Local Investors if Your Startup is Ready for Primetime
Below are seed investors from our network helping founders scale their businesses to reach new heights. Please check this list periodically as we continue to vet quality funds.
Backstage Capital
Backstage Capital is a venture capital fund that invests in new companies led by underrepresented founders in the U.S. http://backstagecapital.com/
Base Ventures
Invests in innovative seed stage companies. http://base.ventures/
Bay Area Entrepreneurship Alliance
501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs including but not limited to women, people of color, and veterans. http://alliancecd.org/membership/
Berkeley Angel Network
A group of angel investors who are alumni, faculty and former faculty of UC Berkeley. The mission of the Berkeley Angel Network is to build an angel investor community among the alumni and faculty of UC Berkeley, and to improve the collective skills and knowledge of this angel investor community through activities related to angel investing. https://www.berkeleyangelnetwork.com/
Berkeley Ventures
Brings together experts from mulitple industries and sectors. You will receive the strategy, product, and operational answers you need to help your business thrive. Advisors include expert CEO’s, investment bankers, and venture capitalists to help grow your business. http://www.berkeleyventures.com/
Better Ventures
Better Ventures seeks outsized returns by backing founders on a mission to solve the world’s biggest problems. We back passionate entrepreneurs leveraging the tools and methodologies of the modern technology startup to address some of society’s biggest challenges, from narrowing the opportunity gap to improving health outcomes to accelerating the transition to a sustainable economy. http://www.better.vc/
Claremont Creek Ventures
Invests in digital solutions that transform essential, broad-impact industries. https://claremontcreek.com/
Cross Culture Ventures
Cross Culture Ventures invests in entrepreneurs creating next generation technology and consumer products.Through our strategic partnership with Atom Factory, we work together to discover, invest in and develop companies that fuel shifts in cultural trends and behaviors within an increasingly diverse global marketplace.
Founders Fund
Finds ways to support technological development (technology is the fundamental driver of growth in the industrialized world). Focused on innovation in new industries/exploration.
GV
GV, formerly Google Ventures, is the venture capital investment arm of Alphabet Inc. and provides seed, venture, and growth stage funding to technology companies.
Golden Pacific Capital
Real estate-focused asset management firm that combines deep strategy and fund management expertise with niche real estate investment opportunities to deliver outstanding results. http://www.goldenpacificcapital.com/
lIlluminate Ventures
Finding, funding and accelerating great founders in the B2B/Enterprise cloud and mobile computing space. We focus on companies building SaaS applications as well as solutions that leverage data and mobility to improve business results. http://www.illuminate.com/
Impact America Fund
Technology, combined with a deep understanding of low-to-moderate income community needs, is at the core of our investment strategy. We expand industries by creating opportunities to enhance the quality of life for all Americans. http://www.impactamericafund.com/
Inner City Advisors
Invests in high potential businesses to create economic freedom for those who need it most. Many areas of focus that include engagement, educaiton, advising, capital, and technology. https://www.icafundgoodjobs.org/
Kaiser Permanente Ventures
Dedicated focus on healthcare investing. http://www.kpventures.com/
Kapor Capital
At Kapor Capital we believe in the power of transformative ideas and diverse teams. We are an Oakland-based fund that understands that startup companies have the ability to transform entire industries and to address urgent social needs as they do so. We believe that startups can leverage information technology to solve real world problems and tangibly improve the lives of millions through innovations in the fields of education, finance, health, work, justice and more. https://www.kaporcapital.com/
Launch Capital
Invests when teams are raising their first or second round of institutional capital. Portfolio Support program is designed to provide our companies a network of entrepreneurs to connect with, advisory support on the core issues of your business, and the accelerators that make it easier to for you to focus on executing.
NewSchools Venture Fund
National nonprofit venture philanthropy working to reimagine public education. https://www.newschools.org/
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
Focuses on young entrepreneurs older than 18, younger than 30, with innovations that will “improve peoples’ lives”. http://www.venturesfoundation.org
Powerhouse
An Oakland based co-working space and seed fund that houses and invests in entrepreneurs building software-enabled solutions for the clean energy industry. http://powerhouse.fund/#landing
Precursor Ventures
Generalist firm that invests in known and unknown areas of software and hardware. Committed to investing in founders who represent a wide variety of backgrounds in terms of gender, race, background, academic experience and life circumstances.
Primera Capital
Partners with entrepenuers to build enduring technology companies that leverage their global network, hands-on operational experience, and visionary market insight. http://www.primeracapital.com/
Social Capital
Advances humanity by solving the world’s hardest problems. By harnessing technology to address core human needs, we aim to drive a bottom-up redistribution of power, capital and opportunity.
Social Impact Ventures/Propeller
Provides hands-on interim executive management and advisory services to social enterprises, corporations, investors and funders. Launching Propeller to accelerate black founders, entrepreneurs and business owners. Applies real world experience and operating and capital market expertise to businesses and revenue models we think have potential to scale and catalyze change. https://www.socialimpactventures.com/accelerator/
Treehouse Capital
Personal investment vehicle founded by Rob Majteles in 2000. Portfolio includes investments in private and public technology companies and in investment funds. http://treehousecapital.com/
University Ventures
Reimagining the future of higher education and creating new pathways from education to employment. Portfolio companies are making higher education more affordable, pioneering entirely new approaches to learning, and helping employers think differently about how and where they discover talent.
Unschackled Ventues
Helping immigrant founders and entrepenuers succeed faster. Provides funding, legal support, and advisory networks. http://www.unshackledvc.com/
Upfront Ventures
Personnel come from various backgrounds across technology sectors as entrepreneurs, operators, and investors. Invest in businesses that are technology led (Digital media, commerce technology and marketplaces, consumer goods and services, SAAS).
Vulcan Capital
Not limited by traditional deal structures, asset classes or holding periods. Instead, takes an entrepreneur-friendly approach and can invest in both private and public companies with a long term investment horizon.
