Nevada is well known for its gigantic agricultural and renewable energy sectors. But amidst the growth of these two common sectors, the state has also invested a lot in information technology.
In 2021, Northern Nevada was reported to have secured over 1.5 Billion in investment, around 15x higher than the investment secured in the previous year.
However, all this growth wasn’t just caused by a mere coincidence. The angel investors as well as VC firms have put in a lot of hard work to push Nevada as an IT hub. The following article highlights the list of top startup investors in Nevada that are active in the IT sector.
Find Out The List of Top 5 VC Firms in Nevada That Fund IT Startups
| VC Firm | Focused Sectors | Funding Stages | Notable Investments | Total Investments | Average Check Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 Startups | IT, SaaS, Media, E-Commerce, Healthcare, Fintech, Crypto, Proptech, Education, Devops | Early and Seed | Canva, Solana, Reddit | 3,000+ | $1M |
| Pipeline Capital Partners | Consumer Internet, Advertising, Social Games, Digital Media, Biotechnology, IT | Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C | Sydecar, Beeline, Haul | 200+ | $13M (Series A and B) |
| Yasar Corporation | IT | Early and Seed | Cascade, Blur, BudBidz | 23 | $2M |
| Octave Ventures | Deep Tech, Biotech, Information Technology | All Stages | Advocado, Freewire, Biotech in Stealth | 21 | Variable |
| RMR Capital | IT, Software, Advertising, Marketing, Gaming/eSports, Media/Content | Seed | Bitvore, Flomio, Walls 360 | 10+ | $200K - $2M |
500 Startups
- Website: 500 Global
- Focused Sectors: IT, SaaS, Media, E-Commerce, Consumer, Healthcare, Proptech & Real Estate, Hardware & Industrials, Education, Devops, Fintech, Crypto & Blockchain
- Funding Stages: Early and Seed
- Present in: San Francisco, Austin, Las Vegas, Mexico City, Miami, New York, São Paulo, Washington, Abu Dhabi, Baku, Cairo, Dubai, Manama, Riyadh, Bangalore, Bangkok, Hangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Jaipur, Kuala Lumpur, Nagoya, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo
- Notable Investments: Canva, Solana, Reddit
- Total Investments: 3,000+
Founded in 2010 by Dave McClure and Christine Tsai, 500 Global is an international VC firm. The firm has expanded its reach and mission over the years, investing in over 3,000 companies across 77 countries.
Their investments have supported more than 6,000 founders globally, with some of their most notable portfolio companies including Canva, Grab, Talkdesk, and Bukalapak. Among these, 33 companies have achieved unicorn status and more than 120 companies are valued at over $100 million.
When investing in startups, 500 Global invests from early seed to growth stages, offering accelerator programs and co-investment opportunities for later stages.
500 Global also hosts various startup events and annual summits like 500 Global Flagship Accelerator program and Geeks on a Plane tour. The investment range of 500 Global is around $1M.
Pipeline Capital Partners
- Website: Pipeline Capital Partners
- Focused Sectors: Consumer Internet, Mobile, Local Advertising, Advertising Platforms, Ad Targeting, Advertising Networks, Deals, Coupons, Advertising, Mobile Advertising, Mobile Games, Retail, Food and Beverages, Water, Social Games, Fantasy Sports, Casual Games, Social Television, Small and Medium Businesses, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Biotechnology, Information Technology
- Funding Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
- Present in: US and Canada
- Notable Investments: Sydecar, Beeline, and Haul
- Total Investments: 200+
Pipeline Capital Partners is a venture capital firm based in Walnut, California. Investing in startups since 2017, the firm mainly focuses on early-stage startups that need capital to scale and are led by experienced founders.
Pipeline Capital typically participates in Series A and B funding rounds, with an average round size of $13 million.
Their team of investors usually emphasizes startups with strong technological foundations, scalable business models, and a focus on disrupting traditional industries.
