Top 14 Venture Capital Firms Backing Financial Exchanges Startups

When you're building a company in the Financial Exchanges sector, preparing to raise capital means knowing which investors understand your specific market. The right financial technology venture capital firms offer more than money; they provide industry knowledge that is critical for growth in the complex world of trading technology and market infrastructure.

To help you identify potential partners, our team has curated this overview of top VC firms that focus on financial exchanges. This guide is designed to give you a clear look at relevant investors, whether you're looking for seed stage or Series A venture capital firms.

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

• For startups in the financial exchanges sector, securing venture funding provides the necessary capital and, more importantly, the industry-specific expertise to grow.

• Firms like Endeavor Catalyst, WestCap, Invesco, and Celesta Capital are notable backers of companies focused on financial exchanges.

• Whether you are actively raising or have just closed a round, Rho helps you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

Which VC Firms in Financial Exchanges Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether your company is in its early stages or preparing for an exit, knowing the right investors to approach is key.

This overview outlines which venture capital firms invest in the financial exchanges space, broken down by stage.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Financial Exchanges

This initial funding stage is for new companies developing a core product and establishing early market fit. For founders building in the financial exchanges sector, seed stage venture capital firms like Fearless Fund, Lemnos VC, and Liquid 2 Ventures provide the essential capital to get started.

Early Stage VC Firms in Financial Exchanges

Early-stage funding, which includes Series A and Series B rounds, helps you scale operations once you have a proven product and consistent revenue. Financial technology venture capital firms such as New York-based WestCap, Celesta Capital, and SemperVirens focus on this growth phase, providing capital to expand your team and market presence.

Late Stage VC Firms in Financial Exchanges

Late-stage venture capital is for mature companies with strong market traction that are preparing for a major liquidity event, such as an IPO or acquisition. Investors like Invesco and Transform Capital are examples of late stage venture capital firms that support companies through this final phase of private growth.

Many venture capital firms invest across multiple stages, from seed to exit. Whether you are actively raising or have just closed a round, Rho Capital connects you to non-dilutive funding options while our integrated platform helps you manage new capital with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

To help you find the right investment partner, we've compiled information on the top VC firms specializing in financial exchanges. The following list covers their preferred investment stages, geographic focus, and the specific advantages each firm offers to founders in this sector.

1. Endeavor Catalyst

Endeavor Catalyst is a New York-based co-investment fund that exclusively backs companies led by entrepreneurs within the global Endeavor network. The firm invests across multiple funding rounds, from seed to late-stage venture.

A key feature is its co-investment strategy, where it invests alongside other institutional investors rather than leading rounds. Its portfolio demonstrates a global scope, including unicorns like payments company Flutterwave and delivery app Rappi.

This firm is a strong match for founders who are already part of the Endeavor network or aim to be. It's best for those seeking a strategic co-investor who brings access to a powerful international community.

• Investment stages: Seed, early, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Finance, Financial Exchanges, Financial Services, FinTech
• Geographical presence: Based in New York with a global investment focus
• Founded: 2012
• Notable portfolio companies: Flutterwave, Rappi, Insider, Tabby, and Globant
• Portfolio size: Over 380 investments

You can refer to their website here.

2. WestCap

WestCap is a New York-based firm that combines strategic operations with investing, focusing on tech-enabled, asset-light marketplaces. The firm invests across early and late-stage venture rounds, as well as private equity.

The firm's clear preference for marketplace business models is a defining feature, with a portfolio that includes major successes like Airbnb and Klarna. This focus shows their expertise in scaling companies that connect buyers and sellers digitally.

WestCap is a good fit for founders building marketplace platforms, particularly in the finance or real estate sectors. If you are seeking an investor with operational depth and a track record of scaling companies to public markets, this firm is worth considering.

• Investment stages: Early and late-stage venture, private equity
• Industries of focus: Finance, Financial Exchanges, FinTech, Professional Services, Real Estate
• Geographical presence: Based in New York
• Founded: 2019
• Notable portfolio companies: Airbnb, Klarna, Addepar, GoodLeap, and Hopper
• Portfolio size: Over 60 investments

You can refer to their website here.

3. Invesco

Invesco is an established, independent investment management firm with a history dating back to 1935. Based in Atlanta, the firm operates across multiple asset classes, including venture capital, private equity, and public markets.

