Hardware, Robotics & IoT VC Funds

The Yield Lab is a venture capital firm dedicated to transforming the agri-food sector by investing in early-stage companies across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Their portfolio includes notable startups such as Pluton Biosciences, which specializes in biotech innovations, and GroGuru, which focuses on strategic irrigation management for farmers. With a geographic focus that spans multiple continents, The Yield Lab invests in high-impact companies with technologies in areas like digital agriculture, crop health, and sustainable farming practices. Their investment strategy typically involves funding from $100,000 to $1.5 million for early-stage ventures, providing not just capital but also access to a global network of experts and industry partners to help scale and commercialize these innovations internationally. The Yield Lab has a keen focus on sustainability and aims to support companies that can revolutionize food systems and contribute to environmental conservation. For instance, their investment in RootWave, a company using electricides for sustainable weed control, reflects their commitment to eco-friendly solutions. Key team members include Pat Pinkston and Sherri Brown in North America, and Paul Finnerty and Brian Clevinger in Europe, all of whom bring extensive experience in venture capital and agri-food industries. They maintain a collaborative approach, leveraging their combined expertise to drive growth and innovation within their portfolio companies.

YourNest Venture Capital is a Gurugram-headquartered Indian VC firm founded in 2011 by Sunil K Goyal, Managing Director and Fund Manager, Sanjay Pande and Girish Shivani. The firm's distinctive 'Nurture Capital' philosophy emphasizes deep mentoring and operational involvement with founders in addition to capital, and YourNest positions itself as a sharply focused Pre-Series A specialist in technology-led, enterprise B2B and DeepTech startups, willing to lead. After briefly investing in a handful of consumer-internet companies, the firm pivoted within two years of Fund I to become an India-focused DeepTech-only investor in IoT, electronic system design, applied AI, advanced robotics, AR/VR, edge cloud, developer tools and enterprise SaaS. YourNest has raised three funds on a roughly five-year cadence, Fund I in 2012, Fund II, and most recently Fund III, 'Engineering the Future, Now,' sized at approximately $75M, with cumulative committed AUM near $53M and a portfolio mark-up valued at roughly $1.2B as of May 2025. Across all funds, YourNest has backed 58 companies, producing one unicorn, Uniphore in conversational AI, which crossed $1B in 2022 and on which YourNest earned a 7x return on its early INR 8 crore investment, and nine acquisitions, including queue-management company SmartQ, enterprise-AI startup Arya.ai, acquired by Aurionpro in April 2024, and AI startup Argoid, acquired by Amagi in December 2024. Investment pace has remained active with nine new deals in 2025. By pairing 'Nurture Capital' mentoring with a DeepTech and enterprise focus, YourNest backs Pre-Series A Indian founders.

Zaitoun Ventures is a values-driven Israeli investment firm and startup factory founded in 2014 in Tel Aviv by Israeli-Arab Harvard MBA Forsan Hussein and Israeli-Jewish serial entrepreneur Ami Dror. The firm's distinctive thesis is that companies co-built and co-led by Jewish and Arab founders, Zaitoun is Arabic and Hebrew for olive, are commercially advantageous as well as socially constructive, opening market access across the Middle East, North Africa and the Arabic-speaking diaspora and producing more resilient teams. Zaitoun acts as a business-development company connecting Israeli and Arab entrepreneurs, providing capital, strategic guidance, operational support and an international partner network to back disruptive startups across surgical and medical devices, enterprise SaaS, edtech, neurotech, consumer apps and deep-tech hardware, generally as a co-investor. Reported deployment was approximately $19M in its first year of operations with a stated target of around $100M of deployment in 2016. Disclosed portfolio companies include Pi-Cardia in structural heart-valve repair, its most recent reported investment in April 2020, Sodyo in mobile-interaction software, LeapLearner in kids-coding edtech, which Ami Dror also founded, Comedy Break, a Tel Aviv-Ramallah AI comedy personalization company, Myndlift in attention-disorder neurotech, Ninispeech in speech therapy, Sidis Labs in motion-sickness wearables and Teramount in optical connectivity. Recent public activity has been limited since 2020, and current fund size and team roster are not publicly disclosed. By backing companies co-led by Jewish and Arab founders, Zaitoun Ventures pairs capital with a thesis that diverse teams unlock regional market access and resilience.

