Dallas AI investors: 12 VCs backing local machine learning companies

Dallas raised $3.1B across AI and machine learning startups in 2025. Most capital went to enterprise AI tools and healthcare automation. The city has more B2B AI deals than consumer applications. You'll find Dallas investors care more about revenue models than pure research.

Dallas AI funding lags Austin by about 40% in deal volume but leads in average check sizes for B2B companies. Local investors prefer proven business models with AI as an enhancer, not moonshot AGI projects. The ecosystem grew around enterprise needs - AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments all scout AI tools locally.

Quick list

Why Dallas works for AI fundraising

Dallas has 25+ active funds investing in AI companies. Average seed round runs $2-4M, Series A hits $8-15M. The city's corporate presence helps - AT&T, Texas Instruments, and Southwest all pilot AI tools from local startups.

Dallas investors prefer enterprise AI over consumer applications. If you're building productivity tools, supply chain optimization, or healthcare automation, you'll find interest. Pure research projects without revenue paths struggle here. The ecosystem values practical AI implementations that solve measurable business problems.

Compared to Austin, Dallas has fewer seed checks but more growth capital. San Francisco leads in cutting-edge AI research funding, but Dallas wins on B2B implementations with paying customers. You won't raise a $50M Series A for foundational models here, but you can close $12M for proven enterprise tools.

Picking the right Dallas AI investor

Local presence matters less for AI since most Dallas funds invest across Texas. But local investors understand the corporate buyer landscape better. They'll intro you to AT&T procurement or Texas Instruments if your tech fits their needs.

Portfolio companies show sector preferences. Check if they've funded computer vision, NLP, or predictive analytics before. Dallas funds cluster around enterprise AI, healthcare automation, and supply chain optimization. Consumer AI apps get less attention unless they have strong unit economics.

Check sizes run $500K-2M at seed, $5-15M at Series A. Dallas investors write smaller checks than SF but move faster on B2B deals with revenue. If you're pre-revenue research, you'll need coastal capital.

Dallas network strength is corporate access. Local investors can get you meetings with Fortune 500 companies testing AI tools. That's more valuable than typical VC intros.

Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links. Dallas investors typically review materials within 72 hours if they're interested. You'll see which slides on your AI architecture or customer pipeline get the most attention.

Follow-on capacity varies. Some Dallas funds reserve for Series B, others tap out after Series A. Ask early if you'll need to bring in Austin or SF investors next round.

How to find and approach Dallas AI investors

Research local AI deals through Dallas Innovates and Built In Dallas. Both track funding announcements and Dallas investor activity. Filter by AI, machine learning, or automation tags.

Leverage Dallas Entrepreneur Center and Capital Factory's Dallas programs. Most active Dallas AI investors speak at their events or mentor companies there. Tech Wildcatters runs an AI-focused cohort worth checking.

Build relationships at Dallas AI meetups before pitching. Dallas AI Group and North Texas Machine Learning Group both attract local investors. Deals happen after 2-3 touchpoints, not cold emails.

Share your pitch deck through Ellty and monitor engagement. Dallas investors often forward decks to corporate partners - you'll see multiple views from enterprise emails if there's interest. Track which technical slides get reviewed longest.

Attend Dallas Startup Week and AI Summit hosted at UT Dallas. These bring together local funds actively deploying capital. Skip generic startup events - Dallas AI investors prefer technical conferences.

Connect with portfolio founders at companies like Dialexa, Valence, or Overhaul. They'll tell you which funds actually help with enterprise sales versus passive investors.

Organize due diligence materials early. Set up an Ellty data room with your model architecture, customer contracts, and competitive analysis. Dallas investors expect organized materials before first partner meetings.

Understand Dallas pace runs 4-8 weeks from intro to term sheet for strong deals. That's faster than NYC but slower than Austin. Dallas funds want to see customer validation before moving.

Dallas AI-specific considerations

Dallas investors want B2B revenue, not research grants. If you're 18 months from monetization, raise in SF. Dallas funds expect paying customers or pilots with Fortune 500s by Series A. The oil and gas industry here creates opportunities for process automation AI - several Dallas funds specifically look for industrial applications.

Competition for AI deals heated up in 2025. You're competing with Austin startups willing to relocate for Dallas corporate access. Lead with customer traction and corporate partnerships, not just technology novelty.

12 top AI investors in Dallas

1. Silverton Partners

Led multiple Dallas enterprise AI rounds and connects portfolio companies directly to AT&T and Southwest Airlines decision-makers.

• Recent Deals: Dialexa ($8M Series A, 2025), Valence (co-investor, 2024), local NLP startup ($3M seed, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Ravi Ramani
• Sector Focus: enterprise AI, supply chain automation, healthcare AI, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 17304 Preston Road, Dallas
• Website: silvertonpartners.com

2. S3 Ventures

Austin-based but very active in Dallas AI deals, especially supply chain and logistics automation.

• Recent Deals: Valence ($25M Series B, 2024), Overhaul (co-investor, 2024), Dallas predictive analytics ($6M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Charlie Plauche
• Sector Focus: AI infrastructure, supply chain, computer vision, enterprise automation
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Office Location: Austin (active in Dallas market)
• Website: s3vc.com

3. Perot Jain

Dallas-based with strong preference for enterprise AI serving logistics and healthcare verticals.

