Venture capital investors in Long Beach, California in 2026

Long Beach raised $420M across 52 deals in 2025. Most capital went to logistics tech, supply chain software, and maritime technology. The city hosts the second-busiest container port in the US, which shapes what gets funded here. You won't raise consumer social or gaming easily in Long Beach - investors want B2B tools that serve port operations, logistics, or industrial businesses.

Long Beach sits between LA and Orange County, so you're pitching investors from both regions. Your port proximity matters if you're building supply chain or logistics tech. For other sectors, you'll compete with the broader LA metro and might as well be based in Santa Monica or Culver City.

Quick list

Why Long Beach works for logistics and maritime fundraising

Long Beach sits at the center of America's largest port complex. The Port of Long Beach moves $200B+ in cargo annually. That means easier access to pilot customers in shipping, logistics, and supply chain operations. Investors here understand maritime operations and port logistics better than typical tech VCs.

LA metro raised $14.8B total in 2025, with Long Beach representing about 3% of that volume. Average seed round in Long Beach is $2.5M, Series A is $12-18M. That's solid for a secondary market but smaller than Santa Monica or Culver City averages.

The downside is limited investor density in Long Beach proper. Most VCs operate from Santa Monica, Culver City, or Irvine. You'll drive 45-90 minutes for meetings. If you're not building logistics or maritime tech, your Long Beach location doesn't help - you're just another LA metro startup competing with hundreds of others.

Picking the right LA metro investor for Long Beach startups

Local presence: LA metro investors understand Southern California's logistics infrastructure. They won't care whether you're in Long Beach versus Torrance or Carson. They will care if you understand port operations, drayage dynamics, or warehouse automation trends that define the region.

Portfolio companies: Look for investors who've backed supply chain tech, logistics software, or maritime operations companies. Mucker Capital and Upfront Ventures both understand Long Beach's port ecosystem. Check if they've funded companies selling to shipping lines, freight forwarders, or 3PL warehouses.

Check sizes: Seed rounds are $2-4M, Series A is $10-20M in LA metro. Long Beach startups get similar terms as other LA metro companies - your specific city doesn't affect valuation much. Logistics and maritime tech sometimes command lower valuations than pure software plays because growth rates are slower.

Local network: Best LA metro investors can intro you to APM Terminals, COSCO, or major 3PL warehouse operators at Long Beach port. Upload your deck to Ellty and send trackable links to see which investors actually review your port operations analysis and customer pipeline.

Follow-on capacity: LA has strong Series A and B capital but you'll likely need Bay Area or NYC investors for later rounds. Some LA funds co-invest well with SF logistics specialists like 8VC or Lux Capital on supply chain deals.

How to find and approach LA metro investors from Long Beach

Research LA logistics deals: Check Pitchbook for recent LA metro investments in supply chain, logistics, and maritime tech. Don't limit to Long Beach only - you're competing with the entire region. Look at companies that serve Port of Long Beach or Port of LA operations.

Leverage port connections: Long Beach port handles 8M+ containers annually. If you're building logistics tech, connect with operations teams at major shipping lines or terminal operators. Many LA investors source deals through port executive referrals.

Build relationships across LA metro: Attend LA Venture Association events in Santa Monica, Amplify.LA demo days, or OC Tech Alliance meetings in Irvine. Long Beach has fewer startup events, so you'll network across the broader region. Most deals happen through relationships built in Santa Monica or Culver City.

Share your pitch deck: Upload to Ellty and create unique links for each investor. You'll see who actually opens your slides about port operations and logistics infrastructure. LA metro investors expect polished decks - competition here is fierce and presentation quality matters more than in secondary markets.

Attend Long Beach Startup Week: This annual event brings LA metro investors to Long Beach specifically. Better ROI than driving to Santa Monica repeatedly. The port logistics focus attracts relevant investors who understand maritime and supply chain operations.

Connect with logistics founders: Talk to founders at companies like Portless, ShipBob, or Loadsmart. They've navigated LA metro fundraising while building logistics businesses. They'll tell you which funds actually understand shipping operations versus generic software investors.

