Top 15 Pre-Seed Venture Capital Firms Active Right Now

For founders raising their first institutional check, understanding the Pre-Seed venture capital space is fundamental. This initial stage of funding is about finding the right partners who will back your vision early on. Knowing which firms are active at this level helps you focus your efforts and connect with investors who are a good fit for your company.

To help you prepare, our team at Rho has curated this overview of top Pre-Seed VC firms. Use this guide to learn about the key players in early-stage venture capital before you begin your outreach.

Actively raising? You can now access non-dilutive funding options like venture debt and credit lines through Rho Capital. Rho also provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay — built for startup teams moving fast.

Key Takeaways

• Pre-Seed venture funding is the earliest form of institutional capital, designed to help startups validate their core concept and build a foundational team.
• Top firms like Bain Capital, Wefunder, Sequoia Capital, and Insight Partners are notable backers at the Pre-Seed stage, focusing on startups with high-growth potential.
• If you are raising or have recently closed a round, Rho Capital connects you to non-dilutive funding such as venture debt and credit lines, while the Rho platform helps you manage capital with FDIC-insured accounts, corporate cards offering up to 2% cashback, and automated bill pay.

What is Pre-Seed Venture Capital?

Pre-Seed venture capital is typically the first institutional money a startup raises, providing the initial funds to test your core business idea and assemble a founding team.

This funding is smaller than later Seed or Series A rounds, and investors at this stage often offer close support to help you prepare for future growth.

Types of Pre-Seed VC Firms At A Glance

If you're a founder raising a Pre-Seed round, it helps to know which early-stage venture capital firms specialize by geography or sector. Here’s a quick breakdown of those trends across some of the best seed stage venture capital firms.

Pre-Seed VCs in the Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay Area is a major hub for early-stage venture capital, with many top firms headquartered in the region. Investors like Sequoia Capital, Khosla Ventures, and Founders Fund are all based there and actively provide venture capital seed funding.

Pre-Seed VCs in New York

New York also has a strong contingent of pre-seed VC firms. You'll find investors such as Insight Partners and Thrive Capital in the city, both with a history of backing technology and software companies from the earliest stages.

Pre-Seed VCs in Boston

Boston is another key city for founders, particularly those in tech. Leading pre-seed venture capital companies in the area include Bain Capital, Summit Partners, and Battery Ventures.

Pre-Seed Firms for SaaS & B2B Startups

Many of the best early-stage VC firms have deep expertise in SaaS and B2B. For example, Bessemer Venture Partners and Lightspeed Venture Partners are well-known for their investments in these sectors.

However, many top seed VC firms are generalists, investing across a wide range of industries, locations, and even later venture capital stages.

To help you find the right investors, here is our overview of leading Pre-Seed VC firms. We've included information on their locations, industry focus, and what makes each firm a strong potential partner for founders.

1. Bain Capital

Bain Capital is a global investment firm based in Boston, founded in 1984. Its venture arm actively invests in Pre-Seed startups, extending its reach beyond its well-known private equity work.

The firm invests across a wide spectrum of industries, including FinTech, SaaS, AI/ML, and consumer brands. Their portfolio includes well-known companies like Justworks and Harry's, showing their reach in both B2B and B2C markets.

Bain Capital could be a strong partner if you are building a company in one of their core sectors and value an investor with a global reach. Their extensive experience may also appeal to founders looking for a well-established firm.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: FinTech, SaaS, AI/ML, B2B, and Consumer
• Geographical presence: Boston-based with a global investment scope
• Founded: 1984
• Notable portfolio companies: Justworks, Harry's, and Moveworks
• Portfolio size: The firm has made over 126 investments.

You can refer to their website here.

2. Wefunder

Wefunder operates differently from a typical venture fund, functioning as a crowd-investing platform that helps startups raise capital from a community of investors. Based in San Francisco, they provide an alternative route to Pre-Seed funding.

The firm focuses on sectors like E-Commerce, Logistics, and SaaS, with portfolio companies such as ShipBob highlighting their interest in supply chain technology. Their model is built around community, allowing founders to gain both capital and a broad base of supporters.

Wefunder is a good match if you are looking to raise a Pre-Seed round through a community-driven approach rather than a traditional institutional one. This can be particularly effective for founders in their target industries who want to build early brand advocates.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: E-Commerce, Logistics, Mobile, SaaS, and Supply Chain Tech
• Geographical presence: San Francisco-based
• Founded: 2012
• Notable portfolio companies: ShipBob
• Portfolio size: The firm has made 19 investments.

You can refer to their website here.

3. Sequoia Capital

Sequoia Capital is a well-known venture fund based in Menlo Park, with a history dating back to 1972. They invest from the Pre-Seed stage across a wide range of sectors, including technology, healthcare, and finance.

