Silverton Partners is an Austin, Texas-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2006 by Bill Wood and Morgan Flager. It targets technology companies across the United States, with a focus on the Texas region, and supports portfolio companies through capital and mentorship. The firm backs early-stage startups in software, fintech, cybersecurity, supply chain, healthcare, and related technology sectors, partnering with entrepreneurs to accelerate product development and growth. With a portfolio of more than 75 companies and more than 30 acquisitions and 4 IPOs, Silverton Partners has built a track record of value creation and exits. The firm manages over $844 million in assets and is known for active engagement and long-term partnerships with founders. Based in Austin, it seeks to help ambitious teams navigate growth and build disruptive companies across various industries.

LiveOak Ventures is a Texas-based venture capital firm in Austin that funds technology-focused startups across Texas, primarily at early stages from pre-seed to Series B. The firm pursues a hands-on, full lifecycle approach, partnering with founders to build durable businesses while actively supporting the Texas venture ecosystem, including UT alumni networks. Its portfolio covers healthcare technology, cybersecurity, education, real estate tech, and AI-powered solutions within information technology and related services. LiveOak emphasizes close collaboration with Texas-based entrepreneurs to foster local innovation and long-term value for portfolio companies.

Alumni Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, that expands access to venture investing for accredited individuals by co-investing with leading venture capital firms and enabling participation through various structures such as funds, syndicates, and investment clubs. It collaborates with top firms including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia, and Y Combinator and supports opportunities across pre-seed to growth stages, across multiple sectors and geographies. The firm emphasizes rigorous due diligence, transparency, and diversification, leveraging a broad network of alumni investors and partners to connect founders with strategic capital and resources. With a global footprint and active involvement in the venture ecosystem, Alumni Ventures aims to broaden participation in venture capital while maintaining disciplined, founder-friendly investing.

Service Provider Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2014 and based in Colorado. It specializes in co-investments in Seed and Series A rounds led by institutional venture funds, and operates multiple regional funds with a portfolio of 600+ companies and connections to over 400 strategic investors. The firm leverages its extensive networks of limited partners and CEOs to connect portfolio companies with potential investors, customers, and partners, while providing access to expertise and resources without imposing restrictive terms or seeking special rights. It supports portfolio companies with prompt assistance and covers its own legal fees, and operates independently of certain listed firms to focus on portfolio company growth.

Capital Factory is an Austin, Texas-based venture capital firm and accelerator that invests in seed-, early-, and later-stage technology companies, with a focus on software and related sectors. It provides capital and access to a broad network of investors, mentors, potential employees, and customers, helping founders scale through programs and corporate partnerships. With on-the-ground operations in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Capital Factory connects entrepreneurs across Texas to funding, talent, and first customers, supporting ambitious founders tackling growth and innovation in technology-driven markets.

Mercury Fund is a Houston-based venture capital firm founded in 2005 that invests in early-stage technology companies, with a focus on software and related sectors. The firm operates across the United States midcontinent and beyond Silicon Valley, maintaining an office in Ann Arbor to support a broader geographic reach. Mercury targets Seed and Series A rounds and backs entrepreneurs who leverage software, AI, blockchain, and other frontier technologies, aiming to help them accelerate product development, commercial adoption, and capital formation. The firm emphasizes an operator-led, hands-on approach, providing strategic guidance, go-to-market resources, and access to a network of growth partners to support portfolio companies. Mercury has backed more than 50 active portfolio companies and has reported value creation in the billions, including about 18 billion in value to date, while managing around 750 million in assets. Sectors of focus include fintech, retail, logistics, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, technology, and defense, reflecting a diversified software-enabled portfolio across regions outside traditional tech hubs.

