Hardware, Robotics & IoT VC Funds

Tango.vc is a venture capital fund founded by Ivan Kirigin, focusing on seed-stage investments in machine learning and robotics startups. Launched in 2020, the fund is based in Redwood City, California, and has rapidly positioned itself as a significant player in the tech investment landscape. Tango.vc Fund I raised $4.7 million, targeting early-stage companies that are pushing the boundaries of automation and AI. The fund typically writes checks ranging from $25,000 to $250,000, and aims to be an early and supportive partner for startups. Tango.vc is known for its hands-on approach, leveraging Ivan Kirigin's extensive network and experience to provide operational support and strategic guidance. Kirigin, who previously worked with companies like Dropbox and as an early investor in various successful startups, brings a wealth of knowledge and founder empathy to the table. Geographically, Tango.vc focuses primarily on the U.S. market, though they remain open to exceptional opportunities globally. Their investment strategy emphasizes sectors where they have a strong informational and network advantage, particularly in machine learning and robotics. Recent investments include companies such as Eto, Finish Robotics, and Freshpaint, reflecting their commitment to innovative and disruptive technologies.

Tao Capital Partners, based in San Francisco, is a versatile venture capital firm known for its broad investment scope and influential portfolio. Notable investments include high-profile companies like Tesla, Uber, SpaceX, and DeepMind, showcasing their commitment to technology, alternative energy, and transportation. They also have significant stakes in sectors such as healthcare, education, sustainable food, and real estate, with investments in companies like Warby Parker, Harry's, and Zymergen. Tao Capital's investment strategy is flexible, engaging with companies across various stages of their lifecycle. They seek out businesses that have a positive impact and support them actively through their growth. Their geographic focus spans primarily North America, particularly the United States, although they do not restrict themselves geographically. The firm’s approach is hands-on, often taking board seats and leveraging their extensive network to add value beyond just capital. They are known for their active involvement in portfolio companies, ensuring they align with Tao’s values and long-term vision. Their team includes experienced professionals with deep industry knowledge, contributing to their strategic investment decisions. For startups looking to connect, Tao Capital prefers those that can demonstrate early traction and have a clear, positive impact. They value innovative solutions that align with their diverse investment interests, ranging from cutting-edge technology to sustainable food and agriculture​.

Target Global is a Berlin-based venture capital firm, managing over €1 billion in assets. It focuses on backing fast-growing startups in fintech, SaaS, mobility, and digital health across Europe, Israel, and the US. Their portfolio includes major players like Delivery Hero, WeFox, and Rapyd. With a focus on seed to growth-stage companies, Target Global typically invests €10-20 million, actively leading rounds and guiding companies through to international success. The firm’s strategy centers on identifying disruptive digital-enabled businesses, often those in underserved markets or emerging sectors like Industry 4.0 and healthtech. Their geographic focus spans Europe, with particular emphasis on Germany, London, and Tel Aviv, but they also make opportunistic investments in emerging economies like Poland and the Baltics. In terms of recent activity, Target Global raised a new €300 million fund to deepen its exposure in fintech and wellness sectors. The firm typically invests 70% of its capital in Europe, 20% in Israel, and the rest in opportunistic global deals. Entrepreneurs seeking funding are encouraged to highlight scalable, tech-driven solutions, as Target looks for businesses that can drive industry-wide change. Led by general partners Yaron Valler and Alex Frolov, the firm combines deep market knowledge with a proactive, hands-on approach, making it a key player in Europe’s venture capital scene.

Taronga Ventures, part of Taronga Group, is a global investor at the intersection of technology and real assets, founded in 2015 and operating from offices in Australia and Singapore. Through its RealTech Ventures Funds it invests in emerging global technology and innovation that addresses the key opportunities and challenges of the built environment, spanning proptech, construction technology, mobility, infrastructure, energy and sustainability, data and IoT, and tenant and occupant health and well-being. The firm describes its 'RealTech' thesis as technology that impacts the built environment across its lifecycle. It pairs direct investment with strategic guidance that helps real-asset owners and operators implement new technologies, typically as a co-investor. Its RealTech Ventures fund has targeted up to A$100M and is backed by a roster of leading global institutional investors including PGIM Real Estate, Patrizia, Grosvenor, CBRE, Dexus, APG and Ivanhoe Cambridge. Taronga was co-founded by Jonathan Hannam, former Group Executive Capital at Mirvac and former Head of Real Estate for Asia at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and Avi Naidu, a former Mallesons lawyer and Aura Funds Management founder. It also runs the RealTechX innovation and accelerator programs across Australia and Singapore. Across roughly 15 to 16 portfolio companies, holdings include CarbonCure, a carbon-reducing concrete technology co-backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, AssetCool and others; its most recent tracked investment was AssetCool's Series A-II in July 2025, while Dash Living delivered a portfolio exit in April 2025. Taronga connects institutional real-asset owners with the technologies reshaping the built environment.

Tau Ventures, founded in 2019 and based in Palo Alto, California, is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments in AI-driven technologies. Their investment portfolio spans sectors such as digital health, enterprise software, and automation, including robotics and drones. They typically write initial checks between $500,000 and $1 million, providing seed funding to startups with significant growth potential. The firm was co-founded by Amit Garg and Sanjay Rao, both experienced in venture capital and technology. Amit Garg, with a background from Google and Norwest Venture Partners, focuses primarily on digital health investments. Sanjay Rao, previously with McKinsey and Microsoft, concentrates on enterprise and automation sectors. The team also includes associates like Sharon Huang and Insoo Chang, who bring diverse expertise from biotechnology to strategic investments. Tau Ventures is recognized for its active engagement with portfolio companies, providing strategic guidance and leveraging their extensive network to help startups succeed. Some notable investments include Alaffia Health, a healthcare technology firm, and Tonic, which creates synthetic data for testing and development. With around $85 million in assets under management, Tau Ventures is committed to fostering innovation in AI and supporting startups that aim to make a significant impact in their respective fields​.

Taya Ventures is a seed-stage venture fund and the corporate venture arm of Taya Media Group, founded in 2015 and based in Ramat Gan, Israel. Part of Israel's premiere video, media and visual-communications group, owner of United Studios of Israel, the country's largest video production complex, and several content, media and technology companies, Taya Ventures offers founders mentoring, deep industry knowledge and access to Taya Media's professional network in addition to capital. The fund concentrates on pre-seed and seed rounds, primarily in Israel-based startups, and invests across information technology, internet of things, advertising technology and adjacent media and data sectors, with check sizes of roughly $500K to $5M; its seed rounds have averaged around $1.17M, and it is willing to lead. It is led by serial entrepreneur Kobi Marenko, founder and CEO of Arbe Robotics, a 4D-radar imaging company for autonomous driving, alongside media veterans Yoav Peretz, CEO of Taya Media Group since 2013 and Co-CEO of United Studios of Israel, and Ami Giniger. Across roughly 18 portfolio companies the firm has seen one IPO and four acquisitions: Arbe listed on NASDAQ in October 2021, and Upsolver was acquired by QlikTech in January 2025. Other holdings include Protected, SafeBlocks and Underworld Football, whose $500K seed round Taya led. Data through 2025 indicated no new investments recorded that year, with the portfolio spanning Israel, the United States and Taiwan. Taya Ventures pairs seed capital with the production and media resources of its parent group.

