San Francisco has long been the epicenter of venture capital and angel investing in the US. With its proximity to Silicon Valley and storied history of tech innovation, San Francisco investment companies have funded some of the world’s most successful startups and entrepreneurs. Here we will explore the top 5 VC firms making waves in San Francisco today.
Sequoia Capital – The King of Sand Hill Road
As one of the oldest VC firms in Silicon Valley, Sequoia Capital has invested in companies like Apple, Google, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp. With offices on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, Sequoia manages over $85 billion in assets and dominates the San Francisco VC landscape.
Kleiner Perkins – A Dotcom Era Powerhouse
Kleiner Perkins made prescient bets on Amazon and Google in the 1990s. Today they remain an elite VC firm, leading rounds for Stripe, Oscar Health, and other high-growth startups. Kleiner Perkins has navigated changing trends to retain its foothold in San Francisco.
Andreessen Horowitz – A Rising Star
Founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, a16z has quickly become a top-tier VC firm in San Francisco. With investments in companies like Airbnb, Box, and Lyft, a16z manages $19 billion in assets across multiple funds.
Greylock Partners – An Established Player
Since its founding in 1965, Greylock has invested in innovators like Facebook, Airbnb, Coinbase, and Red Hat. Today this venerable firm manages over $4 billion in assets from its Sand Hill Road offices.
Founders Fund – Contrarians Welcome
Led by iconoclastic investor Peter Thiel, Founders Fund is known for making bold bets early on companies like SpaceX, Airbnb, and Palantir before they were household names. Founders Fund brings a unique philosophy to San Francisco VC.
San Francisco investment companies like Sequoia, Kleiner Perkins, and a16z dominate the VC landscape, but upstarts like Founders Fund shake up the status quo. The innovation economy in the Bay Area continues to churn out exciting new startups.