Artificial intelligence has become one of the most active sectors for venture capital investment. From foundation models and AI infrastructure to healthcare, enterprise software, cybersecurity, robotics, and developer tools, investors continue to fund startups building the next generation of intelligent products.

The rapid adoption of generative AI has accelerated venture funding over the past few years. While many industries experienced slower fundraising, AI startups continued attracting billions of dollars in new capital. Investors are now looking beyond chatbots, backing companies developing AI agents, autonomous systems, enterprise productivity platforms, model evaluation tools, and specialized industry applications.

For founders, understanding which venture capital firms actively invest in AI can improve fundraising strategies. Rather than approaching every investor, startups can focus on firms that have demonstrated interest in artificial intelligence through recent investments and portfolio activity.

Using funding activity tracked by Raisedly, this article highlights venture capital firms that are actively investing in AI startups and explores why they are becoming important players in the global AI ecosystem.

Why AI Remains the Top Investment Theme

Artificial intelligence is no longer viewed as a niche technology. Businesses across finance, healthcare, education, manufacturing, cybersecurity, retail, and logistics are integrating AI into their products and operations.

This rapid adoption has created opportunities for startups solving real business problems with machine learning, large language models, computer vision, automation, and AI infrastructure.

As a result, venture capital firms continue allocating larger portions of their funds toward AI companies, particularly those with experienced founding teams, proprietary technology, and strong enterprise demand.

Kindred Ventures

Kindred Ventures is one of the early-stage venture capital firms consistently backing ambitious technology founders. The firm focuses primarily on Seed investments and has developed a reputation for supporting companies before they reach mainstream attention.

According to recent funding activity tracked by Raisedly, Kindred Ventures participated in the Seed financing of Kotoba, an AI startup that raised $10 million. Investments like this demonstrate the firm's continued confidence in founders building next-generation artificial intelligence products.

Kindred Ventures typically looks for startups with strong technical teams, differentiated products, and large long-term market opportunities. Rather than chasing trends, the firm often invests early and works closely with founders during product development and company building.

As AI startups continue to emerge across enterprise software, developer tools, and infrastructure, Kindred Ventures remains an investor worth following.

Salesforce Ventures

As the investment arm of Salesforce, Salesforce Ventures has become one of the most influential corporate venture investors in enterprise technology.

Its investment strategy centers around cloud software, enterprise infrastructure, data platforms, and increasingly, artificial intelligence.

The firm's growing AI portfolio reflects rising enterprise demand for automation, productivity, customer intelligence, and AI-powered business software.

Unlike traditional venture firms, Salesforce Ventures provides portfolio companies with access to a broad enterprise ecosystem, strategic partnerships, and global customers. This combination makes the firm an attractive investor for startups building enterprise AI products.

With generative AI becoming a priority across business software, Salesforce Ventures is expected to remain active in future AI funding rounds.

Y Combinator

Few startup accelerators have influenced the technology ecosystem as much as Y Combinator.

Many of today's successful technology companies began their journeys through the accelerator, and AI has become one of its fastest-growing investment categories.

Raisedly recently tracked Sazabi, an AI startup that secured $8 million in Seed funding with participation from Y Combinator.

Rather than specializing exclusively in artificial intelligence, Y Combinator backs founders solving difficult technical problems across multiple industries. However, recent batches have included a rapidly increasing number of AI startups working on infrastructure, coding assistants, healthcare, legal technology, education, and enterprise automation.

For many early-stage AI founders, acceptance into Y Combinator continues to serve as a strong validation signal for future investors.

Better Capital

Better Capital is known for investing in early-stage startups across emerging technology sectors.

Recent funding activity tracked by Raisedly shows the firm participating in the Seed financing of Concord.ad, highlighting its continued interest in AI-powered businesses.

Better Capital often invests before companies achieve significant commercial traction, allowing founders to develop products, hire key talent, and validate market demand.

As AI applications continue expanding into advertising technology, automation, and business intelligence, Better Capital is expected to remain active in identifying promising early-stage opportunities.

Base10 Partners

Base10 Partners focuses on investing in technology companies transforming traditional industries through software and artificial intelligence.

The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes practical applications of emerging technologies rather than speculative concepts.

Raisedly recently tracked Base10 Partners leading the Series A funding of JustAI, which raised $17 million.

