Top 15 Pre-Seed Venture Capital Firms Active Right Now

For founders seeking their first round of funding, understanding the pre-seed venture capital space is a critical first step. Knowing which early-stage venture capital firms align with your vision can make a significant difference in your fundraising process.

To help you prepare, our team has curated this overview of top pre-seed VC firms. Use this guide to identify key players relevant to your funding stage and to focus your outreach on the investors who are the best fit for your company.

Rho 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 institutional investment, giving startups the capital to validate their concept and build an initial product.
• Many firms focus on the pre-seed stage, and notable backers of early-stage companies include Bain Capital, Wefunder, Sequoia Capital, and Insight Partners.
• Whether you are raising or have just closed a round, Rho’s platform provides FDIC-insured accounts, corporate cards with up to 2% cashback, automated bill pay, spend controls, and real-time accounting integrations.

What is Pre-Seed Venture Capital?

Pre-seed venture capital is the earliest stage of institutional funding, providing the initial capital for your startup to move from an idea to a tangible product.

This funding helps you validate your business concept and build an initial product, and it's typically a smaller amount compared to later seed or Series A rounds.

Types of Pre-Seed VC Firms At A Glance

As a founder raising pre-seed venture capital, knowing which firms specialize by geography or sector can help focus your outreach. Here’s a quick breakdown of these trends among leading pre-seed VC firms.

Pre-Seed VCs in the San Francisco Bay Area

The Bay Area remains a major hub for venture capital, with many VC firms in San Francisco and the surrounding area. Among the top pre-seed investors, you'll find stalwarts like Sequoia Capital and Khosla Ventures in Menlo Park, alongside Founders Fund.

Pre-Seed VCs in New York City

New York is another key center for seed stage venture capital. The list of VC firms in New York includes major players like Insight Partners and Thrive Capital, both of which actively invest at the pre-seed stage.

Pre-Seed VCs in Boston

Boston also has a strong concentration of investors providing venture capital seed funding. For example, Bain Capital and Summit Partners are two of the top VC firms in Boston to know.

Pre-Seed Firms for SaaS & FinTech Startups

Many of the best pre-seed VC firms have deep expertise in specific sectors like SaaS and FinTech. Firms such as Bessemer Venture Partners and Index Ventures have strong track records in backing B2B software companies from the earliest stages.

Keep in mind that many of the most successful early-stage VC firms are generalists, investing across a wide range of industries, locations, and funding stages.

To help you identify the right investors, we've compiled information on leading pre-seed VC firms. You'll find details on their locations, preferred industries, and specific attributes that are important for founders to consider.

1. Bain Capital

Bain Capital is a global investment firm with a long history in private equity, venture capital, and credit. They provide capital to companies across multiple asset classes and various stages of growth.

While known for large-scale private equity, their venture arm is active at the pre-seed stage across a wide range of industries. Their portfolio includes well-known companies like Justworks and Harry's, showing their ability to back both B2B and consumer brands from the start.

This firm could be a good match if you are building a company with high-growth potential in a major sector like FinTech, SaaS, or E-Commerce. Founders looking for a partner with deep resources and experience scaling companies may find them a strong fit.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: Broad, including FinTech, SaaS, AI/ML, B2B, and Consumer
• Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
• Founded: 1984
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Justworks, Harry's, Roofstock, Moveworks

You can refer to their website here.

2. Wefunder

Wefunder is a crowd-investing platform that offers capital-raising services, connecting startups with a broad community of individual investors. This approach allows companies to raise funds from a larger number of people contributing smaller amounts, differing from a traditional venture capital model.

The platform supports companies across sectors like SaaS, E-Commerce, and Logistics, with supply chain company ShipBob as a notable investment. Their community-driven model gives founders a direct path to raise capital from their own users, customers, and supporters.

Wefunder can be a great fit if you want to build momentum by raising from your existing community or a wide base of individual backers. It is especially effective for companies that can generate strong interest and loyalty from a large audience.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: E-Commerce, Logistics, Mobile, SaaS, Supply Chain Tech
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California
• Founded: 2012
• Notable Portfolio Companies: ShipBob

You can refer to their website here.

3. Sequoia Capital

Sequoia Capital is one of the most established venture capital firms, investing in companies from the earliest stages. They back startups across a wide range of sectors, including enterprise, healthcare, financial services, and internet technologies.

