Are you frustrated by lists of “pre-seed” investors that don’t really invest at the pre-seed stage? We’ve got the perfect list for you!
Check out this list of the top pre-seed venture capital firms, ranked by what percentage of their investments were in the pre-seed or earlier rounds, including angel and convertible note or SAFE rounds. Our list is based on actual data, not someone’s random definition or opinion. (One such “pre-seed” fund included in a number of other lists, for example, has only made 5% of its investments at the pre-seed stage or earlier?—hardly a true pre-seed fund.)
All the firms in this list are based in the U.S. and have made at least 20% of their investments in pre-seed or earlier rounds, according to Crunchbase. We think that it’s a pretty low bar, to be honest, but there were only four (4) funds in our research with more than 50% pre-seed stage investments, so we had to broaden our criteria. In addition, we only included those funds with at least 10 investments and that have made at least one investment in 2022, implying that they are actively investing.
More Resources: Top Pre-Seed Funds | Top Funds Investing in Women | Top Black-Led Funds | Top Latinx-Led Funds | Top Angel Investors | Best Startup Accelerators | Top FinTech Seed Funds | Top Health Tech Seed Funds | Angel Investor Guide
Now onto our list of the top pre-seed funds actually investing in pre-seed startups.
Beta Boom
Beta Boom invests in pre-seed software startups building the future for women and multiracial consumers with a particular emphasis on FinTech, Digital Health, EdTech and Consumer Internet. Beta Boom focuses on exceptional founders from diverse life, educational, and professional backgrounds and based in rising tech hubs across the U.S.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 82%
Total Investments: 17
Top Verticals: Digital Health, Fintech, EdTech
Website: https://betaboom.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/beta-boom
Forum Ventures
Forum is a NYC-based fund and program investing in early-stage B2B SaaS companies.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 67%
Total Investments: 326
Top Verticals: Health Care, FoW, Supply Chain, FinTech, AI, Ecomm
Website: www.forumvc.com
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/forumventures
2048 Ventures
We are a thesis-driven investor and invest in next generation platforms — APIs, data, infrastructure, marketplaces, and specific types of vertical SaaS. We invest across different verticals, but spend most of our time thinking about: Biotechnology, Digital Health, AI/ML, Robotics, AR/VR, IoT, Hardware, Blockchain, Climate, Energy, Space, Mobility, Logistics, Security, Developer Tools, and anything else Deep Tech.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 59%
Total Investments: 70
Top Verticals: Biotech, Digital Health, AI/ML
Website: https://www.2048.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/2048-ventures
Unshackled Ventures
Unshackled Ventures invests in “visionary immigrants” and is “the best place for U.S. immigrants to launch a company, no matter their current work authorization – from student visas to being a new U.S. citizen.”
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 56%
Total Investments: 72
Top Verticals: Healthcare, AI/ML, E-Commerce
Website: https://www.unshackledvc.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/unshackled-ventures
FullCircle
FullCircle is a perpetual pre-seed fund investing in tomorrow’s workforce.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 54%
Total Investments: 13
Top Verticals: SaaS, HR, Healthcare
Website: https://www.buildingfullcircle.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/fullcircle-c7b1
Devlabs
Devlabs is a micro venture capital firm investing in North America, South America and the Caribbean. We manage an 8 million USD fund for pre-seed investment in software startups and are closing a 21 million USD fund for agriculture and renewable energy.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 52%
Total Investments: 25
Top Verticals: Fintech, AI, B2B, SaaS
Website: https://devlabs.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/devlabs
First Check Ventures
We make early and transformational investments in companies that have the potential to do great things. Our dedicated team is made up of seasoned investors who are looking to partner with hard-working, visionary entrepreneurs.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 38%
Total Investments: 29
Top Verticals: Fintech, E-Commerce, Food Tech
Website: https://www.firstcheckventures.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/first-check-ventures
Good Growth Capital
Good Growth Capital specializes in finding, cultivating, and assessing complex science and deep-tech start-ups.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 36%
Total Investments: 73
Top Verticals: GreenTech, BioMed Tech
Website: https://www.goodgrowthvc.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/good-growth-capital
27V
27V (Twenty-Seven Ventures) leads first founding rounds for thoughtful founders building the future of learning and labor. The Fund invests $50-$500k in global EdTech and Future of Work startups, leading Pre-Seed rounds and investing at Seed. Our support extends beyond capital and gives our portfolio founders access to weekly group calls with founders & operators from round the world to share insights, talk best practices and build relationships.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 35%
Total Investments: 20
Top Verticals: Future of Work, EdTech
Website: https://www.27v.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/twenty-seven-ventures
Hustle Fund
Hustle Fund is a venture capital fund investing in fast-executing teams at the pre-seed and seed stages.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 34%
