Below is a list of selected venture capital firms and angel investor networks that are actively investing in the Raleigh-Durham area. Most are split between a technology or life sciences focus, although many invest in additional industries, as well. Please research them at their linked websites, to see who may be the best fit for you. I organized this list in terms of stage of investment focus, from early to late stage investors. So, please don't reach out to VC's if you do not fit their target criteria. And, be sure to research their specific technology focus on their websites (e.g., healthcare, education, digital media, SaaS), to make sure your business is a fit for them. Also, as a reminder, don't blindly cold call these companies. It is always best to have a warm intro into one of their partners, where Red Rocket or others may be able to help here.
ANGEL INVESTOR NETWORKS IN RALEIGH-DURHAM
Carolina Angel Network -- UNC angels for UNC related entrepreneurs
Carolina Seed Investors -- life sciences focus
Duke Angel Network -- Duke angels for Duke related entrepreneurs
Eagle Angel Network -- UNNC angels for UNNC related enterpreneurs
Investors' Circle -- impact investing
Raleigh Investment Group -- A network of CEOs looking for alternative investments
Raleigh Investment Group -- A network of CEOs looking for alternative investments
RTP Angel Fund -- for promising startups based in North Carolina or the Southeast
RTP Capital Associates -- technology centric, or low-tech execution driven
Triangle Angel Partners -- high tech and life sciences
Triangle Venture Alliance -- UNC, Duke, NCSU, NCCU consortium of networks
Wolfpack Investor Network -- NC State angels for NC State related entrepreneurs
xElle Ventures -- women angel network for women entrepreneurs
SEED STAGE (Up to $250K checks from $0 revenues)
Attic Ventures -- pre-seed creation stage
RTP Capital Associates -- technology centric, or low-tech execution driven
Triangle Angel Partners -- high tech and life sciences
Triangle Venture Alliance -- UNC, Duke, NCSU, NCCU consortium of networks
Wolfpack Investor Network -- NC State angels for NC State related entrepreneurs
xElle Ventures -- women angel network for women entrepreneurs
SEED STAGE (Up to $250K checks from $0 revenues)
Attic Ventures -- pre-seed creation stage
Cape Fear BioCapital -- therapeutics focus
Champion Hill Labs -- technology focus
Cofounders Capital -- software focus
Contender Capital -- technology focus
Full Tilt Capital -- technology focus
Cofounders Capital -- software focus
Contender Capital -- technology focus
Full Tilt Capital -- technology focus
Front Porch Venture Partners -- represent family offices looking for startups
Harbright Ventures -- technology, services, healthcare, industrial focus
Inception Micro Angel Fund (IMAF) -- generalists
Madison River Ventures -- ecommerce, SaaS focus
North Carolina Venture Capital Fund -- technology focus
Pilot Mountain Ventures -- technology and medical devices
Inception Micro Angel Fund (IMAF) -- generalists
Madison River Ventures -- ecommerce, SaaS focus
North Carolina Venture Capital Fund -- technology focus
Pilot Mountain Ventures -- technology and medical devices
Primordial -- pre-seed tech companies based in the Triangle area
Resilient Ventures -- African American founded and owned businesses.
Solidarity Capital Group -- social impact (community dev, economic dev, sustainable agric., energy/environmental, social finance)
Resilient Ventures -- African American founded and owned businesses.
Solidarity Capital Group -- social impact (community dev, economic dev, sustainable agric., energy/environmental, social finance)
Sustainable Food Ventures -- sustainable food products
Triangle Tweener Fund -- regional index fund spreading money across early stage companies.