TDF Ventures, founded in 2004, is an early-stage venture capital firm with offices in Washington DC and Silicon Valley. The firm focuses on startups that serve enterprise markets within infrastructure, software, and services sectors (IaaS, SaaS, XaaS). They manage a permanent pool of capital and are currently investing out of Fund IV, which has a $150 million allocation. TDF Ventures has a diverse portfolio with notable investments in companies like Omnispace, which recently expanded its spectrum portfolio, and Rewst, which raised $31 million in a Series B round to extend its leadership in the MSP automation market. Other active investments include Allstacks, Osano, and BlackCloak, which won the 2023 SC Media Award for Best Emerging Technology of the Year. The firm's investment strategy includes both financial backing and strategic support, helping portfolio companies with network building, brand exposure, talent acquisition, and subsequent funding rounds. The team at TDF Ventures includes partners and principals with extensive experience in the venture capital and technology sectors, such as Jim Pastoriza and Steven Mankoff.

TDK Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Japanese electronics maker TDK Corporation, established in 2019 and headquartered in San Jose, California. The firm invests globally in early-stage deep-tech startups it calls 'Impact Scalers,' entrepreneurs building solutions across Digital, Energy and Environmental Transformations that bring positive impact to society and the planet, aligned with TDK's mission to advance digital and energy transformation. It backs companies from Seed through Series B with checks of up to $5M, typically as a co-investor. Its focus spans artificial intelligence and computing, advanced materials, robotics and manufacturing, climate technology, mobility, agriculture technology, clean energy, health and the broader digital economy. TDK Ventures manages about $500M in assets across multiple funds, including Fund 3, a $150M deep-tech vehicle launched in April 2025. A core differentiator the firm calls 'TDK Goodness' positions it as more than a capital source, a strategic partner offering access to R&D, supply chain, engineering and customer networks. Founded and led by President Nicolas Sauvage, the firm runs a roughly 33-person team with offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, London, Bengaluru and Tokyo plus a presence in China. Its portfolio of around 53 companies has produced one IPO, six acquisitions and multiple unicorns, with notable holdings including Groq in low-latency AI computing valued up to roughly $6.9B, Ascend Elements in closed-loop battery recycling, which named TDK Ventures its 2025 Partner of the Year, Agility Robotics in humanoid robots, and Silicon Box in chiplet semiconductor packaging. Its most recent tracked investment was a $16.7M Series A in C2i Semiconductors in May 2026.

TEAMFund (Transforming Equity and Access in MedTech) is a global-health impact investor and advisor founded in 2016, with a US base in San Francisco, California. It runs a distinctive hybrid structure that couples a for-profit impact investment fund with a non-profit programming arm; the non-profit informs investments through rigorous research and provides portfolio companies with wraparound support, drawing on an 80-plus worldwide team of executive-level advisors and CEOs from leading healthcare multinationals. Its mission is to expand access to affordable, appropriate and sustainable medical technologies, digital health and facilitating technologies that address unmet health needs in resource-constrained, underserved populations, with a thesis that non-communicable diseases pose the greatest threat in low- and middle-income countries. The firm invests in commercial-stage companies and focuses geographically on India and Sub-Saharan Africa, where local entrepreneurs are often best positioned to close care gaps, typically as a co-investor. TEAMFund closed its inaugural $30M impact fund in 2019, structured with a 10-year horizon and a plan for 8 to 10 portfolio companies, and has since raised a follow-on Impact Fund II. It is co-founded and co-chaired by Tim Ring, former Chairman and CEO of C.R. Bard, and Kathryn Gleason, former senior partner at Morgan Lewis, and led day-to-day by Managing Partner Yousuf Mazhar. Portfolio companies include Qure.ai, MediBuddy, Tricog Health, Forus Health, JanaCare, EchoNous and Vezeeta, which collectively delivered tens of millions of patient services. Its most recent tracked activity was participation in Qure.ai's $65M Series D in September 2024. TEAMFund pairs impact capital with deep medtech advisory support.

Teamworthy Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in early to growth-stage companies, focusing on building long-term relationships with talented entrepreneurial teams. Their portfolio includes leading software and software-enabled services companies such as Toast, SeatGeek, Weave, Carta, Capsule, CampusLogic, G2, Ibotta, OpenGov, Foursquare, Vestwell, Affinity, and Slice. The firm's mission is to partner with outstanding entrepreneurial teams to build companies of purpose, integrity, and enduring value. They emphasize values such as teamwork, service, integrity, creativity, enthusiasm, initiative, craftsmanship, learning, prudence, fortitude, humility, and thrift. Teamworthy strives to be a worthy partner by providing not just capital but also strategic support and mentorship to help entrepreneurs achieve their full potential. Their investment team includes experienced professionals like Senior Associate Kyle Limpic, Associate Emma Barrett, and Associate Josiah Meadows, who bring diverse backgrounds and expertise to the firm. Teamworthy Ventures operates out of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Nashville, Tennessee, providing a robust support network for their portfolio companies.

Tech Coast Angels (TCA) is one of the largest and most active angel investor networks in the U.S., particularly focused on Southern California. Since its founding in 1997, TCA has funded over 540 companies, providing more than $300 million in early-stage capital. Its portfolio includes notable successes such as Apeel (now a unicorn) and Procore. TCA’s investments span a variety of industries, including healthcare, high-tech, and consumer products. TCA primarily invests in seed and early Series A rounds, often in California-based startups but also extending its reach across the U.S. and occasionally internationally. The group is known for not only providing capital but also hands-on mentorship and operational support. With around 400 members across several regional networks, TCA brings deep expertise and valuable connections to the table. Recently, TCA has increased its focus on syndicating deals with other angel groups and VCs, helping startups secure additional capital. Entrepreneurs looking to partner with TCA should demonstrate strong market potential and scalability, while leveraging the network’s robust mentorship and support system to build a sustainable business​.

Tech Square Ventures (TSV) is an Atlanta-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2014. The firm focuses on investing in B2B enterprise software, marketplace, and platform technology companies. TSV’s investment strategy revolves around providing capital, connections, and collaboration to visionary entrepreneurs, helping them scale their businesses in high-growth sectors like logistics, applied AI, sustainability, and infrastructure. TSV primarily targets early-stage investments, typically at the Seed stage, with initial check sizes ranging from $500K to $3 million. They also participate selectively in pre-seed and Series A rounds. The firm has a strong geographic focus on the Southeastern U.S., where they invest in high-potential startups from what they call the "Super South," the nation's fastest-growing innovation region. The firm’s portfolio includes notable startups such as The Mom Project, Slip Robotics, and Saleo, showcasing its commitment to backing companies that redefine enterprise operations. Through Engage, its corporate innovation platform, TSV connects startups with Fortune 500 corporations, facilitating growth through access to customers and markets. Founded by Blake Patton, Tech Square Ventures is deeply embedded in Atlanta’s tech ecosystem, leveraging its proximity to Georgia Tech’s Technology Square and a vast network of entrepreneurs, corporate partners, and academic institutions to fuel innovation.

