Top Venture Capital Firms in New York City

New York City, a global epicenter of finance, culture, and innovation, boasts one of the most active and diverse venture capital ecosystems in the world. The city offers a rich blend of industries; from media and fintech to biotech and software startups. New York City is also home to a diverse mix of venture capital firms that support companies across all stages of growth.

Whether you’re an early-stage founder raising capital, or a growth-stage executive seeking a long-term partner, New York's VC community offers valuable support. It provides unmatched access to capital, talent, and global networks.

In this article, we’ll explore the top New York-based venture capital firms, highlighting their investment strategies, portfolio highlights, and roles in shaping the NY tech ecosystem.

Union Square Ventures (USV)

Founded in 2003, Union Square Ventures is a prominent venture capital firm. Known for its thesis-driven investing, USV backs technology start-ups that broaden access to knowledge, capital, and well-being.

USV typically leads seed and Series A rounds and has funded some of the most iconic technology companies, including Twitter, Etsy, Coinbase, and Stripe. As a venture capital firm that invests in network-driven platforms, Union Square Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on building global impact from early-stage foundations.

With offices in New York and a strong national presence, USV is a venture capital firm known for its high-conviction approach and close collaboration with exceptional companies and founders.

Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a global venture and private equity investment firm with over $90 billion in assets under management. Founded in 1995, the firm focuses on investing in technology and software startups that are scaling rapidly.

With its unique “ScaleUp” model, Insight combines venture capital investments with hands-on operational support from its Onsite team. The firm has invested in companies across stages, including Shopify, Twitter, DocuSign, and Delivery Hero.

As a capital firm focused on early-stage and growth-stage businesses, Insight is one of the most active venture capital firms in NYC and plays a pivotal role in the venture capital landscape of the city.

FirstMark Capital

FirstMark Capital is a venture capital firm that has become synonymous with the startup ecosystem in the city. Founded in 2008, the firm is known for its strong ties to the local tech community and has backed innovative companies like Pinterest, Shopify, Riot Games, and Airbnb.

FirstMark is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in both consumer and enterprise technology, with a focus on AI, fintech, healthtech, and B2B SaaS. The firm also stands out for its powerful community platform, hosting hundreds of events that connect founders with resources to grow their businesses.

This New York-based venture capital firm is ideal for founders seeking more than just funding, it offers strategic guidance, connections, and a founder-first culture.

Lerer Hippeau

Lerer Hippeau is one of the most active venture capital firms, specializing in seed-stage deals with strong ties to New York’s startup ecosystem. Founded by media and tech veterans Kenneth Lerer and Eric Hippeau, the firm has a proven track record of backing high-growth startups early, long before they become household names.

Its portfolio includes Allbirds, Casper, Warby Parker, and Glossier. Lerer Hippeau is a venture capital firm that invests in startups across a wide range of sectors, from consumer brands to enterprise software and media.

Their close relationships with companies and founders, plus their deep operational expertise, make them a go-to fund in NYC for early traction and scale.

Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP)

Bessemer Venture Partners, or BVP, is a global venture capital firm with deep roots in New York. As the oldest venture capital firm based in the U.S. (founded in 1911), BVP has a long history of backing exceptional companies across sectors.

Though it operates globally, BVP’s offices in New York are key to its strategy. The firm has led investments in LinkedIn, Yelp, Shopify, and Pinterest, and focuses on both early-stage investments and late-stage venture opportunities.

Known for frameworks like its “10 Laws of Cloud Computing,” Bessemer is a firm based in New York that brings structure, insight, and experience to technology companies at stages of their development.

Lux Capital

Lux Capital stands out in the New York venture capital landscape for backing deep tech companies. It invests in scientific and futuristic ventures, from computational biology to aerospace and robotics.

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York City, Lux makes bold bets on transformative companies, such as Anduril, Desktop Metal, and Eikon Therapeutics. Many of their startups are tackling global challenges in defense, health, and automation.

Lux stands out as a venture capital firm with a team of scientists and technologists. Their focus on futuristic, high-risk, high-reward ideas sets them apart in the innovation space.

Thrive Capital

Founded in 2009 by Josh Kushner, Thrive Capital is known for its selective and concentrated investment style. Thrive backs technology companies that transform industries, such as Instagram, Robinhood, GitHub, and Stripe.

With a flexible mandate, Thrive makes investments across multiple stages, from seed to pre-IPO. The firm combines deep product thinking with strategic hiring support, positioning itself as a long-term partner to some of the most innovative companies globally.

Thrive is a venture capital firm based in NYC that embodies quality over quantity, backing startups across a wide range of industries with disciplined focus and scale.

RRE Ventures

RRE Ventures is a seasoned venture capital firm with a strong focus on early-stage technology companies. Since its founding in 1994, RRE has backed more than 400 companies, including BuzzFeed, Venmo, and Datadog.

RRE is one of the most respected VCs in NYC, with a reputation for supporting founders in New York startups through early product development and customer acquisition. It’s a capital firm based in New York that helps companies grow from idea to IPO with hands-on support and a wide partner network.

RRE Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm that plays a foundational role in the city’s startup ecosystem.

Let’s Recap

From thesis-driven pioneers like Union Square Ventures to deep-tech specialists like Lux Capital, venture capital in New York is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself. These New York-based VC firms support entrepreneurs across every stage; from the earliest seed rounds to high-growth expansion.

Each vc firm highlighted in this article brings a distinct investment philosophy, sector expertise, and value-add approach to the table. Their portfolio companies include some of the world’s most innovative and successful startups, spanning fintech, healthtech, consumer brands, and enterprise software.

If you're an entrepreneur actively seeking funding, identifying the right venture capital firm that invests in your space is crucial. Private Equity List makes this easier by helping you discover and connect with the ideal investors based on your stage, sector, and goals.

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Frequently Asked Questions: NYC Venture Capital Firms