Top 19 Most Active VC Firms In Southern California

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Updated: January 17th, 2022

Are you looking for a VC firm for your Southern California-based startup?

According to Maple Council, the Southern California Innovation Ecosystem is rising rapidly.

Southern California is also an amazing region rich with assets and eager founders. The region is massive, with over 20 million consumers and an economy that ranks 5th largest economy globally with a GDP of over $3 Trillion.

According to Boston Consulting Group, Southern California has become a top destination for the next generation of tech innovators.

As the Southern California startup ecosystem matures, more funding is available through the growing number of VC firms targeting early-stage and growth-stage companies in southern California. The region is seeing an increase in educated talent available for hire.

There are a number of successful venture capital firms in Southern California and we've curated a list of the best local firms in the area. Additionally, we provide you with:

Investment size
Funding stages
Typical industries the firm works with
Well known companies the VC firm has invested in

Here's the list:

1. Greycroft Partners

Location: Sydney, New York, Los Angeles
Industries: Internet, eCommerce, enterprise software, cloud computing, financial technology, and advertising technology.
Investment Range: $100K - 20M
Stage: Seed Stage to Serie B
Companies invested in: The RealReal, Flutterwave, Bumble, Icertis, Lightricks, Bright health, Openpath, Venmo, Goop, SemRush, Buddy Media, Happiest baby, Maker Studio

Greycroft Partners is an early to Serie B stage VC firm.

The venture capitalist primarily focuses on Internet companies, and brings together a community of over 200 diverse teams, across 23 states and 15 countries, their main goal is redefining the Internet economy.

Greycroft Partners invest anywhere from $100K to 20M.

Learn more about Greycroft Partners ➜

2. Wavemaker Partners

Location: California, Singapore
Industries: AgTech, Business Intelligence, E-Commerce, FinTech
Investment Range: $200K - $7M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: 9 Degrees, Advance, Adatos

Wavemaker Partners is an early-stage VC firm that was founded in 2003, with offices in El Segundo and Singapore. The firm focuses on seed-stage companies and wants to help them grow and reach new heights.

They like to invest mostly in Technology areas and the investment range can go from $200K to $7M.

Learn more about Wavemaker Partners ➜

3. Upfront Ventures

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Industries: Technology, Software, AI, Consumer Products, Financial Services
Investment Range: $10M - $50M
Stage: Series A
Companies invested in: Invoca, Density, Bevy

Upfront Ventures' LA-based team usually invests nationally and also makes international investments at times.

The firm supports a company in its time of need by providing all essential capital along with expert advice to make them realize its goals.

Upfront Ventures typically invests around $10M to $50M in the portfolio companies.

Learn more about Upfront Ventures ➜

4. Connect

Location: San Diego
Industries: Technology, Life Sciences
Investment Range: $100K to $14M
Stage: Seed Stage, IPO
Companies invested in: Challenger, CommS, Drata

Connect is a network of capital funding that supports innovators and entrepreneurs by providing access to investors, mentors, and education.

It is a nonprofit company that focuses on helping entrepreneurs build great companies and together create a world-class innovation ecosystem.

The firm offers no-cost consulting and low-cost training to new and existing startup businesses.

They typically invest anywhere from $100K to $14M.

Learn more about Connect ➜

5. Qualcomm Ventures

Location: Israel, San Diego
Industries: Technology
Investment Range: $500K to $10M
Stage: Seed Stage, Series B
Companies invested in: Affirmed, Airspace, SiFive

Qualcomm Ventures is a San Diego-based VC firm that helps entrepreneurs build revolutionary businesses that reshape the world around us.

The firm supports female-founded early-stage technology companies by investing in their transformative technologies with full commitment.

Qualcomm Ventures focuses on making investments in startups developing next-generation technologies that will promote future growth for Qualcomm Inc. The firm currently has 140+ active companies in its portfolio and has generated significant financial returns.

They typically invest anywhere from $500K to $1M. They've even invested more than $500M in their partnering companies to date.

