VC Funds Starting with V

V-Sharp Venture Studio is an early-stage venture capital firm and venture studio based in Prague, Czech Republic. Launched in 2021, originally as V-Sharp Alpha, as part of the Reticulum group, it was founded by Michal Menšík, CEO of the fast-growing last-mile logistics group DoDo, and Zdeněk Šoustal, CEO of the Reticulum investment group. The studio backs promising startups in Central and Eastern Europe across three core verticals, e-commerce, logistics and financial technology, investing at the pre-seed, seed and Series A stages with tickets of up to roughly EUR 1 million and hundreds of millions of Czech korun available to deploy, and it is willing to lead. Rather than spreading capital thinly, V-Sharp deliberately invests in a small number of carefully selected companies each year and commits fully to each one, supplementing its capital with hands-on operating expertise, an extensive contact network, and shared services in marketing, legal and IT. The founders bring deep operating credibility: Menšík has spent more than 15 years in e-commerce and scaled DoDo into one of the Czech Republic's fastest-growing technology companies, while Šoustal's Reticulum group also backs Accolade, in commercial real estate and industrial parks, and MJM agro. The studio's disclosed portfolio of around eight companies includes Oxus.AI, Tapline and Vocalls. By combining studio-style company support with concentrated early-stage capital and the operating experience of its founders, V-Sharp Venture Studio backs CEE founders in e-commerce, logistics and fintech.

V1.VC is a venture capital firm based in Boulder, Colorado, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in internet, B2B software, consumer, financial, crypto, and deep tech companies across North America. V1.VC focuses on being patient, long-term capital partners for ambitious founders, leveraging their experience as current and former operators to support startups from initial stages to successful exits. Co-founded by Brett Jackson and Benny Joseph, V1.VC aims to be the most supportive investor in a founder’s journey. Brett Jackson brings extensive experience from roles at AVX Aircraft and Crocs, while Benny Joseph is known for his tenure as CTO at Allbirds and his role in founding GoodApril, which was acquired by Intuit. V1.VC has a diverse portfolio that includes notable companies like Allbirds, DoorDash, and OpenSea. They have made over 86 investments and have achieved 27 exits. The firm is dedicated to helping startups navigate the critical early stages of development and scale successfully. The team at V1.VC emphasizes a collaborative approach, working closely with startups to provide strategic guidance, resources, and connections to ensure their growth and success in the competitive market.

Valar Ventures, co-founded by Peter Thiel, Andrew McCormack, and James Fitzgerald, has made a significant mark in the venture capital world by focusing on fintech startups with a global reach. Notable investments include Wise, Xero, Petal, N26, and Stash, highlighting their commitment to backing transformative financial technology companies. These investments demonstrate Valar's ability to identify and nurture groundbreaking startups. The firm primarily invests in early-stage companies, often leading funding rounds with checks ranging from $1M to $10M. Their geographic focus spans North America and Europe, allowing them to tap into diverse markets and innovative ecosystems. This strategic approach ensures they are well-positioned to support startups poised for international growth. Valar Ventures operates with a clear investment strategy: they seek out companies with innovative fintech solutions that have the potential to disrupt traditional financial services. They are known for their hands-on approach, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance to help their portfolio companies scale effectively. The team, based in New York, brings deep fintech expertise and a strong network, which is invaluable to the startups they invest in. Founders looking to partner with Valar should present a clear, innovative fintech proposition with a strong potential for transformative impact. Valar Ventures is particularly interested in businesses that can demonstrate a solid growth trajectory and a compelling vision for the future of finance.

Valesco Ventures is a venture capital and go-to-market advisory firm founded in 2016 by Thorsten Freitag and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with a European presence in Berg, Germany. The firm has a distinctive model that combines capital investment with hands-on operating management, advisory and joint ventures, anchored by a singular focus on sales execution. Rather than acting as a passive investor, Valesco's team of operating partners builds and manages portfolio companies' international sales teams and constructs the go-to-market 'engine' that carries B2B technology and enterprise software companies through their startup, scale and growth phases, helping them accelerate growth, win Fortune Global 1000 customers and establish market leadership, generally as a co-investor. The firm's edge stems directly from founder Thorsten Freitag's career scaling field-sales organizations at leading global IT vendors during periods of hyper-growth: as an executive officer and executive vice president at Infoblox he helped grow the company at roughly a 40% CAGR to $96 million per quarter, and he previously served as Vice President EMEA at Check Point Software Technologies. Valesco operates a lean team of around seven to eight people and complements its investing with leadership development and sales-team optimization services. It should not be confused with Valesco Industries, a separate Dallas-based lower-middle-market private equity firm. By pairing capital with hands-on sales execution and go-to-market building, Valesco Ventures backs B2B technology and enterprise-software companies and helps them scale internationally and win large enterprise customers.

Valhalla Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm, founded in 2020, with a core focus on deeptech and gaming sectors. Based in Los Angeles and New York, the firm launched its first $66M flagship fund in 2022, targeting audacious founders tackling hard problems with breakthrough solutions in science and engineering. Valhalla’s investment strategy is built around a concentrated portfolio, favoring seed and Series A stages, with a strong emphasis on backing non-traditional areas like space technology, materials science, and gaming innovations. Notable deeptech investments include Terran Biosciences, focusing on biotech platforms, and K2 Space, which develops satellite technologies led by ex-SpaceX engineers. In the gaming space, they’ve supported ventures like Incredible Dream, which aims to build a billion-dollar board game IP, and 1v1Me, a competitive gaming platform. Valhalla's partners, including founders Devan Malhotra, Matthew King, and Rohan Pujara, are deeply involved in supporting their portfolio companies with a hands-on approach, leveraging connections in media and technology. The firm prioritizes founders who defy conventions and push the boundaries of their fields, offering more than just capital—they provide critical strategic support, helping startups scale and disrupt their industries. With a keen eye on sectors that often go overlooked by traditional VCs, Valhalla Ventures is carving out a niche as a daring investor in groundbreaking technology and new gaming experiences.

Valia Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in bold and innovative startups across various sectors including fintech, healthcare, consumer, and enterprise software. Based in New York, San Francisco, and London, the firm focuses on pre-seed, seed, and Series A investments, with check sizes ranging from $50,000 to $1 million. Valia Ventures also has an Opportunity Fund for investing in mature companies at the Series B stage and beyond. The firm is led by Managing Partner Khaled Jalanbo, along with a team of experienced investors like Riley Rodgers and Omar Sebai. They aim to be long-term partners, supporting companies throughout their growth stages with both capital and strategic guidance​. Valia Ventures has made significant investments in companies such as Selfbook, Humane, and Legacy, demonstrating their commitment to backing transformative ideas. Their portfolio is diverse, encompassing sectors from fintech and healthcare to enterprise software​.

