32 Best Venture Capital (VC) Firms in Palo Alto, California

Hey, Palo Alto startups. Are you ready to level up? We’ve scoured the scene to bring you the crème de la crème of VC investors right in your neighborhood. This isn’t just about finding someone to sign a check; it’s about partnering with VCs who offer the brains, connections, and insight to supercharge your journey. 

From tech disruptors to innovative entrepreneurs, this guide is your key to unlocking the best venture capital investors in Palo Alto. Whether you’re in the garage phase or gearing up for your next big leap, these VCs can help you turn those big ideas into even bigger realities.

Neue Capital

NeueCapital Partners, a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, emphasizes investment strategies for emerging software businesses seeking long-term support and entry into the North American market. The firm, while maintaining a global perspective, has a keen focus on the European and Israeli software sectors, especially in the B2B space. Their approach is characterized by providing entrepreneurs with not just financial capital but also market intelligence, legal and regulatory advice, and strategic business partnerships. This holistic support system is designed to nurture the growth and success of their investments​​​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: Germany, Switzerland

Operating since: 2017

Investment Focus: European & Israeli B2B Software (SaaS, FinTech,MarTech, Vertical Enterprise Software).

Stage: Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series C.

Number of investments: 5

Number of exits: 0

Check size: $2M – $12M

Notable investments: Wyden, Zeotap

Founders/Key People: Stefan Friese

Website: https://neuecapital.com

Next47

Next47 is a global venture firm primarily built for enterprise founders. It was founded in 2016 and operates as the corporate venture arm of Siemens. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Next47 has additional offices in the US, Europe, and Israel. The firm is active in leading investments in early and expansion-stage companies focusing on various industries.

Next47 specializes in seed and startup investments, particularly in sectors like AI, AR/VR, Cybersecurity and Robotics applications, etc. It plays a vital role in accelerating the revenue growth of its portfolio companies by opening doors to global customers​​​​​​​​​​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, Germany, Canada, Israel, United Kingdom, China, Australia, France, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Norway.

Operating since: 2016.

Investment Focus: Enterprise DeepTech (Artificial Intelligence,Augmented Reality/AR, Virtual Reality/VR, CyberSecurity,Autonomous Transportation, IoT, Robotics,Advanced Manufacturing,AI Software/SaaS, Automation Technologies).

Stage: Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 334

Number of exits: 90

Check size: $1M – $50M

Notable investments: Verkada, Skydio

Founders/Key People: Lak Ananth

Website: https://next47.com

Accel

Accel, previously known as Accel Partners, is a popular American venture capital firm specializing in seed, early, and growth-stage investments. Accel’s portfolio includes top companies such as Dropbox, Atlassian, and Qualtrics. The firm’s growth capital investments focus on more developed companies, such as Atlassian and Qualtrics, requiring larger capital to expand their business​. Since their last fund closure in 2019, 10 portfolio companies have gone public, including notable names like Slack and UiPath. 40 companies have experienced mergers and acquisitions, like Qualtrics’s $8 billion acquisition by SAP and Segment’s $3.2 billion acquisition by Twilio​.

Headquarters: United States 

Investment Geography: USA, India, UK, Mexico, Germany, France, Israel, Brazil, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Spain

Operating since: 1983

Investment Focus: Consumer Internet & Media, Cloud/SaaS, Enterprise IT, Enterprise Software & Services, FinTech, Security, Health Care, Technology Enabled Services

Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C

Number of investments: 2451

Number of exits: 710

Check size: $500k – $100m 

Notable investments: Dropbox, Adobe, Cisco, Slack

Founders/Key People: Philippe Botteri, Andrew Braccia

Website: https://www.accel.com/ 

Acrew Capital

Acrew Capital is a venture capital firm with a unique approach to its investment practices. They believe in making decisions based on deep conviction and long-term commitment rather than following trends or reacting to market fluctuations. The firm operates two primary funds: the Acrew Long Term View Fund (LTV) for early-stage investments and the Diversify Capital Fund (DCF) for growth-stage investments, largely supported by LPs from diverse backgrounds. 

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, UK, Mexico, France, Switzerland, Canada, Israel, Indonesia, Colombia, Brazil, New Zealand, Pakistan

Operating since: 2019

Investment Focus: Security/Cyber Security & Infrastructure Modernized, Financial Services Rebuilt/FinTech, Work Reimagined (Enterprise/B2B, Software/SaaS), Data Interconnected, Community Activated

Stages: Series A, Series B

Number of investments: 179

Number of exits: 22

Check size: $1-50m

Notable investments: Coinbase, Discord, Gusto

Founders/Key People: Theresia Gouw, Mark Kraynak

Website: https://www.acrewcapital.com/ 

AME Cloud Ventures

AME Cloud Ventures, launched in 2012 and based in Palo Alto, California, focuses on seed to later-stage companies in the technology sector. They are particularly interested in companies building infrastructure and value chains around data, including areas like data stack, applications, mobile, and sensors. Founded by Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo, AME Cloud Ventures emphasizes the importance of great people in driving a company’s success.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: USA

Operating since: 2012

Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B

Investment Focus: Data-driven (Data Infrastructure, Cloud Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Blockchain, Enterprise Software, Application Platforms, Mobile, Sensors, Robotics, Telecom, FinTech, MedTech, MarTech) 

Number of investments: 383

Number of exits: 124

Check size: $1m-$10m

Notable investments: Nervana Systems, Evernote

Founders/Key People: Jerry Yang, Jeff Chung, Wretch Chien

Website: https://www.amecloudventures.com/ 

Artiman Ventures

Artiman Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that is sector-agnostic. They focus on investing in entrepreneurs who have the potential to disrupt multi-billion dollar markets. Artiman is known for investing in “white space” companies, which are startups with no identifiable competitors in new or emerging markets. They have an additional office in Bangalore, indicating their international presence. Artiman Ventures’ investments geographically span globally, with portfolio companies in countries such as Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, and Sweden.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, India, France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Sweden

Operating since: 2001

Stages: Series A, Series B, Series C

Investment Focus: Agnostic, DeepTech (Artificial Intelligence, Software, HealthTech, MedTech, Life Sciences, BioTech, FinTech, EdTech, CyberSecurity, Semiconductors, New Materials, EnergyTech) 

Number of investments: 162

Number of exits: 76

Check size: $2m – $6m

Notable investments: ApplyBoard, Visby Medical, 

Founders/Key People: Yatin Mundkur, Amit Shah

Website: https://www.artiman.com 

Costanoa Ventures

Costanoa Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments, particularly in the fields of enterprise software. They specialize in leading seed and Series A rounds, providing capital, networking opportunities, and operational support to innovative startups. Costanoa Ventures is known for its hands-on approach to working closely with entrepreneurs to build scalable and successful businesses.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, Germany, UK, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Mexico, India, Norway, Egypt

Operating since: 2012

Stages: Seed,Series A

Investment Focus: Enterprise Tech (Rethinking Infrastructure & Security,Data-Driven Intelligence & SaaS, Future Workforce & Marketplaces,Rise of the Developer) 

Number of investments: 203

Number of exits: 34

Check size: $1m -$10m

Notable investments: 6Sense, Quizlet

Founders/Key People: Greg Sands, Mike Albang

Website: https://www.costanoavc.com 

DAG Ventures

DAG Ventures, a venture capital firm, typically participates in funding rounds with an average deal size of around $25 million. They invest in early-stage, late-stage, and private equity ventures, focusing on areas like software, enterprise software, internet, mobile, and SaaS. This information indicates the firm’s active involvement in substantial investment rounds across various stages and sectors. 

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: UK, USA, Israel, Mexico, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Australia

Operating since: 2004

Stages: Series B,Series C,Series D

Investment Focus: Enterprise Software/Enterprise SaaS,Enterprise Infrastructure,Consumer Tech, Consumer Internet,Media,Digital Health,Mobile,FinTech,Cyber Security,CleanTech

Number of investments: 173

Number of exits: 128

Check size: $1m – $100m

Notable investments: Wix, Cisco

Founders/Key People: Young Chung, Nicholas Pianim

Website: https://www.dagventures.com 

DECIBEL Partners

Decibel Partners is an independent venture capital firm established in 2019 in San Francisco. They focus on early-stage investing and have made significant strides in pushing the boundaries of conventional venture capital practices. The firm’s investment areas include sectors like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, and they engage in Seed and Series A funding stages. Decibel Partners has a portfolio featuring companies like Abacus.AI, Pachyderm, and Cube.js​​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: UK, USA, Israel, Mexico, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Australia

Operating since: 2019

Stages: Seed,Series A 

Investment Focus: Enterprise Software, Enterprise Infrastructure, CyberSecurity,Cloud

Number of investments: 36

Number of exits: 4

Check size: $100k – $4m

Notable investments: Censys, Kaleidos

Founders/Key People: Jon Sakoda, Sudip Chakrabarti 

Website: https://www.decibel.vc 

Maven Ventures

Established in 2013, Maven Ventures is a venture capital firm focusing on seed-stage investments in consumer software companies. Based in Palo Alto, California, Maven Ventures has successfully achieved five unicorn exits across 50 investments, indicating a strong track record in identifying and nurturing high-potential startups. The firm specializes in backing founders with ambitious visions and the potential to build billion-dollar businesses.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, Israel.

Operating since: 2013.

Investment Focus: Consumer Software/Consumer SaaS (Mobile,Video Communication,Digital Health, Future of Retail, Self-driving Cars).

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 90

Number of exits: 13

Check size: $250K – $1M

Notable investments: Cruise, AngelList, Zoom.

Founders/Key People: Sarah Deshpande, Jim Scheinman

Website: https://www.mavenventures.com

Moment Ventures

Moment Ventures, founded in 2013, is a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies operating across a diverse range of sectors. Moment Ventures is known for its presence in both Palo Alto and New York City. The firm’s philosophy centers around investing in companies that are building technology solutions to reimagine the future of industries, particularly focusing on entrepreneurs who are reinventing business models across major industry sectors.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, Canada

Operating since: 2013

Investment Focus: Future of Work (Business at the Speed of Software/B2B Software,Future of Workers/Collaboration, Masters of the Machines/AI & Data Analytics)

Stage: Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+

Number of investments: 44

Number of exits: 9

Check size: $250K – $2M

Notable investments: vlPtela, WorldView Enterprises

Founders/Key People: Clint Chao, Ammar Hanafi

Website: https://www.momentventures.com

Morado Venture Partners

Morado Venture Partners is a venture capital firm that specializes in seed-stage investments, particularly in companies where data is a core aspect of their business. Founded in 2010 and based in Palo Alto, California, Morado Ventures focuses on investing in areas such as artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, robotics, computer vision, and health sectors. Their investment strategy revolves around supporting passionate entrepreneurs who are solving complex technological problems using both software and hardware solutions.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia.

Operating since: 2010.

Investment Focus: AI,Data Infrastructure,Industrial Internet,Robotics & Autonomy,Computer Vision, Health, Enterprise Software, Logistics,Data Analytics,Dev Tools.

Stage: Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 225

Number of exits: 49

Check size: $200K – $2M

Notable investments: ZipLine, Epic!

Founders/Key People: Ash Patel

Website: https://www.moradoventures.com

New Ground Ventures

New Ground Ventures is a venture capital firm known for its active role in early-stage investments. Founded in 2013 and based in Palo Alto, California, the firm has a significant footprint in the venture capital space. It operates as an investment platform, offering both funding and support to its portfolio companies.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, Australia, Canada, Germany

Operating since: 2013

Investment Focus: EdTech, FinTech, FoodTech,Consumer Brands, E-commerce, Digital Health/BioTech/Medical Devices, Enterprise/B2B, Software/SaaS, Future of Work, DeepTech/Robotics/Hardware.

Stage: Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 63

Number of exits: 17

Check size: $1M – $5M

Notable investments: Petal, YFood Labs

Founders/Key People: Suzy Wolfson

Website: https://www.newground.vc

NGP Capital

NGP Capital, established in 2005, is a venture capital investment firm headquartered in Palo Alto, California. The firm primarily invests in the digital health, intelligent enterprise, and smart mobility sectors. With a global presence, NGP Capital also focuses on cybersecurity, edge cloud, digital industries, and digital transformation. This diverse investment portfolio demonstrates a commitment to innovative and growth-stage technology companies.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, China, India, Germany, Israel, France, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Spain.

Operating since: 2005.

Investment Focus: Intelligent Enterprise (Enterprise Software,AI,ML,Data Analytics,Data Science, Sensors, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security,Computer Vision,IoT,),Smart Mobility (Logistics,Supply Chain, Ridesharing, Fleet Management,Marketplaces),Mobile (Chipsets,Connectivity,Networking,Mobile Software, Next-Gen Services).

Stage: Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 169

Number of exits: 52

Check size: $1M – $10M

Notable investments: AMD, Qualcomm

Founders/Key People: Paul Asel, Yao Ge

Website: https://www.ngpcap.com

Norwest Venture Partners

Norwest Venture Partners, also known as Norwest, is an American venture and growth equity investment firm founded in 1961. It is based in Palo Alto, California, and primarily targets early to late-stage venture and growth equity investments. Norwest is backed entirely by the banking giant Wells Fargo and recently rolled out its sixteenth fund, a $3 billion vehicle, marking the largest fund in the firm’s history. This demonstrates Norwest’s significant role and influence in the venture capital and growth equity spaces​​​​​​​​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, India, Israel, Canada, Australia, China, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, United Kingdom.

Operating since: 1961.

Investment Focus: Health Care (Life Sciences/BioTech,Health Care IT,Digital Health,Medical Devices/MedTech, Diagnostics),Enterprise (AI,Infrastructure,SaaS/B2B Software,Cyber Security), Consumer Internet/Marketplaces.

Stage: Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 1270

Number of exits: 297

Check size: $20M – $200M

Notable investments: Workato, Swiggy

Founders/Key People: Jeff Crowe, Jon Kossow

Website: https://www.nvp.com/

Conductive Ventures

Conductive Ventures, founded in 2017, is a micro venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, specializing in enterprise software and hardware sectors. The firm primarily invests in startup companies during their seed stages. As a venture capital firm, Conductive Ventures is known for its active involvement in the companies it invests in, offering more than just financial support. They emphasize the importance of building strong, authentic relationships and maintaining integrity in all their dealings.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, South Korea, Israel

Operating since: 2017

Stages: Series A, Series B, Series C

Investment Focus: Software (Artificial Intelligence/AI, Blockchain Technology, Enterprise Mobile, SaaS 2.0, Connected Services APIs), Hardware (10x Low Power Consumption, Industrial IoT, Robotics & Drones, 3d Printing, Autonomous Driving)

Number of investments: 38

Number of exits: 7

Check size: $2m – $50m

Notable investments: Sprinklr, Forte

Founders/Key People: Carey Lai, Paul Yeh

Website: https://conductive.vc 

Elefund

Elefund is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments, particularly in Pre-seed, Seed, and Series A funding rounds. The firm focuses on companies operating in the fintech sector and other innovative technological domains. Notable investments include Robinhood, which aims to democratize finance, and Calm, which helps manage stress and anxiety. Elefund supports bold founders who are shaping the future with transformative ideas​​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, UK, France, Nigeria, South Korea, Puerto Rico

Operating since: 2015

Stages: Pre-Seed,Seed,Series A

Investment Focus: FinTech, Consumer Hardware, Digital Health, HealthTech, TravelTech, PropTech, Sports,Enterprise Software, Cloud Infrastructure, Gaming, Marketplaces, HRTech, Aerospace, Logistics, Transportation

Number of investments: 71

Number of exits: 15

Check size: $50k – $1m

Notable investments: Calm Health, Robinhood

Founders/Key People: David Mavashev, Serik Kaldykulov

Website: https://elefund.com 

Firebolt Ventures

Firebolt Ventures is an operator-led venture capital and growth fund focusing on investing in startups across the B2B software, fintech, and consumer sectors. The partners at Firebolt Ventures are experienced entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated startups from conception to exit and have managed to build and run multi-billion dollar products. Their portfolio comprises over 20 companies valued at $1 billion or more. The team includes founders and executives from notable companies and has a strong track record in early-stage investing. 