Learn more about Qualcomm Ventures ➜

6. Correlation Ventures

Location: San Diego
Industries: Technology, Food, Data Science, Health, Aerospace
Investment Range: $100K to $4M
Stage: Seed Stage, Series A
Companies invested in: Upstart, AI Foundation, Clyde

Correlation Ventures new-age venture capital firm that likes to invest in technology-based startups of talented entrepreneurs.

The firm has an efficient decision-making process for its partnering businesses. They make decisions in under two weeks as they know that for every startup, time is money. The company strives hard to find the right investors and partners for emerging businesses.

They typically invest anywhere from $100K to $4M.

Learn more about Correlation Ventures ➜

7. Pritzker Group Venture Capital

Location: Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA
Industries: Technology
Investment Range: $500K - $5M
Stage: Series A
Companies invested in: CleverSafe, Fleematics, Augury

Pritzker Group Venture Capital helps entrepreneurs achieve great success by making long-term investments in tech-oriented companies.

Their team has over 20 years of expertise in backing passionate entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to build their dream business.

The firm typically invests around $500K to $5M in their portfolio companies.

Learn more about Pritzker Group Venture Capital ➜

8. TVC Capital

Location: San Diego
Industries: Technology
Investment Range: $8M to $25M
Stage: Series A, Series C
Companies invested in: eVisit, Growflow, CreatorIQ

TVC Capital is a private equity firm that provides capital to technology-driven companies in San Diego.

Along with the capital, the firm also invests the time, energy, and expertise to help to scale the software businesses of its partners.

TVC focuses on providing growth-stage B2B software companies with the capital, resources, and guidance required to make them market leaders. Their goal is to accelerate growth, maximize value, and position for a profitable exit.

They typically invest anywhere from $8M to $25M.

Learn more about TVC Capital ➜

9. Arena Ventures

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Industries: Software
Investment Range: $500k - 1M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: unGlue, FoodWorks, Medely

Arena Ventures is an early-stage investor funding software-based company predominantly located in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.

They have a people-centric approach and believe in building great partnerships with their companies.

The firm's investment ranges from $500K to $1M for seed-stage startups.

Learn more about Arena Ventures ➜

10. ScOp Venture Capital

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Industries: Software
Investment Range: $1M - $5M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: CLIQ, Tovuti, HG Insights

ScOp Venture Capital provides early-stage software companies with capital and insightful business advice.

The firm looks forward to investing in products that can efficiently fill a primary consumer or business need.

ScOp's investment ranges anywhere from $1M to $5M at the initial stage.

Learn more about ScOp Venture Capital ➜

11. Alpha Edison

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Industries: AI,Data, Behavioral Science
Investment Range: $10M - $50M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: Aikon, Avibra, Brainbase

Alpha Edison partners with top-notch companies with ground-breaking ideas to build amazing technology platforms.

The firm helps founders make better decisions to scale their business and bring positive changes in the ever-changing tech field.

Their typical investments range from $10M - $50M.

Learn more about Alpha Edison ➜

12. Domain Associates

Location: San Diego
Industries: Healthcare
Investment Range: $10M to $50M
Stage: Series A, Series C
Companies invested in: ESP Pharma, Milestone, ChromaCode

Domain Associates is one of the oldest and leading VC firms in San Diego.

The firm focuses on investing in Biotech companies in the region. To date, they have led a large number of successful investments in Biotech and Health tech companies. They usually target Series A and later-stage companies for investments.

The general range of funding of Domain Associates is anywhere from $10M to $50M.

Learn more about Domain Associates ➜

13. Crosscut Ventures

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Industries: Technology, Digital Media, Clean energy, Commerce Platforms, Telehealth
Investment Range: Not disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: Teampay, Pacaso, Bosted Commerce

Crosscut Ventures, the largest early-stage VC firm in Los Angeles, partners with entrepreneurs to build fast-growing technology companies across the US.

