Looking for the latest funded San Francisco startups? You’ve found the most comprehensive database of San Francisco startups and Silicon Valley companies raising capital. As the #1 startup ecosystem worldwide, San Francisco startups raised a record $111.7 billion in the first nine months of 2025—already surpassing any full year in history and representing 45% of all U.S. venture capital.
Our team tracks San Francisco and Bay Area startup funding announcements every week, maintaining the most comprehensive database with verified contacts, funding details, and company intelligence. Below, you’ll find 100 recently funded startups with actionable data you can use today.
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Why San Francisco Dominates the Global Startup Ecosystem
Whether you’re tracking Series A funding rounds, looking for AI startup opportunities, or researching seed-stage companies, this database provides weekly updates with verified contact information.
San Francisco’s position as the #1 global startup ecosystem isn’t just maintained—it’s expanding. According to StartupBlink’s 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, San Francisco’s ecosystem is 170% stronger than New York, which ranks second nationally. Here’s what drives this dominance:
- Record Capital Inflows: The $111.7 billion raised through Q3 2025 exceeds the previous record of $92.9 billion raised in all of 2021—representing a 20% increase
- AI Leadership: San Francisco attracts over 50% of global AI funding, with landmarks like OpenAI (valued at $157B), Anthropic, and hundreds of emerging AI companies
- Concentration Effect: With 6,263 startups per 100,000 people, SF has the world’s highest startup density, creating unmatched networking and collaboration opportunities
- Global Talent Magnet: Top engineers and founders relocate to SF, reversing pandemic-era remote work trends
According to NVCA (National Venture Capital Association) data, one in three venture dollars invested nationwide in Q3 2025 went to San Francisco Bay Area companies.
Quick Stats: San Francisco Startup Funding in 2025
- 💰 Total funding (9 months 2025): $111.7 billion—already a record year
- 📈 Year-over-year growth: 245% increase vs. first 9 months of 2024
- 🌎 Global dominance: #1 ranked ecosystem worldwide (StartupBlink)
- 🏆 National share: 45% of all U.S. venture capital in Q1-Q3 2025
- 🦄 Unicorns: 268 companies valued over $1 billion
- 🏢 Total startups: 14,542 active startups (21% of all U.S. startups)
- 🎯 Top sector: AI accounts for 50%+ of global AI funding
Table of Contents
Recently Funded San Francisco Startups
| Name | Website | Industry | Country | Funding Amount (USD) | Funding Type | Last Funding Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxima AI | maxima.ai | Accounting, Finance, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $30,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Numeric | www.numeric.io | Accounting, Finance, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Analytics | United States | $51,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Alembic | getalembic.com | Advertising, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, B2B Software, Data | United States | $145,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| AirOps | www.airops.com | Advertising, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $40,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Obello | www.obello.com | Advertising, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $8,500,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Point One Navigation | pointonenav.com | Aerospace, Automotive, Drones, Robotics, Wearables | United States | $35,000,000 | Series C | Nov 2025 |
| Poseidon Aerospace | www.poseidonaero.com | Aerospace, Logistics, Transportation | United States | $11,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Agtonomy | www.agtonomy.com | Agriculture, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $18,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Anysphere | anysphere.inc | Artificial Intelligence | United States | $2,300,000,000 | Series D | Nov 2025 |
| Tavus | www.tavus.io | Artificial Intelligence | United States | $40,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| alphaXiv | www.alphaxiv.org | Artificial Intelligence | United States | $7,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| World Labs | www.worldlabs.ai | Artificial Intelligence, 3D, Architecture, Gaming, Robotics, Augmented Reality | United States | Convertible Note | Nov 2025 | |
| Wispr Flow | wisprflow.ai | Artificial Intelligence, Audio, B2B Software, Healthcare | United States | $25,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Wild Moose | www.wildmoose.ai | Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Cloud Computing | United States | $7,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Mindportal (MCP Saas infrastructure B2B) | mindportal.framer.website | Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Cloud Computing | United States | Pre-Seed | Nov 2025 | |
| Mem0 | mem0.ai | Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Cloud Computing, Healthcare, Education, E-commerce, Sales | United States | $20,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Cuckoo | www.cuckoo.so | Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Cloud Computing, Marketing | United States | $1,738,503 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Magic Patterns | www.magicpatterns.com | Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Design | United States | $6,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Freya Voice | freyavoice.ai | Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Finance, Insurance | United States | $3,500,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Gamma | gamma.app | Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Information Technology | United States | $48,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Kite AI | gokite.ai | Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain | United States | Series A | Nov 2025 | |
