There are many benefits to starting a business in Washington DC. The area has a highly educated workforce, world-class infrastructure, and a strong commitment to supporting businesses of all sizes. Additionally, DC is home to some of the most innovative companies in the world, providing a wealth of resources and opportunities for entrepreneurs and a fertile environment for VC investors looking for the next successful startup.
If you're looking to start a business in a metro area that offers a supportive environment and a wealth of resources, DC is the perfect place to do it. And chances are, you could find a venture capital firm that is willing to help.
We also recommend checking out our full list of the top venture capital firms.
Best Venture Capital Firms in Washington DC
The companies below are funding some of the most innovative and disruptive startups in DC. They're also the firms that entrepreneurs should keep their eye on if they're looking for investments.
Keep reading to learn what industries they invest in, some of the more notable companies they've funded, and more.
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1. ABS Capital Partners
- Industries: Healthcare, Fintech, Edtech, Cyber, Human Capital Management, PropTech, Marketing & Ecommerce Enablement, Govtech & Nonprofit
- Stage: Series C
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Accurate Group, Alula, Exos
ABS Capital has been in the investment business for over 30 years and has assisted numerous businesses across a variety of industries in reaching their full potential.
They invest in high-growth late-stage businesses that require capital to expand their product/service line or expand into new markets. They typically invest between $10M and $25M.
ABS Capital combines entrepreneurial spirit with generations' worth of experience to scale software and tech-based B2B firms to deliver capital, expertise, and hands-on guidance to their portfolio of hand-picked companies.
2. Updata Partners
- Industries: Software
- Stage: Seed Stage
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Neighborhood Development Company, Wellfound Foods, Catalyte, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company
Updata Partners offers venture capital investments in B2B software firms, ranging from $5 million to $50 million.
The VC firm is interested in collaborating with firms that want to develop new products in need of working capital and those that wish to maintain liquidity for their founders. Updata looks for firms that exhibit a growth mindset, collaborating with their management teams to achieve results that are exceptional.
3. Revolution
- Industries: Technology
- Stage: Early Stage
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Framebridge, Groupon, Booker Mind Body, Homesnap, BenchPrep, Busbud, Casted, Resolute AI, Paro, Bright Cellars
Revolution is a venture capital firm that brings successful entrepreneurs, experienced operators, and investors together to provide mentorship and capital for technology businesses. Revolution seeks out future revolutionaries with next-generation, innovative ideas in the tech industry.
Revolution partners with forward-thinking entrepreneurs who want to disrupt traditional industries with disruptive technologies, products, and services, collaborating with experts in specific areas to create the greatest value. Their usual investment is $4 to $8 million.
Revolution is a team of founders, operators, and investors who have translated their shared experiences into collateral to help entrepreneurs build transformative companies in cities across the US. Their family of funds – The Rise of the Rest Seed Funds, Revolution Ventures, and Revolution Growth – helps entrepreneurs at every stage of the business lifecycle.
4. Accion Venture Lab
- Industries: Fintech
- Stage: Seed Stage
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Advance, Agrim, Aire Labs, Artoo, Apollo Agriculture, Aye Finance
Accion Venture Lab funds early-stage fintech companies that create innovative, scalable solutions. They invest up to $500,000 in seed-stage ventures and provide financial and post-investment support. As the firms grow, Accion also injects follow-on capital to drive scale, harnessing the power of digital technology to create a financially inclusive world.
Accion was founded in 1961 by a UC Berkeley law student who began the business hands-on work in Latin America. The first group of 30 Americans in the company worked in urban centers around Venezuela. Since its inception in 1961, Accion has worked to empower people who are underserved, revolutionizing financial services for people who are excluded.
5. DC Community Ventures
- Industries: Consumer, Education, Business Services, Basic Industries
- Stage: N/A
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Neighborhood Development Company, Wellfound Foods, Catalyte, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company
DC Community Ventures is a social impact venture capital fund that aims to improve the communities in which they operate by investing in firms that offer market-rate returns.
This VC firm targets underserved areas to drive ecological change, community development, and economic opportunity. DC Community provides long-term mezzanine debt and structured equity funding to accommodate flexible growth. They invest in consumer, education, business services, and basic industries.
