Top 20 VCs for AI Startups in North America in 2025
The venture capital landscape for artificial intelligence (AI) in North America is evolving rapidly, with numerous firms vying to support startups that harness the power of AI technologies. By 2025, specific firms have stood out due to their consistent investment strategies, notable portfolios, and their influential role in the tech ecosystem. Below is a detailed overview of the Top 20 VCs for AI startups in North America for 2025.
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1. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Investment Focus: All stages of AI development, specifically in software and technology sectors.
Notable AI Investments: People.ai, along with various other prominent AI startups.
Investment Stage: All stages from seed to late-stage.
Website/Source Link: Andreessen Horowitz
Additional Details: This firm is recognized for its substantial investment in software-focused AI initiatives, supporting growth with a wide range of expertise within its team.
2. Sequoia Capital
Investment Focus: Primarily technology-driven ventures with a significant focus on AI across various sectors.
Notable AI Investments: Participation in multiple funding rounds for AI startups.
Investment Stage: Seed, startup, and growth stage investments.
Website/Source Link: Sequoia Capital
Additional Details: Sequoia Capital is prolific in backing tech successes and maintains a strong commitment to the AI sector.
3. Lightspeed Venture Partners
Investment Focus: Early-stage tech investments, particularly in consumer sectors and AI.
Notable AI Investments: AnyVision (facial and body recognition), FortressIQ, and People.ai.
Investment Stage: Early-stage firms.
Website/Source Link: Lightspeed Venture Partners
Additional Details: Known for its diverse portfolio, Lightspeed Venture Partners remains a pivotal player in the AI landscape.
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4. M12 (Microsoft Ventures)
Investment Focus: AI focused on B2B companies.
Notable AI Investments: Companies like TwentyBN, Contract Security, and Mental Canvas.
Investment Stage: Early-stage funding.
Website/Source Link: M12
Additional Details: M12 enables portfolio companies to leverage Microsoft’s vast resources, creating unique opportunities for growth.
5. Kleiner Perkins
Investment Focus: AI and technology with a broader scope including video and travel tech.
Notable AI Investments: Synthesia.
Investment Stage: Early-stage and mature companies.
Website/Source Link: Kleiner Perkins
Additional Details: A well-respected firm with a strong focus on innovative technologies.
6. Bain Capital Ventures
Investment Focus: Diverse investments including in AI sectors.
Notable AI Investments: Active in various tech opportunities but specific AI names were not highlighted.
Investment Stage: Seed, early, and growth stages.
Website/Source Link: Bain Capital Ventures
Additional Details: Bain Capital is recognized as a major player with an extensive portfolio in technology.
7. GV (formerly Google Ventures)
Investment Focus: Broad technology focus with significant emphasis on AI, especially machine learning.
Notable AI Investments: Not specifically listed, but known to support multiple tech companies.
Investment Stage: Seed to late-stage funding.
Website/Source Link: GV
Additional Details: Backed by Google, GV has access to vast resources and networks, enhancing its investment capabilities.
8. Accel
Investment Focus: Technology-oriented investments with substantial interest in AI and software.
Notable AI Investments: Not specifically noted, but has a strong track record in tech.
Investment Stage: Seed to growth stages.
Website/Source Link: Accel
Additional Details: Accel maintains a global presence and remains actively involved in various markets.
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9. Data Collective (DCVC)
Investment Focus: Companies focused on big data and AI technology.
Notable AI Investments: Plenty (agritech), Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Vicarious.
Investment Stage: Tends to focus on global enterprise scale companies.
Website/Source Link: DCVC
Additional Details: Known for investing in AI companies that address significant global challenges.
10. Khosla Ventures
Investment Focus: Innovations with high impact, including AI technologies.
Notable AI Investments: LotiAI.
Investment Stage: Early-stage focused.
Website/Source Link: Khosla Ventures
Additional Details: The firm seeks transformative technologies and cutting-edge business models.
11. Founders Fund
Investment Focus: Diverse sectors with a keen interest in groundbreaking technology including AI.
Notable AI Investments: SpaceX, Palantir Technologies, and others known for AI applications.
Investment Stage: Primarily early to growth stages.
Website/Source Link: Founders Fund
Additional Details: Renowned for risk-taking and supporting unconventional ideas.
12. Union Square Ventures
Investment Focus: Internet services and software, with particular attention to AI developments.
Notable AI Investments: Participated in AI and machine learning startups such as Algolia and Stack Overflow.
Investment Stage: Early to growth stage companies.
Website/Source Link: Union Square Ventures
Additional Details: Focuses on community-driven platforms and innovative service providers.
13. Insight Partners
Investment Focus: Growth-stage tech companies, many of which leverage advanced AI.
Notable AI Investments: Alteryx, NGINX, and more.
