List of Funded San Francisco Startups For 2025

📅 Last Updated: December 12, 2025 | New startups added weekly

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.

👉 Jump to the List of 100 Funded SF Startups

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

NameWebsiteIndustryCountryFunding Amount (USD)Funding TypeLast Funding Date
Maxima AImaxima.aiAccounting, Finance, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$30,000,000Series ANov 2025
Numericwww.numeric.ioAccounting, Finance, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, AnalyticsUnited States$51,000,000Series BNov 2025
Alembicgetalembic.comAdvertising, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, B2B Software, DataUnited States$145,000,000Series BNov 2025
AirOpswww.airops.comAdvertising, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$40,000,000Series BNov 2025
Obellowww.obello.comAdvertising, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$8,500,000SeedNov 2025
Point One Navigationpointonenav.comAerospace, Automotive, Drones, Robotics, WearablesUnited States$35,000,000Series CNov 2025
Poseidon Aerospacewww.poseidonaero.comAerospace, Logistics, TransportationUnited States$11,000,000SeedNov 2025
Agtonomywww.agtonomy.comAgriculture, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$18,000,000Series BNov 2025
Anysphereanysphere.incArtificial IntelligenceUnited States$2,300,000,000Series DNov 2025
Tavuswww.tavus.ioArtificial IntelligenceUnited States$40,000,000Series BNov 2025
alphaXivwww.alphaxiv.orgArtificial IntelligenceUnited States$7,000,000SeedNov 2025
World Labswww.worldlabs.aiArtificial Intelligence, 3D, Architecture, Gaming, Robotics, Augmented RealityUnited StatesConvertible NoteNov 2025
Wispr Flowwisprflow.aiArtificial Intelligence, Audio, B2B Software, HealthcareUnited States$25,000,000Series ANov 2025
Wild Moosewww.wildmoose.aiArtificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Cloud ComputingUnited States$7,000,000SeedNov 2025
Mindportal (MCP Saas infrastructure B2B)mindportal.framer.websiteArtificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Cloud ComputingUnited StatesPre-SeedNov 2025
Mem0mem0.aiArtificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Cloud Computing, Healthcare, Education, E-commerce, SalesUnited States$20,000,000Series ANov 2025
Cuckoowww.cuckoo.soArtificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Cloud Computing, MarketingUnited States$1,738,503SeedNov 2025
Magic Patternswww.magicpatterns.comArtificial Intelligence, B2B Software, DesignUnited States$6,000,000Series ANov 2025
Freya Voicefreyavoice.aiArtificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Finance, InsuranceUnited States$3,500,000SeedNov 2025
Gammagamma.appArtificial Intelligence, B2B Software, Information TechnologyUnited States$48,000,000Series BNov 2025
Kite AIgokite.aiArtificial Intelligence, BlockchainUnited StatesSeries ANov 2025
Polywithpoly.comArtificial Intelligence, Cloud ComputingUnited States$8,000,000SeedNov 2025
Luminalluminal.comArtificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Data, B2B SoftwareUnited States$5,300,000SeedNov 2025
Kestrel AIusekestrel.aiArtificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Data, B2B SoftwareUnited StatesSeedNov 2025
SynthioLabswww.synthiolabs.comArtificial Intelligence, Healthcare, PharmaceuticalsUnited States$5,000,000SeedNov 2025
iPNOTEipnote.proArtificial Intelligence, Legal, B2B SoftwareUnited States$1,000,000SeedNov 2025
The Prompting Companypromptingcompany.comArtificial Intelligence, MarketingUnited States$6,500,000SeedNov 2025
Relixirrelixir.aiArtificial Intelligence, MarketingUnited States$2,000,000SeedNov 2025
Mercormercor.comArtificial Intelligence, Recruiting, B2B SoftwareUnited States$350,000,000Series CNov 2025
Physical Intelligencephysicalintelligence.companyArtificial Intelligence, RoboticsUnited States$600,000,000Venture - Series UnknownNov 2025
1mindwww.1mind.comArtificial Intelligence, Sales, B2B SoftwareUnited States$30,000,000Series ANov 2025
Cactusoncactus.comB2B Software, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$7,000,000SeedNov 2025
Indentindent.comB2B Software, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$290,453Venture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Scribescribe.comB2B Software, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$75,000,000Series CNov 2025
Momenticmomentic.aiB2B Software, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$15,000,000Series ANov 2025
Coverbasewww.coverbase.comB2B Software, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber SecurityUnited States$16,500,000Series ANov 2025
Spherewww.getsphere.comB2B Software, Artificial Intelligence, FinanceUnited States$21,000,000Series ANov 2025
Cladoclado.aiB2B Software, Artificial Intelligence, Recruiting, SalesUnited States$2,000,000SeedNov 2025
Knownwww.knowndating.comB2C Software, Love and RelationshipsUnited States$9,485,504Venture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Wabiwabi.aiB2C Software, Social NetworkUnited States$20,000,000Pre-SeedNov 2025
Hermes Bioscienceswww.hermesbio.comBiotechnologyUnited States$6,000,000SeedNov 2025
Bindwellbindwell.aiBiotechnology, Agriculture, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$6,000,000SeedNov 2025
DeepSeq.AIwww.deepseq.aiBiotechnology, Artificial Intelligence, PharmaceuticalsUnited StatesSeedNov 2025
Krakenwww.kraken.comBlockchain, Finance, FinTechUnited StatesVenture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Riftwww.rift.tradeBlockchain, Finance, FinTechUnited States$8,000,000SeedNov 2025
Alchemyalchemy.comBlockchain, FinTech, Finance, B2B Software, Cloud ComputingUnited StatesVenture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Aethernetaethernet.ioCloud Computing, Information TechnologyUnited StatesPre-SeedNov 2025
