[ParamParticipant Points: 10]

As the first post of this category, I’d love to name some of the best early stage VC firms that you can contact for funding. Capital is very important once you’ve set your goals right, start with your business and things start moving. You can contact any of the VC firms as per your business industry and stage.

1. Andreessen Horowitz, Menlo Park, Calif
Industries: Consumer products and services, software

2. Khosla Ventures, Menlo Park, Calif.
Industry: Software

3. SV Angel, Palo Alto, Calif.
Industries: Commercial services, software

4. Accel Partners, Palo Alto, Calif.
Industries: Communications and networking, consumer durables, healthcare technology systems, media, software

5. Sequoia Capital, Menlo Park, Calif.
Industries: Commercial services, communications and networking, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, restaurants, hotels and leisure, semiconductors, software

6. First Round Capital, San Francisco
Industries: Commercial services, software

7. Franklin Square Capital Partners, Philadelphia
Industries: Apparel and accessories, commercial products energy services, utilities

8. Founders Fund, San Francisco
Industries: Commercial services, media, financial services, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, software

9. Thrive Capital, New York City
Industries: Consumer non-durables, software

10. Redpoint Ventures, Menlo Park, Calif.
Industries: Commercial services, communications and networking, retail, software

It’s always best to do your homework before approaching these firms and have a runway for your project for atleast 6 months. Hope this helps. I’ll be sharing some more Angel and Seed Investors in my next post. In case of any questions, you can contact me. Cheers

[MatthewKeymaster Points: 355]

Great List! It is always a good idea to have a business plan in place, showing your ideas, how you are going to accomplish your idea, and the financial breakdown before approaching a firm to gain capital. Another great resource for beginning a business plan or looking for funding for your new startup is https://www.sba.gov/

[SusanParticipant Points: 220]

Great suggestions. Venture capital can be extremely beneficial, as it can often mean “make it or break it” for new and / or growing businesses. Prior to deciding on the VC firm (or firms) to work with, it is important to make sure that they can not just provide you with necessary funding, but also that they are someone you will enjoy working with. This is because in many cases, venture capitalists will take an active role in the operation of your business (as well as taking an equity stake), too. So, in addition to knowing that they are a viable funding source, make sure that they are also focused on (or at least have a deep understanding of) the industry that your company is in, and that they are someone that you will enjoy working with either on a part-time or a full-time basis.

[MatthewKeymaster Points: 355]

Definitely great points here by Susan. This is much more than just an investment for funds. They are as close to being a business partner as you can get without having a business partner that is just a friend you know or are related to. The working environment can also play a huge role on whether a business is success past their startup point. While the “boss” runs the face of the business and is often in the role of acquiring new clients. Employees often hold key points in the business’s “gears” and everyday operations. Creating a good working environment is key and can often lead to a booming business!

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