S3 Ventures is an Austin, Texas-based venture capital and private equity firm that backs early-stage technology and healthcare technology companies. It concentrates on Seed, Series A and Series B rounds, with initial investments typically ranging from $500,000 to $15 million and potential follow-ons totaling $25 million or more. The firm emphasizes patient capital and provides resources to help entrepreneurs build high-impact businesses in business technology, digital experiences and healthcare technology. While primarily focused on Texas and Austin, it invests in U.S.-based companies within its sectors. Its portfolio includes more than 75 startups, with 40+ currently active and 35+ exits valued at over $3 billion.

Revolution is a Washington, DC-based venture capital firm established in 2005 by Steve Case. It funds technology-enabled companies across the United States, investing at early and growth stages and often taking board involvement. The firm supports ventures across sectors such as software and services, financial services, media and entertainment, health, energy, consumer products, and other tech-enabled opportunities. Revolution manages a family of funds, including Revolution Ventures, Revolution Growth, and Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, and operates the Rise of the Rest initiative to spotlight startup hubs outside New York, Silicon Valley, and Boston. Its approach centers on partnering with entrepreneurs to build companies that can scale from regional bases, emphasizing capital efficiency, access to talent, and lower costs of doing business in emerging markets. With headquarters in Washington, DC and additional presence in San Francisco, the firm seeks to fund companies across the United States and across stages, often serving as a lead investor in early rounds and pursuing growth investments in later rounds.

Austin Ventures is a Texas-based venture capital firm founded in 1979 and headquartered in Austin. The firm focuses on early-stage and mid-market technology companies, investing across sectors such as software, enterprise information technology, internet and digital media, and business services. It pursues a long-term, active partnership approach, often pursuing follow-on opportunities and seeking board representation, with a preference for opportunities in Texas, particularly the Austin area, while maintaining broader U.S. exposure. The firm positions itself as an active investor that supports portfolio companies through strategic guidance and capital to help them scale.

Corsa Ventures is an Austin, Texas-based early-stage venture capital firm that invests in United States technology, software, cloud data services, social networks, information technology, and consumer startups. Focused on Texas and the Southwest, it backs companies leveraging cloud, big data, mobile, and social technologies to disrupt established business models. The firm provides not only capital but also execution expertise drawn from leadership with extensive operational and entrepreneurial experience, helping portfolio companies scale from startup to growth stage. Its investments span technology and consumer sectors, with notable exits to large technology firms.

ATX Venture Partners is an Austin, Texas-based operator-led venture capital firm that backs early-stage technology companies, with emphasis on AI-native startups and B2B software across areas such as supply chain, fintech, insurtech, and the future of work. The firm also invests in AI-driven infrastructure, cloud technology, and related sectors including healthcare, industrial operations, defense and space, and financial services. It typically participates in seed to Series A rounds and provides hands-on support through go-to-market acceleration, talent and operating assistance, strategic finance, governance, and merger and acquisition readiness to help portfolio companies scale from early traction to durable outcomes.

Right Side Capital Management is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that targets early-stage, capital-efficient technology startups. Using a quantitative, data-driven approach, it makes rapid funding decisions for companies that are pre-product-market fit or early in their development, often with small rounds and modest valuations. The firm emphasizes speed and transparency, typically delivering a yes or no decision within weeks, and it seeks to build ultra-diversified portfolios across many portfolio companies. Beyond capital, it provides substantial post-investment mentorship and operational support, including guidance on sales and marketing and other growth functions, leveraging the founders' decades of tech experience and an expansive network. Investments span the United States and Canada, with activity focused on technology-enabled companies across these markets. Since its founding in 2012, Right Side Capital positions itself as funding startups that are underserved by traditional professional investors, operating like an operating company rather than a conventional VC and aiming to help founders accelerate fundraising and scale their ventures.

Green Park & Golf Ventures is a Dallas-based venture capital firm that backs early-stage healthcare startups, including medical devices, healthcare technology, and life sciences ventures. Founded by Dr. Clay Heighten and Carl Soderstrom, the firm leverages decades of clinical and operating experience to identify opportunities with strong management and sizable market potential. It offers strategic guidance, capital, and a broad professional network to help portfolio companies scale. With offices in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, the team focuses on opportunities in the United States, particularly in Texas, and seeks to support companies that address meaningful healthcare needs.

