26 Pre-Seed VCs to Pitch in 2026
Posted by: AJ Smith
Posted on 01/14/2026
Posted by: AJ Smith
Posted on 01/14/2026
In 2026, startups are building and deploying faster than ever. Founders move from idea to MVP in weeks by leveraging cloud-native infrastructure, open-source frameworks, and AI-assisted development. Small technical teams now engage real customers and validate demand far earlier in a company’s lifecycle.
This acceleration has changed what it means to raise pre-seed capital. With a compressed “0 to 1” timeline, early decisions matter more, and the choice of a pre-seed partner can shape a company’s trajectory. It’s not enough to be writing checks; founders look for VC partners who bring judgement, pattern recognition, and domain expertise.
At Outlander VC, we’ve been investing in idea-phase founders for over 15 years. Along the way, we’ve worked alongside talented pre-seed VCs–actual pre-seed VCs–who are backing founders at the earliest stage and partnering for the long haul.
Here’s a list of 26 pre-seed VCs that you should know in 2026.
Outlander VC is laser-focused on the one factor that drives startup success–the founder. After more than 15 years of investing, our team has backed over eighteen unicorns as a lead or early investor, including Scale, Lyft, Gusto, Wish, HavocAI, and more.
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $500K – $2.5M
Focus: Generalist; Software, AI/ML, Robotics & Autonomy, Industrial Tech, Defense
Website: https://outlander.vc/
Manufacturing and industrial automation–focused investors backing AI-driven production systems and smart factory technologies, with a specialization in vertical SaaS platforms that apply AI to industrial use cases.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$400K
Focus: AI-Driven Production, Vertical SaaS, Smart Factory Tech
Notable Investments: Melrose, Aurelius, Pet’s Table
Website: https://640oxford.com/
Apply: Contact form on their website
Highly active, residency-focused accelerator with a growing US presence in New York City, San Francisco, and Austin.
Stage: Pre-seed, Inception
Check Size: <$500K
Focus: Generalist
Highlighted Investments: Airalo, Lovable
Website: https://www.antler.co/
Early-stage venture capital firm that backs pre-seed and seed companies—especially product-led founders and “technical storytellers”—across work, play, and future-facing tech in the U.S., with quick, transparent decision making.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K
Focus: SaaS, Hardware, Applied AI
Highlighted Investments: Maneva, Statusphere
Website: https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/
A hybrid venture capital firm and startup studio that has been building and investing in startups since 2008, with a knack for backing transformative internet infrastructure (e.g. Hugging Face). Currently accepting applications for AI camp.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$750K
Focus: AI/ML, Web3, Decentralization
Highlighted Investments: Airbnb, Kickstarter, Tumblr
Website: https://www.betaworks.com/
Inception-stage investors focused on accelerating technology adoption in the backbone industries of the economy, with a strong orientation toward Pacific Northwest founders while remaining broadly US and Canada agnostic.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K-1M
Focus: SaaS, Fintech, Real Economy
Highlighted Investments: Myriad, Empirium
Website: https://www.breakwater.vc/
Early-stage investor specializing in deep tech and frontier tech pre-seed deals, averaging one deal per week.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $500K
Focus: Deep Tech
Highlighted Investments: Coinbase, Volley
Website: https://www.boost.vc/
Operator-led venture fund that pairs capital with operational support, investing in companies that reshape how people live and business thrive.
Stage: Pre-Seed and Seed
Check Size: $500K
Focus: Consumer Tech, Health Tech, Connected Hardware & Robotics
Highlighted Investments: Peloton, Ro
Website: https://www.cadeventure.com/
Inception-stage investors who pair early conviction with a 1000+ member community of founders and operators through the Comma Collective as a core part of their value-add.