A key characteristic is their significant activity in public equities, holding major positions in tech giants like Apple and NVIDIA. This focus on large, established companies complements their venture investments in the finance and financial services sectors.

This firm is a strong match for founders of mature companies looking for a late-stage or private equity partner with deep capital resources. Once you secure that level of funding, Rho can help you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Early and late-stage venture, private equity
• Industries of focus: Finance, Financial Exchanges, Financial Services, Venture Capital
• Geographical presence: Based in Atlanta with a global investment focus
• Founded: 1935
• Notable portfolio companies: Apple, NVIDIA, Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet
• Portfolio size: 100 investments

You can refer to their website here.

4. Celesta Capital

Celesta Capital is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco that invests in entrepreneurs building foundational technology companies. The firm supports businesses across both early and late venture stages.

A key characteristic of Celesta is its focus on deep-tech and fintech companies with a clear path to the public markets. Their investment portfolio includes notable IPOs like the trading platform Robinhood and drone technology company ideaForge.

This firm is a good match for founders of capital-intensive technology companies who are planning for a public exit. Once you secure a funding round, Rho can help you manage your new capital with integrated banking, cards, and payments.

• Investment stages: Early and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Financial Exchanges, Financial Services, Venture Capital
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco
• Founded: 2013
• Notable portfolio companies: Robinhood, ideaForge, Credo, Aquantia, and Quantenna
• Portfolio size: Over 170 investments

You can refer to their website here.

5. Liquid 2 Ventures

Liquid 2 Ventures is a San Francisco-based firm that primarily invests in companies at the seed and early stages. The firm is known for its high volume of investments and its focus on getting in on the ground floor with new technology companies.

A key characteristic is the firm's track record of backing companies that achieve significant exits, including the GitLab IPO and the acquisition of FanDuel. Their portfolio also includes high-growth companies like the HR platform Rippling, showing a focus on backing ambitious founders.

This firm is an excellent match for founders at the seed stage who are building technology-driven businesses. Once you secure your seed funding, our team at Rho can help you manage that new capital with integrated banking, corporate cards, and payments.

• Investment stages: Seed, early, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Financial Exchanges, Impact Investing, Venture Capital
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco
• Founded: 2016
• Notable portfolio companies: GitLab, Rippling, FanDuel, Athelas, and Solugen
• Portfolio size: Over 1,150 investments

You can refer to their website here.

6. ff Venture Capital

ff Venture Capital is a New York-based firm that invests in technology companies across multiple stages. Their focus areas include AI, cybersecurity, and cloud software.

A key characteristic is their track record of backing companies to successful exits, such as the acquisition of CyberX by Microsoft. Their portfolio also includes digital identity unicorn Socure and smart-baby-monitor brand Owlet, which went public.

This firm is a strong match for founders building technology-intensive businesses who are looking for an investor with experience guiding companies toward an exit. Once you secure a round, our team at Rho can help you manage your new capital with integrated banking, corporate cards, and payments.

• Investment stages: Seed, early and late-stage venture, debt
• Industries of focus: AI, Cybersecurity, Financial Exchanges, Machine Learning, Software
• Geographical presence: Based in New York
• Founded: 2008
• Notable portfolio companies: Socure, Owlet, Plated, CyberX
• Portfolio size: Over 370 investments

You can refer to their website here.

7. Brand Foundry Ventures

Brand Foundry Ventures is an Austin-based investment firm that supports companies across multiple funding rounds, from seed to late-stage venture. The firm invests in several sectors, including finance, financial services, and the service industry.

A defining feature of the firm is its focus on building powerful consumer brands. Its portfolio includes well-known direct-to-consumer companies like Allbirds and Birchbox, highlighting its experience in the consumer goods market.

This firm is a strong match for founders creating consumer-focused businesses with strong brand potential. Once you secure funding, Rho can help you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed, early and late-stage venture, convertible note
• Industries of focus: Finance, Financial Exchanges, Financial Services, Service Industry
• Geographical presence: Based in Austin, Texas
• Founded: 2014
• Notable portfolio companies: Allbirds, Birchbox, The Wing, Eden Health, and Floyd
• Portfolio size: 87 investments

You can refer to their website here.