They possess decades of experience in shaping the venture capital atmosphere and providing expert assistance and capital funding for the seed-stage founders.

This company is built by founders and serves founders to establish a scalable business in the tech industry.

Learn more about Crosscut Ventures ➜

14. Forward Ventures

Location: San Diego
Industries: Biotechnology
Investment Range: Not Disclosed
Stage: All Stages
Companies invested in: Syndax, Viracta, Nereus

Forward Ventures is a leading life science venture capital firm from San Diego.

The firm has a team of capable investment professionals with years of experience in entrepreneurship and funding. They have successfully invested in over 50 companies and currently have more than $500 million in capital under management. Forward Ventures’ program of life sciences and health care venture is currently investing in companies of all stages of development.

Learn more about Forward Ventures ➜

15. Mesa Verde Venture Partners

Location: San Diego
Industries: Life Sciences
Investment Range: Not Disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: CalciMedica, Equillium, Glycomine

Mesa Verde Venture Partners is an early-stage life science VC firm based in San Diego.

The firm focuses on creating partnerships with entrepreneurs to build successful companies. Their aim is to invest in a diversified portfolio of early-stage biomedical companies with a focus in San Diego and other traditionally underrepresented areas in life sciences venture capital. They provide capital to different biotech sectors including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, life science enabling tools, and digital health.

Learn more about Mesa Verde Venture Partners ➜

16. Tech Coast Angels

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Industries: Consumer, Life Sciences, Internet/Apps, CleanTech/Industrial, Software, ASN, Financial, Hardware
Investment Range: Not disclosed
Stage: Series A
Companies invested in: Abintus Bio, Advekit, Alpin

Tech Coast Angels (TCA) seek to invest in exceptional startups in the US and Canada however is focused on funding entrepreneurs located in California.

TCA has a great team comprising of 425 members along with three angel funds that look for companies with a smart and innovative solution to a problem and a sustainable approach.

Other than providing funds, they also bring knowledge, connections, and operational guidance for the entrepreneurs.

Learn more about Tech Coast Angels ➜

17. Torrey Pines Investment

Location: San Diego
Industries: Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical
Investment Range: Not Disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage, Series A
Companies invested in: Vaxxas, GITR, Avineuro

Torrey Pines Investment company has a team of investment professionals with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, venture capital, and operations.

The firm's successful biopharma incubators focuses on investing in early development stage assets from international pharma and biotech partners in CNS, oncology, and virology areas to bring them to commercial success.

Their goal is to help their partnering companies achieve growth, build value, and realize wealth.

Learn more about Torrey Pines Investment ➜

18. Shepherd Ventures

Location: San Diego
Industries: Technology, Life Sciences
Investment Range: Not Disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage, Series C
Companies invested in: Andigilog, Lucix, CEYX Technologies

Shepherd Ventures invests in information technology and life sciences companies.

The firm has passionate and experienced management teams and they only focus on generating significant capital appreciation through a balanced portfolio of early and later-stage equity investments in carefully selected shepherded growth companies.

The Managing Directors, Venture Partners, and Advisors of the firm are industry leaders who have extensive experience operating, guiding, and investing in information technology and life sciences companies in the region.

Learn more about Shepherd Ventures ➜

19. Third Wave Digital

Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York
Industries: Digital Media Technology
Investment Range: Not Disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: 88Rising, Air Media, Battlefy, Canvas, CreatorIQ, DanceOn, Drone Racing League, FameBit.

Third Wave Digital provides startup capital to exceptional early-stage companies focusing on digital media and technology. The VC firm is committed to helping innovative companies develop to become the major media companies of the future.

Learn more about Third Wave Digital ➜

Conclusion

Southern California is a top global and national innovation hub. The region ranks among the top startup ecosystems in the US.

Besides, the State of California is home to 53 fortune 500 companies.

Therefore, the region is an attractive destination for founders. If you are seeking funding, consider the top 19 VC firms listed above.

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meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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