Top 12 Venture Capital Firms in Seattle

If you're a founder preparing to raise capital, getting to know the venture capital firms in Seattle is an important part of the process. To help you find the right partners in the Pacific Northwest tech community, our team at Rho curated this guide to the area's top investors. We've focused on firms that are active in the ecosystem, giving you a straightforward overview to support 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 the right investment partners who can provide the capital and support your startup needs to grow.
• Seattle is home to many active venture capital firms, with top players including Madrona, Tola Capital, Amazon Alexa Fund, and Arrington Capital.
• For startup leaders raising or managing a new round, Rho provides alternative funding options, fast business banking, and corporate cards to help you access and manage your capital.

Which Seattle VC Firms Are Right for Your Stage?

From early-stage funding to preparing for an exit, knowing which investors to approach is key. Here is a simple overview of Seattle-based VC firms and the stages they typically invest in.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Seattle

Pre-seed and seed funding is the initial capital you'll raise to test your business idea, build a product, and find your first users. For founders at this stage, firms like Ascend, an active pre-seed fund in the Pacific Northwest, along with the startup studio Pioneer Square Labs and the digital asset-focused Arrington Capital, are key names to know.

Early Stage VC Firms in Seattle

Early-stage funding, which includes Series A and B rounds, provides the fuel for startups to scale their team and operations once they've established product-market fit. Seattle has several early-stage venture capital firms, including the AI-focused Flying Fish and the enterprise software investor Fuse.

Late Stage VC Firms in Seattle

Late-stage venture capital is for mature companies that need significant funding for major expansion or to prepare for an exit like an IPO. In Seattle, established investors like Madrona and corporate VCs such as the Amazon Alexa Fund provide this type of late-stage support.

Keep in mind that many venture capital firms invest across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage growth.

To help you find the right investors, our team has gathered key details on Seattle's leading VC firms, including their investment stages, sector focus, portfolio highlights, and what makes each firm a distinct potential partner.

1. Madrona

Since 1995, Madrona has been a fixture in the Seattle venture scene, backing companies from their earliest days through their growth stages. While their focus is on the Pacific Northwest, the firm also invests more broadly.

The firm takes a multi-stage approach, supporting companies from seed rounds all the way to post-IPO. Their investment thesis is centered on technology, with a clear interest in cloud services and finance.

This firm could be a great partner for founders in the tech sector, particularly in cloud infrastructure or financial services, who are looking for a long-term investor. Their ability to invest across stages makes them a good fit for teams with ambitious growth plans.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Cloud data services, finance, and service industries
• Geographical presence: Pacific Northwest and beyond
• Founded: 1995
• Track record: Over 530 investments and more than 100 exits.

You can refer to their website here.

2. Tola Capital

Tola Capital is a venture firm that invests globally in enterprise software companies, with a focus on early-stage businesses. They provide capital to help B2B software startups find their footing and scale.

The firm has a clear concentration in B2B software, including cloud security, developer tools, and financial services. Their ability to invest from seed to late-stage rounds indicates they can be a long-term partner for growth.

This firm could be a good match if you are building an enterprise software company and need a partner with deep industry knowledge. Founders looking for an investor to support them across multiple funding stages may find Tola a good fit.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Enterprise software, cloud security, developer tools, and financial services
• Geographical presence: Global
• Founded: 2010
• Track record: 76 investments and 17 exits

You can refer to their website here.

3. Amazon Alexa Fund

The Amazon Alexa Fund is a corporate venture capital fund providing up to $200 million to support innovation in voice technology. As Amazon's CVC arm, its goal is to back companies building new capabilities with voice.

The fund's clear focus is on companies that can advance the voice technology ecosystem, investing across a broad set of industries from AI to hardware. Their multi-stage investment strategy, from seed to late-stage, shows they are prepared to support companies throughout their growth journey.

If your startup is building products or services centered on voice, AI, or ambient computing, the Alexa Fund could be a strategic partner. Founders who could benefit from Amazon's technical expertise and market access are especially well-suited for this fund.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, late-stage venture, convertible note, and debt
• Industries of focus: Artificial Intelligence (AI), consumer electronics, software, FinTech, and Internet of Things (IoT)
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Founded: 2015
• Track record: 141 investments and 23 exits

You can refer to their website here.

