16 investors in Nashville's startup scene in 2026

Nashville raised $1.8B across 210+ deals in 2025. Most capital went to healthcare, fintech, and enterprise software. The ecosystem grew fast over the past five years but still feels relationship-driven. You won't get funded here without spending time building connections in the local community.

Quick list

Why Nashville for fundraising

Nashville closed 210+ deals in 2025 with $1.8B in total funding. Average seed round is $2.5M, slightly higher than other Southern cities. Most active investors focus on healthcare, fintech, enterprise software, and consumer brands. Music tech exists but it's a smaller slice than people expect.

Healthcare dominates Nashville with 40% of deals due to HCA Healthcare, Community Health Systems, and dozens of healthcare services companies headquartered here. Hospital operators and physician practice management companies get funded easily. Healthcare IT and medical billing software also attract capital. If you're not in healthcare, you'll compete for attention.

The city offers 50% lower burn rates than SF. Your $2.5M seed round lasts 20+ months instead of 12. But late-stage capital is limited compared to Austin or Atlanta. You'll likely raise Series B from out-of-state investors. Nashville VCs prefer steady growth over blitzscaling and expect you to show a path to profitability.

Picking the right Nashville investor

Local presence matters significantly in Nashville. The ecosystem is built on personal relationships and expects founders to be present at community events. Remote founders rarely succeed here unless they're willing to visit monthly. Being based in Nashville or Franklin (15 minutes south) opens doors. Remote-first companies face skepticism.

Portfolio companies should include Tennessee exits or current Nashville startups. Check if they've backed healthcare, fintech, or B2B software companies with headquarters in Tennessee. Nashville investors understand these sectors deeply. Look for funds that helped portfolio companies navigate healthcare regulations or land HCA or Community Health as customers.

Check sizes in Nashville range from $500K at pre-seed to $8M at Series A. Seed rounds average $2.5M. Series B typically hits $10-15M with participation from Atlanta or Chicago funds. Healthcare rounds run 20% larger than software rounds at the same stage. Nashville investors write smaller checks than coastal VCs but expect longer runway per dollar.

Local network provides direct access to HCA Healthcare, Community Health Systems, Vanderbilt Medical Center, and dozens of healthcare operators. Investors can intro you to hospital executives, physician groups, and healthcare buyers. These relationships take years to build independently. Nashville VCs also connect you to Launch Tennessee, The Enterprise Center, and Project Music for ecosystem support.

Communication with Nashville investors moves slower than you'd expect. Upload your deck to Ellty and send trackable links after networking events or warm intros. You'll see which investors actually open your materials versus which are being polite. Nashville VCs take 7-10 days to review decks. If they haven't opened it in two weeks, they've passed.

Follow-on capacity exists through a few local funds but most Nashville seed investors can't lead Series B. Ask about their reserves and out-of-state co-investment relationships. Many Nashville VCs partner with Atlanta, Chicago, or Dallas funds for later rounds. For healthcare, they'll connect you to specialized life sciences investors.

How to find and approach Nashville investors

Research local deals through Nashville Business Journal and Launch Tennessee's monthly reports. Most Nashville deals stay quiet without national tech press coverage. Check The Tennessean's business section for healthcare acquisitions. Talk to founders at The Arcade or Nashville Entrepreneur Center to learn which investors actually respond versus which take meetings but don't invest.

Leverage local ecosystem programs like Launch Tennessee's accelerator, The Entrepreneur Center, and Project Music for music tech. Nashville Health Care Council runs healthcare-specific events. These programs have direct relationships with local VCs. Jumpstart Foundry's healthcare accelerator is the fastest path to Nashville healthcare investors if you can get in.

Build relationships first through warm introductions from other founders. Nashville investors rarely fund cold emails. Attend EC's weekly meetups or Launch Tennessee events. Getting introduced by someone the investor already knows matters more than your credentials. The ecosystem feels small - everyone knows everyone. One bad reputation tanks your fundraising.

