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Investor directory

Pre-seed and seed investors in the Bay Area: who writes first checks.

Of the Bay Area venture firms in our research, 70 say they invest at pre-seed or seed (35 name pre-seed specifically), from programs such as Y Combinator to specialist pre-seed investors like Hustle Fund and Precursor Ventures and multi-stage firms that also write first checks.

Bay Area pre-seed and seed investors

70 firms in this view

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Accelerators, studios and programs (2)

Accelerators, startup studios and other structured programs that invest at the start, often alongside mentoring or a cohort.

Pre-seed and seed (51)

Firms that say they write first checks. Some also lead or join Series A rounds.

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Multi-stage and growth (17)

Firms that invest across stages or in later rounds, from early checks through growth.

How to use this list

Two cautions before you start. A stage label means a firm says it invests at that stage, not that it is taking pitches this month. And “seed” covers very different rounds: the published checks below run from $150,000 to $25 million. Knowing which kind of first check you need is most of the work.

  • Match the stage and the size. A firm whose first checks start at $3 million is not the right first call for a $500,000 round.
  • Know who leads. Some firms lead rounds; others join once someone else has. If you have no lead yet, start with firms that say they lead.
  • Read what the firm backs, in its own words, before relying on our sector labels.
  • Check how it wants to hear from you. Some run applications or programs; many prefer an introduction. The firm's own site is the source.

Pre-seed vs seed: what the labels usually mean

There are no official definitions, and firms use the words differently. In general, pre-seed funding is the first outside money in a company, often before there is a product or revenue. Seed funding usually follows, to take a product toward the market and find the customers who will pay for it. Many early rounds are raised on SAFEs (simple agreements for future equity), the instrument Y Combinator uses in its standard deal.

The practical difference is what investors expect to see. A pre-seed investor is often backing the founders and the problem; a seed investor usually wants early evidence that the product works for someone.

Published check sizes

Most firms do not publish a check size. These do, on their own sites, as of September 13, 2026. A published range is the firm's description of a typical check, not an offer.

Check sizes published by Bay Area pre-seed and seed firms (checked September 13, 2026)
FirmWhat it publishes
Hustle Fund$150K in very early pre-seed software startups
Y Combinator$500,000 standard deal: $125,000 for 7% on a post-money SAFE, plus $375,000 on an uncapped MFN SAFE
Afore Capital$500K to $2M-plus in pre-traction companies
Vertex Ventures US$500K to $10M, leading or co-leading seed and Series A rounds
HaystackTypically $1M to $3M in initial rounds, leading or participating
Electric Capital$1M to $15M-plus, from pre-seed to Series A
Conviction$1M to $25M, at seed and Series A
Root VenturesInitial investments typically $3M to $5M, usually leading

How we built this list

We group firms by their stated investment focus and the research classifications in this directory. A category match is a reason to investigate, not evidence that a firm will invest. Current terms and contact instructions belong on the firm's own website.

This list is every Bay Area firm in our research with a pre-seed or seed label, taken from its own description. Each record lists the pages we checked for it and when.

Before you reach out

Investors at this stage are mostly judging the founders and the problem, so the preparation that matters is a clear account of what you are building, for whom, and what you have learned so far. If something here is out of date, use Suggest a correction on the firm's row.

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Frequently asked questions

What is seed funding?

Seed funding is an early round of investment that usually takes a product toward the market and helps a company find the customers who will pay for it. It typically follows pre-seed funding and comes before a Series A. There is no official definition, and firms use the term differently.

What is pre-seed funding?

Pre-seed funding is the first outside money in a company, often before there is a product or revenue. Investors at this stage are usually backing the founders and the problem. Many pre-seed rounds are raised on SAFEs, simple agreements for future equity.

What is the difference between pre-seed and seed?

Pre-seed usually funds the earliest work, often before a product exists; seed usually funds taking a working product to market. Round sizes vary widely: among the Bay Area firms that publish check sizes, first checks run from $150,000 to $25 million.

How do you get pre-seed funding?

Start with investors who say they invest at pre-seed in your area, and read how each wants to hear from founders: some run applications or programs, such as Y Combinator, and many prefer an introduction. Bring a clear account of what you are building, for whom, and what you have learned so far.

Are these pre-seed investors taking pitches now?

Not necessarily. A pre-seed or seed label means the firm says it invests at that stage. Whether it is investing now, and how it wants to be contacted, is on the firm's own website.

Sources

Checked September 13, 2026. Check sizes are each firm's own published description, not an offer. Each firm's profile lists the pages we checked for it. This is information, not investment or fundraising advice.

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