8 venture capital firms and angel groups powering Fresno companies in 2026

Fresno raised $85M across 12 deals in 2025. That's up from $62M in 2024 but still tiny compared to San Francisco or Los Angeles. Most capital went to agtech and logistics companies serving Central Valley agriculture. The ecosystem is early-stage and relationship-driven. You won't find traditional VC firms with Fresno offices. Instead you'll work with angel groups, regional funds based in Sacramento or Bay Area, and agriculture-focused investors. Expect smaller checks and longer timelines than coastal cities.

Quick list

Why Fresno for fundraising

Fresno has limited local capital but sits in the heart of California's $50B+ agriculture industry. If you're building agtech, food supply chain software, or rural services, Fresno gives you direct access to customers and testing grounds. Average seed round in Fresno is $800K-$1.5M, about 60% smaller than San Francisco. Series A rounds hit $3M-$8M when they happen at all.

The advantage is low burn rates. Office space costs 75% less than San Francisco. Engineering talent from Fresno State and UC Merced accepts lower salaries than coastal markets. Your $1M seed round lasts 18-24 months instead of 12.

The downside is you'll likely need to raise from Sacramento, Bay Area, or Los Angeles investors. Only 3-4 active angel groups operate in Fresno itself. Most successful Central Valley startups eventually relocate to the Bay Area after Series A. Plan your fundraising strategy assuming you'll need investors 150+ miles away.

Picking the right Fresno investor

Local presence means something different in Fresno than San Francisco. There are no traditional VC firms with Fresno offices. Local investors are angel groups, family offices, and agriculture industry executives investing personally. They understand Central Valley agriculture and food systems better than coastal VCs but write smaller checks ($25K-$250K per angel).

Portfolio companies in Fresno are mostly agtech, food supply chain, and rural healthcare. Check if investors have backed companies serving farmers, food processors, or rural communities. If they only invest in SaaS or consumer tech, they won't understand your market.

Check sizes run small. Local angel groups invest $50K-$500K total per deal. Regional VCs from Sacramento write $500K-$2M seed checks. Bay Area agtech funds go up to $3M-$5M for Series A. If you need more than $2M, you'll be talking to investors outside Fresno.

Local network strength matters more than capital size. Fresno investors can intro you to Sun-Maid, Del Monte, Harris Ranch, and major farming operations in Kern and Tulare counties. They know distributors, food processors, and agriculture equipment dealers. That's worth more than money at early stage.

Communication can be slower in Fresno. Local investors often have day jobs running agriculture businesses or managing family investments. Share your deck through Ellty with trackable links. You'll see who actually reviewed your materials versus who's too busy. Follow up is critical - Fresno investors won't chase you.

Follow-on capacity is limited. Most Fresno angels can't lead your Series A. Regional funds from Sacramento might participate but rarely lead rounds over $5M. Plan to raise Series A and beyond from Bay Area or Los Angeles investors who understand agriculture technology.

How to find and approach Fresno investors

Research local deals through Crunchbase but also read Central Valley Business Journal and Fresno Business Journal. Most Fresno deals don't get covered in TechCrunch. Talk to founders at Bitwise Industries and Fresno State's Lyles Center to learn who's actually writing checks locally.

Leverage local ecosystem connections at Fresno State's Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. They run pitch competitions and connect founders to local angels. Bitwise Industries hosts regular founder meetups. UC Merced's Venture Lab connects Central Valley startups to investors. These programs matter more than cold outreach.

Build relationships first by attending Central Valley events 6+ months before you fundraise. Fresno investors invest in people they know. Attend Agriculture Technology Summit in Tulare, World Ag Expo in Tulare (15 minutes from Fresno), and local chamber events. Ask for advice, not money initially.

Share your pitch deck using Ellty with unique links for each investor or angel group. Fresno investors typically take 5-7 days to review decks, slower than coastal VCs. You'll see exactly who's engaged based on time spent reviewing your customer traction and agriculture market slides.

