The state of Texas has an exceptional startup scene, having over 125 startups that have achieved unicorn status. The sector continues to grow, as the state ranks third in the country with the highest number of biotech startups. In the last five years, there have been more than 700 new biotech-related establishments and over 9,500 new jobs added to the sector.
But, amidst all this hustling startup environment, can you find the right VC firms willing to invest in your idea?
Of course! Texas is home to hundreds of VC firms that can invest in your Biotech startup. The following article highlights the top startup investors in Texas.
Get To Know The Top 7 VC Firms in Texas That Fund Biotech Startups
| VC Firm | Focused Sectors | Funding Stages | Notable Investments | Total Investments | Investment Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Ventures | IT, Biotech, Advertising, SaaS, Cloud Computing, Education, Security, Training | Growth and Expansion | 724 Solutions, Active Power, Adometry, Agere | 600+ | Up to $100M |
| Quake Capital | Biotech, Life Sciences, Food & Beverage, SaaS, Software, Mobile Apps, Social Media, Telecommunications | Early and Seed | Adventr, 360 Stories, Adway, Aeronics | 300+ | Up to several million |
| Silverton Partners | Biotech, CRM, Digital Media, Sports, SaaS, E-Commerce, Social Media | Early and Late | The Zebra, WP Engine, Self Financial | 220+ | Around $10M |
| S3 Ventures | Biotech, Enterprise Software, Cyber Security, Social Media, Cloud Computing, Telecommunications | Early and Late | Alkami Technology, Levelset | 112+ | Up to $20M |
| ATX Venture Partners | Enterprise Software, Identity Management, Cyber Security, SaaS, Electronics | Early and Late | Fantasy Sales Team, Alert Media, Source Day | 100+ | Around $5M |
| PTV Healthcare Capital | Biotech, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Medical Device, Software | Series B and Late | Cardiva Medical, Apollo Endosurgery, Intersect ENT | 50 | Around $20M |
| TEXO Ventures | Medical, Life Sciences, Cyber Security, SaaS, Network Security | Early and Late | Ortho Kinematics, SwipeSense, OpenMarkets | 32 | $500,000 to $8M |
Austin Ventures
- Website: Austin Ventures | Austin Ventures
- Focused Sectors: IT, Biotech, Advertising, Marketing, SaaS, SEM, SEO, Software, Apps, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Human Resources, E-Learning, Education, Security, Training
- Funding Stages: Growth and Expansion
- Present in: Texas
- Notable Investments: 724 Solutions, Active Power, Adometry, and Agere
- Total Investments: 600+
Austin Ventures was founded in 1984 and became one of the most prominent venture capital firms in Texas, investing over $3 billion across more than 600 startups. The firm initially focused on early-stage and middle-market companies within Texas. However, over time, they shifted their investment strategy towards later-stage and private equity investments.
AV’s approach focuses on long-term partnerships with talented entrepreneurs and executives, helping build industry-leading companies in sectors such as technology and consumer services.
The investment range of Austin Ventures can range up to $100M, depending upon the relative sector and estimated ROI.
Quake Capital
- Website: Quake Capital Partners
- Focused Sectors: Biotech, Life Sciences, Business Intelligence, Computer, Education, Enterprise Software, Food & Beverage, Health Care, Hotel, Industrial Automation, Information Technology, Internet of Things, Market Research, Mobile, Mobile Apps, Restaurants, SaaS, Search Engine, Social Media, Software, Sustainability, Telecommunications
- Funding Stages: Early and Seed
- Present in: Texas
- Notable Investments: Adventr, 360 Stories, Adway, and Aeronics
- Total Investments: 300+
Quake Capital is a famous VC firm that was founded in 2017 by Glenn Argenbrigh. It is an early-stage venture capital firm with a focus on supporting underrepresented and diverse founders across different sectors.
Quake operates in cities such as New York, Austin, and Los Angeles and has even expanded into Europe through a partnership with Deutsche Telekom. Their investment strategy focuses on identifying innovative startups with strong market potential and supporting them throughout different stages. The firm has a solid track record of high returns, having a 42% internal rate of return (IRR) and a 92% survival rate for their startups over five years.
The investment range of Quake Capital can go up to several million dollars.
Silverton Partners
- Website: Silverton Partners | Early-Stage Venture Capital Firm in Texas
- Focused Sectors: Biotech, Lifesciences, Healthcare, CRM, Enterprise Software, Information Technology, Internet of Things, Broadcasting, Digital Media, Sports, Cloud Management, Human Resources, SaaS, Advertising Platforms, B2B, Digital Marketing, Marketing Automation, Consumer Lending, E-Commerce, Social Media
- Funding Stages: Early and Late
- Present in: US
- Notable Investments: The Zebra, WP Engine, Self Financial, Restream, Fetch, and Copper Cow Coffee
- Total Investments: 220+
Silverton Partners, founded in 2006, is a leading early-stage venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas. The firm focuses on early-stage investments in tech-related sectors. Silverton has a strong regional focus, with 70-75% of its capital targeted at companies within Texas, although it also funds startups across the U.S., including New York, Southern California, and Utah.
