The short answer
Our database lists 8,652 US startup investors who invest at pre-seed, and 2,894 of those with a known state are based outside California, New York and Massachusetts. The most represented states are California (3,576), New York (1,515), Massachusetts (408), Texas (385), Florida (325). (Zalarma investor database, as of 2026-11-01.)
What pre-seed investors look for
Pre-seed checks usually come from angels, angel groups, accelerators, micro-VCs and some family offices. Expect several smaller checks rather than one lead, and plan to raise from people who know your sector or your city.
Where they are
US states with the most pre-seed investors in our database.
| State | Investors |
|---|---|
| California | 3,576 |
| New York | 1,515 |
| Massachusetts | 408 |
| Texas | 385 |
| Florida | 325 |
| Illinois | 280 |
| Washington | 249 |
| Colorado | 191 |
| Pennsylvania | 130 |
| Washington, DC | 126 |
| North Carolina | 121 |
| Utah | 112 |
| Georgia | 109 |
| Maryland | 98 |
| Arizona | 87 |
Pre-seed investors by state
What stages they back
Of the 8,652 records in this group that list a stage, here is how many invest at each one (investors often list several).
Investors by stage
Who they are
The mix of investor types tells you where your first checks are most likely to come from.
Investors by type
Sectors they focus on
Sector focus as listed on each record. Generalists who list many sectors are counted in each.
Investors by sector focus
Typical check sizes
Based on the 7,430 records that list a check size (we use the low end of a stated range).
Investors by typical check size
Active firms outside California, New York and Massachusetts
Firms ranked by how many of their investors in this group appear in our database, counting only investors based outside the three biggest hubs. A starting map, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | Main stages | Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Hustle Fund | Pre-seed, Seed | 18 |
| Ridgemont Equity Partners | Pre-seed, Seed | 14 |
| Google Ventures | Pre-seed, Seed | 13 |
| Antler | Pre-seed, Seed | 10 |
| Ballast Point Ventures | Pre-seed, Seed | under 10 |
| Sweater Ventures | Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+ | under 10 |
| Moving Capital | Pre-seed, Seed | under 10 |
| Convoi Ventures | Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+ | under 10 |
| Wolfpack Investor Network | Pre-seed, Seed | under 10 |
| Bridge Angel Investors | Pre-seed, Seed | under 10 |
About this data
Counts are records in the Zalarma investor database, as of 2026-11-01: angels, venture firms and their partners, micro-VCs, family offices, corporate VCs and accelerators that list startup investing. One investor can appear in several stage or sector rows. Stage, sector and check size come from what each record lists, so not every record has every field. Counts under 10 are not shown. Firm names are listed; we do not publish personal contact details on this site. Read how we build and check the data.
Frequently asked questions
How many pre-seed investors are there in the US?
The Zalarma investor database lists 8,652 US startup investors in this group as of 2026-11-01. It is a count of records in our database, not of the whole market.
Are most of them in Silicon Valley?
No. 2,894 of those with a known state are based outside California, New York and Massachusetts.
How should I approach them?
Shortlist the investors whose stage, sector and check size match your round, find a warm path for the top 25, and send a short, specific note to the rest. Our guides cover both.
Can Zalarma introduce me?
Tell us about your round and within 2 business days we will send 5 hand-picked investors, each with a one-line why-they-fit. We never share your details with investors without your OK.