New York Series A investors nourishing early growth companies in 2026

New York closed $5.6B in Series A rounds across 280+ deals in 2025. Average round size was $12M, up from $9M in 2022. The city has more active Series A investors than any market except SF. You'll compete with 400+ seed companies ready for Series A, and investors expect $2M+ ARR for SaaS or strong revenue traction for other models.

Quick list

Why New York for Series A fundraising

NYC Series A investors deployed $5.6B across 280+ deals in 2025. Average round size hit $12M, with 70% going to B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthcare companies. That's 15% smaller than SF's average Series A but the bar is lower - you need $2M ARR in NYC versus $3M in SF for the same stage.

New York has 40+ active Series A funds compared to SF's 60+. The difference is NYC investors are more concentrated in specific sectors - fintech, enterprise software, and digital health dominate here. Consumer and deep tech get funded less unless you have exceptional metrics. If you're building B2B SaaS or fintech, NYC has equal or better Series A capital than SF.

The advantage is investor focus. NYC Series A investors understand enterprise sales cycles and financial services regulations better than SF. They won't push you to grow faster than your unit economics support. The disadvantage is less risk tolerance - you need proven revenue traction, not just engagement metrics. Series A in NYC rewards companies that found product-market fit and can show repeatable sales.

Picking the right New York Series A investor

Local presence: NYC Series A investors expect you to have revenue, not just users. They'll ask about your sales process, customer acquisition cost, and gross margins. Manhattan-based firms like Thrive Capital and FirstMark can intro you to their 200+ portfolio companies for partnerships, customers, and Series B investors faster than remote funds. Protecting your pitch deck becomes essential in New York, where information spreads quickly and competitive ideas rarely stay private for long.

Portfolio companies: Check if they've backed companies at your revenue stage and sector. FirstMark has 30+ B2B SaaS companies that raised Series A at $2-5M ARR. Thrive Capital focuses on fintech and healthcare at $3-8M revenue. Work-Bench only invests in enterprise software with NYC customers. Look for investors who've taken companies from $2M to $20M ARR in your category.

Check sizes: Series A rounds in NYC run $8-15M with lead checks of $5-10M. Thrive Capital and Accel write $8-12M checks, Lerer Hippeau does $3-8M, FirstMark leads with $5-10M. Expect 2-3 investors in your round. If you're raising under $5M, call it a late seed or extended seed - most dedicated Series A funds won't lead smaller rounds.

Local network: The best NYC Series A investors connect you to customers and follow-on capital. Boldstart Ventures introduces you to enterprise CIOs before you pitch them. Work-Bench connects you to Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan IT teams. That customer access is worth more than capital alone. Ask portfolio founders which investors actually make customer intros versus just offering.

Communication: Share your deck through Ellty with unique tracking links for each investor. NYC Series A investors want to see unit economics, not just growth rates. Track which slides they review - if they skip your market size but read your customer acquisition cost breakdown three times, they're focused on capital efficiency not TAM.

Follow-on capacity: Thrive Capital, Accel, and Insight Partners all reserve 50%+ of their funds for follow-on rounds. Mid-size funds like Lerer Hippeau and Greycroft typically double down at Series B if you hit milestones. Smaller funds like Brooklyn Bridge Ventures and IA Ventures bring in larger co-investors at Series B. Ask about their pro-rata strategy upfront.

How to approach New York Series A investors

Research local deals: Check Thrive Capital's portfolio page and FirstMark's case studies. Both publish detailed analysis of their Series A investments. Read Shopify's early fundraising story and Warby Parker's Series A details to understand what NYC investors valued. Use PitchBook or Crunchbase Pro to see which funds are most active in your sector.

Leverage local ecosystem: Join peer CEO groups like Pavilion or Revenue Collective for warm intros. Attend FirstMark's CEO Summit or Work-Bench's enterprise events. NYC doesn't have Y Combinator, but Techstars NYC, Entrepreneur First, and ERA put founders directly in front of Series A investors during demo days.

Build relationships early: NYC Series A investors track companies for 6-12 months before investing. They want to see you hit $1M ARR and build momentum toward $2M+. Share quarterly metrics updates with target investors starting at $500K ARR. When you're ready to raise Series A, you'll have investors who already know your trajectory.

