Best Seed Developer Tools & Infrastructure + Marketing & Adtech Investors 2026

Play Ventures invests globally at pre-seed to Series A in game studios, playable consumer apps, and B2B/AI infrastructure and services that help games and consumer apps acquire, retain, and monetize users.

Partner with B2B AI founders by functioning as fractional COO and go-to-market architect. Scale your AI startup by putting humans first. Combine AI capabilities with operational excellence and proven go-to-market strategy.

AI and data science can dramatically improve venture capital decision-making. We use proprietary software to discover, evaluate, and support the most promising European startups while providing hands-on operational support.

Storm Ventures backs early-stage B2B enterprise software companies with a focus on AI-native applications, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure. They employ a 'paddling to surfing' growth methodology and have deep expertise in taking companies from inception to $100M+ ARR. Their philosophy: 'the interface layer will disappear. The infrastructure layer will compound.'

Illuminate backs B2B/enterprise software founders building platforms and applications that leverage data and AI to quickly drive meaningful ROI, positioning itself as a startup's first institutional investor between angel capital and traditional VC.

Founders from Australia/NZ, Israel, and Southeast Asia will shape the future of global technology. We prioritize people above all else, backing entrepreneurs with compelling visions who assemble talented, mission-driven teams to tackle large, important problems, and back them repeatedly over time.

TheGP deploys experienced builders alongside capital to help founders achieve product-market fit faster. The firm's 25+ full-time builders—engineers, recruiters, designers, sales leaders—embed in portfolio companies for an average of nine months, earning equity grants tied to milestone delivery. This 'sweat equity' model creates deeper alignment than capital-only VC and is applied across Formation ($1-5M) and Breakout ($5-15M+) stages.

Artificial Intelligence will disrupt every industry. Flying Fish invests in companies where AI/ML serves as foundational technology across three pillars: Applied Intelligence (AI transforming enterprise workflows), Foundational AI & Infrastructure (core ML tooling and training), and Hard Sciences (AI accelerating biology, materials science, and drug discovery).

Exceptional entrepreneurs with clear thinking and strong execution capability, backed by operational mentorship and management discipline. We invest in founders who value learning and can benefit from hands-on advisory support rooted in operating experience.

We invest in bold technical founders building the autonomous enterprise. Before you build your team, before you write your first line of code—that's when boldstart gets to work. We collaborate with technical founders at Inception, lead pre-product rounds, and help turn bold ideas into category-creating companies.

Diverse industry experience enables superior pattern recognition about which founders can succeed. Operational support from founders-turned-investors is more valuable than just capital. Markets have seasons - breakthrough companies can emerge from unexpected places.

Ideas are meaningless. Validated ideas are priceless. We invest in differentiated B2B and B2B2C companies with real product-market fit. We look for founders who can cold call a customer at 9 PM and get them excited in one sentence. We like weird ideas that create new categories.

Partner with exceptional teams building transformative technology companies across all stages

Founders backing founders. Flex Capital backs exceptional technical founders at pre-seed and seed with capital from operators who have personally built and exited category-defining companies. Every GP has sat in the founder's seat.

Network-powered startups connecting people and businesses through software tools and platforms

Partner with visionary European founders at seed and Series A, leveraging the team's own operator experience and a network of 150+ international co-investors. Sector agnostic (excluding life sciences and crypto) with ~50 companies per fund. Strong focus on capital efficiency, unit economics, and realistic paths to profitability. Co-investor by default; will lead when it adds value.

We identify exceptional operators with proven track records at scale (ex-Facebook, Google, Stripe) and catalyze their transition into founders. Periods of rapid societal behavior change spur dramatic innovation. We invest in the future of work and consumer utility, providing not just capital but operational expertise, network access, and proven playbooks from building at Facebook/Meta scale.

Human-scale venture capital focused on early-stage enterprise software. Partner with great teams in love with big problems at the inflection point of customer validation, providing smart money, storytelling support, and the right connections through a network of 20+ accomplished Northeast entrepreneurs.

Hilariously early pre-seed/seed investing. We back hustlers at concept stage—fast, scrappy, first-principles founders who act before market consensus.

Backing seed-stage, tech- and data-driven B2B software companies across Europe with global ambition. Focus on Agility Drivers (verticalized, consumerized, XaaS solutions) and Seductive Solutions with genuine product-market fit. Invest in AI-first and AI-enabled businesses as well as frontier tech (BioIT, Space, DLT, Quantum Computing).

Emerging tech and AI are changing the commerce landscape. We power the future of commerce by investing in cutting-edge enablement technologies that support retailers, brands, creators, and manufacturers serving Black and Latinx founders and consumers. We pair platform investments with CPG investments with explicit racial equity mandate.

ISAI identifies capital-efficient French tech startups early—often as the first VC—backing SaaS and marketplace models with progressive ambition, blue ocean positioning, and category-leader potential. Increasingly an AI-focused investor using it as an enabling lens across all verticals. Their edge: a community of 500+ tech entrepreneur-LPs who open doors, advise, and validate.

