Top 11 Venture Capital Firms in Santa Clara

For founders preparing to raise capital, a clear understanding of the venture capital firms in Santa Clara and the broader Silicon Valley is essential. To help you find the right investment partners, our team at Rho has curated this guide to the area's top VC firms. Use this overview to quickly learn about the investors most relevant to your startup's mission and stage, streamlining your fundraising efforts.

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Which Santa Clara VC Firms Are Right for Your Stage?

Knowing which investors to talk to is critical, whether you're an early-stage company or preparing for an exit. To help you target your outreach, here is a quick overview of Santa Clara VC firms and the stages they invest in.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms

Pre-seed and seed funding are the earliest forms of capital, designed to help you develop your initial idea and find product-market fit. Among the seed VC firms in the area, you might connect with Better Capital, a micro-VC, or Inception, which operates as an AI venture capital firm and incubator.

Early Stage VC Firms

Early-stage funding, typically Series A and B, is for companies that have achieved some traction and are ready to scale operations and growth. If you're looking for early-stage venture capital firms, consider specialists like Heuristic Capital Partners for hardware or generalists like NVentures and Ericsson Ventures.

Late Stage VC Firms

Late-stage venture capital supports established companies through significant growth rounds, often leading up to an exit via an IPO or acquisition. Prominent late-stage investors include the corporate venture arms of major tech companies, such as Intel Capital and LG Technology Ventures, along with Presidio Ventures.

It's also worth noting that many venture capital firms invest across all startup funding stages.

To help you find the right partner, here is our deep dive on the top VC firms in Santa Clara. We've included key details on their investment stages, sector focus, and portfolio highlights to clarify what makes each firm a strong potential match for your company.

1. Better Capital

Better Capital is a micro-VC firm that both creates and invests in new companies. Since its founding in 2018, the firm has focused on backing innovative businesses from their earliest days, particularly in the financial services sector.

The firm's model as a "micro-VC" suggests a concentrated, hands-on approach with its portfolio companies. Their emphasis on "creating" businesses, not just funding them, points to deep operational involvement from the seed stage onward.

This firm could be an excellent partner if you are a founder in the finance or fintech sectors seeking an active investor. Their structure is well-suited for teams that want close collaboration and support in building a company from the ground up.

• Investment stages: Seed and Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Finance, Financial Services
• Founded: 2018
• Portfolio size: 168 investments
• Number of exits: 8

You can refer to their website here.

2. Intel Capital

As the corporate venture capital arm of Intel, Intel Capital has been a major force in tech investing since 1991. The firm backs innovative startups working on technologies that are strategic to Intel's future.

Their focus is clearly on deep tech, with an emphasis on cloud and AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other disruptive fields. A key characteristic is their ability to invest across a company's entire lifecycle, from seed funding to post-IPO.

This firm is an ideal partner if your company is developing foundational technology that aligns with Intel's core business. Founders who can benefit from both capital and a strategic relationship with a global tech leader should consider them.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity
• Industries of focus: Cloud and AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, disruptive technologies
• Founded: 1991
• Portfolio size: 1,607 investments
• Number of exits: 510

You can refer to their website here.

3. Acorn Pacific Ventures

Acorn Pacific Ventures is a venture capital firm that provides funding and strategic guidance to technology entrepreneurs. They partner with founders to help execute their long-term vision and build successful companies.

A key feature of the firm is its flexibility to invest across a company's entire lifecycle, from seed rounds to late-stage venture. Their structure as both a VC firm and a family investment office suggests they can offer patient, long-term capital.

This firm is a strong match for tech founders who are looking for a versatile financial partner. Their ability to support a company from its earliest days through significant growth makes them a compelling choice.

• Investment stages: Seed, Convertible Note, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Investor type: Venture Capital, Family Investment Office
• Founded: 2015
• Portfolio size: 30 investments
• Number of exits: 3

You can refer to their website here.

4. Heuristic Capital

Heuristic Capital Partners is a venture fund that concentrates on hardware startups. They primarily support companies in their early stages, providing the capital needed to build and scale.

