How to Find Pre-Seed Investors
Finding the right pre-seed investors starts with understanding who actually backs companies at the idea and prototype stage. Most founders begin their search by mapping investors based on sector, geography, and check size.
Using open databases like Everything Startups’ New VC Funds directory is one of the fastest ways to identify early-stage VC firms and filter them by focus areas such as AI, SaaS, fintech, or healthtech.
As you build your list, look for funds that consistently support first-time founders, invest at the concept or MVP stage, and provide hands-on help. This approach makes it easier to shortlist the best pre-seed investors and understand how they compare to Seed investors and Series A investors as you plan future rounds.
How to Pitch Pre-Seed Investors for Funding
Reaching out to pre-seed investors works best when your pitch is focused, easy to evaluate, and aligned with the investor’s thesis. Founders who prepare the right materials and follow a clear outreach process typically get higher response rates from early-stage VC firms and seed stage venture capital firms.
1. Build a Clear, Simple Pitch Deck
Investors at the pre-seed stage don’t expect polished metrics, but they do expect clarity. Include:
- The problem you’re solving
- Your insight or unique angle
- The solution or prototype
- Market size
- Early proof points (waitlists, user interviews, pilots)
- Team background and founder–market fit
- Amount you’re raising and how long it lasts
A crisp deck helps you stand out to best pre-seed investors and seed investors evaluating many ideas.
2. Validate Your Idea Before Reaching Out
Even without revenue, investors want to see signs of demand:
- Prototype demos
- Customer interviews
- Letters of intent or pilot interest
- Waitlist numbers
- Early user engagement
These markers give pre-seed investors confidence that you understand the market.
3. Personalize Each Outreach Email
Short, direct messages work best. A good structure includes:
- Who you are
- What you’re building
- Why now
- Your round details
- Link to your deck
Personalizing outreach based on an investor’s sector (AI, fintech, SaaS, consumer, etc.) dramatically improves reply rates from early stage investors 2025 and beyond.
4. Use the Right Warm Channels
Warm introductions still outperform cold emails. You can find warm paths through:
- Founders backed by the fund
- Accelerator or university networks
- Operator communities
- LinkedIn second-degree connections
Some early-stage VC firms have open application forms on their websites; those are worth submitting as well.
5. Be Prepared for Follow-Up Questions
Investors may ask about:
- Early traction
- Go-to-market plans
- Competitive insights
- Hiring plans
- Technical roadmap
- Use of funds
Clear answers make you look prepared and help push you toward deeper conversations with Series A investors later on.
33 Best Pre-Seed to Series A Investors
Before you start pitching, it helps to know which firms are actively writing checks at the earliest stages.
The list below highlights pre-seed investors, seed investors, and series A investors that consistently back new founders, publish their thesis openly, and support companies from idea to early traction.
1. Asymmetric Capital Partner
Asymmetric Capital Partners is a New York–based early-stage venture firm managing a $137M fund launched in October 2025. Founded in 2021, the firm focuses on SaaS, enterprise software, and healthtech startups. Its team of former founders and operators combines deep investing experience with practical, hands-on support, helping entrepreneurs navigate the journey from idea to growth. Asymmetric is known for its conviction-driven approach, concentrated portfolio strategy, and strong operational involvement in the companies it backs.
2. Better Tomorrow Ventures
Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV) is a San Francisco–based early-stage venture firm managing a $140M fund raised in October 2025. Founded by Sheel Mohnot of 500 Startups and Jake Gibson, co-founder of NerdWallet, the firm focuses exclusively on fintech and financial infrastructure. BTV backs founders at the earliest stages and is known for its belief that financial services remain significantly under-digitized across global markets. Its investment thesis spans AI-driven finance, payments, compliance, and accounting technology, with a reputation for deep sector expertise and strong founder support.
3. Blume Ventures
Blume Ventures is an India-based early-stage venture capital firm managing a $175M fund launched in October 2025. Founded in 2011 by Karthik Reddy and Sanjay Nath, the firm has grown into one of India’s leading backers of technology-driven startups. Blume invests across AI, B2B SaaS, healthtech, and emerging deeptech categories, supporting founders from the pre-seed stage onward. The firm is known for combining hands-on, operator-style guidance with institutional fund management, helping founders scale from early concept to market traction.
