Top 12 Venture Capital Firms for Marketplace Startups

For founders of marketplace businesses, knowing which investors truly understand your model is critical when fundraising. Pitching to the right venture capital firms—those with experience in two-sided marketplaces or specific B2B/B2C platforms—can make all the difference in securing the capital you need to grow.

To help you connect with the right partners, our team at Rho curated this guide to the top VC firms investing in the marketplace sector. It’s a straightforward overview designed to help you identify relevant investors, whether you're raising a seed round or preparing for Series A and beyond.

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Which VC Firms in Marketplace Are Right for Your Stage?

Knowing who to talk to is important, whether you're raising an early round or preparing for an exit. Here’s a quick overview of VC firms that invest in marketplace companies at each stage.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Marketplace

Pre-seed and seed rounds are the earliest forms of funding, designed to help you turn a promising idea into a viable product and achieve initial market traction. For marketplace startups at this stage, seed VC firms like Uncork Capital and Boston Seed Capital have a long history of backing successful companies from the very beginning.

Early Stage VC Firms in Marketplace (Series A and Series B)

Early-stage funding, typically Series A and B, is for companies that have found product-market fit and need capital to scale their team, operations, and customer acquisition. Marketplace investors focused on this growth phase include ATX Venture Partners and Tech Square Ventures, both of which support B2B and platform-based companies.

Late Stage VC Firms in Marketplace (late-stage, exit pre-IPO, or M&A)

Late-stage venture capital is for established companies looking to accelerate growth, expand into new markets, or prepare for an exit through an IPO or acquisition. Among the late-stage venture capital firms, 14W has experience guiding companies to public markets, while Community Investment Management provides significant debt financing for scaling fintech marketplaces.

It's also worth noting that some marketplace-focused venture capital firms invest across multiple funding stages, from seed to exit.

Below is our overview of the top VC firms investing in the marketplace sector. You'll find key details on their investment stages, geographic focus, and what distinguishes each firm for founders.

1. Uncork Capital

Based in San Francisco, Uncork Capital is one of Silicon Valley's long-standing seed-stage firms, founded in 2004. They position themselves as a trusted partner for founders from the earliest stages of company building.

The firm has a strong track record in the marketplace, SaaS, and consumer sectors, with notable early investments in companies like Postmates and Eventbrite. Their focus is on leading seed rounds and providing hands-on guidance to help founders find product-market fit.

Uncork Capital is an ideal partner if you're a founder raising a seed round for a marketplace or SaaS business. They are a good fit for teams seeking an experienced lead investor who provides both capital and active support.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Marketplace, SaaS, Consumer, Financial Services
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, CA
• Founded: 2004
• Notable portfolio companies: Postmates, Eventbrite, Fitbit, SendGrid
• Portfolio size: Over 430 investments

You can refer to their website here.

2. Bling Capital

Based in San Jose, California, Bling Capital invests in early-stage companies across consumer tech, marketplaces, SaaS, and fintech. Since its founding in 2018, the firm has built a portfolio concentrated on high-growth technology businesses.

What’s notable about Bling Capital is its track record of backing companies that achieve major public exits, including Lyft, Palantir, and PagerDuty. This history suggests a focus on startups with the potential for massive scale and market leadership.

Bling Capital is a strong fit for founders with ambitious, high-growth startups in their target sectors. The firm is well-suited for teams aiming for a significant outcome, such as an IPO or a unicorn valuation.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Consumer tech, Marketplace, SaaS, Fintech, Automation
• Geographical presence: San Jose, CA
• Founded: 2018
• Notable portfolio companies: Lyft, Palantir, PagerDuty, Lime
• Portfolio size: 143 investments

You can refer to their website here.

3. ATX Venture Partners

Based in Austin, Texas, ATX Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm that concentrates on B2B software, APIs, and marketplace businesses. They invest from seed to late-stage rounds, supporting companies throughout their growth journey.

The firm has a clear emphasis on B2B and platform-based companies, with portfolio examples like the business-formation service ZenBusiness. They also have a history of successful exits, including the GoCo acquisition by Intuit, demonstrating their ability to back companies to a major outcome.

ATX Venture Partners is a great match if you are a founder of a B2B software or marketplace company, particularly if you are based in or connected to the Texas tech scene. Their focus on early-stage companies suggests they are prepared to partner with teams that have a clear product but need capital and guidance to scale.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: B2B Software, APIs, Marketplaces, Frontier Tech
• Geographical presence: Austin, TX
• Founded: 2014
• Notable portfolio companies: GoCo, ZenBusiness, AlertMedia, Slingshot Aerospace
• Portfolio size: 109 investments

You can refer to their website here.

4. Diverse Angels

Based in Los Angeles, Diverse Angels is an angel group and venture capital firm founded with the mission of increasing representation within the investment community. They focus on seed and early-stage companies across a wide range of technology sectors.

The firm’s portfolio shows a strong interest in high-growth marketplaces and platforms, including the fintech unicorn Republic and the African talent marketplace Pariti. A notable exit with the AI audio platform Sounder highlights their ability to support companies toward a successful outcome.

