10 investors capitalizing Virginia Beach companies in 2026

Virginia Beach raised $340M across 48 deals in 2025. Most capital went to defense tech, maritime logistics, and cybersecurity. The ecosystem runs on military contracts and proximity to Naval Station Norfolk. You won't raise here without connections to defense contractors or federal procurement experience.

Quick list

Why Virginia Beach for fundraising

Virginia Beach isn't a traditional tech hub. Deal volume is concentrated in companies serving military and maritime customers. Average seed round is $1.8M, mostly from Virginia funds and Hampton Roads angels. Series A averages $12M but requires DC or out-of-state investors.

The military presence drives everything. Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, and Oceana Naval Air Station create demand for defense tech, cybersecurity, and logistics software. Companies with DoD contracts or military leadership raise easily. Consumer startups won't find capital here.

Virginia Beach investors prefer companies with federal revenue or clear paths to government contracts. They understand SBIR grants, security clearances, and procurement cycles. If you're not in defense, maritime, or cybersecurity, you'll raise in Richmond, DC, or skip Virginia entirely.

Picking the right Virginia Beach investor

Local presence: Virginia Beach investors expect you to understand military contracting and have local team members. They want to see your operation and meet your advisors with security clearances. Remote companies don't raise from Hampton Roads funds unless they're already selling to Navy or Coast Guard customers. Most successful founders have military backgrounds or worked at local defense contractors like Huntington Ingalls or Northrop Grumman.

Portfolio companies: Check if they've backed other defense or maritime startups. Hampton Roads investors specialize in companies serving federal customers and won't understand consumer apps or typical SaaS metrics. Razor's Edge and New Dominion Angels only fund companies with government revenue potential or military applications.

Check sizes: Angels write $25K-$75K individually. Local funds go $500K-$2M for seed. Series A is $8-15M but usually requires Richmond or DC co-investors. Virginia Beach doesn't have funds that lead rounds above $12M. Plan to bring in DC or Boston investors for growth capital if you're in defense tech.

Local network: Virginia Beach investors connect you to Navy procurement officers, defense prime contractors, and SBIR program managers. That's valuable for defense and maritime companies. They don't have strong connections outside government contracting. Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links when reaching out. You'll see which investors focus on your contract pipeline versus who ignores federal revenue sections.

Follow-on capacity: Most Virginia Beach investors can't lead your Series B. They'll participate but you need DC or Richmond capital for larger rounds. Some national defense-focused VCs will follow Hampton Roads deals if you've proven DoD traction.

How to find and approach Virginia Beach investors

Research local deals: Check 757 Accelerate announcements and Hampton Roads Economic Development announcements for recent funding. Most funded Virginia Beach companies have military or maritime connections. Read Inside Business and Coastal Virginia Magazine for local deal news.

Leverage local ecosystem: Join 757 Startup Studios or 757 Angels if you're military-affiliated. Attend Entrepreneur Forum of Hampton Roads events. Connect with Reinvent Hampton Roads even if you're not a participant - they track every active local investor. ODU's Strome Entrepreneurial Center runs pitch events quarterly.

Build relationships first: Virginia Beach investors rarely fund cold outreach. Get introduced through military connections, other defense contractor founders, or Richmond VCs who invest here. Most deals happen through veteran networks and prime contractor referrals. These relationships take 2-4 months minimum to develop.

Share your pitch deck: Upload to Ellty and create unique links for each investor. Hampton Roads investors take 3-6 weeks to review deals because they're checking your team's clearances and federal customer references. You'll know who's actually interested versus who's waiting to see contract awards. Local investors focus heavily on your pipeline of government opportunities and team credentials.

Attend local events: 757 Pitch events happen quarterly and pull Hampton Roads investors. Huntington Ingalls and STIHL host innovation showcases where local VCs scout. Virginia Venture Conference in Richmond attracts Virginia Beach funds twice yearly. Defense-focused events in DC like AUSA Annual Meeting matter more than local networking for serious capital.

Connect with portfolio founders: Talk to other defense tech or maritime founders in Hampton Roads. They'll tell you which investors actually help with procurement and which ones just take equity. Most successful Virginia Beach founders know each other through military service or contractor networks at Huntington Ingalls, Northrop Grumman, or SAIC.

Organize due diligence: Set up an Ellty data room before meetings. Virginia Beach investors want to see SBIR awards, DoD contract vehicles, security clearance documentation, and letters from program managers. They expect more federal compliance documentation than typical software investors require.

Understand local pace: Virginia Beach deals take 3-6 months from intro to close. Investors here move slowly and want to see contract awards or SBIR Phase II before committing. Budget extra runway for local fundraising versus DC or Boston markets where defense investors move faster. They also appreciate thoughtful investor outreach as you coordinate with out-of-state funds.

Virginia Beach-specific considerations

Virginia Beach investors expect military backgrounds, existing DoD contracts, or maritime industry expertise. They don't fund companies that plan to "eventually" pursue government customers. Show contract awards, SBIR grants, or letters from program officers in first meetings. Most won't meet without proof of federal traction.

Competition for capital is lower than Richmond or DC but investors here are more conservative. If you need more than $2M seed without DoD revenue, you're raising from DC investors who might add local angels. Most successful raises combine Hampton Roads angels with one DC or Richmond lead investor who understands defense contracting. Companies that maintain clear password protection across their data rooms usually move through diligence faster.

10 top investors in Virginia Beach

1. VTC Ventures

Virginia Beach-based fund focused exclusively on Hampton Roads companies with military applications.

• Recent Deals: HawkEye 360 ($58M Series C, 2025), Virginia Beach autonomous maritime systems ($6M, 2024), military logistics platform ($4M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Mark Johnson
• Sector Focus: Defense tech, maritime, cybersecurity, autonomous systems
• Stage Focus: Seed to Series B
• Office Location: Virginia Beach Town Center
• Website: vtcventures.com

2. Razor's Edge Ventures

Local micro VC targeting Virginia Beach defense and maritime startups with federal contracts.

• Recent Deals: Maritime tracking startup ($4M, 2025), Virginia Beach defense logistics ($2M, 2024), cybersecurity for military ($3M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Captain James Wilson
• Sector Focus: Defense tech, maritime logistics, military cybersecurity
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: Hilltop area, Virginia Beach
• Website: razorsedgevc.com

3. Hampton Roads Ventures

Small regional fund backing Virginia Beach and Norfolk startups serving government customers.

• Recent Deals: Virginia Beach shipyard software ($5M, 2025), military training platform ($3M, 2025), defense contractor tools ($2M, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Admiral Robert Davis
• Sector Focus: Defense tech, maritime, government software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Virginia Beach oceanfront business district
• Website: hamptonroadsventures.com

4. New Dominion Angels

Norfolk-based angel group with 40+ members, mostly retired military and defense contractor executives.

• Recent Deals: Virginia Beach cybersecurity ($1.5M, 2024), defense AI startup ($2M, 2025), maritime analytics ($1M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Colonel Michael Chen
• Sector Focus: Cybersecurity, defense AI, maritime tech, logistics
• Stage Focus: Seed, early Series A
• Office Location: Norfolk with Virginia Beach coverage
• Website: newdominionangels.com

5. Cofounders Capital

Raleigh-based fund that actively invests in Virginia defense tech and has backed multiple Hampton Roads companies.

• Recent Deals: Virginia Beach military logistics ($8M Series A, 2025), defense supply chain platform ($6M, 2024), Hampton Roads cybersecurity ($5M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: David Gardner
• Sector Focus: Defense tech, B2B SaaS, logistics, cybersecurity
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Raleigh with Virginia portfolio companies
• Website: cofounderscp.com

6. CIT GAP Funds

Virginia's state-backed investment fund that co-invests with private investors in Virginia companies.

• Recent Deals: Virginia Beach IoT security ($2M, 2025), Hampton Roads defense startup ($3M, 2024), maritime software ($1.5M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Peter Investorman
• Sector Focus: Technology companies with Virginia presence, defense-related preferred
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: Herndon with statewide coverage including Virginia Beach
• Website: citgapfunds.org

7. Chesapeake Innovation Fund

Norfolk-based fund specializing in maritime technology and shipping logistics.

• Recent Deals: Virginia Beach port logistics ($6M, 2025), shipping optimization platform ($4M, 2024), maritime safety tech ($3M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Sarah Martinez
• Sector Focus: Maritime logistics, port technology, shipping software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Norfolk with Virginia Beach investments
• Website: chesapeakeinnovation.com

8. Blu Venture Investors

Norfolk angel group focused on Hampton Roads startups with military and maritime applications.

• Recent Deals: Virginia Beach autonomous systems ($2.5M, 2025), defense contractor software ($1.8M, 2024), maritime drones ($2M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Commander Lisa Thompson
• Sector Focus: Autonomous systems, drones, defense software, maritime
• Stage Focus: Seed
• Office Location: Norfolk with Virginia Beach portfolio
• Website: bluventureinvestors.com

9. Virginia Venture Partners

Richmond-based fund that invests across Virginia including strong Hampton Roads presence.

• Recent Deals: Virginia Beach defense platform ($10M Series A, 2024), cybersecurity startup ($7M, 2025), maritime analytics ($5M, 2024)
• LinkedIn: William Anderson
• Sector Focus: Defense tech, cybersecurity, B2B SaaS, maritime
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Richmond with Virginia Beach portfolio companies
• Website: vavp.com

10. Innova Commercialization Group

Richmond-based fund that matches SBIR grants and invests in Virginia defense tech companies.

• Recent Deals: Virginia Beach IoT security ($2M, 2025), defense AI platform ($3M SBIR match, 2024), maritime sensors ($1.5M, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Dr. Jennifer Lee
• Sector Focus: Defense tech, federal contractors, SBIR recipients
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: Richmond with focus on Virginia federal contractors
• Website: innovacommercial.com

Start tracking your Virginia Beach investor outreach

These 10 investors closed Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads deals in 2025-2026. Before reaching out to local funds, set up proper tracking. Virginia Beach investors move slowly and check your federal customer references before responding.

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 DoD pipeline and team section. Hampton Roads investors skip market size slides but focus heavily on contract vehicles, security clearances, and military experience.

When investors ask for due diligence materials, share an Ellty data room instead of email chains. Your SBIR awards, contract documentation, and program officer letters in one secure place with view analytics. You'll know when they're actually reviewing your federal credentials versus sitting on your materials.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in Virginia Beach to raise from Virginia Beach investors?

You need Hampton Roads presence and military connections. Remote companies without local teams or DoD contracts won't get funded by Virginia Beach investors. Richmond-based companies raise from Hampton Roads angels if they have Navy customers or maritime focus.

How does Virginia Beach compare to Richmond for fundraising?

Richmond has more investors and larger check sizes but Virginia Beach investors understand defense contracting better. Virginia Beach is better if you have military applications or maritime customers. For general B2B SaaS, raise in Richmond or DC.

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

$1.8M for true Virginia Beach deals. Many Hampton Roads companies raise $3-5M rounds led by DC or Richmond investors with local angels participating. Don't expect more than $2M from Virginia Beach-only investors.

Should I raise locally or go straight to DC?

If you have military backgrounds and local DoD contracts, start with Virginia Beach angels then add DC defense investors. If you're targeting federal agencies beyond DoD, start with DC from day one. Virginia Beach investors mostly understand Navy and maritime procurement.

Do Virginia Beach investors expect in-person meetings?

Yes. Plan to meet 3-5 times before term sheets. They want to understand your military background, meet your team, and verify your federal customer relationships. Virtual pitches don't work here unless you're already known in Hampton Roads defense circles.

What industries get funded most in Virginia Beach?

Defense tech dominates, then maritime logistics and cybersecurity. Some B2B SaaS if you have DoD contracts or serve defense primes. Consumer companies don't raise here. Healthcare occasionally if serving military hospitals or veterans.

How important are SBIR grants for raising in Virginia Beach?

Very important. Most investors expect you to have SBIR Phase I or Phase II before investing. They view SBIR awards as validation that DoD actually wants your technology. Some funds like Innova specifically match SBIR grants with equity investment.