Patterson and Jim Swartz

Notable Companies:

• Dropbox
• Klaviyo
• Slack
• Spotify

Accel is a CA-based seed-stage VC with a total of 1,119 investments (and counting) in AI, fintech, SaaS, and other tech-focused industries. The firm is run from a network of international offices — from the Bay Area all the way to Bangalore.

1. Foundation Capital Seed Program

Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA

Active Since: 1995

Founder(s): Bill Elmore, Kathryn Gould, and Jim Anderson

Notable Companies:

• Netflix
• Graphcore
• LendingClub

Foundation Capital helped hundreds of companies achieve and exceed their potential. Apart from providing additional funds, the firm also offers technical mentorship, operational guidance, follow-on funding, and events specifically for strengthening collaboration.

1. True Ventures

Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA

Active Since: 2005

Founder(s): Jon Callaghan, Phil Black, and Toni Schneider

Notable Companies:

• Fitbit
• Duo Security
• Blue Bottle Coffee

True Ventures is a VC firm that has been backing tech startups since 2005 — investing $100,000 to $2 million into tech startups in their seed stage. The firm believes that, apart from capital, startups need real guidance and a strong sense of community to build a successful company.

1. SV Angel

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2005

Founder(s): Ron Conway and David Lee

Notable Companies:

• Stripe
• Pinterest
• Airbnb

SV Angel is one of the only firms that takes on a more "personalized" approach to investing. Rather than treating startups like just numbers in a spreadsheet, the firm will be deep in the trenches, leveraging its decades of collective expertise to help their founders navigate through the challenges of growing a company.

1. Kleiner Perkins

Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA

Active Since: 1972

Founder(s): Eugene Kleiner, Tom Perkins, Brook Byers, and Frank Caufield

Notable Companies:

• Google
• Amazon
• Synthesia

Kleiner Perkins is another time-tested VC firm with expertise, transparency, collaboration, and mutual trust as the cornerstones of their investing strategy. The firm has backed nearly a thousand companies with over $10 billion in assets under management.

1. Greycroft

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2006

Founder(s): Alan Patricof, Dana Settle, and Ian Sigalow

Notable Companies:

• Venmo
• Bumble
• Scopely
• Semrush

The Greycroft seed track is one of the most successful seed-stage investment programs for software, consumer brands, and sustainability solutions, deploying $500,000 to $5 million in exchange for 5% to 10% equity. The VC is run by multiple teams of seasoned investors, scaling experts, operations specialists, and external advisors.

1. Union Square Ventures

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2004

Founder(s): Fred Wilson, Brad Burnham, and Albert Wenger

Notable Companies:

• Twitter
• Etsy
• Cloudflare

Union Square Ventures is an NY-based collegial partnership focusing on transformative solutions that address market gaps caused by technological limitations and societal pressures. While the VC focuses on tech industries, it also invests in other sectors like education, music, transportation, healthcare, and real estate.

1. Redbud VC

Headquarters: Columbia, MO

Active Since: 2021

Founder(s): Willy and Jabbok Schlacks

Notable Companies:

• Synvect
• EquipmentShare
• Zapier

Redbud VC puts heavy emphasis on building a tightly-knit team culture when it comes to their investments. In addition to capital, the firm spurs growth in portfolio companies through deep mentorship, which only gets stronger as the growth pains intensify.

1. Outlander VC

Headquarters: Atlanta, GA

Active Since: 2020

Founder(s): Leura Craig and Paige Craig

Notable Companies:

• Atticus
• DwellWell
• Homecoming

Similar to LaunchCapital and Index Ventures, Outlander VC also puts the characteristics of founders first when identifying high-yield investments. It focuses on tech startups backed by a strong team and even stronger execution.

1. Coatue

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 1999

Founder(s): Philippe Laffont

Notable Companies:

• DoorDash
• Instacart
• Anthropic

Coatue is a prominent, NY-based VC targeting tech startups at the growth stage. The firm currently holds $17 billion in assets through its seed program, which launched in 2018 through co-investments with other proven VCs like a16z and Kleiner Perkins.

1. Crosslink Capital Seed Investments

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 1989

Founder(s): Seymour Kaufman and Michael Stark

Notable Companies:

• Personal Capital
• Pandora
• Coupa

Crosslink Capital invests in seed-stage and Series A tech startups across the U.S., offering support to founders in the consumer tech and enterprise software spaces. Its unique selling point is their tech network of over 2,000 founders, executives, and battle-tested investors — code-named "Alpha."

