Venture capital (VC) firms play a pivotal role in nurturing industry-changing startups, offering crucial support to entrepreneurs at various stages of growth. Companies like Facebook and Slack have soared to success thanks to VC backing, proving the significant impact of venture capital. If your startup is ready for the next big step, choosing the right VC firm is paramount. This guide presents the top venture capital firms for startups, helping you make an informed choice.
Don’t forget, you can also explore our comprehensive collection of VC firms categorized by industry and location.
Contents
- 1 Top VC Firms for Tech Startups
- 1.1 1. Sequoia Capital
- 1.2 2. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
- 1.3 3. Accel
- 1.4 4. Kleiner Perkins
- 1.5 5. Bessemer Venture Partners
- 1.6 6. Intel Capital
- 1.7 7. New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
- 1.8 8. Khosla Ventures
- 1.9 9. Benchmark
- 1.10 10. Canaan Partners
- 1.11 11. RRE Ventures
- 1.12 12. TCV (Technology Crossover Ventures)
- 1.13 13. Founders Fund
- 1.14 14. Index Ventures
- 1.15 15. Sweater Ventures
- 1.16 16. GGV Capital
- 1.17 17. Menlo Ventures
- 1.18 18. Greylock Partners
- 1.19 19. IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
- 1.20 20. Mindset Ventures
- 1.21 21. Lightspeed Venture Partners
Top VC Firms for Tech Startups
Choosing the right venture capital firm for your startup is essential. To assist you in navigating the options, we’ve compiled a list of the best venture capital firms for startups. Please note that the following VC firms are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.
1. Sequoia Capital
About: Sequoia Capital stands out as one of the most renowned venture capital firms for tech startups. With a history dating back to 1972, the firm has backed tech giants like Google, Apple, and Oracle, making it a formidable ally for startups with substantial growth ambitions.
Best For: Tech startups, High-growth startups, Healthcare startups, Early-stage startups
2. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
About: Based in Silicon Valley, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) focuses on financing seed to late-stage startups that leverage technology to innovate modern life. With over $35 billion in assets under management, notable investments include Stripe and Libra.
Best For: Startups at all stages, Fintech startups, Cryptocurrency startups
3. Accel
About: Accel is a top-tier venture capital firm supporting startups across all stages, from seed to growth. Some of its remarkable investments include Facebook, Dropbox, and Slack, with a global asset management portfolio exceeding $3 billion.
Best For: Tech startups, Early-stage startups, Growth-stage startups
4. Kleiner Perkins
About: Kleiner Perkins has been instrumental in the success of numerous prominent companies, including Amazon, Spotify, and DocuSign. The firm’s mission is to fund startups and entrepreneurs poised to make a significant impact.
Best For: Hardtech startups, Healthcare startups, Consumer product startups, Fintech startups
5. Bessemer Venture Partners
About: With a history spanning 50 years, Bessemer Venture Partners has invested in industry-defining companies such as Pinterest, Shopify, and LinkedIn. Boasting nearly $20 billion in assets under management, the firm is committed to supporting entrepreneurs driving lasting change.
Best For: Enterprise startups, Consumer product startups, Healthcare startups
6. Intel Capital
About: Intel Capital, an offshoot of Intel Technologies, focuses on nurturing startups in emerging markets like 5G, cloud, and artificial intelligence (AI). Since its establishment in 1991, Intel Capital has invested over $12 billion in 1,500 companies worldwide.
Best For: Tech startups, Minority founders, Artificial intelligence startups
7. New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
About: NEA is a global venture capital firm on a mission to enhance the world through strategic startup investments. With $25 billion in assets under management, NEA is dedicated to funding early-stage companies poised to disrupt high-growth industries.
Best For: Tech startups, Healthcare startups, Early-stage startups
8. Khosla Ventures
About: Khosla Ventures is known for prioritizing team-focused startups with disruptive products that can reshape industries. With a seed fund and main fund, Khosla Ventures offers multiple avenues for startups to secure funding.
Best For: Tech startups, Seed-stage startups, Food startups
9. Benchmark
About: Founded in 1995, Benchmark specializes in early-stage startups with potential for high growth. Notable investments include Tinder, Uber, and Snapchat, with a reported total asset value of $9.1 billion.