Valley Capital Partners is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm founded in 2013, specializing in early-stage investments. The firm has a strong focus on Seed and Series A funding, particularly in enterprise technology sectors like AI/ML infrastructure, cybersecurity, and network infrastructure. Known for its hands-on approach, Valley Capital Partners works closely with founders, helping them build solid foundations for rapid growth through governance, talent recruitment, and strategic enterprise partnerships. Valley Capital’s investment strategy is marked by high conviction and concentrated bets, typically making 8-12 core investments per fund. Their network of exceptional Limited Partners (LPs), including top-tier tech investors, provides startups with unique access to insights and co-investment opportunities. Recent notable exits include Yubico and Affirm, highlighting the firm’s strength in nurturing high-growth companies. Led by seasoned professionals like Stephen O’Hara and Mitchell Kokko, the firm takes a long-term partnership approach, aiming to stay deeply involved with its portfolio companies. Unlike many VCs, Valley Capital avoids spreading itself thin across too many deals, choosing instead to focus on fewer, high-impact investments that enable deeper collaboration with founders. Based in Menlo Park, California, Valley Capital continues to back innovators, leveraging its deep Silicon Valley roots to fuel the next generation of enterprise tech success.

Valley Growth Ventures (VGV) is a $6 million micro venture capital fund based in Youngstown, Ohio, launched in 2016 to generate strong financial returns by backing high-growth technology companies across the state of Ohio, with a particular emphasis on the Mahoning Valley region. The fund was capitalized by raising just over $3 million from private investors, which was matched with $3 million from the State of Ohio's Third Frontier Pre-Seed/Seed Plus Fund Capitalization Program, and was formed as a partnership between five area organizations including the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Youngstown State University Research Foundation and the Tech Belt Energy & Innovation Center. VGV invests primarily at the seed stage in software and information technology, healthcare, energy, additive manufacturing and advanced materials, willing to lead, and also works to attract out-of-region companies to relocate to the Mahoning Valley. The fund is led by Managing Director Ernie Knight, a veteran investor with more than two decades focused on seed and early-stage companies who was previously a founding Managing Director of Nationwide Mutual Capital, where he invested across a national footprint and led three exits of over $100 million. VGV has made around 11 investments, including BIOHM Health, FenixPyre, TonDone and MedPilot, and has recorded one exit, MedPilot in 2021, with its most recent disclosed deal being FenixPyre in December 2023. By combining private capital with state-backed matching funds, Valley Growth Ventures backs high-growth technology founders in Ohio and works to grow the Mahoning Valley's startup ecosystem.

Valo Ventures is a thesis-driven venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, that invests in companies addressing global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and inequality. The firm focuses on three main areas: digitization, decarbonization, and adaptation. Valo Ventures targets early to growth-stage companies in North America and Europe, seeking to create a positive environmental and social impact while generating competitive financial returns. Their portfolio includes companies like XGS Energy, ARRIS, and Boston Materials, which leverage advanced technologies to tackle significant issues such as renewable energy, sustainable materials, and carbon reduction​​. Valo Ventures prides itself on fostering partnerships based on trust, reciprocity, and shared values, emphasizing the importance of diversity and long-term impact.

Valor Capital Group, founded in 2011, is a cross-border venture capital firm that focuses on bridging the US, Brazilian, and Latin American tech markets. Headquartered in New York, with significant operations in São Paulo, Valor Capital Group invests across various stages from seed to growth. Their portfolio spans multiple sectors, including fintech, B2B, consumer services, and technology. Some of Valor Capital Group's notable investments include companies like Nextdoor, Rubicon, and Satellogic. They have had a number of successful exits, with companies such as Udacity and Bitso achieving significant milestones. Valor Capital Group is known for supporting innovative startups like CloudWalk, which has achieved centaur status with over $300 million in annual recurring revenue, and Loft, valued at $2.9 billion as of April 2021. The firm’s team includes co-founders Clifford Sobel and Scott Sobel, with key partners like Michael Nicklas and Carlos Costa. They bring a wealth of experience and a robust network to their investment strategy, focusing on driving local innovation through global insights. Valor Capital Group’s unique cross-border approach and extensive portfolio underscore their commitment to fostering growth and innovation in emerging markets, particularly within the tech ecosystem of Brazil and Latin America.

Valor Equity Partners, founded in 1995 and based in Chicago, is a leading private equity firm specializing in operational growth investments. The firm strategically invests across various stages of company development, with a keen focus on technology sectors. Valor Equity Partners is renowned for its hands-on approach, working closely with portfolio companies to enhance growth and scalability. The firm's notable investments include SpaceX, a pioneer in aerospace; Gopuff, an on-demand convenience delivery service; Misfits Market, a direct-to-consumer grocery delivery provider; and Zipline, a company revolutionizing autonomous drone delivery systems. Valor's investment strategy emphasizes providing strategic and operational support, ensuring that portfolio companies can achieve substantial growth. Valor Equity Partners manages multiple funds, with their recent Fund V closing at $1.7 billion, underscoring their strong position in the private equity market. The firm's ability to attract significant capital commitments highlights investor confidence in their strategic approach and track record of success. Key team members include founder and CEO Antonio Gracias, who brings extensive experience and leadership to the firm. Valor's team is known for its deep industry knowledge and commitment to driving operational excellence within their portfolio companies. This combination of strategic investment and operational support positions Valor Equity Partners as a pivotal player in fostering innovation and growth within the technology sector.

Valor Ventures is an Atlanta-based venture capital firm that focuses on leading seed-stage investments, primarily in B2B SaaS startups. Established in 2015 by Lisa Calhoun, Valor Ventures aims to create financial disruption in regions outside of Silicon Valley, particularly the rapidly growing Southeastern U.S. With a strong commitment to diversity, Valor’s portfolio is 70% led by underrepresented founders, including women and people of color. Valor Ventures’ investment strategy targets post-product, post-revenue companies experiencing double-digit revenue growth. The firm takes a hands-on approach, providing not only capital but also strategic connections to corporate partners, customer introductions, and operational support through its Innovation Council. Valor's portfolio includes startups such as LeaseQuery, a leader in financial software, Physician360, and CareWork, which unifies operations for senior living facilities. The firm is also known for its Startup Runway Foundation, a nonprofit that connects underrepresented founders to early capital, further reinforcing its mission of making inclusion the norm in venture capital. With a growing portfolio and a focus on fast-growing markets, Valor Ventures continues to position itself as a leading force in the U.S. Southeast startup ecosystem. The team at Valor includes seasoned investors like Lisa Calhoun, Gary Peat, and Lynne Laube, whose combined experience provides invaluable mentorship and strategic insight to portfolio companies.

Value Creation Capital (VCC) is a Netherlands-based venture capital firm that has been actively investing in deep tech companies since 2005. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, primarily focusing on sectors such as AI, cybersecurity, high-tech, and life sciences. Over the years, VCC has successfully built a portfolio of more than 40 tech companies, guiding them through various growth phases​. VCC takes a hands-on approach, offering more than just capital by providing strategic support and access to its extensive network of technology experts. They emphasize the importance of strong, diverse management teams and focus on deep tech companies that create a significant impact on society and business. Their team, led by managing partners such as Aldebert Wiersinga and Jos Bourgonje, is known for being highly involved in the development of the startups they back. The firm also offers a phased growth strategy, recognizing that each stage of a tech company's journey requires different skills and resources.