| Poly | withpoly.com | Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing | United States | $8,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Luminal | luminal.com | Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Data, B2B Software | United States | $5,300,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Kestrel AI | usekestrel.ai | Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Data, B2B Software | United States | Seed | Nov 2025 | |
| SynthioLabs | www.synthiolabs.com | Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals | United States | $5,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| iPNOTE | ipnote.pro | Artificial Intelligence, Legal, B2B Software | United States | $1,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| The Prompting Company | promptingcompany.com | Artificial Intelligence, Marketing | United States | $6,500,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Relixir | relixir.ai | Artificial Intelligence, Marketing | United States | $2,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Mercor | mercor.com | Artificial Intelligence, Recruiting, B2B Software | United States | $350,000,000 | Series C | Nov 2025 |
| Physical Intelligence | physicalintelligence.company | Artificial Intelligence, Robotics | United States | $600,000,000 | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 |
| 1mind | www.1mind.com | Artificial Intelligence, Sales, B2B Software | United States | $30,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Cactus | oncactus.com | B2B Software, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $7,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Indent | indent.com | B2B Software, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $290,453 | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 |
| Scribe | scribe.com | B2B Software, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $75,000,000 | Series C | Nov 2025 |
| Momentic | momentic.ai | B2B Software, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $15,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Coverbase | www.coverbase.com | B2B Software, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security | United States | $16,500,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Sphere | www.getsphere.com | B2B Software, Artificial Intelligence, Finance | United States | $21,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Clado | clado.ai | B2B Software, Artificial Intelligence, Recruiting, Sales | United States | $2,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Known | www.knowndating.com | B2C Software, Love and Relationships | United States | $9,485,504 | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 |
| Wabi | wabi.ai | B2C Software, Social Network | United States | $20,000,000 | Pre-Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Hermes Biosciences | www.hermesbio.com | Biotechnology | United States | $6,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Bindwell | bindwell.ai | Biotechnology, Agriculture, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $6,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| DeepSeq.AI | www.deepseq.ai | Biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence, Pharmaceuticals | United States | Seed | Nov 2025 | |
| Kraken | www.kraken.com | Blockchain, Finance, FinTech | United States | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 | |
| Rift | www.rift.trade | Blockchain, Finance, FinTech | United States | $8,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Alchemy | alchemy.com | Blockchain, FinTech, Finance, B2B Software, Cloud Computing | United States | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 | |
| Aethernet | aethernet.io | Cloud Computing, Information Technology | United States | Pre-Seed | Nov 2025 | |
| Armis | www.armis.com | Cyber Security, Information Technology | United States | $435,000,000 | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 |
| Truffle Security | trufflesecurity.com | Cyber Security,B2B Software | United States | $25,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Bedrock Data (fka Bedrock Security) | bedrockdata.ai | Data, Cyber Security | United States | $25,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Sunflower Labs | sunflower-labs.com | Drones, Security, Artificial Intelligence, Hardware | United States | $16,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Onton | onton.com | E-commerce, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $7,500,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Flint | www.flintk12.com | Education, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $15,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Interface | getinterface.ai | Energy, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $3,500,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Maritime Fusion | maritimefusion.com | Energy, Hardware, Marine | United States | $4,500,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Gridware | gridware.io | Energy, Utilities | United States | $55,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Scorbit | scorbit.io | Entertainment, Gaming | United States | $5,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Kaaj AI | kaaj.ai | FinTech, Finance, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $3,800,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Ripple | ripple.com | FinTech, Finance, Blockchain | United States | $500,000,000 | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 |
| Obex | obex.xyz | FinTech, Finance, Blockchain, Energy | United States | $37,000,000 | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 |