DVI Equity Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 2018 and based in the Southwest United States. It focuses on micro-cap and early-stage technology investments, often serving as first institutional money in Series A rounds. The target sectors include information technology, big data, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and fintech. While there is a geographic preference for the Southwest (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Colorado, Utah), fit and growth potential drive opportunities beyond location. The firm emphasizes strategic value and support to help portfolio companies scale, rather than capital alone.

Sputnik ATX is a venture capital firm and startup accelerator based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2017. It combines early-stage funding with hands-on training to help maker-founders turn concepts into growth-ready ventures. The organization runs an accelerator program with two cohorts per year, providing investments typically between 100,000 and 500,000 dollars through a SAFE note, alongside mentorship, sales and traction training, and access to a supportive founder-focused network. Its portfolio spans diverse sectors including aerospace, agriculture, biotechnology, consumer products and services, clean tech, and related industries, prioritizing founders' interests and transparency. The firm emphasizes a founder-first approach, does not take board seats or charge fees, and aims to accelerate growth by offering practical guidance and connections. Based in Texas and operating outside traditional Silicon Valley networks, Sputnik ATX supports early-stage startups through capital, mentorship, and community.

Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that supports science and technology companies across seed to late-stage investments, with a global reach and a focus on transformative technologies. It has backed notable companies such as SpaceX, Palantir, Facebook and Airbnb, and pursues a founder-friendly approach that provides substantial support with minimal interference across sectors including software, artificial intelligence, aerospace, energy, health, cybersecurity, biotechnology, quantum computing, and consumer internet.

Moonshots Capital is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, that makes seed- and early-stage technology investments. It targets moonshot opportunities in dual-use technology, fintech, consumer Internet, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, pursuing a disciplined process and providing strategic guidance to assist portfolio companies in scaling. The firm emphasizes founder mentorship and leverages its network to support teams aiming to transform large, growing markets.

Sonoran Founders Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The fund focuses on seed and pre-seed investments in technology startups across sectors including SaaS, marketplaces, artificial intelligence, fintech, Ed-tech, and healthcare information technology. It adopts a founder-focused approach, leveraging a network of experienced founders, builders, and investors to provide hands-on mentorship and access to institutional investors. Typical checks range from $500,000 to $1 million, and the firm targets companies at or near product-market fit. The fund concentrates on the Sonoran Desert region of the American Southwest: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Southern California, and Texas, and prioritizes underrepresented entrepreneurs developing disruptive technologies.

Targeted Technology is a San Antonio-based venture capital firm founded in 2009 that makes early-stage investments in technology-focused life sciences and healthcare companies across the United States. The firm concentrates on medical devices, life science tools, biotechnology, diagnostics, and specialty pharmaceuticals, including areas such as personalized medicine. It typically backs seed and Series A rounds, favoring ventures positioned to advance medical practice, improve patient outcomes, and enhance the efficiency or cost of developing and manufacturing life science products. Geographically, it focuses on the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States, including Texas, Alabama, and Georgia.

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm founded in 2000 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with additional offices in North America and Europe. The firm backs companies from seed to growth stages and invests across technology sectors, including software, consumer and enterprise tech, fintech, crypto, healthcare, and AI-related ventures. General Catalyst provides not only capital but strategic guidance to help portfolio companies scale and innovate. Over the years it has managed multiple funds and built a global portfolio of technology businesses, aiming to support resilient growth and transformative technologies.