Investment Stage: Growth phase primarily.
Website/Source Link: Insight Partners
Additional Details: Known for mentoring startups and aiding in scaling efforts.
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14. Matrix Partners
Investment Focus: Early-stage technology, particularly software and internet innovations including AI.
Notable AI Investments: High-profile investments in startups transforming traditional industries using AI.
Investment Stage: Seed and early-stage funding.
Website/Source Link: Matrix Partners
Additional Details: Focused on long-term partnerships with founders at early stages.
15. Bullpen Capital
Investment Focus: Post-seed venture capital, investing in companies that have proven their concept.
Notable AI Investments: Supported several AI startups transitioning from seed to growth.
Investment Stage: Primarily post-seed to early growth stages.
Website/Source Link: Bullpen Capital
Additional Details: Known for providing boosts to startups poised for explosive growth following initial seed funding.
16. RRE Ventures
Investment Focus: Emerging technology firms across various sectors including AI.
Notable AI Investments: Involved in several AI-focused initiatives that leverage intelligent technologies.
Investment Stage: Seed to growth stage.
Website/Source Link: RRE Ventures
Additional Details: Focus on long-term impact with a keen eye for potential disruptions in various sectors.
17. Aspect Ventures
Investment Focus: Focuses on data-driven sectors, many leveraging AI for enhanced insights.
Notable AI Investments: Target companies that integrate AI to innovate traditional models.
Investment Stage: Seed and early-stage companies.
Website/Source Link: Aspect Ventures
Additional Details: Female-led venture capital firm aiming at enhancing diversity in the startup ecosystem.
18. Redpoint Ventures
Investment Focus: Technology, particularly in software and consumer internet, with an increasing focus on AI.
Notable AI Investments: Several emerging startups that utilize AI for innovative solutions.
Investment Stage: Seed to early growth.
Website/Source Link: Redpoint Ventures
Additional Details: They emphasize founder-led businesses and transformative tech ideas.
19. First Round Capital
Investment Focus: Seed stage investments across various sectors, including AI.
Notable AI Investments: Engaged in early funding for startup AI ventures that are scaling their solutions.
Investment Stage: Seed stage primarily.
Website/Source Link: First Round Capital
Additional Details: Known for providing extensive support to early-stage founders to ensure sustainable growth.
20. TenOneTen Ventures
Investment Focus: Seed and early-stage tech investments with a growing interest in AI startups.
Notable AI Investments: Involved in the funding of various early-stage AI companies.
Investment Stage: Focuses primarily on seed investments.
Website/Source Link: TenOneTen Ventures
Additional Details: Emphasizes strong mentorship and community support for emerging founders.
Note: The AI investment landscape is continuously evolving, and while this list highlights top players, new entrants may alter the competitive dynamics as we approach 2025.
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FAQ
Q: Which VC firm is known for backing a wide range of AI companies across multiple stages?
A: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) invests in all stages of AI development, focusing on software and technology. Learn more about a16z.
Q: What type of AI investments does Sequoia Capital focus on?
A: Sequoia Capital has a broad technology focus, investing significantly in various AI sectors at seed, startup, and growth stages. Discover Sequoia Capital.
Q: Which VC specializes in early-stage investments in technology and consumer sectors including AI?
A: Lightspeed Venture Partners primarily focuses on early-stage tech and consumer sectors, investing significantly in AI. Explore Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Q: What is unique about M12, Microsoft's venture capital arm?
A: M12 (Microsoft Ventures) focuses on early-stage AI investments, primarily in B2B companies, and offers access to Microsoft's ecosystem. Check out M12.
Q: Which VC is known for its investments in diverse tech fields including AI?
A: Kleiner Perkins has a broad investment scope that includes AI, video, travel tech, and other sectors, primarily targeting early-stage and mature companies. Learn more about Kleiner Perkins.
Q: Is Bain Capital Ventures insightful regarding AI investments?
A: Yes, Bain Capital Ventures invests in various areas including AI, focusing on seed, early, and growth stage companies. Discover Bain Capital Ventures.
Q: What position does GV (Google Ventures) hold in AI investing?
A: GV (formerly Google Ventures) has a broad technology focus with significant investments in AI, particularly machine learning, across seed to late stages. Learn more about GV.
Q: How does Accel engage with AI startups?
A: Accel invests in technology with a significant focus on AI and software across seed to growth stages. Explore Accel.
Q: Which venture firm focuses on big data and AI companies?
A: Data Collective (DCVC) invests in big data and AI enterprises, backing companies that tackle global challenges. Learn more about DCVC.
Q: What is Khosla Ventures’ investment strategy in AI?
A: Khosla Ventures focuses on high-impact innovations in AI and prefers early-stage companies with transformative technologies. Visit Khosla Ventures.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