Zane Venture Fund, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a dynamic venture capital firm focused on investing in diverse and underrepresented founders. The firm is dedicated to addressing the capital gap in health equity by funding pioneering startups that leverage technology to tackle social determinants of health. Zane Venture Fund primarily targets early-stage ventures with innovative business models and early signs of traction in sectors such as health equity, financial inclusion, education, housing, and climate. Notable investments include companies like SkillCycle, which provides upskilling opportunities to employees globally, and Freeing Returns, a B2B SaaS platform for retail technology. Other portfolio highlights include OME Kitchen, an IoT-based kitchen solution, and ConConnect, a professional networking platform for formerly incarcerated individuals. The fund focuses on founders in overlooked regions, primarily in the Southeast United States, and provides not just capital but also mentoring and a robust network of resources to help founders scale their businesses. Founded by Shila Nieves Burney, who brings over 20 years of experience in investing in marginalized communities, Zane Venture Fund is committed to driving substantial impact in health equity and community well-being​. Startups looking to engage with Zane should demonstrate strong potential for impact and alignment with the fund’s focus areas. Zane’s strategic approach involves thorough due diligence and active participation in the growth of their portfolio companies, ensuring that their investments not only succeed financially but also contribute to creating a healthier human economy.

Zeal Capital Partners, based in Washington, D.C., is a venture capital firm focused on advancing economic mobility by investing in diverse management teams. Founded by Nasir Qadree in 2020, Zeal's mission is to reimagine the building blocks of wealth, targeting sectors like education, employment, financial health, and health equity. The firm operates with an "Inclusive Investing™" model, which prioritizes investments in underrepresented founders and companies that align with sustainable development goals. Zeal’s portfolio includes startups like GigEasy, Stratyfy, and Daivergent, which aim to close equity gaps across various industries. The firm manages Zeal Fund I, a $62.1 million fund, supported by notable investors such as PayPal, Bank of America, and Truist Ventures. Zeal has a strong commitment to ESG principles and fosters long-term growth by ensuring portfolio companies maintain diverse management teams and focus on social impact. Zeal's inclusive approach and dedication to transforming financial and workforce systems position it as a key player in driving social equity through venture capital investments.

Zebra Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Lincolnshire, Illinois-based Zebra Technologies Corporation, the global leader in barcode printing, RFID, mobile computing and enterprise data capture hardware and software for retail, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare and field services. The unit was established in 2014, the same year Motorola Solutions spun its enterprise business out to Zebra, and is led by Vice President and Managing Director Tony Palcheck, who joined Zebra from his prior role as Managing Director of Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, a decade-long stint operating that earlier corporate VC. Zebra Ventures makes minority-equity strategic investments in early-stage companies whose technology accelerates Zebra's vision of digitizing and automating the front line of business, with sector focus on automation and robotics, applied AI, analytics and data capture, mobile computing, and location and motion sensing, generally as a co-investor. Initial target check sizes sit in the $1M to $5M range. Beyond capital, portfolio companies gain deep domain expertise from Zebra's product organization, access to its engineering and distribution resources, and an enterprise distribution network covering large global customers. The portfolio includes approximately 29 investments such as Apera AI in 4D Vision for industrial robots, its most recent investment in April 2026, Xemelgo in cloud RFID software with more than 100 factory deployments including Yamaha and SEKISUI Aerospace, Optoro, Third Wave Automation and Neurala. Specific fund size and AUM are not publicly disclosed. By pairing capital with Zebra's domain expertise and distribution network, Zebra Ventures backs the technologies digitizing the front line of business.

