November 14, 2025
New York City (NYC) has no shortage of early-stage seed investors, but a smaller group consistently shows up for B2B SaaS and software founders when it actually counts. The city is one of the world’s densest hubs for venture capital, and its early-stage ecosystem is filled with operators who’ve built, scaled, and exited meaningful software companies before shifting into investing. That experience matters - especially when you’re navigating the messy, zero-to-one stretch.
New York has become one of the most active early-stage markets for venture capital, especially in software. And with SaaS attracting the majority share of investment dollars over the past year, over sectors like manufacturing and ecommerce, founders building in B2B are raising into a constructive environment.
The right seed investors don’t just help with strategy - they help you pressure-test your go-to-market, open doors to early customers, and add real credibility when you head into your next raise.
At Bonfire Ventures, B2B software is the entire focus. The founders we’ve partnered with have built more than $18B in exit value, and we’ve seen how much faster companies grow when their earliest investors are fully in the trenches, not just along for the ride.
This guide highlights the early-stage seed investors who are actively backing B2B SaaS and software companies in New York City. Each brings meaningful experience with B2B teams, a strong network, and the conviction to support you through the earliest and most defining phases of company-building.
Titles like “pre-seed,” “early-stage,” and “seed” get used loosely across the industry, and the label on a fund doesn’t always match how they deploy capital. That’s why it helps to focus on what a fund does, not what it calls itself when you’re trying to raise seed funding.
Pre-seed investors are usually the first institutional partners on your cap table. They back you when you have an MVP, a few early users, and the earliest signals of traction. At this stage:
“Early-stage” is an umbrella term. It can mean pre-seed, seed, or even a lighter Series A, depending on the firm. Early-stage funds look for a working product, early customer validation, and a team that can move quickly. They’re evaluating whether you can scale beyond proof-of-concept. If they see qualities they like, they often lead rounds that push you into the first full go-to-market motion.
Seed investors step in when your business is a little more established. This stage is a point where external investment moves beyond the founders’ circle and the company has a product in the market, early sales, and a defined team structure. At seed you’ll see:
When you’re fundraising, chasing the wrong type of investor can cost you crucial time. Rather than trusting labels, look at what a fund actually invests in. Also, pay attention to deal sizes, the stages of their portfolio companies, and how many early rounds they’ve written recently.
Now that you know what to look for, let’s explore the best early-stage seed investors for SaaS and software companies in NYC. Every fund included here has a real track record backing founders early, whether they call themselves pre-seed, early-stage, or seed.
Bonfire Ventures is the largest firm on the West Coast dedicated exclusively to leading seed rounds for B2B software founders. Founded in 2017 by Mark Mullen and Jim Andelman, the team now manages over $1B across four funds.
Bonfire writes meaningful lead checks in the $2.5M to $4M range and keeps the portfolio intentionally small to stay hands-on with every founder. More than 75% of Bonfire’s companies raise successful Series A rounds - nearly double the industry average.
The portfolio includes breakout SaaS companies like Boulevard, MNTN, and The Trade Desk. While some firms write checks and disappear, Bonfire shows up early and sticks around to help founders build for scale.
Learn more about partnering with Bonfire
2048 Ventures is an early-stage fund based in New York and Boston. The firm raised a $67M Fund II to lead early institutional rounds across the U.S. and Canada and invested in more than 100 companies since launch. Typical first checks fall in the $500K-$2M range, depending on traction and sector fit.
AlleyCorp is a New York-based venture firm founded by Kevin Ryan, who previously co-founded companies such as MongoDB, Business Insider, and Gilt Groupe. The firm both invests in and incubates companies, making it one of the few NYC funds that regularly starts companies in-house. They’ve backed more than 100 startups across SaaS, healthcare, and enterprise categories.
Bain Capital Ventures is the venture arm of Bain Capital and manages more than $10B in assets across early and growth-stage funds. The firm has invested in over 400 companies, with a focus on enterprise software and infrastructure. Their seed checks often land in the $500K-$3M range, before supporting companies through later-stage financings.
Bessemer Venture Partners is one of the longest-standing venture firms in the country, with origins dating back to 1911. The firm has backed over 200 IPOs and exits and has more than $20B in assets under management. While known for larger growth investments, Bessemer still regularly participates in seed rounds across SaaS and infrastructure.
