The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency in the United States that funds and supports research and education in science and engineering. It funds fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering and administers non-dilutive funding programs to aid early‑stage technology development, helping translate discoveries into commercially viable products and services. Through grants and fellowships, the NSF supports researchers, educators, and startups, contributing to innovation and U.S. competitiveness. The agency operates with a substantial budget to advance science, engineering, and STEM education nationwide.

Founded in 1999, Enhanced Capital Partners is a New York-based investment firm managing over $400 million. It specializes in equity and debt investments for small to mid-sized companies across various sectors, with a focus on healthcare technology systems and TMT industries.

The U.S. Department of Energy is a government agency established in 1977, located in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission is to ensure the security and prosperity of the nation by tackling energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. The Department focuses on promoting transformative scientific and technological solutions to address these issues, thereby supporting the country's energy needs and environmental sustainability.

Founded in 2012, LiveOak Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas. It focuses on technology and technology-driven services across Texas, typically investing at the seed stage and providing full lifecycle support.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) is an insurance company headquartered in Richardson, Texas, that has been in operation since 1929. It specializes in providing health insurance services, along with property and casualty insurance products. As a subsidiary of the Health Care Service Corporation, BCBSTX is committed to delivering financially sound healthcare coverage to its members, focusing on the well-being and health needs of individuals and families across Texas. The company is dedicated to adapting its offerings to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare landscape.

Silverton Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2006 by Bill Wood and Morgan Flager, the firm provides capital and mentorship to technology startups across the United States, leveraging an operating-focused investment team. It backs companies in software, internet, cloud services, enterprise software, and other technology sectors, with a focus on opportunities in the Texas region. It operates as a registered investment adviser, reflecting its formal approach to early-stage investing.

Founded in 2009, Capital Factory is a venture capital firm and accelerator based in Austin, Texas. It invests in seed-stage to later-stage companies across software, media, and technology sectors, providing resources, mentorship, and coworking space.

Service Provider Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2014 and based in Colorado. The firm focuses on early-stage investments, notably seed-stage opportunities, and participates as a co-investor in Series A rounds led by institutional venture funds. Its portfolio interests span a broad range of technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, cybersecurity, e-commerce, education technology, fintech, hardware, information technology, robotics, health, and cannabis.

Alumni Ventures Group is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, with offices across North America. It provides access to venture investing for individual accredited investors, particularly alumni networks, by offering diversified portfolios of venture opportunities and allowing members to invest alongside fellow alumni in ventures led by peers. The firm backs early-stage and later-stage opportunities across technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services, and other sectors, with a sector- and geography-agnostic approach. It typically invests between $10,000 and $3 million per deal and emphasizes the involvement of alumni connections and an institutional lead investor in opportunities. Alumni Ventures also offers focused funds to broaden participation, enabling accredited investors to access venture portfolios diversified by type, sector, stage, and geography. The model aims to democratize access to venture capital while maintaining rigorous selection standards through alumni networks.

Advantage Capital Partners is a United States‑based venture capital firm that provides growth equity, debt, and mezzanine financing to small and mid‑market companies, with a focus on underserved communities and state and local economic development. The firm invests across sectors including manufacturing, technology, business services, life sciences, and energy, and also supports real estate development projects with equity and debt. It typically makes initial investments ranging roughly from half a million to ten million in companies with modest sales, and may participate in larger follow‑on rounds or co‑invest with other firms. It uses senior debt, mezzanine debt, subordinated loans, and government‑guaranteed lending, and often pursues equity positions through preferred shares or convertible notes. Advantage Capital operates nationwide in the United States, with roots in New Orleans and offices in multiple states, and has backed thousands of jobs and housing projects as part of its mission to expand inclusive economic growth.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leads initiatives in food, agriculture, natural resources, and rural development. It aims to expand markets for agricultural products globally, foster alternative markets domestically, improve rural infrastructure, enhance food safety, promote nutrition education, and manage public lands collaboratively.

