14 Pre-Seed AI & Machine Learning Investors in San Francisco — 14 Currently Deploying
Updated
Funds (14)
South Park Commons helps talented technologists and founders turn 'illegible into the inevitable' by providing a home for figuring out what's next, transitioning from -1 to 0 (pre-…
Invest first in founders making mutants a reality by reimagining the universe. Generalist investors backing companies that make 1 billion lives better through bold bets in deep tec…
Bee Partners backs radical technical founders at inception (pre-product, pre-revenue) with conviction-first capital. They invest in AI supercycle futures, enterprise AI agents, har…
YC turns builders into formidable founders by providing structured mentorship, funding, and network access during a 12-week batch program. The program transforms early-stage teams …
Write the first check to builders who are still dreaming, tinkering, and exploring what they want to create. Work with founders pre-product, pre-traction, and often pre-idea.
Pre-seed venture fund leading investments in Intelligent Industry Solutions, focused on AI-led innovation that delivers radical productivity, industrial efficiency through percepti…
Neo invests in people and the next generation of founders through pre-seed/seed funding, a startup residency program, and a diverse mentorship community. The fund believes in suppo…
Experienced founders (particularly serial/exit founders) win 22x more often. Zero-equity retreats attract elite repeat founders who avoid traditional accelerators, enabling first-m…
Specialists in pre-seed and seed investing, founded by operators who have built and scaled companies. Provide hands-on support through recruiting, GTM coaching, fundraising assista…
We're aligned with founders for the long haul, investing at the earliest stages with sector-agnostic conviction in exceptional entrepreneurs. We believe in founder alignment, early…
Back the world's best AI native founders at pre-seed and seed stages with product and go-to-market expertise from OpenAI, Meta, Twitter, and a16z to help them reshape the world.
First-check investor (pre-seed, seed, series A) deeply focused on AI-first companies. Partners selectively, cares deeply, and strives for excellence in reshaping industries through…
Baukunst is a collective of creative technologists advancing the art of building through pre-seed investments in companies at the frontiers of technology and design.
Alchemist guides technical founders on the journey from possibility to traction by transforming technical builders into CEOs ready to scale through intensive coaching, investor acc…
Which of these Pre-Seed AI & Machine Learning funds actually fits your startup?
DryPowder's AI matching ranks all 14 by thesis fit, check size, and deployment status.
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Frequently asked questions
How many pre-seed ai & machine learning investors are actively deploying right now?
DryPowder tracks 14 pre-seed ai & machine learning funds. Of these, 14 are currently deploying capital based on recent fund closes, portfolio activity, and partner signals. Use DryPowder's fund matching to see which ones fit your specific startup.
What check size do pre-seed ai & machine learning VCs write?
Among 14 pre-seed ai & machine learning funds on DryPowder, check sizes run from $25K–$5M. Ranges vary by fund size, vintage, and whether the fund leads rounds. Each fund profile shows check size detail and lead preference.
How do I get a meeting with a pre-seed ai & machine learning VC?
A warm intro is still the fastest path. Most pre-seed ai & machine learning VCs on DryPowder do accept cold outreach or direct applications, but response rates vary widely by fund. Before reaching out, use DryPowder's AI matching to get a fit score and specific talking points. Founders who lead with thesis-aligned framing get significantly better response rates than those sending the same deck to every fund on a list.
How long does a pre-seed round take to close?
Most pre-seed rounds close in 4-8 weeks once a lead is committed. The process is faster than seed because checks are smaller and terms are simpler. A SAFE or convertible note is standard. Founders who close quickly typically have a lead committed, 2-3 other investors lined up, and a hard deadline. Open-ended rounds with no timeline tend to stall.
How many pre-seed ai & machine learning investors should I be talking to at once?
Most fundraisers recommend a parallel process: identify 20-40 target investors but approach your highest-fit funds first. Of the 14 pre-seed ai & machine learning funds currently deploying, not all will match your specific stage and sector. Use fund matching to find your top 10-15, approach those first, collect feedback, then go wider. Going to every fund simultaneously without qualifying first burns bridges and dilutes the urgency that helps close a round.
How is DryPowder different from building a VC list on LinkedIn or Crunchbase?
The fund list you build on LinkedIn or Crunchbase is roughly the same list every other founder is building. DryPowder adds three things a manual search cannot: deployment signals (which funds have recently closed new vehicles and are actively writing checks), AI thesis matching (which of the 14 pre-seed ai & machine learning funds actually fits your specific startup, ranked by fit), and verified partner contact details. The goal is 15 targeted, thesis-aligned pitches instead of 150 generic ones.
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