Organize due diligence: Set up an Ellty data room with your financial model, customer contracts, and port partnership agreements if relevant. LA investors move quickly once interested - having organized materials ready accelerates the process significantly. Founders often rely on secure GDPR-aligned sharing to keep this information controlled.

Understand LA's pace: Deals typically close in 2-4 months here. LA metro investors are faster than most markets but slower than SF. They expect 2-3 meetings before term sheets, often including facility tours if you're building hardware or have warehouse operations. Your Long Beach location means significant drive time to investor offices.

Long Beach supply chain and logistics considerations

LA metro investors fund logistics tech, supply chain software, and maritime operations more readily than most sectors. If you're building consumer apps or social media, you'll struggle here - those startups should be in Santa Monica or Venice. Long Beach's strength is its port infrastructure and logistics ecosystem. A founder should go to a meeting well prepared, so get your materials ready for confidential sharing.

Your Long Beach location specifically helps if you're building port operations tools, drayage software, or warehouse automation. Investors appreciate proximity to the port for customer development and pilot programs. For other sectors, Long Beach is just another LA metro location with longer drive times to investor offices.

Expect investors to ask about port dependencies and regulatory risks. Long Beach port operations involve complex regulations, labor unions, and international trade dynamics. Be ready to explain how trade policy changes or port automation initiatives affect your business.

12 top investors in Long Beach and LA metro

1. Mucker Capital

Most active early-stage fund in LA metro with strong logistics portfolio.

• Recent Deals: Portless $8M Series A (2025, Long Beach), Honey $4M Series A (2014, LA, acquired by PayPal for $4B), Datasembly $12M Series A (2021, Virginia)
• LinkedIn: Will Hsu
• Sector Focus: Logistics tech, supply chain software, B2B SaaS, marketplace platforms
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Santa Monica, CA
• Website: muckercapital.com

2. Upfront Ventures

Large LA fund that's backed major logistics and supply chain companies.

• Recent Deals: Flexport early rounds (now valued at $8B, major Long Beach operations), Ring early stages (acquired by Amazon), TrueCar $200M+ total investment
• LinkedIn: Mark Suster
• Sector Focus: Supply chain tech, logistics, B2B SaaS, consumer platforms
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Santa Monica, CA
• Website: upfront.com

3. Crosscut Ventures

Santa Monica fund investing in LA metro logistics and infrastructure companies.

• Recent Deals: ShipBob $200M Series E (2021, Chicago with major Long Beach warehouse operations), Lulus $15M (LA fashion logistics), Andie Swim $6.5M Series A (LA)
• LinkedIn: Rick Smith
• Sector Focus: Logistics platforms, e-commerce infrastructure, supply chain tech, B2B software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Santa Monica, CA
• Website: crosscut.vc

4. Wavemaker Partners

LA and Singapore-based fund focused on maritime and supply chain tech.

• Recent Deals: Multiple maritime tech startups in LA metro (2024-2025), port operations software, shipping optimization tools with Long Beach integrations
• LinkedIn: Paul Santos
• Sector Focus: Maritime tech, supply chain software, logistics platforms, port operations
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Website: wavemaker.vc

5. Embark Ventures

Orange County fund that invests in logistics and supply chain startups.

• Recent Deals: Flexport Long Beach expansion $15M (2024), project44 $202M Series E (2021, Chicago), multiple OC logistics startups
• LinkedIn: Jack Le
• Sector Focus: Freight tech, supply chain visibility, logistics software, B2B platforms
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Office Location: Irvine, CA
• Website: embarkventures.com

6. Ludlow Ventures

LA-based fund backing B2B software including logistics tech.

• Recent Deals: Loadsmart $80M Series C (2021, freight tech with Long Beach integrations), Catalytic $30M Series B (2019, workflow automation), multiple LA B2B startups
• LinkedIn: Jonathon Triest
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, freight tech, logistics software, workflow automation
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Website: ludlowventures.com

7. Amplify.LA

LA accelerator and seed fund with multiple logistics startups in portfolio.

