Top 7 Venture Capital Firms Investing in Electric Vehicle Startups

For founders in the electric vehicle space, preparing to raise capital means more than just a solid pitch deck. Finding the right investment partner—one who understands the nuances of everything from battery technology to smart mobility—is critical. The right firm brings not just capital, but deep industry expertise.

To help you connect with the right investors, our team has curated this overview of top venture capital firms active in the EV, clean tech, and automotive technology sectors. This guide offers a clear look at the key players, helping you focus your fundraising efforts.

Actively raising? You can now access non-dilutive funding options like venture debt and credit lines through Rho Capital. Rho also provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay—built for startup teams moving fast.

Key Takeaways

• Securing venture funding provides EV startups with the capital and industry expertise needed to scale complex operations, from manufacturing to software development.
• Venture capital firms like Powerhouse Ventures, SE Ventures, Trucks Venture Capital, and Schematic Ventures are notable backers of startups in the electric vehicle sector.
• Once you've closed a round, our platform helps you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

Which VC Firms in Electric Vehicle Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether you're an early-stage company or preparing for an exit, it helps to know who to talk to. Here is a quick overview of which venture capital firms in the electric vehicle sector invest at each stage.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Electric Vehicle

Pre-seed and seed funding is the earliest capital you'll raise, used to validate your idea, build a minimum viable product, and make key hires. For founders in the EV space, cleantech venture capital firms like Powerhouse Ventures and transportation-focused investors like Trucks Venture Capital are key players at this stage.

Early Stage VC Firms in Electric Vehicle

Early-stage funding, including Series A and B rounds, is for startups with proven traction that need capital to scale their team, product, and market presence. Automotive tech venture capital firms like SE Ventures, Schematic Ventures, and Thursday Ventures focus here, and once you close a round, Rho’s integrated financial tools help you manage the new capital efficiently.

Late Stage VC Firms in Electric Vehicle

Late-stage venture capital is for established companies looking to accelerate growth, expand into new markets, or prepare for an exit through an acquisition or IPO. As you explore this stage, Rho Capital can connect you to non-dilutive venture debt, while equity investors like Trousdale Ventures and Trajectory Ventures support businesses preparing to scale or exit.

It's also worth noting that many venture capital firms invest across multiple stages, from seed to exit, adapting their strategy to support the full lifecycle of a growing company.

To help you find the right investment partner, here is a detailed overview of top VC firms in the electric vehicle space. We've outlined their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each firm a compelling choice for founders.

1. Powerhouse Ventures

Powerhouse Ventures invests in seed-stage companies developing software to decarbonize global energy and mobility systems. The firm concentrates on founders creating technology to accelerate the clean energy transition.

The firm has a clear preference for software-based solutions rather than hardware, targeting early-stage founders. Their investment in Raptor Maps, a solar asset management platform, highlights their focus on clean energy software.

This firm is a strong match if you are a seed-stage founder with a software-centric approach to solving problems in energy or transportation. Once you secure that seed round, our platform helps you manage the new capital with integrated banking and corporate cards.

• Investment stages: Seed, Convertible Note, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: CleanTech, Electric Vehicle, Energy, Software, Transportation
• Geographical presence: Based in Oakland, California
• Founded: 2018
• Portfolio highlight: Raptor Maps, a software platform for solar asset management
• Investment thesis: Backs software startups focused on decarbonization

You can refer to their website here.

2. SE Ventures

SE Ventures is a global venture capital fund backed by Schneider Electric, managing over $1 billion in capital to invest in companies driving electrification and digitalization. The firm focuses on startups in climate tech, industrial AI, mobility, cybersecurity, and energy management.

As the corporate venture arm of a major industrial player, SE Ventures offers deep domain expertise and strategic partnership opportunities alongside its funding. Their portfolio includes notable successes like the EV charging network Volta Charging and electric bus manufacturer Proterra, highlighting their focus on impactful exits.

This firm is an excellent match for founders in cleantech, industrial automation, and the EV sector who are looking for a strategic investor with global reach. After closing a round with a partner like SE Ventures, Rho provides the financial tools—from banking to corporate cards—to help you deploy that capital effectively.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: CleanTech, Electric Vehicle, Energy Storage, Industrial Automation, Sustainability
• Geographical presence: Based in Menlo Park, California
• Founded: 2017
• Fund size: Over $1 billion
• Notable portfolio companies: Proterra, Volta Charging, Scandit, Claroty

You can refer to their website here.

3. Trucks Venture Capital

Trucks Venture Capital funds entrepreneurs who are building the future of transportation. The firm supports founders from the earliest stages, concentrating on technology that redefines how people and goods move.

The firm’s portfolio shows a clear focus on ambitious transportation technology, with notable exits like autonomous farming startup Bear Flag Robotics and digital auto retail platform Roadster. Their investment in Joby Aviation, an electric air-taxi pioneer, highlights their interest in backing category-defining companies.

Trucks VC is a strong match for founders working on transportation, from autonomous vehicles to smart city infrastructure. As your company grows toward the kind of major exit this firm targets, Rho Capital can provide non-dilutive venture debt to help you scale without giving up additional equity.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Transportation, Automotive, Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicle, Smart Cities
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
• Founded: 2015
• Notable portfolio companies: Joby Aviation, Bear Flag Robotics, nuTonomy, Roadster

You can refer to their website here.

4. Schematic Ventures

Schematic Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that backs founders improving industrial technology. They focus on sectors like supply chain, manufacturing, and logistics.