4. BNVT Capital
BNVT Capital is a global early-stage venture firm managing a $148M fund raised in September 2025. Founded by Rory Mounsey-Heysham, formerly of the Gates Foundation, and Chris Corbishley, formerly of Hedosophia, the firm operates across London, New York, and Riyadh. BNVT invests in AI, climate tech, and next-generation energy solutions, guided by its philosophy of “Benevolent Disruption,” the idea that solving humanity’s biggest challenges represents the greatest economic upside. The firm is known for its mission-driven outlook, global footprint, and support for founders building transformational technologies.
5. BoxGroup
BoxGroup is a New York–based early-stage venture capital firm managing a $550M fund launched in October 2025. Founded in 2007, the firm backs founders at the earliest stages, often investing before a product launch or revenue. BoxGroup focuses on fintech, SaaS, and enterprise software, partnering with ambitious teams building category-defining companies. Known for its collaborative style and long-term founder relationships, the firm has become one of the most active and respected seed investors in the U.S. startup ecosystem.
6. BoostVC
Boost VC is a Silicon Valley–based early-stage venture firm managing an $87M fund raised in September 2025. Founded in 2012 by Adam Draper, the firm is dedicated to backing frontier technology companies that feel like science fiction. Boost VC invests across nuclear energy, space, genetics, and other deep tech categories, often writing the first checks into emerging breakthrough technologies. With more than 400 active portfolio companies and over $300M in assets under management, the firm is known for its highly engaged founder community and long-standing leadership in the frontier tech ecosystem.
7. Boundless Ventures
Boundless Ventures is a Mumbai-based early-stage venture capital firm investing at the pre-seed and seed stages across India and Asia. Founded in August 2025 by Natasha Malpani, formerly of Kae Capital, the firm focuses on AI, biotech, and deeptech companies building globally defensible products. Boundless is designed as an AI-native fund, backing founders who are rethinking infrastructure, workflows, and consumer experiences through advances in artificial intelligence. With typical check sizes of $200K–$400K, the firm is known for its science-driven perspective and its commitment to supporting Indian founders building for global markets.
8. Cambrian Ventures
Cambrian Ventures is a San Francisco–based early-stage venture firm managing a $20M fund launched in July 2025. Founded by Rex Salisbury, a solo GP with deep expertise in financial technology, the firm invests at the pre-seed and seed stages with check sizes ranging from $150K to $1.5M. Cambrian focuses on fintech, AI, and digital banking across the United States and North America, backing founders who are reimagining the future of financial services. The firm is widely known for its curated fintech community, connecting thousands of founders and operators across the ecosystem.
9. Calm/Storm Ventures
Calm/Storm Ventures is a Vienna-based early-stage venture capital firm managing a $34M fund raised in October 2025. Founded in 2019 by Lucanus Polagnoli and Michael Ströck, both seasoned tech entrepreneurs and investors, the firm focuses on healthtech, mental health, and FemTech innovation. Calm/Storm invests in founders building solutions that shift healthcare from reactive treatment toward proactive wellbeing and prevention. Known as one of Europe’s most active early-stage funds in health and human potential, the firm supports mission-driven teams across the continent.
10. Concept Ventures
Concept Ventures is a UK-based early-stage venture capital firm managing an $88M fund raised in September 2025. The firm invests exclusively at the pre-seed stage, backing founders building in defense, consumer technology, and AI. Known for its disciplined and conviction-led approach, Concept focuses on deep founder alignment and high-intent support during the earliest phases of company creation. The firm positions itself as a long-term partner for ambitious founders aiming to build globally competitive companies from day one.
11. Creator Fund
Creator Fund is a London-based pre-seed venture capital firm managing a $41M fund raised in October 2025. Founded in 2019 by Jamie Macfarlane, the firm focuses on deeptech, AI, and robotics by backing PhD founders and academic entrepreneurs at the earliest stages. Operating across 28 university campuses in Europe, Creator Fund is known for its unique student-investor scouting model, which provides early access to breakthrough research and promising spinouts from leading institutions. The firm plays a central role in helping university-driven innovation become scalable deeptech companies.
12. Cyberstarts
Cyberstarts is a Tel Aviv–based early-stage venture capital firm managing a $380M fund raised in October 2025. Founded in 2018 by Gili Raanan, the firm focuses exclusively on cybersecurity, AI, and cloud infrastructure. Cyberstarts is known for investing at the idea stage—often before a product, team, or line of code exists, and for backing founders tackling the most critical security challenges. Over seven years, the firm has become one of the most influential players in the global cybersecurity ecosystem, with its portfolio representing a significant share of the private cybersecurity market cap.