Zeev Ventures, helmed by the astute Oren Zeev, is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm with a unique, lone-wolf approach to investing. Notable for its early-stage investments, Zeev Ventures has backed highly successful startups such as Houzz, Chegg, Tipalti, TripActions, and HomeLight. The fund focuses primarily on technology, fintech, e-commerce, and consumer services, targeting companies that exhibit robust operational discipline over mere hype. Geographically, Zeev Ventures has a strong presence in both the U.S. and Israel, leveraging Oren Zeev's extensive network and experience in these regions. Zeev's strategy is characterized by a hands-on approach, often leading investment rounds and maintaining a close, supportive relationship with the founders. This method has led to significant growth and success for his portfolio companies, with many achieving market leadership and substantial valuations even during economic downturns. Zeev Ventures typically writes substantial checks, often in the range of $5 million to $20 million, and prefers to be the lead investor. Startups seeking investment should focus on demonstrating operational efficiency and market potential rather than relying on flashy presentations. Oren Zeev himself manages the fund without a formal team or office, emphasizing a personal touch and deep involvement in the companies he invests in. The fund's success is also driven by Zeev's background, including his education at Technion and INSEAD, and his prior experience at Apax Partners. This expertise, combined with a disciplined, efficiency-focused investment approach, makes Zeev Ventures a formidable player in the venture capital landscape​

Zelkova Ventures, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, is a venture capital firm that primarily focuses on early-stage investments. The firm has a notable track record with 96 investments and 34 successful exits. Zelkova Ventures invests in a wide range of sectors, including SaaS, internet media, green technology, and consumer products. Their portfolio includes significant investments in companies like Alloy, Automox, Broadlume, Crimson Hexagon, Helpscout, Hungryroot, Klout, Lendkey, and Superhuman​​. Zelkova's strategy involves making initial investments of $200,000 to $300,000, often in companies with annual recurring revenue (ARR) between $100,000 and $1 million, and reserving substantial follow-on capital for subsequent funding rounds. Zelkova Ventures is led by co-founders Jay Levy and Larry Scheinfeld. Jay Levy, in particular, has a strong background in both entrepreneurial ventures and investment, having been involved with over 90 startups since 2014. The firm prides itself on its hands-on approach, working closely with portfolio companies to help them achieve significant growth and success​. Overall, Zelkova Ventures distinguishes itself with its focused investment approach, substantial follow-on capital, and a strong track record of successful exits, making it a prominent player in the early-stage venture capital landscape.

Zeno Ventures, founded in 2016 by Christopher Kile and Duarte Moreira, focuses on early to growth-stage investments in high-potential technology companies. Based in San Francisco, Zeno Ventures primarily invests in consumer and enterprise markets, including transportation, logistics, fintech, and 3D printing sectors. Their notable investments include AvantStay, a hospitality tech startup; Mighty Buildings, a construction tech company; and Mercury, a fintech platform​. Zeno Ventures typically invests around $7 million per round and averages about three transactions per year. While they occasionally lead investment rounds, they often co-invest with other prominent firms like Khosla Ventures and Bold Capital Partners. The firm is known for its collaborative approach, sharing opportunities and working closely with other investors to support portfolio companies throughout their growth. The key team members, Christopher Kile and Duarte Moreira, bring extensive experience in venture capital and entrepreneurship. They focus on building strong relationships with founders and providing strategic support to scale their businesses. Zeno Ventures' geographic focus spans primarily the United States, with a significant presence in tech hubs like San Francisco and Los Angeles. For startups looking to partner with Zeno Ventures, it's essential to demonstrate exceptional management and high growth potential in their pitch. Approaching the firm through warm introductions and showcasing alignment with their investment thesis increases the likelihood of securing an investment.

Zero Carbon Capital (ZCC) is a venture capital firm based in Hampshire, UK, specializing in pre-seed and seed-stage investments in companies that develop hard-science solutions to address the global challenge of decarbonization. Founded in 2019 by Pippa and Alex Gawley, ZCC is dedicated to supporting startups across Europe that have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions through innovative technologies. ZCC's investment strategy is deeply rooted in scientific rigor and environmental stewardship, focusing on startups that can make substantial impacts in areas with significant emission challenges. Their portfolio includes companies like Level Nine, which pioneers chemical manufacturing from biological feedstocks, Ionate, which develops smart transformers for renewable energy grids, and RepAir, which innovates low-power electrochemical direct air capture technologies. The firm recently closed a £20 million fund, backed by a diverse group of investors, including Isomer Capital and Green Future Investments. This fund is aimed at accelerating early-stage climate tech ventures that can contribute meaningfully to global carbon reduction. ZCC's team is composed of highly experienced professionals with strong scientific and technological backgrounds, such as Pippa Gawley, who brings years of climate tech investing experience from both the US and Europe, and Sarah Jones, PhD, who has a background in Bioprocess Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology. ZCC is not only an investor but also a strategic partner, providing its portfolio companies with the resources and guidance needed to scale their innovations effectively and make a lasting impact on the planet.