Repeat and high-performing technical founders build faster when every non-essential decision is subtracted from their lives. HF0 runs a fully-serviced 12-week residency in San Francisco, writing an uncapped $1M SAFE for 5% equity, then continues investing alongside syndicate partners through follow-on rounds.

Thesis-driven firm backing software companies that turn technology discontinuities into durable go-to-market advantages. Core focus: The Decade of Data — AI-native enterprise software, modern data stack evolution, and web3 data infrastructure.

Low volume, high conviction early-stage investing in 10 thematic areas where vertical AI is reshaping regulated, complex industries: healthcare, fintech, capital markets, industrial operations, security, and government. Back strongly opinionated founders building category-defining companies with direct operator support from a team with deep fintech and growth scaling experience.

Non-dilutive growth capital for B2B software companies. Alternative to venture capital focused on sustainable, capital-efficient growth that preserves founder equity and optionality. Fills gap between traditional bank lending and venture financing.

Mercury backs disruptive AI and Blockchain-enabled startups outside Silicon Valley, with a focus on capital-efficient founders in the Central US reimagining core industries including fintech, enterprise software, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and logistics through their five investment themes: Work, Build, Journeys, Data, and Power.

Back ambitious and unique technology startups as early as possible — ideally from day one. High volume, small checks (~€200-250K), primarily European pre-seed and seed. No board seats, no round leadership. Value-add through a 900+ founder community.

Invest in the future of software built on AI. We partner with technical founders to provide capital, unfair shortcuts, and operational support to accelerate their learning and help them reach their potential. We position ourselves as the first institutional investor for v0.9 stage founders.

Story invests in the building blocks of automated systems across three interconnected layers: sensory systems (data capture), data processing (organization and structure), and machine intelligence (applications and decision-making). We believe the most impactful problems require the most innovative solutions, and we partner with founders pursuing audacious, challenging businesses because that's what it takes to create lasting impact.

Companyon backs a small number of capital-efficient, founder-led B2B software companies at the seed-to-Series-A transition and pairs capital with hands-on GTM, talent, and fundraising support.

Beginnings matter. We work with founders exclusively at the earliest stages of company building, often when all they have is an 'imagine if.' We look for compelling and contrarian insights into how the world works—what do you understand about a market that others miss? Our role is to accelerate the path from idea to product-market fit through embedded partnership.

Backs early-stage B2B founders building vertical AI solutions that automate administrative and operational workflows in underserved industries. Focuses on seed-stage companies with strong founder-market fit and clear unit economics.

Make human and technological potential actual. Eudemian invests in early-stage US software startups with demonstrated product-market fit and breakout traction, backed by mission-driven founders who tackle large markets solving vexing pain points. Rooted in the Greek philosophy of Eudaimonia, the firm believes in actualizing potential through long-term founder partnerships.

Partner with exceptional founders solving hard technical problems in fintech, AI, and science that require intense curiosity, intellectual depth, and scientific innovation. Focus on defensibility through hard technical feats, network effects, and solutions in complex, highly regulated industries.

Patient, collaborative, and disciplined capital for builders who think in decades. Aims to be the first institutional partner to entrepreneurs building large, ethically strong companies.

Sierra believes enterprise software is being fundamentally transformed by cloud computing and AI. They invest in technical founders building the next generation of enterprise solutions that deliver superior ROI through better efficiency, automation, and capability. The firm particularly focuses on infrastructure, security, healthcare innovation, and emerging deep tech.

NYC has tremendous entrepreneurial talent but lacked a structured environment for early-stage founders. ERA provides capital, intense mentorship, and network access to help founders build market-leading companies. Every sector deserves innovation.

Champions exceptional founders to build lasting companies through experience, community, and capital. Generalist technology investor whose edge is network depth — Joe Montana's unmatched rolodex and 800+ portfolio company network enables introductions that most seed funds cannot provide.

We back disruptive founders building category-defining companies. Our approach is founder-first, long-term, and deeply operational. We take the longest view in the room, operate with excellence and integrity, stay curious at the bleeding edge, and invest heavily in building community.

Data is the defensible moat in technology. We invest in companies that build proprietary data assets, analytics capabilities, or machine learning advantages to dominate their categories. Founded on 'information arbitrage' thesis - applying hedge fund quantitative discipline to early-stage venture.

We invest at the Bridge-to-Series A stage—the critical inflection point for companies with real market adoption and product-market fit that are not yet ready for traditional Series A rounds. We partner with exceptional entrepreneurs to build game-changing companies while maximizing investor flexibility and returns.

The hardest thing in seed is finding product-market fit. We help you find it. If you already have product-market fit, we will help you scale. We partner with exceptionally ambitious founders for the long run and provide capital combined with operational expertise through our 100+ member Product Council.

Inception-stage VC backing experienced founders building B2B autonomous agentic AI from day zero. Leverages Salesforce alumni network to provide portfolio companies with enterprise distribution and operational support.

