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.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 and based in Alexandria, Virginia. It is dedicated to supporting research and education in science and engineering across a wide range of disciplines. The NSF provides significant non-dilutive funding, up to $1.5 million, to startups and small businesses through its America's Seed Fund initiative, which is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program mandated by Congress. With an operating budget of approximately $7.8 billion, the NSF is committed to advancing fundamental research and education, thus fostering innovation and technological development in the United States.

Service Provider Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2014 and located in Golden, Colorado. The firm focuses on co-investing in seed and series A rounds, primarily in collaboration with institutional venture funds. It targets a diverse range of sectors, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, cannabis, cybersecurity, e-commerce, education technology, fintech, hardware, information technology, robotics, and health. By concentrating on these industries, Service Provider Capital aims to support innovative companies at critical stages of their development.

Enhanced Capital, established in 1999, is a New York-based investment firm managing over $400 million. It specializes in providing flexible equity and debt financing to small and mid-sized businesses, promoting their growth and expansion. The firm's investment approach is practical and tailored, aiming to maximize the growth potential of companies poised for rapid growth. Enhanced Capital also invests in renewable energy, historic real estate rehabilitation, and affordable housing projects, often leveraging federal and state incentive programs.

LiveOak Ventures, established in 2012, is a Texas-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in the technology sector. Based in Austin, the firm provides capital and support to technology and technology-enabled services companies across Texas. LiveOak Ventures typically invests between $1 million to $10 million, taking a minority stake, and supports its portfolio companies throughout their lifecycle, from seed stage to growth.

Silverton Partners, established in 2006, is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Austin, Texas. The firm invests in technology companies across the United States, with a focus on business software, consumer internet, cloud services, and enterprise software. Silverton Partners provides not only capital but also mentorship, leveraging its team's operating background. As a Registered Investment Adviser, the firm manages multiple funds, typically investing between $0.2 to $2 million in early-stage companies.

Capital Factory, established in 2009, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Austin, Texas, with additional presence in Dallas and Houston. It focuses on investing in and accelerating early-stage companies, primarily in the software, media, and technology sectors. The firm provides resources, mentorship, and coworking space to its portfolio companies, connecting them with initial investors, employees, and customers.

Kickstart, established in 2008, is a venture capital firm based in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. It specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies, primarily in the Mountain West region of the United States. Over the past 17 years, Kickstart has supported over 100 companies, including notable successes like Lucid and Podium. The firm focuses on B2B, B2C, and software sectors, aiming to foster transformative technology companies in the region.

Alumni Ventures Group, LLC is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, founded in 2013. The firm specializes in seed and early-stage investments, as well as late-stage pre-IPO opportunities, with a flexible approach that is sector and geographic agnostic. Alumni Ventures aims to provide high-quality, diversified venture portfolios to individual investors, particularly accredited alumni from top entrepreneurial schools, who may not have had access to venture capital previously. The firm focuses on backing companies that have an alumni connection and are led by established institutional investors with expertise in their respective fields. Additionally, Alumni Ventures offers focused funds that enable accredited investors to access a diverse portfolio of investments across various types, sectors, stages, and geographies.

Advantage Capital, established in 1992, is a venture capital firm specializing in growth equity, lending, and mezzanine debt capital investments. It focuses on small businesses, particularly those in low-income communities and underserved areas, supporting state and local economic development efforts. The firm invests across various industries, including manufacturing, technology, business services, and renewable energy, with a typical initial investment range of $0.5 million to $10 million. Advantage Capital provides debt capital in forms such as senior debt, subordinated loans, and government-guaranteed lending, as well as equity capital to real estate development firms. It operates from multiple offices across the United States, with a headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Peterson Partners, established in 2003 and based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a private equity and venture capital firm that invests in a diverse range of sectors, including business services, software, internet, retail, consumer healthcare, and technology. The firm focuses on pre-seed, seed, early stage, growth capital, and leveraged buyouts, typically investing between $0.25 million and $25 million. Peterson Partners seeks to be a true value-add partner to entrepreneurs, providing not just capital but also strategic support. The firm invests in companies generating revenues of at least $5 million and EBDITA between $2 million and $20 million, and holds investments for 5-10 years. It considers majority and minority stakes, and co-invests with other private equity firms and independent sponsors. Peterson Partners has a strong track record, having invested in over 200 companies across the US, Canada, and other international markets.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a leading biomedical research facility in the United States, operating under the Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1887 and based in Bethesda, Maryland, NIH is the primary agency responsible for biomedical and health-related research in the country. It comprises 27 separate institutes and centers, each focusing on different disciplines within biomedical science. NIH conducts its own scientific research through the Intramural Research Program and provides significant funding for research at external institutions via the Extramural Research Program. With a workforce that includes 1,200 principal investigators and over 4,000 postdoctoral fellows, NIH has been instrumental in major medical breakthroughs, such as the development of vaccines for hepatitis and human papillomavirus, as well as the discovery of treatments for various health conditions. As the world's largest source of medical research funding, NIH continues to advance scientific knowledge and contribute to public health improvements.