Diverse-Focused Funds

This time, we'll take a look at funds that can support startups across all stages and under any niche. More importantly, they're specifically established to nurture underrepresented startup and entrepreneur communities.

These are some of the reputable, diverse-focused funds that can support your diverse-focused companies:

1. Backstage Capital

Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA

Active Since: 2015

Founder(s): Arlan Hamilton

Notable Companies:

• Hello Alice
• CareAcademy
• Bitwise

Backstage Capital is on a mission to level the playing field for underrepresented founders, specifically women, LGBT, and people of color. The result is an exciting and highly successful portfolio, including Hello Alice, Bitwise Industries, CareerKarma, and Mahmee.

1. Harlem Capital

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2015

Founder(s): Henri Pierre-Jacques and Jarrid Tingle

Notable Companies:

• Wagmo
• Brella Insurance
• Eden Health

Harlem Capital is a team of experienced and successful investors looking to grow their portfolio of diverse founders. Its top priority would be to surface high-growth-potential startups in enterprise software, fintech, and ecommerce — particularly those run by minorities or women entrepreneurs.

1. Gaingels

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2015

Founder(s): Paul Grossinger and David Beatty

Notable Companies:

• Relativity
• Better
• Tala
• MasterClass

The Gaingels investing philosophy is simple: build a diverse investment portfolio that influences positive social and cultural change. This VC backed primarily diverse-founded startups, including a handful of unicorns like Relativity, Bolt, and MasterClass.  

1. Kapor Capital

Headquarters: Oakland, CA

Active Since: 2011

Founder(s): Mitch Kapor and Freada Kapor Klein

Notable Companies:

• Promise
• BlocPOwer
• Workrise

Kapor Capital is a VC driven to empower founders of color and low-income, aspiring entrepreneurs, but they don't limit their picks to specific groups (as long as they see potential and alignment). The firm currently has over 170 portfolio companies — 62% of which are women or people of color.

1. Mac Venture Capital

Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA

Active Since: 2019

Founder(s): Marlon Nichols, Adrian Fenty, Charles D. King, and Michael Palank

Notable Companies:

• Crossbeam
• Pipe
• Squire

Mac Venture Capital is the exemplification of strength through diversity — pooling together experts from different fields, be it business, government, entertainment, or tech. The VC invests anywhere between $500,000 and $3 million in exchange for up to 10% equity, providing equal opportunity to all regardless of cultural backgrounds.

1. The Helm

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2016

Founder(s): Lindsey Taylor Wood and Erin Shipley

Notable Companies:

• Biographica
• Ganaz
• Haute Hijab

Women founders Lindsey Taylor Wood and Erin Shipley built The Helm, a VC that specifically invests in women-led startups. In line with this vision, the firm also focuses on industries where women leaders are prominent, like women's healthcare, sustainability, and climate tech.

1. Impact America Fund

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2014

Founder(s): Kesha Cash

Notable Companies:

• Mahmee
• Goodr
• Esusu

Impact America Fund, founded by Kesha Cash, is a VC named "Top Five Gamechanger" by Forbes and "Power Investor" by Essence. The firm invests in founders from underrepresented communities, particularly those in the fintech, software, and healthcare niches.

1. Ganas Ventures

Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA

Active Since: 2022

Founder(s): Lolita Taub

Notable Companies:

• Papaya
• Storybook
• Latitud

Ganas Ventures is a Latina-led fund that supports community-driven tech startups across the U.S. and Latin America. The firm offers 24/7 support from a lean team of startup experts, access to a thriving community, and exclusive perks from solutions like Zoom, Notion, Slack, and Amazon Web Services.

1. Fearless Fund

Headquarters: Atlanta, GA

Active Since: 2019

Founder(s): Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons

Notable Companies:

• Slutty Vegan
• Partake Foods
• The Lip Bar

Fearless Fund empowers pre-seed to Series A tech-focused, women-led startups in fintech, food, beauty, and healthcare. In a typical investment, the firm invests $250,000 to $1 million for up to 10% equity.

1. Baobab Network

Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya

Active Since: 2019

Founder(s): Tony Hanington, Klyne Maharaj, and Andy Davies

Notable Companies:

• Bena Care
• Afya Rekod
• Jumba

Baobab Network is a leading startup accelerator, focusing on tech-driven products across fintech, healthtech, and construction. It's the go-to firm for Africa-based companies looking to secure funding and hands-on mentorship.