Stage: Pre-Seed and Seed
Check Size: $250-500K
Focus: SaaS, AI/ML, Dev Tools, Fintech, Digital Health
Highlighted Investments: Convoke
Website: https://comma.vc/
Inception-stage firm partnering with exceptional students solving real-world problems.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $50K–$250K
Focus: Impact (e.g. Climate, Accessible Healthcare, Economic Mobility)
Highlighted Investments: General Galactic, Mobius Industries
Website: https://www.critical.vc/
Industry-and-geography-agnostic investors, renowned for a founder-friendly 6-day decision process. Investing out of Fund III with over $200M in committed capital.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $200K–$1M
Focus: AI/ML, All Technology Sectors, Data-Driven Companies
Highlighted Investments: STRATxAI, GigEasy, Paratus Health
Website: https://www.goaheadvc.com/
A diversity-focused pre-seed fund backing underrepresented founders, with increasing activity in AI/ML and a reputation for founder-friendly processes and fast decision-making.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $50K-$750K (Sweet Spot $150K)
Focus: AI/ML, FinTech, Healthcare
Highlighted Investments: Webflow, NerdWallet, Branch
Website: https://www.hustlefund.vc/
Ultra-selective fund known for early investments in transformative companies like OpenAI, Slack, and Airbnb. They focus on enterprise applications and AI/ML solutions, requiring warm introductions to gain an audience.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $100K-$750K (Sweet Spot $400K)
Focus: AI/ML, Healthcare, SaaS, Enterprise Applications
Highlighted Investments: OpenAI, Slack, Lyft
Website: https://www.k9ventures.com/
Early-stage venture firm based in Chicago, investing solely in tech startups headquartered in the Midwest.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K-$1M
Focus: AI/ML, HealthTech, FinTech, Vertical SaaS
Highlighted Investments: Astronomer, Arrellio, Prediction Guard
Website: https://www.m25vc.com/
Early stage investors backing Gen Z founders as early as inception.
Stage: Pre-Seed and Seed
Check Size: $100-150K
Focus: Generalist, AI/ML, Data
Highlighted Investments: Mercor
Website: https://www.neweraventures.com/
High-frequency investors backing students in US universities.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $50K
Focus: Generalist
Highlighted Investments: Hardshell, Vala
Website: https://notyet.vc/
Pre-seed fund investing in software and AI/ML, focused on helping technical founders develop as B2B sales leaders.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $250K–$500K
Focus: SaaS, Enterprise, AI/ML
Highlighted Investments: EcoMap, ResultID
Website: https://www.paxmv.vc/
Apply: Pitch Us form
Pre-seed and seed investors backing community-building companies in software industries.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $100-250K
Focus: SaaS, Enterprise, Consumer, AI/ML
Highlighted Investments: Clay, Superpower
Website: https://www.parkrangerscap.com/
High-volume pre-seed fund known for backing underrepresented founders, leading first institutional rounds across B2B and B2C software with a strong emphasis on diverse founding teams.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$500K
Focus: B2B Software, B2C Software, Connected Hardware
Highlighted Investments: The Athletic, Bobbie, Carrot Fertility, Modern Health, Clearco
Website: https://precursorvc.com/
Specialists in emerging technology; invests with “scout checks” at earliest stages and leads early-stage rounds.
Stage: Pre-Seed and Seed
Check Size: Up to $1M
Focus: Software, AI/ML, Consumer, Fin Tech, Blockchain
Highlighted Investments: Exowatt, Momentum Labs
Website: https://www.protagonist.co/
Founder-friendly VC that prioritizes the resilience of entrepreneurs over pedigree.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$500K
Focus: Generalist
Highlighted Investments: dScribeAI, Trially
Website: https://redbud.vc/
Generalist fund investing in transformative and overlooked founders–not the trendy.
Stage: Pre-Seed and Seed
Check Size: $250-500K
Focus: Generalist
Notable Investments: Arden, Milkify
Website: https://www.southloop.vc
Early-stage investors backing emerging categories with decades-long horizons.
Stage: Pre-Seed and Seed
Check Size: $250-500K
Focus: Fintech, Vertical Software, Applied AI
Notable Investments: Beehiiv, Windsor
Website: https://www.spicecapital.xyz/
Investing in the earliest of pre-seed startups and unafraid of rolling up their sleeves. Untapped looks for founders outside of typical networks.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $100K–$250K
Focus: AI/ML, Emerging Tech
Notable Investments: General Intelligence Company, Woz
Website: https://untapped.vc/
Early-stage investors backing ideas making physical industries more profitable, efficient, and resilient.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $100K–$750K
Focus: Energy, Mobility, Manufacturing
Notable Investments: Actual, Futureproof
Website: https://www.virtaventures.co/
Wischoff Ventures invests in relentless early stage, high growth technology companies.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $500K–$1M
Focus: Legacy Industries
Notable Investments: Checkmate
Website: https://www.wischoff.com
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