7 Pre-Seed Investors in New York — 7 Currently Deploying

Thesis-driven early-stage firm backing visionary founders building technologies of the future in Vertical AI, Deep Tech, Health, and Bio with strong data moats and Systems of Recor…

Seed-stage generalist investor supporting ambitious founders building enduring businesses across the United States, with focus on Software, Healthcare, Financial Services, Marketpl…

Partner with exceptional founders at the very inception of their entrepreneurial journey, focusing on pre-seed and seed stage investments with a data-driven approach across non-tra…

We help founders at seed stage with what matters most: building world-class teams, go-to-market strategy, and fundraising guidance, drawing from firsthand operational experience of…

Entrepreneur-led venture capital investing early in passionate founders tackling big market problems via technology. We provide financial and operational support, positioning ourse…

Human-first approach to venture capital investing in founders at earliest stages across human needs economy (health, wellness, workplace, community, experience). Back founders with…

Investing, building and working with exceptional creators and makers since 2008. Focus on AI agents and developer tools as evidenced by AI Camp and agent-focused events.

How many pre-seed investors are actively deploying right now?

DryPowder tracks 7 pre-seed funds. Of these, 7 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 VCs write?

Among 7 pre-seed funds on DryPowder, check sizes run from $50K–$3M. 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 VC?

A warm intro is still the fastest path. Most pre-seed 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 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 7 pre-seed 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 7 pre-seed 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.