Insight Partners, established in 1995, is a global private equity and venture capital firm headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in London, Tel Aviv, and Palo Alto. The company specializes in investing in growth-stage technology and software companies, with a particular focus on sectors such as Fintech, Cybersecurity, AI/ML, DevOps, and Healthcare. As of December 31, 2022, Insight Partners has over $75 billion in regulatory assets under management. The firm has invested in more than 750 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Insight Partners' mission is to partner with visionary executives, providing practical, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from initial investment to IPO.

MassChallenge is a global nonprofit startup accelerator headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 2009. It supports early-stage entrepreneurs across various industries, including technology, healthcare, and social impact, by providing mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities. With locations in Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, Texas, and the UK, MassChallenge connects high-potential startups with industry experts and investors to foster innovation and facilitate growth. The accelerator operates on a non-equity model, allowing entrepreneurs to maintain full ownership of their companies while benefiting from strategic partnerships and tailored training programs. Through its diverse initiatives, such as targeted accelerator programs like MassChallenge HealthTech and FinTech, the organization aims to drive impactful change and enhance the global innovation ecosystem.

Right Side Capital Management, established in 2010, is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage technology investments. It focuses on funding pre-seed rounds, making 75-100 investments annually in startups outside major tech hubs, with pre-money valuations typically ranging from $1M to $3M. The firm prefers capital-efficient businesses and aims to provide a swift investment decision, usually within two weeks. Since 2012, RSCM has invested in approximately 200 companies across 19 U.S. states and several international locations, including Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and Western Europe.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., established in 1869, is a global leader in investment banking, securities, and investment management. It operates in four primary segments: Investment Banking, Institutional Client Services, Investing & Lending, and Investment Management. The company provides a wide range of services, including financial advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, underwriting services for various securities, client execution services for fixed income, currencies, commodities, and equities, securities services, and wealth advisory services. It serves a diverse client base comprising corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals. Additionally, Goldman Sachs invests in a broad array of asset classes, including debt securities, equity securities, real estate, and private equity, demonstrating its commitment to driving growth and innovation across industries.

Cloud Equity Group, established in 2013, is a New York-based private equity firm specializing in providing debt financing solutions to mid-market technology companies worldwide, with a strategic focus on the rapidly growing sectors of web hosting and cloud-based infrastructure.

Founders Fund, established in 2005 and headquartered in San Francisco, is a venture capital firm that invests across various stages and sectors globally. It focuses on companies developing transformative technologies, with a particular interest in science and engineering ventures. These include consumer internet, biotechnology, aerospace and transportation, energy, artificial intelligence, and health. The firm's investment size ranges from $500,000 to $300 million, providing maximum support with minimum interference to its portfolio companies. Founders Fund is known for its founder-friendly approach and has been an early backer of prominent companies like SpaceX, Palantir, Facebook, and Airbnb.

New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is a prominent venture capital firm established in 1977, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with additional offices in the U.S., India, and China. NEA specializes in investing in technology and healthcare sectors, with a focus on enterprise, consumer, fintech, life sciences, and digital health companies. The firm engages with entrepreneurs at various stages of business development, providing support from initial funding to public offerings. NEA invests globally, with a significant presence in Asia, including China and India, as well as the United States. The firm typically invests between $0.05 million and $20 million per deal.

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm established in 2000, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with additional offices in North America and Europe. The company specializes in early-stage and growth equity investments, focusing on technology-driven businesses. It invests across various sectors, including consumer internet, enterprise software, fintech, health assurance, and crypto. General Catalyst provides not only capital but also mentorship and resources to accelerate the growth of its portfolio companies. To date, it has managed eight venture capital funds, totaling approximately $3.75 billion in capital commitments.

