Hey startup founders and investors! 🚀

Ready to navigate the wild world of NYC venture capital? I’ve spent months researching and connecting with the city’s most prominent early-stage and seed firms, and let me tell you—this ecosystem is absolutely buzzing with opportunity!

From Union Square to SoHo, from pre-seed to Series A, NYC’s VC landscape is more diverse and dynamic than ever. With $5.8 billion flowing through the city in just Q4 2024, there’s never been a better time to understand who’s who in the NYC venture capital scene.

TLDR: NYC Early-Stage & Seed Firms at a Glance

📊 The Numbers:

• 100+ prominent firms covered in this comprehensive guide
• $5.8B in NYC VC deals in Q4 2024 (3rd largest US hub)
• 412 deals closed with median size of $11M
• 48% of top VCs prioritize portfolio support as #1 priority

🎯 Investment Focus Areas:

• Consumer Tech & D2C Brands
• Enterprise Software & B2B
• Fintech & Financial Services
• Healthtech & Life Sciences
• PropTech & Real Estate
• Blockchain & Web3
• AI & Deep Tech

💰 Typical Investment Ranges:

• Pre-seed: $50K - $500K
• Seed: $500K - $5M
• Series A: $5M - $15M

The Complete A-Z Guide to NYC Early-Stage & Seed Firms

2048 Ventures

Focus: Pre-seed and seed firm focused on founders building differentiated technology Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Early-stage technology investments with focus on innovation

645 Ventures

Focus: Early-stage SaaS and infrastructure software companies Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: B2B software and enterprise solutions

AlleyCorp

Focus: Unique firm that both founds and funds companies Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Company building approach with hands-on involvement

Alpha Edison

Focus: Early-stage firm leveraging data science in investment process Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Data-driven investment decisions

Alpaca VC (formerly Corigin Ventures)

Focus: Real world industries of commerce, proptech, and future of work Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Industry-specific focus on commerce and real estate

Amplifyher Ventures

Focus: Early-stage companies with at least one woman in C-suite leadership Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Diversity-focused investing with strong track record

ANIMO Ventures

Focus: Seed-stage firm backing mission-driven founders Stage: Seed Notable: Impact investing with social mission focus

Asymmetric Capital Partners

Focus: Early-stage technology companies Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Technology-focused with growth stage expertise

B Capital Group

Focus: Global firm with NYC office, B2B and B2C technology companies Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: International presence with strong NYC team

Bain Capital Ventures

Focus: Venture arm of Bain Capital with significant NYC presence Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: Strategic value-add with consulting expertise

Betaworks Ventures

Focus: Seed-stage firm focused on early-stage consumer tech Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Consumer technology and social platforms

Blisce

Focus: B Corp certified firm investing in mission-driven entrepreneurs Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Social impact investing with B Corp certification

Blockchange Ventures

Focus: Blockchain technology investments Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Crypto and blockchain specialization

Boldstart Ventures

Focus: Day-one partner for enterprise and developer-first founders Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Enterprise software and developer tools

BoxGroup

Focus: Highly active seed-stage firm with vast portfolio Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Infrastructure and developer tools (Stripe, Plaid, Airtable)

BrandProject

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in and building consumer brands Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Consumer brand building and D2C expertise

Brooklyn Bridge Ventures

Focus: First venture capital fund based in Brooklyn Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Brooklyn-focused with diverse portfolio

Camber Creek

Focus: Real estate technology (PropTech) Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: PropTech specialization

Canaan Partners

Focus: Early-stage firm with focus on fintech, deeptech, and consumer Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Multi-sector expertise with strong track record

Charge Ventures

Focus: Pre-seed firm focused on “capital-efficient” businesses Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Capital efficiency focus

Cleo Capital

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in wide range of sectors Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Sector-agnostic approach

Collaborative Fund

Focus: Companies pushing the world forward Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Mission-driven investing

Company Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm associated with Company co-working space Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Community-driven approach

Compound

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in deeptech and frontier technology Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Deep technology focus

Contour Venture Partners

Focus: Seed-stage firm focused on enterprise software, fintech, and digital media Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Multi-sector expertise