13. Deciens Capital
Deciens Capital is an Albuquerque-based early-stage venture firm managing a $93.33M fund raised in August 2025. Founded in 2017 by Dan Kimerling, the firm focuses exclusively on B2B fintech and embedded finance across the United States, North America, and Africa. Deciens invests from seed through Series A with checks ranging from $250K to roughly $5M, backing founders who are reshaping how financial services are built and distributed. Known for its high-conviction and concentrated strategy, the firm operates as a hands-on partner from the earliest stages of company-building.
14. DFF Ventures
DFF Ventures is an Amsterdam-based early-stage venture capital firm managing a $58.7M fund raised in September 2025. Formerly known as Dutch Founders Fund, the firm invests in SaaS, B2C marketplaces, and tech-enabled services with a focus on digitizing traditionally underdigitized industries. Since launching in 2019, DFF has built a portfolio of more than 40 startups across 14 countries, emphasizing a founder-first philosophy and hands-on operational support. The firm is known for partnering closely with early teams to solve complex technical and go-to-market challenges.
15. DVC
DVC is a San Francisco–based early-stage venture firm managing a $140M fund raised in October 2025. Founded by Marina Davidova and Nick Davidov, the firm backs companies across AI, AI infrastructure, and robotics with a mission to accelerate the global AI ecosystem. DVC has become one of the most active AI-focused investors worldwide, supporting a growing portfolio of early-stage startups building core models, infrastructure layers, and application-level technologies. The firm is known for its deep technical network and strong connectivity with founders, engineers, and researchers shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
16. Halogen Ventures
Halogen Ventures is a Los Angeles–based early-stage venture firm managing a $30M fund raised in June 2025. Founded in 2015 by Jesse Draper, the firm backs pre-seed, seed, and Series A companies across FemTech, fintech, and the future of work in the United States and North America. Halogen is known for its strong commitment to supporting women founders and building consumer technology businesses tailored to the evolving needs of modern families. With typical investments ranging from $250K to $5M, the firm operates with a mission-driven approach aimed at closing the gender investment gap while scaling high-impact companies.
17. Italian Founders Fund
Italian Founders Fund (IFF) is a Milan-based early-stage venture capital fund managing a $30M vehicle launched in August 2025. Managed by Koinos Capital, the fund backs pre-seed, seed, and Series A startups across Italy and Europe, with a focus on B2B, SaaS, and digital transformation. Created to support Italian entrepreneurs building globally competitive companies, IFF aims to accelerate the country’s digital evolution and strengthen its presence within the broader European startup ecosystem. The firm typically invests between $250K and $3M while providing hands-on support to founders from the earliest stages.
18. Karman Ventures
Karman Ventures is an early-stage venture firm managing a $40M fund raised in October 2025, focused on AI, applied AI, and AI infrastructure. Built with direct input from founders, the firm was created to back AI-native companies with fast decision-making, early conviction, and hands-on support. Karman positions itself as a highly founder-centric partner, driven by optimism about the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on society. The firm is known for its deep engagement with entrepreneurs building the technical and infrastructural layers of the AI economy.
19. Kiara Capital
Kiara Capital is a Miami-based early-stage venture firm managing a $30M fund launched in June 2025. Founded in 2023 by experienced fintech entrepreneurs with a history of successful exits across Latin America and the United States, the firm invests at the pre-seed and seed stages with check sizes ranging from $500K to $10M. Kiara focuses on AI, fintech, and embedded finance, backing B2B startups serving Latin American markets or operating across U.S.–Latin America corridors. Known for its strong regional insight and operator-led approach, the firm supports founders building modern financial infrastructure across the Americas.
20. Leonis Capital
Leonis Capital is a U.S.-based early-stage venture firm managing a $25M fund launched in August 2025. Founded in 2021 and co-led by Jenny Xiao, a former OpenAI researcher, and Jay Zhao, an experienced venture investor, the firm focuses on AI, developer tools, and robotics and manufacturing across the United States and North America. Leonis invests at the pre-seed and seed stages with checks ranging from $250K to $2M, backing founders with strong technical backgrounds and breakthrough approaches to artificial intelligence. The firm is known for its deep ties to machine learning research, engineering talent, and emerging startup ecosystems.