8. Camber Creek

Camber Creek is a venture capital firm based in Rockville, Maryland, that specializes in real estate technology. The firm provides both capital and advisory support to companies building in the proptech sector.

A key characteristic is the firm's deep focus on proptech, with a portfolio full of companies that modernize the real estate industry. They have a strong record of guiding companies to successful exits, including the Latch SPAC merger and helping companies like utility-data platform Arcadia achieve unicorn status.

This firm is an ideal partner for founders building technology for the real estate sector who are looking for an investor with deep industry knowledge. Once you secure a round, our team at Rho can help you manage your new capital with integrated banking, corporate cards, and payments.

• Investment stages: Seed, early, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Commercial Real Estate, Retail Technology, Smart Home, Financial Exchanges
• Geographical presence: Based in Rockville, Maryland
• Founded: 2009
• Notable portfolio companies: Latch, Arcadia, Clearedge3D, and 42Floors
• Portfolio size: 72 investments

You can refer to their website here.

9. Fearless Fund

Fearless Fund is an Atlanta-based venture capital firm that invests in businesses led by women of color. The firm focuses on providing capital at the pre-seed and seed stages to support companies from their earliest days.

A defining characteristic is its mission-driven approach to closing the funding gap for underrepresented founders. The firm has a strong record with consumer brands, backing companies like The Lip Bar and Slutty Vegan that have achieved national retail distribution.

This firm is an ideal match for women of color founders seeking their first institutional round of capital, especially those building consumer-focused companies. Once you secure that crucial seed funding, our team at Rho can help you manage it effectively with integrated banking and spending tools.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, seed, and early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Finance, Financial Exchanges, Financial Services
• Geographical presence: Based in Atlanta, Georgia
• Founded: 2018
• Notable portfolio companies: Partake Foods, The Lip Bar, Slutty Vegan, Live Tinted
• Portfolio size: Over 25 investments

You can refer to their website here.

10. Lemnos VC

Lemnos VC is a San Francisco-based firm that invests in seed and early-stage companies. They specialize in backing founders who are building complex hardware and software products.

A key characteristic is their focus on hardware, often incubating companies from the ground up. Their portfolio includes the satellite-data company Spire Global, which went public, and the drone platform Airware.

This firm is a great fit for founders at the earliest stages of building a hardware-focused business. Once you secure that seed round, Rho can help you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Financial Exchanges, Financial Services, Service Industry, with a strong emphasis on hardware
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco
• Founded: 2011
• Notable portfolio companies: Spire Global, Airware, Teforia
• Portfolio size: 52 investments

You can refer to their website here.

11. Transform Capital

Transform Capital is a San Mateo-based firm that invests in technology companies across seed, early, and late stages. A core part of their model is a commitment to social impact, donating 50% of their profits to causes selected by their founders and investors.

The firm concentrates on enterprise software and fintech, with portfolio companies like B2B payments platform Paystand and payments infrastructure provider Finix. They have a strong record of guiding companies to successful exits, including the IPO of Urgently and Jackpocket's acquisition by DraftKings.

This firm is a strong match for founders of growth-stage technology companies who value a philanthropic mission alongside financial returns. Once you secure a late-stage round, our team at Rho can help you manage that new capital with integrated banking, corporate cards, and payments.

• Investment stages: Seed, early, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Enterprise Software, Finance, Financial Exchanges, Financial Services
• Geographical presence: Based in San Mateo, California
• Founded: 2019
• Notable portfolio companies: Urgently, Jackpocket, GoFundMe, Paystand, and Finix
• Portfolio size: 27 investments

You can refer to their website here.

12. Deciens Capital

Deciens Capital is a San Francisco-based venture firm that supports early-stage founders building the next generation of financial services. The firm invests across seed, early, and late venture stages.

The firm's focus is clearly on fintech infrastructure, with portfolio companies like Treasury Prime and Zeta providing foundational tools for the industry. Their investments also show a priority for platforms that facilitate capital movement, such as Chipper Cash and Sydecar.

This firm is a strong match for founders building the underlying technology for financial services, especially in banking-as-a-service or payments. Once you secure an early-stage round, Rho can help you manage your new capital with integrated banking, corporate cards, and payments.

• Investment stages: Seed, early, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Financial Exchanges, Financial Services, Venture Capital
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco
• Founded: 2017
• Notable portfolio companies: Chipper Cash, Treasury Prime, Zeta, Sydecar
• Portfolio size: 29 investments

You can refer to their website here.