Moonshots Capital, established in 2014 and based in Austin, Texas, is a venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments. They focus on technology startups led by exceptional founders, targeting large and growing markets. The firm's investment approach is disciplined, aiming to identify companies with significant growth potential, often referred to as "moonshots." Their portfolio spans dual-use tech, fintech, cybersecurity, consumer internet, and web3 sectors.

Rockies Venture Club, established in 1985, is a Colorado-based non-profit organization focused on fostering economic growth by supporting early-stage entrepreneurial companies. It achieves this through hosting over sixty events annually, including the Angel Capital Summit and Colorado Capital Conferences, connecting startups with investors, and making direct investments. As an active angel group, RVC has made over 30 investments in the last two years. Additionally, RVC manages Rockies Venture Fund I, an angel sidecar fund.

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.

Next Coast Ventures, established in 2015 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, is a venture capital firm focusing on early-stage technology companies. It invests in 'Next Coast' markets, targeting high-growth startups in Texas and other non-coastal regions. The firm's investment strategy is guided by macro trends and themes, with a preference for sectors such as information technology, workplace, healthcare, retail, and marketplace software. Next Coast Ventures provides not only capital but also hands-on support and industry connections to its portfolio companies, aiming to facilitate their growth and success.

Flywheel Ventures, established in 1999, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with additional offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in seed and early-stage investments, focusing on information technology services and physical sciences sectors, including software, semiconductors, and clean technology. Flywheel Ventures primarily invests in companies based in the Midwest, Southwestern, and Rockies regions of the United States, with a particular focus on New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona, while also considering co-investments in California. The firm typically invests between $0.05 million and $1 million initially, with a 3:1 or greater target reserve for follow-on funding. Flywheel Ventures seeks to address key global challenges in information technology and urban systems, often taking a board seat and investing in syndicates to provide follow-on capital.

Bain Capital, established in 1984, is a global multi-asset alternative investment firm with over $100 billion in assets under management. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the firm operates through several business units: Private Equity, Public Equity, Credit, and Venture Capital. Bain Capital Private Equity invests in various sectors, including consumer, healthcare, industrials, and technology, across North America, Europe, and Asia. Bain Capital Ventures, the venture capital arm, focuses on seed to growth-stage investments in enterprise software, infrastructure software, and industries being transformed by data. Bain Capital Life Sciences, a dedicated life sciences investment platform, invests in biopharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and enabling life science technology companies globally. Bain Capital Double Impact, the firm's impact investing arm, builds great companies that deliver both competitive financial returns and meaningful, measurable social and environmental good.

Google.org is a philanthropic arm of Google, a multinational technology company. It funds and supports nonprofits globally, providing them with funding, tools, and volunteers. Google.org has committed approximately $100 million annually to these efforts, aiming to extend the reach of innovative nonprofits and create lasting global impact.

Foundry Group, established in 2007, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. It specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on information technology, Internet, and software startups across North America. The firm typically invests $250,000 to $500,000 in promising entrepreneurs, with a current fund size of $225 million. Foundry Group has invested in over 150 companies since its inception, supporting innovative ideas across various themes such as Human Computer Interaction, Implicit Web, Email, Glue, and Digital Life. Its investment portfolio is diversified across Colorado, the Bay Area, and other major tech hubs in the United States.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a United States government agency established in 1958, primarily in response to advancements in space exploration by the Soviet Union. Originating from the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, NASA has a long history of advancing aeronautics and astronautics. It gained prominence for its Apollo program, which successfully landed humans on the moon in 1969. NASA has since been instrumental in various space missions, including the development of the space shuttle, which provided regular access to space from 1981 until its retirement in 2011. The agency plays a key role in the International Space Station, furthering human presence in space through international collaboration. In addition to manned missions, NASA conducts extensive scientific research, exploring planets like Mars and monitoring Earth's climate through satellites. Its aeronautics teams continue to innovate in creating safer and more efficient aircraft. Overall, NASA's work aims to expand human knowledge and capabilities in space while contributing to advancements that benefit life on Earth.

Peak is a European venture capital firm, headquartered in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Stockholm, focusing on early-stage technology ventures. With a EUR 66M fund fully backed and managed by experienced entrepreneurs, Peak invests in founders across Europe, particularly in the BeNeLux, DACH, and Nordics regions. The firm specializes in scaling marketplace, platform, and SaaS companies, both B2B and B2C, from Seed to Series A and beyond.