21. Lifeline Ventures
Lifeline Ventures is a Helsinki-based early-stage venture capital firm managing a $465M fund raised in October 2025. Founded in 2009, the firm partners with founders from day zero, often investing before a pitch deck or formal plan exists. Lifeline focuses on AI, enterprise software, and consumer technology, backing entrepreneurs building globally competitive companies from Finland and across Europe. Known as one of the most active and influential early-stage investors in the Nordic region, the firm is recognized for its long-term support and deep involvement in the earliest phases of company creation.
22. Lobster Capital
Lobster Capital is a Paris-based early-stage venture firm managing a $12M fund launched in October 2025. Founded by Gabriel Jarrosson, a French engineer turned YouTuber turned investor, the firm grew out of one of Europe’s largest angel syndicates built through Jarrosson’s content-driven community. Lobster Capital focuses on AI, B2B, and B2B SaaS, investing exclusively in Y Combinator–backed startups as a way to leverage YC’s strong track record of producing category-defining companies. The firm is known for its highly curated approach and its deep engagement with founders emerging from the YC ecosystem.
23. Maia Ventures
Maia Ventures is a Milan-based early-stage venture firm managing a $64M fund raised in October 2025. Founded by David Bassani and Andrea Galassi, the firm backs startups in food tech, digital health, and sustainability, with a strong focus on Agtech and FoodTech innovation. Maia invests in founders operating at the intersection of food, health, and environmental responsibility, supporting technologies that improve individual well-being and strengthen the global food system. The firm is known for its mission-driven approach and its commitment to advancing responsible, tech-enabled solutions for a more sustainable future.
24. May Ventures
May Ventures is a Münster-based early-stage venture firm managing a $35M fund launched in October 2025. The firm focuses on AI, generative AI, and B2B SaaS, backing founders across the DACH region who are turning cutting-edge research into practical, scalable companies. Positioned as a first-check investor, May Ventures was created to strengthen the region’s AI ecosystem and support entrepreneurs developing the next wave of intelligent software. The firm is known for its early conviction, technical focus, and hands-on support for founders shaping the future of AI-driven business innovation.
25. Maximum Frequency Ventures
Maximum Frequency Ventures (MFV) is a U.S.-based early-stage venture firm managing a $50M fund raised in October 2025. Founded by Mo Shaikh and a team of former Aptos Labs executives, the firm invests across crypto, AI, and generative AI in the United States and North America. MFV backs companies from pre-seed through Series A with checks ranging from $500K to $1M, combining early capital with deep operator experience. Designed as both an investor and a company-creation engine, the firm provides hands-on support to help founders scale from prototype to widespread adoption.
26. Next Ventures
NEXT VENTŪRES is a U.S.-based early-stage venture firm managing a $60M fund raised in September 2025. Founded in 2019 by former athletes and operators, the firm invests in healthtech, wellness, and FemTech with a mission to advance whole-person health. NEXT VENTŪRES focuses on companies that extend healthspan, improve access, and shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive wellbeing. Known for its consumer-centric approach, the firm backs founders building scalable solutions at the intersection of preventive health, technology, and empowerment.
27. NFX
NFX is a global early-stage venture firm managing a $325M fund raised in October 2025, with offices in Silicon Valley and Israel. Founded in 2015, the firm focuses on AI, AI infrastructure, and developer tools while maintaining a broader sector reach anchored in product-led innovation. NFX is known for its powerful founder network, deep expertise in network effects, and hands-on approach to company building. With nearly 200 investments since inception, the firm maintains a strong presence in the Israeli tech ecosystem and supports founders with resources, mentorship, and strategic guidance to help them scale rapidly.
28. MVP Ventures
MVP Ventures is a San Francisco–based early-stage venture firm managing a $125M fund raised in November 2025. Founded in 2020 by Andre de Baubigny and Weston Moyer, the firm invests in AI, generative AI, and AI infrastructure with a focus on backing exceptional founders from the earliest stages. MVP positions itself as the “most valuable partner per dollar” on a cap table, emphasizing deep operational involvement over large check sizes. The firm is known for its high-engagement model, providing hands-on support across go-to-market, leadership development, capital markets strategy, and government relations.
