The United States boasts the largest and most dynamic startup ecosystem in the world, with major hubs like Silicon Valley, New York City, and Boston. This ecosystem is characterized by a strong venture capital presence and a supportive culture for innovation and entrepreneurship. The U.S. continues to lead globally in technological innovation and startup activity, contributing significantly to economic growth and job creation.
As of 2024, the U.S. is home to approximately 77,927 startups. The startup ecosystem is supported by substantial venture capital investments, which totaled around $162.6 billion in 2022. This robust financial backing highlights the confidence investors have in the U.S. startup market, ensuring ample funding for innovation and growth.
Key strengths of the U.S. market include a highly skilled workforce, advanced technological infrastructure, and a culture that encourages risk-taking and entrepreneurship. The presence of major tech companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook fosters a collaborative environment and provides ample opportunities for startups. Additionally, the U.S. government offers support through various grants and tax incentives, such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
Silicon Valley remains the epicenter of innovation, driving advancements in AI, biotechnology, fintech, and clean energy. New York City excels in finance and media, while Boston is strong in biotechnology and education-driven startups. These regions are crucial to the U.S. startup ecosystem, offering a wealth of resources, talent, and opportunities.
Cities like Austin, Denver, and Seattle are emerging as significant tech hubs. These cities provide a favorable business climate, quality of life, and are becoming attractive locations for startups and talent. The rise of remote work has further expanded opportunities for startups to access talent from various regions, contributing to the growth of these emerging hubs.
The U.S. startup market benefits from a comprehensive support system of accelerators, incubators, and co-working spaces. Programs like Techstars and Y Combinator have been instrumental in nurturing early-stage startups, providing mentorship, resources, and funding. These support systems help startups at various stages of their journey to scale and succeed.
Despite its strengths, the U.S. startup ecosystem faces challenges such as high costs of living, regulatory hurdles, and intense competition for talent. These challenges can create barriers for new startups and require strategic navigation to ensure long-term success.
The U.S. startup market features a diverse customer base and a culture that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. The rise of remote work has expanded opportunities, allowing startups to access talent from various regions. The future outlook remains positive with continuous growth and innovation, driven by emerging technologies such as blockchain, quantum computing, and green energy.
The U.S. startup ecosystem is characterized by its resilience and adaptability. Despite challenges, the ecosystem continues to evolve, driven by a strong culture of entrepreneurship and technological advancements. This ensures the U.S. remains at the forefront of global innovation, contributing significantly to economic growth and job creation.
San Francisco Bay Area - Menlo Park - Redwood City - California, U.S.A. - U.K.
Businesses Solutions • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Gaming (& eSports) • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Aerospace (& Defense) • DeepTech • Consumer
Aerospace and Cybersecurity VC
David Cowan serves as Partner, Investments at Bessemer Venture Partners. He is a Member of board of directors at Impossible Aerospace. He is a Board Member at Iris Automation. He is a Board Member at CyberGRX and Bastille Networks. He is also a Board Member of Team8. His historical portfolio includes Ciena, Hotjobs, Blue Nile, LinkedIn, LifeLock, PSI-Net, Qualys and over a dozen other IPOs, as well as many large acquisitions such as Twitch, Postini, Cyota, Tripwire, Netli, Playdom, Dropcam and Skybox Imaging. His current portfolio - spanning startups founded in the U.S., Argentina, Singapore, Israel, New Zealand and Scotland - includes Getinsured, Smule, Twilio, Rocket Lab, iSight Partners, Spire Global, Endgame, Auth0, Zapier and Zoosk. During his tenure at BVP. He co-founded three cybersecurity companies incubated in our offices: VeriSign (IPO), where he served as initial Chairman and CFO; Good Technology (fka Visto, acquired by Blackberry) where he served as CEO, and Defense.net (acquired by F5). Forbes ranked him #6 on the Midas List and tied for 4th in the Midas List of Hall of Fame. He is a Trustee of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. You can read his blog at WhoHasTimeForThis?, follow him on twitter (@davidcowan) or see him perform with his men's a capella singing group Voices in Harmony. He also serves as a Board Member at Claroty and an Advisor at Reef Capital Ventures. Cowan earned an A.B. in math and computer science and an MBA degree, both from Harvard University
New York, U.S.A.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Food & Beverage • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Consumer
Ellie Wheeler serves as Partner at Greycroft Partners. She served as a Board Observer at Savoteur and serves as an Advisor at Fisoc. Her responsibilities include evaluating investment opportunities, sourcing new deals, and working with existing portfolio companies. Prior to joining Greycroft, she worked in a similar role during business school evaluating investment opportunities at Lowercase Capital with investor Chris Sacca. Before working with Lowercase, Wheeler worked at Cisco in Corporate Development doing acquisitions, investments, and strategy within the communications, collaboration, and video verticals. Ellie's past experience also includes working briefly at the London-based venture capital firm DN Capital, focused on early stage ecommerce companies. She began her career in growth capital private equity at Summit Partners in Boston. Wheeler graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a BA in Psychology and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Sunnyvale - California, U.S.A.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Gaming (& eSports) • Advertising • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Developer tools • Mobility • Online Social
General Partner of Plug & Play Ventures
Alireza Masrour serves as General Partner at Plug and Play Ventures. Masrour is in charge of Investment and due diligence for Plug and Play's venture arm where he is responsible for supporting the firm's investment and venture capital partners. He has led the investment and management of 200+ Plug and Play Portfolio Companies. Over his tenure at Plug and Play, Masrour has reviewed more than 50,000 startups and has had more than 5,000 face to face meeting with them. Some of the investments led by Masrour are FiscalNote, Aarki, CreditSesame, HealthPocket which acquired by Health Insurance Innovations, Matcha which acquired by Apple, PasswordBox which acquired by McAfee/Intel, TrustGo which acquired by Baidu, GNS3 which was acquired by Solarwind, Netsil was acquired by Nutanix, Kepler, Shippo and BookingPal to name a few.