Founded in 2007, S3 Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas. It specializes in Series A to C investments, focusing on information technology, medical devices, enterprise software, SaaS, marketing, financial services, and sales sectors. The firm primarily invests in the Southwestern United States, with a focus on Texas and Austin. S3 Ventures typically considers equity transactions of $10 million to $20 million, aiming for exits through acquisition or IPO.

Capital Midwest Fund is a venture capital firm based in Mequon, Wisconsin. It specializes in early-stage investments across various sectors including life sciences, information technology, advanced manufacturing, B2B, and healthcare, with a focus on companies located in the Midwest region of the United States.

MassChallenge is a global startup accelerator supporting early-stage entrepreneurs across various industries. Founded in 2009, it provides mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities through its programs worldwide.

National Institutes of Health is a biomedical research agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, based in Bethesda, Maryland. It is the primary U.S. government organization devoted to biomedical and health research, conducting science through the Intramural Research Program and funding external research through the Extramural Research Program. The NIH comprises 27 institutes and centers and supports about 1,200 principal investigators and more than 4,000 postdoctoral fellows across basic, translational, and clinical research. It has contributed to major advances such as vaccines and therapies and is dedicated to advancing knowledge and translating discoveries into improvements in public health. Established in 1887, NIH operates as a central hub for medical research in the United States.

Next Coast Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2015. It backs early-stage technology companies, with a focus on Texas but pursuing selected opportunities in larger markets. The firm concentrates on information technology and related sectors such as retail, healthcare and e-commerce, providing early capital and hands-on company-building support. It leverages a strong industry network and a venture partner program to help portfolio companies scale, guided by macro trends and founders’ experience to identify attractive opportunities. Next Coast Ventures aims to back bold entrepreneurs building scalable businesses in large markets.

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is a state agency established in 2007 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. Its primary mission is to invest in cancer prevention and academic research to accelerate innovation in the field and enhance access to evidence-based prevention programs. The institute awards grants for a broad range of cancer-related research and for the implementation of cancer prevention services by both public and private organizations within Texas. All research funded by the institute is conducted by Texas-based scientists, aligning with its goal of expanding the state’s research capabilities and fostering the creation of high-quality jobs.

Serra Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Champaign, Illinois, that invests in technology companies across the United States and select international locations. The firm concentrates on early-stage and growth opportunities in information technology, deep technology, instrumentation, software as a service, devices, B2B, and agricultural technologies, with a focus on the Midwest and West Coast regions. Serra Ventures supports portfolio companies through strategic guidance, networks, and resources to help scale technology-enabled businesses.

Goldman Sachs is a global financial services firm that provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and high-net-worth individuals. It advises on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and other corporate actions; underwrites public offerings and debt; and helps clients raise capital through various markets. The firm engages in market making and client execution across fixed income, currencies, commodities, and equities, and offers securities services including financing and lending to institutional clients. Its asset management and wealth advisory businesses manage assets and provide investment solutions for a broad client base, including institutions and individuals. Headquartered in New York, the company serves clients worldwide and operates across multiple business lines to support capital formation, risk management, and investment activities.

Corsa Ventures, established in 2011, is an Austin, Texas-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. The company focuses on opportunities in Texas and the Southwest, investing in U.S.-based technology startups that leverage cloud, big data, mobile, and social technologies to disrupt traditional business models. Corsa's team brings deep operational experience and global networks, having led businesses from startup to Fortune 50 level.

Founded in 2005, Mercury Fund is a Houston-based venture capital firm with an additional office in Ann Arbor. The firm focuses on early-stage investments in technology-related companies across the United States midcontinent.

Austin Ventures, founded in 1979 and based in Austin, Texas, is a venture capital firm focusing on early-stage and mid-market technology companies. It invests primarily in the United States with a focus on Texas, particularly the Austin area.

Right Side Capital Management is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage, pre-seed technology startups in underserved segments of the ecosystem. It invests in a high-volume, capital-efficient portfolio, typically funding rounds of 50,000 to 500,000 and making roughly 75 to 100 investments per year. The firm targets opportunities across the United States and internationally, including Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and Western Europe, prioritizing companies with scalable products and prudent capital use outside major metro hubs. Since its inception, it has built a broad portfolio across many states. It commits to a fast decision process, often delivering a yes or no within two weeks to help founders establish momentum.