EARLY STAGE (Up to $1MM checks in up to $1MM revenues)
BioInnovation Capital -- life sciences in partnership with local BioLabs incubator
Bull City Venture Partners -- software, internet focus
IDEA Fund Partners -- technology focus
Morgan Creek Funds -- blockchain focus
EARLY STAGE (Up to $1MM checks in up to $1MM revenues)
BioInnovation Capital -- life sciences in partnership with local BioLabs incubator
Bull City Venture Partners -- software, internet focus
IDEA Fund Partners -- technology focus
Morgan Creek Funds -- blockchain focus
Oval Park Capital -- deep technology and enterprise software
Triangle Tweener Fund -- backing early stage companies in Triangle area
SERIES A STAGE ($1MM-$5MM checks in $1MM-$5MM revenues)
Cato BioVentures -- life sciences focus
Cherokee Investment Partners -- real estate, environmental, energy, others
Jurassic Capital -- B2B software
SJF Ventures -- impact investing
SERIES A STAGE ($1MM-$5MM checks in $1MM-$5MM revenues)
Cato BioVentures -- life sciences focus
Cherokee Investment Partners -- real estate, environmental, energy, others
Jurassic Capital -- B2B software
SJF Ventures -- impact investing
Union Grove Venture Partners -- data, agriculture, retail, and food tech
SERIES B STAGE ($5MM-$20MM checks in over $5MM revenues)
Fulcrum Equity Partners -- healthcare and technology focus (Chapel Hill office of Atlanta firm)
Hatteras Venture Partners -- life sciences focus
Intel Capital -- technology focus (corporate backed by Intel)
One Better Ventures - mission-driven consumer brands
River Cities Capital Funds -- healthcare and technology focus
True Bridge Capital Partners -- into funds early or mid-to-late stage direct, tech focus
ALL STAGES
Echo Health Ventures -- healthcare focus
Pappas Ventures -- life sciences focus
STARTUP STUDIOS
Acorn Innovestments -- advanced materials that solve environmental issues
Bluedoor -- healthcare technology
Bootstrap Advisors -- niche consumer products, online training, telehealth focus
Disruptive Enterprises -- food & beverage focus
8 Rivers -- sustainable infrastructure innovations in future-critical areas
Excelerate Health Ventures -- healthcare focus
Golden Pine Ventures -- biotechnology and biomedical focus
The Launch Place -- generalist
OTHER NORTH CAROLINA FIRMS WHO INVEST IN RALEIGH-DURHAM
Asheville Angels (seed stage, Asheville)
Blue Ridge Angel Investor Network (seed stage, Asheville)
Charlotte Angel Fund (seed stage, Charlotte)
Double Time Capital (growth stage, Charlotte, sustainable energy)
ECU Investor Network (seed stage, Greenville)
Frontier Capital (growth stage, Charlotte)
Lowe's Ventures (all stages, Mooresville, emerging tech, retail tech, home tech)
North Carolina Innovation Funds (Charlotte, state fund co-invests behind other VCs)
Piedmont Angel Network (seed stage, Winston-Salem)
SunBridge Partners (early stage, Charlotte, technology with global applications)
VentureSouth Piedmont (angel network, Piedmont area)
Wilmington Investor Network (seed stage, Wilmington)
OTHER FIRMS
I would also recommend reaching out to investors outside of North Carolina who are open to investing in the region. So, research venture investors in the surrounding states in the Southeast. Or, even further beyond, as I know a lot of Chicago venture capitalists are open to investing in smart companies, wherever they are located, and for the right companies, Red Rocket can make introductions to our relationships there.
For future posts, please follow me on Twitter at: @georgedeeb.
SERIES B STAGE ($5MM-$20MM checks in over $5MM revenues)
Fulcrum Equity Partners -- healthcare and technology focus (Chapel Hill office of Atlanta firm)
Hatteras Venture Partners -- life sciences focus
Intel Capital -- technology focus (corporate backed by Intel)
One Better Ventures - mission-driven consumer brands
ALL STAGES
Echo Health Ventures -- healthcare focus
Pappas Ventures -- life sciences focus
STARTUP STUDIOS
Acorn Innovestments -- advanced materials that solve environmental issues
Bluedoor -- healthcare technology
Bootstrap Advisors -- niche consumer products, online training, telehealth focus
Disruptive Enterprises -- food & beverage focus
8 Rivers -- sustainable infrastructure innovations in future-critical areas
Excelerate Health Ventures -- healthcare focus
Golden Pine Ventures -- biotechnology and biomedical focus
The Launch Place -- generalist
Rex Health Ventures -- UNC related, healthcare focus
Sherpa Collaborative -- consumer products focus
OTHER NORTH CAROLINA FIRMS WHO INVEST IN RALEIGH-DURHAM
Asheville Angels (seed stage, Asheville)
Blue Ridge Angel Investor Network (seed stage, Asheville)
Charlotte Angel Fund (seed stage, Charlotte)
Double Time Capital (growth stage, Charlotte, sustainable energy)
ECU Investor Network (seed stage, Greenville)
Frontier Capital (growth stage, Charlotte)
Lowe's Ventures (all stages, Mooresville, emerging tech, retail tech, home tech)
North Carolina Innovation Funds (Charlotte, state fund co-invests behind other VCs)
Piedmont Angel Network (seed stage, Winston-Salem)
SunBridge Partners (early stage, Charlotte, technology with global applications)
VentureSouth Piedmont (angel network, Piedmont area)
Wilmington Investor Network (seed stage, Wilmington)
OTHER FIRMS
I would also recommend reaching out to investors outside of North Carolina who are open to investing in the region. So, research venture investors in the surrounding states in the Southeast. Or, even further beyond, as I know a lot of Chicago venture capitalists are open to investing in smart companies, wherever they are located, and for the right companies, Red Rocket can make introductions to our relationships there.
For future posts, please follow me on Twitter at: @georgedeeb.