Top Venture Capital Firms in Maryland

Maryland is quickly establishing itself as one of the East Coast's most dynamic hubs for venture capital. Positioned between major financial centers and federal institutions, the state offers a rare blend of government-backed research, top-tier universities, and a growing number of high-potential startups. 

From Baltimore to Bethesda, venture capital firms in Maryland are investing in everything from enterprise software and healthtech to synthetic biology and cybersecurity.

In this article, we explore the best Maryland venture capital funds headquartered in the state. Each venture capital firm based in Maryland plays a key role in fueling local innovation, providing funding, and supporting entrepreneurial founders on their growth journey.

1. New Markets Venture Partners

Located in Fulton, New Markets Venture Partners is a well-known early-stage venture firm that focuses on software and tech-enabled services in education, workforce development, and enterprise software. This fund is deeply rooted in the Mid-Atlantic and is often a first institutional backer for early-stage technology companies with strong public sector or social impact potential.

The firm works closely with academic institutions like the University of Maryland and incubators to identify scalable technology companies. It focuses particularly on those offering platforms for learning, productivity, and digital transformation. 

NMVP backs both mission-driven and market-focused portfolio companies with a clear path to growth and long-term relevance. Their efforts help address the need for more early-stage capital in the region.

2. TDF Ventures

TDF Ventures is a venture capital firm located in Chevy Chase that focuses on seed and Series A capital investments in infrastructure software, cybersecurity, and enterprise IT. The firm invests in early-stage companies and brings operational and engineering backgrounds to the table, offering practical insight alongside capital.

As one of the top VC firms and investors in Maryland, TDF is known for supporting startups that build mission-critical tools across enterprise markets, telecom, and defense.

Their active involvement in early-stage capital across Baltimore City and the region reflects a strong commitment to product development and business strategies. They play a key role in supporting and enabling growing businesses.

3. ABS Capital Partners

With its office in Baltimore, ABS Capital Partners operates at the intersection of growth equity firm and venture capital. Though technically a hybrid, ABS has a long history of supporting software and tech-enabled businesses in their expansion phase.

With investments ranging from $10M–$50M, ABS focuses on high-revenue portfolio companies in healthcare IT, SaaS, and fintech.

Their team provides strategic insight across each stage of development, including business development and funding resources, positioning ABS among the best Maryland VC firms.

4. Northpond Ventures

Northpond Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in Bethesda, with a focus on scientific innovation in life sciences, biotech, and diagnostics.. With over $1 billion in committed capital, it is one of the most prominent venture capital firms in the region.

Their collaboration with top labs and institutions enables them to support early-stage technology founders in turning research into viable companies. Its portfolio companies benefit from Northpond’s deep domain expertise, access to capital investments, and a clear path to impact in regulated markets.

Northpond plays a critical role in the Maryland technology ecosystem and broader technology and life sciences sectors.

5. TEDCO Venture Funds

TEDCO is Maryland’s public-private venture engine. Through its funding programs, TEDCO supports early-stage companies in sectors like digital health, biotech, and cleantech. It plays a vital role in creating funding opportunities for the Maryland entrepreneur community.

The firm not only supplies seed VC funding, but also offers commercialization services. This makes it one of the most essential venture capital firms and angel networks in the state. It’s also a core player in advancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Baltimore and Washington.

TEDCO is especially impactful for founders who may not initially attract traditional venture capitalists, including diverse and first-time founders.

6. Lockheed Martin Ventures

Located in Bethesda, Lockheed Martin Ventures is the CVC arm of the defense giant, backing early-stage technology in AI, aerospace, and cybersecurity. This venture capital firm focuses on dual-use applications with government and commercial value.

Their portfolio includes technology companies solving critical infrastructure problems. Lockheed’s combination of capital investments and operational expertise creates unique investment opportunities for defense-aligned startups.

Lockheed Martin Ventures exemplifies how Maryland-based venture capitalists back technology companies tackling high-impact challenges. Their investments focus on solutions in enterprise markets and national security.

7. JMI Equity

JMI Equity is a growth equity firm in Baltimore. It invests in SaaS and B2B software companies with strong recurring revenue models. With over $7.5 billion in committed capital, JMI is a top-tier venture capital player not just in Maryland but across the U.S.

The firm helps portfolio companies scale through M&A strategy and execution, and continues to be a go-to investor for early-stage technology with commercial traction in enterprise markets. 

Though many of its investments extend beyond state borders, JMI remains actively involved in Maryland’s venture capital ecosystem. It offers one of the most established paths for early-stage technology companies aiming to scale and prepare for an exit or IPO.

8. TCP Venture Capital

Baltimore’s TCP Venture Capital takes a local-first approach to investments in early-stage ventures. Through Propel Baltimore and related initiatives, TCP nurtures high-growth early-stage companies and Maryland innovation from idea to Series A.

They focus on fintech, logistics, and digital health while offering mentorship, funding resources, and support in hiring management teams, key aspects of startup success. They actively assist with assembling founding management teams, market validation, and post-seed growth. 

TCP is part of a wave of capital firms and angel investors that actively support early-stage capital in Baltimore City.

9. Grotech Ventures

Although now in Virginia, Grotech Ventures maintains strong ties to Maryland. The firm is active in investments in early-stage companies in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and scalable software and tech-enabled solutions.

Grotech typically leads seed and Series A rounds, guiding startups from product-market fit to growth stage and beyond. The firm is especially well known for helping companies in critical software and tech-enabled segments where speed, scale, and market leadership are essential. 

With a decades-long track record, Grotech has established itself as a key player in the Mid-Atlantic venture capital landscape. It continues to fund entrepreneurial teams from Maryland who bring strong visions, scalable products, and ambitious growth plans.

Final Thoughts

Maryland has quietly built one of the most diverse and specialized venture capital landscapes in the country. Maryland’s location near Washington, D.C. makes it highly attractive to investors. Strong university pipelines and a dense network of federal labs further draw venture capitalists and angel investors to the state.

From top VC firms like Northpond and ABS to angel investors and funding programs like TEDCO, there are ample investment opportunities for early-stage companies in life sciences, SaaS, defense, and education.

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