If you're raising in Seattle, these firms should be on your radar. The right first call depends on what you're building and how early you are.
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Madrona has a phenomenal reputation, and in my experience, the team more than lives up to it. It's one of Seattle's defining venture firms, with deep local roots and a Bay Area office in Palo Alto. Office details
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Ascend VC founder Kirby Winfield is everywhere. He's the heartbeat of the Seattle startup ecosystem and would be my first call when raising a seed round locally. Ascend brings energy, backs companies early, and believes in the Northwest. Ascend
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Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) combines a startup studio with a venture fund. It helps founders build companies from scratch and invests in companies started outside the studio. It's a cornerstone of the Seattle startup ecosystem, and the team is great. PSL
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Flying Fish focused on AI before it was cool. The team is technical and comfortable getting into the weeds. If you're building an AI company at pre-seed or seed, it belongs on your list. Flying Fish
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FUSE spun out of Ignition and has become a firm Seattle founders should know. It has great investors with experience in enterprise software, and it's worth building a relationship early. FUSE's origins
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Maveron specializes in consumer businesses, and I consider it one of the great consumer investors worldwide. If you're building a consumer company in Seattle, it should be your first call. Maveron
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Founders' Co-op backs seed-stage companies across the Pacific Northwest. Its focus on helping founders outside Silicon Valley build companies that attract national investors makes it a natural firm to know locally. Founders' Co-op
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Tola Capital always surprises me with its size. The Seattle firm has raised $688 million across its funds and focuses on enterprise software and AI. If you're building software for businesses, it should be on your radar. Tola Capital
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Cercano Management grew out of Vulcan Capital, Paul Allen's investment organization. Now an independent firm based in Bellevue, it brings a long history of technology investing and deep connections to Seattle. Cercano's origins
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AI House, formerly AI2 Incubator, combines an incubator, investment capital, and a community for Seattle AI founders. It's worth knowing if you're starting an AI company and want help building from the idea stage. AI House