Cowboy Ventures

Focus: Seed-stage fund with presence in both NYC and Bay Area Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Cross-coast presence

Cross-Border Impact Ventures

Focus: Women’s health technology investments Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Healthtech specialization

Cubera Private Equity

Focus: Nordic private equity firm with NYC office Stage: Growth Notable: International perspective

Day One Ventures

Focus: PR-first venture firm combining investment with strategic communications Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: PR and marketing expertise

Decentralized VC

Focus: Web3 focused venture fund Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Web3 and crypto specialization

Digital Currency Group

Focus: Digital currency and blockchain sector Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Crypto ecosystem building

Distributed Ventures

Focus: Insurtech, healthtech, and fintech Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Financial services focus

Eleanor Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in female founders Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Female founder focus

Eniac Ventures

Focus: Seed-stage firm focused on mobile-first companies Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Mobile technology expertise

Equal Ventures

Focus: Bridging digital divide in legacy industries like insurance, retail, and supply chain Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Legacy industry transformation

Expa

Focus: “Startup studio” and early-stage venture firm Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Company building approach

First Round Capital

Focus: Prominent seed-stage fund with strong NYC presence Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Early-stage expertise with strong network

FJ Labs

Focus: Marketplaces and network-effect businesses Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Marketplace specialization

Flybridge Capital Partners

Focus: Early-stage firm with focus on enterprise and consumer tech Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Multi-sector approach

Forerunner Ventures

Focus: Leading firm focused on digital consumer economy Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Consumer technology expertise

Framework Ventures

Focus: Thesis-driven firm investing in blockchain technology Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Blockchain specialization

FTX Ventures

Focus: Venture arm of cryptocurrency exchange Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Crypto ecosystem

Gaingels

Focus: Active investment syndicate supporting LGBTQ+ founders and allies Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Diversity and inclusion focus

GGV Capital

Focus: Global venture firm with significant NYC office Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: International presence

Golden Ventures

Focus: Seed-stage firm with presence in Toronto and NYC Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Cross-border expertise

Goose Capital

Focus: Investment group of experienced entrepreneurs and executives Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Operator expertise

Graph Ventures

Focus: Seed-stage firm investing in marketplaces, SaaS, and digital health Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Multi-sector focus

Great Oaks Venture Capital

Focus: Seed-stage firm with large and diversified portfolio Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Diversified approach

Ground Up Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in broad range of technology companies Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Technology focus

Harlem Capital

Focus: Venture capital firm on mission to change face of entrepreneurship by investing in diverse founders Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Diversity and inclusion mission

Haymaker Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in B2B software Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: B2B software specialization

Headline (formerly e.ventures)

Focus: Global venture capital firm with NYC presence Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: International perspective

High Alpha

Focus: Venture studio and seed fund conceiving, launching, and scaling B2B SaaS companies Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: B2B SaaS focus with studio model

Human Ventures

Focus: Startup studio and early-stage venture fund Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Company building approach

Imaginary Ventures

Focus: Early-stage, direct-to-consumer brands and retail technology Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: D2C and retail tech expertise

Inspired Capital

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in wide range of sectors Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Multi-sector approach

Interplay Ventures

Focus: Foundry and venture fund Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Company building

In-Q-Tel

Focus: Strategic investment arm of U.S. Intelligence Community Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Government and defense tech

K50 Ventures

Focus: Pre-seed and seed-stage firm Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Early-stage focus

Kearny Jackson

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in disruptive technologies Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Disruptive technology focus

Lerer Hippeau

Focus: One of most active and well-known early-stage firms in NYC Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Consumer technology and media

Liberty City Ventures

Focus: Blockchain, digital assets, and web3 Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Crypto and blockchain specialization

Lightbank

Focus: Early-stage firm with offices in Chicago and NYC Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Cross-city presence

Lightspeed Venture Partners

Focus: Global firm with significant NYC office Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: International presence

Lux Capital

Focus: Deep technology and science-fiction-like ventures Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Deep tech specialization

Mana Ventures

Focus: Consumer brands Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Consumer brand focus

Manhattan Venture Partners

Focus: Merchant bank and venture capital firm Stage: Growth Notable: Financial services expertise

MetaProp

Focus: Leading venture capital firm focused on PropTech industry Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: PropTech specialization