Armiswww.armis.comCyber Security, Information TechnologyUnited States$435,000,000Venture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Truffle Securitytrufflesecurity.comCyber Security,B2B SoftwareUnited States$25,000,000Series BNov 2025
Bedrock Data (fka Bedrock Security)bedrockdata.aiData, Cyber SecurityUnited States$25,000,000Series ANov 2025
Sunflower Labssunflower-labs.comDrones, Security, Artificial Intelligence, HardwareUnited States$16,000,000Series BNov 2025
Ontononton.comE-commerce, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$7,500,000SeedNov 2025
Flintwww.flintk12.comEducation, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$15,000,000Series ANov 2025
Interfacegetinterface.aiEnergy, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$3,500,000SeedNov 2025
Maritime Fusionmaritimefusion.comEnergy, Hardware, MarineUnited States$4,500,000SeedNov 2025
Gridwaregridware.ioEnergy, UtilitiesUnited States$55,000,000Series BNov 2025
Scorbitscorbit.ioEntertainment, GamingUnited States$5,000,000SeedNov 2025
Kaaj AIkaaj.aiFinTech, Finance, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$3,800,000SeedNov 2025
Rippleripple.comFinTech, Finance, BlockchainUnited States$500,000,000Venture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Obexobex.xyzFinTech, Finance, Blockchain, EnergyUnited States$37,000,000Venture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Fifth Doorfifthdoor.comGamingUnited States$20,000,000SeedNov 2025
SalesPatriotwww.salespatriot.comGovernment, B2B Software, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$5,000,000SeedNov 2025
Majestic Labs aimajestic-labs.aiHardware, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$90,000,000Series ANov 2025
The San Francisco Compute Companysfcompute.comHardware, Cloud Computing, DataUnited States$40,000,000Series ANov 2025
Indomowww.indomotx.comHealthcareUnited States$25,000,000SeedNov 2025
Mecha Healthwww.mecha-health.aiHealthcare, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$4,100,000SeedNov 2025
Popai Healthwww.popai.healthHealthcare, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$11,000,000SeedNov 2025
Evidiumwww.evidium.comHealthcare, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$22,000,000Series ANov 2025
No Barrierwww.nobarrier.aiHealthcare, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$2,700,000SeedNov 2025
Novoflowwww.novoflow.ioHealthcare, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$3,100,000SeedNov 2025
Intellihealthwww.intellihealth.coHealthcare, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$5,239,998Venture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Ember Copilotwww.embercopilot.aiHealthcare, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, DataUnited States$4,300,000SeedNov 2025
Hepta Biowww.hepta.bioHealthcare, Artificial Intelligence, BiotechnologyUnited States$6,700,000SeedNov 2025
House Rxwww.houserx.comHealthcare, B2B Software, AnalyticsUnited States$55,000,000Series BNov 2025
BoomPopboompop.comHospitality, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$25,000,000Venture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Anzenwww.anzen.comInsurance, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, MarketplaceUnited States$16,000,000Series ANov 2025
Harveyharvey.aiLegal, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$150,000,000Series FNov 2025
Vesenceverse.lawLegal, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$9,000,000SeedNov 2025
GitLawgit.lawLegal, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$3,000,000Pre-SeedNov 2025
General Counsel AIgc.aiLegal, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$60,000,000Series BNov 2025
Allie AIwww.allie-ai.comManufacturing, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$5,200,000Series ANov 2025
Substratesubstrate.comManufacturing, Hardware, ElectronicsUnited States$100,000,000Series ANov 2025
Cavelawww.cavela.comManufacturing, Marketplace, LogisticsUnited States$6,600,000SeedNov 2025
MoEngagewww.moengage.comMarketing, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, B2B SoftwareUnited States$60,000,000Series FNov 2025
Whatnotwww.whatnot.comMarketplace, E-commerceUnited States$225,000,000Series FNov 2025
Amae Healthwww.amaehealth.comMental Health, Wellness, Healthcare, CommunityUnited States$25,000,000Series BNov 2025
Examenexamen.aiReal Estate, Artificial Intelligence, B2B Software, DataUnited States$3,914,591SeedNov 2025
Foxglovefoxglove.devRobotics, B2B Software, DataUnited States$40,000,000Series BNov 2025
Voxelwww.voxelai.comSecurity, Artificial IntelligenceUnited StatesVenture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Ridepandawww.ridepanda.comTransportation, Automotive, E-commerceUnited States$12,600,000Venture - Series UnknownNov 2025
Peekwww.peek.comTravel, B2B SoftwareUnited States$70,000,000Series DNov 2025
Miratrymira.comWearables, Augmented Reality, Audio, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$6,600,000SeedNov 2025
Campfiremeetcampfire.comAccounting, Finance, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$65,000,000Series BOct 2025
AdsGency AIadsgency.aiAdvertising, Marketing, Artificial IntelligenceUnited States$12,000,000SeedOct 2025
Eveoywww.eveoy.comAdvertising, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, MobileUnited StatesSeedOct 2025
Mohiwww.trymohi.comArtificial IntelligenceUnited States$500,000Pre-SeedOct 2025
David AIwww.withdavid.aiArtificial Intelligence, AudioUnited States$50,000,000Series BOct 2025
Sesamewww.sesame.comArtificial Intelligence, AudioUnited States$250,000,000Series BOct 2025
Golpovideo.golpoai.comArtificial Intelligence, Audio, B2B SoftwareUnited States$4,100,000SeedOct 2025
Attentionattention.incArtificial Intelligence, B2B SoftwareUnited States$1,255,266Pre-SeedOct 2025