1. Navigate Ventures

Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA

Active Since: 2021

Founder(s): Richelieu Dennis and Troy Carter

Notable Companies:

• Barn2Door
• Greenscreens.ai
• Pinpoint Predictive

Navigate Ventures proudly backs fast-growth, AI-enabled B2B SaaS platforms — injecting up to $2 million for a minority stake. The firm prioritizes startups outside of Silicon Valley, utilizing their capital and decades of collective experience in tech investing to drive growth.

1. Rally Cap VC

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2020

Founder(s): Kyane Kassiri and Hayden Simmons

Notable Companies:

• Paymob
• Tugende
• Lemfi

Rally Cap VC is a global early-stage investment firm with two funds: emerging market fintech and climate economy. Their strategy for the climate sector focuses on expertise and proven results with support for diverse founders, while prioritizing collaboration-centric API, SaaS, and software startups in fintech.

1. Lightship Capital

Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH

Active Since: 2020

Founder(s): Brian Brackeen and Candice Matthews Brackeen

Notable Companies:

• Haute Hijab
• Proov
• Brevity

Lightship Capital is a steadfast backer of women-led entrepreneurs, Founders of Color (FOC), and other cultural minorities. The goal is to level the playing field and help often-overlooked founders thrive even in competitive spaces, like healthcare, AI, and media.

1. Symphonic Capital

Headquarters: Los Angeles, California

Active Since: 2022

Founder(s): Sydney Thomas

Notable Companies:

• Rosarium Health
• Aidaly
• Lōvu

Symphonic Capital is built under the vision of becoming "true partners" with innovators, experts, and visionary leaders. Founding partner Sydney Thomas, alongside partner Shruti Shah, invests in pre-seed and seed-stage startups — putting emphasis on underserved founders in the healthtech and financial services verticals.

1. Wischoff Ventures

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2022

Founder(s): Nichole Wischoff

Notable Companies:

• Portex
• Stell
• Mangomint

Wischoff Ventures invests in SaaS, fintech, digital commerce, and B2B SaaS startups with women and underrepresented founders in mind. In just a few years, founder Nichole Wischoff built a diverse portfolio with women founders and minority-led startups like Stell and Mangomint.

1. LvlUp Ventures

Headquarters: Pasadena, CA

Active Since: 2019        

Founder(s): Brandon Maier and AJ Smith

Notable Companies:

• Versus Game
• Cosmic Wire
• Jobz

LvlUp Ventures is a multi-stage VC that actively invests in women and diverse founders (over 40% of their portfolio are diverse companies). In addition, the firm makes sure to back only market-validated, category-defining startups across a range of industries — from AI to sports tech.

1. Don't Quit Ventures

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2024

Founder(s): Noa Khamallah

Notable Companies:

• Koban
• 10Club
• Nomad Homes

Don't Quit Ventures has always upheld its commitment to supporting underrepresented founders regardless of sexuality and ethnicity. The inspiration behind the fund came from founder Noah Khamallah's struggles with systemic barriers and minor youth offenses — exemplifying the virtue of never quitting.

1. Panache Ventures

Headquarters: Montreal, Canada

Active Since: 2018

Founder(s): Patrick Lor and Mike Cagelski

Notable Companies:

• Tailscale
• PurposeMed
• Dooly

Panache Ventures is a Canadian VC with a strong, diversity-driven approach to early-stage investing. The firm currently backs 90 companies and counting — 23% of which are women-led.

1. Torch Capital

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2018

Founder(s): Jonathan Keidan

Notable Companies:

• Ro
• Sweetgreen
• Digital Ocean

Torch Capital founder, Jonathan Keidan, has been part of organizations (i.e., All Star Code) that promote diversity and inclusiveness in the tech space. With his leadership, the fund focuses on lifting underrepresented entrepreneurs — offering hands-on strategic support and mentorship.

1. Ethos Fund

Headquarters: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Active Since: 2022

Founder(s): David Yi and Simon Shin

Notable Companies:

• BlocPower
• Esusu
• Oyl

Ethos Fund was built by Vietnamese founders David Yi and Simon Shin with a strong focus on "Third Culture" founders. These are global, ambitious startups within underrepresented groups who are set on breaking geographical barriers and building innovative solutions.

Industry-Specific Funds

Looking for investors that support startups in your specific niche comes with numerous advantages. For one, you're guaranteed to find investors who share your passion — and, you'll see eye to eye when it comes to your startup's vision.

