15 venture capital firms bankrolling Nevada companies in 2026

Nevada's raised roughly $14.3M through StartUpNV-affiliated funds alone across 27 deals since 2021. The ecosystem is split between Reno's tech scene and Las Vegas' hospitality innovation. What's remarkable is that local funds are returning 30% of capital in just 4 years while Silicon Valley funds barely break even. You won't find inflated valuations here.

Quick list

Why Nevada for fundraising

Nevada raised $29.7M across 30 transactions in 22 companies through StartUpNV network since 2021. That's small compared to SF but the returns are better. StartUpNV funds have more than tripled investor capital while most seed funds barely break even. The secret is lower competition and rational valuations.

No state income tax and minimal regulations make burn rates 40% lower than California. You can run a $500K/year company for what costs $850K in SF. Most Nevada investors prefer capital-efficient businesses over blitzscaling.

SSBCI matching doubles your capital from local investors. FundNV, Battle Born, and AngelNV all offer 1:1 state matches. Raise $250K from Nevada investors and the state adds another $250K. No other state makes it this easy.

Picking the right Nevada investor

Location matters more than you'd think. Reno investors want Reno companies. Las Vegas funds prefer Vegas founders. If you're based elsewhere, you'll need to relocate or have a compelling reason to be remote. Battle Born Venture requires a Nevada business license and address.

Check if they offer SSBCI matching. FundNV, Battle Born Venture, and AngelNV all provide 1:1 state matching on investments. That effectively doubles your capital. Ask about this upfront because it changes your fundraising math significantly.

Most funds don't lead rounds. Battle Born explicitly states they co-invest with professional investors and don't lead. You'll need to bring a lead investor from outside Nevada, then local funds will follow. Plan for this in your fundraising strategy.

Understand the Nevada Certified Investor law. Nevada's AB-75 allows smaller investors to participate at lower thresholds than federal accredited investor rules. This creates a broader investor base but means you'll have more angels on your cap table. Use Ellty to track which investors actually open your deck.

University connections open doors. UNLV's Rebel Venture Fund and UNR's Sierra Innovations prioritize university-affiliated startups. If you're faculty, staff, student, or alumni, start there. They'll connect you to the broader Nevada ecosystem.

Revenue requirements are real. Battle Born Venture requires recurring revenue. FundNV focuses on revenue-generating startups. Pre-revenue companies should look at Rebel Venture Fund or angel groups first. Don't waste time pitching growth-stage funds without traction.

Finding and approaching Nevada investors strategically

Start with StartUpNV. Their AccelerateNV program gives you access to FundNV investment plus resources. They host pitch days twice monthly. This is the front door to Nevada's investor ecosystem. Skip it and you're making fundraising harder than it needs to be.

Attend local pitch events. FundNV hosts twice-monthly pitches. AngelNV runs annual conference with $400K+ investments. Reno Seed Fund reviews submissions within two weeks. These aren't networking events. Come prepared to pitch or don't come.

Join Nevada accelerators first. Companies graduating from StartUpNV's AccelerateNV get first access to FundNV capital. UNLV's Black Fire Innovation focuses on gaming and hospitality. These programs are your warm intro to local investors. Your pitch deck is your most valuable asset, treat its security like your runway depends on it

Track everything with Ellty. Upload your deck and send unique links to each Nevada investor. You'll see which angels actually review your materials versus those who ghost. Nevada investors typically respond within 2 weeks if interested. Share an Ellty data room when they ask for financials.

Leverage university resources. UNR's Innevation Center and UNLV's Troesh Center host events where investors show up. Sierra Angels partners with UNR through Sierra Innovations. Rebel Venture Fund is student-run at UNLV. University connections matter here more than most states.

Network through economic development. EDAWN in Reno and LVGEA in Las Vegas connect startups with investors. They know who's actively writing checks. These aren't generic business groups. They're deeply connected to the investor community. You don’t need DocSend-level pricing to share, track, and control documents, especially with free alternatives that do the job.

Understand deal timelines. Reno Seed Fund's due diligence runs 3-4 months. AngelNV process takes 10 weeks from first pitch to final selection. Battle Born wants to see you're already raising from professional VCs. Plan accordingly. Set up your Ellty data room early with financials, legal docs, and Nevada business registration.

Reference local exits. Nevada investors funded companies that exited successfully. Mention you understand the local ecosystem. Don't compare yourself to SF unicorns. Nevada investors care about capital efficiency and reasonable exits, not billion-dollar valuations.

Nevada-specific realities

Nevada investors strongly prefer B2B over consumer. Hospitality tech gets attention in Vegas because of the industry concentration. Gaming innovation through Black Fire Innovation Fund. Reno investors like SaaS, IoT, and advanced manufacturing. Consumer products face skepticism unless you have exceptional traction.