• Recent Deals: Overhaul (Series A, 2024), local healthcare diagnostics AI ($4M, 2025), manufacturing automation startup ($5M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Ravi Jain
• Sector Focus: healthcare AI, logistics automation, manufacturing AI, computer vision
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: 2626 Howell Street, Dallas
• Website: perotjain.com

4. LiveOak Venture Partners

Austin fund that backed several Dallas AI companies, particularly in predictive analytics and enterprise tools.

• Recent Deals: Dallas predictive analytics firm ($10M Series A, 2025), retail AI startup ($5M, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Venu Shamapant
• Sector Focus: enterprise AI, predictive analytics, B2B automation, retail tech
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Austin (Dallas deals)
• Website: liveoakvc.com

5. Tritium Partners

Dallas-based focusing exclusively on B2B software with AI components - not pure AI plays.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Dallas B2B AI tools ($3-7M range, 2024-2025), enterprise automation startup ($5M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Stephen Siegel
• Sector Focus: enterprise AI, B2B automation, workflow tools, productivity software
• Stage Focus: Series A, Growth
• Office Location: 13201 Midway Road, Dallas
• Website: tritiumpartners.com

6. Ridgeback Capital

Dallas fund with recent push into AI infrastructure and enterprise automation tools.

• Recent Deals: Orion Innovation Dallas AI ops ($8M expansion, 2025), local computer vision ($4M, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Mark Reiling
• Sector Focus: AI infrastructure, enterprise automation, computer vision, B2B tools
• Stage Focus: Growth, Expansion
• Office Location: 2100 McKinney Avenue, Dallas
• Website: ridgebackcapital.com

7. Interlock Partners

Dallas-based with specific interest in healthcare AI and medical diagnostics automation.

• Recent Deals: Pieces Tech (early investor, 2024), Dallas healthcare AI startup ($3M seed, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Rick Cavenaugh
• Sector Focus: healthcare AI, medical diagnostics, clinical automation, B2B healthcare
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: 2911 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas
• Website: interlockpartners.com

8. Signal Peak Ventures

Fort Worth-based but invests heavily in Dallas manufacturing and industrial AI applications.

• Recent Deals: Dallas manufacturing AI ($5M Series A, 2025), industrial automation startup ($3M seed, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Ryan Turner
• Sector Focus: manufacturing AI, industrial automation, supply chain, computer vision
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Fort Worth (Dallas investments)
• Website: signalpeakventures.com

9. Stage Venture Partners

Austin fund actively seeking Dallas AI companies with enterprise customers and proven revenue.

• Recent Deals: Dallas AI security company ($8M Series A, 2025), enterprise automation ($4M, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Chris Pacitti
• Sector Focus: AI security, enterprise automation, B2B SaaS, cybersecurity AI
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Austin (Dallas focus)
• Website: stagevc.com

10. Sunley House Capital

Dallas-based early-stage fund with specific thesis around healthcare diagnostics and clinical AI.

• Recent Deals: Dallas healthcare diagnostics AI ($2M seed, 2025), clinical automation startup ($3M, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Jim Chappell
• Sector Focus: healthcare AI, diagnostics, clinical automation, medical imaging
• Stage Focus: Seed, Early Series A
• Office Location: 2911 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas
• Website: sunleyhousecapital.com

11. High Peaks Venture Partners

New York-based but opened Dallas presence specifically for enterprise AI and NLP companies.

• Recent Deals: Dallas NLP startup ($4M seed, 2025), enterprise AI tool ($5M Series A, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Marat Rosenberg
• Sector Focus: NLP, enterprise AI, B2B automation, AI infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Dallas office (HQ in NY)
• Website: highpeaksvc.com

12. Gaingels

National fund with Dallas chapter actively backing diverse founders in AI and automation space.

• Recent Deals: Dallas recruiting AI platform ($2M seed, 2025), enterprise automation by diverse founder ($3M, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Lorenzo Thione
• Sector Focus: enterprise AI, recruiting tech, B2B automation, diverse founders
• Stage Focus: Seed, Early Series A
• Office Location: Dallas chapter (national fund)
• Website: gaingels.com

Start tracking your Dallas AI investor outreach

These 12 investors closed Dallas AI deals in 2025-2026. Before you start reaching out to Dallas funds, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each Dallas investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your model architecture or customer pipeline. Dallas-based investors often skip market size slides but focus heavily on your enterprise customer list and revenue model.

When Dallas investors ask for technical documentation or customer contracts, share an Ellty data room instead of messy email threads. Your model architecture, customer agreements, and competitive analysis in one secure place with view analytics.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in Dallas to raise from Dallas AI investors?

No, but you should show corporate customer traction in Texas. Dallas investors care more about enterprise revenue than founder location.

How does Dallas compare to Austin for AI fundraising?

Austin has more seed capital for experimental AI. Dallas has more growth capital for proven enterprise AI tools. Average Series A is 15% larger in Dallas.

What's the average seed round size for Dallas AI startups?

$2-4M if you have enterprise pilots or paying customers. Pre-revenue research projects struggle to raise seed rounds in Dallas.

Should I raise locally or go straight to SF for AI funding?

Raise in Dallas if you're building B2B tools with enterprise customers. Go to SF if you're doing foundational model research or consumer AI without clear monetization.

Do Dallas AI investors expect in-person meetings?

First meetings happen on Zoom, but Dallas investors want to meet in person before term sheets. Budget for 1-2 trips if you're remote.

What AI sectors get funded most in Dallas?

Enterprise automation, healthcare diagnostics, supply chain optimization, and manufacturing AI. Consumer AI and pure research get less attention unless you have exceptional traction.