29. Norrken Evolve
Norrsken Evolve is a Stockholm-based early-stage venture fund managing a $66.8M vehicle launched in August 2025. Created by the Norrsken Foundation, the fund builds on the legacy of the Norrsken Accelerator, which has supported more than 80 early-stage startups since 2021. Norrsken Evolve invests at the pre-seed and seed stages with checks ranging from $250K to $2M across Europe and North America, focusing on AI, biotech, and energy. Rooted in the foundation’s impact-driven mission, the fund aims to advance sustainable innovation in areas tied to climate resilience, health, and critical technology infrastructure.
30. Scout Ventures
Scout Ventures is an Austin-based early-stage venture firm managing a $125M fund raised in September 2025. The firm invests in defense, dual-use technology, and aerospace, backing founders developing transformative capabilities for national security. Founded to bridge the gap between innovative entrepreneurs and the needs of government and defense customers, Scout has become a specialized player in the dual-use ecosystem. The firm is known for its deep sector focus, strong government relationships, and commitment to advancing mission-critical technologies.
31. SIVentures
SIVentures, formerly Smart Infrastructure Ventures, is a Leipzig-based early-stage venture firm managing a $35M fund raised in September 2025. Founded in 2019, the firm invests in B2B SaaS, AI, and energy technologies across Germany and Europe with check sizes ranging from $300K to $500K. SIVentures focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage startups, positioning itself as a catalyst for innovation within the DACH region. Known for supporting companies beyond their initial rounds, the firm helps founders scale through sustained guidance and follow-on participation.
32. Striker Venture Partners
Striker Venture Partners is a U.S.-based early-stage venture firm managing a $165M fund raised in October 2025. Founded by Max Gazor, a four-time Midas List investor with 14 years at CRV, the firm focuses on AI, AI infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Striker follows an inception-stage strategy centered on extreme conviction, concentrated ownership, and deep board-level partnerships with technical founders. Positioned in contrast to broad diversification models, the firm pursues a focused, high-engagement approach designed to generate meaningful alpha in early-stage venture capital.
33. Sugar Free Capital
Sugar Free Capital is a Boston-based early-stage venture firm managing a $32M fund raised in October 2025. Founded by Sheena Jindal, an MIT alum and former investor at Bessemer Venture Partners and Comcast Ventures, the firm backs technical founders operating at the forefront of generative AI, AI, and AI infrastructure. Sugar Free Capital was created to support MIT-affiliated entrepreneurs with strong systems engineering backgrounds who are building the foundations of the “age of intelligence.” The firm is known for its focus on deep technical rigor, infrastructure innovation, and founder-first support for next-generation AI companies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the difference between pre-seed and seed funding?
Pre-seed focuses on idea validation and early prototypes, while seed funding supports early traction, product launches, and initial market entry.
How do I reach out to early-stage investors?
Most VC firms accept warm introductions through founders they’ve already backed, but some have open application forms on their websites. Focus on a concise email or pitch deck that clearly shows traction, team, and market opportunity.
What do pre-seed investors look for in founders?
They often invest in conviction over traction, meaning they care more about your insight into the problem, your founder-market fit, and your ability to execute, rather than metrics or revenue.
Are there sector-specific early-stage investors?
Yes. Some firms focus solely on fintech (e.g., Better Tomorrow Ventures), others on AI (e.g., Cambrian Ventures), and others on consumer or healthtech. Matching your startup’s niche with an investor’s thesis increases your odds of funding.
How do investors evaluate pre-seed startups without revenue?
They look for early proof points: prototype quality, customer interviews, waitlist sign-ups, or unique insights into a growing market. Strong storytelling and clarity of vision matter at this stage.
What are the average check sizes for early-stage rounds?
- Pre-Seed: $100K–$1M
- Seed: $1M–$3M
- Series A: $3M–$10M+
These ranges can vary by geography and investor type (traditional VC vs. microfund vs. angel syndicate).
Can non-US founders raise from pre-seed or Series A investors?
Absolutely. Many global firms invest remotely and help foreign founders incorporate in the U.S. through Delaware entities or LLC formation services like doola, making it easier to access U.S. capital.
How can I find pre-seed investors in my region?
Search local accelerator alumni networks, angel syndicates, or use open databases (like Crunchbase or EverythingVC). You can also filter by geography and check size to identify relevant investors.
How long does it take to close an early-stage round?
Typically 6–12 weeks from first meetings to signed term sheets, though timing can vary depending on investor bandwidth and due diligence depth.
What mistakes do founders make when pitching pre-seed investors?
The biggest mistakes include lack of clarity on the market opportunity, vague go-to-market plans, or failing to show why now is the right time for their idea.
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