Total Investments: 149
Top Verticals: FinTech, Healthcare, AI/ML
Website: https://www.hustlefund.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/hustle-fund
Yes VC
We are Yes VC, comprised of Caterina Fake, Jyri Engeström, Julie Liao and David Pickerell. We fund great companies at the Pre-Seed and Seed stages.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 33%
Total Investments: 24
Top Verticals: E-Commerce, SaaS, AI/ML
Website: https://yes.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/yes-vc
Launchpad Capital
LaunchPad Capital builds and invests in pre-seed and seed stage Fintech companies.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 33%
Total Investments: 12
Top Verticals: FinTech, AI/ML, EdTech
Website: http://www.launchpad.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/launchpad-capita
RareBreed Ventures
RareBreed Ventures is a pre-seed fund that invests in technology companies. It allows angel investors to become limited partners for larger funds down the line.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 32%
Total Investments: 31
Top Verticals: Fintech, E-Commerce, Marketplace
Website: https://rarebreed.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/rarebreed-ventures-c8f7
The Fund
The Fund is a first-of-its-kind early-stage venture fund created by founders for founders to support the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 32%
Total Investments: 180
Top Verticals: Health Care, E-Commerce, FinTech
Website: https://www.thefund.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/the-fund
Surface Ventures
Surface Ventures is a seed and pre-seed venture capital firm focused on partnering with B2B software companies.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 32%
Total Investments: 25
Top Verticals: SaaS, CRM, Analytics
Website: https://surface.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/the-fund
Motivate Venture Capital
Motivate Venture Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in Pre-seed and Seed-stage companies across the US and Canada.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 31%
Total Investments: 35
Top Verticals: FinTech, Education, SaaS
Website: https://motivate.vc/about/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/motivate-venture-capital
Fulgur Ventures
We invest in early stage startups focused on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 29%
Total Investments: 38
Top Verticals: Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, FinTech
Website: https://fulgur.ventures/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/fulgur-venture
SWAN Venture Fund
SWAN Venture Fund is a Seattle-based fund leading in pre-seed rounds.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 29%
Total Investments: 21
Top Verticals: Medical Device, Health Care, Biotechnology
Website: www.swanventurefund.com
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/swan-venture-group
Hannah Grey
Hannah Grey is a venture fund investing platform.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 29%
Total Investments: 14
Top Verticals: Health Care, Education, Wellness, EdTech
Website: http://www.hannahgrey.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/hannah-grey
NFX
NFX operates as a pre-seed and seed stage VC that is transforming how true innovators are funded.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 28%
Total Investments: 307
Top Verticals: E-Commerce, Marketplace, FinTech
Website: www.nfx.com
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/nfxcapital
Bolt
Bolt is a pre-seed venture firm investing where the digital and physical world intersect.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 28%
Total Investments: 106
Top Verticals: Health Care, Hardware, Manufacturing
Website: https://bolt.io/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/bolt-io
WXR Fund
The WXR Fund invests in startups in the XR industry that are committed to balanced gender representation.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 27%
Total Investments: 11
Top Verticals: Virtual Reality, Health Care, Augmented Reality
Website: https://www.wxrfund.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/women-in-xr
Notation Capital
Notation Capital is a pre-seed venture capital firm that work with technical founding teams. Notation Capital focus on early-stage technical teams, often pre-market or even pre-product, primarily in New York, and provide capital and support to help go-to-market and scale the company.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 25%
Total Investments: 68
Top Verticals: Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Health Care, Financial Services
Website: https://notation.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/notation-capital-2
Lombardstreet Ventures
Lombardstreet Ventures operates as a pre-seed venture capital firm. It draws from talents around the world and fosters the creation of Silicon Valley Realities. The company consists of a team of seasoned executives works hand in hand with a small group of highly selected entrepreneurs. Expertise in funding and guidance is offered, to ensure the creation of successful companies in the US.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 24%
Total Investments: 41
Top Verticals: SaaS, Analytics, FinTech
Website: https://www.lombardstreet.io/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/lombardstreet-io
1517 Fund
1517 supports teams with pre-seed and seed funding for technology startups. Their focus is on makers, hackers, and scientists interested in working outside tracked institutions because we believe that the path geared towards higher education is not for all. They motivate people to work on what they’re passionate about, to learn by doing, and to create new technologies.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 24%