Share your pitch deck: Upload to Ellty and create separate links for each NYC investor. Series A VCs share decks with their partners and operating advisors, so you'll see exactly who's reviewing internally. Monitor engagement patterns - if a partner forwards your deck to their portfolio CFO, they're doing diligence on your financial model.

Attend local events: SaaStr NYC brings Series A investors to Manhattan quarterly. NY Tech Meetup puts early growth companies in front of 100+ investors monthly. Enterprise Connect and FinDEVr conferences attract NYC VCs focused on B2B and fintech. Skip generic startup mixers - at Series A stage you need sector-specific events.

Connect with portfolio founders: Message CEOs at Stripe, Slack, Warby Parker, or Allbirds on LinkedIn. Ask which investors helped with Series B fundraising versus who just showed up to board meetings. NYC Series A investors are judged on follow-on support, not just initial checks. Founders will honestly tell you who delivers value.

Organize due diligence: Set up an Ellty data room before starting Series A conversations. Investors want access to your financial model, customer contracts, sales pipeline, and product roadmap. They'll ask for Salesforce access and may want to talk to your top 5 customers. Have everything organized with tracking so you know what they review.

Understand local pace: Series A rounds take 8-12 weeks from first meeting to term sheet. That includes 3-4 weeks of relationship building, 3-4 weeks of diligence (financial review, customer references, market analysis), and 1-2 weeks for term sheet negotiation. NYC moves at similar pace to SF at this stage. If a fund takes 16+ weeks, they're not serious or stuck in committee.

New York Series A considerations

NYC investors at Series A care about revenue and unit economics more than growth rate. They've seen too many companies raise on hockey stick projections and flame out at Series B. If you're at $1.5M ARR growing 300% but losing $500K per month with unclear payback, expect tough questions. Show reasonable burn relative to revenue and a plan to reach $10M ARR efficiently.

Expect 4-6 partner meetings before term sheets. NYC Series A investors want to meet your exec team, talk to customers, and understand your sales process in detail. They'll reference check you through their portfolio companies and industry contacts. Plan for 2-3 months from first meeting to closed round. That's faster than Series B but slower than seed.

NYC's enterprise and financial services concentration drives different priorities. Investors here understand 9-12 month sales cycles and enterprise contracts better than viral consumer growth. Don't pitch them consumer network effects unless that's your actual business. Show them sales efficiency, logo quality, and expansion revenue - the metrics that predict B2B success.

22 top Series A investors in New York

1. Thrive Capital

Josh Kushner's firm that led Stripe's $20M Series A. Most active NYC Series A investor with focus on fintech and healthcare.

• Recent Deals: Stripe $20M Series A (2011), Oscar Health $32M Series B (2014), Robinhood $13M Series A (2014), Compass $8M Series A (2013)
• LinkedIn: Josh Kushner
• Sector Focus: fintech, healthcare tech, insurance tech, real estate tech, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 80 East 11th Street, Manhattan
• Website: thrivecap.com

2. Accel

Iconic Silicon Valley firm with strong NYC presence. Slack's $43M Series A showed their ability to identify category creators early.

• Recent Deals: Slack $43M Series A (2014), Spotify $21M Series B (2010), Cloudera $36M Series B (2009), Atlassian $60M Series B (2010)
• LinkedIn: Rich Wong
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, collaboration software, developer tools, security, infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan
• Website: accel.com

3. FirstMark Capital

NYC-native fund that backed Shopify at $7M Series A and rode it to 100x+ returns. Founder-friendly with strong operational support.

• Recent Deals: Shopify $7M Series A (2010), Airbnb Series C (2011), Pinterest $10M Series A (2011), Riot Games Series A (2008)
• LinkedIn: Rick Heitzmann
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, consumer platforms, marketplaces, fintech, infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 100 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
• Website: firstmarkcap.com

4. Lerer Hippeau

NYC's most active early-stage investor with 100+ portfolio companies. Warby Parker's $12M Series A validated their consumer brand thesis.