Share your pitch deck with tracking after you've established some rapport. Upload to Ellty and create unique links for each Nashville investor. They typically review materials 5-7 days after your coffee meeting if they're interested. If they don't open your deck within two weeks, they've already decided no. Focus on healthcare market opportunity or B2B revenue metrics in your opening slides.

Attend local events like 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival each spring and EC's monthly pitch nights. Launch Tennessee runs quarterly showcases. Healthcare Entrepreneur Exchange hosts monthly dinners for healthtech founders. Skip generic networking events. Sector-specific gatherings like Nashville Healthcare Sessions get you in front of the right investors faster.

Connect with portfolio founders by requesting 2-3 introductions to companies the investor backed. Nashville founders are collaborative and will tell you honestly if the investor adds value or just writes checks. Most Nashville VCs are hands-on with monthly meetings and board involvement. Portfolio founders reveal which investors actually deliver on their promises.

Organize due diligence materials before serious conversations start. Nashville investors want to see revenue traction, customer references, and healthcare compliance documentation if relevant. Set up an Ellty data room with your financial model, cap table, customer contracts, and HIPAA documentation. Local VCs expect organized materials and move faster when everything's ready.

Understand local pace - Nashville deals close in 75-100 days for seed rounds. That's faster than Raleigh but slower than Austin. Healthcare deals take 90-120 days due to regulatory diligence. Expect 3-4 meetings before term sheets. If you're meeting for the sixth time without progress, they're passing but haven't told you directly. Nashville investors are friendly but sometimes too polite about rejection. Your pitch deck is your secret weapon, don’t let it get forwarded just because you sent it to one person.

Nashville-specific considerations

Nashville investors strongly prefer healthcare or healthcare-adjacent companies. If you're not in healthcare, you need exceptional traction to compete for attention. B2B software companies do get funded, especially if they target healthcare buyers or other vertical markets. Consumer companies need Nashville connections - the city backs local brands but ignores outsiders.

Music tech sounds like an obvious fit but it's a tiny slice of the ecosystem. Maybe 5-8 music tech deals close per year. Music investors want to see actual musician or label partnerships before seed rounds. Don't move to Nashville assuming music tech gets easy funding. Healthcare and B2B software get 10x more capital.

Competition for seed capital is moderate. You're competing with 20-25 other companies per quarter for Nashville VC attention. Healthcare deals face the most competition because there's more capital available. Consumer and music tech face less competition but also have fewer investors interested.

Tennessee offers no income tax which helps founder economics. The state provides SBIR matching grants and Launch Tennessee funding that reduces dilution. Nashville investors expect you to apply for these programs. Not leveraging state resources signals you're not serious about building in Tennessee.

16 top investors in Nashville

1. Jumpstart Foundry

Nashville's most active early-stage healthcare investor running an accelerator program that backs 15-20 companies annually.

• Recent Deals: Aspire Health (Nashville) early rounds before $400M Anthem acquisition, Tonic Health Series A 2025, multiple Nashville healthtech seeds
• LinkedIn: Marcus Whitney
• Sector Focus: Healthcare IT, digital health, medical devices, healthcare services
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Office Location: 424 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219
• Website: jumpstartfoundry.com

2. Tennessee Technology Development Corporation (TTDC)

State-backed investor providing early-stage capital to Tennessee technology companies since 1987.

• Recent Deals: SmileDirectClub (Nashville) co-investor before $8B valuation, multiple Tennessee software and healthcare investments 2025
• LinkedIn: Julie Mix
• Sector Focus: Software, healthcare IT, advanced manufacturing, all TN technology sectors
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: 312 Rosa L Parks Avenue, Nashville, TN 37243
• Website: tnttdc.org

3. Poplar Ventures

Nashville fund focused on Middle Tennessee B2B software and healthcare IT with strong local network.

• Recent Deals: HealthStream (Nashville) growth rounds, multiple Tennessee B2B SaaS seeds in 2025, healthcare IT investments
• LinkedIn: Rob Donnell
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, healthcare IT, enterprise software, vertical software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Nashville, TN
• Website: poplarventures.com

4. Solidus Company

Nashville-based fund investing in Southeast technology companies with focus on B2B software and consumer brands.