| Fifth Door | fifthdoor.com | Gaming | United States | $20,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| SalesPatriot | www.salespatriot.com | Government, B2B Software, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $5,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Majestic Labs ai | majestic-labs.ai | Hardware, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $90,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| The San Francisco Compute Company | sfcompute.com | Hardware, Cloud Computing, Data | United States | $40,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Indomo | www.indomotx.com | Healthcare | United States | $25,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Mecha Health | www.mecha-health.ai | Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $4,100,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Popai Health | www.popai.health | Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $11,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Evidium | www.evidium.com | Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $22,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| No Barrier | www.nobarrier.ai | Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $2,700,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Novoflow | www.novoflow.io | Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $3,100,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Intellihealth | www.intellihealth.co | Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $5,239,998 | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 |
| Ember Copilot | www.embercopilot.ai | Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Data | United States | $4,300,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Hepta Bio | www.hepta.bio | Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology | United States | $6,700,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| House Rx | www.houserx.com | Healthcare, B2B Software, Analytics | United States | $55,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| BoomPop | boompop.com | Hospitality, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $25,000,000 | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 |
| Anzen | www.anzen.com | Insurance, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Marketplace | United States | $16,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Harvey | harvey.ai | Legal, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $150,000,000 | Series F | Nov 2025 |
| Vesence | verse.law | Legal, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $9,000,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| GitLaw | git.law | Legal, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $3,000,000 | Pre-Seed | Nov 2025 |
| General Counsel AI | gc.ai | Legal, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $60,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Allie AI | www.allie-ai.com | Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $5,200,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Substrate | substrate.com | Manufacturing, Hardware, Electronics | United States | $100,000,000 | Series A | Nov 2025 |
| Cavela | www.cavela.com | Manufacturing, Marketplace, Logistics | United States | $6,600,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| MoEngage | www.moengage.com | Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, B2B Software | United States | $60,000,000 | Series F | Nov 2025 |
| Whatnot | www.whatnot.com | Marketplace, E-commerce | United States | $225,000,000 | Series F | Nov 2025 |
| Amae Health | www.amaehealth.com | Mental Health, Wellness, Healthcare, Community | United States | $25,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Examen | examen.ai | Real Estate, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Data | United States | $3,914,591 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Foxglove | foxglove.dev | Robotics, B2B Software, Data | United States | $40,000,000 | Series B | Nov 2025 |
| Voxel | www.voxelai.com | Security, Artificial Intelligence | United States | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 | |
| Ridepanda | www.ridepanda.com | Transportation, Automotive, E-commerce | United States | $12,600,000 | Venture - Series Unknown | Nov 2025 |
| Peek | www.peek.com | Travel, B2B Software | United States | $70,000,000 | Series D | Nov 2025 |
| Mira | trymira.com | Wearables, Augmented Reality, Audio, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $6,600,000 | Seed | Nov 2025 |
| Campfire | meetcampfire.com | Accounting, Finance, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $65,000,000 | Series B | Oct 2025 |
| AdsGency AI | adsgency.ai | Advertising, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence | United States | $12,000,000 | Seed | Oct 2025 |
| Eveoy | www.eveoy.com | Advertising, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Mobile | United States | Seed | Oct 2025 | |
| Mohi | www.trymohi.com | Artificial Intelligence | United States | $500,000 | Pre-Seed | Oct 2025 |
| David AI | www.withdavid.ai | Artificial Intelligence, Audio | United States | $50,000,000 | Series B | Oct 2025 |
| Sesame | www.sesame.com | Artificial Intelligence, Audio | United States | $250,000,000 | Series B | Oct 2025 |
| Golpo | video.golpoai.com | Artificial Intelligence, Audio, B2B Software | United States | $4,100,000 | Seed | Oct 2025 |
| Attention | attention.inc | Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software | United States | $1,255,266 | Pre-Seed | Oct 2025 |
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San Francisco Startups at a Glance
- Number of San Francisco startups in our database: 2,129
- Number of verified email addresses in our database: 2,894
- Number of social profiles in our database: 6,062
- Other data points stored: 29,366
- Total funding raised in 2024: $37,279,014,048
- Total funding raised in 2025: $3,943,238,720
*Other funding includes private equity, debt financing, and various other types of capital.