Bain Capital is a Boston-based multi-asset alternative investment firm that sources, funds, and manages investments across private equity, venture capital, credit, and public equity. Founded in 1984, it operates globally with specialized units focused on growth and buyout investments, life sciences, and impact-oriented opportunities. The firm backs companies across sectors including healthcare and life sciences, technology, software and data services, financial services, consumer, manufacturing, and industrials, spanning from early-stage ventures to growth equity and large-scale acquisitions. It emphasizes value creation through strategic support and partnerships, leveraging deep operating experience and a global network. Its life sciences arm targets pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and diagnostic companies; the Double Impact unit pursues market-rate returns alongside measurable social and environmental benefits; Bain Capital Ventures backs technology-enabled businesses from seed to growth across enterprise software, infrastructure, and services. The firm maintains offices in Boston and major markets worldwide, aiming to deliver competitive returns while supporting innovation and economic development.

Moonshots Capital is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas. It makes seed-stage investments in technology startups led by founders who are building products that re-imagine work and personal life in large and growing markets. The firm uses a disciplined investment process to identify companies with moonshot potential. It focuses on dual-use technology, fintech, consumer Internet, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Moonshots Capital is a registered investment adviser and supports portfolio companies through early growth to scale.

ATX Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2014. It backs early-stage technology companies in the United States, with a focus on Seed and Series A rounds. The firm targets B2B software, cloud technologies, APIs, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and related areas such as supply chain tech, insurtech, fintech, human resources technology, big data, advanced manufacturing, and marketplaces. It also considers opportunities in adjacent sectors and may participate in investments outside traditional early-stage fund structures. Through its differentiated portfolio approach, ATX Venture Partners supports companies that aim to disrupt industries and scale with software and digital platforms.

Mercury is a purpose-built early-stage venture capital platform dedicated to supporting transformative software startups in communities across America, particularly in Middle America. The company identifies and partners with exceptional founders, offering both guidance to new entrepreneurs and resources to experienced innovators. With a focus on operationally-driven investment strategies, Mercury has generated over $9 billion in value, facilitating rapid and sustainable growth for its portfolio companies. Through its comprehensive growth partner network, Mercury aims to leverage local assets and talent, fostering entrepreneurship and innovation within the regions it serves.

KB Partners, LLC, established in 1996, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Highland Park, Illinois. The company specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on the intersection of sports and technology. KB Partners typically invests between $1 million and $5 million in passionate innovators and experienced managers, aiming to build dominant new enterprises. The firm's investment focus includes sports-related products, services, and technologies, as well as internet products and services, information technology, and data analytics opportunities. KB Partners takes an active approach, working in partnership with entrepreneurs to help grow their businesses.

Founded in 2000, General Catalyst is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage and growth equity investments. It focuses on accelerating ideas, careers, and companies towards success by providing ongoing momentum and mentorship based on deep experience.

Brixey & Meyer Capital is a mid-market private equity firm focused on lower middle market and middle-market companies in the Eastern and Central United States. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in the Dayton/Miamisburg area with offices in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, it targets healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, and business services companies. The firm typically invests in businesses generating cash flow of about $1 million to $3 million and EBITDA of roughly $1 million to $4 million, and it takes controlling interests or preferred minority positions with board oversight. It emphasizes strengthening management and providing resources to execute growth strategies.

Strength Capital is a Michigan-based private equity firm founded in 2000 that targets mid-market companies across the United States, with a primary focus on platform investments and buy-and-build opportunities. The firm seeks opportunities in sectors such as consumer products, manufacturing, distribution, industrials, financial services, energy, transportation, and infrastructure, and typically invests in companies with EBITDA of about 4 to 20 million. It concentrates its activity in the Central United States, while pursuing value creation through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth to diversify and scale platform companies.

