The short answer
Our database lists 19,738 US startup investors who invest at seed, and 6,115 of those with a known state are based outside California, New York and Massachusetts. The most represented states are California (7,810), New York (3,586), Massachusetts (1,439), Texas (811), Florida (610). (Zalarma investor database, as of 2026-11-01.)
What seed investors look for
Seed rounds increasingly have a lead investor who sets terms, with angels and smaller funds filling the rest. Investors expect early revenue, strong usage or a clear signal that customers want the product.
Where they are
US states with the most seed investors in our database.
| State | Investors |
|---|---|
| California | 7,810 |
| New York | 3,586 |
| Massachusetts | 1,439 |
| Texas | 811 |
| Florida | 610 |
| Illinois | 592 |
| Washington | 540 |
| Colorado | 335 |
| Washington, DC | 306 |
| Pennsylvania | 305 |
| North Carolina | 257 |
| Utah | 238 |
| Georgia | 229 |
| Maryland | 184 |
| Ohio | 177 |
Seed investors by state
What stages they back
Of the 19,738 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 18,317 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance of Angels | Seed, Series A | 36 |
| Moving Capital | Seed, Series A | 27 |
| VentureSouth | Seed, Series A | 26 |
| Hustle Fund | Pre-seed, Seed | 26 |
| Plexus Capital, LLC | Seed, Series A, Series B+ | 18 |
| Florida Funders | Seed, Series A | 18 |
| Capital Factory | Seed, Series A, Series B+ | 16 |
| Cultivation Capital | Seed, Series A, Series B+ | 16 |
| Ridgemont Equity Partners | Pre-seed, Seed | 14 |
| Pioneer Fund | Seed, Series A, Series B+ | 14 |
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 seed investors are there in the US?
The Zalarma investor database lists 19,738 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. 6,115 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.