The Nevada Certified Investor law changed everything. More people can invest at lower minimums. StartUpNV funds have 475 investors versus typical VC funds with 50. Your cap table will have more names but that's not necessarily bad. It builds local support.

15 top investors in Nevada

1. FundNV

Early-stage venture fund affiliated with StartUpNV investing in Nevada companies with first access to accelerator graduates.

• Recent Deals: $3M invested across 40 Nevada companies (2021-2025), all with 1:1 SSBCI matching
• LinkedIn: FundNV
• Sector Focus: technology, B2B SaaS, hardware, hospitality tech
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: Nevada (Reno and Las Vegas offices through StartUpNV)
• Website: fundnv.com

2. Battle Born Venture

Nevada's official state venture capital program co-investing with professional VCs in revenue-generating Nevada startups.

• Recent Deals: 40+ Nevada startups supported, 5 exits, co-investments up to $1M over time per company
• LinkedIn: Battle Born Venture
• Sector Focus: sector agnostic (excluding gambling, alcohol, cannabis, firearms, real estate)
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Nevada (state program)
• Website: battlebornventure.com

3. Reno Seed Fund

Nevada's most active angel fund founded 2019, leading early-stage investments in Northern Nevada with 50+ LPs.

• Recent Deals: NeuroReserve (2025), 32 total investments including FanUp, Emvenio Research, MessageDesk
• LinkedIn: Eugene Wong
• Sector Focus: SaaS, fintech, blockchain, life sciences, IoT, cybersecurity, hospitality tech
• Stage Focus: seed, early-stage
• Office Location: 401 Ryland St, Reno, Nevada
• Website: renoseedfund.com

4. Sierra Angels

Premier angel group founded 1997 with 50 members, one of nation's first five angel investing groups.

• Recent Deals: 60+ companies funded over 25+ years across Northern Nevada and I-80 corridor
• LinkedIn: Bob Goff
• Sector Focus: enterprise B2B, technology, clean energy, software
• Stage Focus: seed
• Office Location: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
• Website: sierraangels.com

5. AngelNV

Annual investor education program and fund generating $2.88M in 2025 from 78 investors with SSBCI matching.

• Recent Deals: BuildQ $300K first place (2025), Otsy $55K (2025), LuciHub $55K (2025), KnowRisk/Voltaire $55K (2025)
• LinkedIn: Jeff Saling
• Sector Focus: various sectors through annual competition
• Stage Focus: seed
• Office Location: Las Vegas, Nevada (through StartUpNV)
• Website: angelnv.com

6. 1864 Fund

StartUpNV-affiliated regional fund leading seed rounds at rational valuations outside traditional coastal hubs.

• Recent Deals: Part of StartUpNV's 27 portfolio companies with 50-70% success rate
• LinkedIn: StartUpNV
• Sector Focus: technology, B2B
• Stage Focus: seed
• Office Location: Nevada
• Website: 1864.fund

7. Rebel Venture Fund

UNLV's student-run venture capital fund investing $25K-$50K in Southern Nevada startups, prioritizes university affiliates.

• Recent Deals: 7 companies funded including Walls360, Perfect Point, Keyln, ConnectedSignals
• LinkedIn: Rebel Venture Fund
• Sector Focus: logistics, hospitality, energy, gaming, healthcare
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV)
• Website: rebelventurefund.com

8. Varkain

Las Vegas seed and Series A fund investing $25K-$700K in mobile technology, SaaS, and hardware with mentorship focus.

• Recent Deals: 16 companies including Databuoy, Vetty, Strayos, Cartogram
• LinkedIn: Varkain
• Sector Focus: mobile technology, SaaS, hardware technology
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Website: Search LinkedIn for current contact

9. RMR Capital

Hybrid angel and VC fund writing $25K-$5M checks with offices in Las Vegas, Tampa, McLean, and Denver.

• Recent Deals: Multiple tech-enabled companies and food-related businesses
• LinkedIn: RMR Capital
• Sector Focus: tech-enabled companies, food businesses
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: Las Vegas, Nevada (plus 3 other cities)
• Website: Search for RMR Capital contact

10. Ozmen Ventures

Reno-based early-stage fund supporting Northern Nevada startups with strategic funding and guidance since 2016.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Northern Nevada startups (portfolio private)
• LinkedIn: Ozmen Ventures
• Sector Focus: technology, innovative solutions
• Stage Focus: seed, early-stage
• Office Location: Reno, Nevada
• Website: Check PitchBook for details

11. Redhill Ventures

Las Vegas venture firm offering seed to Series A+ funding in high-tech, healthcare, and finance with mentorship support.