San Francisco Startup Funding by Industry (2025)
| Industry | % of Total Funding | Notable Companies | Average Round Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | 52% | OpenAI, Anthropic, Physical Intelligence | $250M+ (mega rounds) |
| Enterprise SaaS | 18% | Scribe, Gamma, Numeric | $50-75M (Series B/C) |
| FinTech | 12% | Ripple, Stripe, Kraken | $100M+ (late stage) |
| Biotech/HealthTech | 9% | Hermes Bio, Indomo | $25-50M (Series A) |
| CyberSecurity | 5% | Armis, Truffle Security | $25-40M (Series A/B) |
| Other | 4% | Gaming, Legal, Hardware | $5-20M (early stage) |
Top Industries Driving San Francisco’s Startup Growth
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
San Francisco has cemented its position as the global AI capital, attracting more than 50% of worldwide AI funding. The city hosts the world’s most valuable AI companies including OpenAI (valued at $157B after its latest funding), Anthropic (valued at $40B+), and hundreds of emerging AI startups focused on everything from foundation models to specialized vertical applications.
Key AI funding highlights in 2025:
- Anysphere: $2.3 billion Series D for AI-powered developer tools
- Physical Intelligence: $600 million for robotics and embodied AI
- Mercor: $350 million Series C for AI recruiting platforms
- Sesame: $250 million Series B for conversational AI
The AI boom has fundamentally reshaped San Francisco’s talent market, with AI engineers commanding $300K+ base salaries and top researchers receiving multi-million dollar compensation packages.
Enterprise SaaS & B2B Software
Enterprise software remains a cornerstone of Silicon Valley’s success, with SaaS startups raising billions in 2025. San Francisco’s proximity to enterprise customers and seasoned go-to-market talent creates ideal conditions for B2B companies.
Notable 2025 enterprise rounds:
- Scribe: $75 million Series C for process documentation
- Campfire: $65 million Series B for accounting automation
- Numeric: $51 million Series B for finance software
- Gamma: $48 million Series B for AI-powered presentations
FinTech & Cryptocurrency
San Francisco continues to dominate fintech innovation, with both traditional fintech and blockchain/crypto companies raising massive rounds. The city is home to Stripe (valued at $70B), Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN), and Ripple, among hundreds of emerging fintech startups.
2025 fintech highlights:
- Ripple: $500 million venture round for blockchain payments
- Kraken: Continued growth as top 3 crypto exchange
- Alchemy: Infrastructure powering 70%+ of top blockchain apps
Biotech & HealthTech
While Boston traditionally dominates life sciences, San Francisco has emerged as a powerhouse in computational biology and AI-driven drug discovery. The convergence of AI expertise and biological research has created unique opportunities.
Key healthcare investments:
- House Rx: $55 million Series B for healthcare analytics
- Indomo: $25 million seed for medical devices
- Evidium: $22 million Series A for AI healthcare workflows
How San Francisco Compares to Other Major Startup Hubs
San Francisco vs. New York City
While New York City startups raised an impressive $16.6 billion in 2024, San Francisco’s $111.7 billion through Q3 2025 alone dwarfs NYC’s totals. According to StartupBlink, SF’s ecosystem is 170% stronger than New York’s.
| Metric | San Francisco | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Funding (9 months) | $111.7B | ~$12B (estimated) |
| Global Rank | #1 | #2 |
| Ecosystem Strength | 100% (baseline) | 37% of SF |
| Startups per 100K people | 6,263 | ~1,200 |
| Unicorns | 268 | 146 |
| Top Sector | AI (52%) | FinTech (30%) |
NYC excels in fintech and media tech due to Wall Street and entertainment industry proximity, while SF dominates in pure technology innovation, especially AI and developer tools.
San Francisco vs. Boston
Boston remains the undisputed biotech and life sciences capital, but San Francisco raised nearly 30x more capital in 2025. Boston’s $3.99 billion in 2024 funding focused heavily on therapeutics and medical devices, while SF’s funding spans every tech category.
San Francisco vs. International Hubs
No international hub comes close to SF’s funding levels. London raised £10.8B ($13.7B) in 2024, while SF raised 8x that amount. Emerging hubs like Bangalore ($7.2B) and Berlin are growing but remain far behind SF’s scale and ecosystem maturity.