1. Soma Capital

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2015

Founder(s): Aneel Ranadive

Notable Companies:

• Razorpay
• Tala
• Rappi

Soma Capital is a global VC firm focusing on the high-growth tech sectors, such as AI, marketplace software, and fintech. The firm typically invests $100,000 to $5 million in exchange for up to 15% in equity per deal.

1. Lux Capital

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2000

Founder(s): Peter Hébert and Josh Wolfe

Notable Companies:

• Anduril Industries
• Kurion
• Sakana

Lux Capital aims to be at the forefront of innovation in science and technology (e.g., defense tech, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and biotech) — prioritizing a founder-centric approach to investing. In terms of investment amount, the firm invests up to $100 million with an average deal size of $10 million to $50 million for Series A rounds.

1. QED Investors

Headquarters: Alexandria, VA

Active Since: 2007

Founder(s): Nigel Morris and Frank Rotman

Notable Companies:

• Nubank
• Credit Karma
• SoFi

QED Investors very clearly and transparently focus on fintech startups and companies in adjacent sectors. Co-founders Nigel Morris and Frank Rotman, alongside an ever-expanding team of partners, diligently look for potential industry disruptors — investing up to $10 million in 12-15 early-stage companies (each) annually.

1. Compound VC

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2006 (formerly as Metamorphic Ventures)

Founder(s): David Hirsch and Janine Yorio

Notable Companies:

• CTRL-Labs
• Healthify
• BenchSci

In 2016, Metamorphic Ventures rebranded into Compound VC — a thesis-driven VC building a portfolio of bleeding-edge tech startups across sectors like healthcare, AI, and Web 3.0. The firm takes on a research-centric approach when selecting companies to accelerate.

1. Afore Capital

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2016

Founder(s): Anamitra Banerji and Gaurav Jain

Notable Companies:

• BetterUp
• Petal
• Hightouch

Afore Capital focuses on pre-seed software companies across major industries, like enterprise software and AI. In addition to investing up to $2 million in pre-seed startups, the VC also grants around $100,000 for entrepreneurs in their "Founders-in-Residence" program.

1. Able Partners

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2016

Founder(s): Lisa Blau and Amanda Eilian

Notable Companies:

• Daily Harvest
• Spring Health
• Maven Clinic

Able Partners is a women-led VC that aims to close "The Wellness Gap" — focusing on founders in the health and wellness industries. The firm focuses primarily on early-stage companies in the U.S. and U.K., particularly consumer-facing healthtech, women's health, and consumer wellness startups.

1. Eniac Ventures

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2009

Founder(s): Hadley Harris, Vic Singh, Tim Young, and Nihal Mehta

Notable Companies:

• SoundCloud
• Airbnb
• TapCommerce

Although Eniac Ventures is fundamentally sector-agnostic, the firm has seen tremendous success with consumer tech, SaaS, and Web 3.0 software. Their most notable portfolio companies include giants like Airbnb, SoundCloud, Brightwheel, Attentive, and Hinge.

1. Embark Ventures

Headquarters: Santa Monica, CA

Active Since: 2017

Founder(s): Peter Lee and Phil Kim

Notable Companies:

• Truvian Sciences
• Parallel Systems
• Machina Labs
• Izote Biosciences

Embark Ventures specializes in deep tech startups built upon transformative, proprietary technologies. While the firm prioritizes pre-seed and seed-stage investments, the firm also occasionally commits to follow-on investments with average round sizes between $10 million and $20 million.

1. Underscore VC

Headquarters: Boston, MA

Active Since: 2015

Founder(s): Michael Skok, John Pearce, and Richard Dulude

Notable Companies:

• Darby
• Salsify
• Frase

Underscore VC aims for B2B software startups in their early pre-seed and seed stages. It uses an "open-source" investing model with the firm's core community to spur collaboration and shared success.

1. Point Nine Capital

Headquarters: Berlin, Germany

Active Since: 2008

Founder(s): Christoph Janz and Pawl Chudzinski

Notable Companies:

• Zendesk
• Algolia
• Contentful

Point Nine Capital is a VC firm that focuses on all things B2B — from B2B SaaS to B2B marketplaces. While the firm has a strong focus on Europe, around 20% to 40% of its portfolio consists of seed-stage startups in the U.S. and Canada.