• Recent Deals: Warby Parker $12M Series A (2011), Casper $13M Series A (2014), Allbirds $7M Series A (2016), Glossier $10M Series A (2015)
• LinkedIn: Ben Lerer
• Sector Focus: consumer brands, DTC, marketplaces, content platforms, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed, Series A
• Office Location: 902 Broadway, Manhattan
• Website: lererhippeau.com

5. Union Square Ventures

Platform investor who led Twitter's $22M Series A. They focus on network effects and protocol-level investments.

• Recent Deals: Twitter $22M Series A (2008), Coinbase $5M Series A (2012), Etsy $5M Series A (2006), Zynga $10M Series A (2008)
• LinkedIn: Fred Wilson
• Sector Focus: social platforms, crypto, marketplaces, developer platforms, decentralized networks
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 915 Broadway, Manhattan
• Website: usv.com

6. Greycroft

Full-stack investor who backed Venmo at $10M Series A before Braintree bought it for $800M. Consumer and B2B focus.

• Recent Deals: Venmo $10M Series A (2010), Bumble $8M Series A (2014), The RealReal $7M Series A (2013), Axios $10M Series A (2017)
• LinkedIn: Dana Settle
• Sector Focus: fintech, marketplaces, consumer brands, media tech, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 200 Park Avenue, Manhattan
• Website: greycroft.com

7. RRE Ventures

Long-time NYC investor who backed Business Insider's Series A before Axel Springer's $343M acquisition. Enterprise and media focus.

• Recent Deals: Business Insider Series A (2008), MongoDB $11M Series A (2010), Integral Ad Science $6M Series A (2012), Refinery29 Series A (2011)
• LinkedIn: Stuart Ellman
• Sector Focus: enterprise software, digital media, ad tech, databases, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 130 East 59th Street, Manhattan
• Website: rre.com

8. Spark Capital

Bi-coastal firm with strong NYC team. Backed Slack and Twitter at Series A, both became multi-billion dollar companies.

• Recent Deals: Slack $17M Series A (2014), Twitter Series A (2008), Coinbase Series B (2013), Cruise $18M Series A (2015)
• LinkedIn: Nabeel Hyatt
• Sector Focus: consumer platforms, fintech, developer tools, marketplaces, infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 1 Union Square West, Manhattan
• Website: sparkcapital.com

9. Insight Partners

Growth stage firm that occasionally leads large Series A rounds. Shopify's later Series A showed their early-stage capability.

• Recent Deals: Shopify later Series A (2011), Wix $15M Series B (2012), Twitter Series C (2009), Hootsuite $20M Series A (2011)
• LinkedIn: Jeff Horing
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, developer tools, vertical SaaS, security software, infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C, growth equity
• Office Location: 1114 Avenue of the Americas, Manhattan
• Website: insightpartners.com

10. Index Ventures

European firm with NYC office focused on infrastructure and collaboration software. Dropbox early investor.

• Recent Deals: Dropbox early rounds (2008-2011), Slack early rounds, Figma $15M Series A (2016), Scale AI $18M Series A (2018)
• LinkedIn: Mike Volpi
• Sector Focus: infrastructure, developer tools, collaboration platforms, security, fintech
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 535 Madison Avenue, Manhattan
• Website: indexventures.com

11. Battery Ventures

Enterprise infrastructure specialist who led Wayfair's Series A before IPO. They understand complex B2B models.

• Recent Deals: Wayfair Series A (2011, IPO 2014), Glassdoor $11M Series A (2010), Coupa Software Series A (2009, IPO 2016), Nutanix Series A (2011, IPO 2016)
• LinkedIn: Neeraj Agrawal
• Sector Focus: enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, security, vertical SaaS, developer tools
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 500 Plaza Drive, Secaucus (NYC presence)
• Website: battery.com

12. Bessemer Venture Partners

Cloud software specialist who backed Twilio at Series A before IPO. Strong track record with API-first companies.

• Recent Deals: Twilio $12M Series A (2011, IPO 2016), SendGrid $7M Series A (2011, IPO 2017), Toast $10M Series A (2014), Intercom $6M Series A (2014)
• LinkedIn: Byron Deeter
• Sector Focus: cloud software, API platforms, vertical SaaS, security, infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 1865 Palmer Avenue, Larchmont (NYC presence)
• Website: bvp.com

13. Primary Venture Partners

Brooklyn-based fund that led Allbirds' $7M Series A before IPO. Sustainable consumer and B2B focus.