ValueStream Ventures is an early-stage, thesis-driven venture capital firm based in New York City, founded in 2013 by Greg Neufeld. The firm invests in B2B platforms built around high-value data, spanning fintech, data tech, enterprise technology, SaaS and data analytics, and its current thesis holds that the next era of software opportunity will come from using AI to model how the world works and building scalable applications on top of those models. ValueStream typically backs companies at the pre-seed and seed stages, focusing on the 'early growth' moment when a startup has some revenue and signs of product/market fit but is not yet a consensus bet, and concentrates on companies that have raised under $10 million in total capital, willing to lead. The firm's most recent fund is reported at around $16.2 million. ValueStream is led by General Partners Greg Neufeld, Karl Antle and Josh Elwell, who have worked together in the space since the firm's founding; Neufeld brings a background in asset management, enterprise sales and consumer web. Across roughly 76 investments the firm has produced one unicorn, one IPO and 17 acquisitions, with notable portfolio companies including the generative-AI enterprise platform Writer, a unicorn whose Series C in November 2024 was its most recent disclosed deal, the on-demand small-business insurer Thimble, and the research-recruitment platform User Interviews. By focusing on data-centric B2B platforms at the early-growth moment, ValueStream Ventures backs founders building the next generation of enterprise and AI-driven software.

Vamos Ventures is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing in diverse founders, particularly from the Latinx community. Founded by Marcos Gonzalez in 2018, Vamos Ventures focuses on early-stage, tech-driven companies with the potential for high financial returns and significant social impact. The firm's primary investment sectors include Health & Wellness, Future of Work, FinTech, and Sustainability​. Notable investments in their portfolio include Form Energy, a company revolutionizing energy storage; Suma Wealth, a fintech platform focused on financial inclusion for the Latinx community; and SweetBio, a health and wellness startup innovating in wound care​. Vamos Ventures' mission is to create alpha and impact by funding disruptive solutions led by Latinx and diverse founders. The firm emphasizes the importance of community empowerment, social mobility, and representation in the tech ecosystem. They are supported by notable partners such as Apple, Bank of America, and the Ford Foundation​.

Van Herk Ventures is the life-sciences investment arm of Van Herk Groep, the Rotterdam-based family investment group built by Dutch entrepreneur Adriaan van Herk and whose roots trace back to 1951. Operating with patient, evergreen family capital, Van Herk Ventures invests in the life-sciences sector through direct stakes in both private and publicly listed companies as well as commitments to specialist venture capital funds. For private companies it concentrates on the Benelux region and typically participates in businesses with an enterprise value of between roughly EUR 10 million and EUR 150 million at the time of first investment, while its public-market positions extend across the broader European and global biotech landscape, generally as a co-investor. The wider Van Herk Groep deploys across real estate, energy, financial services and construction, but the Ventures vehicle is focused squarely on life sciences, biotechnology and healthtech. Across roughly 28 portfolio companies it has produced eight IPOs and seven acquisitions, with a track record that includes some of Europe's most prominent biotech names, argenx, Merus, Galapagos, Zealand Pharma, BioInvent, DCprime and DermTech, alongside landmark exits such as Ablynx, acquired by Sanofi, and Crucell, acquired by Johnson & Johnson. The group runs a lean team of around ten people including two partners. Backed by patient, multigenerational family capital, Van Herk Ventures takes long-term positions across private and public European life-sciences companies and has built one of the region's most successful biotech investment track records.

Van Wagoner Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm led by Managing Member Garrett Van Wagoner, operating as a late-stage and early private-equity crossover investor focused on the transformation of the global transportation grid. The firm's mission is to lead the financing of what it calls the Fourth Generation Industrial Revolution by backing companies building a cleaner, more sustainable, connected and intelligent transportation ecosystem across land, sea and air, through mobility-connected technology spanning connected services, telematics and logistics, alternative fuels, infrastructure support and smart-grid solutions powered by AI and IoT. Its vehicles include the Silicon Valley Associates Impact 1 Fund, which began marketing in 2016 with a US$250 million target and a socially-responsible-investing mandate centred on green transportation and renewable power infrastructure, and the VW Crossover Fund III Transportation Infrastructure Fund; in July 2017 Van Wagoner Ventures acquired Silicon Valley Venture Group and its predecessor Silicon Valley Associates in an all-equity transaction. Garrett Van Wagoner brings a long public-markets pedigree: he began as an equity analyst in 1978, spent 1982 to 1993 at Bessemer Trust, founded the Van Wagoner Funds mutual fund family, won the Lipper Performance Achievement Award five times, and earlier deployed $340 million across 54 companies in a 1997-vintage crossover program. The earlier Van Wagoner Capital Management, an SEC-registered adviser since 1995, reached a 2004 SEC settlement over the valuation of private securities held by the Van Wagoner Funds. Today Van Wagoner Ventures focuses on financing the clean, connected and intelligent transformation of global transportation.

Van Wickle Ventures (VWV) is a student-run, evergreen venture fund affiliated with Brown University, founded in 2019 and based at the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship in Providence, Rhode Island. Co-founded by Sophie Starck and John Diorio and seeded with a gift from Robert and Erna Place, the fund invests $25,000 to $50,000 checks drawn from Brown's endowment into startups founded by Brown and RISD students, alumni and professors, investing across all early stages from pre-seed and seed through seed-plus and Series A, generally as a co-investor. The fund is one of the few fully student-run vehicles deploying real institutional capital: throughout the academic year students source and rigorously diligence prospective companies, then present opportunities to an investment committee of seasoned alumni venture capitalists, drawn from funds such as Pear VC and Alumni Ventures, who vote on the final investment decision. As an evergreen fund, all returns are reinvested so that VWV remains a permanent supporter of Brown's entrepreneurial ecosystem while training the next generation of investors in sourcing, diligence and decision-making. To date the fund has sourced more than 700 Brown-founded companies and built a portfolio of roughly 13 startups, including Minded, Apprenta, Ghia and Otis, with its most recent disclosed investment being Lexi at the pre-seed stage in February 2026. By deploying endowment capital into companies founded by the Brown and RISD community and recycling its returns, Van Wickle Ventures supports the university's entrepreneurial ecosystem and develops student investors.

Vanagon Ventures is a Munich-based pre-seed and seed venture capital firm founded in 2023 by Sandro Stark, Susanne Fromm and Axel Roitzsch to back AI-native and DeepTech founders across three themes, Industrial, Nature and Digital Infrastructure. The firm targets B2B startups at the pre-seed stage that tackle system-level challenges and build entirely new categories enabled by AI and deeptech, deliberately favouring companies whose development paths go beyond traditional software-as-a-service. Its sector scope spans deeptech, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, future materials, geospatial intelligence, next-generation computing, industrial technology and eco-fintech. In January 2026 Vanagon announced the final close of its EUR 20 million inaugural Fund I, anchored by Allocator One, which is designed to act as the first institutional or lead investor in pre-seed AI and DeepTech companies across Europe, writing checks of up to roughly EUR 500,000 and aiming to build a portfolio of around 30 companies to help fill Europe's deeptech pre-seed funding gap. The three general partners bring complementary backgrounds: Axel Roitzsch is a serial entrepreneur who has taken companies through full growth cycles, Sandro Stark is a former Microsoft strategist who also co-founded a parametric climate-insurance startup, and Susanne Fromm is an INSEAD MBA with 15 years of corporate innovation, strategy and tech-investment experience. Early portfolio companies include Holy Technologies, ExoMatter and The Landbanking Group, alongside ventures in glass-based data storage, AI-powered visual inspection and AI-driven demand forecasting. By acting as a first institutional investor, Vanagon Ventures backs European AI and deeptech founders at the pre-seed stage.