Texas HALO Fund is a Houston-based venture capital firm that concentrates on early-stage investments in healthcare, biotechnology, medical devices, and information technology. It identifies promising opportunities across industries and geographies by prioritizing management teams with strong leadership and growth potential. The firm supports portfolio companies through active management, rigorous due diligence, and sector-specific expertise provided by managing directors, with the aim of delivering high returns while mitigating risk. Investments include convertible debt and preferred stock, and the firm pursues opportunities nationally, managing approximately $25 million in assets under management across four funds. It offers accredited investors access to diversified portfolios of 20-25 companies and seeks to build a balanced, high-potential portfolio of early-stage ventures.

HPS Investment Partners is a global investment firm founded in 2007 and headquartered in New York that specializes in non-investment grade and alternative credit. It manages assets across private credit, asset-based finance, and liquid credit strategies, and makes investments throughout the capital structure, including syndicated leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, privately negotiated senior secured debt, mezzanine, asset-based leasing, and related private markets. The firm serves institutional investors, financial advisors, and individual investors, focusing on risk-adjusted returns and long-term partnerships. It operates with a global footprint beyond New York through multiple offices. Originating as a unit of Highbridge Capital Management, part of JPMorgan Asset Management, HPS was reorganized and led by its principals in 2016. As of March 31, 2026, assets under management were about 193 billion, reflecting its scale in alternative and credit-related strategies.

Cottonwood Technology Fund is a venture capital firm based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that concentrates on early-stage investments in high-tech and deeptech companies. It focuses on sectors including photonics, micro- and nanoelectronics, advanced materials, robotics, health sciences and medtech, climate tech, energy transition, and advanced manufacturing, with activities across the Southwest United States and Northern Europe. The firm is registered as an investment adviser and aims to back technology-driven startups at the intersection of science and industry, supporting the growth of innovative hardware and related software-enabled solutions.

Trust Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, that provides capital and strategic advisory services to technology companies. The firm supports portfolio companies by helping them navigate regulatory and policy hurdles, including developing advocacy strategies and facilitating compliance, with a focus on enabling growth in sectors such as infrastructure, health, and energy. Through a long-term partnership approach, Trust Ventures aims to help companies scale while addressing evolving policy and market dynamics.

Sapphire Ventures is a venture capital firm with a global footprint, focused on enterprise software and artificial intelligence. Founded in 1996 and operating from locations including Austin, San Francisco Bay Area, Menlo Park, and London, the firm invests in both early-stage and growth-stage companies that have achieved product-market fit, helping them scale go-to-market, operations, and leadership. With more than ten billion dollars in assets under management, Sapphire seeks to back 'Companies of Consequence' that leverage AI and other software innovations, and it maintains a history of portfolio outcomes through public listings and acquisitions. The firm also acts as an operating partner, assisting portfolio companies with talent, customer development, and strategic connections, and it shares industry insights through its blog on AI trends and vertical markets.

8VC is a San Francisco based technology investment firm that backs ambitious companies creating lasting economic and societal value by building technology platforms that deliver operational intelligence to complex industries. The firm invests across life sciences, healthcare, AI, financial services, IT infrastructure, logistics, defense, energy, enterprise software and government, and emphasizes a portfolio-support approach to help founders scale transformational technologies with practical operating insights. It pursues industry-wide impact by advancing platform-driven growth and real-world applications that map to business operations. In addition to traditional investments, 8VC runs programs such as the Fellowship and Build to support portfolio companies and create new ventures.

New Enterprise Associates is a global venture capital firm founded in 1977 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California. It provides capital and operational support to technology and healthcare companies across stages from seed to IPO, with investments spanning software, consumer technology, medical devices, life sciences, AI, energy technology, and related sectors. The firm collaborates with founders on product development, market expansion, and navigating evolving markets, offering domain expertise alongside funding. With a long-standing track record of portfolio companies achieving IPOs and strategic acquisitions, NEA maintains a global footprint and active involvement in the United States, Asia and other regions, supporting companies throughout their growth lifecycle.

