# Pre-seed investors (2026 list)

> 2,186 pre-seed investors, 85% active in the last 12 months. Led by Y Combinator, Techstars, 500 Global. Ranked by what they funded.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/lists/pre-seed-investors (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Investor Lists](https://millionrounds.com/lists)

# Pre-seed investors

Updated 7 November 2026

Firms we have watched take part in a pre-seed round in the last two years. Stage here is what they did, not what they say they do.

[See all 2,186 *→*](https://millionrounds.com/login?join=1&next=%2Fapp%2Finvestor-lists%2Fpre-seed-investors)The top 25

**2,186** investors on the list *+74* this week

**20,231** cheques in 12 months *-14%* against the market

**$3.5M** median round they joined *-56%* against the market median

**85%** wrote a cheque in 12 months

**38%** have led a round

## The Top 25

Ordered by cheques observed, never by anything anyone paid for

Deploying now (25)

- 1 [Y Combinator](https://millionrounds.com/fund/y-combinator) *Deploying now* Accelerator · United States **6,412** **$3M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 2 [Techstars](https://millionrounds.com/fund/techstars) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **2,989** **$1.2M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 3 [500 Global](https://millionrounds.com/fund/500-startups) *Deploying now* Angel · United States **2,140** **$3.6M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 4 [Sequoia Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/sequoia-capital) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **2,099** **$35M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 5 [National Science Foundation](https://millionrounds.com/fund/nsf-small-business-innovation-research-small-business-techno) *Deploying now* Government · United States **1,869** **$926K** median round **Sept 2026** last seen
- 6 [Andreessen Horowitz](https://millionrounds.com/fund/andreessen-horowitz) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,661** **$27M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 7 [Alumni Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/us-strategic-tech-fund-an-alumni-ventures-fund) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,598** **$12M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 8 [Plug and Play](https://millionrounds.com/fund/plug-and-play) *Deploying now* Accelerator · United States **1,561** **$5M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 9 [General Catalyst](https://millionrounds.com/fund/general-catalyst) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,387** **$27M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 10 [SV Angel](https://millionrounds.com/fund/sv-angel) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,349** **$18M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 11 [Accel](https://millionrounds.com/fund/accel) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,341** **$32M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 12 [Lightspeed Venture Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/lightspeed-venture-partners) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,341** **$35M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 13 [Wayra](https://millionrounds.com/fund/wayra) *Deploying now* Corporate VC · Germany **1,160** **$2M** median round **Sept 2026** last seen
- 14 [Bpifrance](https://millionrounds.com/fund/bpifrance) *Deploying now* Government · France **1,151** **$4.5M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 15 [Khosla Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/khosla-ventures) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,128** **$26M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 16 [Intel Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/intel-capital) *Deploying now* Corporate VC · United States **1,123** **$22M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 17 [Founders Fund](https://millionrounds.com/fund/founders-fund) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,122** **$15M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 18 [Bessemer Venture Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/bessemer-venture-partners) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,038** **$30M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 19 [Index Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/index-ventures) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **1,027** **$31M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 20 [Gaingels](https://millionrounds.com/fund/gaingels) *Deploying now* Private equity · United States **1,010** **$8M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 21 [MassChallenge](https://millionrounds.com/fund/masschallenge) *Deploying now* Accelerator · United States **984** **$1.8M** median round **Sept 2026** last seen
- 22 [SOSV](https://millionrounds.com/fund/sosv) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **951** **$2.5M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 23 [EIC Accelerator](https://millionrounds.com/fund/eic-accelerator) *Deploying now* Government · European Union **875** **$4.3M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 24 [Kima Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/kima-ventures) *Deploying now* VC firm · France **859** **$4.2M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 25 [FJ Labs](https://millionrounds.com/fund/fj-labs) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **849** **$11M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen

**2,161 more on this list**

All 2,186 are in the app, with filters for stage, sector and market. A free account shows 10 per search, Pro up to 1,000.

[See the whole list *→*](https://millionrounds.com/login?join=1&next=%2Fapp%2Finvestor-lists%2Fpre-seed-investors)

## The Newest Cheques

Rounds this list's investors joined most recently

- **7** Nov **[LionBio Therapeutics](https://millionrounds.com/company/lionbio-therapeutics)** Pre-seed · $6M *With* [South Park Commons](https://millionrounds.com/fund/south-park-commons)
- **6** Nov **[Water Ledger Global](https://millionrounds.com/company/water-ledger-global)** Other *With* [Launch Africa](https://millionrounds.com/fund/launch-africa-ventures)
- **6** Nov **[Foozi](https://millionrounds.com/company/foozi)** Pre-seed · $1M *Led by* [Quartzo Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/quartzo-capital)
- **6** Nov **[Vensum Power](https://millionrounds.com/company/vensum-power)** Series A · $10M *Led by* [Lifeline Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/lifeline-ventures)
- **6** Nov **[Physicl](https://millionrounds.com/company/physicl)** Seed · $10M *Led by* [Inovia Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/inovia-capital)
- **6** Nov **[Future Secure AI](https://millionrounds.com/company/future-secure-ai)** Other · $80M *Led by* [Square Peg](https://millionrounds.com/fund/square-peg-2)