Want To Contact These Startups?

We send recently funded startups with double-verified email addresses, CEO details, and much more directly to your inbox. Sign up and get 100 leads free.

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 FundingNotable CompaniesAverage Round Size
Artificial Intelligence52%OpenAI, Anthropic, Physical Intelligence$250M+ (mega rounds)
Enterprise SaaS18%Scribe, Gamma, Numeric$50-75M (Series B/C)
FinTech12%Ripple, Stripe, Kraken$100M+ (late stage)
Biotech/HealthTech9%Hermes Bio, Indomo$25-50M (Series A)
CyberSecurity5%Armis, Truffle Security$25-40M (Series A/B)
Other4%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.

MetricSan FranciscoNew York City
2025 Funding (9 months)$111.7B~$12B (estimated)
Global Rank#1#2
Ecosystem Strength100% (baseline)37% of SF
Startups per 100K people6,263~1,200
Unicorns268146
Top SectorAI (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.


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

RoleSeed StageSeries ASeries B+Typical Equity
AI/ML Engineer$180-220K$220-300K$300-450K0.1-0.5%
Senior Engineer$150-180K$180-220K$220-280K0.05-0.25%
VP Sales$150-180K + comm.$180-220K + comm.$220-300K + comm.0.5-1.5%
VP Marketing$140-170K$170-210K$210-270K0.25-1%
Product Manager$130-160K$160-200K$200-250K0.05-0.2%

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.

Exploring startup ecosystems beyond San Francisco? Check out our other comprehensive city guides:


Industry-Specific Startup Lists

Looking for startups in specific sectors? Explore our industry-focused databases: