The United States has long been a global hub for innovation, driven by a thriving ecosystem of venture capital (VC) firms that empower startups to scale and succeed. From Silicon Valley to New York City, the nation's VCs provide more than just capital- they offer mentorship, strategic support, and vast networks that help founders navigate the complex journey of building world-class companies.
This article spotlights some of the most active and influential venture capital firms in the US, each bringing unique philosophies and investment approaches to the table. Whether you're a founder seeking early-stage backing or a growth-stage startup looking for significant capital, understanding the strengths and focus areas of these firms can help you identify the right partners to fuel your entrepreneurial ambitions.
Top Active VCs in the United States
General Catalyst
About: General Catalyst backs exceptional entrepreneurs who are building innovative technology companies and market leading businesses, including Airbnb, BigCommerce, ClassPass, Datalogix, Datto, Demandware, Gusto (fka ZenPayroll), The Honest Company, HubSpot, KAYAK, Oscar, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. The General Catalyst team leverages its broad experience to help founders build extraordinary companies. General Catalyst has offices in Cambridge, MA, Palo Alto, CA and New York City.
Sweetspot check size: $ 30M
Thesis: General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that makes early-stage and growth equity investments.
Andreessen Horowitz/ a16z
About: Andreessen Horowitz was established in June 2009 by entrepreneurs and engineers Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, based on their vision for a new, modern VC firm designed to support today's entrepreneurs. Andreessen and Horowitz have a track record of investing in, building and scaling highly successful businesses.
Sweetspot check size: $ 25M
Thesis: Historically, new models of computing have tended to emerge every 10–15 years: mainframes in the 60s, PCs in the late 70s, the internet in the early 90s, and smartphones in the late 2000s. Each computing model enabled new classes of applications that built on the unique strengths of the platform. For example, smartphones were the first truly personal computers with built-in sensors like GPS and high-resolution cameras. Applications like Instagram, Snapchat, and Uber/Lyft took advantage of these unique capabilities and are now used by billions of people.
Tiger Global Management
About: Tiger Global is an investment firm focused on public and private companies in the global Internet, software, consumer, and financial technology industries.
Sweetspot check size: $ 50M
Thesis: Our mission is to generate world-class investment returns over the long term. We aspire to do so in a way that makes our partners and portfolio companies proud, as we build a unique, global investment platform.
SOSV
About: SOSV is a venture capital firm providing multi-stage investment to develop and scale their founders' big ideas for positive change.
Sequoia Capital
About: Sequoia is a VC firm focused on energy, financial, enterprise, healthcare, internet, and mobile startups.
Sweetspot check size: $ 15M
Thesis: We partner early. We’re comfortable with the rough imperfection of a new venture. We help founders from day zero, when the DNA of their businesses first takes shape.
Lightspeed Venture Partners
About: Lightspeed Venture Partners is a multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, Health, and Fintech sectors.
Sweetspot check size: $ 30M
Thesis: The future isn’t built by dreamers. It’s built today, by doers.
Index Ventures
About: They are an international venture capital firm based in London, San Francisco and Geneva
Sweetspot check size: $ 30M
Thesis: Other firms invest in deals, Index invests in people. A deal is transactional. Relationships endure, and ours are based on curiosity, thoughtfulness, and deep conviction.
Greylock Partners
About: This venture capital firm invests in all stages, exclusively in consumer and enterprise software companies. It led the Series B round for both Facebook and Linkedin
Sweetspot check size: $ 30M
Bessemer Venture Partners
About: Bessemer Venture Partners is the world's most experienced early-stage venture capital firm. With a portfolio of more than 200 companies, Bessemer helps visionary entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to create companies that matter, and supports them through every stage of their growth. The firm has backed more than 120 IPOs, including Shopify, Yelp, LinkedIn, Skype, LifeLock, Twilio, SendGrid, DocuSign, Fiverr, Wix, and MindBody. Bessemer's 16 investing partners operate from offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Israel, and India. Follow @BessemerVP and learn more at bvp.com.
Sweetspot check size: $ 15M
Kleiner Perkins
About: Kleiner Perkins is a venture capital firm specializing in investing in early-stage, incubation, and growth companies.
Sweetspot check size: $ 10M
Thesis: To be the first call for founders who want to make history and to partner with them as company builders in pursuit of that goal.
Accel
About: Accel is a leading venture capital firm that invests in people and their companies from the earliest days through all phases of private company growth. Atlassian, Braintree, Cloudera, CrowdStrike, DJI, Dropbox, Dropcam, Etsy, Facebook, Flipkart, FreshWorks, Jet, Qualtrics, Slack, Spotify, Supercell, UiPath and Vox Media are among the companies the firm has backed over the past 35 years.
Sweetspot check size: $ 10M
Thesis: We partner with exceptional founders with unique insights, from inception through all phases of growth.
Union Square Ventures
About: Union Square Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage, growth-capital, late stage, and startup financing.
Thesis: USV backs trusted brands that broaden access to knowledge, capital, and well-being by leveraging networks, platforms, and protocols.