TechNexus Venture Collaborative is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2007 that pioneered the 'venture collaborative' model, a first-of-its-kind structure pairing corporate capital with startup execution at scale, and the longest-operating such platform in the United States. Originally launched as a physical collaboration space for Chicago technology entrepreneurs, it grew into a hybrid venture firm and innovation platform that helps leading corporations and ambitious founders build mutually beneficial relationships, investing capital, incubating ventures and collaborating across its ecosystem to create new business models, revenue streams and products. More than half of its team is dedicated to post-investment collaboration. With roughly $300M in assets under management, TechNexus invests where there is strategic alignment with its corporate partners across audio and consumer electronics, B2B software, health, wellness and fitness, manufacturing, marine and outdoor recreation, media production, mobility, retail and electrification, primarily at the Seed and Series A stages, and it is willing to lead. Since 2017 it has invested in more than 150 portfolio companies and helped them raise over $4 billion in follow-on capital. The firm is led by Founder and CEO Terry Howerton and Founder and General Partner Fred Hoch, alongside Managing Director Andy Annacone. Its flagship holding is Harbinger Motors, an electric medium-duty vehicle maker where TechNexus led the Series A and co-led later rounds with corporate partner THOR Industries; its most recent tracked investment was a $19M Series B in Maverick Metals in April 2025. By matching corporate partners with startups at scale, TechNexus turns strategic alignment into new ventures.

TechniVentures is a micro-venture capital firm based in Brooklyn, New York, that focuses on investing in innovative seed-stage startups. Their investment approach is highly hands-on, leveraging the team’s deep experience in entrepreneurship, finance, and marketing to help companies scale effectively. TechniVentures is particularly active in sectors like healthcare technology and software, with recent investments including Solvemed and Copernic Space. Founded in 2019, the firm primarily invests in companies with strong potential in niche industries, such as medical devices and productivity software. The leadership team, including General Partners Tytus Stempniewicz and Matt Kozlowski, is heavily involved in guiding portfolio companies through early-stage growth challenges, providing both operational expertise and market access through a global network of contacts. TechniVentures tends to focus its efforts on industries with high growth potential, although it remains selective about its deals, typically investing in startups that align with its strategic goals of long-term value creation and innovation.

TechOperators, founded in 2008 and based in Atlanta, is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage cybersecurity and B2B software companies. The firm typically leads Seed and Series A funding rounds with initial investments ranging from $2 million to $5 million. Their investment strategy is shaped by the extensive operational experience of the founding partners, who include David Gould, Glenn McGonnigle, Said Mohammadioun, and Tom Noonan. TechOperators' portfolio features notable investments in companies such as Automox, a cloud-native endpoint management platform, and Flashpoint, which provides actionable intelligence from the dark web. They have also backed Phantom Cyber, which was acquired by Splunk, and Ionic Security, acquired by Twilio. Other significant investments include Tala Security, Todyl, and KyckGlobal. The firm supports its portfolio companies with more than just capital, offering strategic advice, networking opportunities, and operational guidance to help them scale. This hands-on approach is evident in their successful exits, such as the acquisition of Phantom Cyber by Splunk and the acquisition of Flashpoint by Audax.

TechSquare Labs, founded in 2014 by Dr. Paul Judge and Allen Nance, is a prominent seed-stage venture fund based in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm was built with the mission of empowering tech entrepreneurs to "build something from nothing." TechSquare Labs primarily focuses on investing in technical founders, particularly those working on innovative solutions in areas like SaaS, cybersecurity, marketing technology, and blockchain. The firm's investments are concentrated in deep tech sectors, leveraging the technological strengths of the region. TechSquare Labs is known for its hands-on approach, drawing on the founders' experience as both entrepreneurs and investors. Their portfolio includes notable companies such as Coinbase, PlayVS, Pindrop, and Springbot, demonstrating their commitment to backing disruptive technology across multiple industries. The firm also organizes the Atlanta Startup Battle, a competition that identifies promising startups and provides them with funding and mentorship to accelerate their growth. With a strong emphasis on community building and entrepreneurial support, TechSquare Labs has helped its portfolio companies raise over $200 million and create over 1,000 jobs, contributing significantly to Atlanta’s tech ecosystem.

Techstars is a global platform for investment and innovation that has supported over 4,000 startups since its inception in 2006. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Techstars operates accelerator programs worldwide, providing early-stage startups with access to capital, mentorship, and a vast network of investors and partners. Their portfolio spans a diverse range of industries, including HealthTech, FinTech, Web3, CleanTech, and more. Notable companies in their portfolio include Chainalysis, DataRobot, and Remitly. Techstars has facilitated over $27.3 billion in total funding for its startups, with a cumulative market cap of $113.6 billion​. Techstars' investment strategy involves pre-seed and early-stage investments through their accelerator programs. They invest up to $120,000 in each startup during the accelerator program, and follow-on investments through their Venture Fund. This strategy allows them to support companies from their initial stages through to growth​.

Tectonic Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Newton, Massachusetts, focused on early-stage investments in technology and healthcare. Established in 2016, the firm has a strong emphasis on sectors such as software, SaaS, robotics, and life sciences. Tectonic Ventures' portfolio includes companies like Vecna Robotics, a leader in autonomous material handling solutions, and Butlr, a sensor platform for understanding human behavior in spaces. The firm recently raised over $87.1 million for its second fund, increasing its total assets under management significantly. The team at Tectonic Ventures is led by experienced partners, including Matthew Rhodes-Kropf, a professor at MIT and Harvard, and Morris Miller, co-founder of Rackspace​. They are known for their hands-on approach, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and industry expertise to help startups scale effectively. For startups looking to engage with Tectonic Ventures, demonstrating strong innovation in technology or healthcare and having a capable management team are critical. The firm values founders who can navigate complex challenges and are dedicated to making a significant impact in their respective fields​.

Tekfen Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York City, established in 2016 as the corporate venture arm of Tekfen Holding, a publicly traded Turkish industrial conglomerate founded in 1956 with more than 18,000 employees across 40 subsidiaries operating in construction, agriculture, manufacturing and real estate. Investing out of a roughly $65M fund with a financial-return focus, Tekfen Ventures backs visionary founders pursuing bold transformations in the legacy industries that build, feed and supply the world. It invests across the technology spectrum, software, hardware and life sciences, typically writing first checks of about $1M to $4M at the Series A and B stages, generally as a co-investor, and skews toward deeptech and research-based companies tied to the digitization and decarbonization of agriculture, construction, manufacturing and real estate, as well as advanced materials, energy efficiency, renewable energy, IoT, robotics and cybersecurity. Beyond capital, the firm leverages Tekfen Holding's industrial leadership, global reach and operating expertise to act as a strategic partner, and it has reviewed deals as far afield as the Philippines, Australia, India and China. Its portfolio of roughly 28 investments includes two unicorns, industrial cybersecurity company Claroty, valued at about $2.5 billion in 2024, and agricultural biotech Pivot Bio, alongside Tropic Biosciences and enterprise analytics platform Soft Machine. Its most recent tracked investment was in Tropic in August 2025. Longtime leaders Managing Director Kris Kemeny and founder-president Sinan Uzan departed the firm in January 2026. By pairing capital with a major industrial parent, Tekfen Ventures backs deeptech transforming legacy industries.