• Recent Deals: Allbirds $7M Series A (2016, IPO 2021), Harry's $10M Series A (2014), Prose $18M Series A (2018), Bonobos Series A (2009, acquired 2017)
• LinkedIn: Ben Lerer
• Sector Focus: consumer brands, B2B SaaS, sustainable products, healthcare tech, fintech
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 45 Main Street, Brooklyn
• Website: primary.vc

14. Bain Capital Ventures

Strategic venture arm that backed Attentive at $13M Series A before its rapid growth to unicorn status.

• Recent Deals: Attentive $13M Series A (2018), Lime $12M Series A (2017), SurveyMonkey Series A (2009, IPO 2018), Rent the Runway $9M Series A (2011)
• LinkedIn: Enrique Salem
• Sector Focus: ecommerce, consumer tech, B2B SaaS, fintech, healthcare IT
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 200 Clarendon Street, Boston (active NYC presence)
• Website: baincapitalventures.com

15. Scale Venture Partners

B2B software specialist who led HubSpot's Series A before its successful IPO. Sales-driven software focus.

• Recent Deals: HubSpot $12M Series A (2008, IPO 2014), Box $6M Series A (2008, IPO 2015), DocuSign Series A (2007, IPO 2018), SurveyMonkey early rounds (IPO 2018)
• LinkedIn: Rory O'Driscoll
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, sales software, marketing tech, collaboration platforms, vertical SaaS
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 950 Tower Lane, Foster City (active NYC market)
• Website: scalevp.com

16. IA Ventures

Brooklyn-based data infrastructure specialist. DataDog from seed through Series A before its $8B+ IPO.

• Recent Deals: DataDog seed-Series A (2010-2013, IPO 2019), Digital Ocean $3M Series A (2012), TransferWise $6M Series A (2013), Recorded Future $12M Series A (2013)
• LinkedIn: Roger Ehrenberg
• Sector Focus: data infrastructure, developer tools, security, fintech infrastructure, machine learning
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 156 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn
• Website: iaventures.com

17. Brooklyn Bridge Ventures

NYC-only seed-to-Series A fund. Charlie O'Donnell backs local founders exclusively and is highly active.

• Recent Deals: Orchard Platform $7M Series A (2014), Canary $10M Series A (2014), Reonomy $3M Series A (2014),Odus $3M seed (2020)
• LinkedIn: Charlie O'Donnell
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, consumer tech, fintech, healthcare tech, local NYC companies only
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: 55 Washington Street, Brooklyn
• Website: brooklynbridge.vc

18. Flybridge Capital

Boston-based with strong NYC presence. Backed Acquia and multiple data infrastructure companies at Series A.

• Recent Deals: Acquia $7M Series A (2008, acquired 2019), DataGravity $15M Series A (2012), Turbonomic $11M Series A (2011, acquired 2021), Localytics $10M Series A (2012)
• LinkedIn: Jeff Bussgang
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, infrastructure, data platforms, security, developer tools
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 155 Federal Street, Boston (NYC presence)
• Website: flybridge.com

19. Canaan Partners

Early fintech specialist who backed Lending Club's Series A before IPO. Strong track record in financial services.

• Recent Deals: Lending Club $10M Series A (2007, IPO 2014), Kabbage $8M Series A (2011), Instinet early rounds, SoFi early rounds
• LinkedIn: Maha Ibrahim
• Sector Focus: fintech, healthcare IT, B2B SaaS, security, infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 285 Riverside Avenue, Westport (NYC presence)
• Website: canaan.com

20. General Catalyst

Platform investor who backed Snap at Series A. Consumer and enterprise focus with strong operational team.

• Recent Deals: Snap $13M Series A (2013, IPO 2017), Stripe Series A (2012), Warby Parker Series A (2011), Airbnb Series A (2009)
• LinkedIn: Hemant Taneja
• Sector Focus: consumer platforms, B2B SaaS, healthcare tech, fintech, infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 20 University Road, Cambridge (active NYC)
• Website: generalcatalyst.com

21. Boldstart Ventures

Day-zero enterprise infrastructure investor. They back technical founders pre-launch and follow through Series A.