The firm is known for its long history of backing iconic companies and its broad investment thesis. Their portfolio includes major names like YouTube, Reddit, and Rippling, showing a focus on businesses with the potential to define their categories.

Sequoia could be a strong partner if you are a founder with a bold vision to build a market-leading company. Their willingness to invest at the pre-seed stage suggests they are looking for ambitious teams from day one.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: FinTech, SaaS, Healthcare, E-Commerce, Mobile
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California
• Founded: 1972
• Notable Portfolio Companies: YouTube, Reddit, Rippling, GitHub

You can refer to their website here.

4. Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a global software investor that partners with high-growth technology and internet companies. They support businesses from their early stages through to later growth rounds and private equity.

The firm is known for backing software companies that become market leaders, with a portfolio that includes Shopify, DocuSign, and SentinelOne. Their investment history shows a clear focus on scaling software businesses with significant potential.

Insight Partners could be a good fit if you are building a high-growth software company and are looking for a partner with experience in scaling businesses. Their involvement from early to late stages suggests they can support companies through their entire lifecycle.

• Investment Stage: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity
• Industries of Focus: Software, Technology, Internet
• Headquarters: New York, New York
• Founded: 1995
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Twitter, Shopify, Qualtrics, DocuSign, SentinelOne
• Investor Type: Venture Capital, Private Equity

You can refer to their website here.

5. Thrive Capital

Thrive Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in software and technology-enabled companies. Based in New York, they focus on building companies from their earliest stages.

The firm invests across a wide spectrum of industries, from B2B SaaS and FinTech to consumer brands like Skims. This signals an interest in both pure software and tech-enabled businesses that are reshaping traditional sectors.

Thrive Capital could be a good partner if you are building a technology-driven company, whether in enterprise software or a consumer-facing market. Their portfolio suggests they are open to founders with ambitious ideas across many sectors.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: SaaS, FinTech, Healthcare, E-Commerce, Consumer Goods
• Headquarters: New York, New York
• Founded: 2009
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Skims, LeafLink, Grailed, Otter

You can refer to their website here.

6. Khosla Ventures

Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park that invests in companies from their earliest stages. They have a particular focus on science- and technology-driven businesses, including those in environmentally friendly tech.

The firm's investment thesis is notably broad, covering everything from AI and enterprise software to consumer goods and robotics. Their portfolio includes well-known companies like HackerRank, Everlane, and Philz Coffee, showing their range across different sectors.

This firm could be a good match if you are a founder working on a technically ambitious or science-based idea, especially in areas like ClimateTech or DeepTech. They are known for backing ventures that aim for significant, long-term impact.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: ClimateTech, AI/ML, BioTech, SaaS, FinTech, Robotics, Consumer
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California
• Founded: 2004
• Notable Portfolio Companies: HackerRank, Everlane, Philz Coffee, Kaggle

You can refer to their website here.

7. Summit Partners

Summit Partners is a global investment firm that provides capital across growth equity, fixed income, and public equity opportunities. While known for later-stage deals, they also back companies from the pre-seed stage, offering a long-term partnership.

Their investment focus is notably broad, covering sectors from SaaS and FinTech to E-Commerce and Food and Beverage. With a portfolio including companies like Klaviyo and Recharge, they show a capacity to back high-growth businesses across different models.

Summit Partners could be a strong fit if you are looking for a financial partner with the resources to support your company through multiple stages of growth. Their wide industry focus makes them relevant for founders in many different markets.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed, Growth Equity, Public Equity
• Industries of Focus: E-Commerce, FinTech, Software, SaaS, Cybersecurity
• Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
• Founded: 1984
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Recharge, Klaviyo, Philz Coffee, Reverb.com

You can refer to their website here.

8. Founders Fund

Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that invests in companies building revolutionary technologies. They focus on backing founders who are using science and technology to tackle difficult, important problems.

The firm is known for its contrarian approach, investing in ambitious ideas across a wide range of sectors, including deep tech, AI, and biotech. Their portfolio, which includes companies like The Boring Company and Niantic, reflects a focus on businesses with the potential for large-scale impact.

Founders Fund could be a good partner if you are building a company with a significant technical or scientific component. They are a strong match for founders with bold, long-term visions that challenge established industries.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: Broad, with an emphasis on AI/ML, DeepTech, BioTech, Robotics, and FinTech
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California
• Founded: 2005
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Niantic, The Boring Company, Branch, Quora
• Investment Approach: Backs companies building revolutionary technologies with a contrarian mindset.

