Y Combinator is a startup accelerator based in Mountain View, California, founded in 2005. It has pioneered a new funding model for early-stage startups by investing a modest amount of capital, typically around $150,000, in a large number of companies twice a year. Over a three-month program, Y Combinator collaborates closely with these startups to prepare them for investor pitches and enhance their business strategies. Each funding cycle concludes with Demo Day, where startups present to an exclusive audience of investors. Y Combinator focuses on various sectors, including business software, education, healthcare, and financial technology, among others. In addition to initial funding, it offers ongoing support through its extensive alumni network. Since its inception, Y Combinator has funded over 630 startups, contributing significantly to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Silicon Valley and beyond.

500 Global, formerly known as 500 Startups, is a venture capital firm and incubator based in Mountain View, California, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in seed investments, primarily focusing on early-stage technology and financial services startups across various sectors, including biotech, e-commerce, fintech, and digital healthcare. 500 Global operates a four-month accelerator program, where it typically invests between $0.05 million and $1 million for a 5 to 10 percent equity stake in companies with at least $100,000 in monthly revenue. The firm targets a global market, with particular emphasis on regions such as the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Since its inception, it has invested in over 2,200 startups and supports the growth of innovation ecosystems through educational programs and partnerships. 500 Global also prioritizes investments in companies led by minority founders, reflecting its commitment to diverse entrepreneurial leadership.

Sequoia Capital is a prominent venture capital firm founded in 1972 and based in Menlo Park, California. The firm specializes in investing across various stages of startups, including seed, early, and growth stages, and focuses on sectors such as technology, healthcare, financial services, internet, and mobile. Sequoia typically invests between $100,000 and $1 million in seed companies, $1 million to $10 million in early-stage ventures, and $10 million to $100 million in growth investments. The firm operates globally, with significant activities in regions like Israel, China, and India, where it partners with dynamic founders to build successful companies. Sequoia's extensive portfolio includes notable firms and offers valuable insights and resources, benefiting from decades of experience in the venture capital landscape.

Kakao Ventures is one of the early-stage VCs in Korea, with a focus on everything mobile and software. Kakao Ventures believes in harnessing the power of startups to change their world. Their mission statement is to be the backers of smart entrepreneurs who set their courses, in the form of startups armed with a competitive edge, to solve real-world problems. Kakao Ventures specializes in helping entrepreneurs from super-early stages. They have a track record of identifying strong contenders and investing in startup teams at their nascency and also provide startups with access to the tightly-knit "Kakao Ventures Family" of portfolio companies that share the sense of camaraderie and DNA of game-changers.

Techstars Central LLC, founded in 2006 and based in Boulder, Colorado, operates as a startup accelerator and venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage technology-oriented companies. It specializes in a mentorship-driven accelerator program, selecting ten startups each summer to participate in a three-month incubation period, offering funding of $120,000 in exchange for equity. Techstars invests primarily in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, augmented reality, and IoT, while avoiding investments in medical devices, healthcare technology, and local service-oriented businesses. In addition to its primary accelerator, Techstars has various specialized programs, including those focused on music, retail, mobility, and social impact, with global reach extending to regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The firm prefers taking minority stakes, typically between six and ten percent, without seeking board representation or investor rights. Techstars has built a robust network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and corporate partners to foster innovation and growth within its portfolio, which includes over 1,000 companies with a significant collective market capitalization.

Korea Investment Partners (KIP) is a prominent venture capital and private equity firm based in Seoul, South Korea, with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Established in 1986, KIP focuses on investing in innovative companies across various sectors, including biotechnology, healthcare, media, financial technology, and information technology. The firm has a diverse portfolio that includes notable companies such as Kakao, Naver, and YG Entertainment. KIP manages more than 20 venture and private equity funds, with total assets under management amounting to approximately $1.8 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Seoul, KIP operates offices in Shanghai, Beijing, and Sunnyvale, showcasing its commitment to global investment opportunities.

As one of the largest and most active venture capital fund partners in Central and Eastern Europe our mission is to create new ways of equity funding for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises with high growth potential as well as more traditional businesses for the purpose of establishing a sustainable and competitive SME and enterprise ecosystem both in Hungary and in the region

Altos Ventures Management, Inc., founded in 1996 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, is a private equity firm specializing in early-stage investments in technology and consumer companies. With an additional office in Seoul, South Korea, Altos Ventures manages over $3 billion in assets and seeks to support companies throughout their lifecycle, from inception to global growth. The firm focuses on venture capital investments across various stages, including seed/startup to late venture, with a particular interest in sectors such as enterprise SaaS, FinTech, e-commerce, and consumer brands. Investments typically range from $0.1 million to $3 million, targeting companies with annual sales exceeding $1 million. Altos Ventures has been a lead investor in over 100 companies worldwide, favoring high-growth, capital-efficient, founder-led businesses.

Capstone Partners is a venture capital firm established in 2008 and based in Seoul, South Korea. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in sectors such as information technology, wireless technology, architecture, pharmaceuticals, online gaming, software, solid-state disks, and IPTV. Its primary investment focus is on companies in China and South Korea, particularly in the Seoul and Gyeonggi province areas. Capstone Partners aims to support entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and typically seeks to exit investments through trade sales. The firm prioritizes the interests of its investors, emphasizing effective management of their funds.

Blume Venture Advisors Pvt. Ltd., founded in 2010 and based in Mumbai, is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in technology-driven startups across India. The firm primarily targets seed to pre-Series A funding rounds, often being the first institutional investor in its portfolio companies. Blume Ventures invests predominantly in technology sectors, including fintech, e-commerce, healthcare, and consumer internet, while also exploring opportunities in alternative technologies such as clean technology and robotics. Investment amounts typically range from $0.05 million to $0.3 million at the seed stage, with follow-on investments between $0.5 million and $1.5 million. The firm adopts a collaborative investment approach, often co-investing with angel investors and other venture funds, and provides ongoing support and mentorship to its portfolio companies, fostering their growth and development over an investment horizon of 8 to 10 years.