Betaworks Ventures is the venture arm of Betaworks, the New York-based studio known for building and investing in early-stage internet companies. The fund has backed more than 250 startups, with a consistent focus on AI, applied machine learning, and new interfaces for software. Initial checks typically fall between $100K-$500K at the pre-seed or seed stage.
Bloomberg Beta is an early-stage venture fund backed by Bloomberg L.P. The firm has invested in more than 300 startups since launching in 2013, including early checks into Slack and Flexport. Bloomberg Beta typically writes initial checks from $100K-$500K, with follow-on participation depending on traction and stage.
Boldstart Ventures is a New York-based early-stage that backs developer-first and enterprise infrastructure startups. The team has made more than 200+ early-stage investments and frequently leads or anchors pre-seed rounds for technical founding teams. Their initial checks typically land in the $250K-$1.5M range.
BoxGroup is a New York-based early-stage fund founded by David Tisch and Adam Rothenberg. The firm makes 60-100 investments per year, positioning itself as a high-volume, first-check partner for founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. BoxGroup has backed more than 500+ startups, including early investments in Airtable, Stripe, and Ramp.
Company Ventures is an early-stage firm based in NYC, known for working closely with founders through its Manhattan-based innovation hub, Grand Central Tech (GCT). The firm has backed 100+ startups across software, fintech, and digital health since launching its first cohort in 2014. Their model combines capital with access to the GCT community, which includes alumni companies like Bowery Farming and Springtide.
Contour Venture Partners is an early-stage fund focused on SaaS and data-driven companies. The firm has invested in more than 120 startups since its founding in 2005. Contour typically leads or co-leads seed rounds with first checks landing in the $500K-$1.5M range.
Eniac Ventures is a New York-based early-stage fund founded by four technical founders who have built and scaled companies together for over a decade. Initial checks typically fall in the $250K-$1M range depending on sector and traction. The firm has invested in more than 200 startups and focuses on backing teams at the earliest stages.
FirstMark is a New York-based venture firm founded in 2008 with a long track record of backing software companies. The team has invested in 100+ startups and typically leads seed and Series A rounds across enterprise, AI, and data-driven software markets. Initial checks commonly fall in the $1M-$3M range.
Founder Collective is a seed-stage venture firm founded by a group of former entrepreneurs, including David Frankel and Eric Paley. They focus on backing founders at the earliest seed stage across software and marketplace categories. The firm has invested in 300+ companies, with early checks into major platforms Uber and SeatGeek.
Gutter Capital is an early-stage fund founded in 2021 by Dan Teran and Ilia Zelenkin, both former operators with backgrounds in SaaS and workforce technology. The firm has invested in 40+ startups across software, fintech, and climate categories. Gutter Capital typically leads or co-leads pre-seed and seed rounds and has been active across the U.S. since launching Fund I.
Hannah Grey is a pre-seed and seed-stage venture firm founded by Maren Bannon and Jennifer Neundorfer. The firm launched its debut $52M fund to back founders building software within work, health, and digital experiences. Hannah Grey has invested in 40+ startups and writes $350K-$1M checks.
Hack VC is an early-stage venture firm led by Ed Roman and Alex Pack. They commonly back technical teams building blockchain infrastructure. The firm manages a $150M early-stage crypto fund and has backed more than 100+ projects across core infrastructure, Layer-2 scaling, and developer tooling.
Insight Partners is a global software-focused investment firm managing more than $90B in regulatory assets. The firm has invested in 600+ companies since it started in 1995. While known for its large growth checks, Insight also participates selectively in seed and Series A rounds.
Interlace Ventures is a New York-based fund focused on software and infrastructure that power the future of commerce. The firm invests in pre-seed and seed-stage startups building tools for brands, merchants, and digital commerce operators. Interlace has backed 50+ companies across retail tech, AI-driven commerce workflows, and consumer enablement platforms.
Lerer Hippeau is one of the most active venture firms on the East Coast. Founded in 2010 by Eric Hippeau and Kenneth Lerer, the firm has invested in 400+ companies. Their early-stage checks typically range from $300K-$1.5M.
NEA is one of the world’s largest venture firms, managing more than $25B+ in assets and investing across technology and healthcare. Since 1977, the firm has backed 1,000+ companies. NEA participates in seed and Series A rounds with checks usually ranging from $1M-$5M.