You can refer to their website here.

9. Columbia Capital

Columbia Capital is a venture capital firm with a long history of investing in enterprise IT, wireless, broadband, and media. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, they have been active since 1989, building deep expertise in their core sectors.

The firm shows a clear concentration on enterprise technology, with investments in areas like AI/ML, cybersecurity, and SaaS. Their portfolio, including companies like BillingPlatform and Verato, reinforces this focus on B2B software and IT infrastructure.

Columbia Capital could be a good match if you are building an enterprise-focused company, particularly in sectors like SaaS, cybersecurity, or AI. Founders who value a partner with deep, long-standing expertise in IT and communications infrastructure may find them a strong fit.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: Enterprise IT, wireless, broadband, media, SaaS, AI/ML, Cybersecurity
• Headquarters: Alexandria, Virginia
• Founded: 1989
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Everstream Analytics, Nisos, Verato, BillingPlatform

You can refer to their website here.

10. Index Ventures

Index Ventures is a venture capital firm that helps entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into global businesses. They partner with founders from the earliest stages to help them scale their companies internationally.

The firm invests across an exceptionally wide range of industries, from enterprise software and FinTech to consumer apps and healthcare. Their portfolio, which includes companies like Trello, Soylent, and Grailed, shows their ability to back diverse business models.

Index Ventures could be a good partner if you have a bold idea with the potential for global reach. Founders building companies in software, e-commerce, or other tech-enabled sectors will find their broad expertise valuable.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: Broad, including SaaS, FinTech, Enterprise, Healthcare, E-Commerce, and AI/ML
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California
• Founded: 1996
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Trello, Reclaim.ai, Soylent, Grailed

You can refer to their website here.

11. Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in enterprise, consumer, and healthcare companies. They support startups from the pre-seed stage through to later growth rounds, acting as a long-term financial partner.

The firm is recognized for its broad investment scope, backing businesses in sectors ranging from SaaS and FinTech to the Creator Economy. Their portfolio includes well-known companies like Twitch and Guild Education, highlighting their success in identifying market leaders.

Bessemer could be a strong partner if you are a founder in the enterprise, consumer, or healthcare space looking for an investor to support you through multiple growth stages. Their model is a good fit for teams that value a long-term partnership.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed, Early Stage, Late Stage
• Industries of Focus: Broad, with an emphasis on Enterprise, Consumer, and Healthcare, including SaaS, FinTech, and Creator Economy
• Headquarters: Redwood City, California
• Founded: 2011
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Twitch, Guild Education, Alloy, Dashlane, Papaya

You can refer to their website here.

12. The Fund

The Fund is a community-driven venture fund that invests in pre-seed companies, sourcing capital from a network of founders and operators. Their model is built around providing startups with access to a community of experienced peers.

A key aspect of The Fund is its founder-first approach, which leverages its community of operators to provide support. With an exceptionally broad investment focus that includes portfolio companies like DEV and Lalo, they prioritize strong teams over a narrow industry thesis.

This firm is a good match for founders who value access to a network of other founders for guidance and support. Their generalist strategy makes them a fit for strong teams across almost any technology sector at the pre-seed stage.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: Extremely broad, including FinTech, SaaS, AI/ML, and Healthcare
• Headquarters: New York
• Founded: 2018
• Notable Portfolio Companies: DEV, Lalo, StayTuned, Huckleberry Labs
• Investor Type: Community-driven fund of founders and operators

You can refer to their website here.

13. Lightspeed Venture Partners

Lightspeed Venture Partners is a venture capital firm that invests across the consumer, enterprise, technology, and cleantech markets. They support companies from the pre-seed stage and have been active since 2000, building a large portfolio of companies.

The firm’s investment scope is exceptionally broad, covering everything from enterprise SaaS and FinTech to consumer apps and healthcare. Their portfolio includes companies like Glean, Handshake, and Daily Harvest, showing their reach across different markets.

Lightspeed may be a good fit if you are a founder building a technology-driven company with the potential for large-scale growth. Their wide-ranging interests make them relevant for teams in enterprise, consumer, and cleantech markets.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed
• Industries of Focus: Broad, with an emphasis on Enterprise, Consumer, FinTech, SaaS, and AI/ML
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California
• Founded: 2000
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Glean, Handshake, Daily Harvest, Grafana Labs
• Portfolio Size: More than 1,100 investments

You can refer to their website here.