TEL Venture Capital, Inc. is the corporate venture capital arm of Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TEL), the world's leading semiconductor and flat-panel-display production-equipment manufacturer. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Silicon Valley (Fremont, California) with an additional office in Tokyo, the firm invests globally in innovative technologies that generate synergies with Tokyo Electron's core semiconductor and display businesses, their peripheral fields, and other silicon fabrication and process technologies. Target areas span process, design, materials, hardware and software, sustainability and conservation, and adjacent deep-tech, and the firm has issued an open call for startups of any stage building ultra-small, real-time sensors, for pressure, temperature, gas, flow, moisture and plasma characteristics, for integration into state-of-the-art semiconductor process equipment. Rather than acting as a purely financial backer, TEL VC treats portfolio companies as strategic partners, pursuing joint development and collaborative business and offering access to Tokyo Electron's global business infrastructure, deep technical resources, and worldwide sales and distribution channels, typically as a co-investor. Per its own site the firm has invested in 52 companies across 12 countries and regions. Notable and recent portfolio companies include Ferroelectric Memory Company (Series C, November 2025), Fortaegis Technologies (July 2025), EN2CORE Technology (June 2025), Hinalea, ADTEX, NexFi Technology, Cellid and Wooptix. Bobby Shirai joined as president in December 2024, and the team has expanded with multiple investment and technical professionals across the US, Japan, Korea and Israel. By coupling capital with joint development and Tokyo Electron's global platform, TEL VC backs the deep-tech and materials companies most relevant to advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

Telefónica Tech Ventures is the global corporate venture capital vehicle of Telefónica, the Spanish multinational telecommunications group, specialized in cybersecurity and adjacent enterprise technology. Launched in 2020 and promoted by ElevenPaths, Telefónica's cybersecurity unit within Telefónica Tech, together with Telefónica Innovation Ventures, the group's broader CVC active since 2007, it is headquartered in Madrid with a presence in Silicon Valley. The fund's stated purpose is to detect disruptive innovation in cybersecurity, including threat intelligence, cloud security, data protection and AI applied to security, while also backing cloud, IoT and data startups worldwide and developing joint business with them. It typically invests up to roughly EUR 6M, about $7M, per deal at Series A to C stages, with observed checks in the $2M to $3M range, generally as a co-investor, and at launch set out to fund around fifteen cybersecurity developers over three years. Its investment scope spans Europe, the United States, Israel and Latin America. Tracked activity shows about 53 investments and 15 portfolio exits, with the most recent investment being a seed round in Mexican clean-energy marketplace Solfium in January 2025, around $2.2M alongside Wayra Hispam. Notable cybersecurity and connectivity holdings include Nozomi Networks in OT/IoT security, Red Sift, CounterCraft, Devo, Hdiv Security, Blueliv/4IQ, Kymatio, Mitiga Solutions and Monogoto. The fund is led by director Guenia Gawendo and leverages Telefónica's global telecom infrastructure, customer base and operating expertise as a strategic partner to its portfolio companies.

Telescopic Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2017 and based in Oakland, California. Its name references finding things usually hard to see with the naked eye and discovering what is currently unseen, reflecting a mission to partner with the most innovative technology companies aiming to make a huge real-world impact. The firm's investment philosophy, branded 'Applied Frontier Technology,' targets companies at the intersection of radical forward innovation and real-world implementation; it is sector-agnostic but focused mainly on B2B and enterprise applications. Four themes drive its thesis: the increasing decentralization of computing and cognitive analysis, growing automation within traditional industries, the need to fast-track sustainability, and security as a must-have for all companies. Investment categories span AI, machine learning, deep learning and reinforcement learning, IoT and hardware, platform infrastructure, cybersecurity, sustainability, digital health and fintech. Telescopic invests at the early stage, pre-seed through Series A and primarily seed rounds in US-based startups, and is open to leading while also happily co-investing alongside other early-stage backers. The team of around four, including two partners among them partner Merlyn Sevy, are former entrepreneurs and operators who actively support portfolio companies on early business development, strategy and product integrations. Its portfolio of roughly nine companies includes data-infrastructure unicorn VAST Data, data-classification and security firm Kriptos, and environmental-services startup Mycocycle, and has produced two acquisitions, including Shrimpy and Onion ID. By backing frontier technology paired with real-world implementation, Telescopic Ventures supports founders applying advanced computing, automation, sustainability and security.

The Telluride Venture Fund (TVF) is an early-stage equity investment fund managed by the Telluride Venture Network. It focuses on supporting innovative startups primarily in the Colorado Plateau region, with an emphasis on sectors such as outdoor recreation, tourism, natural products, health, energy, water, and education. TVF aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of new technologies by investing in seed and early-stage companies. As part of the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem fostered by the Telluride Venture Network, TVF is dedicated to promoting business growth in this rural area, providing not only capital but also access to mentorship and strategic partnerships. The fund works closely with founders to help them scale their businesses and address regional challenges​. TVF is an integral part of Telluride’s efforts to diversify its local economy and foster innovation in underserved areas.

TELUS Ventures is the strategic investment and corporate venture capital arm of TELUS Corporation, one of Canada's largest telecommunications companies. Founded in 2001, it is among Canada's most active and longest-standing CVC funds, investing across stages from Seed to pre-IPO but concentrating on Series A and Series B rounds, and it is willing to lead. Operating from Vancouver, British Columbia, with a team of roughly 13 people including six partners led by Managing Partner and VP Terry Doyle, the firm has also expanded internationally, opening an Israel presence with Partner and Investment Director Ravit Warsha Dor. The fund manages approximately CAD $625M and typically deploys $10M to $15M into post-Series A startups, leveraging TELUS' network, distribution and customer base to accelerate portfolio growth. Investment themes span digital health and healthtech, agriculture technology, connected consumer experiences, IoT and smart cities, AI, security, enterprise platforms and food tech, with a notable impact orientation. As of early 2026 the firm had backed about 57 companies, adding three in the prior twelve months, and recorded one unicorn, one IPO and 21 acquisitions, with notable exits and holdings including Mogo, Taulia, Veracode, League, MedStack, PocketPills, Clinia and Radicle. Most investments are in Canada, about 22, followed by the United States, about 15. Recent 2025 activity included co-leading a $35M round in workplace mental-health platform Unmind and participating in autonomous-trucking AI company Waabi's $750M Series C.

Ten Eleven Ventures is a venture capital firm uniquely dedicated to investing in cybersecurity. Founded in 2015 by Alex Doll and Mark Hatfield, it focuses exclusively on cyber companies, investing across all stages—from seed to growth. This stage-agnostic strategy has allowed them to invest in early-stage disruptors like Cylance and growth-stage leaders like Darktrace, leveraging their deep sector expertise to support companies at every phase. The firm operates globally, with investments in regions like North America, the UK, Israel, and recently expanding into Southeast Asia, thanks to partnerships with firms like KKR and Temasek. Their notable exits include companies like Ping Identity, Hexadite, and Cylance, reflecting their success in identifying and scaling innovative cybersecurity startups. Ten Eleven offers more than just capital, providing strategic guidance through a strong network of cybersecurity veterans and a specialized team. The leadership includes Alex Doll and Mark Hatfield, alongside key team members like COO Brian Draves and CMO Megan Dubofsky, all contributing to their deep technical insight and ability to help portfolio companies grow.