The firm's clear dedication to hardware sets it apart in a venture landscape often dominated by software. While they invest across stages, their core identity is as an early-stage partner for technically complex businesses.

This firm is a great fit if you are a founder building a hardware-focused company. Their specialization suggests they bring not just capital, but also relevant experience in bringing physical products to market.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Hardware
• Founded: 2016
• Portfolio size: 24 investments
• Number of exits: 4

You can refer to their website here.

5. LG Technology Ventures

As the corporate venture capital arm of the LG Group, LG Technology Ventures invests in startups developing technologies that are strategic to the global electronics company. The firm focuses on early-stage companies in information technology and advanced materials, providing capital to fuel innovation.

A defining characteristic is their ability to invest across a company's full lifecycle, from seed funding through to post-IPO stages. This flexibility, combined with their specific focus on IT and advanced materials, shows a clear goal of backing deep-tech innovation that aligns with LG's core business.

This firm is an ideal partner for founders who are not just looking for capital but also for a strategic relationship with a major corporation. If your startup operates in their target sectors, a partnership could provide significant advantages for scaling and market access.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Post-IPO
• Industries of focus: Information technology, advanced materials
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Founded: 2018
• Portfolio size: 65 investments
• Number of exits: 9

You can refer to their website here.

6. Presidio Ventures

As the corporate venture capital arm of Sumitomo Corporation, Presidio Ventures provides technology startups with both financial backing and business development support. The firm has been an active investor since its founding in 1998, backing companies across a wide range of tech sectors.

A defining feature of their model is the flexibility to invest across a company's entire lifecycle, from seed rounds to post-IPO. Their stated focus on "business development" signals a hands-on, strategic approach that leverages Sumitomo's global network to help portfolio companies scale.

This firm is a strong choice if your startup operates in sectors like FinTech, cybersecurity, or IoT and you are seeking a strategic partner, not just a financial one. Founders who can benefit from deep corporate connections for business development will find them particularly valuable.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Post-IPO
• Industries of focus: Cyber Security, Digital Media, Financial Services, FinTech, Internet of Things
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Founded: 1998
• Portfolio size: 74 investments
• Number of exits: 9

You can refer to their website here.

7. NVentures

NVentures is the corporate venture capital arm of NVIDIA, investing in early-stage companies that are advancing the AI ecosystem. The firm backs founders who are building groundbreaking technologies across a range of industries.

A key aspect of their model is a focus on companies that can benefit from NVIDIA's deep technical expertise and market reach. Their investments signal a priority for businesses that are not just innovative but also strategic to the future of accelerated computing.

This firm is an excellent match for founders building AI-driven companies who are seeking more than just capital. A partnership with NVentures can provide critical access to a powerful technology platform and a global network.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Artificial Intelligence, Finance, Financial Services
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Founded: 2021
• Portfolio size: 38 investments

You can refer to their website here.

8. ZenStone Venture Capital

ZenStone Venture Capital invests in companies that are driven by technology and data. The firm concentrates on post-seed and early-stage startups, providing the capital needed to scale.

A notable aspect of ZenStone is its focus on applying a tech-driven thesis to a diverse range of industries, including real estate and logistics. This suggests they look for founders using data to innovate within established sectors.

This firm could be a strong partner if you are an early-stage founder building a tech-enabled business in one of their target industries. They are best suited for companies that have found some initial traction and are ready for an early venture round.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Consumer, Finance, Internet of Things, Logistics, Real Estate
• Founded: 2014
• Portfolio size: 40 investments
• Number of exits: 17

You can refer to their website here.

9. Nvidia Inception

Nvidia Inception is an incubator and venture capital program designed to support startups that are transforming industries with AI and data science. The program nurtures companies from their earliest stages, helping them build and scale their technology.

A key feature is its dual role as both an incubator and a venture investor, suggesting deep, hands-on support that goes beyond just capital. Their focus is squarely on AI, machine learning, and software, leveraging the technical expertise of its parent company, NVIDIA.