14. Battery Ventures

Battery Ventures is a technology-focused investment firm that has been active since 1983. They provide capital through venture, private equity, and debt financing, supporting companies at various stages of growth.

The firm invests across an exceptionally broad range of technology sectors, with a clear emphasis on B2B software, cybersecurity, and enterprise infrastructure. Their portfolio includes companies like HackerRank and Sisense, showing a focus on market-defining technology businesses.

Battery Ventures could be a good match if you are building a technology company and want a partner for the long haul. They are particularly relevant for founders in B2B software who can benefit from an investor with deep resources and multi-stage funding capabilities.

• Investment Stage: Pre-Seed, Venture Capital, Private Equity, Debt Financing
• Industries of Focus: Broad, with an emphasis on B2B Software, SaaS, Cybersecurity, AI/ML, and FinTech
• Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
• Founded: 1983
• Notable Portfolio Companies: HackerRank, Sisense, Expel, Contrast Security
• Portfolio Size: Over 800 investments

You can refer to their website here.

15. Menlo Ventures

Menlo Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco that has been funding companies since 1976. They provide capital to businesses from the seed stage all the way through to later growth rounds.

The firm concentrates on AI, consumer, and life science technologies, with a history of backing iconic companies. Their portfolio includes major names like Uber, Roku, and Warby Parker, and they were an early investor in Siri before its acquisition by Apple.

Menlo Ventures could be a good partner if you are building a company in the AI, consumer, or life sciences sectors with the potential for massive scale. Their track record suggests they are looking for founders who aim to create market-leading businesses.

• Investment Stage: Seed to growth stages
• Industries of Focus: AI, consumer, and life science technologies
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California
• Founded: 1976
• Notable Portfolio Companies: Uber, Roku, Siri, Anthropic, Warby Parker
• Portfolio Size: Over 820 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, look beyond the check size. The right partner brings relevant industry expertise and a network that can open doors. Consider whether a firm’s focus—be it B2B SaaS, consumer goods, or deep tech—aligns with your long-term vision. This alignment is crucial for a productive partnership.

While many of the most successful early-stage VC firms are concentrated in major hubs, strong seed stage venture capital ecosystems are growing across the country. You'll find active investors in cities like Austin and Miami. Researching both generalist and specialist firms will help you identify investors who truly understand your market.

As you build your target list, consider what a firm provides beyond capital. Key factors include:

• The specific partner's track record and industry experience
• The strength of their founder community and network
• Their capacity and willingness to support future funding rounds

Raise Confidently with Rho

Building a focused list of relevant investors is one of the most effective ways to manage your time and energy during a fundraise. It allows you to direct your efforts toward the firms most likely to understand and support your vision.

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 get your company's finances organized quickly so you can focus on growth.

We help you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay. These tools give you clear visibility and control over your company's spending from day one.

FAQs about Pre-Seed Venture Capital

What is the difference between seed funding and venture capital?

Seed funding is the initial capital a startup raises, often from angels or pre-seed VCs. Venture capital is a broader term for financing from institutional firms, which can occur at the seed stage and continue through later growth rounds.

How do venture capital returns by stage differ?

Early-stage venture capital, including pre-seed and seed rounds, offers the potential for higher returns due to lower valuations. However, it also carries the highest risk. Later-stage investments generally have lower risk and correspondingly lower potential return multiples.

Are there early stage VC firms for specific industries like biotech or consumer?

Yes, many of the best early-stage VC firms specialize. You can find investors focused on early-stage biotech, consumer brands, and other specific sectors, providing deep industry knowledge in addition to capital for your venture.

Where can I find the best early stage venture capital firms outside of SF and NYC?

While major hubs are prominent, leading pre-seed venture capital companies are active nationwide. Strong ecosystems for early-stage financing venture capital exist in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and many others.

What is an early stage venture capital definition?

Early-stage venture capital is financing for new companies, typically covering pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds. This capital helps founders validate their idea, build a product, and find initial market traction before scaling their business.

How can I manage my pre-seed venture capital once I raise it?

Once your seed funding venture capital is secured, managing it effectively is critical. Our platform provides integrated banking, corporate cards, and spend controls to help you deploy your capital efficiently. Get started with Rho.