AI & Machine Learning Startups in California
Discover the AI & Machine Learning startup scene in California with 83 investors and startups. Browse 72 investors focused on AI & Machine Learning and 11 startups building AI & Machine Learning solutions in California. 55 investors are actively deploying capital in this space.
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Startups (11)
View all California startups →Katsh.ID
Eli Farhood
Santa Monica, California
The deck identifies the problem of credential-driven friction in workforce access, highlighting issues such as stolen credentials, phishing, and social engineering leading to system breaches.
Aten Security
Nyah Check
San Francisco, CA
AI agents act with production credentials, but nothing decides each action and nobody can say who authorized it.
ElectraWireless
Shivam Rajput
Los Angeles, California
Ubiquitous cord clutter, incompatible adapters, electrical hazards, and heavy metal waste from wired power systems.
StyleAI
Álvaro T. González
San Diego, California
Mid-sized fashion retailers (USD $5M–$100M GMV) suffer low online conversion, high return rates, and semantic/catalog gaps that reduce margins.
Saga Corp
Andrew
San Fransisco, California
Parkzy
Vala Makhfi
San Francisco, California
Drivers and AV fleets waste time and miles searching for parking while residential parking spots sit empty; 'Airbnb for parking' models fail due to high host effort.
Synergetics AI
Raghu Bala
Santa Ana, CA
Lack of trust, identity and transaction rails for autonomous AI agents operating across enterprises.
MediSynth AI
Dr. Sarah Chen
San Francisco, CA
Clinical trials struggle to find and enroll eligible patients quickly; lengthy enrollment timelines and high costs.
Romy
Alice Bull
San Francisco, California
Builders ship products but lack the GTM system to convert those products into sustainable businesses.
AZNO
Tina Setayesh
Laguna Niguel, California
Ultrasound probe, imaging equipment, parts and repair purchasing runs through fragmented channels (brokers, emails, PDFs, spreadsheets), making model-specific sourcing slow for buyers and limiting...
Investors (72)
View all California investors →Dan Tour
Clearwood Partners
Los Angeles, CA
Potential investment opportunities
Fabian Hediger
Studio Alpha
San Francisco, CA
Application-layer AI for business (enterprise and SMB); accelerator running batches of five companies with weekly 30-minute founder sessions; invests only in teams of two or three founders; typical...
Lukas Williams
Point Grey Pictures
Los Angeles, CA
New angel, onboarded by Ben and Tim on 2026-08-25. Plans $100k to $200k over the next few years in many small checks ($5k to $10k) at pre-seed and seed, earlier rather than later. Sectors:...
Paul Borowick
Underdog Labs
Bay Area, CA
Asset-light, AI-native companies with a knowledge moat and proprietary data at pre-seed first check (target SAFE cap ~$6M post-money); Underdog writes $100K–$500K into rounds that grow to $1.5M–$2M;...
Andrew Darcovich
Darco Group
Los Angeles, CA
Pre-seed, seed and Series A; focused on physical AI, robotics, defense and space. Wants to be the first check in a crazy big idea: backs domain-expert founders "that'll run through walls,"...
Adam B. Struck
Struck Capital
Los Angeles, CA
A B2B Seed-stage founder building a category-defining company in a large, fragmented market who can leverage Struck's platform engine — BD, talent, PR, and Series A prep — to achieve escape velocity.
Clint Korver
Ulu Ventures
Palo Alto, CA
Seed-stage, US-focused software & internet investors who emphasize diversity and decision-analysis driven diligence; target high-conviction founders in enterprise software, fintech, digital health,...
Larry Li
Amino Capital
Palo Alto, CA
Amino Capital is a Palo Alto-based VC focused on data moat and network-effect companies. Investment first principles: big data, machine learning, and exceptional products. We invest seed-to-growth...
Paarul Dudeja
Working Capital Fund
Redwood City, CA
Working Capital Fund invests in early and growth-stage technology companies that create responsible, transparent, and equitable global supply chains. Focus areas include AI/ML, computer vision,...
Boom Capital Ventures
Boom Capital Ventures
San Francisco, CA
Invests early in founders building at the frontiers of science: healthcare, genomics, machine intelligence, aerospace and new chemistries.
Vertical Venture Partners
Vertical Venture Partners
Palo Alto, CA
VVP invests in US-based, early-stage software and deep-tech startups building focused solutions for specific industry verticals. They prioritize founder-market fit rooted in years of operating...
TenOneTen Ventures
TenOneTen Ventures
Los Angeles, CA
We invest early in technical teams transforming major industries — healthcare, logistics, real estate, manufacturing and other essential industries where technical innovation can solve critical...
Mango Capital
Mango Capital
Los Altos, CA
Mango Capital is a seed-stage venture capital firm investing in pre-seed and seed enterprise software companies focused on cloud infrastructure and intelligent applications. Key themes include open...
Script Capital
Script Capital
San Francisco, CA
Early-stage internet and software startups. Partner with technical founders. Typical checks $250k-$500k. Emphasizes curiosity, rapid iteration, and founder support including sabbaticals and student...
Sailesh Ramakrishnan
Rocketship.vc
Los Altos, CA
Data-driven early-stage VC that uses large startup datasets and ML to identify global winners; focuses on AI, SaaS, marketplaces, fintech, cloud, mobility and frontier tech across geographies.
SparkLabs Group
SparkLabs Group
Palo Alto, CA
SparkLabs Group is a global network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds founded in 2013. With presence across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, they have invested in 500+ startups across six...
Basis Set Ventures
Basis Set Ventures
San Francisco, CA
AI-enabled enterprise, including fintech workflows. Listed among generalist pre-seed/seed funds known to back pre-revenue teams.
SignalFire
SignalFire
San Francisco, CA
Generalist investor with data-driven sourcing; uses a proprietary data platform to find early teams.
Bling Capital
Bling Capital
San Francisco, CA
Generalist fund investing at seed stage; described as a small, concentrated fund.
SV Angel
SV Angel
San Francisco, CA
SV Angel is a San Francisco-based venture fund investing broadly in software-focused consumer and enterprise companies. Composed of an early-stage Seed Fund (typical seed check ~$200k) and a Growth...
Synapse Partners
Synapse Partners
Menlo Park, CA
Early-stage venture firm investing in software companies combining Big Data and AI to solve strategic enterprise problems. Leverages corporate advisory relationships and proprietary databases to...
LvlUp Ventures
LvlUp Ventures
Los Angeles, CA
Industry-agnostic venture firm investing from pre-seed to Series A. Hands-on, value-add approach with bespoke accelerators (NextUp), programs, and strategic partnerships. Typical direct checks up to...
2|Twelve
2|Twelve
San Francisco, CA
2|Twelve is a San Francisco–based venture firm focused on Enterprise/Cloud companies in North America. They invest at pre-seed and seed, typically cutting $100,000 checks and do not lead rounds. The...
Outpost Ventures
Outpost Ventures
Redwood City, CA
Outpost Ventures (an investment platform of Neuberger Berman) invests in financial technology companies and the software that powers them. Focus areas include banking technology, blockchain/web3, and...
Crosslink Capital
Crosslink Capital
Menlo Park, CA
Partnering with ambitious early-stage founders building category-defining companies; focus on early-stage consumer and enterprise opportunities across North America.
LAUNCH Fund
LAUNCH Fund
San Francisco, CA
LAUNCH backs founders at very early stages through a mix of accelerator, founder education, direct fund investments and a large public syndicate. They target high-velocity early-stage technology...
Nexus Venture Partners
Nexus Venture Partners
Menlo Park, CA
Nexus Venture Partners is a venture capital firm partnering with product-first entrepreneurs, focused on enterprise software companies in the US and digitally-powered businesses in India. The firm...
AngelPad
AngelPad
San Francisco, CA
Founded in 2010, AngelPad is a seed-stage accelerator based in San Francisco and New York. We select ~15 teams every 6 months and invest $120,000 in each company. We focus on early-stage startups...
NKM Capital
NKM Capital
San Francisco, CA
NKM Capital is a San Francisco-based thesis-driven venture capital firm that invests in technology companies at the earliest stages. Since 2013, the firm has backed industry pioneers such as...
NFX
NFX Capital
San Francisco, CA
Seed and pre-seed investors focused on companies that build network effects across Bio, Gaming, Generative AI, PropTech, Space, FinTech, Marketplaces, and Crypto. We prioritize founding team quality...
Nomad Fund Ventures
Nomad Fund Ventures
Los Angeles, CA
Our thesis has three thematic focus areas: Autonomous Infrastructure (perception and sensors infrastructure), AI-Powered Data Network Effects (capture, structure and transform data to create...
Upfront Ventures
Upfront Ventures
Santa Monica, CA
Founded in 1996, Upfront Ventures is a venture capital investment firm based in Santa Monica, California. The firm prefers to invest in companies operating in the commercial services, software,...
Weekend Fund
Weekend Fund
San Francisco, CA
Weekend Fund, founded by Ryan Hoover with GP Vedika Jain, invests globally at pre-seed and seed (and occasionally between rounds and select late-stage SPVs). Typical checks are $100k–$300k. They back...
True Blue Partners
True Blue Partners
Campbell, CA
Early-stage investments focused on enterprise software, SaaS, IT services and enterprise AI; active manager of an early-stage venture fund and occasional balance-sheet investments where they can add...
Northern Light Venture Capital
Northern Light Venture Capital
Menlo Park, CA
A globally minded, tech-centric venture firm investing at the intersection of enterprise, healthcare, and consumer opportunities. Focused on early-stage and growth opportunities enabled by...
Wildcat Venture Partners
Wildcat Venture Partners
San Mateo, CA
Wildcat Venture Partners invests in B2B and B2B2C startups leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to disrupt industrial sectors, with a focus on healthcare and the energy transition....
Euclid Ventures
Euclid Ventures
San Francisco, CA
Euclid backs Vertical AI founders at Day Zero—pre-product and pre-traction—providing research-driven playbooks and a network of vertical operators to build category-defining companies. They focus...
Belief Capital
Belief Capital
San Francisco, CA
AI/robotics. $20M fund, Dec 2025.
Zero Shot Fund
Zero Shot Fund
San Francisco, CA
Zero Shot Fund backs AI-native founders in the post-AGI era, leveraging OpenAI alumni experience to provide first-principles technical judgment and early access to ideas. They invest $2–5M at...
M13
M13
Santa Monica, CA
Early-stage (seed and Series A) venture capital firm investing in visionary founders building disruptive software businesses across work, health, commerce, and money, with a focus on enabling...
Notable Capital
Notable Capital
Menlo Park, CA
We back notable founders pursuing world-changing ideas, investing across Infrastructure, DevTools, Cybersecurity, Fintech, and Commerce to help companies scale from idea to global business.
Operate
Operate Studio
Newport Beach, CA
The firm seeks to invest in software companies.
BootstrapLabs
BootstrapLabs
San Francisco, CA
Early-stage, AI-first venture firm investing in Applied AI across Future of Work/Productivity, Mobility, Health, Financial Infrastructure, Digital Infrastructure, and Climate & Energy. Often leads...
NewBuild Venture Capital
NewBuild Venture Capital
Palo Alto, CA
Early-stage investments in supply chain application and infrastructure software: Edge Cloud, AI/ML, IoT, data, mobile-first enterprise and logistics-focused platforms.
Phoenix Investment Club
Phoenix Investment Club
San Francisco, CA
Community-driven VC backing Harvard founders at the earliest stages (angel to seed). Sector-agnostic but leans into FinTech, HealthTech (digital health), AI, and B2B. Provides small checks and access...
Nido Ventures
Nido Ventures
San Francisco, CA
We invest in pre-seed B2B technology companies transforming foundational industries across the US-Mexico corridor, leveraging US technical innovation and Mexico's industrial strength to accelerate...
Plug and Play Tech Center
Plug and Play Tech Center
Sunnyvale, CA
Founded in 2006, Plug and Play Tech Center is an accelerator and incubator firm based in Sunnyvale, California. The firm prefers to invest in companies operating in advanced manufacturing, aerospace,...
IVP
Institutional Venture Partners
Menlo Park, CA
IVP partners with breakout companies at inflection points, backing a small number of companies each year (primarily Series B / later-stage) and supporting rapid scale from millions to hundreds of...
Nautilus Venture Partners
Nautilus Venture Partners
Palo Alto, CA
We invest in early stage companies with unique technology, strong team, and market potential. Focus areas include artificial intelligence, IoT, and mobile.
Alt Capital
Alt Capital
San Francisco, CA
We are generalist investors building a concentrated portfolio. We invest in founders, not categories.
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About AI & Machine Learning in California
The AI & Machine Learning scene in California features 72 investors and 11 startups focused on ai & machine learning innovation.
55 AI & Machine Learning investors in California have made recent investments. The average check size is $1.3M.
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