The short answer
The Zalarma database has 8,652 US startup investor records listing pre-seed and 19,738 listing seed, with 8,174 listing both. Angels are 40.2% of pre-seed records versus 26.5% of seed records (Zalarma investor database, as of 2026-11-01).
- 8,652 records list pre-seed; 19,738 list seed; 8,174 list both.
- Angels are 40.2% of pre-seed records and 26.5% of seed records.
- 51.4% of pre-seed records with a check size list $50K–$250K.
- Label your round honestly; seed funds measure you against seed metrics.
- Meet seed investors during your pre-seed and keep them updated.
Founders often use "pre-seed" and "seed" loosely. Investors do not. The label you choose decides which investors will take the meeting, what they expect to see and how big their checks are. Our data shows just how different the two pools are.
In the Zalarma database, 8,652 US startup investor records list pre-seed and 19,738 list seed (Zalarma investor database, as of 2026-11-01). The seed pool is more than twice the size. But the overlap is large: 8,174 records list both. So the real question is not which pool is bigger but which investors will act on your company at its current stage.
Pre-seed and seed investors side by side
| Measure | List pre-seed | List seed |
|---|---|---|
| US startup investor records | 8,652 | 19,738 |
| Angels & syndicates | 3,474 | 5,223 |
| Venture firms & partners | 5,448 | 15,055 |
| Micro-VCs | 64 | 177 |
| Accelerators | 181 | 282 |
| Check size under $50K | 1,546 | 2,259 |
| Check size $50K–$250K | 3,820 | 8,413 |
| Check size $250K–$1M | 1,185 | 4,323 |
| Check size $1M+ | 879 | 3,322 |
| Located outside CA, NY and MA | 2,894 | 6,115 |
Who funds each stage
Angels are a much bigger share of the pre-seed pool. 3,474 of 8,652 pre-seed records are angels or syndicates (40.2%), against 5,223 of 19,738 seed records (26.5%). Accelerators also lean pre-seed. At seed, venture firms dominate: 15,055 records.
The practical meaning: a pre-seed round is usually built on individuals and small funds who decide on the team and early evidence. A seed round is more often led by a fund that wants proof the product works and that customers will pay.
Check sizes tell the story
Of the 7,430 pre-seed records with a known check size, 51.4% list $50K to $250K and 20.8% list under $50K. Among the 18,317 seed records with a check size, 23.6% list $250K to $1M and 18.1% list $1M or more. Seed investors write bigger checks, as you would expect, and they need a bigger round to make their ownership target work.
Sector focus by stage
The sector mix is similar at both stages, with a few differences worth knowing. B2B SaaS is the most common focus in both pools: 5,562 pre-seed records and 11,587 seed records. Consumer is second in both (4,879 and 9,924). Biotech is relatively thinner at pre-seed: 1,396 pre-seed records against 3,880 at seed, a sign that many life sciences investors wait for more data or come in through university and grant-funded paths. Climate shows a similar pattern, with 1,600 pre-seed records and 3,045 seed records. If you are in a capital-heavy sector, expect a smaller pre-seed pool and plan to use non-dilutive funding, pilots or a strategic partner to reach seed-ready proof.
Which round are you actually raising?
There is no official definition, but investors generally read the stages like this:
| Signal | Usually pre-seed | Usually seed |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Prototype or early version | Live product with active users |
| Revenue | None or first pilots | Early, repeatable revenue or strong usage |
| Team | Founders, maybe one hire | Founders plus a small team |
| What the money proves | That customers want it | That you can sell it repeatably |
| Typical instrument | SAFE | SAFE or priced round |
Calling a pre-seed company "seed" to look more mature backfires. Seed funds will measure you against seed metrics and pass, and you will have skipped the pre-seed investors who would have said yes.
Why this matters more outside Silicon Valley
Outside California, New York and Massachusetts, our data has 2,894 pre-seed records and 6,115 seed records. The pre-seed pool in most states is a few dozen to a few hundred names, so you cannot afford to waste it. A clean stage filter lets a founder in a smaller market find every realistic early investor quickly, then save seed funds for the next round. Our pre-seed investors by state research shows the counts.
How to use this
- Pre-seed: lead with angels, angel groups, accelerators and micro-VCs that list pre-seed. Keep the round small and the instrument simple.
- Seed: lead with seed funds that list your sector, and bring metrics. Angels from your pre-seed can help with introductions.
- Either way: meet seed investors during your pre-seed, without asking for money. Send them updates. You are building the next round's pipeline.
Browse the pre-seed and seed investor pages, or ask us for five investors who fit your stage.
How we counted
Counts are records in the Zalarma investor database tagged as startup investors with a US location, as of 2026-11-01. A record is a person or a firm, and one record can list several stages, sectors and check sizes, so columns do not add up to the total. Shares use only records where that field is known. We never publish a count under 10; a dash means fewer than 10. More on sources in our data.
Frequently asked questions
How many pre-seed investors are there in the US?
The Zalarma database has 8,652 US startup investor records that list pre-seed, as of 2026-11-01.
What is the difference between pre-seed and seed?
Pre-seed usually funds a prototype and first customer proof; seed usually funds a live product with early, repeatable revenue or usage. Investors and check sizes differ accordingly.
Who invests at pre-seed?
Mostly angels, angel groups, accelerators and small funds. 3,474 of the US pre-seed records are angels or syndicates.
Can I raise from seed funds at pre-seed?
Some seed funds do write pre-seed checks; 8,174 records list both stages. Check each fund's stated stage and recent investments first.