Key Investment Trends in San Francisco for 2025
Mega-Rounds Dominate the Landscape
2025 marked the year of mega-rounds, with numerous companies raising $100M+ in single rounds:
- $1B+ rounds: Anysphere ($2.3B Series D)
- $500M+ rounds: Ripple ($500M), Physical Intelligence ($600M)
- $200M+ rounds: Sesame ($250M), Whatnot ($225M), Harvey ($150M), Alembic ($145M)
These mega-rounds accounted for over 60% of total capital deployed, demonstrating investor confidence in category-defining companies.
AI-Everywhere Strategy
Nearly every funded startup in SF now has an AI component, even in traditional sectors:
- Legal AI: Harvey ($150M Series F), General Counsel AI ($60M Series B), Vesence ($9M seed)
- Accounting AI: Numeric ($51M Series B), Campfire ($65M Series B)
- Marketing AI: Alembic ($145M Series B), AirOps ($40M Series B)
- Healthcare AI: Evidium ($22M Series A), Popai Health ($11M seed)
Return to San Francisco Momentum
Contrary to pandemic-era predictions, San Francisco has experienced a renaissance. According to the SF Examiner, prominent accelerators like Y Combinator now strongly encourage founders to relocate to The City.
“Everyone wants the companies to be there. If you are a developer or an engineer, you want to be where all these companies are.”
— Kyle Stanford, Lead VC Analyst at PitchBook
This trend reversed years of remote-first policies, with founders recognizing the irreplaceable value of in-person collaboration, customer meetings, and networking.
The San Francisco Startup Ecosystem: Accelerators, VCs & Resources
World-Class Accelerators & Incubators
San Francisco hosts the most prestigious startup accelerators globally:
- Y Combinator: The gold standard accelerator that has funded 5,000+ companies worth $700B+ combined, including Airbnb, Stripe, DoorDash, and Coinbase. Provides $500K for 7% equity.
- 500 Global: One of the world’s most active early-stage investors with $150K for 6% equity across 4-month programs
- Alchemist Accelerator: Exclusively serves enterprise B2B startups with 6-month intensive programs
- Techstars San Francisco: Deep tech and enterprise AI focus with $220K total investment
Dominant Venture Capital Presence
San Francisco is home to the world’s most prominent venture capital firms:
Tier 1 VCs:
Multi-stage investors:
Specialized funds:
- AI-focused (Radical Ventures, Innovation Endeavors)
- Crypto (Paradigm, a16z crypto)
- Enterprise (Craft Ventures)
These firms collectively manage over $200 billion in assets and set the pace for global venture investing.
Unmatched Talent Density
San Francisco’s talent advantages include:
- Universities: Stanford, UC Berkeley, and dozens of other institutions producing thousands of CS/engineering graduates annually
- Big Tech Alumni: Former employees from Google, Meta, Apple, and other giants frequently launch startups
- Global Talent Magnet: Top engineers relocate from around the world for SF opportunities
- Specialized Expertise: Deep pools of talent in AI/ML, distributed systems, security, and other cutting-edge domains
Notable San Francisco Startup Exits & Success Stories
San Francisco’s exit track record demonstrates ecosystem maturity:
- 2024-2025 IPOs: Databricks (expected $43B valuation), Stripe (potential 2026 IPO at $70B+)
- Major Acquisitions: Figma by Adobe ($20B, blocked by regulators), Splunk by Cisco ($28B)
- Notable Secondary Sales: OpenAI employees selling shares at $157B valuation
What SF Startups Pay: Salary & Equity Benchmarks
| Role | Seed Stage | Series A | Series B+ | Typical Equity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI/ML Engineer | $180-220K | $220-300K | $300-450K | 0.1-0.5% |
| Senior Engineer | $150-180K | $180-220K | $220-280K | 0.05-0.25% |
| VP Sales | $150-180K + comm. | $180-220K + comm. | $220-300K + comm. | 0.5-1.5% |
| VP Marketing | $140-170K | $170-210K | $210-270K | 0.25-1% |
| Product Manager | $130-160K | $160-200K | $200-250K | 0.05-0.2% |
Monthly Burn Rate: What It Costs to Run an SF Startup
Understanding SF’s cost structure is critical for runway planning:
- Pre-seed (2-3 people): $15-25K/month (salaries, co-working, tools)
- Seed stage (5-10 people): $100-200K/month (salaries dominate at 70-80%)
- Series A (15-30 people): $400-800K/month (adding sales, marketing, customer success)
- Series B+ (50-100 people): $1.5-3M/month (full go-to-market motion)
Office space costs $60-90/sq ft annually. A 5,000 sq ft office runs $25-40K/month. Many startups delay office leases until Series A to preserve runway.