4. Arrington Capital

Arrington Capital is a thesis-driven firm that invests in digital assets and cryptocurrency companies. They focus on backing founders who are building new financial infrastructure and web applications.

The firm's clear concentration is on the digital asset space, and they primarily support companies at the seed and early stages. Their thesis-driven approach suggests they have a specific point of view on where the market is headed and look for founders who align with it.

This firm is a strong potential partner if you are a founder in the crypto or Web3 space. Their specific focus means they bring deep domain expertise for teams building in this sector, especially those seeking a long-term partner from the earliest stages.

• Investment stages: Seed and early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Digital assets and cryptocurrency
• Investor type: Venture Capital
• Track record: 37 investments and 2 exits

You can refer to their website here.

5. Ascend

Ascend is known as the most active pre-seed venture fund in the Pacific Northwest. They focus on providing the initial capital for companies just getting started.

The firm concentrates on pre-seed and seed-stage investments, often using convertible notes to move quickly. Their primary sectors of interest include e-commerce and financial services.

This firm is a great potential partner if you are a founder in the Pacific Northwest at the pre-seed stage. Teams building in e-commerce or financial services will find their focus particularly relevant.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, seed, and early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: E-commerce and financial services
• Geographical presence: Pacific Northwest
• Founded: 2019
• Track record: 83 investments and 6 exits
• Investor type: Micro VC

You can refer to their website here.

6. Pioneer Square Labs

Pioneer Square Labs is a startup studio that both creates and invests in new technology companies. Their model is focused on building businesses from the earliest stages, often from an initial concept.

The firm's approach is unique because it functions as both a startup studio and a venture fund, providing hands-on support to build companies internally. They concentrate on seed and early-stage investments in enterprise software, internet, and mobile sectors.

This firm could be a strong partner if you are an early-stage founder looking for more than just capital, but also operational support to build your company. Their studio model is especially suited for teams in the enterprise software or mobile space.

• Investment stages: Seed and early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Enterprise Software, Internet, Mobile
• Investor type: Startup studio, accelerator, and venture capital
• Founded: 2015
• Track record: 25 investments and 1 exit

You can refer to their website here.

7. Flying Fish Partners

Flying Fish is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in startups building with artificial intelligence and machine learning. They back companies creating applied AI/ML products, along with the infrastructure and tools that support the ecosystem.

The firm has a clear focus on AI and machine learning, signaling deep technical expertise in this area. Their investment strategy spans from seed and convertible notes to early-stage venture, showing they are prepared to partner with founders from the initial stages of company building.

This firm is a strong potential partner if you are building a company centered on applied AI or machine learning. Founders seeking an investor with specialized technical knowledge will find their focused approach particularly valuable.

• Investment stages: Seed, convertible note, and early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
• Founded: 2016
• Track record: 62 investments and 5 exits

You can refer to their website here.

8. FUSE

FUSE is a venture capital firm that backs early-stage software companies, with a particular focus on businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Since its founding in 2020, the firm has become an active investor in the region's technology scene.

The firm invests from seed to late-stage rounds, signaling they can be a long-term partner for founders. Their investment thesis is centered on business software, with a specific interest in companies building with AI and machine learning.

FUSE could be a good fit if you are a software founder, especially in the AI/ML space, looking for a partner to support you across multiple funding rounds. Their multi-stage approach is well-suited for teams with significant growth ambitions.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning
• Geographical presence: Pacific Northwest
• Founded: 2020
• Track record: 47 investments and 1 exit

You can refer to their website here.

9. Elevar Equity

Elevar Equity is a venture capital firm that provides early growth capital to businesses with a clear social purpose. Founded in 2008, their investment thesis is built on the connection between high-impact outcomes and strong financial returns.

The firm’s focus on impact investing is a core characteristic, as they look for companies where positive change is integral to the business model. They invest across a wide spectrum—from seed to private equity—signaling they can be a long-term partner for growth.

This firm is an excellent match for founders building businesses where the core product creates measurable social or financial inclusion. If you need a partner who values both profit and purpose, Elevar Equity could be a strong fit.

• Investment stages: Seed, convertible note, early-stage, late-stage venture, and private equity
• Industries of focus: Impact investing, finance, and financial services
• Founded: 2008
• Track record: 82 investments and 8 exits

You can refer to their website here.

