Finding the right investor in Cambridge can feel like a big task, but the local scene is full of strong partners. Firms like F-Prime have been around since 1946, with nearly 100 exits, showing the long-term potential here.
It's not just about longevity; firms like Flagship Pioneering have made over 280 investments, while SR One has seen more than 60 exits. To help you find the right fit, we've focused on the investors we think are most worth your time.
Below is our list of the best 21 VC firms in Cambridge.
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Buy It For $97 $297 →Safar Partners provides seed- to growth-stage funding for technology companies emerging from research universities like MIT, Harvard, and the University of Rochester. They concentrate on platform technologies in fields including cleantech, advanced materials, AI, robotics, and life sciences.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Arunas Chesonis, Nader Motamedy |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 76 (15 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 6 |
| Contact | info@safar.partners / (646) 510-4833 |
Castle Island Ventures invests exclusively in early-stage companies building the infrastructure and applications for public blockchains. The firm's mission is to help these foundational technologies scale and power services for a massive global user base.
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Matt Walsh, Nic Carter |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage |
| Nº of Investments | 115 (36 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 8 |
| Contact | 617-401-4017 |
First Star Ventures partners with technical founders at the seed and early stages, funding companies that use data and machine learning to solve real-world problems. They concentrate on frontier technologies such as AI and computational biotech, drawing on an extensive network of strategic partners to help their startups grow quickly.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Drew Volpe, Millie Liu |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 58 (9 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 9 |
| Contact | contact@firststar.vc / (707) 733-3739 |
As the corporate venture capital arm of GlaxoSmithKline, SR One invests globally in emerging life science companies. The firm seeks out businesses with innovative science that can significantly impact medical care, providing funding across all stages from seed to post-IPO.
| Year Founded | 1985 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Post-Ipo, Private Equity, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 206 (66 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 66 (38 IPO'd) |
| Contact | (610) 567-1000 |
Flagship Pioneering originates and develops companies based on scientific breakthroughs to transform human health and sustainability. Rather than simply investing, the firm acts as a company-creation platform, systematically building new ventures from bold scientific propositions.
| Year Founded | 2000 |
| Founders | Edwin Kania, Noubar Afeyan, Thomas de Vlaam |
| Investment Stage | Debt, Early Stage, Late Stage, Post-Ipo, Private Equity |
| Nº of Investments | 285 (102 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 70 (33 IPO'd) |
| Contact | 617-868-1888 |
Amadeus Capital Partners invests globally in technology companies across sectors like enterprise software, medtech, and cleantech. They support entrepreneurs at every stage from seed to buyout, offering operational experience and the flexibility of purchasing stakes from existing investors.
| Year Founded | 1997 |
| Founders | Anne Glover, Hermann Hauser |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Private Equity, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 285 (83 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 62 (7 IPO'd) |
| Contact | info@amadeuscapital.com / +44 3330 024 0777 |
Link Ventures funds early-stage, direct-to-consumer internet companies poised for hyper-growth. Their proprietary, data-driven approach to sourcing investments has helped build a portfolio that includes companies like EverQuote.
| Year Founded | 2006 |
| Founders | David Blundin, Robert Chaplinsky |
| Investment Stage | Convertible Note, Debt, Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 54 (21 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 5 (1 IPO'd) |
| Contact | linkventures@linkventures.com / (781) 228-5674 |
Mission BioCapital invests in early-stage life science companies, providing the capital and guidance needed to launch. The firm is distinguished by its leadership team, which draws on a long history of building science-based businesses to offer deep expertise and support.
| Year Founded | 2009 |
| Founders | Johannes Fruehauf, Johannes Fruehauf, Peter Parker |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 80 (15 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 19 (8 IPO'd) |
| Contact | hello@missionbiocapital.com / +1 617-812-3350 |
Cambridge Innovation Capital backs life sciences and deep-tech companies with a strong connection to the Cambridge ecosystem. As a preferred investor for the University of Cambridge, they gain unparalleled access to disruptive businesses across sectors like AI, quantum technologies, and genomics.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | William Tunstall-Pedoe |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 93 (32 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 11 (1 IPO'd) |
| Contact | enquiries@cic.vc / +44 (0) 1223 764875 |
With a history of backing iconic companies like Atari and Alibaba, F-Prime Capital Partners invests in technology and life sciences startups from their earliest stages. Because the firm doesn't raise outside capital, its global teams can focus entirely on supporting entrepreneurs as they build their companies.
| Year Founded | 1946 |
| Founders | — |
| Total Funding | $30M |
| Industries | Enterprise, Fintech, Healthcare |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 507 (124 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 98 (47 IPO'd) |
| Top Portfolio Startups | Sironax, Teleo, Stage |
| Contact | info@fprimecapital.com / 617-231-2400 |
11 Additional Cambridge VC Firms Worth Pitching
Of course, our top picks aren't the only VCs worth knowing in town. The firms below have backed over 1,400 startups and celebrated more than 300 exits combined.
They're writing checks for companies in biotech, climate, and software, reflecting the city's diverse talent. Take a look at the other venture capital firms helping build what's next in Cambridge.