Morpheus Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in enterprise software Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Enterprise software focus

Moxxie Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm founded by former Twitter executive Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Social media expertise

Musa Capital

Focus: Private equity and venture capital firm Stage: Growth Notable: Multi-stage approach

NBA Equity

Focus: Strategic investment arm of National Basketball Association Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: Sports and entertainment focus

New Atlantic Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in enterprise and consumer tech Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Multi-sector approach

New Enterprise Associates (NEA)

Focus: Global venture capital firm with large NYC office Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: International presence

Newark Venture Partners

Focus: Early-stage firm with focus on B2B software Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: B2B software specialization

NextView Ventures

Focus: High-conviction, seed-stage firm focused on “everyday economy” Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Consumer and marketplace focus

Notation Capital

Focus: Pre-seed firm with focus on technical teams Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Technical founder focus

O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures (OATV)

Focus: Early-stage firm associated with O’Reilly Media Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Technology and developer focus

One Way Ventures

Focus: Venture capital fund for immigrant founders Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Immigrant founder focus

Primary Venture Partners

Focus: NYC-focused, seed-stage firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: NYC ecosystem focus

Prototype Capital

Focus: Pre-seed and seed-stage firm Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Early-stage focus

Raptor Group

Focus: Private investment company with venture capital practice Stage: Growth Notable: Multi-asset approach

Red Swan Ventures

Focus: Seed-stage firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Early-stage focus

Ribbit Capital

Focus: Leading global fintech investor with NYC presence Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: Fintech specialization

RRE Ventures

Focus: Prominent early-stage firm that has been cornerstone of NYC tech scene Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: NYC tech ecosystem

RUMLAE

Focus: Venture capital firm with focus on technology Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Technology focus

Scout Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm that invests in frontier technologies Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Frontier technology focus

SensorTower

Focus: Provides market intelligence and has venture arm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Data and analytics expertise

Sharp Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Early-stage focus

Sidekick Partners

Focus: Early-stage venture capital firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Early-stage focus

SignalFire

Focus: Data-driven venture capital firm with presence in NYC Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Data-driven approach

Sloane Square Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Early-stage focus

SoGal Ventures

Focus: Female-led venture capital firm investing in diverse founders Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Diversity and inclusion focus

SoftBank Investment Advisers

Focus: While global, has significant NYC team and influence Stage: Growth Notable: Large-scale investments

Spark Capital

Focus: Leading venture firm with offices in Boston, SF, and NYC Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: Multi-city presence

StagedotO

Focus: Venture fund and studio Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Company building

Starry Night Capital

Focus: Fund focused on non-fungible tokens (NFTs) Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: NFT and digital art focus

Stellation Capital

Focus: Venture capital and growth equity firm Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: Multi-stage approach

Supernode Ventures (formerly The Yard Ventures)

Focus: Early-stage fund associated with The Yard co-working space Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Community-driven approach

Susa Ventures

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in companies with strong data-centric approach Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Data-driven companies

Swan & Legend

Focus: Early-stage venture capital firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Early-stage focus

Talis Capital

Focus: London-based firm with NYC presence Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: International perspective

TAU Ventures

Focus: Early-stage venture capital firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Early-stage focus

TCG (The Chernin Group)

Focus: Consumer brands, media, and technology Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: Media and consumer focus

Teamworthy Ventures

Focus: Venture capital firm investing in software and technology-enabled services Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Software and services focus

Techstars NYC

Focus: Local chapter of global accelerator and seed fund Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Accelerator program

Ten Eleven Ventures

Focus: Cybersecurity-focused venture capital firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Cybersecurity specialization

Third Prime

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in fintech, proptech, and enterprise software Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Multi-sector focus

TMV (formerly Trail Mix Ventures)

Focus: Early-stage firm with focus on “care economy” and sustainable solutions Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Social impact and sustainability

Tribeca Venture Partners

Focus: Early-stage firm investing in wide range of sectors Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Multi-sector approach

Two Sigma Ventures

Focus: Venture capital arm of quantitative hedge fund Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Data science and quantitative approach

Underscore VC

Focus: Boston-based firm with NYC presence Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Cross-city presence

