14 venture capital firms writing checks for Sacramento companies in 2026

Sacramento sits 90 miles from San Francisco but operates on different economics. The capital city specializes in agtech, healthtech, and govtech with 30-40% lower costs than the Bay Area. UC Davis drives agtech innovation. California's state government creates govtech opportunities you won't find elsewhere.

Quick list

Why Sacramento for fundraising

Sacramento fundraising centers on three strengths: agriculture technology, healthcare/medtech, and government technology. UC Davis ranks as the #1 agricultural university globally. The university's $700M+ research budget and deep agtech expertise create deal flow you can't access in SF. If you're building precision agriculture, food tech, or ag biotech, Sacramento investors understand your market better than Sand Hill Road.

California's state government sits here. That creates unique govtech opportunities. Startups building tools for government agencies, compliance software, or public sector solutions can pilot with state departments. This hands-on access to customers during product development is impossible to replicate elsewhere.

Cost advantages matter. Engineer salaries run $80K-$120K vs $150K+ in San Francisco. Office space costs 40-50% less. Your $1.5M seed round goes twice as far. Most Sacramento startups run under $250K monthly burn through Series A.

The challenge is capital scarcity. Sacramento has fewer active VCs than SF, LA, or San Diego. Sacramento Angels is the most active with 100+ portfolio companies since 2000. Blacktop Capital writes $1M-$5M checks. But beyond these core investors, you're raising from Bay Area VCs who treat Sacramento as an extension of their SF portfolio.

Series B capital essentially doesn't exist locally. Sacramento Angels invests $50K-$3M. Blacktop focuses on seed with ~$5M pre-money valuations. For $10M+ rounds, you're pitching Sand Hill Road firms who question why you're not in the Bay Area.

Picking the right Sacramento investor

Geographic fit: Sacramento Angels invests throughout Northern California. Blacktop Capital has offices in Sacramento, Seattle, and LA. Most local investors prefer companies willing to build significant operations in the region. Being 90 miles from SF helps - you can pitch Bay Area investors while maintaining Sacramento cost structure.

Sector specialization: Agtech gets funded here. AGR Partners focuses exclusively on food and agriculture. Davis Funding Club commercializes UC Davis IP. Healthcare/medtech works through Almond Tree Capital and Winning Streak Ventures. Govtech sells well given state government access. Consumer apps and pure software struggle unless you have exceptional metrics.

Check size expectations: Sacramento Angels invests $50K-$3M per company. Blacktop Capital writes $1M-$5M checks at seed stage with ~$5M pre-money valuations. IBank's Expanding VC Access Program co-invests alongside lead investors. CVF Capital Partners provides $1M-$10M in subordinated debt and preferred equity. Seed rounds run $500K-$2M in Sacramento.

Network strength: UC Davis connections matter enormously for agtech. Davis Funding Club focuses on commercializing university IP. Sacramento Angels is a founding member of InSync Angel Network, connecting you to Silicon Valley, Northern and Central California angel groups. Blacktop Capital's connections span Sacramento, LA, and Silicon Valley. Find smarter ways to share large PDFs without clogging inboxes or losing control.

Communication strategy: Upload to Ellty before pitching Sacramento Angels - they meet every 6-8 weeks and present 2 companies per session. Track which angels engage with specific slides. Sacramento investors focus heavily on capital efficiency and path to profitability, not just growth metrics.

Follow-on capacity: Most Sacramento investors can't lead Series B. Sacramento Angels syndicates deals through InSync Angel Network. Blacktop Capital focuses on seed. Plan to bring in Menlo Park or SF firms for Series A, Sand Hill Road for Series B. Sacramento works for proving concept and reaching initial traction. Get in front of investors using cold emails, LinkedIn, and warm intros that actually work.

How to find and approach Sacramento investors

Research local ecosystem: StartupSac.com lists active investors and resources. Sacramento Angels accepts applications through Dealum with deadlines: Jan 7, Feb 18, Apr 15, Jun 3, Jul 15, Sep 2, Oct 14 in 2025. Blacktop Capital reviews pitches through their website.