Notation Capital is a Brooklyn-based pre-seed venture firm founded in 2014 by Nicholas Chirls and Alex Lines. The firm focuses exclusively on backing companies at the pre-seed stage and has invested in 50+ startups across software, developer-focused tools, and fintech infrastructure. Notation was one of the first institutional pre-seed firms in NYC, and their initial checks generally range from $250K-$750K.
Oceans is a pre-seed and seed fund led by a group of former operators from companies including Tumblr, Venmo, and Chartbeat. The firm has invested in 60+ startups across SaaS, AI, and consumer technology since launching its first fund. Oceans writes first checks in the $250K-$1M range.
Precursor Ventures is a pre-seed-focused firm founded by Charles Hudson that backs companies before a product or revenue is in place. Their initial checks typically fall in the $250K-$500K range, depending on sector and founding team. The firm has invested in 300+ startups since launching in 2015.
QED Investors is a fintech-focused venture firm founded in 2007 by Nigel Morris, co-founder of Capital One. The firm manages $4B+ in assets and has invested in more than 200+ companies across financial software, payments, and infrastructure. Their seed and early-stage checks commonly range from $500K-$3M.
Primary Venture Partners is a firm founded by Brad Svrluga and Ben Sun, both longtime operators and investors in the NYC tech ecosystem. The firm has backed 150+ companies and has one of the largest in-house talent and recruiting teams among seed funds. Their first checks typically fall in the $750K-$3M range for pre-seed and seed rounds.
RRE Ventures is a long-standing New York venture firm founded in 1994. The firm has invested in 400+ startups and participates across seed and early Series A rounds in sectors like enterprise SaaS, cybersecurity, and applied AI. Their early checks typically range from $500K-$2M.
Tribeca Venture Partners is a firm founded by Brian Hirsch and Chip Meakem. Tribeca typically leads or co-leads seed and Series A rounds across software, fintech, and applied technology markets. The firm has backed 50+ companies with checks ranging from $1M-$3M.
Union Square Ventures is a New York–based venture firm founded in 2003 by Fred Wilson and Brad Burnham. USV focuses on software with strong network effects, open protocols, or large-scale user communities. The firm has invested in 100+ companies.
Two Sigma Ventures is the venture arm of Two Sigma, the quantitative investment firm that focuses on data science and applied machine learning. The venture team has invested in 100+ startups centered on companies leveraging data and computation to solve complex problems across enterprise software, fintech, and life sciences. Their seed and Series A checks typically range from $1M-$5M.
Work-Bench is a New York–based enterprise software fund founded in 2013 with a focus on backing companies selling into mid-market and Fortune 500 organizations. The firm has long-running NYC enterprise community events, which connect founders with corporate buyers and technical leaders. They’ve invested in 60+ startups with seed checks commonly landing in the $500K-$2M range.
NYC always finds itself among the top cities for investing for good reason. There are a lot of positive signals for companies looking for funding:
Now that you’ve explored the top seed investors in New York City, you’re ready to select the best-fit partner for how you operate. The best investors understand B2B software, move with conviction, and help you build the foundation for a strong Series A.
At Bonfire Ventures, we’re experts on the seed stage. We lead rounds with $2.5-$4M checks and invest exclusively in B2B SaaS, which keeps our focus sharp and our partnerships hands-on. More than 75% of our founders raise a successful Series A, a result of the deep involvement we put into hiring, go-to-market strategy, early metrics, and customer access.
Whether you’re refining your sales motion, building out your initial leadership team, or preparing your next raise, we support you with the experience that comes from decades of backing multimillion-dollar SaaS companies.
Learn how to work with Bonfire Ventures.
Seed investors want proof that your product is being used, not just tested. They want to see active users, repeatable workflows, and early customer enthusiasm. They also expect a clear go-to-market motion they can help you scale, whether that’s founder-led sales or the first hints of a repeatable outbound motion.
They look closely at how well you understand your metrics; growth rate, churn risk, payback period. These numbers determine how fast they can help you reach Series A.
Most seed rounds land around $3.5M, depending on traction and market conditions. Funds want to give you enough runway to hire early leaders, validate your pricing, and reach the metrics Series A investors expect. This is typically good for 18-24 months of execution.
Start by mapping who actually invests at your stage, not just who lists “early stage” on their website. Look at their last 10-20 deals to confirm fit. From there, ask current founders, operators, and angels in your network which firms move quickly and which ones are looking for companies like yours. Once you have the right shortlist, draft an intriguing narrative around your product and what this round will unlock, so every meeting is focused on whether you can scale.