• Recent Deals: Snyk $7M Series A (2017), BigID $14M Series A (2018), Kustomer $12M Series A (2017, acquired 2020), Security Scorecard $7M Series A (2015)
• LinkedIn: Ed Sim
• Sector Focus: cybersecurity, developer tools, infrastructure, B2B SaaS, data platforms
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed, Series A
• Office Location: 156 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
• Website: boldstart.vc

22. Work-Bench

Enterprise software specialist investing only in NYC-based companies selling to enterprises. Strong Fortune 500 network.

• Recent Deals: Datadog early rounds (IPO 2019), Kustomer $12M Series A (2017), Socure $13M Series A (2018), Instabase $11M Series A (2018)
• LinkedIn: Jonathan Lehr
• Sector Focus: enterprise software, cybersecurity, data infrastructure, automation, vertical SaaS
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: 437 Madison Avenue, Manhattan
• Website: work-bench.com

Start tracking your New York Series A investor outreach

These 22 investors led or participated in 240+ NYC Series A rounds in 2025-2026. Before reaching out to Manhattan or Brooklyn funds, set up proper tracking so you understand which investors are genuinely interested versus just taking meetings.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create unique links for each NYC Series A investor. You'll see which slides they review and how long they spend on your go-to-market strategy and unit economics. New York Series A investors skip market size projections and focus on your revenue model, customer acquisition costs, and sales efficiency - your analytics will show this clearly.

When Thrive Capital or FirstMark ask for detailed metrics and customer references, share an Ellty data room instead of sending files via email. Keep your financial model, customer case studies, sales pipeline, and product roadmap organized in one secure place. Series A investors expect founders who know their numbers and can demonstrate repeatable sales processes.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in New York to raise Series A from NYC investors?

No, but it helps significantly. Thrive Capital and FirstMark have backed companies in SF, LA, and Austin successfully. The advantage of being NYC-based is easier access for quarterly board meetings and better ability to leverage investor networks for customers. Most NYC Series A investors prefer companies within 3 hours flight time for regular interaction.

How does New York compare to SF for Series A fundraising?

NYC has 40+ active Series A funds versus SF's 60+. Average round size is similar ($12M NYC vs $13M SF) but NYC has a lower bar for revenue traction - you need $2M ARR in NYC versus $3M in SF. NYC investors are stronger in fintech, enterprise software, and healthcare. SF is better for consumer social, marketplaces, and deep tech.

What metrics do I need for Series A in NYC?

For B2B SaaS: $2M+ ARR, 100%+ net dollar retention, sub-18 month CAC payback, 70%+ gross margins. For consumer: 1M+ MAU with 40%+ monthly retention or $5M+ revenue. For fintech: $5M+ revenue or significant transaction volume with clear unit economics. For healthcare: revenue plus regulatory progress and pilot customers.

Should I raise my Series A locally or talk to SF investors too?

Talk to both markets unless you're clearly a fit for one. NYC is better for fintech, B2B SaaS, healthcare, and digital media. SF is better for consumer social, marketplace platforms, crypto, and infrastructure. Most successful companies talk to 15-20 funds across both coasts and take the best terms. Geography matters less than investor quality and sector expertise.

How long does Series A take to close in NYC?

8-12 weeks from first meaningful meeting to signed term sheet. That includes 3-4 weeks of relationship building (assuming you've been sharing updates for months), 3-4 weeks of diligence (financial review, customer calls, reference checks), and 1-2 weeks for term sheet negotiation and legal documentation. If you're talking to multiple firms, add 2 weeks for competitive dynamics.

Can seed-stage investors lead my Series A?

Some can. Lerer Hippeau, Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, and Primary Venture Partners all lead seed through Series A. They'll lead your Series A if you're in their portfolio and hitting milestones. New Series A investors usually want to see institutional seed investors from your previous round - it validates you passed someone else's diligence.

What's the difference between late seed and Series A?

Late seed is typically $3-6M at $1M ARR or less. Series A is $8-15M at $2M+ ARR. Late seed investors take 15-20% ownership, Series A investors take 20-25%. The main difference is expectations - Series A investors want proven go-to-market and predictable growth. If you're at $1.5M ARR and want to raise $8M, you'll need to show that revenue is repeatable and scalable.