Since its inception, Silverton Partners has raised dozens of funds, the most recent being Fund VI, a $144 million fund. The firm also arranges many startup events like Austin Startup Week and SXSW (South by Southwest) with an average check size of around $10M.
S3 Ventures
- Website: About Us — S3 Ventures: The Largest Venture Capital Firm Focused on Texas (s3vc.com)
- Focused Sectors: Biotech, Enterprise Software, Finance, SaaS, Software, Advertising, Advertising Platforms, Life Sciences, Healthcare, Internet, Communities, Public Safety, Internet of Things, Information Technology, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Media, Cyber Security, Network Security, Security, Women Founded, Cloud Computing, Developer APIs, iOS, Apps, Information Services, Telecommunications, Retail, Artificial Intelligence
- Funding Stages: Early and Late
- Present in: Texas
- Notable Investments: Alkami Technology and Levelset
- Total Investments: 112
S3 Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2005 by Brian R. Smith. The firm focuses on investing in seed, Series A, and Series B-stage companies, primarily in the business technology, digital experiences, and healthcare technology sectors.
To date, S3 Ventures has funded over 100 startups and has 40 active portfolio companies. They have also had more than 30 exits.
When funding startups, S3 Ventures invests in startups that are led by visionary founders with high-impact ideas. They prefer to lead with initial investments ranging from $500,000 to $10 million, with the ability to invest up to $20 million over the life of a company.
The investment range of S3 Ventures can range up to $2M.
ATX Venture Partners
- Website: ATX Venture Partners investment portfolio | PitchBook
- Focused Sectors: Enterprise Software, Identity Management, Risk Management, Software, Hardware, Health Care, Medical, Therapeutics, Cyber Security, Information Technology, SaaS, Security, Audio, Manufacturing, Semiconductor, Network Security, Service Industry, Electronics
- Funding Stages: Early and Late
- Present in: Texas
- Notable Investments: Fantasy Sales Team, Alert Media, and Source Day
- Total Investments: 100+
ATX Venture Partners is an Austin-based venture capital firm founded in 2014 by Chris Shonk and Danielle Allen. The firm focuses on early-stage technology companies and has funded around 105 startups.
ATX Venture Partners primarily invests in Seed and Series A rounds, targeting scalable businesses with strong leadership and potential for rapid growth.
The average check size of ATX Venture Partners is around $5M.
PTV Healthcare Capital
- Website: PTV Healthcare Capital • Venture & Expansion • Austin, Texas (ptvhc.com)
- Focused Sectors: Biotech, Health Care, Internet, Medical, Mobile, Search Engine, Health Diagnostics, Life Science, Medical Device, Education, Enterprise Software, Home Health Care, mHealth, Software, Biotechnology, Hospital, Information Technology, Location Based Services, Real Time. Social media
- Funding Stages: Series B and Late
- Present in: Texas
- Notable Investments: Cardiva Medical, Apollo Endosurgery, and Intersect ENT.
- Total Investments: 50
The firm is known for its selective investment approach, seeking out ventures that align with healthcare reform and demonstrate scalability with a global impact. Over the years, PTV Healthcare Capital has made a total of 47 investments and has achieved 24 notable exits.
PTV is highly selective in its investment criteria, primarily looking for companies that are scalable and have a strong potential to impact healthcare on a global scale. They usually invest in startups that can prove their growth strategy, promising 8-14x ROI.
The investment range of PTV Healthcare Capital is around $20M.
TEXO Ventures
- Website: TEXO Ventures: Building Innovative Healthcare Companies
- Focused Sectors: Medical, Therapeutics, Life Sciences, Cyber Security, Information Technology, SaaS, Security, Audio, Manufacturing, Semiconductor, Network Security, Service Industry, Electronics
- Funding Stages: Early and Late
- Present in: Texas
- Notable Investments: Ortho Kinematics, SwipeSense, OpenMarkets, BetterDoctor, and Sensentia
- Total Investments:
Funding startups since 2009, TEXO Ventures is a healthcare-focused venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas. The network focuses on early-stage investments within the healthcare sector and has invested in a total of 31 startups with 2 successful exits.
TEXO Ventures has always invested in startups with a primary aim to build innovative healthcare companies with great care, reflecting its name's Latin root 'TEX-Ö' which means 'to build with great care.' The investors mostly invest in companies at pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages, with a strong focus on scalable healthcare solutions.
The investment range of TEXO Ventures lies between $500,000 to $8M.
Wrap-Up:
Summing it all up, Texas is a biotech hub and there are hundreds of VC firms ready to invest in your startup.
Many startup founders, especially those crafting their first pitch, often struggle with developing a creative and compelling presentation. For quick and effective solutions, leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook can be highly beneficial.
These networks not only provide access to a wealth of pitch examples and resources but also offer opportunities to connect with experienced entrepreneurs.