Best For: Early-stage startups, Enterprise software startups, Infrastructure startups
10. Canaan Partners
About: Canaan Partners has provided venture capital for tech and healthcare startups for over 30 years. With over $6 billion in assets under management, the firm invests in tech and healthcare companies, including Kickpay and CircleUp.
Best For: Fintech startups, Medtech startups, Cloud startups
11. RRE Ventures
About: RRE Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in New York, known for its investments in industry-leading high-growth startups. With assets totaling approximately $2.5 billion, RRE Ventures not only invests in powerful and innovative startups but also provides invaluable resources and support for entrepreneurs.
Best For: Software startups, Financial services startups, IoT startups
12. TCV (Technology Crossover Ventures)
About: TCV is a popular venture capital firm that has invested over $13 billion in industry-leading startups, including NuBank and iPipeline. TCV specializes in funding tech startups, both public and private, and offers strategic mentorship and resources for CEOs and startup founders.
Best For: Growth-stage startups, Fintech startups, Ecommerce startups
13. Founders Fund
About: Based in San Francisco, Founders Fund is one of the most renowned VC firms globally. Managing an aggregate capital of $11 billion in 2022, it included investments in major names like Airbnb, Lyft, Spotify, and Stripe. Notably, Peter Thiel, a founding partner, co-founded PayPal and was an early investor in Facebook.
Best For: Growth-stage startups, Tech startups, Space exploration startups
14. Index Ventures
About: Index Ventures is a substantial firm with a European base and a headquarters in San Francisco. Established in 1996, it has invested in some of the world’s most popular companies, including Deliveroo, Etsy, and Slack. Focused on technology-driven enterprises, Index Ventures has raised $5.6 billion since its inception.
Best For: Fintech startups, Ecommerce startups, Gaming startups
15. Sweater Ventures
About: Sweater Ventures aims to democratize venture capital by requiring only $500 for participation in its fund. Founded in 2019, Sweater’s Cashmere Fund has gathered $13 million in investment capital, contributed by a collective of small investors.
Best For: Early-stage startups, CPG startups, Ecommerce startups
16. GGV Capital
About: Despite not being as large as some other firms on this list, GGV Capital has managed $9.2 billion in capital across 17 different funds. Established in 2000, GGV Capital has invested in over 300 companies, focusing on technology-driven startups. Notable exits include Affirm, AppDirect, and Hootsuite.
Best For: Growth-stage startups, Early-stage startups, Smart tech startups
17. Menlo Ventures
About: Menlo Ventures is one of the oldest venture firms in Silicon Valley, founded in 1976. It has invested in well-known companies such as Uber, Rover.com, and Siri. The firm primarily focuses on consumer and enterprise companies and has recently shown interest in healthtech and robotics.
Best For: Early-stage startups, Consumer startups, Tech startups
18. Greylock Partners
About: Established in 1965, Greylock Partners is one of the oldest venture firms. With $3.5 billion in capital under management, Greylock prefers to invest in consumer enterprise software and infrastructure startups. The firm also hosts an event called Communities, which helps startups with networking.
Best For: Early-stage startups, Consumer startups, Infrastructure startups
19. IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
About: Operating since 1980, IVP is a veteran in the VC world with $8.7 billion of committed capital. The firm invests in late-growth startups and has backed big names like NerdWallet, Twitter, Slack, and Coinbase. IVP specializes in pushing companies to the edge, with several of its portfolio companies going public every year.
Best For: Late-stage startups, Software startups, Gaming startups
20. Mindset Ventures
About: Mindset Ventures, though relatively new compared to more established VCs, focuses on startups in the US and Israel. The firm primarily invests in B2B startups across various technology-driven industries.
Best For: Financial startups, Agriculture startups, Healthcare startups
21. Lightspeed Venture Partners
About: Lightspeed Venture Partners, based in California, is a versatile firm that is comfortable at all stages of the investment process, from seed to growth. Its portfolio includes prominent names like Snap, Lady Gaga’s Hause Laboratories, and Rubrik.
Best For: Early-stage startups, Healthcare startups, Consumer startups
These venture capital firms offer a diverse range of opportunities and resources for startups across different industries and stages of growth. Choosing the right one can significantly impact your startup’s success.