Breyer Capital is a global venture capital and private equity firm founded by Jim Breyer in 2006. It focuses on catalyzing high‑impact entrepreneurs in the United States and China through long‑term, idea‑driven strategic investments in core areas such as social media, entertainment, digital health and financial technology. The firm partners with early‑stage startups, fast‑growing companies, and established global players, drawing on founder passion and a network of experienced investors to shape opportunities. It views artificial intelligence, machine learning and related technologies as key drivers of transformation across sectors, including AI, healthcare, consumer software, media and gaming, fintech, enterprise software and data security. Notable investments include Facebook, Etsy and Marvel Entertainment, reflecting a track record in consumer internet and technology. Breyer Capital seeks to help portfolio companies scale and navigate growth, IPOs or strategic exits through strategic guidance and capital.

Gaingels is a global venture investment syndicate focused on supporting LGBTQ-founded and led companies and advancing inclusive leadership across stages from early to growth. Founded in 2014 and based in New York, it maintains a portfolio of 130+ companies and about $70 million deployed, and it co-invests with other venture capital partners. Beyond capital, Gaingels assists portfolio firms in recruiting diverse talent for C-suite and board roles and fosters a worldwide community of investors, operators, and entrepreneurs dedicated to positive social change through business.

New Mexico Angels is an angel investment group and private membership organization based in Albuquerque, founded in 1999. It brings together qualified angel investors to invest in seed and early-stage companies in New Mexico and the Southwest, with a focus on information technology sectors and a goal of delivering strong financial returns while accelerating portfolio companies toward market leadership.

Kickstart is a Utah-based venture capital firm founded in 2008 that focuses on seed and early-stage technology startups in the Mountain West. It provides smart capital, a connected founder community, and expert guidance to help portfolio companies grow, drawing on deep regional know-how and a hands-on approach. The firm operates from Cottonwood Heights, Utah, and supports founders building software and technology companies across Utah and neighboring states.

Khosla Ventures is a California-based venture capital firm founded in 2004 and headquartered in Menlo Park. It provides venture assistance, strategic advice, and capital to entrepreneurs and invests across stages in technology-driven sectors, including artificial intelligence, healthcare, sustainability, digital health, consumer technology, and related deep-tech fields. The firm seeks to back bold ideas with a long-term perspective, often partnering with founders to help scale innovative products and business models. It emphasizes support beyond funding, offering strategic guidance to build companies with durable value and focusing on transformative technologies that address large markets.

Flywheel Ventures is a Santa Fe-based venture capital firm that provides seed to early-stage capital to technology and physical sciences companies across the United States, with a regional emphasis on the Southwest and Rocky Mountains (including New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona). The firm invests in information technology, software and software-as-a-service, internet, semiconductors, communications, data services, optics, energy, water technology, and related sectors, and may back optics and advanced materials; it sometimes leads investments and seeks board seats, often co-investing with other firms to support follow-on rounds. It supports pre-seed to growth-stage opportunities through capital and strategic guidance, and operates with founder-centric principles. The team is led by experienced partners and operates from Santa Fe and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Floodgate is a venture capital firm founded in 2006 and based in California. It specializes in seed and early-stage technology investments across North America, including software, media, e-commerce, security, big data, and related tech sectors. The firm typically writes checks ranging from about 0.15 million to 1 million and often co-invests with other experienced private investors or top-tier venture firms. It emphasizes backing extraordinary founders and serves as a hands-on partner to help startups navigate the critical early stages and pursue scalable growth.

Pelion Venture Partners is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based venture capital firm founded in 1986 that focuses on early-stage technology companies across the United States. The firm backs B2B software, enterprise software, SaaS, cloud services, fintech, cybersecurity and related IT sectors, often taking a hands-on, collaborative approach and seeking to act as a lead investor with board involvement in portfolio companies. With a track record of supporting entrepreneurs from seed through expansion, Pelion emphasizes leveraging its industry experience to help early-stage companies scale, including a regional focus in the Intermountain West alongside national opportunities. The team is known for deep expertise in software and technology-enabled business models and for aligning capital with strategic guidance to accelerate growth.