The firm is known for backing companies that become category leaders, with a portfolio that includes YouTube, Reddit, and Rippling. Their focus is broad, covering everything from SaaS and FinTech to ClimateTech and Life Sciences, signaling a generalist approach to finding high-potential startups.

Sequoia could be a great partner if you are building a company with massive market potential, regardless of your specific industry. Founders seeking an investor with a long track record and a powerful network would find them to be a strong fit.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: AdTech, ClimateTech, E-Commerce, FinTech, Healthcare, Life Science, Mobile, SaaS
• Geographical presence: Menlo Park-based
• Founded: 1972
• Notable portfolio companies: YouTube, Reddit, GitHub, Rippling, Vanta
• Portfolio size: Over 1,699 investments

You can refer to their website here.

4. Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a global software investor based in New York that has been backing high-growth technology and internet companies since 1995. The firm provides both capital and operational support to help startups scale.

The firm is known for investing in software companies that become market leaders, with a portfolio that includes Shopify, DocuSign, and SentinelOne. They invest across a company's full lifecycle, from early rounds to private equity, focusing on scaling operations effectively.

Insight Partners could be a strong match if you are a founder of a software or internet company with significant growth potential. Their deep experience in taking businesses to IPO and beyond makes them a valuable partner for ambitious teams.

• Investment stages: Early Stage to Private Equity
• Industries of focus: Software, Internet, and Technology
• Geographical presence: New York-based with a global investment scope
• Founded: 1995
• Notable portfolio companies: Twitter, Shopify, Qualtrics, DocuSign, SentinelOne
• Portfolio size: The firm has made over 1,149 investments.

You can refer to their website here.

5. Thrive Capital

Thrive Capital is a New York-based venture firm that invests in and helps build software and technology-enabled companies. Since its founding in 2009, it has focused on backing businesses from the Pre-Seed stage onward across a variety of industries.

A key characteristic of the firm is its broad investment focus, backing tech-driven companies in sectors ranging from HR and healthcare to fashion and FinTech. Their portfolio, with companies like Skims and LeafLink, shows a clear interest in strong technology applications regardless of the industry.

Thrive Capital is a good match if you are a founder building a tech-enabled business, even in a traditionally non-tech sector. If your company has a strong software or technology core, their generalist approach could make them a valuable partner.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: Software, Technology, HR Tech, Healthcare, FinTech, E-Commerce, Consumer Goods
• Geographical presence: New York-based
• Founded: 2009
• Notable portfolio companies: Skims, LeafLink, Nava, Grailed, Otter
• Portfolio size: The firm has made over 302 investments.

You can refer to their website here.

6. Khosla Ventures

Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, founded in 2004. The firm invests across a wide array of technology sectors, with a stated focus on environmentally friendly innovations, computing, and mobile.

A key attribute is their exceptionally broad investment thesis, covering everything from ClimateTech and BioTech to SaaS and consumer goods. Their portfolio includes companies like HackerRank, Everlane, and Vox Media, reflecting their generalist but tech-centric approach.

This firm is a strong potential partner if you are a founder building a company with a strong technological or scientific core, especially in sustainability. Their extensive portfolio suggests they are open to a wide range of business models and markets.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: ClimateTech, BioTech, AI/ML, SaaS, Enterprise, Consumer, and more
• Geographical presence: Menlo Park-based
• Founded: 2004
• Notable portfolio companies: HackerRank, Everlane, Vox Media, Philz Coffee
• Portfolio size: Over 1,027 investments

You can refer to their website here.

7. Summit Partners

Summit Partners is a Boston-based investment firm founded in 1984. While known for growth equity, the firm also invests from the Pre-Seed stage, supporting companies across their lifecycle.

The firm has a broad investment focus, with a clear emphasis on technology sectors like SaaS, FinTech, and E-Commerce. Their portfolio includes well-known companies such as Klaviyo and Recharge, showing their experience with high-growth software businesses.

Summit Partners may be a good fit if you are building a technology company and are looking for an investor with deep experience in scaling businesses. Their history in growth equity suggests they can be a valuable partner for founders planning for long-term expansion.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed to Growth Equity
• Industries of focus: E-Commerce, FinTech, Software, SaaS, and Cybersecurity
• Geographical presence: Boston-based
• Founded: 1984
• Notable portfolio companies: Klaviyo, Recharge, Philz Coffee, Reverb.com
• Portfolio size: The firm has made over 419 investments.

You can refer to their website here.

8. Founders Fund

Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that has been investing since 2005. The firm is known for backing companies that are building what they describe as "revolutionary technologies."

Their investment thesis is exceptionally broad, covering nearly every technology sector from AI and BioTech to SpaceTech and FinTech. This approach is guided by a focus on companies with the potential to create fundamental change, as seen in their portfolio with companies like Niantic and The Boring Company.