Zetta Venture Partners is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm founded in 2013 by Mark Gorenberg. The firm focuses exclusively on early-stage investments in AI-driven B2B companies. Zetta's portfolio includes prominent startups such as Clearbit, Lilt, and Opsani, which highlight their commitment to the intelligent software sector. Zetta Venture Partners targets companies in North America and Europe, providing initial investments ranging from seed to Series B stages. The firm's strategy emphasizes hands-on support for founders, particularly in scaling AI models into market-leading products and infrastructures. They position themselves as crucial partners to impactful AI and infrastructure startups, offering expertise in areas like business development, strategic partnerships, and scaling operations. The team includes experienced professionals like Managing Directors Jocelyn Goldfein and Apoorva Pandhi, based in San Francisco, and Partner Dylan Reid in New York. They have a robust network of operators and advisors, ensuring startups receive comprehensive support throughout their growth journey. Zetta's investments are deeply rooted in AI applications and infrastructure, reinforcing their belief in the transformative potential of AI across various industries. This focus has allowed them to build a portfolio that not only aims for financial returns but also contributes significantly to technological advancements. By leveraging their extensive industry connections and deep technical expertise, Zetta Venture Partners helps AI-driven startups navigate the complexities of market entry and growth, making them a formidable player in the venture capital landscape​.

Zhangjiang Torch Venture Capital Co is an early- and growth-stage venture capital firm founded in November 2008 as the dedicated investment arm of Zhangjiang High Tech Park Group, the operating entity behind Shanghai's flagship Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Pudong, a national-level science park known as 'China's Medicine Valley' for its dense concentration of biotech, pharmaceutical, semiconductor and advanced-manufacturing companies. The fund concentrates on the strategic sectors that Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park is built to nurture: integrated circuits and application-specific semiconductors, next-generation information technology, biomedicine and high-performance medical devices, intelligent manufacturing, and new-energy and advanced-materials technologies, generally as a co-investor. Typical deal sizes have been reported in the $5M to $10M range, and across the fund's life it has made approximately 64 disclosed investments. Notable portfolio companies include Yanwei Semiconductor, its most recent reported investment in July 2023, Shengfang Technology, Xinyu New Material, Aqbiopharma and SeeYA Technology, its latest reported portfolio exit in March 2026. Public databases describe the entity as permanently closed at the original Zhangjiang Torch level, with the broader Zhangjiang state-affiliated venture activity continuing under related vehicles such as Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Investment, Zhangjiang Haocheng and ZJ Innopark, which remained active through 2025 to 2026. Fund leadership ties back to the Zhangjiang High Tech Park Group rather than named external GPs. As the investment arm of one of China's leading science parks, Zhangjiang Torch Venture Capital backed semiconductor, biomedicine, intelligent-manufacturing and advanced-materials companies aligned with the park's strategic sectors.

ZhenFund is a leading venture capital firm based in Beijing, China, established in 2011 by Bob Xu and Victor Wang in collaboration with Sequoia Capital China. The firm focuses on seed-stage investments, primarily targeting innovative startups in sectors like internet services, e-commerce, gaming, enterprise software, and education technology. ZhenFund has been instrumental in nurturing China’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, helping early-stage founders grow their businesses by providing financial backing and strategic support. The firm has a diverse portfolio of over 750 companies, including high-profile startups like VIPKid, Xiaohongshu (RED), and Mobvoi. ZhenFund is known for its founder-first approach, offering not only funding but also mentorship and operational expertise. Their investments span a wide range of industries, with a notable focus on companies leveraging technology to disrupt traditional markets. ZhenFund’s international presence includes an active investment arm in Silicon Valley, which extends their global reach and allows them to support entrepreneurs beyond China. With a strong belief in the power of young, ambitious founders, ZhenFund is committed to backing innovative startups that aim to redefine industries and create lasting impact.