UC Davis connection: Davis Funding Club invests specifically in UC Davis IP commercialization. If your technology came from university research or you're solving agricultural problems, connect with the Davis ecosystem first. The university's Venture Catalyst program helps commercialize research.

Join accelerators: Founder Academy provides seed-stage investment in tutoring and education. I/O LABS offers training, mentoring, accelerating. StartupSac organizes the ecosystem through education, empowerment, networking events.

Share pitch materials: Set up Ellty links customized for each investor before applying. Sacramento Angels reviews applications in batches and selects 2 companies for each investor meeting. Track which investors spend time on your materials to prioritize follow-ups.

Attend Sacramento events: Sacramento Founder Institute runs cohorts. Startup Grind Sacramento hosts monthly events. The city's tech scene is smaller than SF but more accessible - easier to meet investors directly at events.

Leverage InSync Angel Network: Sacramento Angels belongs to this Northern California syndicate. Getting one InSync member interested can open doors to Sierra Angels, Davis Funding Club, and other regional investors who share deal flow.

Prepare data rooms: Use Ellty to organize financials, customer references, and technical documentation. Sacramento investors move deliberately - expect 60-90 day close timelines for seed rounds. Have your data room ready when Sacramento Angels selects you to present.

Understand timing: Sacramento Angels meets every 6-8 weeks. Application deadlines are set months in advance. Don't wait until you need money to apply. Start relationship-building 6 months before your target close date.

Sacramento-specific considerations

Proximity to San Francisco shapes everything. You're close enough for Bay Area investors to consider you, far enough to maintain cost advantages. Most successful Sacramento startups pitch this as "Bay Area access with Central Valley economics."

UC Davis creates sector focus. The university's agricultural expertise is unmatched globally. Agtech and food tech companies should build in Sacramento to access this ecosystem. Healthcare also works given UC Davis Health and Sacramento's concentration of medical institutions.

State government drives govtech. California's departments pilot software that other states later adopt. Getting the state as a customer validates your product nationally. This is Sacramento's unique advantage over other markets.

Capital scarcity forces creativity. Sacramento Angels and Blacktop Capital handle most local seed deals. Beyond that, you're raising from SF. Many founders commute to the Bay Area for investor meetings while keeping their teams in Sacramento. The 90-mile distance is manageable but adds complexity.

Corporate venture is limited. Unlike SF with Google Ventures or LA with entertainment money, Sacramento lacks deep corporate VC. Blue Diamond Growers and other agriculture companies occasionally invest, but corporate capital is sparse.

14 top investors in Sacramento

1. Sacramento Angels

Angel network founded 2000, 100+ portfolio companies, InSync Angel Network member.

• Recent Deals: Revenoid $10.83M (2025), HEN Nozzles $8M seed (2024), Nalu Bio $12M Series A (2023), SuperWorld (2021), Gluware acquired Jan 2025
• LinkedIn: Sacramento Angels
• Sector Focus: Software, Internet, Wireless, Social Media, IT, Healthtech, Cleantech
• Stage Focus: Early-Stage ($50K-$3M raises)
• Office Location: Sacramento, CA
• Website: sacangels.com

2. Blacktop Capital

Seed-stage VC founded 2016, 27 investments, 8 exits including Liftoff, Sandbox ($52.5M to nCino Feb 2025).

• Recent Deals: Sandbox acquired $52.5M (Feb 2025), Vela seed (2020), Intello acquired (2021), Fantasmo acquired, RBC Signals
• LinkedIn: Benjamin A Brasher, General Partner
• Sector Focus: Software (prefer over hardware), Enterprise Applications, High Tech, Fintech
• Stage Focus: Seed (~$5M pre-money, $1M-$5M checks)
• Office Location: Rocklin/Sacramento, CA; Seattle, WA; Los Angeles, CA
• Website: blacktop.vc

3. California IBank - Expanding Venture Capital Access Program

State program with $250M funding ($200M SSBCI + $50M state supplement), launched 2022, first investment $4.1M in Unshackled Ventures (June 2023).