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: UK, USA, Canada, Poland, Ireland, India, Lithuania

Operating since: 2014

Stages: Seed,Series A,Series B

Investment Focus: Enterprise Software, Cloud Infrastructure,AI,ML,Data Analytics, IoT, FinTech, CyberSecurity, MarTech,EdTech,Logistics,TravelTech,PropTech,Manufacturing

Number of investments: 149

Number of exits: 21

Check size: $500k – $10m

Notable investments: Groq, Truebill

Founders/Key People: Vineet Buch, Devanshu Dhawan

Website: https://www.fireboltventures.com 

Lucas Venture Group

Lucas Venture Group (LVG), founded in 1985, is a third-generation venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. LVG has expanded its portfolio to include a diverse range of sectors such as e-commerce, AI & ML, SaaS, social purpose, fintech, space, CPG, and transformative medical device companies. They place a strong emphasis on investing in people and believe in making a significant social impact alongside generating profit. The firm values the power of networking and connecting people and ideas. LVG’s network includes top CEOs, CFOs, senior economists, scientists, engineers, serial entrepreneurs, operating executives, and angel investors.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, Japan, Israel.

Operating since: 1990

Investment Focus: Enterprise Software,Cloud Infrastructure,AI,ML,Data Analytics,Big Data,Business Intelligence,E-commerce,Social Purpose,Precision Medical & Continuous Monitoring Devices,Medical Devices,HealthTech,Cyber Security,Consumer Services,FinTech, Construction, PropTech,FoodTech.

Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 39

Number of exits: 9

Check size: $1M – $20M

Notable investments: Katerra, Chegg, Trubill.

Founders/Key People: Donald Lucas, Sarah Lucas

Website: https://www.lucasvg.com

Omega Venture Partners

Omega Venture Partners is a prominent technology investment firm headquartered in Silicon Valley. They primarily focus on early-growth stage companies that have shown significant traction and have a clear product-market fit. Their investment strategy is thematic, centering on startups that utilize data and are powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to address high-value business problems. Omega’s expertise spans over 25 years in investing in innovative and disruptive companies, underpinned by their values of curiosity, optimism, integrity, and disciplined conviction.

Headquarters: US (Palo Alto, California)

Investment Geography: USA

Operating since: 2020

Investment Focus: Intelligent Enterprise Software (AI,ML,Data,Automation)

Stages: Series A, Series B, Series C

Number of investments: 29

Number of exits: 1

Check size: $100,000 – $10m

Notable investments: Criteo, Data Robot, DocuSign, Fresco, Otter.ai, Optimizely, Replicant, Square, Verbit, WaveOne

Founders/Key People: Gaurav Tewari, Thomas Malone, Dr. Sam Madden, Dr. John Seely Brown

Website: https://www.omegavp.com/

Ribbit Capital 

Ribbit Capital, established in 2012 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is a venture capital firm that primarily focuses on early-stage investments in fintech companies. The firm is dedicated to investing in disruptive financial services across lending, payments, insurance, accounting, tax preparation, and personal financial management globally. Ribbit Capital aims not just to provide funding but to foster the growth of ideas, sharing their knowledge and experience to support ambitious entrepreneurs.

Headquarters: USA (Palo Alto, California)

Investment Geography: USA, Canada, Latin America, Europe

Operating since: 2012

Investment Focus: Financial Innovation/FinTech/Financial Services (Lending, Payments, Personal Finance, Insurance, Financial Software, Bitcoin/Crypto)

Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C

Number of investments: 280

Number of exits: 33

Check size: $1m – $3m, $3m – $10m

Notable investments: Nubank, Wealthfront, Vise, Checkout, Affirm, Coinbase

Founders/Key People: Micky Malka, Brian McGrath

Website: http://www.ribbitcap.com/

Runa Capital

Runa Capital is a global venture capital firm founded in 2010, with its headquarters in Luxembourg. It specializes in early-stage investments in software startups, focusing on deep tech, enterprise software, fintech infrastructure, B2B SaaS, machine intelligence, complex software, IT, edtech, and digital health sectors. The firm operates with an international outlook, having invested in over 100 companies across 14 countries. Runa Capital is managed by a team of successful serial entrepreneurs and seasoned executives with extensive startup experience. The firm has raised funds targeting specific technological and sectoral themes, emphasizing its expertise in supporting innovative and scalable tech solutions.

Headquarters: Luxembourg

Investment Geography: USA, Canada, Singapore, Europe

Operating since: 2010

Investment Focus: Enterprise Software, DeepTech, FinTech, Digital Health, EdTech

Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B

Number of investments: 176

Number of exits: 75

Check size: $1m – $5m

Notable investments: Acronis, Mambu, smava

Founders/Key People: Dmitry Chikhachev, Konstantin Vinogradov

Website: https://runacap.com/

Streamlined Ventures

Streamlined Ventures is a venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments. They partner with visionary founders, leading or co-leading Seed rounds in companies with the potential to exceed $1 billion in value. Their portfolio includes notable companies like DoorDash, AppLovin, and Bolt. The firm emphasizes operational excellence, authenticity, and scalability with limited capital, aiming to be a core confidant for founders. With over 25 years of experience and investments in 500 companies, they provide valuable feedback and support to help startups achieve their business goals efficiently​​.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, Israel, Spain, Brazil, Germany, France.

Operating since: 2013

Investment Focus: Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI/ML), Software Automation, APIs, Blockchain, Metaverse/Gaming, B2B, Web 3, DeepTech.

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 294

Number of exits: 45

Check size: $5M – $15M

Notable investments: DoorDash, AppLovin

Founders/Key People: Ullas Naik

Website: https://www.streamlined.vc/

Tenaya Capital

Tenaya Ventures, initially founded in 1995 as Lehman Brothers Venture Partners, is a well-regarded venture capital firm with a focus on technology-driven companies. Following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, Tenaya became an independent entity in 2009. The firm has a strong presence in the venture capital industry, with offices located in Portola Valley, California, and Wellesley, Massachusetts. Tenaya Capital is known for investing across various stages of a company’s growth, including early stage, late stage, and private equity invest.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, China, Israel, Germany, Indonesia, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Ireland.

Operating since: 2009

Investment Focus: Enterprise Software, Consumer Internet, IT Infrastructure, Communications, Electronics

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 278

Number of exits: 91

Check size: $5M – $20M

Notable investments: HubSpot, Qunar

Founders/Key People: Ben Boyer

Website: https://www.tenayacapital.com/

Ubiquity Ventures

Ubiquity Ventures is a venture capital firm that was established in 2017 and is based in Palo Alto, California. It specializes in seed-stage investments, focusing on “software beyond the screen,” which typically involves smart hardware and machine learning applications. The firm is known for its “nerdy and early” approach to investing. Ubiquity Ventures was founded by Sunil Nagaraj, who serves as its Managing Partner. With almost $200 million under management, the firm has made a significant impact in its niche, investing in startups that push the boundaries of traditional software applications.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom.

Operating since: 2017

Investment Focus: Software beyond the Screen (Smart Hardware, Machine Learning, Platforms).

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 55

Number of exits: 3

Check size: $500K – $3M

Notable investments: Esper, Halter

Founders/Key People: Jason Cale, Sunil Nagaraj

Website: https://www.ubiquity.vc/

Uncork Capital

Uncork Capital, formerly known as SoftTech VC, is a seed-stage venture capital firm founded in 2004 and based in Palo Alto, California. The firm primarily focuses on investments in the SaaS (Software as a Service), hardware, consumer, and business marketplace sectors. With a strategy centered around seed-stage funding, over the years, Uncork Capital has raised multiple funds, starting with its first fund which raised less than $1 million, and growing significantly over time.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Israel, Spain.

Operating since: 2004

Investment Focus: SaaS/Software, Consumer, Marketplaces, Hardware.

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 442

Number of exits: 110

Check size: $1M – $5M

Notable investments: LiveRamp, SendGrid

Founders/Key People: Andy McLoughlin

Website: https://uncorkcapital.com/

UpWest VC

UpWest VC is a firm that specializes in funding and fast-tracking Israeli founders into the US market. They have a focus on leading seed rounds and investing early, often being the first check for startups. While the exact check size range is not mentioned on their website, their willingness to be the ‘first check’ suggests they provide early-stage funding to startups.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Israel, United Kingdom.

Operating since: 2012

Investment Focus: Israeli Founders, Israeli Startups, USA Markets (Enterprise Software/SaaS, Cyber Security, Digital Health, Dev Tools).

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 117

Number of exits: 26

Check size: $100K – $1M

Notable investments: Stampli, CyCognito

Founders/Key People: Gil Ben-Artzy

Website: https://upwest.vc/

Vertex Ventures US

Vertex Ventures US is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments, particularly in the fields of enterprise and deep technology. Their primary focus is on companies that are transforming large markets through innovative use of software and data. The firm predominantly invests in infrastructure and SaaS (Software as a Service) companies, with a keen interest in software infrastructure, developer tools, data, security, and vertical SaaS. They also express enthusiasm for open-source software and advancements in artificial intelligence.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, United Kingdom.