By supporting startups solving real operational challenges with AI, Base10 Partners has established itself as an important investor within enterprise technology.

The firm's portfolio spans software infrastructure, automation, logistics, financial technology, and AI-powered business platforms.

Premji Invest

Premji Invest has become one of the largest growth investors supporting innovative technology companies across global markets.

The firm participated in the impressive $190 million Series A funding of Upscale AI, demonstrating strong conviction in large-scale AI opportunities.

Large Series A rounds of this size indicate growing investor confidence that enterprise customers are adopting AI solutions at a faster pace than previous technology cycles.

Premji Invest frequently supports companies capable of building long-term category leadership, making it an important investor to watch as artificial intelligence continues reshaping enterprise software.

Next Frontier Capital

Next Frontier Capital primarily invests in innovative technology companies building solutions with significant long-term growth potential.

Raisedly tracked the firm's participation in the Seed funding of HighGround, which raised $6.5 million.

Although smaller than many global venture firms, Next Frontier Capital continues identifying founders building differentiated AI products before they reach wider market recognition.

For entrepreneurs seeking experienced early-stage investors, firms like Next Frontier Capital demonstrate that strong AI investments extend beyond Silicon Valley's largest venture funds.

Fulcrum Equity Partners

Fulcrum Equity Partners invests in high-growth software and technology businesses, with increasing interest in companies using artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency and business productivity.

The firm's investment approach emphasizes scalable business models, experienced leadership teams, and measurable customer value.

As enterprise AI adoption accelerates, firms like Fulcrum Equity Partners are expected to evaluate more startups applying machine learning and automation across traditional industries.

Tandem Capital

Tandem Capital has built a reputation for supporting founders during the earliest stages of company development.

The firm has invested across enterprise software, developer tools, cloud infrastructure, and emerging AI applications.

Its focus on helping technical founders reach product-market fit makes Tandem Capital particularly relevant for AI startups building innovative software products.

Rather than simply providing capital, the firm actively works with portfolio companies on customer acquisition, hiring, and strategic growth.

Decibel Partners

Decibel Partners focuses on enterprise technology and infrastructure companies addressing large commercial markets.

Raisedly recently tracked Decibel Partners participating in the $100 million Seed financing of Ent, one of the most notable AI funding rounds announced during June 2026.

Investments of this scale highlight increasing investor willingness to fund technically ambitious AI startups well before they reach maturity.

Decibel Partners continues demonstrating confidence in companies building next-generation AI infrastructure, enterprise platforms, and developer technologies.

The Growing Opportunity for AI Investors

The firms highlighted above represent different investment philosophies, stages, and geographic focuses, yet they share a common belief: artificial intelligence will remain one of the defining technology markets of the coming decade.

Some investors specialize in writing the first institutional check during the Seed stage, while others focus on larger Series A or growth financings. Together, they form an ecosystem that enables AI startups to move from early research to global commercial expansion.

Sequoia Capital

Few venture capital firms have had a greater impact on the technology industry than Sequoia Capital. Over the decades, the firm has backed many of the world's most successful technology companies, and artificial intelligence has become one of its highest-conviction investment areas.

Sequoia invests across every stage, from Seed funding to growth rounds, and has significantly expanded its AI portfolio as generative AI transforms software development and enterprise applications. Rather than investing only in AI model providers, the firm also supports startups building infrastructure, developer tools, productivity software, cybersecurity solutions, and vertical AI applications.

For founders, securing investment from Sequoia often represents more than financial backing. The firm brings extensive operational experience, global networks, and long-term support that can help companies scale internationally.

Felicis Ventures

Felicis Ventures has consistently identified emerging technology trends before they become mainstream, making it one of the most respected early-stage investors in Silicon Valley.

The firm actively invests in AI startups developing enterprise software, healthcare technologies, fintech platforms, cybersecurity solutions, and productivity tools. Felicis is known for supporting technical founders at the earliest stages while maintaining a founder-first investment philosophy.

Its growing AI portfolio reflects a belief that artificial intelligence will reshape nearly every software category over the coming decade.

Building Ventures

Building Ventures focuses on startups transforming the built environment through technology.

While traditionally associated with construction technology and property innovation, the firm increasingly backs companies applying artificial intelligence to improve planning, infrastructure management, industrial automation, and operational efficiency.

Raisedly recently tracked Building Ventures participating in the strategic funding round of Aston Power, highlighting its continued interest in AI-driven industrial innovation.