Founders Fund is a strong potential partner if you are building a company with a deep technological or scientific foundation. Founders with ambitious, contrarian ideas that challenge established industries will likely find their approach appealing.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: Revolutionary technology across sectors like AI/ML, BioTech, FinTech, and SpaceTech
• Geographical presence: San Francisco-based
• Founded: 2005
• Notable portfolio companies: Niantic, The Boring Company, Branch, Quora
• Portfolio size: The firm has made over 781 investments

You can refer to their website here.

9. Columbia Capital

Columbia Capital is a venture firm based in Alexandria, Virginia, that has been investing since 1989. They concentrate on enterprise IT, wireless, and media sectors, providing capital to early-stage companies.

The firm has a clear focus on enterprise technology, with a portfolio that includes companies in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and risk management. Their investment approach is centered on sectors like SaaS, FinTech, and supply chain technology.

Columbia Capital is a good potential partner if you are building a business in enterprise software or a related technology field. Founders who need an investor with deep domain knowledge in these specific markets would find them to be a good fit.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: Enterprise IT, Cybersecurity, SaaS, FinTech, CloudTech, and Supply Chain Tech
• Geographical presence: Alexandria, Virginia-based
• Founded: 1989
• Notable portfolio companies: Everstream Analytics, Nisos, Verato, BillingPlatform
• Portfolio size: The firm has made over 192 investments.

You can refer to their website here.

10. Index Ventures

Index Ventures is a venture firm based in San Francisco that supports entrepreneurs in building global companies. Since its founding in 1996, the firm has focused on turning ambitious ideas into market-defining businesses.

The firm’s most notable trait is its exceptionally broad investment scope, covering nearly every technology sector from SaaS and FinTech to Healthcare and SpaceTech. Their portfolio includes well-known companies like Trello, Grailed, and Expel, reflecting their generalist approach.

Index Ventures is a strong potential partner if you are a founder with a big, technology-driven idea, regardless of the specific industry. Their focus on global scale makes them a good fit for companies with high-growth ambitions.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: SaaS, FinTech, Healthcare, E-Commerce, AI/ML, and more
• Geographical presence: San Francisco-based
• Founded: 1996
• Notable portfolio companies: Trello, Expel, Hipcamp, Soylent
• Portfolio size: Over 1,053 investments

You can refer to their website here.

11. Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners is a venture firm that invests across a company's full lifecycle, from early stages to later rounds. Based in Redwood City, they focus on enterprise, consumer, and healthcare companies.

The firm is defined by its exceptionally broad investment scope, covering sectors from enterprise software and FinTech to consumer and healthcare. Their portfolio includes well-known companies like Twitch and Guild Education, showing their experience with high-growth businesses.

Bessemer may be a strong partner if you are a founder in the enterprise, consumer, or healthcare sectors with long-term growth ambitions. Their wide-ranging focus and support across funding stages make them a good fit for companies planning to scale significantly.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed to late stage
• Industries of focus: Enterprise, Consumer, Healthcare, SaaS, FinTech, and AI/ML
• Geographical presence: Redwood City-based
• Founded: 2011
• Notable portfolio companies: Twitch, Guild Education, Alloy, Netlify, LaunchDarkly
• Portfolio size: Over 1,257 investments

You can refer to their website here.

12. The Fund

The Fund is a community-driven venture firm based in New York, comprised of founders and operators who invest in early-stage companies. They focus on the Pre-Seed stage, offering capital from a network of peers with direct experience building businesses.

A defining feature of the firm is its exceptionally broad investment focus, which spans nearly every industry from SaaS and FinTech to consumer goods and ClimateTech. Their model is built around community, giving founders access to a network of other operators for support and guidance.

The Fund is a good match for founders who value a strong peer network and hands-on advice from experienced entrepreneurs. Because of their generalist approach, they are a strong potential partner for companies across a wide variety of sectors.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: Generalist, with investments across SaaS, FinTech, Healthcare, and more
• Geographical presence: New York-based
• Founded: 2018
• Notable portfolio companies: DEV, Lalo, StayTuned, Huckleberry Labs
• Portfolio size: Over 179 investments
• Team background: A community of founders and operators

You can refer to their website here.

13. Lightspeed Venture Partners

Lightspeed Venture Partners is a venture firm based in Menlo Park that invests across the consumer, enterprise, and cleantech sectors. Since its founding in 2000, the firm has supported companies from the Pre-Seed stage onward.

The firm is characterized by its broad investment focus, supporting companies across enterprise, consumer, and healthcare technology. Their portfolio, which includes companies like Grafana Labs and Handshake, shows their ability to back businesses with significant growth potential.