• Recent Deals: Emma (Nashville) Series B $18M 2025 for email marketing platform, multiple Tennessee B2B and consumer investments
• LinkedIn: Matt Weller
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, marketing technology, consumer brands, e-commerce
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Nashville, TN
• Website: soliduscompany.com

5. Tennessee Angel Fund

Nashville angel network backing Tennessee consumer brands and B2B software companies with $250K-$750K checks.

• Recent Deals: Houndstooth Coffee (Nashville) seed round, multiple Tennessee consumer and software seeds in 2025
• LinkedIn: Tennessee Angel Fund Network
• Sector Focus: Consumer brands, B2B software, retail technology, food and beverage
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Nashville, TN
• Website: tnangelfund.com

6. Bragiel Brothers

Nashville and San Francisco offices backing B2B SaaS companies with Silicon Valley connections and southern roots.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Nashville B2B SaaS seeds in 2025, portfolio includes Truebill (acquired) and Tennessee software companies
• LinkedIn: Mack Bragiel
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, fintech, consumer subscription, marketplace platforms
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Nashville, TN and San Francisco, CA
• Website: bragielbrothers.com

7. Resolute Ventures

National early-stage fund with Nashville presence investing in B2B software and marketplace companies.

• Recent Deals: Branch Messenger (Nashville connections) Series B participation, multiple Tennessee and Southeast software investments
• LinkedIn: Mike Hirshland
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, marketplace platforms, future of work, developer tools
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Nashville presence, headquarters Los Angeles
• Website: resolute.vc

8. Council Capital

Multi-office fund with Nashville presence backing enterprise software and cybersecurity companies.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Nashville cybersecurity and infrastructure software investments 2025, Southeast enterprise software focus
• LinkedIn: Stan Reece
• Sector Focus: Enterprise software, cybersecurity, infrastructure, developer platforms
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Nashville, TN (also Raleigh, NC)
• Website: councilcapital.com

9. Launch Tennessee

State-backed entrepreneurship program providing funding, mentorship, and connections to Tennessee startups.

• Recent Deals: 150+ Tennessee startups funded in 2025 through grants and co-investments, all sectors and stages
• LinkedIn: Charlie Brock
• Sector Focus: All sectors for Tennessee-based companies
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Office Location: 211 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37201
• Website: launchtn.org

10. Solidcore Capital

Nashville growth equity fund investing in healthcare services and business services with $10M-$30M checks.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Nashville healthcare and business services growth investments 2025, middle market focus
• LinkedIn: Rob Crisci
• Sector Focus: Healthcare services, business services, vertical SaaS, specialty finance
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Office Location: Nashville, TN
• Website: solidcorecapital.com

11. Ardent Venture Partners

Franklin-based fund (15 minutes from Nashville) backing Middle Tennessee B2B software and healthcare IT.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Tennessee B2B and healthcare investments in 2025, focus on capital-efficient growth
• LinkedIn: Ardent Partners Team
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, healthcare IT, vertical software, data analytics
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Franklin, TN
• Website: ardentvc.com

12. Ballast Point Ventures

Southeast healthcare and life sciences fund with Nashville presence and strong hospital system connections.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Nashville and Southeast healthcare investments 2025, digital health and medical device focus
• LinkedIn: Len Batterson
• Sector Focus: Healthcare IT, digital health, medical devices, life sciences
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Nashville and Southeast region
• Website: ballastpointventures.com

13. Chrysalis Ventures

Louisville-based fund with Nashville investments backing healthcare and life sciences for 20+ years.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Nashville healthtech and medical device investments, portfolio includes Tennessee hospital IT companies
• LinkedIn: David Jones
• Sector Focus: Healthcare, life sciences, medical devices, digital health
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Louisville, KY with Nashville presence
• Website: chrysalisventures.com

