Top 5 Venture Capital Firms Investing in Augmented Reality Startups
Find the right VC for your AR startup. We list five active firms. Once funded, our tools help you manage your new capital.
Rho Editorial Team
For founders in the Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR) space, understanding which investors are active in your field is a critical step when preparing to raise capital. Approaching the right venture capital firms—those who understand your technology and market—can make all the difference in a successful fundraising process.
To help you identify the right partners, our team at Rho has put together this overview of the top VC firms investing in AR. This guide is designed to give you a quick summary of relevant investors, whether you're actively fundraising or just starting your research.
Rho provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay — built for startup teams moving fast.
Key Takeaways
- For an AR startup, securing venture funding means gaining the necessary capital to accelerate product development, hire specialized engineers, and bring your technology to a wider audience.
- Several VC firms are active in the AR industry, with top players like The Venture Reality Fund (VRF), Adit Ventures, Anorak Ventures, and Parkway Venture Capital being notable backers of startups in this space.
- If you're a startup leader that's raising or just closed a round, Rho helps you manage your capital with fast business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.
Which VC Firms in Augmented Reality Are Right for Your Stage?
Knowing which investors to approach is important whether your company is in its early days or preparing for an exit. To help you focus your efforts, we’ve put together a summary of which augmented reality VC firms invest at each stage.
Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Augmented Reality
Pre-seed and seed funding is the initial capital you'll raise to validate your concept and build your first product. Among US venture capital firms, Bay Area-based Anorak Ventures and The Venture Reality Fund are two startup venture capital firms that frequently invest at this stage in AR and related technologies.
Early Stage VC Firms in Augmented Reality
Early-stage rounds, such as Series A and B, are meant for scaling your team and operations once you have an established product. Several early-stage venture capital firms are active in this space, with examples including New York-based Parkway Venture Capital and Adit Ventures.
Late Stage VC Firms in Augmented Reality
Late-stage venture capital is for established companies looking to scale aggressively, expand into new markets, or prepare for an exit. Firms like Adit Ventures and Parkway Venture Capital are examples of late-stage investors that back high-growth technology companies.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools — including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay — help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
It's also worth noting that some VC firms, like Rogue VC, invest across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage rounds.
To help you find the right investors, here is our summary of the top VC firms focused on Augmented Reality. We've outlined their investment stages, geographic preferences, and what makes each one a distinct option for founders.
1. The Venture Reality Fund/VRF
The Venture Reality Fund (VRF) is an early-stage firm that invests in spatial computing and artificial intelligence. Based in California and founded in 2016, VRF focuses on seed and venture rounds for companies building immersive technologies.
The firm's thesis centers on "empowering our Digital Future" through AR, VR, and AI, signaling a clear thematic focus. They have a strong track record, backing companies like the Emmy-winning studio Baobab Studios and Owlchemy Labs, which was acquired by Google.
VRF is a good match if you are a founder at the seed or early stages developing core technologies in AR, VR, or AI. Their portfolio and focused approach suggest they offer deep industry knowledge for teams building in the immersive tech sector.
- Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
- Industries of focus: Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, AI, Gaming, Software
- Geographical presence: Burlingame, California
- Founded: 2016
- Notable portfolio companies: Baobab Studios, Strivr, Owlchemy Labs (acquired by Google), Wave
- Portfolio size: 64 investments
You can refer to their website here.
2. Adit Ventures
Adit Ventures is a New York-based investment firm that operates across multiple stages, from early-stage rounds to the secondary market. With over $400 million in assets under management, they back companies in a variety of technology sectors, including augmented reality.
The firm is notable for its broad investment mandate, covering industries from FinTech and cybersecurity to space travel. Their portfolio features high-profile unicorns like SpaceX and Flexport, alongside the metaverse company Animoca Brands, which reached a $5 billion valuation in 2022.
Adit Ventures could be a strong partner if you are a founder of a high-growth technology company, particularly from early to late stages. Their experience in the secondary market also makes them a relevant contact for companies with established traction looking for liquidity options or later-stage growth capital.
- Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Secondary Market
- Industries of focus: Augmented Reality, Big Data, Cloud Security, Cyber Security, EdTech, FinTech, Internet of Things, Sharing Economy, Space Travel
- Geographical presence: New York, New York
- Founded: 2014
- Notable portfolio companies: SpaceX, Animoca Brands, Flexport, Rubrik, Dataminr
- Portfolio size: 25 investments
You can refer to their website here.
