Top 12 Venture Capital Firms in San Jose

For founders preparing to raise capital, understanding the venture capital scene in San Jose and the broader Silicon Valley is a critical first step. To help you find the right partners, our team at Rho curated this overview of the top VC firms in the area. This guide is designed to give you a quick summary of relevant investors so you can focus your fundraising efforts.

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

• Seeking venture capital funding means finding a long-term partner who provides capital and guidance in exchange for equity in your company.
• San Jose is home to many top-tier VC firms, including major players like Cisco Investments, Bling Capital, and TDK Ventures.
• For startup leaders raising or managing a new round, Rho offers alternative funding, business banking, corporate cards, and other tools to help you manage your capital effectively.

Which San Jose VC Firms Are Right for Your Stage?

From early-stage startups to companies preparing for an exit, knowing who to talk to is key. We've put together this overview of San Jose VC firms to show you who invests at each stage.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in San Jose

Pre-seed and seed funding is the earliest capital you'll raise, designed to help you turn an idea into a viable product and find initial market traction. For founders at this stage, San Jose has several seed VC firms to consider, such as Bling Capital, which focuses on consumer tech and SaaS, and Primer Sazze Partners.

Early Stage VC Firms in San Jose

Early-stage venture capital, typically Series A and B, is for companies that have found product-market fit and need capital to build out their team and scale operations. Some notable early-stage VC firms in the area include DFJ InCube Ventures, which invests in life sciences, and Vanguard Ventures, another firm with a history in technology and life science innovations.

Late Stage VC Firms in San Jose

Late-stage funding is for established companies looking to accelerate growth, expand into new markets, or prepare for an exit through an IPO or acquisition. Corporate VCs are often active at this stage; for example, TDK Ventures invests globally in hard-tech, while PayPal Ventures is a key player for companies in financial services and commerce.

It's also worth noting that many firms, like Cisco Investments and Pegasus Tech Ventures, are multi-stage investors that fund companies from seed through growth rounds.

Below, we've detailed the top VC firms in San Jose, California, covering their investment stages, sector focus, notable portfolio companies, and what makes each a strong potential partner for founders.

1. Cisco Investments

As the corporate venture capital arm of Cisco, the firm makes direct investments in startups and also invests in other funds. This dual approach gives them a broad reach across the technology sector.

The firm is a multi-stage investor, providing capital from seed rounds through late-stage and debt financing. Their connection to Cisco means they often focus on companies that align with the parent company's strategic interests, offering deep technical expertise and potential go-to-market support.

This firm is an ideal partner if your company operates in a sector strategic to Cisco, such as enterprise tech, security, or cloud infrastructure. Founders who can benefit from a corporate partnership alongside capital will find their model particularly valuable.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Debt
• Industries of focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
• Founded: 1993
• Number of investments: 210
• Number of exits: 70

You can refer to their website here.

2. Bling Capital

Bling Capital is a venture firm that invests in early-stage companies across a wide range of technology sectors. Their portfolio includes businesses in consumer tech, SaaS, fintech, and automation.

The firm shows a clear preference for seed and early-stage ventures, providing foundational capital to get new ideas off the ground. Their interest in impact investing also signals a focus that goes beyond purely financial returns.

This firm is a strong potential partner if you are an early-stage founder in one of their core technology sectors. Founders with a mission-driven business model may also find Bling Capital to be a particularly good fit.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Consumer tech, internet, mobile, marketplace, data, fintech, SaaS, automation, impact investing
• Founded: 2018
• Number of investments: 143
• Number of exits: 7

You can refer to their website here.

3. Cisco

Cisco is a global technology leader that develops and sells networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and other enterprise technology. As a corporate investor, it backs companies that are building products and services in related sectors.

The firm’s investment activity is clearly linked to its core business, with a focus on communications infrastructure, enterprise software, and hardware. This strategic approach indicates a preference for companies that can complement or build upon the Cisco ecosystem.

This firm is a strong potential partner for founders whose companies operate in the enterprise technology or communications sectors. If you are looking for a strategic investor with deep technical expertise and significant market reach, Cisco could be a good fit.

• Industries of focus: Communications Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, Hardware, Software
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Founded: 1984
• Number of investments: 229
• Number of exits: 105

You can refer to their website here.