Lightspeed may be a good partner if you are a founder in the enterprise, consumer, or cleantech markets. Their extensive experience and large portfolio make them a strong choice for founders with ambitious, long-term growth plans.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed
• Industries of focus: Enterprise, Consumer, Technology, and CleanTech
• Geographical presence: Menlo Park-based
• Founded: 2000
• Notable portfolio companies: Grafana Labs, Handshake, FTX US, Alloy, WorkOS
• Portfolio size: The firm has made over 1,148 investments.

You can refer to their website here.

14. Battery Ventures

Battery Ventures is a Boston-based investment firm that has been active since 1983. The firm supports technology companies with venture capital, private equity, and debt financing.

The firm invests across a company's full lifecycle, from early rounds to later-stage private equity. Their investment focus is broad but centers on technology, with a clear emphasis on enterprise software, SaaS, and developer tools.

Battery Ventures could be a good partner if you are building a technology business and want an investor with experience across all growth stages. Founders in enterprise software or developer-focused markets may find their expertise particularly relevant.

• Investment stages: Pre-Seed to Private Equity
• Industries of focus: Enterprise, SaaS, FinTech, Healthcare, and Developer Tools
• Geographical presence: Boston-based
• Founded: 1983
• Notable portfolio companies: Expel, HackerRank, Sisense, LogRocket, Mendix
• Portfolio size: The firm has made over 803 investments.

You can refer to their website here.

15. Menlo Ventures

Menlo Ventures is a San Francisco-based firm that has been providing capital since 1976. They invest in companies from the seed stage through to growth rounds, supporting founders over the long term.

The firm concentrates on AI, consumer, and life science technologies, backing iconic companies like Uber, Roku, and Siri. Their portfolio shows a clear ability to identify and support businesses that become household names.

Menlo Ventures is a strong potential partner if you are a founder in their core sectors with a high-growth business model. Their long history and experience supporting companies from early stages to IPO makes them a good fit for ambitious teams.

• Investment stages: Seed to Growth
• Industries of focus: AI, Consumer, and Life Science
• Geographical presence: San Francisco-based
• Founded: 1976
• Notable portfolio companies: Uber, Roku, Siri, Anthropic, Warby Parker
• Portfolio size: The firm has made over 829 investments

You can refer to their website here.

What Startup Founders Should Look for in a Pre-Seed VC Firm

When evaluating pre-seed venture capital firms, it's important to look beyond the check size. The right partner brings relevant industry expertise and a network that can help you solve early challenges. Consider whether a firm’s investment thesis aligns with your long-term vision and if their team has direct experience in your market.

As our list shows, many of the best early stage venture capital firms are concentrated in major tech hubs, but great partners can be found in growing ecosystems like Los Angeles. Similarly, while some firms are generalists, others offer deep specialization in sectors like generative AI, which can be a significant advantage for founders in those fields.

Ultimately, your choice of an early-stage venture capital partner should be based on a few key factors. Before accepting venture capital seed funding, consider:

• The firm’s track record in your specific industry
• The operational experience of the partners you’ll work with
• Their ability to support you in future funding rounds

Raise Confidently with Rho

Fundraising requires significant time and energy, so a focused list of relevant investors is essential for your outreach. This approach helps you direct your efforts toward the firms most likely to be a good fit for your company.

If you’ve just raised or are planning to, Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes. Our platform is built to support startup teams that need to move quickly and manage their capital with confidence.

For founders who are actively raising, Rho Capital connects you to non-dilutive funding like venture debt and credit lines. Once you secure capital, our integrated banking, cards, and bill pay tools help you manage and deploy it efficiently.

FAQs about Pre-Seed Venture Capital

What is the difference between seed funding vs venture capital?

Seed funding is the initial capital to start a business, often from angels or pre-seed VCs. Venture capital is a broader term for financing across stages, from early-stage venture capital for financial services to later growth equity.

How much equity do pre-seed venture capital firms typically take?

For pre-seed venture capital, firms typically take between 10% and 20% equity. This can vary based on your company's valuation, the amount of venture capital seed funding raised, and the specific terms negotiated with the investors.

Are there top early stage VC firms outside of major hubs?

Yes, many of the best early stage venture capital firms operate outside of traditional hubs. Growing ecosystems in cities like Austin, Miami, and Chicago have strong early stage VC firms supporting local innovation.

What are venture capital returns by stage?

Venture capital returns by stage are generally highest at the earliest phases, like pre-seed and seed venture capital. This is because the risk is greatest, so investors expect a larger potential payout to compensate for potential losses.

How do I find early stage life science venture capital?

To find early stage life science venture capital, look for firms with a specific focus on biotechnology or healthcare. Many generalist early-stage VC firms also have partners with deep expertise in these technical and highly regulated sectors.

How can Rho help after I secure venture capital seed money?

Once you've secured venture capital seed money, our platform helps you manage it. We offer integrated banking, corporate cards, and automated payables to help you deploy your capital efficiently. Get started with Rho today.