3. Anorak Ventures
Anorak Ventures is a San Francisco-based firm that invests in early-stage companies building foundational technologies. Founded in 2016, they focus on seed and early-stage venture rounds, backing founders from the very beginning.
The firm's approach centers on supporting companies with the potential for major impact, particularly in deep tech fields like AR, computer vision, and robotics. Their portfolio includes several high-growth companies that have become unicorns, such as Anduril Industries and Flexport.
Anorak Ventures is a good fit if you are a founder with a strong technical vision, especially in AR or related sectors. Their focus on the earliest stages suggests they are comfortable with product and technology risk.
- Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
- Industries of focus: Augmented Reality, Computer Vision, Robotics, Virtual Reality, Video Streaming
- Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
- Founded: 2016
- Notable portfolio companies: Anduril Industries, Flexport, Rec Room, Osso VR
- Portfolio size: 97 investments
You can refer to their website here.
4. Parkway Venture Capital
Parkway Venture Capital is a New York-based firm that backs technology companies from early to late stages. Founded in 2019, they invest across a range of sectors including Health Tech, the Metaverse, and B2C platforms.
The firm has a clear interest in ambitious, category-defining companies, with a portfolio that includes Elon Musk’s xAI and the humanoid-robotics startup Figure. Their investment history, which includes leading Figure's Series A, shows a willingness to back capital-intensive projects with massive potential.
Parkway could be a great partner if you are a founder building a company with a deep technological foundation, especially in fields like AI, robotics, or quantum computing. Their multi-stage approach is suited for teams with long-term, ambitious goals.
- Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
- Industries of focus: Augmented Reality, Health Care, Internet of Things, Renewable Energy, Sustainability
- Geographical presence: New York, New York
- Founded: 2019
- Notable portfolio companies: xAI, Figure, SandboxAQ, Lyft
- Portfolio size: 50 investments
You can refer to their website here.
5. Rogue VC
Rogue VC is a New York-based firm that backs founders with big ideas in deep technology and emerging culture. Founded in 2020, they invest across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage rounds, with a clear focus on companies building foundational technologies.
The firm's stated interest in "radical founders" suggests an appetite for ambitious, non-traditional ideas. Their portfolio reflects this, featuring companies like Streem, an AR remote-assistance platform, and PortalOne, a mixed-reality gaming startup.
Rogue VC could be a good match if you are an early-stage founder in a deep tech sector like AR, AI, or biotech. Their positioning seems well-suited for teams with a bold vision that challenges existing markets.
- Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
- Industries of focus: Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Biotechnology, Space Travel
- Geographical presence: New York, New York
- Founded: 2020
- Notable portfolio companies: Streem, PortalOne, The Riveter, Reperio Health
- Portfolio size: 22 investments
You can refer to their website here.
What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Augmented Reality Companies
For founders in the augmented reality space, this list reveals a balanced set of funding opportunities. There is significant support at the early stages from specialized firms, which is critical for technology-intensive companies. At the same time, multi-stage investors are active, offering a path to capital for later rounds as your company scales.
A clear pattern is the geographic concentration of these investors in New York and California, which can help you focus your outreach. As you plan your next steps, remember that once funding is secured, managing that new capital becomes the priority. Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—are designed to help you deploy your funds efficiently.
Raise Confidently with Rho
Having a focused list of investors who understand the AR industry is a significant advantage. It allows you to direct your limited time and energy toward the firms most likely to fund your vision.
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 gives you the tools to put your new funding to work with integrated business banking. You can issue corporate cards and automate bill pay to manage your capital efficiently.
FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Augmented Reality
Are there European venture capital firms investing in augmented reality?
Yes, several European VCs are active in deep tech, including AR. Firms like London-based IQ Capital are known for backing technology companies, so it's worth researching their specific interest in the augmented reality sector for your startup.
What are micro VC firms in the tech space?
Micro VCs are smaller funds that concentrate on pre-seed and seed stage investments. They often provide focused support and can be a great first institutional check for an early-stage AR or technology startup before you approach larger firms.
How do you find AI-focused venture capital firms?
To find AI-focused VCs, review the portfolios of firms investing in deep tech. Many, like The Venture Reality Fund, explicitly list AI as a focus. Also, track recent funding announcements for AI companies to see who is investing.
Do consumer venture capital firms invest in AR?
Yes, many consumer VCs are interested in AR, especially for gaming, social, and e-commerce applications. If your product has a strong B2C angle, firms that have backed successful consumer apps may be a good fit for you.
How can Rho help after I close my funding round?
Once your round is closed, our platform helps you manage the new capital. Rho provides integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay, giving you the tools to deploy your funds efficiently.