4. TDK Ventures

As the corporate venture capital arm of TDK Corporation, TDK Ventures invests globally in hard-tech startups. They focus on providing both capital and strategic value to entrepreneurs building foundational technologies.

The firm is a multi-stage investor, participating in rounds from seed and early-stage to late-stage and post-IPO. Their specific interest in "hard-tech" points to a preference for companies with deep material science or hardware innovations.

This firm is an excellent fit if you are a founder in the hard-tech space seeking a strategic partner with deep industry expertise. Companies that can benefit from a relationship with a global electronics corporation will find their model particularly attractive.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Post-IPO
• Industries of focus: Hard-tech
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Founded: 2019
• Number of investments: 52
• Number of exits: 4

You can refer to their website here.

5. Okta Ventures

As the venture arm of Okta, Okta Ventures funds companies building new solutions in identity, privacy, and security. Their goal is to support the next wave of technology in these critical areas.

The firm invests across seed, early, and late stages, acting as a strategic corporate partner. Their focus is tightly aligned with Okta's core business, concentrating on technologies that advance digital identity and security.

Okta Ventures is a great match if your startup operates in the identity, privacy, or security sectors. Founders who can benefit from a close relationship with a market leader like Okta will find this partnership especially valuable.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Identity, privacy, security
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Founded: 2009
• Number of investments: 45
• Number of exits: 6

You can refer to their website here.

6. PayPal Ventures

As the corporate venture arm of PayPal, this firm invests in companies that are shaping the future of financial services and commerce. They back businesses focused on fintech, commerce enablement, and the data infrastructure that supports them.

The firm invests across all stages, from seed rounds to private equity, showing a commitment to supporting companies throughout their lifecycle. Their focus is strategically aligned with PayPal's core business, suggesting they prioritize companies that can add value to their ecosystem.

PayPal Ventures is a strong choice if your startup is in the fintech or commerce sectors and you're looking for more than just capital. Founders who could benefit from a strategic relationship with a global payments leader will find them to be a particularly good partner.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity
• Industries of focus: Financial services, commerce enablement, FinTech, data, and infrastructure
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Number of investments: 119
• Number of exits: 12

You can refer to their website here.

7. Pegasus Tech Ventures

Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley that invests in companies around the world. They aim to connect innovative startups with their extensive network of corporate partners.

A unique aspect of their model is a "Venture Capital-as-a-Service" platform designed to help startups form strategic partnerships with large corporations. This signals a clear focus on providing tangible business development support alongside funding.

This firm is a strong potential partner for founders seeking a strategic investor with a global reach and deep corporate connections. If your growth plan involves international expansion or collaboration with established industry leaders, their network could be a significant asset.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Convertible Note
• Industries of focus: Financial Services, FinTech, Business Development
• Founded: 2011
• Number of investments: 252
• Number of exits: 55

You can refer to their website here.

8. Primer Sazze Partners

Primer Sazze Partners is a California-based venture firm that backs companies with ambitious, world-changing ideas. They look for founders who have a grand vision and the potential to make a significant impact.

The firm concentrates on seed and early-stage investments, with a portfolio that includes cloud computing, social, and travel tech. Their stated interest in "world changing potential" points to a focus on big ideas over incremental improvements.

This firm is a strong fit for early-stage founders in their target sectors who are building a business with a transformative concept. If you have a clear, ambitious mission, their vision-driven approach may be a good match.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Cloud Computing, Content, Social, Travel, Venture Capital
• Founded: 2018
• Number of investments: 124
• Number of exits: 3

You can refer to their website here.

9. InCube Ventures

InCube Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in life science companies, focusing on innovations that solve significant, unmet clinical needs. The firm's specific focus on this sector indicates deep expertise in the medical and biotech fields.

The firm invests from early to late stages, showing they can support companies throughout their growth journey. This makes them a strong potential partner if you are a founder developing a novel solution to a pressing medical problem and need a long-term investor with specialized industry knowledge.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Life sciences
• Founded: 1995
• Number of investments: 22
• Number of exits: 6

You can refer to their website here.