Tenacious Ventures is Australia's first and only specialist agrifood-tech venture capital firm, founded in 2018 and based in Melbourne. The firm provides early-stage capital to startups at the intersection of climate impact and digitally native agriculture, with a sector-specific, high-conviction, high-support model. It invests across the agrifood value chain at Seed and Series A, deploying roughly 80% of its capital into Australian-domiciled startups while seeking global potential, including in traditionally challenging areas such as hardware and biology, and it is willing to lead. First checks typically range from a couple hundred thousand dollars up to about $1M. Tenacious closed its first fund oversubscribed at AUD $35M and is raising Fund II with a $50M target, having reached a first close of $18M, maintaining its focus on early-stage Australian agri-food companies with positive climate impact. To date it has invested more than $23M into agtech startups that have attracted over $240M in follow-on capital. The portfolio of around 11 companies includes SwarmFarm Robotics, Nbryo, Agovor, Goterra, Regrow, Jupiter Ionics, Vow Food, RapidAIM, Cecil, Earthodic and Phyllome. The firm was founded by agrifood-tech experts Matthew Pryor, co-founder of Observant, and Sarah Nolet, founder of advisory firm AgThentic, and runs a team of about five people including three partners. Recent 2025 activity included a first-time investment in Nbryo and a follow-on in SwarmFarm Robotics' AUD $30M round. By pairing deep domain expertise with a climate-and-agriculture thesis, Tenacious backs the digitization of farming.

TenOneTen Ventures is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments, primarily in technical teams reimagining major industries. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and exited eight venture-backed startups—including AdSense (acquired by Google), Factual, and Scopely—TenOneTen leverages this deep operational experience to help startups grow. The firm typically invests in the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages, with check sizes ranging from $500K to $4M. TenOneTen is particularly active in sectors like retail technology, health tech, artificial intelligence, and real estate tech. Their portfolio includes companies like Crexi, Elroy Air, and Daily, all of which are disrupting their respective industries. The firm also maintains a strong connection with the local tech scene in Los Angeles, hosting the popular "LA Venture" podcast to foster conversations with local investors. TenOneTen Ventures is committed to partnering with founders who are building innovative solutions and offers more than just capital by providing mentorship and strategic guidance, especially for engineers transitioning to entrepreneurial roles. The team continues to support high-growth startups with a mission to solve the world’s biggest challenges through technology.

Tensility Venture Partners is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in enterprise AI companies. With a focus on AI-driven solutions, they back startups working in critical sectors such as cybersecurity, healthcare, infrastructure, and vertical applications like AI for drug development and digital health. Tensility seeks mission-driven founders who leverage proprietary data and novel AI approaches to solve significant industry challenges. The firm, co-founded by Wayne Boulais and Armando Pauker, prides itself on deep technical expertise and over two decades of venture investing experience. Since 2017, Tensility has evaluated more than 1,200 AI deals and invested in 48 companies. Their portfolio includes companies like Agnostiq, which focuses on quantum computing for AI, and BrainCheck, a cognitive health diagnostic platform. Tensility’s investment strategy goes beyond capital infusion. They are hands-on investors, actively guiding founders through the toughest stages of their startup journey. Their typical check size ranges between $150K and $250K at the seed stage, and they often lead or co-lead rounds. Diversity is also a core value, with 70% of the founders in their second fund being women or people of color. For entrepreneurs ready to transform industries through AI, Tensility provides not only financial backing but also the operational support needed to scale and achieve successful exits.

Tera Ventures is an Estonian early-stage venture capital firm, founded in 2016 and based in Tallinn, that backs born-global digital startups. Estonia is its home market, but it invests broadly across the Nordics and CEE, including Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic. AI-powered innovation sits at the core of its thesis, with the team having invested in the space for more than 15 years, applied across pure enterprise SaaS as well as robotics and deep-tech, with fintech and security as priority sectors. Tera is a hands-on, founder-friendly lead investor that supports companies through follow-on rounds and has helped portfolio companies expand into the US, UK and Japan. It currently invests out of a EUR 45M second fund, with limited partners including the European Investment Fund, LHV and Mistletoe Venture Partners International alongside Estonian high-net-worth individuals; typical tickets range from about EUR 200K to EUR 1.5M. Across roughly 46 portfolio companies it has recorded one IPO and six acquisitions, with notable names including Lingvist, Realeyes, Avokaado, Miros, SportIQ, Reconeyez, Twice Commerce and 10Lines, plus exits Monese, GrabCAD and Brainbase. The founding and managing partners include Andrus Oks, a founding partner with five exits including GrabCAD, Eamonn Carey and Stanislav Ivanov. Recent activity includes leading Miros' $6.53M seed round and a seed investment in Monetari in January 2026. Tera Ventures pairs an AI-centric thesis with hands-on support for Nordic and CEE founders building for global markets.

Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd) is a state-owned investment company committed to scaling Finnish startups and growth companies globally. With a focus on industries like deep technology, health tech, and the clean economy, Tesi prioritizes companies that promote sustainable development and innovation. Its investment strategy emphasizes co-investing alongside private investors, often taking minority stakes of up to 50% in rounds typically between €5 million and €20 million. Tesi is known for participating in both early and later-stage rounds, particularly Series A to C, and supporting companies through industrial projects, growth equity, and venture capital. Geographically focused on Finland, Tesi's mission is to foster international expansion for Finnish companies. Notable investments include health-tech companies like Oura and Zen Robotics, reflecting Tesi’s strategic focus on scaling up businesses with strong international growth potential. Their average check size ranges from €2 million to €15 million. The leadership team is anchored in expertise, with key players like Mikael Niemi and Juuso Puolanne overseeing growth and circular economy investments. Tesi is proactive in fostering innovation and welcomes companies aligned with clean transition and tech-driven growth. Startups are encouraged to reach out with clear internationalization strategies, as Tesi places a premium on strong teams and robust business models.

Tesseract Venture Fund (TVFund) is a US venture capital fund headquartered in Tampa, Florida, that invests in early-stage technology and digital media startups, providing capital and hands-on support to help companies scale and achieve industry impact. The fund concentrates on robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning applied across a broad set of traditionally slow-moving sectors, including military and defense, critical infrastructure, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education and information security. It invests at the pre-seed and seed stages in US-based companies, with check sizes ranging from roughly $500K up to $5M, generally as a co-investor. The fund takes an operator-first approach, emphasizing deep collaboration with portfolio companies, and its manager has executed more than 50 deals over the course of a career focused primarily on technology and healthcare, active across North America and Europe with a number of notable exits. The fund is affiliated with Tesseract Ventures, an American invention company founded by John Boucard that builds advanced hardware, software and AI-driven systems for construction, defense, infrastructure and agriculture using its PRISM, MOSAIC and ECHO technology platforms. The fund maintains a small team of around eight people. By combining venture capital with the engineering capabilities of an affiliated invention company, Tesseract Venture Fund backs robotics and AI founders bringing advanced technology to defense, infrastructure, energy, agriculture and other foundational industries that have been slower to digitize.