San Francisco vs. Silicon Valley: What’s the Difference?
While often used interchangeably, San Francisco and Silicon Valley are distinct regions with different characteristics:
San Francisco (the city proper) hosts primarily early-stage startups, AI companies, consumer tech, and fintech. The city’s 47 square miles contain the highest density of startups globally, with neighborhoods like SoMa, Mission, and Financial District serving as startup hubs.
Silicon Valley (South Bay: Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Jose, Menlo Park) traditionally hosts more mature tech companies and enterprise-focused startups. Google, Apple, Meta, and other tech giants maintain headquarters here.
Our database covers both regions comprehensively, tracking San Jose startups, Palo Alto companies, and the entire Bay Area ecosystem. When searching for “San Francisco startups,” you’re accessing the broader Silicon Valley network—over 14,500 active companies.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Francisco Startups
Why does San Francisco have more startup funding than any other city?
San Francisco dominates global startup funding due to five key factors: (1) Concentration of venture capital—the city hosts the world’s top VC firms managing $200B+ in assets, (2) Ecosystem network effects—with 6,263 startups per 100K people creating unmatched collaboration opportunities, (3) Talent density—Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Big Tech alumni provide deep expertise pools, (4) AI leadership—SF attracts 50%+ of global AI funding with companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, and (5) Exit track record—268 unicorns and countless successful exits create reinvestment cycles. In 2025, SF startups raised $111.7 billion through Q3 alone—nearly 8x New York’s total.
How much funding do San Francisco startups typically raise by stage?
Based on our 2025 data tracking 2,129 SF startups: Seed rounds average $3-8 million (AI companies raise higher at $5-9M), Series A rounds range from $15-50 million with AI/enterprise companies at the higher end, Series B rounds typically fall between $40-75 million, and Series C+ rounds often exceed $100 million. Mega-rounds of $500M+ are increasingly common for category-defining companies. The median seed round is $5.5M—about 57% higher than the national average of $3.5M, reflecting SF’s premium valuations and competitive funding environment.
Which industries are getting the most funding in San Francisco right now?
Artificial Intelligence absolutely dominates SF startup funding in 2025, accounting for 52% of all capital raised—over $58 billion through Q3. This includes foundation models, AI infrastructure, and vertical AI applications across every industry. Enterprise SaaS captures 18% ($20B+), particularly companies adding AI capabilities. FinTech and crypto represent 12% ($13.4B), driven by mega-rounds at Ripple and Kraken. Biotech/HealthTech accounts for 9% ($10B), especially computational biology and AI-driven drug discovery. CyberSecurity rounds out the top five at 5% ($5.6B). Traditional sectors like e-commerce and consumer apps now represent less than 4% combined.
How do I get my startup funded in San Francisco?
The most effective path to SF funding: (1) Join Y Combinator or top accelerators—YC-backed companies have 70%+ success rates for Series A, (2) Build in public and gain traction—demonstrate product-market fit with revenue or strong user growth metrics, (3) Leverage warm introductions—VCs rarely fund cold outreach; get intros from founders, other VCs, or advisors, (4) Target the right investors—research which firms invest in your stage, sector, and check size, (5) Relocate to SF—proximity dramatically increases your chances as VCs prefer local investments. The average time from founding to first institutional funding is 12-18 months for SF startups. Consider starting with Y Combinator, 500 Global, or Alchemist Accelerator.
What’s the success rate for San Francisco startups compared to other cities?