New York, U.S.A. - India
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Media • Education • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Advertising • Online Social • Consumer
Nihal Mehta serves as Founding General Partner at Eniac Ventures. He is also the Founding Partner at India Internet Fund. He also served as Member of Advisory Board at Blue Cloud Ventures. He serves as an Advisor at Inter Mobile Ventures. Nihal has several years experience in innovating marketing technologies through founding five startups to date. Nihal is currently the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of LocalResponse, which helps marketers respond to real-time consumer intent. Prior to LocalResponse, (which pivoted from buzzd, a leading real-time city guide), Nihal founded ipsh!, one of the first full-service mobile marketing agencies in 2001, which he sold to Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) in 2005. Nihal is a noted expert in the emerging adoption of mobile technologies for media properties and consumer brands. Named one of the "25 People Every New Founder Should Meet in New York Tech" and a top "25 Up-And-Coming Startup CEO in New York" in 2012 by Business Insider, a 2012 AlwaysOn "Power Player NYC," a top 10 NYC 'Game Changer' in the 2010 New York Enterprise Report, one of twenty RCR Wireless News 'Mobile Movers and Shakers' in 2008, a BusinessWeek 'M-Commerce Baron' in 2006 and named one of AdAge's 'Top 20 Marketers in Their 20s' in 2005. Nihal graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Philosophy and a BSE in Computer Science. He is also an Angel Investor. He also serves as a Board Member at Alloy. He served as Board Member and Advisor at Lokast and as an Advisor at Findable. He is also an Angel Investor.
San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Online Social
Partner at GV
Head of Partnerships at Google, sign deals/manage relationships with tech hubs, accelerators and incubators around the world.
Los Angeles - California, U.S.A.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Media • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Gaming (& eSports) • Advertising • Online Social
Dana Settle is a Co-Founder and serves as Partner at Greycroft Partners. She serves as a board member at Anine Bing. Prior to Greycroft, she spent several years as a venture capitalist and advisor to startup companies in the Bay Area, including six years at Mayfield, where she focused on early stage companies in the mobile communications and consumer Internet markets. Her additional experience includes business development at Truveo (AOL), investment banking at Lehman Brothers and international business development at McCaw Cellular Communications (AT&T). She holds a BA in Finance and International Studies from the University of Washington and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A.
Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Advertising • Developer tools • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Local commerce • Payments
Most Interested In
Interested in technology-based, digital innovations that will help shape the future of Retail and Financial Services.
Founding GP at @commerce-ventures. Formerly at Highland Capital. Focus on Mobile, Commerce, Payments, Retail.
San Francisco Bay Area - Menlo Park - California, U.S.A.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Gaming (& eSports) • Advertising • Analytics • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Developer tools • Local commerce • Payments • Online Social
Most Interested In
XG Ventures® is focused primarily on the consumer internet, including the mobile, video, gaming, social media, and online media sectors.
Not Interested In
healthcare
Seattle - New York - Vancouver - Toronto (Ontario) - Los Angeles - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Canada
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Online Social • Consumer • Woman Focused
Most Interested In
I focus on consumer marketplaces and transactional businesses, particularly those that provide a 10x experience to consumers and save them money.
Not Interested In
Businesses that would basically be the same w/o software.
Sarah Tavel serves as General Partner at Benchmark Capital. She serves as a Board Member at Chainalysis. Tavel also served as Investment Partner at Greylock Partners prior to Benchmark Capital. She also served as an Advisor at SignalFire. Previously, she served as a Manager, Products at Pinterest. Prior to Pinterest, she was Vice President of Bessemer Venture Partners. Sarah Tavel, a senior associate in the Menlo Park office, joined Bessemer in 2006. Working with Jeremy Levine, she focused on the software and Internet sectors and has been closely involved in investments with consumer internet company Pinterest; Microsoft SharePoint migration solutions provider Metalogix; leads-generator Yodle; learning-and-talent-management company Cornerstone OnDemand (IPO); e-commerce site Onestop; energy-management company CPower (acquired by Constellation Energy); SaaS online-marketing company Convertro; business-software company MindBody Solutions; and leading Russian e-commerce company KupiVIP. She also works with Bessemer company eEye Digital Security and worked with Quidsi (operator of Diapers.com and Soap.com), acquired by Amazon.com, and classifieds-provider OLX, acquired by Naspers.
Boston Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Media • Businesses Solutions • Retail (& E-Commerce) • IoT (& Wearables) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Analytics • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Consumer
Most Interested In For Flybridge, I am primarily focused on core B2B tech, including developer-focused companies and AI applications & platforms. I also founded and help manage, in conjunction with a team of 22 female founders, XFactor Ventures, a pre-seed fund focused on new companies with female founders Not Interested In We are typically the "first institutional check" for companies, so not focused on large >$8M Series As for Series B and beyond. Industry wise, not doing anything in the healthcare market, unless it's HCIT.
Menlo Park - San Mateo - Redwood City - California, U.S.A.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Media • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Local commerce • Messaging • Payments • Aerospace (& Defense) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Online Social • Consumer
Founding Partner at Draper Associates