1. Barrel Ventures

Headquarters: Evanston, IL

Active Since: 2021

Founder(s): Nate Cooper and Carey Cooper

Notable Companies:

• Gainful
• Pod Foons
• Retextion

Barrel Ventures is one of the few VC firms determined to stimulate the global food economy by investing in companies in foodtech, agriculture, and sustainability. The firm is also on the lookout for innovative startups that incorporate B2B SaaS and supply chain solutions into the food landscape.

1. Outside VC

Headquarters: Denver, CO

Active Since: 2022

Founder(s): Ezra Galston

Notable Companies:

• Zumma
• SnapRefund
• Volteras

Outside VC invests in pre-seed startups that build equitable financial systems across underrepresented regions. The goal is to tip the scales and bring balance to the financial sector, which has traditionally catered to the top 10%.

1. Cortado Ventures

Headquarters: Oklahoma, OK

Active Since: 2020

Founder(s): Nathaniel Harding, David Woods, and Mike Moradi

Notable Companies:

• Lumata Health
• ArborXR
• CorriXR

While other VCs scramble to find the next big thing, Cortado Ventures kept its eyes on critical, legacy industries where innovation is more important than ever. This includes sectors like aerospace, life sciences, energy tech, and the future of work. 

1. Enzo Ventures

Headquarters: Madrid, Spain

Active Since: 2019

Founder(s): Ivan Fernández, Markus Törstedt, and Edgar Vicente

Notable Companies:

• Rever
• Bidcrunch
• Bankflip

Enzo Ventures is a different kind of VC firm that invests not in a specific set of industries, but in the young generation of digital-native founders. By targeting startups led by Gen Z and young entrepreneurs, the firm aims to nurture the next generation of innovators and business leaders.

1. The Council

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2021

Founder(s): Amber Illig

Notable Companies:

• Syndicate
• Rezilient Health
• Bounty

The Council is another VC that stays focused on essential, legacy industries like healthcare, fintech, and consumer tech. It's worth noting that the fund is backed by an all-women community to source deals and provide close guidance to portfolio companies.

1. Marketplace Capital

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2023

Founder(s): Andrew Blachman and Mike Williams

Notable Companies:

• Morty
• Leland
• Berry Street

As the name suggests, Marketplace Capital is a VC built exclusively for marketplaces that empower other entrepreneurial minds to create profitable businesses that align with their passions. The firm currently invests up to $250,000 in pre-seed and Series A companies.

1. XRC Ventures

Headquarters: Brooklyn, NY

Active Since: 2015

Founder(s): Pano Anthos

Notable Companies:

• Ash
• DayCoor
• Homefield

XRC Ventures invests in pre-seed to Series A startups across the retail technology and consumer goods sectors. Its accelerator program typically puts $50,000 to $250,000 into pre-seed and seed stage companies, while also allocating up to $5 million across six Series A investments annually.

1. Next Wave NYC

Headquarters: New York, NY

Active Since: 2024

Founder(s): Jesse Middleton

Notable Companies:

• Neptune
• CrewAI
• Hopscotch Labs

Although Next Wave NYC is a relatively new fund, the firm has found success by focusing on AI-driven startups. The specific niches targeted by the firm are native AI applications, developer platforms, and autonomous AI solutions for enterprises.

1. VU Venture Partners

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Active Since: 2018

Founder(s): J. Skyler Fernandes

Notable Companies:

• Varda Space Industries
• FLYR Labs
• Beyond Meat

Although VU Venture Partners is positioned as a generalist fund, the firm heavily leans toward transformative tech startups. This multi-stage VC firm had stock in high-profile unicorns like Beyond Meat, FabFitFun, and Venmo.

1. AmplifyLA

Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA

Active Since: 2011

Founder(s): Paul Bricault and Oded Noy

Notable Companies:

• Headspace
• Stop Breathe Think
• Volley

Amplify is an LA-based, pre-seed fund with a preference for software companies like FanDuel, Stop Breathe Think, and Repost Network. On top of funding, the firm has a Venice campus offering a free professional workspace, discounted essential services, and access to mentors from high-profile companies like Riot Games and Airbnb.

Conclusion

Partnering up with the right fund is a big leap forward for any startup, but it's still just the beginning of a long and grueling journey.

Remember, the next challenge is to actually build a product that your investor ecosystem believes in. That's why we at Horizon Labs specialize in prototyping, custom development, and staff augmentation to bring your product vision into reality.

Schedule your free consultation here!