San Francisco startups demonstrate significantly higher success rates than other ecosystems. The city hosts 268 unicorns (companies valued over $1 billion)—more than double NYC’s 146 and over 5x Boston’s 50. According to PitchBook data, SF startups have a 15-20% probability of raising Series A after seed (vs. 10-12% nationally), and a 40-45% probability of reaching Series B after Series A (vs. 30-35% nationally). The 10-year survival rate for SF startups is approximately 35%, compared to 25% nationally. However, SF also has higher failure rates for companies that don’t achieve product-market fit within 18-24 months, as the cost structure and competitive intensity force faster pivots or shutdowns.
How can I connect with recently funded San Francisco startups for business development?
The most effective approach is reaching out within 30 days of a funding announcement, when startups are actively hiring, buying tools, and expanding operations. Growth List maintains a database of 2,129 SF startups with 2,894 double-verified email addresses reaching founders and decision-makers directly. We track funding announcements weekly and send fresh leads every Monday. For B2B sales, prioritize: (1) Series A companies (budget allocated, hiring), (2) AI/ML startups (buying infrastructure/tools), and (3) Enterprise SaaS (need go-to-market services). Sign up to receive 100 SF startup leads free with complete contact info, funding amounts, and company details.
Should I relocate my startup to San Francisco in 2025?
The data strongly supports relocating to SF if you’re raising institutional capital, especially for AI, enterprise SaaS, or deep tech. In 2025, SF startups raised 245% more capital year-over-year, and prominent accelerators like Y Combinator now strongly encourage in-person participation. Benefits of relocating include: access to the world’s top VCs (most prefer local investments), unmatched talent pools (especially AI/ML engineers), customer concentration (many enterprise buyers are local), and serendipitous networking opportunities. However, consider the tradeoffs: SF has the highest startup operating costs ($15K-25K/month burn rate vs. $8K-12K remotely), intense competition for talent (AI engineers command $300K+ salaries), and requires 18-24 month runway minimums. Remote-first works for bootstrapped or capital-efficient businesses, but venture-scale companies increasingly need SF presence.
What neighborhoods should startups office in San Francisco?
The best SF neighborhoods for startups depend on your stage and industry: SoMa (South of Market) remains the traditional tech hub with the highest startup density, hosting companies from seed to unicorn stage with average office costs of $75-90/sq ft. Mission District attracts creative and consumer-focused startups with a younger vibe and slightly lower costs ($60-75/sq ft). Financial District suits fintech and enterprise companies wanting proximity to corporate customers ($70-85/sq ft). Dogpatch is emerging for hardware and biotech startups needing lab/manufacturing space ($55-70/sq ft). Many early-stage startups now use co-working spaces like WeWork, Spaces, or industry-specific hubs. Post-Series A, most companies lease dedicated offices in SoMa near Moscone Center, optimizing for talent recruitment and VC accessibility.
How to Use This San Francisco Startup Data
Whether you’re selling to San Francisco startups or recruiting from Silicon Valley companies, timing matters. Recently funded San Francisco startups have fresh budgets and immediate hiring needs. This database is updated weekly and designed for multiple use cases:
- For Sales Teams: Target recently funded SF startups when budgets are fresh. Our verified emails reach founders and decision-makers directly. Check out our guide on how to sell to recently funded startups.
- For Investors: Track emerging trends in AI, enterprise SaaS, and other hot sectors. Identify promising companies before they become oversubscribed.
- For Job Seekers: Recently funded companies are actively hiring across engineering, sales, marketing, and operations. Time your applications to funding announcements.
- For Service Providers: Law firms, accounting firms, recruiters, and marketing agencies can identify companies needing professional services post-funding.
- For Founders: Research competitors, identify acquisition targets, or track funding benchmarks in your sector.
Related Startup Ecosystems
Exploring startup ecosystems beyond San Francisco? Check out our other comprehensive city guides:
- Recently funded startups in New York City
- Recently funded startups in Los Angeles
- Recently funded startups in Boston
- Recently funded startups in San Diego
- Recently funded startups in Chicago
- Recently funded startups in Seattle
- Recently funded startups in Austin
- Recently funded startups (all USA)
- Recently funded startups (all countries and industries)
Industry-Specific Startup Lists
Looking for startups in specific sectors? Explore our industry-focused databases: