Connecticut attracts a lot of startups due to its friendly business environment. One thing in particular that makes the state notable is the rate of survival of startups that put down roots in Connecticut – nearly 80% of startups that begin in the state survive the first year of business.
Perhaps due to its high rate of startup survival, Connecticut has become home to numerous venture capital firms. These VC firms focus on helping startups be successful by providing funding and support throughout the early years.
Let’s take a look at some of the top venture capital firms in Connecticut to help you get started on your funding journey.
Best Connecticut Venture Capital Firms
1. Horizon Technology Finance
- Location: Farmington, CT
- Industries: Technology, Life Sciences, Healthcare Information
- Stage: N/A
- Investment Range: Up to $35 Billion
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Food52, GroundTruth, Mohawk
Horizon Technology Finance is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. The members of Horizon have collectively originated and invested over $5 billion to thousands of companies, both in and out of the state.
Horizon typically offers VC to privately-held, development-stage companies. It focuses on industries related to technology, life sciences, healthcare information, and other related industries. The firm’s portfolio includes notable companies like Food52, GroundTruth, and Mohawk.
2. Great Rock Capital
- Location: Westport, CT
- Industries: Commercial & Industrial, Manufacturing, Metals, Consumer Products, Transportation, Healthcare, Technology
- Stage: Seed, Series A, Bridge
- Investment Range: Up to $50 Million
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Stanz-Troyers, WinCup, Oculus Transport
Great Rock Capital is an asset-focused commercial finance company that focuses on middle-market companies that need growth capital. It works with startups and established businesses in a wide range of markets, including healthcare, tech, and industrial. Unlike many VC firms, Great Rock is not solely in the early-stage investment category. It also offers VC funding for other stages like bridge loans.
The management team of Great Rock has experience in many important areas, including sales, underwriting, capital market platforms, and portfolio management. This experience makes the VC firm an ideal partner for both startups and more well-established businesses that need a helping hand.
3. Weld North
- Location: Stamford, CT
- Industries: Education Technology
- Stage: Late Stage
- Investment Range: Undisclosed
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Imagine Learning, Calvert Education, Giant Campus Academy
Weld North operates Imagine Learning, which is the largest pure-play Pre-K-12 digital education company in the United States. It also makes investments in other education technology companies that have high potential. It seeks to attract talented, motivated entrepreneurs who have the industry expertise and passion to develop businesses to transform the education landscape.
Weld North was founded in 2010 by the former Chairman of Kaplan, Inc. The goal was to create the best digital curriculum capabilities and resources possible. After numerous investments in education tech companies, Weld North is well on its way to achieving its original goal.
4. Safer Made
- Location: North Branford, CT
- Industries: Consumer Safety
- Stage: Seed, Series A
- Investment Range: Undisclosed
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Force of Nature, Dimpora, GTT
Safer Made is a unique venture capital firm. Unlike many other firms, Safer Made invests based on an overarching goal instead of in a particular industry. This VC firm invests in startups that seek to create safer products through unique approaches. These investments allow brands and retailers to take a stance on consumer and environmental safety that makes them more appealing to customers and better environmental stewards.
The team at Safer Made is composed of experts in chemistry and related fields. This expertise allows the VC firm to identify promising startup tech and help foster the growth of that tech through capital and business support.
5. Brighton Park Capital
- Location: Greenwich, CT
- Industries: Software, Information Services, Technology
- Stage: Seed, Series A
- Investment Range: Undisclosed
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Coralogix, Darktrace, HTEC Group
Brighton Park Capital strives to invest in companies that provide highly-innovative solutions. It wants to invest in businesses that will disrupt the status quo and deliver a substantial value-add for customers. It believes that the right startups can create better outcomes and customer relationships over the long term.
Brighton understands that each company it invests in is different, with unique needs and strategic objectives. It provides a team of experts in a variety of pertinent fields to help its investment partners overcome obstacles and foster growth. Its senior team provides over 100 years of combined experience in building powerful tech companies.
6. Alerion Partners
- Location: Fairfield, CT
- Industries: Consumer Products, Marketing, Business Services, Targeted Media
- Stage: Series A, Turnarounds, Restarts
- Investment Range: $3 Million–$10 Million
- Notable Portfolio Companies: InStadium, HydroMassage, Enviroscent
Alerion Partners brings more to the table than the average VC firm. Like others, this firm evaluates potential companies with an eye on achieving financial results. Also like some, it augments its approach with the capability to assess products through detailed knowledge of consumer behavior and markets. However, it adds a third element – an outstanding record of success for its owners and investors, a record that allows it to take its investments to the next level.
Alerion looks for companies with strong potential in the areas of marketing, business services, consumer products, and targeted media. It typically invests between $3 million and $10 million.
7. Canaan
- Location: Westport, CT
- Industries: Healthcare, Technology
- Stage: Early Stage
- Investment Range: Undisclosed
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Berkshire Grey, Astra, Arvinas
While Canaan does not believe there should be a one-size-fits-all approach to venture capital, it does follow some key guidelines when considering investments. It seeks high-performance, low-ego founders and believes that people are more than statistics. It also wants founders to ask for help.
Canaan seeks to treat founders like it wants to be treated, with respect, honesty, and transparency. It wants to be helpful, not hindering. The end result is a VC firm that knows the path to success and wants to take founders along with it.
8. CHL Medical Partners
- Location: Westport, CT
- Industries: Healthcare
- Stage: Early Stage
- Investment Range: Undisclosed
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Ambra, CareWell Urgent Care
CHL Medical Partners is an investment firm that focuses on healthcare businesses with a promising future. It has invested in healthcare businesses for over 20 years, including American Renal Associates, Camitro Corporation, and Genomic Health. In all of its investments, the principals were founding or among the first institutional investors.
Americans spend over $3.6 trillion on healthcare each year and are expected to spend more over the next ten years. The market where CHL focuses is primed for successful VC investment. It just requires a careful hand and a clear eye to take full advantage of.
9. Connecticut Innovations
- Location: New Haven, CT
- Industries: Climate Tech, Consumer, Healthcare, Venture Funds, Technology
- Stage: Early Stage
- Investment Range: Undisclosed
- Notable Portfolio Companies: 3BC, Abbratech, Aceiss
Connecticut Innovations is the state’s venture capital arm and the main source of financing and ongoing support for growing companies in the state. It seeks to help innovative companies to reach the next level of their success. Ultimately, Connecticut Innovations wants the companies it supports to graduate to the point where its help is no longer required and an exit is in order.
This VC firm can help founders in a variety of ways. Not only can it provide much-needed capital at the right time, but it can also offer guidance and support in all areas of business. The combination of funding and mentoring makes Connecticut Innovations the ideal partner in startup growth.
10. Oak Investment Partners
- Location: Norwalk, CT
- Industries: Information Technology, Internet, Consumer, Financial Services Technology, Healthcare Information and Services, Clean Energy
- Stage: Multi-Stage
- Investment Range: Undisclosed
- Notable Portfolio Companies: Enjoy Technology, Inc., Phononic, Inc., Group Nine Media
Oak Venture Capital has invested in promising businesses since 1978. Over that time, it has helped over 525 companies and invested more than $9 billion. It invests across a wide variety of industries while still providing uniquely knowledgeable expertise for founders regardless of area of focus.
Oak seeks to help business owners to take advantage of new business opportunities and to take advantage of trends. It wants to develop long-term relationships with those that it assists. This can mean multiple rounds of investment as the need and opportunity arise.