• Recent Deals: $4.1M Unshackled Ventures (immigrant founder-focused VC fund, June 2023), co-invests with lead investors in underrepresented founders
• LinkedIn: Shrina Kurani, Deputy Director of Venture Capital
• Sector Focus: Underrepresented founders, Climate equity, Socio-economically disadvantaged geographies
• Stage Focus: Co-investment alongside lead investors (opportunistic)
• Office Location: Sacramento, CA
• Website: ibank.ca.gov/venture-capital-program

4. Winning Streak Ventures

Sacramento-based VC focusing on medtech, fintech, cleantech in Silicon Valley's shadow.

• Recent Deals: Medtech, fintech, cleantech companies in Northern California
• LinkedIn: Winning Streak Ventures
• Sector Focus: Medtech, Fintech, Clean Energy
• Stage Focus: Seed to Early-Stage
• Office Location: Sacramento, CA
• Website: Contact via StartupSac network

5. Impact Venture Capital

Silicon Valley early-stage AI investor focusing on cybersecurity, robotics, autonomous vehicles, digital health.

• Recent Deals: AI-applied cybersecurity, robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles, digital health startups
• LinkedIn: Impact Venture Capital
• Sector Focus: AI, Cybersecurity, Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, Digital Health
• Stage Focus: Seed
• Office Location: Silicon Valley, CA (invests in Sacramento region)
• Website: impactvc.com

6. AGR Partners

International investor in food and agriculture companies, cultivating profitable long-term growth.

• Recent Deals: Food and agriculture companies internationally
• LinkedIn: AGR Partners
• Sector Focus: Food, Agriculture, Agtech
• Stage Focus: Growth-oriented
• Office Location: Northern California
• Website: agrpartners.com

7. Akers Capital

Manages Pac West Technology Fund I, investing in Northwest and Northern California emerging technology.

• Recent Deals: Northwest and Northern California technology companies
• LinkedIn: Akers Capital
• Sector Focus: Technology, Software, Hardware
• Stage Focus: Early-Stage
• Office Location: Northern California
• Website: Contact via StartupSac network

8. Almond Tree Capital

Medical technology and device investor with deep financial, marketing, legal, technical expertise.

• Recent Deals: Medical device and technology companies
• LinkedIn: Almond Tree Capital
• Sector Focus: Medical Technology, Medical Devices
• Stage Focus: Early to Growth
• Office Location: Northern California
• Website: almondtreecapital.com

9. Sierra Angels

Nevada's premier angel group founded 1997, 50+ members, Northern California and Nevada investments.

• Recent Deals: 60+ companies in software, internet, wireless, social media, IT, healthtech, cleantech
• LinkedIn: Sierra Angels
• Sector Focus: Software, Internet, Wireless, Healthtech, Cleantech
• Stage Focus: Angel, Seed
• Office Location: North Lake Tahoe, NV (active in Northern California)
• Website: sierraangels.com

10. Davis Funding Club

UC Davis-focused investors commercializing university IP and Davis economy startups.

• Recent Deals: UC Davis IP commercialization, Davis local economy startups
• LinkedIn: Davis Funding Club
• Sector Focus: UC Davis Technology, Agriculture, Research Commercialization
• Stage Focus: Angel, Seed
• Office Location: Davis, CA (Sacramento metro)
• Website: Contact via UC Davis ecosystem

11. CVF Capital Partners

Subordinated debt and preferred equity for small/medium California businesses, $1M-$10M+ flexible capital.

• Recent Deals: California small and medium-sized businesses across sectors
• LinkedIn: CVF Capital Partners
• Sector Focus: Various (flexible)
• Stage Focus: Growth (subordinated debt, preferred equity)
• Office Location: California
• Website: cvfcapitalpartners.com

12. DCA Capital Partners

Direct investments in talented management teams for revenue growth, market share, strategic exits.

• Recent Deals: Northern California companies with strong management teams
• LinkedIn: DCA Capital Partners
• Sector Focus: Various
• Stage Focus: Growth, Pre-Exit
• Office Location: Northern California
• Website: Contact via StartupSac network

13. Moneta Partners

Early-stage investor optimizing growth and profitability with entrepreneurs, developers, sales/marketing teams.