Austin Ventures, established in 1979 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage and mid-market technology companies. It partners with talented entrepreneurs and executives to build businesses, focusing on sectors such as software, internet, and technology services. The firm invests in companies primarily based in the United States, with a particular focus on Texas and the Austin area. Austin Ventures typically invests between $0.5 million to $40 million initially, with total investments ranging from $10 million to $80 million, depending on the stage of the company. The firm seeks to be the lead investor and acquire majority or strong minority stakes, often seeking a Board seat in its portfolio companies. It also considers follow-on investments.

Mercury Fund, established in 2005, is a Houston-based venture capital firm with an additional office in Ann Arbor. It focuses on early-stage investments in technology-related companies across the United States, with a particular interest in the midcontinent region. The firm's investment focus includes SaaS, cloud, data, and artificial intelligence sectors, aiming to support innovative startups in these areas.

The Riverside Company, established in 1988, is a global private equity firm headquartered in New York. It specializes in investing in growth-stage companies, typically with enterprise values up to US$400 million, across various sectors such as business services, consumer brands, education, healthcare, software, and manufacturing. Riverside prefers to partner with sellers who wish to remain involved in the business, working collaboratively to drive growth. Since its inception, the firm has invested in over 480 transactions and currently has an international portfolio of more than 80 companies.

Arcadius Capital Partners, established in 2014, is a Calgary-based private equity firm with an additional office in Houston. The company specializes in mid-market investments, focusing on the upstream oil and gas sector in the United States and Canada.

ATX Venture Partners, established in 2014 and based in Austin, Texas, is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage software investments across the United States. The company focuses on leading Seed and Series A rounds, targeting disruptive and emerging B2B software, APIs, applications, frontier tech, and marketplaces across various industries such as Supply Chain, FinTech, InsurTech, and Future of Work. ATX Venture Partners also considers opportunistic investments in different stages and structures outside of their early-stage fund vehicles.

S3 Ventures, established in 2007, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Austin, Texas, with an additional office in Houston. The company specializes in Series A to C investments, focusing on early to growth-stage companies in the technology and healthcare sectors, particularly business technology, digital experiences, and healthcare technology. S3 Ventures typically invests between $10 million to $20 million per equity transaction, providing patient capital and substantial resources to support visionary entrepreneurs in building high-impact companies. The firm's investment strategy emphasizes the Southwestern United States, with a particular focus on Texas and Austin. S3 Ventures aims to exit its investments through acquisitions or initial public offerings (IPOs).

Fidelity International, established in 1969, is a privately-owned global investment management firm headquartered in Bermuda. It specializes in providing investment solutions and retirement expertise to a diverse range of clients, including institutions, individuals, and their advisers. The company offers a broad spectrum of services, such as stocks and shares, personal pensions, investment accounts, advice services, wealth management, and workplace pension administration. With over $379 billion in total client assets under management, Fidelity International serves approximately 2.4 million clients across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. Its mission is to help clients build better futures for themselves and future generations by offering world-class investment solutions and long-term investment strategies.

Accel, established in 1983, is a prominent venture capital firm headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with additional offices in San Francisco, London, and Bangalore. The firm specializes in investing in early and growth-stage technology startups, focusing on sectors such as software, cloud technologies, consumer services, enterprise, healthcare, fintech, and security. Accel's portfolio includes notable companies like Atlassian, Facebook, Slack, and Spotify, reflecting its ability to identify and support entrepreneurs building businesses that drive next-generation industries.

Warburg Pincus is a global private equity firm, established in 1966, with over $60 billion in assets under management. Based in New York, it has offices worldwide and invests in a diverse range of sectors, including energy, financial services, healthcare, technology, and real estate. The firm focuses on growth investing, typically committing between $20 million to $1 billion per transaction, and has an average investment period of five to seven years. Warburg Pincus seeks to partner with management teams to build sustainable companies, often taking a board seat and investing as a lead investor.

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.

Silicon Valley Bank, established in 1983, is a leading commercial bank headquartered in Santa Clara, California. It specializes in providing a wide array of financial services, including banking, treasury management, and international banking, to innovative technology, life science, and premium wine businesses, as well as venture capital and private equity firms. With a global presence through 27 U.S. offices and seven international operations, the bank leverages its industry knowledge, connections, and world-class service to support the success of its clients.