EnCap Investments is a Houston-based private equity and growth capital firm founded in 1988 that focuses on North American energy opportunities. It provides capital for growth, reserve acquisition, and drilling projects across upstream and midstream oil and gas, with an emphasis on energy transition assets. The company typically invests in upstream and midstream operators, including natural gas pipelines, gathering, processing, and storage facilities, energy infrastructure, and associated services such as oil gathering, transportation, and produced water handling. It also supports carbon capture and sequestration and CO2 handling activities. EnCap targets investments in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and works with management teams to build scalable platforms. With a history of raising substantial capital and backing hundreds of teams over multiple decades, EnCap emphasizes disciplined investment, ESG considerations, and long-term value creation in evolving energy markets.

Kimmeridge is an energy-focused alternative asset manager founded in 2012 and headquartered in New York, with an in-house operations team in Denver. It concentrates on the energy sector and seeks to accelerate carbon neutrality by building environmentally responsible, low-cost energy assets. The firm pursues a three-pillar strategy: private investments in unconventional US oil and gas assets at the front end of the cost curve, public engagement to advocate for shareholders and drive reforms in energy companies, and carbon solutions to speed the energy transition toward net zero by leveraging its asset base and land aggregation capabilities. It supports its investments with fundamental research, sustainability reporting, and a commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. The company maintains a global presence, including a UK affiliate regulated by the FCA and a presence in Abu Dhabi Global Market, and has raised over $6.5 billion of limited partner commitments since inception. The team exceeds 65 professionals across investment and operations led by noted executives.

SOSV is a global venture capital firm focused on deep tech investments that address human and planetary health, backing seed-to-growth startups and delivering hands-on programs that accelerate product development, customer acquisition, and fundraising. It operates accelerator-like facilities for deep tech founders, including IndieBio in San Francisco and New York (referred to as SOSV SF & NY) and HAX in Newark, offering labs, offices, engineering support, mentorship, and broad access to an investor network. With a large and active portfolio across dozens of countries, SOSV supports hundreds of pre-seed and follow-on investments annually from its New Jersey base and through its global network, emphasizing long-term founder support beyond initial funding and fostering collaboration among portfolio companies and investors.

Quake Capital is an accelerator and seed-stage venture firm founded in 2016 with a global footprint in the United States and Europe. It operates accelerator programs in Austin, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, and Cologne, and engages in seed investments across diverse industries, providing hands-on support, mentorship, and access to a broad founder network. The firm emphasizes a data-driven, collaborative approach and maintains partnerships with corporate entities to help startups scale and access follow-on capital. Its European initiatives target early-stage ventures in consumer-focused 5G technologies, immersive entertainment, digital health, and education, reflecting an international model that supports companies from formation through growth.

Rebel Venture Fund is a university-affiliated venture capital group based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Backed by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, it operates as a student-led fund that makes equity investments in private high-growth companies across Nevada and the broader Southwest. The fund follows a thesis-driven approach and targets sectors such as hospitality and hospitality technology, gaming and gaming technology, renewable energy, healthcare innovation, and logistics management. It supports entrepreneurs through capital and strategic guidance, leveraging the university's resources and student expertise to help early- and growth-stage ventures scale. In addition to funding, it offers opportunities for involvement and events that connect students with startups and investors, aiming to foster innovation and regional economic growth.

Norwest Venture Partners is a global venture capital and growth equity firm founded in 1961 and headquartered in California. It backs early- and late-stage companies across technology, consumer, enterprise, and healthcare sectors, offering capital plus strategic guidance to help founders scale. The firm has funded hundreds of companies and operates with a broad network of operators and partners to assist in areas such as talent, product, and go-to-market execution. Norwest invests across geographies with a focus on North America, Israel, and India and targets a mix of seed, venture, and growth opportunities, often taking lead or co-lead roles in portfolio companies. Its portfolio spans software, IT infrastructure, fintech, consumer services, and healthcare technology, reflecting a technology-driven, multi-sector approach designed to build durable, high-growth businesses.