This program is an ideal partner for founders building companies at the forefront of AI and data science. Early-stage teams, in particular, can benefit from the program's structured support, technical resources, and access to the NVIDIA ecosystem.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Software
• Investor type: Incubator, Venture Capital
• Founded: 1993
• Portfolio size: 53 investments
• Number of exits: 1

You can refer to their website here.

10. Aurum Partners

Aurum Partners is a venture capital firm that invests across a wide spectrum of asset classes in both private and public markets. Their approach allows them to participate across the entire capital structure, offering flexible financing to their portfolio companies.

A defining characteristic of the firm is its ability to invest from seed to late-stage venture, signaling a capacity for long-term partnership. Their stated focus on finance and financial services indicates a deep, specialized knowledge base in that sector.

This firm is a strong potential match for founders in the fintech industry who may require more than just a standard equity investment. Their expertise across the capital structure makes them well-suited for companies with complex or evolving financing needs.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
• Founded: 2014
• Portfolio size: 38 investments
• Number of exits: 10

You can refer to their website here.

11. Ericsson Ventures

As the corporate venture capital arm of telecommunications leader Ericsson, Ericsson Ventures invests in innovative companies. The firm operates as both a venture capital and private equity investor, backing companies poised for growth.

A key characteristic is their role as a strategic investor, offering portfolio companies access to Ericsson's global resources. They focus on early and late-stage ventures in sectors including finance and financial services.

This firm is a strong match for founders who have an established product and are ready to scale with a corporate partner. Companies that can benefit from a strategic relationship with a global technology leader should consider them.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Portfolio size: 37 investments
• Number of exits: 10

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About Santa Clara, California, United States's VC Scene

The venture capital firms in Santa Clara reveal a market with opportunities for companies at every stage. Many investors on our list, from corporate VCs like Intel Capital to family offices like Acorn Pacific, are equipped to fund companies from their earliest seed rounds through to late-stage growth. This flexibility means you can find partners for the long term, rather than needing to find new investors for each funding round.

A clear pattern is the focus on deep technology—AI, hardware, and cybersecurity—often driven by the corporate venture arms of major tech companies. For founders in these sectors, this signals a market where a strong strategic fit with an investor can be as valuable as the capital itself. This emphasis on strategic partnerships is a key characteristic of the Santa Clara funding environment.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Fundraising requires significant time and energy, making a focused list of relevant investors invaluable. It allows you to concentrate your efforts on the conversations that are most likely to lead to a partnership.

Once your round is closed, the work of managing that capital begins. If you’ve just raised, Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes.

Our platform helps you manage your new funding efficiently with integrated business banking. We also provide corporate cards and automated bill pay to keep your startup moving forward.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms in Santa Clara

What do pre-seed VC firms in Santa Clara look for?

Pre-seed investors in Santa Clara focus on the founding team's strength and the market opportunity. At this early stage, they want to see a compelling vision and evidence that you have a unique insight into the problem you're solving.

Are there SaaS venture capital firms in Santa Clara?

Yes, many Santa Clara VCs invest in SaaS. Firms like Intel Capital and Presidio Ventures back enterprise software, while others focus on specific applications. Your pitch should highlight your product's market fit and strong recurring revenue model.

Are there life sciences venture capital firms in Santa Clara?

While Santa Clara is known for deep tech, the broader Silicon Valley has many life sciences and biotech VCs. These specialized firms look for strong intellectual property, a clear regulatory pathway, and a team with deep scientific expertise.

How do corporate venture capital firms differ from traditional VCs?

Corporate VCs, like Intel Capital or NVentures, invest for strategic alignment with their parent company, not just financial return. A partnership can offer access to their resources, but your startup's goals must align with their corporate strategy.

How can I manage my funding after a successful raise?

Once you've secured funding, managing it effectively is crucial. Our platform provides integrated banking, corporate cards, and spend controls to help you deploy your new capital efficiently. You can get started with Rho in minutes.