The District of Columbia is more than just a political hub; it's a growing center for new businesses. The venture capital scene here is active, supporting founders who are building the next big thing.
Firms like Paladin Capital Group have backed nearly 190 companies, while Quona Capital has made over 170 investments in fintech. Even Jeff Bezos's personal fund, Bezos Expeditions, has made its mark with over 110 investments from the city.
Below is our list of the best 18 VC firms in Washington D.C..
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Buy It For $97 $297 →Quona Capital invests in financial technology companies across emerging markets in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. They back startups using technology to radically improve the quality, access, and affordability of financial services for underserved consumers and businesses.
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Ganesh Rengaswamy, Jonathan Whittle, Miguel Herrera, Monica Brand Engel |
| Investment Stage | Convertible Note, Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 171 (71 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 9 |
| Contact | info@quona.com / 703-338-8813 |
Construct Capital backs early-stage founders building technology to transform foundational sectors of the economy, including manufacturing and supply chain. The firm focuses on Seed and Series A investments, partnering with founders to overhaul core parts of the economy that have been slow to adopt new technology.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Dayna Grayson, Rachel Holt |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 52 (21 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
| Contact | sayhello@constructcap.com |
Red Cell Partners operates as an incubation firm, building and investing in technology companies that address challenges in national security and healthcare. They support startups from seed to late stage, helping them introduce new advancements into these complex and critical markets.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Grant Verstandig, John Tenet, Kevin Keaton |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 14 (9 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | — |
| Contact | info@redcellpartners.com |
Bezos Expeditions manages the personal venture capital investments for Jeff Bezos, backing companies from their earliest seed rounds through to late-stage growth. The firm has backed category-defining companies such as Airbnb and Uber, helping them grow into global platforms.
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 115 (21 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 28 (11 IPO'd) |
| Contact | info@bezosexpeditions.com |
Paladin Capital Group backs companies developing advanced technologies for both commercial and government markets, with a focus on strengthening digital infrastructure. They bring a mix of financial, national security, and technical expertise to actively guide companies from the early stages through expansion.
| Year Founded | 2001 |
| Founders | Mark A. Maloney, Michael R. Steed |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Private Equity |
| Nº of Investments | 187 (73 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 54 (6 IPO'd) |
| Contact | submissions@paladincapgroup.com / 202-293-5590 |
Anzu Partners backs companies developing industrial and life science technologies, with a portfolio that includes hardware maker Arduino. The firm moves beyond just capital, providing entrepreneurs with deep expertise in business development, market positioning, and operations to commercialize their innovations.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | David Michael, David Seldin, Jimmy Kan |
| Total Funding | $448.4M |
| Industries | Life Sciences, Industrial, Hardware, Manufacturing, SaaS |
| Investment Stage | Debt, Early Stage, Post-Ipo, Private Equity, Seed, Growth, IPO |
| Nº of Investments | 71 (38 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 6 (3 IPO'd) |
| Top Portfolio Startups | Arduino, Azumo, Nuburu |
| Contact | info@anzupartners.com / +1 202-742-5870 |
AAF Management Ltd. provides capital to early-stage North American tech startups in fields ranging from fintech to deep tech. They also invest in emerging fund managers, a strategy that has placed companies like Reddit, Epic Games, and Ramp within their extended portfolio.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Kyle Hendrick, Omar Darwazah |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 133 (1 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 26 |
Accolade Partners builds portfolios of top-tier venture capital and growth equity funds focused on technology and healthcare. As a fund of funds, they provide investors with diversified access to promising US-based companies from seed stage through growth.
Revolution Ventures partners with early-stage companies using technology to challenge and reshape massive, established industries. They focus on backing ambitious entrepreneurs with compelling business concepts poised for significant growth and market impact.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Donn Davis, Tige Savage |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 50 (14 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 10 |
| Contact | (202) 776-1400 |
Updata Partners provides growth equity to capital-efficient B2B software companies that are ready to scale. Composed of former executives and entrepreneurs, the investment team works alongside management to accelerate growth and build market leaders.
| Year Founded | 1998 |
| Founders | Barry Goldsmith, Conor Mullett, Ira Cohen, John Burton |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Private Equity |
| Nº of Investments | 96 (67 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 40 (1 IPO'd) |
| Contact | info@updata.com / (202) 618-8750 |
8 Additional Washington D.C. VC Firms Worth Pitching
The firms we've highlighted so far are just the beginning of what D.C.'s funding scene has to offer. Together, this next group of VCs has backed nearly 500 startups and guided over 80 of them to successful exits.
These investors bring a mix of deep industry experience and fresh perspectives to the table. Here’s a look at the other venture capital firms funding what's next in the District of Columbia.