Mountain Pacific Partners is a venture capital firm that backs early-stage life sciences, biotechnology, and healthcare startups. It is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with an office in Miami, Florida, and concentrates its investments in the Mountain West and Southwest United States.

Menagerie Investments and Holdings is a Chandler, Arizona-based venture capital firm that makes seed and early-stage investments in startups.

Tramway Ventures is a life science investment firm headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It concentrates on building disruptive life science companies in underserved areas of the Southwest by leveraging the region’s technology ecosystem. The firm emphasizes identifying and developing promising life science ventures and maintains a portfolio that reflects current topics and trends in the life sciences sector.

Liquid 2 Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Joe Montana, Mike Miller, and Michael Ma. It funds technology startups across seed and early growth stages, often investing alongside other investors, and supports portfolio companies with strategic introductions, mentorship, and access to its operator network. The firm focuses on technology-enabled sectors and seeks long-term partnerships with founders to help scale businesses.

BlueStone Venture Partners is a life sciences venture capital firm founded in 2018 by Mara Aspinall and Thomas Nickoloff. It invests in entrepreneurial life sciences companies at early and later stages, with a focus on medical devices, health information technology, advanced materials, diagnostics, and biopharma. The firm emphasizes opportunities outside traditional U.S. investment hubs, primarily within the Southwest United States, and leverages the regional ecosystem—universities, research centers, and industry advisors—to create value through strategic capital and partnerships with co-investors.

Founder Collective is a venture capital firm that backs seed and early-stage technology startups across sectors, with a focus on founder alignment, capital efficiency, and a long-term partnership approach. It supports companies from idea stage through IPO, emphasizing authentic founder–investor relationships, intrinsic value, and pragmatic, stage-focused investing. The firm is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with offices in Boston and New York City, including the SoHo area, and operates across the United States and beyond. Founded in 2009 by a group of successful entrepreneurs, it is led by general partners Micah Rosenbloom, Amanda Herson, and David Frankel.

Foundry Group is a venture capital firm based in Boulder, Colorado, established in 2007. It concentrates on early-stage technology investments in information technology, internet and software companies across North America, and operates multiple funds to back startups from seed to later stages. The firm partners with entrepreneurs to support software and digital businesses as they scale, drawing on experience as a long-standing investor in the North American tech ecosystem.

Active Capital is a San Antonio-based venture capital firm that targets pre-seed and early-stage investments in AI-native software, infrastructure, and business software companies. Founded in 2017, the firm typically writes initial checks around $500,000 to $1 million and may participate further as portfolio companies grow. It emphasizes partnering with nimble, scrappy founders aiming for product-market fit, providing hands-on support beyond capital, including mentorship and strategic guidance to help founders solve early-stage challenges. Active Capital seeks to participate in a company’s initial institutional fundraising rounds and can extend capital through subsequent rounds. The firm has a track record of backing technology teams with experience in software, cloud infrastructure, and AI, with exits through acquisitions by Flexera, Xenon, and Okta.

FJ Labs is a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Fabrice Grinda. It specializes in marketplaces and consumer-facing startups and is stage-agnostic, making seed to Series A investments with typical checks ranging from 50,000 to 5,000,000. The firm backs founders pursuing network effects and scalable models across consumer internet, e-commerce, fintech, and related sectors, aiming to support transformative growth. Its portfolio includes companies such as Alibaba Group, Beepi, BrightRoll, Betterment, Adore Me, and Earnest, reflecting a broad approach to marketplaces and consumer ventures. FJ Labs emphasizes passion, execution, and tenacity in founders and actively seeks new opportunities to back impactful businesses.