• Recent Deals: Sacramento area early-stage startups
• LinkedIn: Moneta Partners
• Sector Focus: Technology, Software
• Stage Focus: Early-Stage
• Office Location: Sacramento, CA
• Website: Contact via StartupSac network

14. Black Star Fund

Early-stage innovation fund investing in diverse innovators and underrepresented founders.

• Recent Deals: Black and underrepresented founders in Northern California
• LinkedIn: Black Star Fund
• Sector Focus: Various (diversity-focused)
• Stage Focus: Early-Stage
• Office Location: Sacramento, CA
• Website: Contact via Sacramento ecosystem

Start tracking your Sacramento investor outreach

These 14 investors are active in Sacramento and Northern California in 2025-2026. The ecosystem is smaller than the Bay Area but more accessible.

Upload your deck to Ellty before applying to Sacramento Angels through Dealum. Track slides getting the most engagement from angel members. When Sacramento Angels selects you to present, you'll know which investors to prioritize in the room.

California IBank's Expanding VC Access Program co-invests alongside lead investors. If you're an underrepresented founder or building in underserved geographies, submit your executive summary to Cambridge Associates through IBank's program.

Share Ellty data rooms when investors request financials, customer references, or technical documentation. Sacramento investors value capital efficiency and clear paths to profitability - organize your materials to demonstrate both.

Common questions

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

Northern California location helps significantly. Sacramento Angels invests throughout Northern California and beyond but prefers local companies. Blacktop Capital has Sacramento, Seattle, and LA offices - they invest across the western US. Davis Funding Club focuses specifically on UC Davis-connected startups. If you're outside Sacramento, demonstrate commitment to building operations in the region or explain why your sector (like agtech) benefits from Sacramento proximity.

How does Sacramento compare to San Francisco for fundraising?

Sacramento has dramatically less capital but 40-50% lower costs. Average seed is $500K-$2M vs $2M-$5M in SF. Sacramento specializes in agtech, healthtech, and govtech - SF handles broader sectors. The advantage is your money goes twice as far with lower salaries and office space. Many successful Sacramento startups raise seed locally then Series A from Bay Area VCs who appreciate the cost structure.

What's the average seed round size in Sacramento?

$500K-$2M for seed rounds. Sacramento Angels invests $50K-$3M. Blacktop Capital writes $1M-$5M checks at ~$5M pre-money valuations. These numbers are 40-50% lower than SF but your burn rate should be 50%+ lower with Sacramento costs. Focus on capital efficiency - Sacramento investors expect you to make money last.

Should I raise locally or go to Silicon Valley?

If you're building agtech, raise in Sacramento first. UC Davis connections and local agtech expertise exceed what you'll find in SF. For healthtech/medtech, Sacramento has capital through Almond Tree Capital and Winning Streak Ventures. Govtech works well given state government access. For consumer apps or general SaaS without sector specialization, consider SF directly. Most successful path: seed in Sacramento, Series A from Bay Area VCs.

Do Sacramento investors expect in-person meetings?

Yes, especially for Sacramento Angels. They meet every 6-8 weeks and present 2 companies per session at in-person investor meetings. Application deadlines are set months ahead. Video works for initial screening but term sheets require multiple in-person meetings. Being 90 miles from SF means you can drive for meetings without relocating.

What industries get funded most in Sacramento?

Agriculture technology dominates. UC Davis drives this - AGR Partners, Davis Funding Club focus here. Healthcare/medtech works through Almond Tree Capital. Govtech succeeds given state government as customer. Cleantech gets funded through Winning Streak Ventures. Software/SaaS works but needs exceptional metrics to compete with SF startups. Consumer apps rarely get funded unless you have massive traction.

How long does it take to close a round in Sacramento?

60-90 days from first meeting to term sheet for seed rounds. Sacramento Angels meets every 6-8 weeks, so timing depends on application deadlines and selection. Blacktop Capital moves at typical VC pace. This is slower than SF but faster than traditional East Coast markets. Sacramento investors are deliberate - they value capital efficiency over speed. Plan 6 months runway before starting fundraising.