Founded in 2007, Storm Lake Capital is a private equity firm based in Troy, Michigan. It specializes in investing in middle market companies across various sectors such as manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses, with a focus on metal-forming companies within automotive, agriculture, heavy equipment, aerospace, and general industrial segments. The firm typically invests between $1 million to $10 million in companies with revenues ranging from $10 million to $100 million and EBITDA between $1 million to $20 million.

Revolution is a Washington, D.C.–based venture capital firm founded in 2005 by Steve Case, with an additional office in San Francisco. It backs technology-enabled startups that disrupt traditional industries and supports both early-stage and growth-stage companies, often taking leadership roles in financings and serving on boards. The firm operates a family of funds, including Revolution Ventures and Revolution Growth, and seeks opportunities across sectors such as consumer internet, software and services, media, financial services, healthcare, and other technology-enabled businesses. It emphasizes geography, aiming to back high-potential ventures in regions beyond traditional hubs by pairing capital with hands-on involvement and broad entrepreneurial networks.

The Riverside Company is a global private equity firm founded in 1988 and headquartered in New York. It makes both control and non-control investments in growing businesses valued up to US$400 million, seeking to partner with owners who wish to remain involved to help drive growth. The firm focuses on sectors such as business services, consumer brands, education and training, franchising, healthcare, software and information technology, and manufacturing. Riverside has completed hundreds of transactions and maintains an international portfolio of more than 80 companies across regions including the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The Houston Angel Network (HAN) is the oldest and most active angel network in Texas, recognized as a leading organization for early-stage investments in the United States. Since its establishment in 2001, HAN members have collectively invested over $61.7 million across 198 deals, with notable activity in 2014 when they invested $15.3 million in 66 deals. The network comprises accredited individual investors who are committed to supporting emerging companies through both capital and mentorship. In addition to individual members, HAN includes institutional members such as seed funds, accelerators, universities, and other entities that contribute to the innovation ecosystem. As a non-profit association, HAN does not impose fees on entrepreneurs, relying instead on membership dues and sponsorships for its revenue.

New Enterprise Associates is a venture capital firm founded in 1977 and based in Menlo Park, California, with offices in the United States, India and China. It makes investments across technology and healthcare startups at multiple stages, from seed to growth, including software, cloud, data, internet services, fintech, AI, e-commerce, and enterprise technology, as well as healthcare information technology, life sciences, medical devices, and biopharma. It also considers energy technology and infrastructure opportunities, such as solar, batteries and smart grids. The firm pursues a global approach, with activity in the United States, Asia and other regions, and supports companies through rounds of financing ranging from small to sizable investments as they scale. NEA focuses on building portfolios in software, IT services, consumer technology, and healthcare technology, backing ambitious entrepreneurs across sectors and geographies.

Green Park & Golf Ventures is a Dallas-based venture capital firm providing early-stage, seed-stage and growth capital to healthcare and life sciences companies in the United States. It targets healthcare technology, medical devices, therapeutics, healthcare services and related manufacturing opportunities, with a focus on North Texas while pursuing opportunities nationwide. The firm supports portfolio companies with strategic guidance, capital and access to a broad professional network built from its leadership’s decades of healthcare experience. Led by experienced executives with a background in building and selling healthcare businesses, Green Park & Golf Ventures aims to help startups navigate development, regulatory and commercialization challenges and accelerate value creation.

High Street Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm established in 1997, specializing in the lower middle market across the United States. The firm focuses on identifying and enhancing differentiated companies by employing tailored strategies that promote growth. High Street Capital invests its own capital, demonstrating a strong commitment to its portfolio. Their investment process involves thorough due diligence and a willingness to offer flexible solutions to business owners seeking liquidity. The firm emphasizes valuation discipline and prudent leverage to mitigate risk and maximize returns. High Street Capital's approach is characterized by a commitment to ethical standards and integrity, fostering trust among investors and business partners. They maintain a conservative orientation, prioritizing a deep understanding of business fundamentals while avoiding markets outside their expertise. This disciplined strategy has proven effective, as evidenced by the resilience of their portfolio during economic downturns. Overall, High Street Capital is recognized for its focus on building value and providing creative solutions in the lower middle market.

Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that backs science and technology companies across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage. It pursues transformative technologies and follows a founder-friendly investment approach that provides substantial support with minimal interference. The firm invests in ventures solving difficult problems across sectors such as aerospace and transportation, artificial intelligence, advanced computing, energy, healthcare, biotechnology, cybersecurity, fintech, consumer internet, software, robotics, and related technology fields. It has backed notable companies early, including SpaceX, Palantir, and Facebook, reflecting a history of partnering with ambitious founders to scale breakthrough technologies.

Brinker International, Inc. operates casual dining restaurants, primarily under the brands Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy. Chili's is known for its bar and grill offerings, featuring a menu that includes signature items such as slow-smoked baby back ribs, craft burgers, fajitas, and tableside guacamole. Maggiano's specializes in Italian cuisine, offering a diverse menu that includes appetizers, chicken, seafood, veal, prime steaks, and desserts. As of June 2013, Brinker International's system included 1,591 restaurants across 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as locations in various countries including Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the Chili's segment, reflecting its strong presence in the casual dining market.

Founded in 1987, MVP Capital is an investment banking firm headquartered in San Francisco, California. It provides advisory services including mergers and acquisitions, capital formation, restructuring, valuations, and strategic advisory. The company serves clients primarily in the renewable energy, telecommunications, towers, technology, and media sectors.

Insight Partners is a global software investor that partners with growth-stage technology and software companies. The firm focuses on growth-stage software, internet, and data services, with emphasis on fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, DevOps, and healthcare. Based in New York City with offices in London, Tel Aviv, and Palo Alto, Insight Partners has backed more than 750 companies worldwide and has more than 55 portfolio companies that have achieved an IPO. As of 2022, the firm reports over $75 billion in assets under management. It seeks to fund and work closely with visionary executives, providing practical, hands-on software expertise to support growth from initial investment through to IPO.

8VC is a technology and life sciences investment firm that partners with founders to develop transformational technologies and create long-term value. Its activities span sectors such as healthcare, logistics, software, energy, manufacturing, enterprise IT, and life sciences, with a focus on supporting early-stage and growth opportunities in the United States and beyond.

Headquartered in San Francisco with offices globally, Citi Ventures explores, incubates, and invests in innovative ideas across fintech, data analytics, commerce, security, marketing, property tech, distributed ledger technology, and digital assets. It collaborates with Citi colleagues, clients, and the broader innovation community to drive discovery of new value.

Founded in 2011, Geekdom is a collaborative startup community based in San Antonio, Texas. It empowers entrepreneurs by providing resources and opportunities to cultivate ideas into viable businesses.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Sputnik ATX is a venture capital fund that invests in early-stage startups led by maker-founders. It provides not only capital but also training and experience to help these companies win and grow. The fund's portfolio spans various industries, including revolutionary podcasting analytics and cat care.

M25 is a Chicago-based venture capital firm established in 2015 by Victor Gutwein and Mike Asem, focused on funding pre-seed and seed-stage technology startups in the Midwest. The firm supports portfolio companies across multiple industries, with a regional footprint spanning 24 Midwest cities in 11 states. Since its inception, M25 has backed more than 90 early-stage tech startups, aiming to accelerate growth and strengthen the Midwest startup ecosystem.

Founded in 2015, FJ Labs is a New York-based venture capital firm focusing on stage-agnostic investments in marketplaces and consumer-facing startups. Their investment range varies from $50,000 to $5,000,000, typically at seed or series A stages.

Founded in 1946, Fidelity is a leading privately-owned investment manager offering a wide range of services including IRAs, retirement planning, wealth management, and securities execution. It serves individual investors, businesses, financial advisors, and institutions worldwide, managing equity, fixed-income, and balanced mutual funds through global public markets.

Founded in 2011, Hyde Park Venture Partners is a Chicago-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. It focuses on high-growth technology startups across the Midwest, with an emphasis on software and tech-enabled businesses. The firm typically invests between $0.1 million to $2.5 million, co-investing with Hyde Park Angels. They actively mentor portfolio companies, supporting product development, business strategy, financing, and exit strategies.