10. Sparkland Capital

Sparkland Capital is an early-stage venture firm that invests in companies building frontier technologies. They provide initial funding to help founders turn ambitious technical ideas into viable businesses.

The firm concentrates on seed and early-stage rounds, operating as a micro-VC that gets involved from the very beginning. Their focus on "frontier technologies" signals a clear preference for businesses with deep technical or scientific foundations.

Sparkland Capital is a strong potential partner if you are a founder working on a highly technical product at the seed stage. Their model is well-suited for those needing initial capital from an investor who specializes in deep tech.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Frontier technologies
• Investor type: Micro VC, Venture Capital
• Founded: 2014
• Number of investments: 29
• Number of exits: 5

You can refer to their website here.

11. Vanguard Ventures

Vanguard Ventures is a venture capital firm that supports entrepreneurs in building foundational technology and life science companies. They have a long history of backing innovators in these fields, having been founded in 1981.

The firm's focus is on early-stage companies, indicating a preference for getting involved when businesses are still defining their path. Their long-standing presence suggests deep experience in guiding companies through multiple economic cycles.

This firm is a good fit if you are a founder in the tech or life science sectors looking for an experienced, early-stage partner. Their focus on "pioneering" work suggests they are open to ambitious, category-defining ideas.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Technology, Life Science, Finance
• Founded: 1981
• Investor type: Venture Capital
• Number of investments: 62
• Number of exits: 20

You can refer to their website here.

12. ePlanet Capital

ePlanet Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in companies across the telecommunications, media, and technology sectors. They provide funding to support growth and innovation within these specific industries.

The firm supports companies across their entire lifecycle, from early-stage rounds all the way to private equity deals. This multi-stage approach shows they are prepared to be a long-term financial partner for the businesses they back.

This firm is a good match if you are a founder in the TMT space looking for a flexible, long-term capital partner. Their ability to invest from early stages through private equity makes them suitable for companies with significant growth plans.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity
• Industries of focus: Telecommunications, Media, Technology
• Founded: 1999
• Number of investments: 46
• Number of exits: 17

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About San Jose's VC Scene

This list shows that San Jose offers a well-balanced fundraising market. You can find investors active at every stage, from dedicated seed firms like Bling Capital and Sparkland Capital to multi-stage players such as Cisco Investments and Pegasus Tech Ventures that can support your company as it grows.

A key characteristic of the area is the strong presence of corporate venture capital arms, including those from TDK, Okta, and PayPal. This presents an opportunity to find a strategic partner with deep industry knowledge, not just financial backing. While enterprise tech and software are common, there is also significant capital available for specialized sectors like life sciences and hard-tech, giving founders with specific focuses clear options.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Fundraising requires significant time and energy, so a focused list of relevant investors is a critical tool. We created this guide to help you concentrate your efforts on the firms that are the best fit for your company.

If you’re seeking funding, Rho Capital connects you to non-dilutive funding options like venture debt and credit lines through a fast, guided process. We help you access working capital to support your growth while you find the right long-term partners.

Once your capital is secured, Rho provides integrated tools to help you manage it efficiently. Our platform includes business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay to help you deploy your funds with confidence.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms in San Jose

How can I find venture capital firms for specific industries like AI or clean tech?

Many firms specialize in sectors like AI or clean tech. You can use industry databases to find them or review the portfolios of multi-stage investors to see if their focus aligns with your company's area of expertise.

What do I need to prepare before approaching a VC firm?

You should have a clear business plan, a compelling pitch deck, detailed financial projections, and a strong understanding of your target market. A warm introduction from a mutual connection can also significantly improve your chances of getting a meeting.

What is the difference between traditional and corporate venture capital?

Traditional VCs are independent financial firms. Corporate VCs are investment arms of large companies, like PayPal Ventures. They often provide strategic value and industry connections in addition to capital, but may have different investment goals.

What are typical investment sizes for seed and Series A rounds?

Seed rounds in San Jose can range from a few hundred thousand to a few million dollars. Series A rounds are typically larger, often starting from $5 million to $20 million, depending on the company's traction and industry.

Are there alternatives to venture capital for funding my startup?

Yes. If you need capital without giving up equity, non-dilutive options like venture debt or credit lines can be a great choice. Our team at Rho can help you explore these financing solutions for your business.