10. Acequia Capital (AceCap)

Acequia Capital, also known as AceCap, is a Seattle-based venture capital firm that has been backing technology companies since 2010. They are known for their high volume of investments across the tech sector.

The firm invests across all stages, from seed and convertible notes to late-stage rounds, showing they can be a long-term partner. This makes them a good fit if you are a founder looking for an investor to support your company's growth over time.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture, and convertible notes
• Industries of focus: Finance, financial services, and technology
• Geographical presence: Seattle-based
• Founded: 2010
• Track record: 472 investments and 54 exits

You can refer to their website here.

11. Bloccelerate VC

Bloccelerate is a venture fund and accelerator that invests in blockchain companies around the world. They provide capital and support to founders building new businesses in the blockchain sector.

The firm has a distinct focus on the blockchain industry, investing from the seed to early stages. Their model combines a fund with an accelerator, suggesting they offer both capital and structured support for growth.

This firm is a good fit if you are a founder building a blockchain company and seeking early-stage funding. Teams that could benefit from an accelerator program alongside their initial investment may find Bloccelerate to be a strong partner.

• Investment stages: Seed and early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Blockchain
• Geographical presence: Global
• Founded: 2018
• Track record: 31 investments
• Investor type: Venture Capital

You can refer to their website here.

12. Capria Ventures

Capria Ventures is a venture capital firm that specializes in the Global South, investing in companies that apply Generative AI to solve real-world problems. They provide capital to founders in emerging markets who are building scalable businesses.

The firm's investment thesis is centered on the intersection of applied Generative AI and opportunities in the Global South, with a clear focus on impact. Their ability to invest from seed to late-stage rounds shows they are prepared to support companies throughout their growth cycle.

This firm is a strong match if you are a founder in the Global South building a business that uses Generative AI, particularly in sectors like FinTech, EdTech, or AgTech. Teams with a mission-driven approach will find their impact focus to be a good fit.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Applied Generative AI, AgTech, EdTech, FinTech, SaaS, and Impact Investing
• Geographical presence: Global South
• Founded: 2012
• Track record: 67 investments and 1 exit

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About Seattle's VC Scene

The mix of venture capital firms in Seattle suggests a healthy and well-rounded market for founders. While there are active pre-seed and seed investors like Ascend and Pioneer Square Labs, established firms such as Madrona and Tola Capital provide support through later growth stages. This indicates a good balance of capital available for companies at different points in their journey.

Seattle's investors also show a strong concentration in enterprise software and AI, but there is clear support for other sectors, including digital assets and impact investing. For you, this means that finding the right fit requires targeting firms that align with both your startup's stage and industry. Our guide is a starting point to help you build that focused outreach list.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Building a focused list of relevant investors is a critical step, especially when your time and energy are limited during a fundraise. This approach helps you connect with the right partners more efficiently.

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 are here to support you in securing the capital your business needs to grow.

Our team helps you access working capital when you’re actively raising. Once capital is secured, Rho provides integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay to help you manage and deploy funds efficiently.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms in Seattle

Are there biotech venture capital firms in Seattle?

Yes, Seattle has a growing biotech sector. While our list focuses on tech, the city is home to specialized life sciences and medtech venture capital firms that support innovation in health and medicine.

What about clean tech venture capital firms in Seattle?

Seattle's venture community includes investors focused on sustainability. You can find clean tech and renewable energy venture capital firms that fund companies working on environmental solutions, reflecting the region's commitment to green technology.

Where can I find cybersecurity venture capital firms in Seattle?

Many enterprise software investors in Seattle, like Tola Capital, have cybersecurity as part of their investment focus. For dedicated cybersecurity VCs, you may also need to look at firms with a national presence that invest in the region.

Are there social impact venture capital firms in Seattle?

Yes, firms like Elevar Equity specialize in impact investing. Seattle has a community of investors who prioritize businesses that generate positive social or environmental outcomes alongside financial returns, offering capital for mission-driven founders.

How can Rho help my startup with venture capital financing?

While we don't provide venture capital directly, Rho connects you with non-dilutive funding options like venture debt. We also provide the banking and spend management tools to manage your capital effectively.