Total Investments: 66
Top Verticals: Health Care, SaaS, Mobile Apps
Website: www.1517fund.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/1517-fund
Boost VC
Boost VC is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies focusing on cryptocurrency, virtual, and augmented reality.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 24%
Total Investments: 273
Top Verticals: Virtual Reality, Bitcoin, Blockchain
Website: https://www.boost.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/boostfunder
Ascend
Ascend is the most active pre-seed venture capital fund in the Pacific Northwest.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 24%
Total Investments: 46
Top Verticals: SaaS, E-Commerce, AI/ML, B2B
Website: www.ascend.vc
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ascend-vc
E²JDJ
E²JDJ is an early-stage venture firm investing globally in food and agriculture technology and science.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 23%
Total Investments: 13
Top Verticals: Foodtech, Agtech
Website: https://www.e2jdj.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/e²jdj
TheVentureCity
TheVentureCity is a global early stage venture fund, investing in product-centric startups across the US, Europe and Latam. Our data-driven nature allows us to see beyond borders, knowing talent has no zip code.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 23%
Total Investments: 103
Top Verticals: SaaS, AI/ML, Health Care, E-Commerce
Website: www.theventure.city
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/the-venture-city
Space.VC
Investing in world-class Space Tech founders and startups at pre-seed to Series A stage primarily.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 23%
Total Investments: 13
Top Verticals: Aerospace, Space Travel, Robotics
Website: https://www.spacevc.co/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/space-vc
Polymath Capital
Polymath Capital is a remote-first firm that invests in pre-seed and seed stage companies with an emphasis on community, longevity, and financial democratization. As an operator-led venture capital firm, we partner with ambitious founders to build the next generation of market-changing companies.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 23%
Total Investments: 13
Top Verticals: Health Care, FinTech, AI
Website: www.polymathcp.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/polymath-capital-partners
VitalizeVC
VitalizeVC is an early-stage VC fund investing in high potential B2B technology startups in future of work and future of learning.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 23%
Total Investments: 35
Top Verticals: SaaS, Analytics, Education, FinTech
Website: www.vitalize.vc/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/vitalize-vc
Side Door Ventures
Side Door Ventures is a venture capital firm specializing in pre-seed through Series B startup investments.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 23%
Total Investments: 22
Top Verticals: FinTech, Blockchain, E-Commerce, Biotechnology
Website: https://sidedoorventures.co/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/side-door-ventures
Halogen Ventures
Halogen Ventures is a Los Angeles, California based Venture Capital fund focused on investing in early stage consumer technology startups with a female in the founding team. Halogen Ventures invests in pre-seed, seed and series A companies creating groundbreaking technologies and products in the consumer space.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 22%
Total Investments: 109
Top Verticals: E-Commerce, Fashion, Retail, Education
Website: https://halogenvc.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/halogen-ventures
Interlace Ventures
Interlace Ventures is an early stage fund investing in founders reimagining commerce.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 22%
Total Investments: 23
Top Verticals: E-Commerce, Marketplace, Retail Technology
Website: https://www.interlacevc.com/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/interlace-ventures
XFactor Ventures
XFactor Ventures is focused on making pre-seed and seed stage investments in companies with billion dollar market opportunities that have at least one female founder.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 22%
Total Investments: 74
Top Verticals: Wellness, Health Care, E-Commerce
Website: www.xfactor.ventures/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/xfactor-ventures
The House Fund
The House Fund is a pre-seed and early stage venture capital fund focused on the boldest Berkeley startups.
Pre-Seed or Earlier: 21%
Total Investments: 73
Top Verticals: ML/AI, Health Care, Blockchain
Website: https://thehouse.fund/
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/the-house-fund
All other funds in our research did not meet our criteria of at least 20% investments in the pre-seed stage or earlier, minimum 10 investments total, and at least one investment in 2022.
We hope this list is helpful, and if you have suggestions on how to make it better, please let us know!
Additions or Corrections?
If you see a mistake or would like to recommend a fund that we missed, please email the author directly at sergio [at] betaboom.com. And sorry in advance if we missed your fund on our first go-round! I’m sure this is just the beginning.
Tell us about what you’re building.
If you’re seeking pre-seed or seed investment and think Beta Boom is a fit, reach out.
More Resources: Top Pre-Seed Funds | Top Funds Investing in Women | Top Black-Led Funds | Top Latinx-Led Funds | Top Angel Investors | Best Startup Accelerators | Top FinTech Seed Funds | Top Health Tech Seed Funds | Angel Investor Guide