Yasar Corporation
- Website: About — Yasar Corporation
- Focused Sectors: Information Technology
- Funding Stages: Early and Seed
- Present in: Las Vegas
- Notable Investments: Cascade, Blur, and BudBidz
- Total Investments: 23
Yasar Corporation, founded in 2003, is a boutique investment firm and global strategic consultancy specializing in early-stage private equity investments. Initially focused on large multinationals, Yasar Corporation transitioned in 2010 to concentrate on the global startup ecosystem, offering funding, mentorship, and strategic guidance to early-stage companies.
Headquartered in Las Vegas, the firm’s founders include Dr. Erhan Yasar and Brad Yasar, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, who both focus on early and seed-stage startups.
They have an average check size of around $2M.
Octave Ventures
- Website: Octave Ventures (octave-ventures.com)
- Focused Sectors: Deep Tech, Biotech, Information Technology
- Funding Stages: All Stages
- Present in: Henderson, NV
- Notable Investments: Advocado, Freewire, Biotech Company in Stealth Mode
- Total Investments: 21
Octave Ventures was founded in 2018 by Michael S. Kim, an experienced investor with over 30 years of experience in investment banking and principal investing.
The firm focuses on venture investments in the biotech and deep tech sectors, supporting innovative companies pushing the boundaries in these fields.
Like most VC firms in the state, Octave Ventures focuses on early- to growth-stage companies with high potential in biotech and deep technology sectors. Octave Ventures supports companies that aim to make huge technological and medical breakthroughs, generating at least 8-15x ROI.
RMR Capital
- Website: rmrcapital.com
- Focused Sectors: IT, Software, Advertising, Marketing, Content, Tapad (acquired by Experian), Consumer Internet, Data Services, Enterprise, Gaming/eSports, Media/Content
- Funding Stages: Seed
- Present in: Nevada
- Notable Investments: Bitvore, Flomio, Walls 360
- Total Investments: 10+
RMR Capital is a venture capital investment firm headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, founded in 2000 by Dr. Reghis Magdangal Romero.
Since its inception, RMR Capital has funded 17 startups and achieved 14 exits. The team of investors focuses on startups that are operating with a unique idea, dealing in large addressable markets, and have solid exit strategies.
Other than investment activities, RMR Capital actively participates in startup events and annual summits, including the RAA Ventures Demo Day and the Startup Showcase, providing platforms for startups to present their innovations and network with angel investors.
The investment range of RMR Capital is between $200,000 to $2M.
Are You Targeting The Right VC Firms? Here Are 3 Strategies To Follow!
In 2024, most venture capitalists aim to generate 10-20x ROI from their startup investments.
But, not all VC firms have an identical investment strategy. While some prioritize high ROI, many VC firms look for startups with a unique idea, even if the idea needs a lot of guidance to scale internationally.
Let us help, with three amazing strategies that will allow you to make a better decision and only pitch to relevant VC firms.
Three Strategies to Understand a VC Firm’s Investment Criteria:
Analyze Their Investment History
One of the easiest ways to get a sense of a VC firm’s preferences is to review their portfolio companies. VCs often invest in specific industries, such as fintech, AI, or health tech, and favor particular business models like SaaS or marketplace platforms.
Study Their Thought Leadership
Many VC firms publish blogs, host podcasts, or provide thought leadership through conferences and social media. For example, some firms would focus on team leadership, while others may be more focused on product scalability.
Connect with Founders of Their Portfolio Companies
One of the most effective strategies to understand a VC’s decision-making process is to speak with founders they’ve already backed. These individuals have gone through the fundraising process and can offer insights into how the VC firm operates, what they value in a pitch, and the criteria they use to evaluate businesses.
Wrap-Up:
From finding the right angel investors to researching their investment interests, we have discussed everything that would help you during an investor meeting.
To wrap things up, we will quote Naval Ravikant from Angie’s List when he emphasized bringing an exceptional product to the market.
“The best way to raise money is to make a product that’s so good, people just want to write you a check.'