Diverse Angels is a great match for founders building businesses in e-commerce, health-tech, and software, particularly those seeking early-stage capital. Their focus on diversity makes them a compelling partner for teams from underrepresented backgrounds.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Marketplace, E-Commerce, Health Care, Software, Payments, Blockchain
• Geographical presence: Los Angeles, CA
• Founded: 2021
• Notable portfolio companies: Republic, Sounder, Pariti, Ash Wellness
• Portfolio size: 53 investments

You can refer to their website here.

5. Gutter Capital

Based in New York, Gutter Capital is an early-stage venture firm that invests from seed to early rounds. The firm backs companies focused on advancing affordability, economic mobility, and sustainability in the U.S.

Gutter Capital has a clear thematic focus, supporting businesses in sectors like GovTech, EdTech, and marketplaces. Their portfolio includes notable exits like the prop-tech firm Ribbon Home and the workplace platform Lane, showing a track record of successful acquisitions.

This firm is a good fit for founders of early-stage companies whose missions align with creating a more affordable and sustainable economy. If you are building a marketplace or SaaS business in sectors like GovTech or EdTech, Gutter Capital could be a relevant partner.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: EdTech, GovTech, Marketplace, SaaS, Small and Medium Businesses
• Geographical presence: New York, NY
• Founded: 2017
• Notable portfolio companies: Bowery Farming, Ribbon Home, Lane, 2ndKitchen
• Portfolio size: 47 investments

You can refer to their website here.

6. H20 Capital

Based in Miami, H20 Capital is an early-stage venture firm that backs entrepreneurs in FinTech, SaaS, and marketplace businesses. The firm aims to support founders who are building large, valuable, and enduring companies from the ground up.

What's distinctive is their strong focus on Latin America, backing high-growth companies like the B2B construction marketplace Tul and the online grocer Jüsto. Their portfolio shows a pattern of backing companies that go on to raise significant follow-on capital.

H20 Capital is a great fit for founders of early-stage startups in their target sectors, especially those building for the Latin American market. If your goal is rapid regional growth, their track record makes them a relevant partner to consider.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: FinTech, Marketplace, SaaS
• Geographical presence: Miami, FL
• Founded: 2018
• Notable portfolio companies: OnTop, Tul, Jüsto, Flat.mx
• Portfolio size: 55 investments

You can refer to their website here.

7. Boston Seed Capital

Based in Boston, Boston Seed Capital has been providing seed funding for internet-enabled businesses since 2010. The firm focuses on backing companies in their earliest stages, helping founders build from the ground up.

The firm is distinguished by its history of backing companies to major public exits, including the sports-betting operator DraftKings and payments platform Flywire. Their portfolio also includes unicorns like the industrial 3-D printing firm VulcanForms, showing a focus on high-growth potential.

Boston Seed Capital is a strong partner for founders of seed-stage startups in e-commerce, fintech, and SaaS, particularly those with ambitions for an IPO. Their deep roots in the Boston tech community make them a key investor for local entrepreneurs.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: E-Commerce, FinTech, Marketplace, SaaS
• Geographical presence: Boston, MA
• Founded: 2010
• Notable portfolio companies: DraftKings, Flywire, Clypd, CloudBees, VulcanForms
• Portfolio size: 113 investments

You can refer to their website here.

8. Tech Square Ventures

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Tech Square Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that invests in enterprise software, marketplace, and platform companies. The firm supports founders from the seed stage onward, focusing on technology-driven businesses.

The firm’s portfolio shows a strong focus on companies solving complex problems for enterprise and government clients. Notable investments include Coros, whose technology was used to track COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and Moth + Flame, a VR training platform adopted by the U.S. Air Force.

Tech Square Ventures is a good fit for founders of early-stage enterprise or platform companies, especially those with a strong technical component. Their base in Atlanta also makes them a key partner for entrepreneurs in the Southeast tech community.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Convertible Note
• Industries of focus: Enterprise, Marketplace, Platform Technology, Logistics
• Geographical presence: Atlanta, GA
• Founded: 2014
• Notable portfolio companies: Saleo, Coros, Moth + Flame, Cloverly
• Portfolio size: 126 investments

You can refer to their website here.

9. Fab Co-Creation Studio Ventures

Based in Los Angeles, Fab Co-Creation Studio Ventures is an early-stage firm that invests in direct-to-consumer brands. They focus on conscious beauty and fashion, along with the e-commerce and retail technology that powers modern commerce.

The firm’s portfolio shows a strong commitment to sustainability, with investments in companies like the material-science innovator Kintra Fibers. Their "Co-Creation" name points to a hands-on, collaborative approach with founders building brands with strong consumer appeal.

Fab is an excellent match for founders building early-stage, mission-driven brands in the beauty and fashion industries. If your company has a strong sustainability or impact component, they are a particularly relevant partner to consider.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Beauty, Fashion, E-Commerce, Retail Technology, Impact Investing
• Geographical presence: Los Angeles, CA
• Founded: 2020
• Notable portfolio companies: Function Health, Kintra Fibers, SuperCircle, Trendio
• Portfolio size: 25 investments

You can refer to their website here.