Insight Partners
About: Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of June 30, 2023, the firm has over $80B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 800 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO.
Sweetspot check size: $ 50M
Thesis: We support companies in good times, as well as challenging ones.
Benchmark
About: Benchmark Capital is focused on one, and only one, mission: to help talented entrepreneurs build great technology companies. That's what drives them and everything they do - from how they organize their firm to their investment strategy. Their investments range in size from as little as $100,000 to as much as $10 or $15 million. Typically, they invest $3 to $5 million initially and expect to invest $5 to $15 million over the life of a company.
Sweetspot check size: $ 10M
New Enterprise Associates
About: New Enterprise Associates is a global venture capital firm investing in technology and healthcare.
Sweetspot check size: $ 25M
Options and Considerations for Founders Fundraising in the US
The United States offers a diverse range of fundraising options for startups, each suited to different stages of growth, industries, and founder objectives. Understanding these options and the unique aspects of the US fundraising ecosystem can empower founders to make informed decisions and maximize their chances of success.
Fundraising Options
Venture Capital (VC)
- Overview: VC firms provide capital in exchange for equity, typically focusing on high-growth startups with the potential for significant returns.
- When to Consider: Ideal for startups with scalable business models and a proven product-market fit.
- Key Differences in the US: US VCs are known for their willingness to take risks on early-stage companies compared to many international investors. They also offer extensive support networks, including mentorship and resources.
Related resource: Deal Flow: Understanding the Process in Venture Capital
Angel Investors
- Overview: Individual investors who provide early-stage funding, often in exchange for convertible debt or equity.
- When to Consider: Best for startups in the pre-seed or seed stage looking for smaller funding rounds and strategic guidance.
- Key Differences in the US: US angel networks are highly organized, offering founders access to syndicates and platforms like AngelList, which streamline fundraising.
Related resource: How to Effectively Find + Secure Angel Investors for Your Startup
Crowdfunding
- Overview: Platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Wefunder allow startups to raise funds from a broad audience.
- When to Consider: Suitable for consumer-facing products or startups seeking to validate demand while raising capital.
- Key Differences in the US: The US has a mature crowdfunding ecosystem, supported by regulations like the JOBS Act, which allows equity crowdfunding.
Related resource: Understanding The 4 Types of Crowdfunding
Grants and Government Funding
- Overview: Non-dilutive funding options provided by federal, state, or local governments for specific industries or initiatives.
- When to Consider: A great choice for startups in sectors like clean energy, healthcare, or technology innovation.
- Key Differences in the US: Programs like SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) are unique to the US, offering significant financial support without equity dilution.
Revenue-Based Financing
- Overview: Startups receive capital in exchange for a percentage of future revenue until the investment is repaid.
- When to Consider: Ideal for startups with predictable revenue streams that want to avoid equity dilution.
- Key Differences in the US: Revenue-based financing is growing in popularity, with firms like Clearco and Pipe leading the way.
Family Offices
- Overview: High-net-worth individuals or families investing directly in startups, often with flexible terms.
- When to Consider: Best for startups seeking large checks with fewer constraints than traditional VC funding.
- Key Differences in the US: Family offices in the US are highly active and often open to exploring niche industries or unconventional deals.
Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)
- Overview: Investments from large corporations aiming to gain strategic benefits or insights into emerging markets.
- When to Consider: Suitable for startups aligned with the strategic interests of the investing corporation.
- Key Differences in the US: US CVCs, such as Pruven or JLL Spark, are some of the most active globally, often offering deep industry expertise and market access.
Related resource: Corporate Venture Capital vs Traditional VCs: Key Differences and Benefits
Key Considerations for US Fundraising
Market Focus
US investors tend to favor startups addressing large domestic or global markets. Founders should be prepared to demonstrate how their solution scales across diverse customer segments.
Due Diligence Standards
US fundraising often involves rigorous due diligence. Founders should ensure their financials, legal structures, and growth metrics are well-documented and readily available.
Networking and Warm Introductions
Personal connections carry significant weight in the US fundraising ecosystem. Leveraging networks, attending industry events, and securing warm introductions can substantially increase success rates.
Cultural Fit
US investors often prioritize founder-investor alignment on vision, values, and long-term goals. Open communication and transparency are crucial for building trust.
Connect with Investors in the US With Visible
At Visible, we often times compare a fundraise to a B2B sales and marketing funnel. At the top of your funnel, you are finding new investors. In the middle, you are nurturing and pitching potential investors. At the bottom of the funnel, you are working through diligence and ideally closing new investors.
With the introduction of data rooms, you can now manage every aspect of your fundraising funnel with Visible.
- Find investors at the top of your funnel with our free investor database, Visible Connect and find a filtered list of US investors here.
- Track your conversations and move them through your funnel with our Fundraising CRM
- Share your pitch deck and monthly updates with potential investors
- Organize and share your most vital fundraising documents with data rooms
Manage your fundraise from start to finish with Visible. Give it a free try for 14 days here.