As AI adoption expands beyond software into physical industries, investors like Building Ventures play an important role in commercializing next-generation technologies.

TDK Ventures

TDK Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of TDK Corporation and focuses on technologies shaping the future of industry.

Its investment strategy spans artificial intelligence, robotics, energy storage, mobility, advanced manufacturing, and smart infrastructure.

Unlike traditional venture firms, TDK Ventures often provides portfolio companies with strategic industry relationships alongside financial investment.

For AI startups developing hardware, industrial automation, or edge intelligence, corporate investors such as TDK Ventures can provide valuable commercial partnerships that accelerate product adoption.

True Ventures

True Ventures has earned a strong reputation for backing ambitious founders building category-defining technology companies.

Raisedly recently tracked True Ventures participating in the Pre-Seed financing of Concentrate AI, demonstrating its continued confidence in promising AI entrepreneurs.

The firm frequently invests before companies generate significant revenue, allowing founders to experiment, iterate quickly, and establish product-market fit.

Its portfolio spans enterprise software, developer tools, consumer technology, healthcare, and AI infrastructure.

RRE Ventures

RRE Ventures is one of New York's longest-established venture capital firms and has invested across enterprise software, fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.

The firm's investment approach emphasizes experienced founders addressing large commercial markets with defensible technology.

As enterprise demand for AI solutions accelerates, RRE Ventures continues evaluating startups capable of delivering measurable business outcomes rather than simply leveraging AI as a marketing feature.

Educapital

Educapital specializes in education technology but increasingly supports startups integrating artificial intelligence into learning platforms, workforce development, and digital education.

Raisedly recently tracked Educapital leading the Series A funding of Mendo, which raised $12.8 million.

AI is rapidly transforming education through personalized learning, intelligent tutoring systems, automated assessments, and content generation. Investors such as Educapital are helping accelerate innovation within this growing market.

OVNI Capital

OVNI Capital invests in ambitious technology companies with global growth potential.

The firm actively evaluates opportunities across software infrastructure, enterprise platforms, AI applications, and emerging digital technologies.

Its investment strategy reflects the growing recognition that artificial intelligence is becoming a foundational technology across industries rather than a standalone market.

HighPost Capital

Raisedly recently tracked HighPost Capital leading the $35 million Series A financing of Turnout.

Although HighPost Capital has invested across multiple sectors, participation in AI funding demonstrates increasing institutional confidence in companies building intelligent software solutions.

Growth-stage investors like HighPost Capital play an important role in helping startups expand operations, strengthen leadership teams, and enter new markets after achieving product-market fit.

Shine Capital

Shine Capital focuses on supporting founders building technology that can transform industries over the long term.

Its investment approach emphasizes bold ideas, experienced entrepreneurs, and scalable business models.

Artificial intelligence has become one of the firm's key areas of interest as software continues becoming more autonomous, data-driven, and intelligent.

Honeystone Ventures

Honeystone Ventures invests in innovative technology startups developing solutions for modern businesses.

The firm's portfolio reflects growing interest in software automation, enterprise productivity, and artificial intelligence.

As AI adoption continues accelerating across global markets, investors like Honeystone Ventures are expected to evaluate more startups applying machine learning to solve practical business challenges.

LGVP

LGVP continues supporting startups working on advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, enterprise software, robotics, and industrial innovation.

Its investment philosophy combines financial backing with strategic partnerships that can help portfolio companies commercialize new technologies more rapidly.

Corporate-backed venture firms increasingly play an important role in AI funding as established companies seek access to breakthrough innovation.

Mangusta Capital

Mangusta Capital focuses on high-growth technology businesses with scalable products and international market opportunities.

The firm has shown increasing interest in software companies leveraging artificial intelligence to improve enterprise productivity, automation, and digital transformation.

As organizations continue integrating AI into daily operations, investors like Mangusta Capital are expected to remain active participants in early-stage funding.

Omri Casspi

Former NBA player Omri Casspi has become an active technology investor supporting innovative startups across multiple sectors, including artificial intelligence.

Like many angel investors entering venture capital, Casspi focuses on identifying exceptional founding teams and disruptive technologies early in their development.

His participation reflects a broader trend of successful entrepreneurs, operators, and public figures becoming increasingly active in AI startup investing.