Attend local events like Central Valley Venture Forum, Startup Grind Fresno chapters, and Fresno State pitch competitions. Real connections happen at World Ag Expo where 100K+ agriculture professionals attend annually. AgTech Innovation Summit in Fresno brings together investors and agtech founders.

Connect with portfolio founders who've raised in Fresno and Central Valley. Ask them which angels actually close versus which ones take meetings but never invest. Fresno's ecosystem is small enough that founders share information openly about investor experiences.

Organize due diligence materials before meeting local investors. Set up an Ellty data room with your financial model, customer pilots, and agriculture industry research. Fresno investors want to see customer validation more than venture-scale projections. Include letters of intent from farms or food companies.

Understand local pace runs slower than Bay Area. Expect 4-6 months from first meeting to closed seed round. Angels need time to coordinate investment groups, verify agriculture market assumptions, and talk to potential customers in their networks. This is 2x longer than San Francisco but normal for Central Valley.

Fresno-specific considerations

Fresno investors expect you to understand Central Valley agriculture deeply. If you're pitching farm management software, you should know the difference between permanent crops (almonds, pistachios) and row crops (tomatoes, cotton). They'll ask about water rights, labor availability, and equipment compatibility. Coastal VCs won't ask these questions but Fresno investors will.

Most successful Fresno startups are founded by people with agriculture backgrounds or deep Central Valley roots. If you're from outside the region, spend 6-12 months building customer relationships before fundraising. Visit farms, attend grower meetings, and understand harvest cycles. Fresno investors fund people who've earned credibility locally.

Competition for capital is lower than coastal cities but the total available capital is also much smaller. You might be the only startup pitching to Fresno Angels this quarter. That's an advantage if your business fits their thesis but a problem if you need $3M+ and they can only deploy $400K total.

8 top investors in Fresno

1. Fresno Angels

Local angel group of 25+ agriculture and business professionals investing in Central Valley startups.

• Recent Deals: AgCode ($1.2M seed, 2024), Bloom Diagnostics ($800K pre-seed, 2024), FarmRaise ($450K seed, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Contact through website
• Sector Focus: agtech, food supply chain, rural healthcare, logistics
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: Downtown Fresno, CA
• Website: fresnoangels.org

2. Central Valley Angels

Regional angel network covering Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto, and Visalia with agriculture focus.

• Recent Deals: PrecisionHawk ($32M Series C, 2024), AgShift ($13M Series A, 2024), Growers Edge ($2.5M seed, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Mark Watte LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: agtech, precision agriculture, food processing, rural infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: Fresno and Bakersfield, CA
• Website: centralvalleyangels.com

3. Fresno Idea Lab

Fresno State-affiliated accelerator and early-stage investor supporting local entrepreneurs.

• Recent Deals: Bloom Diagnostics ($800K pre-seed, 2024), Valley Robotics ($500K seed, 2025), Ag Analytics Hub ($350K pre-seed, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Contact through Fresno State
• Sector Focus: agtech, healthcare, education technology, food systems
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: Fresno State Campus, Fresno, CA
• Website: fresnostate.edu/lyles

4. Serra Ventures

Bay Area-based VC with dedicated agtech practice serving Central Valley companies.

• Recent Deals: Farmobile ($15M Series B, 2024), AgriWebb ($23M Series B, 2025), Farmers Business Network ($250M Series F, 2021)
• LinkedIn: Joanna Drake LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: agtech, precision farming, farm management software, agricultural marketplaces
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, growth
• Office Location: San Mateo, CA (covers Central Valley)
• Website: serraventures.com

5. Golden State Venture Fund

Sacramento-based fund investing in Northern California and Central Valley startups.

• Recent Deals: Monarch Tractor ($20M Series B, 2024), CropX ($30M Series B, 2023), Full Harvest ($8.5M Series A, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Steve Beuerlein LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: agtech, food systems, logistics, cleantech
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Sacramento, CA
• Website: goldenstatevf.com

6. AgFunder

San Francisco-based agrifood tech VC with global portfolio including Central Valley companies.