10. Avalanche VC

Based in New York, Avalanche VC is an early-stage firm that invests in technology companies improving how people learn, earn, and own. They support founders from the seed stage onward, concentrating on businesses with clear social or economic purpose.

The firm’s thematic focus is a key characteristic, with investments in EdTech, the future of work, and ownership-economy platforms. This is evident in their portfolio, which includes the VR learning system Prisms of Reality and the decentralized social network Bluesky.

Avalanche VC is a good match for founders building early-stage companies in EdTech, enterprise software, or marketplace sectors with a mission-driven component. If your business model is centered on creating new opportunities for education, income, or asset ownership, this firm is a relevant partner.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Education, Enterprise Software, Marketplace, Virtual Workforce, Cryptocurrency
• Geographical presence: New York, NY
• Founded: 2020
• Notable portfolio companies: Bluesky, Humanly, Prisms of Reality, Genus AI
• Portfolio size: 40 investments

You can refer to their website here.

11. Community Investment Management

Based in San Francisco, Community Investment Management (CIM) is an impact investment firm that specializes in marketplace lending. A key feature is its focus on providing debt financing, rather than traditional equity, to fintech and marketplace companies that serve underbanked communities.

The firm’s portfolio shows a strong commitment to financial inclusion, with significant debt facilities provided to companies like the neobank Zolve and the Latin American trade-finance platform Finkargo. This signals a clear focus on backing businesses that provide essential financial services.

CIM is an ideal partner for later-stage fintech marketplace founders who need significant debt capital to scale their lending operations. If your business model requires non-dilutive funding to grow, CIM's expertise is highly relevant.

• Investment stages: Debt financing
• Industries of focus: FinTech, Marketplace, Financial Services
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, CA
• Founded: 2012
• Notable portfolio companies: Zolve, Finkargo, Xepelin, Stori
• Portfolio size: 28 investments

You can refer to their website here.

12. 14W

Based in New York, 14W is a venture capital firm that invests in companies making the future more accessible and connected. They support businesses from early to late stages, focusing on platforms with the potential for significant impact.

A key characteristic of 14W is their experience guiding companies to major public exits, including the food-delivery platform Deliveroo and luxury resale marketplace The RealReal. This demonstrates a clear focus on backing consumer-facing businesses that can achieve massive scale and market leadership.

14W is a strong partner for founders of consumer marketplace or platform businesses who are aiming for a large-scale outcome, such as an IPO. Their track record suggests they are well-equipped to support companies on the path to becoming public-market leaders.

• Investment stages: Early-stage and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Marketplace, Consumer, Financial Services
• Geographical presence: New York, NY
• Founded: 2010
• Notable portfolio companies: Deliveroo, The RealReal, Maven Clinic, Spotahome
• Portfolio size: 85 investments

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Marketplace Companies

Our list shows that the funding environment for marketplace companies is quite active, particularly at the early stages. While there are strong partners for later rounds, the majority of firms we've highlighted concentrate on seed and Series A funding. This suggests a healthy appetite for new and growing marketplace ideas.

Geographically, investors are not limited to one or two major hubs. We see active firms in New York, Austin, Atlanta, and Miami, in addition to established California centers. This broad distribution of capital can be an advantage for founders building companies across the country.

Beyond location and stage, there is a notable variety in what investors look for. Many firms have a specific focus, whether on B2B platforms, social impact, or particular industries. For you as a founder, this means it's increasingly possible to find a financial partner whose mission truly aligns with your own.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Approaching the right investors is critical when your time and energy are limited during a fundraise. We created this guide to help you connect with partners who truly understand your business.

With your funding secured, the next step is to manage it effectively so you can focus on growth. Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes.

Our platform assists in managing newly raised capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay. These tools are designed to give startup teams full control over their finances.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Marketplace

Who are the top Bay Area marketplace venture capital firms?

The Bay Area is home to many leading marketplace investors. Our list includes Uncork Capital and Community Investment Management, but the region has a high concentration of firms actively seeking new opportunities in the marketplace sector.

Which New York City marketplace VC firms should I know?

New York has a strong ecosystem for marketplace startups. Firms like 14W, Gutter Capital, and Avalanche VC are based there, each with a distinct focus on consumer, impact, or technology-driven platforms that you can explore.

What do B2B marketplace VC firms look for?

B2B marketplace investors typically prioritize a clear path to profitability and strong unit economics. They want to see evidence of deep industry knowledge and a solution that solves a significant pain point for business customers.

Are there many European marketplace venture capital firms?

Yes, Europe has a growing number of VCs focused on marketplaces. While our guide focuses on US firms, investors like Point Nine and Creandum have strong track records backing successful European marketplace companies from early stages onward.

How do I find the right marketplace investors for my startup?

Start by researching firms that invest in your specific stage and industry. Look at their current portfolio to see if your company aligns. This guide is a great starting point for identifying potential partners for your marketplace business.

How can Rho help after I secure funding from a marketplace VC?

Once you've raised capital, Rho helps you manage it effectively. Our platform combines banking, corporate cards, and payments in one place, giving you the financial control needed to scale your business. You can get started with Rho today.