VanEck is a global investment manager known for its forward-thinking approach to identifying major trends before they become mainstream investment opportunities. Founded in 1955 and headquartered in New York, VanEck has grown to manage over $107.7 billion in assets as of 2024, with a strong focus on ETFs, mutual funds, and alternative investments like digital assets, gold, and emerging markets. The firm was among the first U.S. asset managers to offer investors access to international markets and was an early adopter of gold and digital asset investments. VanEck's investment philosophy centers on providing clients with intelligently designed strategies that enhance portfolio diversification. Its offerings span from core investments in U.S. and international equities to specialized exposures in commodities, natural resources, and blockchain technology. The company also emphasizes sustainability and socially responsible investing, reflected in its partnerships with organizations like Women in ETFs and Wall Street Bound, which promote diversity and inclusion in finance. Led by CEO Jan van Eck, the firm continues to innovate, particularly in the areas of digital assets and emerging technologies. VanEck's strength lies in its active management, supported by deep sector expertise and a global team of experienced investment professionals​.

Vanedge Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm with offices in Vancouver and Silicon Valley. Founded by experienced technology entrepreneurs, the firm focuses on investing in companies that leverage deep technology and innovative solutions in areas such as hard tech, artificial intelligence, and analytics. Vanedge Capital aims to help visionary technologists build and scale their businesses through capital investment, operational expertise, and a robust network of industry connections. The firm has $390 million under management and has developed a repeatable investment process refined over a decade to deliver superior returns. Their portfolio includes a diverse range of companies such as Canalyst, Cogniac, and Echodyne, each known for their groundbreaking technologies and market impact. Key team members include Moe Kermani, who has extensive experience in cloud computing and machine intelligence, and Amy Rae, who focuses on SaaS businesses and applied analytics. The team provides hands-on support to their portfolio companies, helping them mitigate execution risks and attract follow-on capital from top-tier co-investors.

Vanguard Ventures was an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 1981 that helped entrepreneurs build pioneering technology and life-science companies. Co-founded by Jack M. Gill, the firm was based in California's Silicon Valley, in San Jose and Palo Alto, with an additional office in Houston, Texas, and invested across software, information technology, telecommunications, medical devices, biotech and healthtech, willing to lead. Over its life Vanguard managed roughly $500 million across about seven to eight funds, the last being Vanguard VII LP, and was the lead investor in more than 100 technology and medical-device startups, ultimately returning over $1 billion, approximately 7x, to its investors. Its portfolio and exits included some landmark companies of the 1990s and 2000s, among them Ciena, Network Appliance, Aldus, Macromedia, Vocera Communications, Advanced Fibre Communications, Digital Island, Hansen Medical, EndoSonics, Mycogen, CardioGenesis, Cooking.com, DFine, Vormetric, Salient Surgical Technologies and ZipRealty. Founder Jack Gill was a scientist, executive, entrepreneur and philanthropist who had earlier founded Autolab, a pioneer of microprocessor-based instruments for chromatography that was acquired by Spectra Physics, and who later taught entrepreneurship and helped lead the Houston-based GOOSE Capital angel network. Vanguard Ventures is now a legacy firm whose funds have wound down and is no longer actively investing. Across two decades it built a strong track record as a lead early-stage backer of technology and medical-device companies, returning roughly seven times invested capital to its limited partners.

Valor Equity Partners, founded in 1995, is a Chicago-based private equity firm renowned for its operational growth investments in technology and technology-enabled companies. The firm has a history of tech-enabling industrial companies, streamlining warehouses, and optimizing production processes. Valor Equity Partners has invested in high-impact companies such as SpaceX, Addepar, GoPuff, and BitGo, driving innovation in biosciences, transportation, food, and health sectors. Their investment strategy includes significant hands-on support to enhance operational efficiency and scalability, exemplified by their $1.7 billion Growth Fund V. The firm operates with a philosophy of working side by side with entrepreneurs to solve the world’s biggest challenges, fostering a culture of innovation and efficiency. Notable portfolio companies also include Manduka, Fooda, and Dataminr, reflecting Valor’s commitment to backing transformative businesses. Their approach is deeply rooted in their own entrepreneurial beginnings, emphasizing an operational mindset to unlock growth and value creation

Variant Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York, specializing in investments that support the development of the "ownership economy." Founded in 2020, Variant focuses on web3, decentralized finance (DeFi), and blockchain sectors. The firm aims to invest in companies that are building an internet where users become owners, leveraging the transformative potential of blockchain technology. The team at Variant includes co-founders Jesse Walden and Li Jin, along with a group of experienced professionals such as Jake Chervinsky (Chief Legal Officer) and Geoff Hamilton (Investment Partner). They bring a wealth of expertise in legal, financial, and operational aspects to support their portfolio companies. Variant's portfolio includes prominent companies like Uniswap, Magic Eden, and Worldcoin, which are making significant strides in their respective fields. The firm is known for its quick decision-making process, providing initial investments typically in the range of pre-seed and seed stages. In a notable development, Variant Fund merged with Atelier Ventures to further strengthen their focus on the ownership economy, expanding their investment reach and operational capabilities​.

Varsha Rao is a prominent venture capitalist known for her extensive background in the tech and healthcare sectors. Currently a partner at Flare Capital Partners, Rao focuses on investing in innovative healthcare technology startups. Her portfolio at Flare Capital includes companies like BeMe Health, BirchAI, and Cayaba Care, which are working on groundbreaking solutions in digital health. Rao’s investment strategy emphasizes early-stage investments in digital health, leveraging her deep industry expertise to identify and support startups with high growth potential. She is particularly interested in companies that address significant gaps in healthcare delivery and accessibility. Geographically, Varsha Rao focuses primarily on the United States, where she supports startups that can make a substantial impact on the healthcare system. Her approach is characterized by a strong commitment to improving healthcare outcomes through technology and innovation​. Before joining Flare Capital, Rao held several key positions, including CEO of Nurx and COO of Clover Health. She also served as Head of Global Operations at Airbnb, where she played a crucial role in scaling the company’s international presence​.

Varys Capital is a global multi-strategy venture capital firm, established in 2018, with a strong focus on digital assets and blockchain innovations. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the firm manages a range of investment strategies that blend venture capital with quantitative trading approaches. Varys Capital primarily targets early-stage investments in decentralized finance (DeFi), Web3 platforms, and blockchain infrastructure, striving to capture the rapidly evolving opportunities in these sectors. The firm's venture fund, Varys Capital Ventures (CEIC), operates out of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), where it has raised substantial capital, nearing $75 million. Its portfolio includes a variety of companies across blockchain and emerging technologies, reflecting a strategic emphasis on equity investments with long-term potential. Notable investments include projects like Shrapnel and Movement Labs, both of which align with the fund's focus on decentralized technologies and financial innovation. Varys Capital also maintains a sophisticated quantitative trading division that leverages high-frequency trading models to exploit market volatility, aiming to outperform traditional indices like Bitcoin and Ethereum over the long term. This blend of venture capital and algorithmic trading gives the firm a competitive edge in the digital asset ecosystem, positioning it as a key player in both the investment and market-making spaces.

Vast Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in disruptive companies with a global impact. Founded in 2004 by Doug Chertok, the firm is headquartered in New York, New York. Vast Ventures has a diverse portfolio, investing in sectors such as healthcare, finance, AI, cloud software, and sustainability. They have a strong track record with notable investments in companies like Sweetgreen, Conductor, and Clover Health​. The firm's investment strategy centers on fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs who aim to create significant positive change. They emphasize long-term partnerships, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and support to help their portfolio companies grow and succeed​. Vast Ventures is managed by a team of experienced professionals, including Doug Chertok, Aniq Rahman, and Talia Zapolanski. The team leverages their extensive backgrounds in finance, entrepreneurship, and venture capital to help startups navigate the challenges of early-stage growth​. For startups seeking investment, Vast Ventures is particularly interested in companies that aim to improve health and happiness, promote resource sustainability, increase human potential and productivity, and foster knowledge and empathy. They prefer to lead investment rounds and take active roles in the development of their portfolio companies​.

VC Sila is a forward-thinking venture capital firm focused on developing and investing in high-tech startups across various stages, from Seed to IPO. Established as a private innovation ecosystem, the firm combines startup acceleration, venture investment, and large-scale projects to foster an environment ripe for global innovation. With over $100 million invested, VC Sila supports young, innovative companies with financial backing and extensive mentorship. Their approach is hands-on, working closely with entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses and become leaders in their industries. VC Sila has a strong emphasis on transparency and strategic market focus, selecting projects based on emerging trends and long-term potential. Their portfolio spans diverse sectors, including IT, AI, and blockchain technology, with investments in promising startups like Vinci and NUTSon. The firm also offers opportunities for individual investors to participate in world-class projects through its innovative marketplace model. Based in Dubai, VC Sila has built a reputation for reliability and strong partnerships, helping startups navigate the complexities of early-stage growth with tailored support and a global network of investors and experts.

Vectors Capital is a venture capital firm focused on addressing global challenges, particularly in the fields of climate and sustainability. Their investment thesis centers around supporting early-stage startups in sectors like sustainable energy, low-carbon mobility, and resource optimization. They also emphasize innovations in synthetic biology (SynBio), with a dedicated SynBio x Climate Fund aimed at backing startups using biology to combat climate change. Their portfolio typically includes companies working on solutions that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as alternative proteins, carbon sequestration, and clean energy technologies. They take a hands-on approach with startups, often leading investment rounds and offering mentorship through their Vectors Angel network, a global community of seasoned investors committed to impact investing. For startups seeking investment, Vectors Capital looks for those developing scalable technologies that can deliver both financial returns and social impact. They also encourage their portfolio companies to sign the Vectors Impact Pledge, committing to measurable long-term impact goals. Investors can engage through various programs, including the SynBio x Climate initiative, which focuses on cutting-edge biotechnology solutions for environmental sustainability.

Vectr Ventures is a global early-stage venture capital firm and venture studio headquartered in Hong Kong, founded in 2013. Describing itself as a 'startup launcher studio,' Vectr combines capital, company creation and hands-on partnership to back founders building transformational products, and positions itself as an ideal partner for companies looking to expand into Asia. The firm invests at the early and incubation stages, primarily Seed and Series A, across technology, mobile and cloud, artificial intelligence, media and commerce, enterprise applications and retail, with a portfolio that spans both the United States and Asia, generally as a co-investor. Vectr runs a team of around 20 people including roughly three partners, with leadership including Managing Partner Alan Chan, General Partner Arthur Law and Partner Adrian Chan, supported by managing directors across technology, product and development, and finance and operations. Across roughly 140 investments the firm has produced five unicorns, two IPOs and 14 acquisitions, with notable portfolio companies including the curated film-streaming platform MUBI, which reached unicorn status in 2025, the online-education company MasterClass, and the European mobility platform FREE NOW. Vectr Ventures should not be confused with the separate Hong Kong firm Vectr Fintech Partners, which rebranded as OMVC in 2025. By combining a venture studio with early-stage capital and an Asia-expansion focus, Vectr Ventures backs founders building transformational technology, media and commerce companies across the US and Asia.

Vega Ventures is a partnership-driven private equity and venture capital firm founded in 2016 and based in Madeira Beach, Florida, taking its name from the bright star Vega to reflect a mission of serving as a guiding force in the investment landscape. The firm runs a dual strategy: a private-equity arm that acts as a hands-on operator, at times taking the helm to overhaul strategy and operations across hospitality and real estate, industrials, consumer and distribution, essential services and climate and sustainability, and a venture capital arm that partners with visionary founders, providing early-stage capital and strategic support to scale disruptive ideas into market leaders. Its sector focus is intentionally diverse, blending the high-growth potential of next-generation technology, software, AI and data analytics spanning SaaS, commerce, fintech, healthtech, insurtech and cybersecurity, with stable, asset-heavy traditional industries, life sciences and healthcare, and agriculture, agritech and food innovation. Vega emphasises patient, long-term capital, active management, global expansion and a data-driven, technology-enabled investment process, generally as a co-investor. On the venture side it has made roughly eight disclosed investments with about three exits; portfolio companies include the German digital-health startup neotiv, the entertainment-software company The Animal Age and the decentralized-finance protocol BurgerSwap, with its most recent disclosed venture investment being The Animal Age in July 2023. By combining a hands-on private-equity operating model with early-stage venture investing across technology and asset-heavy industries, Vega Ventures backs founders and companies it can actively help build and scale.

Veligera Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2021 and headquartered in New York. The firm specializes in investing in high-tech companies with significant growth potential, typically focusing on businesses valued at $500 million or more. Veligera's investment strategy centers around identifying fast-growing technology companies worldwide, with a goal of achieving at least 100% year-over-year growth. They particularly target sectors such as AI, deep tech, and enterprise software, while maintaining a strong presence in industries like social platform software and mining. The firm has built an impressive portfolio, including unicorns such as StoreDot and Automation Anywhere. Veligera has also seen successful exits with companies like Udemy and Scopely, highlighting its ability to foster companies from growth stages to IPO or acquisition. Their team is led by co-founders Dmitry Kartvelishvili and Yan Sepiashvili, who have crafted a hands-on approach to venture capital, ensuring that each investment is supported by in-depth analysis and a strong network of industry connections. Veligera operates globally, with investments spanning the United States, Israel, and other key regions. Their approach is focused on partnering with technology leaders, ensuring that their portfolio companies not only grow but thrive in competitive markets.

Velo Partners is a UK-based venture capital firm, founded in 2011 by Evan Hoff, that specializes in investments across the global gaming and gambling industries. The firm typically invests in early-stage and Series A companies, focusing on innovative startups that demonstrate strong early traction and growth potential. Velo Partners' portfolio spans mobile, online, land-based, and real-money gaming, as well as social and B2B/B2C assets. Their investment strategy emphasizes supporting visionary entrepreneurs who are driving disruptive technologies in gaming and gambling. Velo Partners also collaborates with RNG Foundry, an accelerator for iGaming content, to further nurture early-stage startups. Once invested, Velo Partners often follows their rights for later rounds, working closely with management teams to establish solid corporate governance and reporting structures. Notable portfolio companies include Tripledot Studios, Gamezop, and Candivore, reflecting Velo’s commitment to fostering innovation within the gaming sector. The firm operates globally, with investments in regions like the US, Israel, and several European countries​.

Velocity Capital Fintech Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to financial technology, based in Bussum, in the Netherlands, and active since the early 2010s. The firm backs fintech companies led by what it calls 'unstoppable founders,' providing early-stage, post-seed capital and then continuing to support them through subsequent funding rounds, positioning itself as an ally and counselor to entrepreneurs whenever they face crossroads, adversity or complex challenges. Velocity invests globally, partnering early with fintech companies across Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, with its portfolio concentrated most heavily in the Netherlands and the United States but spanning the United Kingdom and numerous other countries, generally as a co-investor. In June 2019 the firm announced a EUR 105 million global FinTech Ventures Fund dedicated to backing early-stage fintech companies, reinforcing its follow-on, multi-round approach. Across its history Velocity has made roughly 42 investments and holds an active portfolio of around 23 companies. The firm is led by founder and general partner Willem Willemstein, a long-tenured Dutch fintech entrepreneur and investor who serves as CEO, alongside fund managers Allard Luchsinger and Don Montanaro. As one of Europe's earliest specialist fintech investors, Velocity combines deep sector focus with a founder-first philosophy and a global, multi-stage investment strategy, backing financial-technology founders from their early post-seed rounds through subsequent growth financings across multiple continents.

Velocity Ventures is a Singapore-based venture capital firm with a singular focus on the Travel and Hospitality sector across Southeast Asia, founded in 2020. The firm launched its sector-specific Travel and Hospitality Fund, reaching a first close of US$20 million, partly in response to the COVID-19 disruption, with the aim of powering the recovery and reinvention of the region's travel and hospitality startups and matching corporates with promising young companies. Velocity backs visionary entrepreneurs reshaping the sector at the seed to Series A stage, and selectively through to pre-IPO, across five verticals: Transportation, Travel Retail, Real Estate and Accommodation, Food and Beverage, and Retail and Entertainment, and it is willing to lead. Beyond capital it offers a hands-on, value-added approach combining strategic guidance with a deep industry network in Asia. The team blends travel and hospitality sector specialists with successful entrepreneurs who collectively bring around 13 decades of operating and investing experience and a track record of more than 50 deals across venture capital, private equity, M&A and IPOs with a reported roughly 24.4% IRR on early-stage investments. Velocity was founded by A. Patrick Imbardelli, former CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels and of InterContinental Hotels Group in Asia-Pacific, and Nicholas Cocks, an entrepreneur turned professional investor, with partners including Jonathon Cocks and Bennett Lee. Portfolio companies include ZUZU Hospitality, Aigens, BYHOURS, TripGuru, Tripbtoz, Journee, Tablevibe and Feast. By focusing exclusively on travel and hospitality in Southeast Asia, Velocity Ventures backs the founders reshaping the region's travel economy.

Velvet Sea Ventures is a multi-stage venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 2019 by Kass Lazerow, Matthew Giampetroni, Michael Lazerow, and John Giampetroni. The firm focuses on helping entrepreneurs turn their visions into reality by providing capital and hands-on strategic support. With over 80 years of combined experience and more than $2.2 billion invested, Velvet Sea offers seed-to-growth stage investments across various sectors. The firm is known for backing high-growth companies in industries like human capital services, fintech, and semiconductors. Their diverse portfolio includes companies such as Scopely, Liquid Death, SuperRare, and eToro, emphasizing Velvet Sea's versatility in supporting businesses from gaming to consumer products. Velvet Sea Ventures takes pride in being more than just a capital provider; they partner closely with their portfolio companies to drive innovation and long-term success. Their team has led numerous high-profile investments, including in Autograph and LeoLabs, and they continue to expand their reach across various sectors globally.

Venista Ventures is a Cologne-based venture capital firm founded in 2004 that invests exclusively at the pre-seed and seed stage, aiming to be the first institutional investor in ambitious founders with visionary ideas. The firm targets data-driven business models in Consumer Internet and B2B SaaS, backing outstanding teams primarily across Germany, Western Europe and the Nordics, willing to lead. Its initial ticket size is typically EUR 50,000 to EUR 150,000, with total investment per company of up to EUR 1,000,000. Venista practices what it calls 'Applied VC,' the belief that, especially in the early days, pure monetary support has limited impact, so its operational team adds value by supporting portfolio companies in HR, controlling and accounting while founders retain full control of their business. The team sees itself as a sparring partner and mentor on product and growth, and on online marketing, B2B sales and recruiting, rather than as active managers, keeping founders in the driving seat; the group also includes two fully-owned operating subsidiaries that run as agencies. The team of roughly six is led by founder and CEO Christian Teichert, alongside COO Frank Maschmeier and CIO Tobias Neveling. As of mid-2024 Venista had invested in around 28 companies, including Circuly, Connect Earth, Superjoi and Tilta, with notable exits including Familo, datapine and GTX Messaging. By acting as a first institutional investor and pairing capital with hands-on operational support, Venista Ventures backs data-driven Consumer Internet and B2B SaaS founders across Germany, Western Europe and the Nordics.

Venrock, a venture capital firm born from the Rockefeller family’s pioneering investments, focuses on early-stage companies in healthcare and technology. Its portfolio features high-profile companies like Apple, Intel, and more recently, businesses such as Illumina, and Cloudflare. Venrock operates primarily in the U.S., with offices in Palo Alto, New York, and Cambridge, emphasizing innovation-driven startups. Venrock’s investment strategy targets disruptive ideas in digital health, biotech, enterprise software, and cybersecurity. They prioritize early-stage investments, often leading seed and Series A rounds with checks typically ranging from $5M to $10M. The firm’s disciplined approach includes follow-on investments, ensuring sustained growth. Venrock tends to stay hands-on, offering strategic guidance rather than merely financial support, particularly in sectors with complex technical or regulatory landscapes. With recent funds like Venrock 10, a $650M pool, the firm is increasingly active, especially in biotech and digital therapeutics. Founders should note that Venrock values data-driven pitches and prefers founders with strong domain expertise. Partner Bryan Roberts, a key figure, exemplifies Venrock’s deep involvement in healthcare innovation, while other partners like Brian Ascher are notable for their tech focus. For startups, the ideal approach to Venrock involves showcasing clear scalability and a transformative market vision. Venrock’s long-standing reputation for backing groundbreaking companies is cemented by its proactive role in nurturing bold ideas that shape the future.

Venture Catalysts, branded Venture Catalysts++, is an early-stage investment and innovation platform founded in 2016 and headquartered in Mumbai, positioning itself as India's first integrated incubator and multi-stage venture capital firm. It operates one of India's largest early-stage ecosystems, with a network of over 3,000 angel investors spread across 11 cities in three countries, India, Hong Kong and Qatar, and access to more than 10,000 angel networks, aiming to democratize angel investing. The firm follows a multi-stage approach with seed-stage checks typically ranging from about $0.25M to $2M, averaging around $1.1M, and is willing to lead. It has syndicated roughly $700M across more than 300 portfolio startups carrying a combined valuation of more than $10B. Co-founded by Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-Founder and President, alongside Anil Jain, Anuj Golecha and Gaurav Jain, the platform also runs specialized vehicles including the 100 Unicorns $100M early-stage accelerator fund, the Beams Fintech Fund, around $90M and India's first growth-stage fintech vehicle from 2022, and the Spyre PropTech Venture Fund, around $50M from 2025. Its portfolio of nearly 390 companies spans enterprise applications, retail, fintech, proptech and consumer sectors, and includes unicorns BharatPe and Vested Finance, plus well-known names such as Vedantu, Zingbus, Beardo, SuprDaily, Innov8, Home Capital, BlowHorn and Fynd. The firm remains highly active, with dozens of new investments each year. By combining a vast angel network with multi-stage funds, Venture Catalysts backs Indian founders from incubation through growth.

Venture Highway is a founder-first, seed-stage, tech-focused venture capital firm founded in 2015 and based in India, in New Delhi, originally established by former Google executive Samir Sood. The firm invests almost exclusively at the seed stage, preferring to be the first institutional partner for category-creating companies, and backs startups across fintech, logistics, Web3, SaaS, cybersecurity and B2B commerce, willing to lead. It takes a hands-on approach, leveraging a network of investors, industry experts, advisors and potential hires across India and the US, with an average cheque size of around $1M. Venture Highway raised a $78.6M second fund announced in January 2020 and built a portfolio of roughly 80 companies that has produced six unicorns, two IPOs and eight acquisitions. It is best known as an early and long-term backer of Meesho, having invested in its first seed round, and reportedly sold a 1.5% stake for around 50x returns. Other notable portfolio names include Moglix, MPL, BetterPlace, Chalo, Fam, Grip Invest and CheQ. In a major development, global firm General Catalyst agreed in early 2024 to merge with Venture Highway, completing the deal in June 2024 to strengthen its India presence and global seed capability; founder Samir Sood subsequently transitioned to an advisory role amid the restructuring. By being the first institutional partner to category-creating Indian founders and pairing capital with a hands-on network, Venture Highway built a seed track record that drew a global firm's acquisition.

Venture Investors Health Fund, also known as Venture Investors and more recently rebranded Clarevia, is one of the Midwest's longest-established healthcare-dedicated venture capital firms, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin with an office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Tracing its roots to the early 1980s, when it began as Madison Capital Corporation with just $1M under management, the firm has built a roughly four-decade legacy and today manages around $350M in assets. It invests in early-stage healthcare and life-sciences companies developing patient-facing innovations across biopharmaceuticals and therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and tools, and digital health, with historical strength in oncology, infectious disease and ophthalmology and an expanding focus on behavioral and women's health, willing to lead. The firm prefers companies with a Midwest presence but national reach, leveraging its proximity to world-class research universities. In its most recent, seventh, fund it closed $80M, with first-check sizes ranging from $500,000 to $4M and similar or larger amounts reserved for follow-on rounds. New portfolio companies funded include Elephas Biosciences, Rivermark Medical, Sanacor, Ten Bay Bio and EarliTec Diagnostics. Over its history the firm has made well over 100 investments and recorded roughly 50 exits. Its leadership includes Executive Managing Director Jim Adox, longtime Managing Director John Neis, with the firm since 1985, and Principal Jenni Le. By concentrating exclusively on healthcare and life sciences and leveraging its university ties, Venture Investors Health Fund backs early-stage, patient-facing innovation across the Midwest and beyond.

Venture Kick, a leading philanthropic initiative in Switzerland, has been instrumental in supporting early-stage startups since its inception in 2007. The program provides up to CHF 150,000 in pre-seed funding through a structured, three-stage process, aimed at helping science-based startups transition from innovative concepts to market-ready businesses. With a portfolio of over 1,000 supported startups, Venture Kick has contributed significantly to the Swiss startup ecosystem. Their efforts have led to the creation of more than 13,300 jobs and attracted over CHF 8 billion in investments. Notable successes from their alumni include Climeworks, a leader in direct air capture technology, which recently raised CHF 600 million to scale its operations, and YASAI, a vertical farming company that has secured investment from the Bell Food Group to boost its growth​​. The foundation’s focus spans various high-tech sectors, including ICT, life sciences, cleantech, and advanced manufacturing. In 2023 alone, Venture Kick reviewed 781 applications and supported 118 projects, demonstrating its robust selection process and broad industry impact. The initiative aims to scale its model further, with ambitious goals of supporting 3,000 high-tech companies and creating 100,000 jobs by 2033​.

Venture MENA is a dedicated venture capital fund founded in 2019 and based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that sources and backs promising early-stage technology startups across the Middle East and North Africa. The fund invests in MENA-based entrepreneurs building new tools and networks that enable businesses to operate in tomorrow's market, writing checks from the seed range through Series A with a defined reserve allocation policy for follow-on rounds, and an average round size of around $1M, generally as a co-investor. Its investments span e-commerce, software, financial services, fintech, SaaS and security among other sectors. Venture MENA operates as a single-GP fund led by founder and Managing Director Mohamed Hamdy, who brings more than two decades of venture capital and private equity experience, including roles as investment director for an Abu Dhabi family office for roughly seven years, Managing Director of the Turn8 accelerator, Head of Future Platforms at the Dubai Future Foundation, and advisor at ADQ. Hamdy went on to become Managing Partner at Further Ventures, a separate Abu Dhabi fund anchored by the ADQ sovereign wealth fund that focuses on fintech, digital assets and logistics. Across his career he has been associated with a broad track record of seed and growth-stage technology investments in the MENA region and beyond. By focusing on MENA-based founders and pairing seed-to-Series-A capital with deep regional experience, Venture MENA backs the technology companies building the tools and networks for the region's next generation of businesses.

Venture Stars is a Munich-based venture capital firm founded in 2014 that focuses on early-stage investments in innovative digital B2C and B2B business models. The firm evolved from a company builder and incubator, having co-founded market-leading startups, with multiple ventures individually scaling past EUR 200m in revenue and EUR 20m in annual profit while collectively securing more than EUR 200m in funding, into a fund managed by serial internet entrepreneurs. Today it runs its third fund and typically writes initial tickets of EUR 500k to EUR 2m, investing up to roughly EUR 4m in total per company, concentrated at the pre-seed and seed stages, and it is willing to lead. Venture Stars prioritizes sectors including consumer, SaaS, fintech, healthcare, energy and climate, and AI. Reflecting its incubator roots, the team works very closely with founders, offering not just capital but hands-on know-how, network and operational manpower across strategy, organizational development, financing and exit. The firm is led by Managing Partners Florian Calmbach and Martin Junker, with Raphael Budday serving as Investment Manager. Portfolio companies include AlphaPet, a technology-driven premium pet-food brand platform now in exit stage, CyberDesk in identity-centric data security, DaphOS in healthcare decision support, Freshflow in AI-powered replenishment for food retailers, MARCLEY in solar solutions for apartment blocks, Momentum Transfer, nunc. in premium coffee systems and OTARK in certified green energy trading. By combining capital with company-building experience and operational support, Venture Stars backs early-stage digital B2C and B2B founders across Germany and Europe.

Venture Studio from Crisis is the award-winning impact investment arm of Crisis, the UK national homelessness charity, launched in 2020 and based in London. It invests in and supports startups developing innovative solutions to homelessness and the housing crisis, using philanthropic capital to provide equity funding to businesses that can help end homelessness for those experiencing it or prevent it from happening in the first place, driving efficiency and affordability in housing. Beyond capital, the studio offers founders access to subject expertise, a test bed with experts-by-experience, and a range of technical, business and product support, and it is willing to lead. Its investment focus spans UK-based proptech, geospatial and 'plantech' planning-technology startups tackling the causes or consequences of homelessness, as well as modular and affordable housing and ethical fintech. To date it has backed around eight companies, including Agile Homes, which builds low-carbon, rapidly built affordable homes; Pfida, offering ethical, interest-free financial products and debt-free homes; Bridge Housing Solutions, matching people in temporary accommodation with available social housing; Urban Intelligence, a data-and-planning tool helping local authorities prioritise housing sites; and Husmus, a fintech making private-sector renting fairer, whose Crisis seed funding helped unlock further investment from Innovate UK and Google. The studio is raising a £20m philanthropic fund, 'This Venture Fund Ends Homelessness,' to invest in more than 70 startups over roughly a decade. By deploying charitable capital into housing and homelessness solutions, Venture Studio from Crisis backs founders working to end and prevent homelessness.

VentureFriends is an Athens-based venture capital firm that was founded in 2016 by Apostolos Apostolakis and George Dimopoulos. The firm focuses on seed and early-stage investments in sectors like fintech, proptech, SaaS, and consumer solutions. With offices in Athens, London, Barcelona, and Warsaw, VentureFriends targets startups across Europe and the Middle East, aiming to support ambitious entrepreneurs with bold ideas. VentureFriends has a track record of backing promising startups, including notable companies like Instashop, Belvo, and Blueground. They are known for their hands-on approach, often acting as an extension of the startups they support. Their typical initial investments range from €500,000 to €2.5 million, with follow-on investments that can go up to €10 million. This strategy allows them to stay deeply involved in the growth of their portfolio companies. The firm has raised multiple funds, with their most recent one closing at €90 million, enabling them to continue supporting innovation in regions like Latin America and MENA. They are highly regarded for their ability to guide startups through both the good times and the tough times, providing not just capital, but mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to their extensive network.

VentureIsrael is an Israeli early-stage deep tech venture capital fund that backs founders building breakthrough technology from seed to scale across quantum, space, neuro, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, cybersecurity and digital health. Its thesis centers on timing, investing where readiness, urgency and adoption are beginning to align, a defensible deep tech moat, and companies that can either dominate a market or force a fast acquisition; the fund describes itself as market-agnostic but conviction-driven on technology, time-to-market and people, and it is willing to lead. The firm is led by Managing Partners Rafael (Roman) Gold and Gadi Isaev, who have built the Israeli tech ecosystem together for more than 12 years across five joint ventures, supported by venture partners including Gil Don (Wib, acquired by F5), Ran Bar-Yosef (Spectralics) and Arkady Karpman (Rapyd co-founder and CTO), plus scientific advisors such as Prof. Shlomi Dolev and Prof. Simon Litsyn, co-inventor of the USB flash drive. Collectively the partners have made more than 50 investments in Israeli startups with over 10 exits and helped channel over $500M of VC funding into the country; their first fund ranks top-quartile by IRR and top-decile by DPI for its vintage. In May 2025 VentureIsrael launched its second fund, around $25M, to back roughly 20 Series A companies. Portfolio names include SSI (Safe Superintelligence), ClearML, Adversa AI, HEQA Security, NovaLink Space and Remondo, with prior exits including AppSee (ServiceNow), Revelator (Warner Music Group) and Splitit (ASX IPO). By pairing deep ecosystem experience with a timing-and-moat thesis, VentureIsrael backs Israeli deep-tech founders.

Ventures International Group is a Singapore-based capital-raising consultancy and investment-facilitation firm founded in 2008, with a presence in Sydney and Bangkok and an investor network spanning Singapore, Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia and China, and Australia. Rather than a conventional venture capital fund that invests off its own balance sheet, the firm acts as an intermediary and advisor: it guides and assists revenue-producing, growth-stage client companies in obtaining the most appropriate private equity and debt funding from its network of family offices, private high-net-worth investors and funds, and also provides strategic advisory and M&A services. It positions itself as a source of quality investment deal flow and opportunities for that investor network and as an 'Asia gateway' for market entry. The team's sector experience covers investment and business advisory, fintech, including blockchain, crypto and payments, education, real estate development and investment, food and beverage, and music and media entertainment, while the firm will consider growth-stage companies across all sectors. Ventures International Group is led by founder and CEO Olavs Ritenis, who brings three decades of international business experience and deep Asia-Pacific connections, having previously founded and run software, services and internet businesses in Australia and Asia; the team includes senior corporate-development and ex-investment-banking professionals, and the firm runs internships to develop young Singapore-based talent. As an advisory and capital-raising intermediary rather than a balance-sheet investor, Ventures International Group connects growth-stage companies with private capital across the Asia-Pacific region and serves as a gateway for market entry into Asia.

Ventures Platform is a leading Pan-African venture capital firm, renowned for its founder-friendly approach and substantial investments in tech-driven startups. With notable portfolio companies like Paystack, PiggyVest, and Remedial Health, Ventures Platform has a keen focus on fintech, health tech, edtech, and agritech sectors. Their geographic focus spans across Africa, targeting high-growth potential in emerging markets. The fund's investment strategy is characterized by early-stage investments, usually taking the lead in funding rounds, with average check sizes ranging from $50K to $500K. Ventures Platform emphasizes a hands-on approach, offering extensive portfolio support through their Platform and Networks team. This includes market analysis, ecosystem engagement, and strategic communications to ensure their portfolio companies scale successfully. To approach Ventures Platform, startups are encouraged to demonstrate innovative solutions with clear market potential, preferably in sectors aligned with the fund's focus. Building connections through ecosystem events and demonstrating strong growth metrics can significantly enhance the chances of securing investment.

VentureSouq is a dynamic venture capital firm based in Dubai, specializing in early-stage investments with a focus on FinTech and ClimateTech. Launched in 2013, VSQ has become a cornerstone of the MENA region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, managing over 200 investments globally. Key investments include high-profile companies like Tabby, Sary, and Huspy, demonstrating their commitment to fostering innovation in diverse markets. VSQ targets sectors such as financial technology, climate technology, edtech, and digital media, emphasizing solutions that address critical economic, environmental, and societal issues. Their strategic focus includes sub-sectors like alternative proteins, carbon economy, energy storage, and supply chain technology, aligning with their mission of conscious investing. Geographically, VentureSouq invests across MENA and Pakistan, with notable ventures in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan. Their regional approach is complemented by a global perspective, reflecting their expansive investment reach. VSQ's investment strategy revolves around thematic funds, aiming to support transformative tech startups from seed to growth stages. They actively lead funding rounds, often with substantial follow-on investments, and leverage their extensive network to propel startups toward significant milestones. Their portfolio management is hands-on, providing operational support, strategic guidance, and valuable industry connections. The leadership team includes co-founders Sonia Gokhale, Tammer Qaddumi, and Sonia Weymuller, all bringing a wealth of experience from various prestigious financial institutions. Their diverse backgrounds and deep sector expertise underpin VSQ's robust investment framework.