Believe in innovation, risk-taking, and young talent. Best entrepreneurs are rare and precious. Provide quick capital, friendly terms, genuine commitment. Help but don't complicate. Monthly founder support.

Back the brightest early-stage founders under 30. We provide capital, mentorship, and network access to accelerate ambitious young entrepreneurs who graduate from our League of Innovators program or demonstrate exceptional founder quality.

Data and technology combined with sector expertise and operational support unlock unfair advantages for early-stage startups. We build venture capital like a tech company.

We partner with gritty and determined entrepreneurs leveraging emerging technologies to create or disrupt huge markets. We invest in people first, second, and third—founders with passion, obsession, and vision. Only partners with founders when we believe their company alone can return our entire fund or more.

We back visionary technology founders in the Nordic region driven by disruptive forces. Our thesis centers on three areas: New Experiences (gaming, new media, health tech), Platform Technologies (developer tools, infrastructure, fintech, IoT, machine intelligence), and Smarter Workplaces (productivity, developer tools, digital workplaces). As founders and operators ourselves, we bring hands-on operational mentorship to help mitigate risks and navigate building at scale.

Partner with extraordinary founders building the next generation of iconic Latin American technology companies. Invest in any tech-enabled sector where innovation can drive significant disruption. Bring not just capital but deep operational expertise as former MercadoLibre executives and entrepreneurs.

Back ambitious teams with strong learning and execution capacities across all sectors, stages, and geographies. Technology-enabled businesses preferred. Volume-based, founder-centric investment philosophy.

We invest in world-class founders solving significant problems. We prioritize founder quality, founder-problem fit, and values-aligned partnerships. We help exceptional founders become category leaders early, before they become obvious trends.

Array Ventures leads $250K-$2.5M first institutional checks for technical founders building enterprise data, AI infrastructure, security, and developer tools, partnering from Day 0 (concept) through Series A. Solo GP Shruti Gandhi, an AI engineer and Columbia University CS professor, has been the first investor in 100+ companies with 15 realized exits.

First-check VC backing Baltic founders (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) at inception and pre-seed stages, with a strong focus on AI-first software. Backs founders who don't fit traditional VC criteria—no FAANG background or Ivy League degree required. Seeks undervalued talent before mainstream investor recognition.

At the intersection of generational talent and transformative artificial intelligence. Evantic backs exceptional founders building AI-first B2B software, infrastructure, and platform businesses with the potential to become global market leaders.

Mucker Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in technology companies from pre-seed through Series B. We partner closely with founders building scalable businesses, often providing a company’s first institutional check and continuing to support them through later stages. Mucker has offices in Venice, California, Austin, and Toronto, and primarily invests across the United States and Canada, with the ability to back exceptional founders in other markets.

Product-obsessed investing in consumer tech, prosumer software, and SMB applications. We back founders based on product quality and user value, not credentials or background.

Entrepreneurs by heart, investors by choice: 3VC partners with regional talent across DACH, CEE, the Baltics, and Southern Europe showing early signs of product-market fit and customer love, and helps them become global category leaders.

Serious founders building must-have technology for mission-critical industries. We focus on B2B software companies digitizing legacy industries and transforming established workflows. Specializing in seed-stage, where hands-on operational support, sales acceleration, and capital strategy matter most.

Backs founders who are chasing after their life cause and building companies with global ambition, screening on Character, Competency, and Chemistry rather than a fixed sector thesis. Commits at least 70% of the fund to WA-founded or WA-operated companies.

Visionary founders are the true catalysts of transformation and progress. We partner with exceptional founders at the seed stage to help them build extraordinary companies through intensive operational support, structured tools, and candid guidance.

Enterprise Agentic AI is the Operating System of the future Enterprise. We back Indian founders building IP-led, autonomous-execution AI products for global enterprise markets, pairing capital with hands-on operator support.

Category creating companies with few to no competitors, defensible business models, and unit economics that are starting to work. Invest across all technology sectors except healthcare. Require 50x return potential. Primary value-add is helping raise Series A from the best possible investor.

Partner with exceptional founders to build rocketships, focusing on enterprise, B2B, and fintech categories, with capital, strategic insight, and network access.

In AI, the team is the only thing that compounds. Models change monthly and defensibility stories written before the first customer are guesses in a suit; what's legible early is how fast a team learns. We underwrite ambition, agency, and rate of learning.

Culture-Tech companies that disrupt and define how we live, work, play, and interact with the world every day. We invest in passionate founders building transformative products that change cultural behaviors.

Great startups can be built anywhere. We believe in founder-centric investing with operational support from a team of successful founders. We serve undernetworked geographic regions.

Praetura backs ambitious northern founders building software, health, life sciences, fintech, cybersecurity, robotics, and other high-growth businesses where operator support and regional conviction matter. The firm positions itself as a more-than-money investor and emphasizes practical support from experienced operators, not just capital.

Operator-led fund investing in ambitious founders building transformative AI applications. We partner with technical founders who understand AI/ML deeply and are solving real customer problems with capital efficiency. Great product is always the best marketing.