Zigg Capital is a venture capital firm based in New York City that specializes in proptech, aiming to revolutionize the real estate, construction, and retail sectors through technology. Their notable investments include Spruce Holdings, Crusoe Energy Systems, and Vontive, reflecting their focus on innovative solutions within these industries. Zigg Capital operates globally, investing from seed to Series B stages, with a typical check size ranging from $1M to $10M. They have a strategic approach, emphasizing demographic shifts, evolving preferences, and addressing societal inequalities to improve the quality of physical environments. This is evident in their recent $225 million second fund aimed at supporting visionary entrepreneurs in proptech. The team at Zigg Capital is led by Founding Partner Dave Eisenberg, who brings extensive experience from previous roles at companies like Floored and Red Swan Ventures. The firm values deep research, imagination, collaboration, and respect for the entrepreneurial journey, actively seeking to partner with startups that share their vision for transformative innovation. Startups can approach Zigg Capital via their website, where they encourage pitches that align with their mission to enhance the built environment through technology​

Zone Ventures is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm founded in 1998 as a partnership funded by institutional investors to provide equity capital to young, high-growth companies. It is a network partner of Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) and DFJ Frontier, situating it within the broader Draper Network ecosystem, and it has been instrumental in building the Southern California technology community. The firm pursues a people-focused approach to venture capital, backing entrepreneurs with the energy, vision, experience and desire to build great companies, and concentrates on information technology businesses with large market potential, and it is willing to lead. While many of its investments are centered in Southern California, its mandate is not strictly geographic. Zone Ventures is led by co-founder and Managing Director Frank M. Creer, with Tim Draper among its key associated members, and runs a small team. Over its history it has made roughly 67 investments primarily at the seed and early stages, with seed rounds averaging around $1.4M and later rounds in the $4.6M to $5.1M range. Its portfolio spans enterprise and B2B software, tech, aerospace and defense, business services, education and healthtech, with companies such as NeuroVigil, Lumexis and BiggerBoat. The firm has recorded at least five acquisitions among its exits, including Microfabrica, DivX and Vizional Technologies. In 2008 Zone Ventures, alongside DFJ and DFJ Frontier, awarded $250,000 to NeuroVigil in the Fourth Annual DFJ Venture Challenge. As a Draper Network partner, Zone Ventures has backed Southern California technology founders since 1998.

Zouk Capital is a London-based private equity and infrastructure fund manager dedicated to investing in the clean and efficient economy. Established with a focus on sustainability, Zouk Capital targets opportunities at the intersection of infrastructure, technology, and sustainability. They manage approximately €1 billion in assets, including the £420 million Charging Investment Fund (CIIF) aimed at enhancing the UK's public EV charging infrastructure. Their investment strategy covers sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, decarbonization of transport, recycling, and smart agriculture. Zouk Capital supports companies like Anesco, EO Charging, and Orb Energy, all of which are leaders in their respective fields of energy efficiency, EV charging solutions, and solar technology. The team at Zouk Capital, led by Managing Partner Samer Salty, combines extensive experience in private equity, investment banking, and technology, with a deep commitment to sustainability and ESG principles. This integrated expertise allows Zouk to effectively support and scale businesses that contribute to a more sustainable and efficient economy.

Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn, now rebranded as D11Z Ventures, is a prominent venture capital firm based in Heilbronn, Germany. The firm focuses on early-stage investments, particularly in digital business models across sectors like AI/Deep Tech, B2B SaaS, and asset-light IoT. D11Z Ventures, formerly known as Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn, has a clear mission to promote and support innovative digital ventures with both national and international impact, aiming to be the leading pre-seed and seed VC fund for AI in Europe. D11Z Ventures is known for its hands-on approach, providing startups not just with capital but also with strategic guidance, industry expertise, and access to a broad network of partners. The firm’s portfolio is diverse, with investments in startups that are shaping the future of various industries through technological innovation. Their rebranding to D11Z Ventures reflects a renewed commitment to innovation and sustainability in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. The firm is led by a team of experienced professionals who are deeply involved in the German and European startup ecosystems, actively supporting companies from the very early stages through to their growth and scaling phases​.