Top 6 Venture Capital Firms in Sunnyvale

For founders preparing to raise capital, understanding the local investor scene is a critical first step. In the heart of Silicon Valley, Sunnyvale is home to numerous venture capital firms with distinct investment theses. To help you identify the right partners for your startup, our team at Rho curated this guide to the area's top VCs. It’s a straightforward overview designed to help you quickly find relevant investors for your fundraising process.

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 partnering with investors who provide capital in exchange for equity to help your startup grow.
• Sunnyvale is home to prominent venture capital firms, including top players like Plug and Play, Fellows Fund, PreAngel, and the CrowdStrike Falcon Fund.
• If you're a startup leader that's raising or has just closed a round, Rho helps you access and manage your capital with alternative funding options, fast business banking, corporate cards, and more.

Which Sunnyvale VC Firms Are Right for Your Stage?

It helps to know who to talk to, whether you're an early-stage company or preparing for an exit. We've organized this list of Sunnyvale VCs by the investment stages they focus on.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Sunnyvale

Pre-seed and seed funding is the initial capital you raise to validate your idea and build a minimum viable product. For founders seeking seed VC firms, Sunnyvale has several options, including AI-focused investors like Fellows Fund and PreAngel, as well as the grant-making Google.org.

Early Stage VC Firms in Sunnyvale

Early-stage venture capital firms typically invest in Series A and B rounds, providing capital for companies with proven traction to scale operations. Some notable early-stage firms in the area are CrowdStrike Falcon Fund, which focuses on cybersecurity, and the global innovation platform Plug and Play.

Late Stage VC Firms in Sunnyvale

Late-stage funding supports mature startups as they prepare for a major liquidity event, such as an IPO or acquisition. In Sunnyvale, corporate venture arms are more common for this stage, with Samsung NEXT being a key player that invests from seed through late-stage rounds.

Keep in mind that some VC firms invest across multiple startup funding stages, too.

To help you find the right fit, we've gathered information on Sunnyvale's top VC firms, including their preferred investment stages, industry specializations, key investments, and what distinguishes them.

1. Plug and Play

Plug and Play is a global innovation platform that acts as a bridge, connecting startups with corporations and investors across numerous industries. Their model is built on fostering these connections to accelerate growth for all parties involved.

A key characteristic of the firm is its ecosystem approach, which combines venture capital with accelerator programs and corporate partnerships. They invest from seed to early stages, with dedicated programs for sectors like FinTech and Smart Cities.

This firm is a strong match if you're an early-stage founder who could benefit from direct access to corporate partners and a structured accelerator program. It's particularly relevant for startups in their key industries, such as financial services.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage venture, and non-equity assistance
• Industries of focus: Financial services, FinTech, smart cities, and more
• Founded: 2006
• Portfolio size: Over 2,100 investments
• Model: A combination of venture capital, accelerator programs, and corporate innovation

You can refer to their website here.

2. Fellows Fund

Fellows Fund is a venture capital firm that brings together AI pioneers to support early-stage AI founders. They provide capital, strategic advice, and critical connections to help new companies grow.

The firm’s approach is built around its community of experts, offering deep technical knowledge and industry relationships. They concentrate on seed and early-stage rounds, showing a clear focus on backing founders at the start of their journey.

This firm is a strong choice if you are an AI founder seeking hands-on support. Their model is designed to provide strategic guidance and valuable introductions within the AI community.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Artificial intelligence
• Founded: 2021
• Portfolio size: 28 investments
• Team background: Comprised of AI pioneers

You can refer to their website here.

3. PreAngel

PreAngel is an investment firm that operates as an angel group, incubator, and venture capital fund. They concentrate on providing capital to early-stage companies in high-tech industries like AI, blockchain, and open-source software.

A key aspect of the firm is its hybrid model, which combines incubation with venture funding for very early-stage companies. Their industry focus is on foundational technologies, including big data, cloud infrastructure, and machine learning.

This firm is a good fit if you're a founder working on deep-tech solutions and need seed-stage capital. Their incubator model is well-suited for teams that could benefit from hands-on support in addition to funding.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Artificial intelligence, big data, cloud infrastructure, drones, financial services, machine learning, mobile apps, open source, and SaaS
• Founded: 2011
• Model: A mix of angel group, incubator, and venture capital
• Portfolio size: 137 investments
• Number of exits: 11

You can refer to their website here.

4. CrowdStrike Falcon Fund

CrowdStrike Falcon Fund is an early-stage investment vehicle formed through a partnership between cybersecurity leader CrowdStrike and venture capital firm Accel. They focus on providing capital to companies developing innovative security and IT solutions.

The fund’s defining characteristic is its structure, which combines CrowdStrike’s deep industry expertise with Accel’s experience in scaling startups. This model signals a clear priority for companies that can strategically align with CrowdStrike’s platform.

This fund is a strong match if you are an early-stage founder in the cybersecurity or enterprise IT space. The partnership offers a distinct advantage, providing not just capital but also potential go-to-market support and integration opportunities.

• Investment stages: Early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Cybersecurity, business development, financial services
• Founded: 2011
• Model: A strategic partnership between CrowdStrike and Accel
• Portfolio size: 24 investments
• Number of exits: 4

You can refer to their website here.

5. Samsung NEXT

Samsung NEXT is the corporate venture capital arm of Samsung, focused on investing in software and services companies. They primarily back founders at the seed stage who are building companies with the potential for significant market impact.

A defining feature of the firm is its wide investment spectrum, supporting companies from their initial seed round through late-stage growth. As a corporate venture fund, they offer the potential for strategic alignment with Samsung's global ecosystem.

This firm is a strong match for founders who could benefit from a corporate partnership, particularly those in software and services. Their multi-stage approach also makes them a relevant investor for companies at different points in their growth journey.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage venture, late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Software, services, finance, financial services
• Founded: 2012
• Model: Corporate venture capital
• Portfolio size: 365 investments
• Number of exits: 45

You can refer to their website here.

6. Google.org

Google.org is the philanthropic arm of Google, providing funding to organizations with ambitious ideas for creating lasting global change. They support teams that are tackling significant social and environmental challenges.

A key feature of Google.org is its focus on social impact, funding non-profits and for-profit companies that address major global issues. Their model is flexible, offering grants alongside seed and venture investments.

This organization is a great fit if your startup has a clear social mission and aims for long-term global impact. Founders focused on impact investing or building a non-profit will find their model particularly suitable.

• Investment stages: Grant, seed, and venture
• Industries of focus: Impact investing, non-profit
• Founded: 2005
• Model: Philanthropic arm and corporate venture capital
• Portfolio size: 86 investments
• Number of exits: 1

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About Sunnyvale's VC Scene

The investor scene in Sunnyvale shows a strong concentration of support for early-stage companies. Most of the firms on our list, from AI-focused investors like Fellows Fund to broad platforms like Plug and Play, primarily fund at the seed and early stages. This is a positive signal if you are a founder looking for your first or second round of institutional capital.

In terms of industry, there is a clear focus on technology, with specializations in AI and cybersecurity. However, the presence of corporate venture arms like Samsung NEXT and philanthropic funders like Google.org indicates a good variety of capital available. For founders, the takeaway is that Sunnyvale offers a robust market for early-stage tech startups, with options for those who can align with a corporate partner or have a social impact mission.

Raise Confidently with Rho

A focused list of relevant investors is a powerful tool during a fundraise. It helps you direct your limited time and energy toward the conversations that matter most.

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. Our team helps you access these options while you’re actively raising.

Once your capital is secured, Rho provides integrated tools to help you manage and deploy funds efficiently. This includes business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay, all in one platform.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms in Sunnyvale

Are there many SaaS venture capital firms in Sunnyvale?

Sunnyvale has a strong focus on tech, including SaaS. Firms like PreAngel invest in SaaS, and broader platforms like Plug and Play often have programs or interest in SaaS startups, given its importance in the tech ecosystem.

What is the difference between venture capital and private equity?

Venture capital firms typically invest in early-stage, high-growth startups for a minority stake. Private equity firms usually acquire majority control of more mature, established companies, often using significant debt to finance the purchase.

How do I find the right venture capital firms for my startup?

Start by researching firms that invest in your industry and funding stage. Review their portfolio to see if they've backed similar companies and look for investors whose expertise and network can genuinely help your business grow.

What do pre-seed VC firms in Sunnyvale look for?

Pre-seed investors focus heavily on the founding team's strength, vision, and expertise. They also want to see a large potential market and a compelling idea, even if the product is not yet fully built or validated.

How can I manage my finances after securing venture capital?

After your fundraise, it's critical to have a solid financial stack. Our platform at Rho provides banking, corporate cards, and spend management tools in one place to help you manage your new capital efficiently.