Salesforce is a leading cloud-based software company, founded in 1999, specializing in customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. It offers a range of enterprise applications, including Sales Cloud for sales automation, Service Cloud for customer service, Marketing Cloud for digital marketing, and Commerce Cloud for e-commerce. Additionally, Salesforce provides a platform for building custom applications and MuleSoft for data integration. Salesforce.org, a division of the company, donates and discounts its technology to nonprofits and educational institutions, fostering a culture of giving back. Salesforce Ventures, the company's venture capital arm, invests in enterprise technology startups globally, providing funding, access to the Salesforce ecosystem, and guidance from its executives.

Crosslink Capital, established in 1989, is a prominent venture capital firm with over $1.6 billion in assets. Based in San Francisco, California, the firm partners with early-stage founders disrupting enterprise and consumer technology sectors, typically at the Seed-Series A stage. Crosslink's portfolio includes notable companies like Chime, Coupa, and Postmates. The firm manages multiple funds, including Crosslink Ventures IV and VI, focusing on early-stage investments in software, energy technology, and TMT sectors across the United States and Canada. Crosslink also invests in public equity long/short strategies, with a focus on technology, across five principal sectors.

HPS Investment Partners, established in 2007, is a global investment firm specializing in non-investment grade credit. With over 200 employees, including 93 investment professionals, and offices in New York and nine other global locations, HPS manages approximately $30 billion in assets. The firm offers a range of investment strategies, from syndicated leveraged loans and high-yield bonds to senior secured debt, mezzanine financing, and asset-based leasing. HPS caters to companies of various sizes, providing customized investment solutions. Originally formed as a unit of Highbridge Capital Management, a subsidiary of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, HPS was acquired by its principals in 2016.

Citi, a global financial services holding company, operates through two primary segments: Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG). The GCB segment caters to retail customers, offering traditional banking services, Citi-branded cards, and retail services. The ICG segment serves corporate, institutional, and high-net-worth clients, providing a wide range of banking, financial, and investment services. Citi also manages approximately $4.3 billion in equity investments and committed capital through its global emerging markets private equity arm, CVCI. Additionally, Citi Ventures, the company's venture capital arm, invests in innovative ideas across sectors like fintech, data analytics, and digital assets, fostering growth and collaboration with Citi colleagues, clients, and the broader innovation ecosystem.

8VC, established in 1969 and headquartered in San Francisco, is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies across various sectors, with a focus on enabling industry transformation. The firm, which is a Registered Investment Adviser, partners with founders to develop transformational technologies, targeting sectors such as healthcare, logistics, biology, IT infrastructure, and government & defense. 8VC aims to create long-term economic and societal value through its investments, promoting innovation and global prosperity.

TPG, established in 1992 and headquartered in Texas, is a global alternative asset manager with a primary focus on private equity. It manages a diverse portfolio of active companies across various countries, serving industries such as technology, healthcare, and impact investing. TPG's investment strategies include growth equity and middle-market buyouts, with a long-term and hands-on approach to partnerships. The firm has a strong presence in Asia, having been one of the first private equity firms to invest in the region. TPG's global platform provides operational resources to support companies at all stages of growth, from inception to international expansion.

Wells Fargo & Company, established in 1852, is a diversified financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It offers a wide range of products and services, including banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance, to individuals, businesses, and institutions worldwide. The company operates through three main segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management. Community Banking provides retail banking services such as checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and various lending products. Wholesale Banking offers commercial banking, capital markets, and investment banking services, including corporate loans, lines of credit, and investment banking services. Wealth and Investment Management delivers personalized wealth management, investment, and retirement products and services. Wells Fargo also provides fund administration, middle-office, and operations services to alternative investment managers through its subsidiary, Wells Fargo Global Fund Services. The company operates through approximately 7,400 locations and 13,000 ATMs, with offices in 32 countries and territories.

BlackRock, established in 1988, is a global investment management corporation headquartered in New York City. It offers a wide range of services, including investment management, financial technology, and advisory services, catering to diverse clients such as institutions, intermediaries, and individual investors. BlackRock's investment focus spans multiple asset classes, strategies, sectors, and regions. Its private equity arm, BlackRock Private Equity Partners, founded in 1999, specializes in direct investments and fund of fund investments across various stages and sectors, with a global investment scope.

General Atlantic, established in 1980, is a global growth equity firm headquartered in New York, with additional offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The firm specializes in making large minority investments in growth-stage companies, focusing on sectors such as technology, consumer, financial services, and healthcare. General Atlantic employs a collaborative approach, combining sector-specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon, and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with exceptional management teams and build market-leading businesses worldwide.