Vanterra Capital

Focus: Private equity firm with venture capital practice Stage: Growth Notable: Multi-asset approach

Vestigo Ventures

Focus: Fintech-focused venture capital firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Fintech specialization

Vibe Capital

Focus: Early-stage firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Early-stage focus

Vito Ventures

Focus: Early-stage deep tech investor Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Deep technology focus

Volta Global

Focus: Private investment firm with venture arm Stage: Growth Notable: Multi-asset approach

W Fund

Focus: Venture capital fund focused on Southeast but with NYC presence Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Regional focus with NYC presence

Walkabout Ventures

Focus: Early-stage venture capital firm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Early-stage focus

Warby Parker

Focus: Eyewear company with affiliated venture arm Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Consumer brand expertise

Waterline Ventures

Focus: Venture capital firm focused on healthcare Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Healthcare specialization

Wearebøl

Focus: Venture capital firm focused on consumer brands Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Consumer brand focus

White Star Capital

Focus: Global multi-stage technology investment platform Stage: Series A, Growth Notable: International presence

WOCstar Fund

Focus: Early-stage fund investing in women of color entrepreneurs Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Diversity and inclusion focus

Work-Bench

Focus: Enterprise technology-focused venture capital fund Stage: Seed, Series A Notable: Enterprise technology specialization

XRC Labs

Focus: Venture capital firm and accelerator focused on retail and consumer goods sectors Stage: Pre-seed, Seed Notable: Retail and consumer goods focus

Key Trends Shaping NYC’s Early-Stage Ecosystem

1. Specialization is King

The most successful NYC VCs are those who’ve carved out specific niches. Whether it’s PropTech (MetaProp), cybersecurity (Ten Eleven), or fintech (Ribbit Capital), specialization allows firms to provide deeper value-add and better deal flow.

2. Portfolio Support is Critical

With 48% of top VC firms ranking portfolio support as their #1 priority for 2025, the best NYC VCs aren’t just writing checks—they’re building companies. Look for firms that offer operational expertise, not just capital.

3. Diversity and Inclusion Matter

Firms like Harlem Capital, SoGal Ventures, and WOCstar Fund are proving that diverse teams perform better. The most forward-thinking VCs are actively seeking diverse founders and building inclusive portfolios.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making

From SignalFire’s data-driven approach to Two Sigma’s quantitative methods, NYC VCs are increasingly using data and analytics to make better investment decisions and support portfolio companies.

How to Choose the Right NYC VC for Your Startup

1. Match Your Stage and Sector

• Pre-seed/Seed: BoxGroup, Notation Capital, Primary Venture Partners
• Series A: Lerer Hippeau, Union Square Ventures, RRE Ventures
• Fintech: Ribbit Capital, Vestigo Ventures, Distributed Ventures
• PropTech: MetaProp, Camber Creek, Alpaca VC

2. Consider Their Value-Add

Look beyond the check size. The best NYC VCs offer:

• Industry expertise and connections
• Operational support and guidance
• Portfolio company synergies
• Follow-on funding capabilities

3. Evaluate Their Track Record

Research their portfolio companies and exits. Look for:

• Successful exits in your sector
• Companies that have scaled successfully
• Founders who speak highly of their experience

4. Assess Cultural Fit

NYC VCs have distinct personalities and approaches. Some are hands-on operators, others are hands-off investors. Find the style that matches your needs.

The Bottom Line: NYC’s VC Advantage

What makes NYC’s early-stage ecosystem special isn’t just the money—it’s the unique combination of Wall Street sophistication, Silicon Valley innovation, and the city’s diverse talent pool. With over 100+ active early-stage and seed firms, there’s a perfect VC partner for every type of startup.

The key is finding the right fit: a firm that understands your sector, can provide the value-add you need, and shares your vision for building something meaningful. With $5.8 billion flowing through the city in Q4 2024 alone, the opportunities are endless.

Ready to start your fundraising journey? Pick your top 10 VCs from this list, do your homework, and start building those relationships. The NYC VC scene is waiting for you! 🚀

Have you raised money from any of these NYC VCs? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments – I love hearing about founder journeys and VC relationships!