## Stages This Year

9,285 rounds

- Seed **23%**
- Venture **20%**
- Series A **15%**
- Pre-seed **12%**
- Series B **7%**
- Other **23%**

## What They Backed

Sectors, last 12 months

- AI **3,445**
- Biotech **614**
- Healthcare **590**
- Fintech **552**
- Big Data & Analytics **464**
- Energy **352**

## Cheques by Quarter

Led Joined

6,033 Q1 25

6,024 Q2 25

6,557 Q3 25

6,769 Q4 25

6,353 Q1 26

5,193 Q2 26

4,468 Q3 26

1,684 Q4 26

The last bar is the quarter still running.

## Lists Like This

- [Early stage investors 8,261](https://millionrounds.com/lists/early-stage-investors)
- [Seed investors 4,860](https://millionrounds.com/lists/seed-investors)
- [Series A investors 4,432](https://millionrounds.com/lists/series-a-investors)
- [Series B investors 2,889](https://millionrounds.com/lists/series-b-investors)
- [Growth investors 2,256](https://millionrounds.com/lists/growth-investors)
- [Series C investors 1,734](https://millionrounds.com/lists/series-c-investors)

[All investor lists *→*](https://millionrounds.com/lists)

## Reading for founders at idea or pre-seed

- Thinking, Fast and Slow Daniel Kahneman · 2011 4.16 from 616,355 ratings on Goodreads Judgement and decisions Company building About the book In the highly anticipated Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman… On AmazonListen on Audible
- The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web Jesse James Garrett · 2002 4.01 from 4,134 ratings on Goodreads Finding product-market fit Company building About the book Smart organizations recognize that Web design is more than just creating clean code and sharp graphics. A site that really works fulfills your strategic objectives while meeting the needs of your users. Even the best content and the most sophisticated technology won't help you… On AmazonListen on Audible
- Get Backed: Craft Your Story, Build the Perfect Pitch Deck, and Launch the Venture of Your Dreams Evan Baehr · 2015 4.36 from 356 ratings on Goodreads Raising money Company building About the book HOW DO YOU LAUNCH THE VENTURE OF YOUR DREAMS? Get Backed isn’t just about startup fundraising. It’s a handbook for anyone who has an idea and needs to build relationships to get it off the ground. Over the last 3 years, entrepreneurs Evan Loomis and Evan Baehr have… On AmazonListen on Audible
- Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist [Brad Feld](https://millionrounds.com/person/brad-feld) · 2011 4.11 from 17,486 ratings on Goodreads Raising money Company building About the book Praise for Venture Deals"My biggest nightmare is taking advantage of an entrepreneur without even realizing it. It happens because VCs are experts in financings and most entrepreneurs are not. Brad and Jason are out to fix that problem with Venture Deals. This book is long… On AmazonListen on Audible[Author's Podcasts](https://millionrounds.com/person/brad-feld#podcasts)

More books for founders and investors on the [Reading List](https://millionrounds.com/reading-list?role=founder&stage=idea).

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

## Quick answers about pre-seed investors

### Who are the most active pre-seed investors?

By cheques observed, the most active are Y Combinator, Techstars, 500 Global, Sequoia Capital and National Science Foundation.

### How many pre-seed investors are there?

2,186 are on record. 85% made an investment in the last 12 months and 38% have led a round.

### Which stages do pre-seed investors back?

Of the rounds with a named stage in the last 12 months, mostly Seed (32%) and Series A (21%).

### How big are the rounds pre-seed investors join?

The typical (median) round among the leading investors here is $11M.

### Which sectors do pre-seed investors back most?

In the last 12 months, mostly AI, Biotech and Healthcare.

### Which pre-seed investors lead the most rounds?

Andreessen Horowitz (114 led), Accel (103 led) and General Catalyst (97 led).

### Where are pre-seed investors based?

Most of the leading investors here are based in the United States (20 of the top 25); the rest in France and Germany.

### What have pre-seed investors invested in recently?

Recent rounds include LionBio Therapeutics (Pre-seed, Nov 2026, with South Park Commons), Water Ledger Global (Other, Nov 2026, with Launch Africa) and Foozi (Pre-seed, Nov 2026, with Quartzo Capital).

Built from the rounds we watched, refreshed every night. [How we count](https://millionrounds.com/methodology) · [Report a correction](https://millionrounds.com/corrections)