• Recent Deals: 11+ companies including Velos, SimSuite, Ozonator, Intellicare, HealthDataInsights, Trustifi
• LinkedIn: Redhill Ventures
• Sector Focus: high-tech, healthcare, finance
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A+
• Office Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Website: Search for Redhill Ventures contact

12. Tip of the Spear Ventures

Las Vegas family office-style fund founded 2012 helping leaders scale businesses with hands-on approach.

• Recent Deals: Multiple early-stage companies (portfolio private)
• LinkedIn: Tip of the Spear Ventures
• Sector Focus: various sectors, growth-focused
• Stage Focus: early-stage
• Office Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Website: Search for current contact info

13. Vantage Capital

Early-stage investor founded 2017 making transformational investments with network of business partners.

• Recent Deals: Multiple early-stage companies (details private)
• LinkedIn: Vantage Capital
• Sector Focus: technology, transformational companies
• Stage Focus: seed, early-stage
• Office Location: Nevada
• Website: Search for contact information

14. Black Fire Innovation Fund

UNLV partnership accelerating gaming, hospitality, and entertainment innovation as anchor tenant at Harry Reid Research Park.

• Recent Deals: Multiple UNLV-affiliated gaming and hospitality startups
• LinkedIn: Black Fire Innovation
• Sector Focus: gaming, hospitality, entertainment
• Stage Focus: seed, early-stage
• Office Location: Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV Harry Reid Research Park)
• Website: Through UNLV Office of Economic Development

15. Octave Ventures

Deep tech and early-stage venture fund active in Nevada and Mountain West investments.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Nevada portfolio companies (details private)
• LinkedIn: Octave Ventures
• Sector Focus: deep tech, technology
• Stage Focus: seed, early-stage
• Office Location: Nevada
• Website: Search investor databases for contact

Start tracking your Nevada investor outreach

These 15 investors closed Nevada deals in 2025-2026. Before you start reaching out to Reno, Las Vegas, or Lake Tahoe funds, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each Nevada investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your traction metrics or SSBCI eligibility. Nevada-based founders often find local investors focus heavily on capital efficiency and realistic exit paths rather than billion-dollar valuations.

When Nevada investors ask for more materials, share an Ellty data room instead of messy email threads. Your Nevada business registration, financial model showing lower burn rates, SSBCI match documentation, and university affiliations in one secure place with view analytics.

Common questions

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

Most Nevada funds require it. Battle Born Venture explicitly requires a Nevada business license and address. FundNV focuses on Nevada-based companies or those relocating. Some funds like Reno Seed Fund want significant Northern Nevada operating presence if they're leading. You can't be fully remote for most local investors.

How does Nevada compare to California for fundraising?

Nevada has way less capital but better returns. StartUpNV funds have tripled investor money while most SF funds break even. Valuations are 40-60% lower which seems bad until you realize exits happen faster and investors are happier. Burn rates are 40% lower. Trade-off is fewer follow-on investors for Series B+.

What's the average seed round size in Nevada?

$250K-$750K for true seed. FundNV investments up to $50K get SSBCI match. Battle Born co-invests up to $500K per round. Reno Seed Fund and Sierra Angels write $25K-$200K checks. If you need $2M+ seed, you'll need to bring in out-of-state lead investors and use Nevada funds as follow-on.

Should I raise locally or go straight to SF/LA?

Raise locally if you're capital-efficient B2B, hospitality tech, or gaming innovation. Nevada investors understand these sectors and SSBCI matching is free money. Go to SF/LA if you're consumer, need $5M+ seed, or building something that requires coastal market access. Many founders do Nevada seed then California Series A.

Do Nevada investors expect in-person meetings?

Absolutely. Reno investors want you in Reno. Vegas investors want you in Vegas. The ecosystem is small and relationship-driven. You won't close Nevada capital over Zoom calls. Plan to spend time locally attending pitch events, accelerator programs, and investor meetings. Remote-first companies struggle here.

What industries get funded most in Nevada?

B2B SaaS dominates in Reno. Hospitality and gaming tech in Las Vegas through Black Fire Innovation. Advanced manufacturing and IoT in Northern Nevada. Cybersecurity because of military presence. Healthcare tech gets some attention. Consumer products face skepticism unless you have exceptional traction. No one funds blockchain or crypto anymore despite early hype.

How important is the SSBCI matching program?

Extremely important. It literally doubles your capital from FundNV, Battle Born, and AngelNV investments. Nevada has $14.3M deployed with state matching since 2021. This is free money you won't get in other states. Structure your raise to maximize SSBCI matching. Raise $500K from Nevada investors and the state adds another $500K. That's a $1M round without diluting further.