• Recent Deals: Multiple LA metro logistics startups (2024-2025), supply chain platforms, last-mile delivery tech serving Long Beach region
• LinkedIn: Paul Bricault
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, logistics, supply chain, marketplace platforms
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Website: amplify.la

8. Science Inc

LA venture studio that's built maritime and data companies.

• Recent Deals: Liquid Robotics (ocean data, Long Beach testing operations), DogVacay $25M total (LA), Dollar Shave Club early stages (acquired by Unilever for $1B)
• LinkedIn: Michael Jones
• Sector Focus: Maritime tech, ocean data, B2C platforms, B2B software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A (builds companies internally)
• Office Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Website: science-inc.com

9. Fika Ventures

LA early-stage fund backing B2B software across the metro.

• Recent Deals: Multiple LA metro B2B SaaS startups (2024-2025), logistics software, supply chain tools used by Long Beach operations
• LinkedIn: Eva Ho
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, enterprise software, logistics tech, workflow tools
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Website: fika.vc

10. Correlation Ventures

LA-based algorithm-driven fund that's backed logistics companies.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Long Beach and LA metro logistics startups (2023-2025), supply chain software, data-driven investment approach across sectors
• LinkedIn: Trevor Kienzle
• Sector Focus: Logistics, supply chain, B2B SaaS, data platforms
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Website: correlationvc.com

11. Techstars LA

LA accelerator program with Long Beach startups in recent cohorts.

• Recent Deals: Multiple LA metro startups including Long Beach port operations tools (2024-2025 cohorts), $120K investments plus mentor network
• LinkedIn: David Cohen
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, logistics, supply chain, diverse sectors
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Website: techstars.com/accelerators/los-angeles

12. Struck Capital

LA fund investing in infrastructure and logistics technology.

• Recent Deals: Zipline $250M Series E (2021, drone delivery), Lyft early rounds (2013-2015), multiple LA infrastructure startups
• LinkedIn: Adam Struck
• Sector Focus: Infrastructure tech, logistics, transportation, automation
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Office Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Website: struck.capital

Start tracking your Long Beach investor outreach

These 12 investors have backed LA metro startups including Long Beach-based companies in 2025-2026. Most operate from Santa Monica or LA, so you'll spend significant time driving for meetings. Before you start that process, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your port operations analysis or logistics infrastructure details. LA metro investors often skip early market size slides but focus heavily on unit economics and competitive advantages.

When investors ask for customer references or operational metrics, share an Ellty data room instead of multiple email attachments. Your cap table, customer contracts, and port partnership agreements in one secure place with view analytics.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in Long Beach specifically to raise from LA metro investors?

No. LA metro investors treat Long Beach, Torrance, Carson, and other South Bay cities as one region. Your specific city doesn't matter unless you're building port operations tech - then Long Beach proximity helps with customer development. For other sectors, you're just another LA metro startup.

How does Long Beach compare to Santa Monica or Culver City for fundraising?

Santa Monica and Culver City have 10x more investor density. You'll drive there for meetings anyway. Long Beach only offers advantages if you're building logistics or maritime tech where port proximity matters. For B2B SaaS or consumer products, location doesn't help or hurt - it's about your traction and team.

What's the average seed round size in Long Beach?

Same as LA metro: $2-4M for seed, $10-20M for Series A. Your city within the region doesn't change check sizes. Long Beach logistics startups sometimes raise at lower valuations than Santa Monica software companies because logistics has slower growth rates and harder unit economics.

Should I raise in LA metro or go to San Francisco?

Raise in LA if you're building logistics tech, supply chain software, or maritime operations tools. LA investors understand these sectors better than SF. Go to SF for pure software plays, consumer social, or deep tech. SF has more capital but LA offers less competition and investors who actually understand port operations.

Do investors expect me to relocate from Long Beach to Santa Monica?

No. Nobody cares which LA metro city you're based in. However, expect to drive to Santa Monica, Culver City, or Irvine for investor meetings regularly. Very few VCs have Long Beach offices, so plan for 45-90 minute drives each direction during fundraising. Some founders get temporary coworking space in Santa Monica during active fundraising.