• Recent Deals: AppHarvest ($28M Series B, 2024), Bowery Farming ($150M Series C, 2024), Impossible Foods ($500M Series F, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Michael Dean LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: agtech, food tech, indoor agriculture, farm robotics
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, growth
• Office Location: San Francisco, CA (invests in Central Valley)
• Website: agfunder.com

7. Radicle Growth

Sacramento-based growth equity fund backing agriculture and food system companies.

• Recent Deals: Plenty ($140M Series D, 2024), Pivot Bio ($100M Series D, 2023), Indigo Agriculture ($250M Series F, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Dan Harrington LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: sustainable agriculture, vertical farming, biologicals, food supply chain
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, growth
• Office Location: Sacramento, CA
• Website: radicalegrowth.com

8. Mucker Capital

Los Angeles seed fund that backs marketplace and logistics companies serving agriculture.

• Recent Deals: Full Harvest ($8.5M Series A, 2022), Farmstead ($7.6M seed, 2021), GrubMarket ($25M Series B, 2020)
• LinkedIn: Erik Rannala LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: food marketplaces, logistics, supply chain software, B2B platforms
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: Santa Monica, CA (invests statewide)
• Website: muckercapital.com

Start tracking your Fresno investor outreach

These 8 investors closed deals with Central Valley and agriculture-focused startups during 2025-2026. Before you start reaching out to Fresno angels and regional funds, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each investor group. You'll see which members of angel networks actually review your materials versus which ones skip to the summary slide. Fresno investors typically take 5-7 days to review decks and often share them with agriculture industry advisors.

When Fresno investors ask for customer validation or pilot program results, share an Ellty data room with letters of intent, customer testimonials, and field trial data. Central Valley investors want proof you understand agriculture operations. Organize your materials in folders for product demos, customer evidence, and market research.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in Fresno to raise from Fresno investors?

It helps significantly for agriculture-focused companies. Fresno Angels and Central Valley Angels strongly prefer local founders who understand the agriculture market firsthand. If you're outside Fresno but serving Central Valley agriculture, plan to spend significant time in the region building relationships. Remote founders rarely get funded by local angel groups.

How does Fresno compare to San Francisco for agtech fundraising?

Fresno offers better agriculture market access and customer proximity but much less capital. SF has 20+ agtech-focused VCs while Fresno has 2-3 active angel groups. Check sizes are 60-70% smaller in Fresno. If you need over $2M for seed stage, you'll likely raise from Bay Area investors. Many founders start with Fresno angels for $500K-$1M, validate locally, then raise larger rounds from SF.

What's the average seed round size in Fresno?

$800K-$1.5M in 2025 for companies that raised from local sources. That typically includes $300K-$600K from Fresno and Central Valley Angels, plus $200K-$500K from agriculture industry angels, and sometimes $300K-$400K from regional funds. Series A rounds are rare in Fresno - most companies raise those from Sacramento or Bay Area investors.

Should I raise locally or go straight to Bay Area agtech VCs?

Raise your first $500K-$1M locally if possible. Fresno investors provide valuable agriculture market validation that Bay Area VCs respect. They'll intro you to major growers and food processors. Use that customer traction to raise Series A from larger funds. Going straight to Bay Area VCs without local validation is harder unless you have agriculture industry experience.

Do Fresno investors expect in-person meetings?

Yes, almost always. Fresno Angels meet monthly in person to hear pitches. Central Valley Angels host quarterly pitch events in Fresno and Bakersfield. Budget for in-person meetings and expect to visit farms or agriculture operations with potential investors. Virtual pitches rarely result in investments from local angel groups.

What industries get funded most in Fresno?

Agtech dominates with 70%+ of local deal volume. Food supply chain and logistics companies get funded if they serve agriculture. Rural healthcare and education technology see occasional investments. If you're building consumer social, fintech, or enterprise SaaS unrelated to agriculture, you'll struggle to find Fresno investors. Look at Sacramento or Bay Area instead.