What These Investment Firms Have in Common

Although these investors differ in size, geography, and investment strategy, several themes consistently emerge.

Most prioritize exceptional founding teams over short-term financial metrics. Many prefer software businesses solving meaningful enterprise problems with defensible AI technology. Infrastructure, developer tools, cybersecurity, automation, healthcare, education, and productivity platforms remain among the most attractive investment categories.

Another noticeable trend is the increasing size of early-stage funding rounds. Seed financings exceeding $50 million were once extremely rare, but today's AI market has produced several examples of investors making substantial commitments much earlier in a company's lifecycle.

Rather than waiting for startups to mature, venture capital firms are competing aggressively to back promising AI founders at the earliest possible stage.

Why Founders Should Track AI Investors

Understanding investor activity provides founders with valuable fundraising intelligence.

By monitoring recent funding rounds, entrepreneurs can identify firms actively deploying capital, understand preferred investment stages, and discover investors supporting businesses similar to their own.

This information helps founders build more targeted fundraising strategies, improve investor outreach, and spend less time approaching firms that are unlikely to invest.

Discover AI Funding Activity on Raisedly

The AI investment landscape evolves rapidly, with new funding announcements appearing every week.

Raisedly helps founders, investors, analysts, recruiters, journalists, and business development teams stay informed through a growing database of startup funding rounds, investor profiles, company profiles, acquisitions, and market intelligence.

Whether you're researching recently funded AI startups, discovering active venture capital firms, or analyzing investment trends across industries, Raisedly provides structured and searchable funding data to help you make better business decisions.

As artificial intelligence continues reshaping the global economy, tracking investor activity has never been more valuable—and Raisedly makes that information easier to discover.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Venture Capital

What do VC firms look for in AI startups?

Most venture capital firms evaluate AI startups based on several core factors, including the founding team's expertise, the uniqueness of the technology, market size, customer traction, revenue growth, and the company's long-term competitive advantage.

Investors are increasingly looking beyond AI hype and focusing on startups that solve real business problems. Companies with proprietary datasets, strong technical talent, and clear go-to-market strategies often stand out during fundraising.

Which funding stage is best for AI startups?

AI startups can raise capital at nearly every stage of growth.

Pre-Seed: Used to validate an idea, build an MVP, and assemble an initial team.
Seed: Supports product development, early customer acquisition, and market validation.
Series A: Helps startups scale operations, hire talent, and accelerate growth after achieving product-market fit.
Series B and beyond: Funds international expansion, enterprise sales, acquisitions, and product diversification.

Many AI startups are now raising significantly larger Seed rounds than in previous years due to increased investor confidence in the sector.

Which AI sectors are attracting the most investment?

Venture capital firms continue investing across a wide range of AI categories, including:

Enterprise AI
Generative AI
AI infrastructure
AI developer tools
AI cybersecurity
Healthcare AI
Financial technology AI
Robotics and automation
AI agents
Computer vision
Voice AI
Legal AI
Education technology AI

As AI adoption expands, investors are also funding startups building industry-specific solutions for manufacturing, logistics, retail, agriculture, and energy.

How can founders identify the right AI investors?

Not every venture capital firm is a good fit for every startup.

Before reaching out, founders should research:

The investor's preferred funding stage
Industries they actively invest in
Recent portfolio companies
Typical investment size
Geographic focus
Lead versus follow investment strategy

A targeted fundraising approach generally produces better results than sending pitches to hundreds of unrelated investors.

Why should investors track AI funding activity?

Monitoring AI funding rounds helps investors identify emerging technology trends, discover promising founders, analyze competitive markets, and understand where venture capital is flowing.

Funding activity can also reveal which sectors are gaining momentum and which investment themes are attracting the strongest institutional support.

Stay Updated with Raisedly

The AI startup ecosystem evolves rapidly, with new funding announcements taking place almost every day.

Raisedly helps founders, venture capital firms, angel investors, analysts, journalists, recruiters, and business development teams stay informed through continuously updated funding rounds, investor profiles, company profiles, acquisitions, IPOs, and startup market intelligence.

Whether you're searching for recently funded AI startups, researching venture capital firms investing in artificial intelligence, or analyzing funding trends across industries, Raisedly provides structured data designed to make startup research faster and more accessible.

Relevant sources:

Stanford AI Index Report: https://aiindex.stanford.edu/report/

NVIDIA AI News: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/category/ai/