Operating since: 2015

Investment Focus: Cyber Security, Open-Source, SaaS, DeepTech, FinTech, InsurTech, Data-Driven Apps, Developer Tools, Data, AI/ML, Enterprise, B2B, Software.

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 58

Number of exits: 10

Check size: $2M – $8M

Notable investments: CloseFactor, Cosmonic

Founders/Key People: Megan Reynolds

Website: https://vvus.com/

Vertical Venture Partners

Venture Vertical Partners Ventures Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that focuses exclusively on investments in specific industry verticals. The firm seeks to partner with founders who have a deep understanding of their industry, gained through years of operational experience. They invest in enterprises that are developing innovative technologies for vertical markets, such as healthcare, insurance, and social media management for multi-location enterprises. Their investment philosophy emphasizes understanding the industry based on both knowledge and experience, and their team brings a diverse background in research, technology, and finance​​.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Colombia, United Kingdom.

Operating since: 2015

Investment Focus: B2B/Software/DeepTech (Vertical SaaS, Vertical Networks, Vertical Systems).

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 83

Number of exits: 7

Check size: $500K – $4M

Notable investments: Inscripta, Zipari

Founders/Key People: David Schwab

Website: https://vvp.vc/

 WestWave Capital

WestWave Ventures Capital, based in Redwood City, California, is a venture capital firm founded in 2017. The firm predominantly invests in market-defining enterprise startups at the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages. WestWave focuses on sectors such as SaaS, security, cloud infrastructure, blockchain, analytics, and the Internet of Things. As a firm composed of former entrepreneurs, they emphasize deep partnerships beyond just capital investment, offering operational strategy, customer networking, and guidance for future investments.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada.

Operating since: 2017

Investment Focus: DeepTech (SaaS, Security, Cloud Infrastructure, Blockchain, Analytics, IoT).

Stage: Pre-Seed,Seed,Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 80

Number of exits: 13

Check size: $50K – $1M

Notable investments: CallSign, Visier

Founders/Key People: Gaurav Manglik

Website: https://www.westwavecapital.com/

Wing Venture Capital

Wing Venture Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2013, based in Palo Alto, California. The firm primarily focuses on early-stage and long-term investments in business technology. It specializes in funding seed/start-ups, early-stage, and growth capital, with a particular emphasis on enterprise, cloud computing, mobility, mobile technology, and data technology companies.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Israel, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy.

Operating since: 2013

Investment Focus: Enterprise Tech, Enterprise Software/SaaS (AI-powered Apps, Agile Workplace, Data & Analytics, Digital Life Science, FinTech & Blockchain, Infrastructure, Security).

Stage: Pre-Seed,Seed,Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 166

Number of exits: 22

Check size: $50K – $10M

Notable investments: Gong, Snowflake

Founders/Key People: Giuseppe Pasetti

Website: https://www.wing.vc/

Zeev Ventures

Zeev Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2007 and based in Palo Alto, California. The firm primarily invests in the technology, e-commerce, and consumer service sectors, focusing on early-stage investments. Zeev Ventures is known for its involvement as the first external board member and lead in seed rounds for various companies. The firm has a diverse portfolio, investing in a wide range of companies across different sectors.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States,Israel.

Operating since: 2015

Investment Focus:FinTech,E-commerce,Consumer Internet,Digital Media,Enterprise Software,Cloud,Dev Tools.

Stage: Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 96

Number of exits: 8

Check size: $100K – $10M

Notable investments: Houzz, Navan.

Founders/Key People: Oren Zeev

Website: https://www.zeevventures.com/

Conclusion

So, you’ve now got the insider track on Palo Alto’s VC heavyweights. The right investor does more than fill your bank account; they ignite your startup’s potential and guide you through the maze of growth. Use this guide as your secret weapon to connect with VCs who are as driven and innovative as you are. Your startup’s next chapter is ready to be written, and with the perfect VC partner in your corner, Palo Alto’s tech landscape is yours to conquer.