The firm has a clear focus on technology that modernizes core industries, from logistics to manufacturing. Their investment in Flock Freight, a logistics startup that reached unicorn status, shows their ability to back high-growth companies in this space.

This firm is a good fit for founders developing technology for supply chain management, warehouse automation, or manufacturing. Once you secure funding from a specialized investor like Schematic, our platform helps you manage your capital with integrated banking and spend controls.

• Investment stages: Seed, Convertible Note, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Industrial Technology, Supply Chain, Logistics, Manufacturing, Electric Vehicle
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
• Founded: 2017
• Notable portfolio companies: Flock Freight, Outrider, Altana AI

You can refer to their website here.

5. Thursday Ventures

Thursday Ventures invests in early-stage technology companies that aim to address significant global challenges. The firm focuses on finding and supporting founders from the initial stages of their journey.

The firm backs companies with ambitious, technically-driven ideas, from robotics and fintech to health tech. Their portfolio includes high-profile successes like the fitness wearable WHOOP and the OpenAI-backed robotics company 1X Technologies.

Thursday Ventures is a strong match for founders building complex technology in sectors like robotics, fintech, and software. Once you secure funding from a partner like this, our platform helps you manage your new capital with integrated banking and spend controls.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Banking, Electric Vehicle, Financial Services, FinTech, Robotics, Software
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
• Founded: 2017
• Notable portfolio companies: WHOOP, Chronosphere, 1X Technologies, Biobot Analytics
• Number of investments: 20

You can refer to their website here.

6. Trousdale Ventures

Trousdale Ventures backs mission-driven companies aiming to create significant positive change. As a family investment office and venture capital firm, they support founders with ambitious goals.

The firm invests across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage, and has a portfolio that includes high-profile companies like SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. This signals a focus on backing founders with bold, category-defining ideas in transportation and deep tech.

This firm is a good fit for founders with a clear mission and a long-term vision for impact, especially in sectors like transportation, cleantech, and IT. As you scale toward a large exit, Rho Capital can provide non-dilutive venture debt to fuel growth without further dilution.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Transportation, CleanTech, Electric Vehicle, Information Technology, Satellite Communication
• Geographical presence: Based in Los Angeles, California
• Founded: 2019
• Notable portfolio companies: SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Company, Solugen
• Number of investments: 86

You can refer to their website here.

7. Trajectory Ventures

Trajectory Ventures invests in companies building foundational technology that advances global digital transformation. As a flexible investment firm operating as both a family office and VC, they support founders at nearly every stage of growth.

The firm’s approach is notable for its breadth, investing from seed rounds to private equity and across a wide range of industries. Their portfolio includes high-growth companies like AI-chip maker Groq and space-tech developer Stoke Space, showing a focus on capital-intensive, technically complex businesses.

This firm is a good fit for founders with ambitious, technology-driven ideas that have the potential for significant market impact. Once you secure funding, our integrated platform helps you manage the new capital with tools for banking, corporate cards, and payments.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity
• Industries of focus: Machine Learning, Aerospace, Electric Vehicle, E-Commerce Platforms, Developer Tools
• Geographical presence: Based in New York, New York
• Founded: 2012
• Notable portfolio companies: Groq, Stoke Space, AlphaSense, Monarch Tractor
• Number of investments: 115
• Number of exits: 11

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Electric Vehicle Companies

The venture capital support for electric vehicle companies shows a healthy mix of investors. While many firms on this list support companies from seed to late-stage, there is a strong foundation for early-stage founders. Geographically, investment is concentrated in major tech hubs like the Bay Area and New York, a key consideration for your fundraising strategy.

The variety of investors—from specialized transportation funds to corporate venture arms—means you can find partners who offer specific industry knowledge. Once you secure investment, our integrated platform provides the financial tools, including business banking and corporate cards, to help you manage and deploy your new funds effectively.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Having a focused list of investors is essential when your time and energy are limited during a fundraise. It allows you to direct your attention to the firms most aligned with your vision and stage.

If you’re seeking funding, Rho Capital connects you to non-dilutive funding options like venture debt and credit lines through a fast, guided process. Our team helps you access financing tailored to your business model without complex terms.

Once your funding is in place, our integrated platform provides the tools—business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—to help you manage and deploy your new funds efficiently.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Electric Vehicle

What do automotive tech venture capital firms look for in a startup?

They look for a clear technological advantage, a large addressable market, and a founding team with deep industry experience. Demonstrating early traction or a strong proof-of-concept is also critical for getting their attention and securing a meeting.

Which European venture capital firms invest in clean tech?

Europe has a growing number of clean tech and mobility venture capital firms. Many are focused on supporting the continent's green transition, creating strong opportunities for founders building solutions for electrification and sustainability.

What are the benefits of corporate venture capital for EV startups?

Corporate VCs, often backed by large industrial companies, provide strategic value beyond just capital. They can offer access to manufacturing expertise, supply chains, and established distribution channels, which is particularly helpful for hardware-focused EV companies.

How do I find seed venture capital firms for an EV startup?

Focus on investors with a stated interest in transportation or clean tech. Attend industry-specific events and build relationships early. Our team can also help you prepare your finances to present a strong case to potential investors.

How can I get non-dilutive funding for my startup?

If you need capital to extend your runway between equity rounds, Rho can help. We connect you with non-dilutive funding like venture debt and credit lines, tailored to your business, through a fast, guided process.