Tet Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on rebuilding the global food system through bold innovation and sustainable solutions. Founded in 2020 by Neeraj Berry, Tet invests between $50K and $250K in foodtech startups worldwide, particularly across the U.S. and Europe. With a mission to solve some of the most pressing issues facing food production and sustainability, their portfolio includes pioneering companies like Arkeon, which uses CO2 to create food ingredients, and Impetus Ag, which develops novel agricultural technologies. Although primarily focused on foodtech, Tet occasionally backs startups in other sectors if they align with their vision of generational entrepreneurship. The firm actively seeks out businesses that are not just high-growth but built to last, supporting founders with capital, strategic mentorship, and access to an extensive network of experts. Tet Ventures operates from Berlin and frequently collaborates with other investors to accelerate the growth of early-stage companies. In addition to their investments, Tet fosters a community-centered approach, encouraging meaningful dialogue around sustainability and food system innovation. Startups are encouraged to approach Tet Ventures with a clear, impactful vision, as the firm emphasizes long-term potential over quick returns. With a strong belief in generational change, Tet Ventures aims to be a key player in driving forward a more sustainable, equitable future in global food systems, all while maintaining the flexibility to support projects with transformative potential outside the food sector.

CFH Management GmbH, based in Leipzig, Germany, manages the Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen (TGFS), a venture capital fund focused on supporting technology-oriented startups in Saxony. Since its inception in 2008, TGFS has provided both early-stage equity investments and strategic guidance to over 100 startups, particularly in sectors like software, IoT, industrial tech, and healthcare. The fund's goal is to back innovative companies during the seed phase and help them grow into scalable businesses. TGFS typically invests between €100,000 to €1 million in promising startups, with the ability to offer follow-on funding for companies progressing through later stages. The fund is actively involved in mentoring and facilitating connections between startups and industry experts, ensuring that portfolio companies gain both financial backing and operational expertise. Notable portfolio companies include Peeriot and in.hub, which specialize in IoT and industrial automation. Led by experienced managers such as Sören Schuster, who brings over two decades of venture capital experience, TGFS focuses on long-term partnerships. Their team combines deep industry knowledge with hands-on involvement, working closely with founders to help navigate challenges from product development to market entry. TGFS is supported by both private and public institutions, including ERDF funds, reinforcing its role as a key driver of innovation in Saxony’s startup ecosystem. Through its strategic investments, TGFS continues to play a vital role in fostering technological innovation in the region.

Thayer Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm and the preeminent US venture platform focused on technology innovation across the global travel, transportation and hospitality industries; no other traditional US-based VC has invested more capital into travel startups over the past decade. Founded around 2009 by Chris Hemmeter and Mark Farrell, the firm prioritizes early-stage B2B companies while selectively pursuing seed, later-stage and B2C deals across the roughly $10 trillion global travel and transportation markets, and it is willing to lead. It manages four active investment vehicles with more than $300M of capital deployed across 30-plus active portfolio companies, including its $80M Fund III, which closed in 2020. Notable portfolio companies include Sonder, Canary Technologies, Beekeeper, May Mobility, Dishcraft Robotics, Lifehouse and Muse. Thayer's competitive edge is a deep strategic network of industry advisors and LPs spanning founders of Agoda, advisors to Booking Holdings, former CEOs of Marriott, Sabre, Travelocity, American Airlines, Virgin America and Air Canada, plus executives from Airbnb and AWS Travel & Hospitality. In September 2024 Thayer Ventures combined with Derive Ventures to form Thayer Investment Partners (TIP), a broader strategic platform driving innovation across travel, hospitality and real estate. The firm is led by managing partner and co-founder Chris Hemmeter, with co-founder Mark Farrell and Katherine Grass as a venture partner expanding its global focus. By concentrating exclusively on travel, transportation and hospitality and pairing capital with an unmatched industry network, Thayer backs the technology reshaping how the world travels.

The Ambition Fund, founded by Tanya Sam, is a venture capital firm dedicated to funding women and underrepresented minority entrepreneurs. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the fund focuses on early-stage and seed-stage investments across diverse sectors, including consumer products, media, and technology. Its mission is to provide opportunities for founders who traditionally face barriers in accessing venture capital, promoting diversity and inclusion within the startup ecosystem​. Tanya Sam, a tech entrepreneur and television personality known for her role on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, leads the fund with a deep commitment to fostering innovation and economic empowerment. In addition to her work with The Ambition Fund, she is the Director of Partnerships at TechSquare Labs and co-leads the Ascend Atlanta program, which has helped over 60 companies, collectively generating over $100 million in revenue. Her strong background in tech and business development has positioned her as a key advocate for underrepresented founders. The Ambition Fund actively seeks out innovative startups with high growth potential and social impact. The fund typically makes investments ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. It has also launched initiatives such as the Business Battle Pitch Competition, which provides an interactive platform for minority entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas and secure fundin. By providing capital, mentorship, and strategic support, The Ambition Fund aims to elevate a new generation of diverse founders and drive meaningful change in the venture capital landscape.

The Artemis Fund, based in Houston, Texas, is a venture capital firm focused on investing in female-founded startups. Established in 2019 by Stephanie Campbell, Diana Murakhovskaya, and Leslie Goldman Tepper, the fund targets early-stage companies in fintech, commerce, and care tech. Their mission is to diversify the face of wealth and support innovative solutions that address significant everyday economic problems. The Artemis Fund has recently closed its second fund at $36 million, which will continue to support female-led startups. The fund has already invested in over 20 companies, with a notable focus on Black, Latinx, and immigrant founders​. Key investments include startups like Hello Divorce, Gemist, Max Retail, Payverse, and Builder's Patch, which provide solutions ranging from tech-enabled divorce guidance to cross-border payment processing. The Artemis Fund's approach involves not only providing capital but also leveraging their extensive networks and expertise to help startups scale and succeed. They are supported by major institutional investors such as Bank of America, Amazon, and TIAA Nuveen’s Churchill Asset Management, among others​. This strong backing enables The Artemis Fund to drive meaningful change and foster a more inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem.

TCG, formerly known as The Chernin Group, is a venture capital firm specializing in consumer businesses across various industries, from media to health and wellness, gaming, and consumer finance. Notable investments include Headspace, Barstool Sports, Crunchyroll, and Food52. TCG's strategy revolves around identifying strong consumer brands with passionate fan bases and solid business models, often in direct-to-consumer and subscription-based businesses. They aim to partner with management teams that have already established great brands but need assistance in scaling further​. Geographically, TCG focuses on investments in North America, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. The firm typically leads rounds, leveraging its extensive network and expertise to provide significant operational support and access to capital. They recently closed a new fund with over $700 million in commitments, showcasing their robust financial backing and commitment to future investments. The team comprises seasoned professionals like Peter Chernin, Jesse Jacobs, and Mike Kerns, who bring a wealth of experience from their previous roles in major companies like News Corp and Yahoo!. This diverse team shares a common drive and curiosity, crucial for identifying and nurturing the next big consumer trends​. For startups looking to approach TCG, it's best to highlight how your company aligns with evolving consumer behaviors and demonstrates potential for strong brand identity and a loyal customer base. They value founders who have done the hard work in building their brands and are ready to scale with the right strategic support.

The Community Fund is a $5 million early-stage venture capital fund launched in 2020, focused on investing in community-driven companies. Co-founded by Lolita Taub, the fund believes that building strong, vibrant communities can create a competitive advantage for startups. The fund typically invests at the pre-seed and seed stages, aiming to support founders who are leveraging community as a core element of their business models. The Community Fund has backed over 40 companies across various sectors, including health, wellness, and tech. Some of its notable investments include Elektra Health and Kindra, both of which focus on empowering communities through innovative health solutions. The fund operates with a diverse team of investment partners, ensuring broad expertise and support for the startups they work with. With a strong mission to drive inclusive innovation, The Community Fund prioritizes working with underrepresented founders, ensuring that community-building is not only a business strategy but also a tool for social impact. Their investment approach goes beyond financial backing, offering mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to a vast network of industry experts to help startups succeed.

E14 Fund is an MIT-affiliated venture capital firm focused on supporting deep-tech startups emerging from the MIT community. Established in 2013 and rooted in the MIT Media Lab, the fund specializes in companies that are addressing critical global challenges through breakthrough science and engineering. E14 Fund invests in early-stage startups, typically from pre-seed to Series A, with a focus on industries such as robotics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and synthetic biology. Some notable investments include Formlabs, a leader in 3D printing technology, and Overjet, a pioneer in AI-powered dental care solutions. The fund is more than just a capital provider; it acts as a strategic partner, helping founders transition from academic research to building scalable businesses. E14 leverages the vast MIT network to connect entrepreneurs with industry leaders, mentors, and technical resources that can help accelerate their growth. A significant portion of the firm’s profits is reinvested into MIT, highlighting its commitment to fostering long-term innovation within the university ecosystem. Led by managing partners Calvin Chin and Habib Haddad, E14 Fund works closely with founders to address both scientific and business challenges, providing hands-on support throughout their journey. The fund’s portfolio companies typically possess unique intellectual property and a clear path to market dominance, reflecting E14’s focus on ventures with transformative potential. By supporting startups from their earliest stages, E14 Fund plays a crucial role in translating groundbreaking MIT research into impactful, market-ready technologies.

Engine, founded by MIT in 2016, is a venture firm designed to support "Tough Tech" companies—those that tackle complex, science-based challenges in areas such as climate change, human health, and advanced systems. The firm provides more than just capital, offering infrastructure, labs, equipment, and a powerful network to help startups transition from groundbreaking research to commercial success. Engine focuses on companies that operate at the intersection of science and engineering, aiming to create transformative solutions for some of the world’s most pressing problems. The firm’s portfolio features notable companies like Commonwealth Fusion Systems, which is advancing fusion energy as a sustainable power source, and Boston Metal, a leader in decarbonizing steel production. These investments reflect Engine's commitment to technologies that promise to have a lasting impact on society and the environment. Led by Katie Rae, Engine's strategy centers on bridging the gap between research and commercialization by providing technical founders with the resources and networks they need to scale effectively. Engine's approach combines patient capital with operational support, helping entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of building in highly regulated and complex industries. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Engine leverages its proximity to top-tier academic and research institutions to stay at the forefront of innovation. Through its integrated support system, Engine enables Tough Tech startups to accelerate their growth, with a long-term focus on reshaping industries and addressing critical global challenges..

The Fund VC, established in 2018, is a unique venture capital firm that operates a community-driven investment model. It focuses on early-stage startups across a variety of sectors including technology, consumer goods, and healthcare. The Fund VC operates through a network of micro-funds spread across different cities such as New York, Los Angeles, London, and Sydney, each managed by a group of local investors with deep expertise in their respective markets. The Fund VC has made notable investments in companies like Tia, a women’s health tech company; Parsley Health, a holistic health startup; and Bravely, a platform providing on-demand professional coaching. This portfolio reflects their commitment to backing innovative solutions that address significant market needs. The firm leverages its extensive network of founders, operators, and investors to provide not just capital but also mentorship and strategic support to its portfolio companies. This approach helps startups navigate early challenges and scale effectively. The Fund VC is particularly known for fostering a strong community among its portfolio companies, encouraging collaboration and shared growth​

The Helm is a New York City-based early-stage venture capital firm with a mission to invest in female-founded companies and redefine the venture landscape by focusing on gender-lens investing. Founded by Lindsey Taylor Wood, The Helm has become a prominent player in supporting women-led startups across various industries including healthcare, sustainability, and technology. Notable portfolio companies include Tia, a modern healthcare provider for women; Venus Aerospace, pushing the boundaries of hypersonic transportation; and Rebellyous Foods, revolutionizing plant-based meat production. The Helm’s investment strategy emphasizes identifying undervalued companies that demonstrate significant promise early on, ensuring they have the capital to achieve their potential. Their average check size varies, but they are known for leading funding rounds and maintaining active engagement with their portfolio companies. Startups seeking investment should highlight innovative solutions and robust business models that align with The Helm’s focus on female empowerment and sustainability. The team at The Helm includes Lindsey Taylor Wood, who leads the fund’s strategy and fundraising efforts; Julie Weber, COO and General Partner, with extensive experience in fund administration and operations; and Olivia Fleming, Partner, who directs the fund’s sustainability initiatives and angel investor network. This experienced team supports a diverse portfolio of over 20 companies and maintains a strong community of investors and founders committed to advancing female entrepreneurship.

The House Fund is a pre-seed and early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in startups affiliated with UC Berkeley alumni, faculty, and students. Founded in 2016 and based in Berkeley, California, the fund has established itself as a cornerstone of the Berkeley startup ecosystem. Notable investments from The House Fund include PsiQuantum, Superhuman, Queenly, Flexport, and Anyscale, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence, software, and industrial applications. The fund's industry focus spans AI, software, human capital, and consumer technologies, leveraging Berkeley's rich talent pool to identify and nurture high-potential startups. Geographically, The House Fund primarily invests in the United States, with a strong concentration in the Bay Area. Their investment strategy involves leading or co-leading pre-seed and early-stage rounds, often with check sizes up to $2 million for early-stage and up to $1 million for pre-seed investments. The fund aims to be the first investor in promising startups, offering extensive support through their network and resources. The House Fund has been highly active, particularly in the AI sector, fostering a robust AI ecosystem at Berkeley. Their approach involves close collaboration with founders, providing not only capital but also strategic guidance and access to a network of seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts. This hands-on support has been instrumental in the success of their portfolio companies.