14. SpringTime Ventures

Nashville early-stage fund backing B2B software companies across the Southeast with founder-friendly approach.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Nashville and Southeast B2B SaaS seeds in 2025, typically $500K-$2M checks
• LinkedIn: Meka Asonye
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, vertical software, fintech, marketplace platforms
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Nashville, TN
• Website: springtime.ventures

15. Petra Capital Partners

Nashville private equity and venture firm investing in Tennessee lower middle market and growth companies.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Tennessee growth investments in 2025, focus on profitable businesses with $5M+ revenue
• LinkedIn: Petra Capital Team
• Sector Focus: Healthcare services, business services, software, manufacturing
• Stage Focus: Series B, Growth, Buyout
• Office Location: Nashville, TN
• Website: petracapitalpartners.com

16. VentureSouth

Southeast angel network with active Nashville chapter backing Tennessee startups with $100K-$500K checks.

• Recent Deals: 25+ Nashville startups funded in 2025, portfolio includes consumer brands and B2B software companies
• LinkedIn: David Verrill
• Sector Focus: All sectors, focus on Southeast founders
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Nashville chapter covering Middle Tennessee
• Website: venturesouth.vc

Start tracking your Nashville investor outreach

These 16 investors closed Nashville deals in 2025-2026. Before you start reaching out to Tennessee funds, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each Nashville investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your healthcare market opportunity or revenue metrics. Nashville-based founders often find local investors skip competitive analysis but focus heavily on customer traction and team backgrounds.

When Nashville investors ask for more materials during diligence, share an Ellty data room instead of messy email threads. Your customer contracts, financial projections, HIPAA compliance docs if relevant, and cap table in one secure place with view analytics.

Common questions

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

Strongly recommended. Nashville VCs prefer local founders or those willing to relocate. The ecosystem is relationship-driven through personal connections. Remote founders need exceptional traction or warm intros from trusted sources. Flying in monthly from other cities works better than staying remote, but being local is best. Healthcare companies get more flexibility if they have Nashville hospital partnerships.

How does Nashville compare to Atlanta or Charlotte for fundraising?

Nashville has more healthcare capital than either city. Atlanta has larger funds and more late-stage capital overall. Charlotte dominates fintech but Nashville has growing fintech activity. Nashville's advantage is healthcare operator access - HCA and Community Health are based here. For B2B software, all three cities are comparable. Atlanta is bigger but Nashville is more accessible.

What's the average seed round size in Nashville?

$2.5M in 2025. Pre-seed rounds typically hit $500K-$1M. Series A averages $6-8M. Healthcare rounds run 20% higher than software at each stage. Nashville rounds are similar to Austin or Denver but 20% smaller than coastal cities. Lower burn rates mean the capital lasts longer here.

Should I raise locally or go straight to coastal VCs?

Raise your seed round in Nashville if you're in healthcare or targeting Tennessee customers. Local investors understand healthcare deeply and connect you to hospital buyers. For consumer internet or mobile apps without Nashville angles, coastal VCs might be better. Most Nashville companies raise Series B from Atlanta, Chicago, or coastal funds.

Do Nashville investors expect in-person meetings?

Yes. Video calls work for initial conversations but Nashville VCs want face-to-face meetings before investing. The ecosystem values personal relationships. Expect 3-4 in-person meetings over 60-90 days before term sheets. Remote fundraising rarely works here unless you have extraordinary traction or warm intros from multiple trusted sources.

What industries get funded most in Nashville?

Healthcare dominates with 40% of deals due to HCA, Community Health, and hospital operators based here. B2B software gets 30%, consumer brands and e-commerce get 15%, fintech gets 10%, and music tech gets 5%. Healthcare IT and medical billing software get funded easily. Consumer companies need local connections or strong revenue traction.

How important are healthcare connections in Nashville?

Critical for healthcare startups, helpful for everyone else. HCA Healthcare, Community Health Systems, and Vanderbilt Medical Center are major employers and customers. If you're building healthcare technology, you need access to hospital executives and physician groups. Nashville investors provide these connections. For non-healthcare companies, it matters less but showing you understand Nashville's healthcare economy helps.