13. SemperVirens Venture Capital

SemperVirens Venture Capital is a San Mateo-based firm that invests in early-stage companies, with a focus on workforce, healthcare, and financial technology.

As an ecosystem fund, SemperVirens focuses on technology that improves the future of work. Their portfolio is full of high-growth companies in HR tech and employee benefits, including unicorns like Remote and Human Interest.

This firm is a strong match for founders building technology platforms in the workforce, health, or financial sectors, especially those with a B2B model targeting employers. Once you secure an early-stage round, our team at Rho can help you manage your new capital with integrated banking, corporate cards, and payments.

• Investment stages: Seed, early, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Workforce, healthcare, and financial technology
• Geographical presence: Based in San Mateo, California
• Founded: 2018
• Notable portfolio companies: Spring Health, Remote, Human Interest, Carrot Fertility, and Brightline
• Portfolio size: Over 55 investments

You can refer to their website here.

14. Thiel Capital

Thiel Capital is the Los Angeles-based investment firm of Peter Thiel, backing companies from seed to early venture stages. The firm invests across a range of industries, including artificial intelligence, drones, and healthcare.

A key trait is its focus on frontier technology and contrarian bets, often with a defense or deep-tech angle. Notable investments include the German drone maker Quantum-Systems and the biotech startup Pilgrim, which develops nanotechnology for military use.

This firm is a good match for founders building ambitious, technology-intensive businesses in sectors that may be overlooked by other investors. If you secure a round from a firm like Thiel Capital, Rho can help you manage the new capital with integrated banking and corporate cards.

• Investment stages: Seed and early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: AI, drones, healthcare, financial services, and companies in the financial exchanges sector
• Geographical presence: Based in Los Angeles
• Founded: 2011
• Notable portfolio companies: Pilgrim, Quantum-Systems, ATAI Life Sciences, Legendary Entertainment
• Portfolio size: 41 investments

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Financial Exchanges Companies

This review of venture capital firms shows a well-balanced investment environment for companies in the financial exchanges sector. You can find investors focused on every stage, from pre-seed rounds for early ideas to late-stage capital for companies nearing an exit. This breadth of options means that no matter your company's maturity, potential partners are available.

While many firms are based in hubs like New York and the Bay Area, the list includes investors from other cities, showing geographic variety. The investor types are also diverse, from deep-tech specialists to mission-driven funds, allowing you to find a firm that aligns with your specific goals.

Whether you pursue venture capital or non-dilutive funding through a partner like Rho Capital, managing your funds is the next step. Our platform helps you deploy new capital efficiently with integrated banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

Raise Confidently with Rho

When you're raising capital, your time is your most valuable asset. A focused list of relevant investors allows you to direct your energy toward the firms that are the best fit for your company.

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. We help founders access financing tailored to their stage and business model.

Once capital is secured, our integrated platform helps you manage and deploy funds efficiently. Rho provides the business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay that growing companies need.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Financial Exchanges

Which US cities are hubs for financial technology venture capital firms?

New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area are the primary centers for fintech VC firms. These locations offer a high concentration of investors, talent, and industry events for founders building in the financial exchanges space.

How do early-stage VC firms evaluate financial exchange startups?

Early-stage VCs focus on your team's expertise, the size of your target market, and early product traction. A clear demonstration of how your technology solves a specific problem in the financial exchanges market is crucial for securing funding.

Are there many venture capital firms in London for fintech?

Yes, London is a major global hub for fintech investment. The city has numerous venture capital firms that actively fund companies in financial services and exchanges, supported by a strong regulatory environment and access to European markets.

What is the first step after closing a funding round?

After closing a round, set up a solid financial foundation. Our integrated platform helps you manage new capital with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay, letting you deploy funds effectively from day one.

What funding options exist besides venture capital?

Besides equity funding from VCs, you can explore non-dilutive options like venture debt or credit lines. These allow you to access capital without giving up ownership, providing flexibility as you grow your financial technology company.

How can I find the right funding for my startup?

We help founders access financing tailored to their stage and business model. If you’re seeking capital, Rho connects you to non-dilutive funding options through a fast, guided process, so you can focus on building.