The Idea Village is a vital nonprofit organization based in New Orleans, focused on accelerating the growth of startups throughout the Gulf South. Established to foster entrepreneurship in a region known for its resilience and creativity, The Idea Village has become a cornerstone of the local startup ecosystem. The organization offers a suite of programs designed to support founders at various stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Key among these programs is IDEAinstitute, which serves as an entry point for early-stage founders, providing them with the foundational tools and resources needed to transform innovative ideas into scalable ventures. For more advanced startups, IDEAfuel offers targeted support to BIPOC-led companies, including non-dilutive capital, mentorship, and business resources, to help them achieve rapid growth. The flagship program, VILLAGEx, is an industry-agnostic accelerator that prepares high-growth startups to raise significant capital, typically over $1 million, within 24 months. This program culminates in IDEApitch, a high-profile pitch event held during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), where startups have the chance to secure substantial investment prizes. The Idea Village has a proven track record, with alumni companies like Lucid and Levelset, which have collectively achieved over $1.7 billion in exit value. By connecting entrepreneurs with a robust network of mentors, investors, and industry experts, The Idea Village not only supports individual startups but also contributes to the broader economic development of New Orleans and the Gulf South​.

Spartan Group is a leading venture capital and advisory firm focused on the digital asset space, with a strong presence in Singapore and Hong Kong. Specializing in blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi), they invest across early to mid-stage companies. Their portfolio features high-profile projects such as Animoca Brands, Mysten Labs, and Unstoppable Domains, which have achieved unicorn status. Spartan’s deep expertise in Web3 and crypto markets positions them as a key player in helping projects scale. The firm has a clear focus on disruptive technologies, particularly blockchain, decentralized finance, and gaming ecosystems. They’ve led investment rounds in notable projects like LayerZero Labs and Synthetix, demonstrating their commitment to supporting innovations that redefine financial and digital systems. Spartan Group typically invests alongside other major players in the crypto space, including Binance and Animoca Brands. Their strategy involves not only providing capital but also offering strategic advice and access to their extensive network in the blockchain industry. Spartan’s leadership, including partners like Kelvin Koh and Melody He, has significant experience in both traditional finance and the emerging digital asset space. Their hands-on approach and deep sector knowledge make them an attractive partner for blockchain startups aiming to navigate the complex Web3 landscape. For startups seeking investment, Spartan Group prioritizes teams with strong technical expertise and projects that can demonstrate a clear path to market dominance in the decentralized economy.

The Tech Garden is Central New York's premier tech incubator, located in downtown Syracuse. It focuses on fostering high-tech entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of emerging companies. With a range of programs like the Clean Tech Center and GENIUS NY—the largest accelerator for uncrewed systems—The Tech Garden provides startups with critical resources, including grants, mentorship, and funding. Their Grants for Growth program offers startups up to $100,000 in seed funding, while accelerators like Syracuse Surge specifically support BIPOC entrepreneurs. The Tech Garden’s geographic focus is largely regional, concentrating on Central New York, though its programs attract startups from across the U.S. Their portfolio includes companies in sectors such as clean energy, tech innovation, and IoT. The fund has also supported over $56 million in venture capital raised by participating companies in recent years. Strategically, The Tech Garden plays a hands-on role, offering tailored incubation, workshops, and networking to help companies transition from startup to commercialization. Entrepreneurs can benefit from their vast network of industry experts and mentors, including leaders like John Liddy, who currently oversees innovation programs. This holistic approach to startup development makes The Tech Garden an essential player in upstate New York’s innovation landscape​.

The Venture Reality Fund (The VR Fund) is a San Francisco-based, Silicon Valley venture capital firm founded in 2016 by Tipatat Chennavasin and Marco DeMiroz. It established itself as the leading early-stage investor in virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality, and has since broadened its thesis to fund Physical AI and Spatial Intelligence, the technologies it sees defining the next era of computing, across infrastructure, development platforms, content and applications for both consumer and enterprise. The firm invests primarily at Seed and Series A, with check sizes commonly cited in the $500K to $2M range, and it is willing to lead. Its portfolio spans roughly 58 companies and includes unicorn Rec Room, along with Baobab Studios, Strivr, TheWaveVR, Inworld AI, World Labs, Scenario, Apprentice.io and Phiar Technologies; notable exits include Owlchemy Labs, acquired by Google, and Phiar. The VR Fund is backed by a roster of world-class strategic limited partners including Qualcomm, Orange, Bell, NetEase, Krafton, Colopl Next, OPPO, HP Tech Ventures and Yahoo Japan, giving portfolio companies global commercial reach. Co-founder Marco DeMiroz was previously a Managing Director at TPG Growth, while Tipatat Chennavasin brings a creator's perspective from shipping VR and AR experiences since the original Oculus DK1. By combining deep immersive-technology specialization with strategic corporate LPs, The VR Fund backs founders building the infrastructure, platforms and content for spatial computing and physical AI.

TheVentureCity, founded in 2017, is a global early-stage venture capital firm focused on product-centric startups across the US, Europe, and Latin America. The firm manages over $150 million in assets, investing from pre-seed and seed stages up to Series A, with investment sizes ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. TheVentureCity's diverse portfolio includes companies such as Sidekick in financial services, Tiny Health in biotechnology, and Moonflow, a SaaS platform for debt collections. These investments highlight their commitment to sectors like AI/ML, cybersecurity, FinTech, and SaaS. Operating with an operator-led model, TheVentureCity provides both financial backing and strategic support to help startups scale globally. This approach has led to successful funding rounds and the growth of companies like Fixme Connect, BrandLovrs, and Plexigrid. Key team members, including founders Laura González-Estéfani and Clara Bullrich, leverage their extensive experience in technology investment and international scalability to drive the firm’s success and support portfolio companies effectively.

Thin Line Capital is a venture capital firm focused on investing in innovative climate-tech companies. With a strong emphasis on clean energy, electrification of transport, and climate resilience, they back low-capex businesses that align with decarbonizing the global economy. Their notable investments include Sistine Solar, which transforms solar panels to blend seamlessly into rooftops, Optiwatt, an EV network platform that lowers charging costs and emissions, and Kevala, providing analytics for smarter electricity grids. The fund primarily invests in seed-stage companies, typically deploying checks between $400,000 and $600,000. Thin Line Capital prefers a concentrated portfolio strategy, allowing them to provide hands-on support to founders through mentorship and active involvement. Headquartered in Pasadena, California, the firm is led by Aaron Fyke, an entrepreneur with extensive experience in energy storage and solar technology, having co-founded two unicorns, Heliogen and Energy Vault. For entrepreneurs seeking investment, Thin Line Capital looks for founders with a clear focus on climate-tech innovation, particularly those operating in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and industrial decarbonization. They are open to building long-term relationships and actively guiding startups through the growth process.

Third Derivative (D3) is a climate tech accelerator and venture fund launched by Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and New Energy Nexus. Founded in 2020, D3 focuses on finding, funding, and scaling startups that are tackling global climate challenges. It integrates a vast network of investors, corporate partners, and mentors to support its portfolio of over 100 companies across key sectors like renewable energy, sustainable materials, and carbon capture. Notable investments include companies like Summit Nanotech, which develops innovative lithium extraction technology, and Mission Zero Technologies, focused on direct air capture of CO2. D3's accelerator model offers startups not just funding but also unparalleled access to corporate partners like Microsoft, Shell, and bp, as well as investors like Fifth Wall and Prelude Ventures. This ecosystem accelerates the commercialization of new climate solutions globally. D3 typically invests at the seed stage, providing startups with both capital and strategic partnerships to help them scale rapidly. Their mission is to reduce global carbon emissions by advancing hard science, digital solutions, and business model innovations that can disrupt traditional industries​.