Top 14 Venture Capital Firms for Real Estate Startups

For founders in Real Estate tech, understanding which investors focus on your industry is a critical first step when preparing to raise capital. Knowing the key players helps you target your pitch and find partners who truly understand your business model.

To help with your search, our team curated this overview of the top PropTech and real estate venture capital firms. Use this guide to quickly identify relevant investors for your startup before or during your fundraising process.

Rho provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay—built for startup teams moving fast. Once funding is secured, our integrated financial tools help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Key Takeaways

• Securing venture funding provides the capital needed to scale your Real Estate tech startup, develop your product, and expand your market presence.

• Firms like Third Sphere, WestCap, Moderne Ventures, and ICONIQ Capital are notable backers in the Real Estate tech sector, actively investing in promising startups.

• Once your funding is secured, our integrated platform helps you manage and deploy your capital with fast business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

Which VC Firms in Real Estate Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether your startup is in its early stages or preparing for an exit, connecting with the right investors is essential. Below is a brief overview of Real Estate VC firms and the stages at which they invest.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Real Estate

This initial funding stage is for developing your idea, building a minimum viable product, and achieving early market traction. Some proptech VC firms that focus on this stage include Recursive Ventures, MAGIC Fund, and GS Futures.

Early Stage VC Firms in Real Estate

Early-stage funding, typically Series A or B, is meant to help you scale your operations, grow your team, and expand your market share. For example, real estate venture capital firms like Third Sphere, Suffolk Technologies, and MetaProp often invest at this point.

Late Stage VC Firms in Real Estate

Late-stage capital is for established companies looking to accelerate growth, prepare for an IPO, or pursue an acquisition. Notable late-stage real estate tech venture capital firms include WestCap, Moderne Ventures, and ICONIQ Capital.

It's also worth noting that many VC firms invest across all startup funding stages. Once your funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Finding the right investment partner is crucial for your startup's growth. Below is a closer look at the top VC firms focusing on the Real Estate sector, with key details on their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each firm distinct.

1. Third Sphere

Based in New York, Third Sphere is an early-stage venture fund that invests in companies driving scalable climate action. The firm targets both significant environmental impact and strong financial returns, with a portfolio that includes CleanTech, GovTech, and Real Estate.

The firm’s focus on "rapid, scalable climate action" is a key part of its identity, backing companies from seed to early-stage venture rounds. Their portfolio includes climate-tech unicorn Bowery Farming and Blueprint Power, an energy optimization platform acquired by BP, showing a clear interest in the smart building space.

This firm is a strong potential partner if your startup has a clear climate or sustainability focus, particularly within the built environment. Founders who value an investor with a defined impact mission and a history of successful exits in the sector should consider them.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage venture, private equity

• Industries of focus: CleanTech, GovTech, Real Estate, Smart Building

• Geographical presence: New York

• Founded: 2013

• Notable investments: Bowery Farming, Blueprint Power, Mark43

• Portfolio size: 138 investments

You can refer to their website here.

2. WestCap

WestCap is a New York-based firm that functions as both a strategic investor and an operator. They concentrate on tech-enabled, asset-light marketplaces across several industries, including real estate.

The firm’s "strategic operating" model signals a hands-on approach, supporting companies from early to late stages. Their portfolio includes category-defining companies like Airbnb, Klarna, and the sustainable financing lender GoodLeap, showing a clear ability to back platforms with global potential.

WestCap is a strong potential partner if you're building a high-growth marketplace, particularly in real estate or fintech. Founders who want an operationally involved investor with a record of scaling unicorns should take a close look.

• Investment stages: Early-stage venture, late-stage venture, private equity

• Industries of focus: Real Estate, Finance, FinTech, Professional Services

• Geographical presence: New York

• Founded: 2019

• Notable investments: Airbnb, Klarna, GoodLeap, Hopper

• Portfolio size: 62 investments

You can refer to their website here.

3. Moderne Ventures

Moderne Ventures is a Chicago-based strategic venture capital and growth equity firm. They invest across real estate, finance, insurance, and sustainability, targeting companies from early stages through to private equity rounds.

A key aspect of their model is an accelerator program, which provides founders with deep industry access and support. Their track record includes significant exits like DocuSign's IPO and the acquisition of smart-lock company August Home, showing a clear ability to guide companies to successful outcomes.

This firm is an excellent match for founders in real estate and related industries who are looking for more than just capital. If you value strategic support and access to a powerful industry network to accelerate growth, Moderne Ventures should be on your list.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity

• Industries of focus: Real Estate, Finance, FinTech, Insurance, Sustainability

• Geographical presence: Chicago, Illinois

• Founded: 2015

• Notable investments: DocuSign, August Home, Airside, Avvir

• Portfolio size: 105 investments

• Investor type: Accelerator, Venture Capital, Private Equity Firm

You can refer to their website here.

4. ICONIQ Capital

ICONIQ Capital is a San Francisco-based private investment firm that operates as a family office for influential clients. This unique structure allows them to invest across a wide spectrum of opportunities, from venture capital to private equity.

The firm is known for backing globally recognized companies, with a portfolio that includes major IPOs like Airbnb, Adyen, and the construction management platform Procore Technologies. They invest across all stages, from early venture rounds to post-IPO, signaling a long-term partnership approach.

ICONIQ is a strong potential partner if you are building a company with the ambition to become a category leader. Founders aiming for significant scale, particularly in the real estate, finance, or internet sectors, will find their track record compelling.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity, Post-IPO

• Industries of focus: Real Estate, Finance, Internet

• Geographical presence: San Francisco

• Founded: 2011

• Notable investments: Airbnb, Adyen, Alibaba, Procore Technologies

• Portfolio size: 81 investments

• Investor type: Family Investment Office, Venture Capital, Private Equity

You can refer to their website here.

5. Suffolk Technologies

Suffolk Technologies is a Boston-based venture capital platform that funds companies addressing challenges in the built environment. They focus on the next generation of startups in construction, real estate, and green building.

The firm operates as both a VC and an accelerator, signaling a hands-on approach for early and late-stage companies. This focus on modernizing the industry is clear from their portfolio, which includes construction-robotics company Canvas and the construction tech unicorn EquipmentShare, which is reportedly weighing an IPO.

This firm is a great fit if your startup is developing technology for the construction or real estate sectors and you value an investor with deep operational involvement. Founders seeking an accelerator model alongside capital to solve challenges in the built environment will find their approach particularly beneficial.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Building Material, Construction, Real Estate, Smart Building, Green Building

• Geographical presence: Boston, Massachusetts

• Founded: 2019

• Notable investments: EquipmentShare, Canvas, Measurabl, Diamond Age

• Portfolio size: 41 investments

• Investor type: Accelerator, Venture Capital

You can refer to their website here.

6. Recursive Ventures

Recursive Ventures is a California-based micro VC firm that backs seed-stage startups in the US and Israel. They focus on companies using data and artificial intelligence to create new opportunities in established industries.

The firm has a strong record of backing successful companies, including an early investment in smart-doorbell maker Ring (acquired by Amazon) and foot-traffic analytics platform Placer.ai. This shows a clear focus on tech that uses data to reshape physical-world industries.

Recursive Ventures is a good match if you are a seed-stage founder in the US or Israel with a business built on an AI or data-centric model. Their portfolio suggests an interest in founders applying this technology to sectors like FinTech, Real Estate, and mobility.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Real Estate, FinTech, Mobile

• Geographical presence: Albany, California (invests in US & Israel)

• Founded: 2015

• Notable investments: Ring, Deel, Placer.ai, Life360

• Portfolio size: 48 investments

• Investor type: Micro VC, Venture Capital

You can refer to their website here.

7. MAGIC Fund

MAGIC Fund is a Los Angeles-based micro VC built on a "founders-for-founders" model, investing globally in seed and early-stage startups. The firm operates as a collective of founders who pool capital and expertise to back the next generation of companies.

The fund’s community-driven approach gives portfolio companies direct access to a network of experienced operators for guidance. Their portfolio includes internal-tools builder Retool and the small business digital bank Bank Novo, highlighting a focus on B2B and fintech solutions.

This firm is a strong match for early-stage founders who value a community of peers and want investors with recent, relevant operating experience. It is particularly well-suited for those building in FinTech, SaaS, and emerging markets.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: FinTech, SaaS, Real Estate, Health Care, E-Commerce, Emerging Markets

• Geographical presence: Los Angeles (invests globally)

• Founded: 2017

• Notable investments: Retool, Bank Novo, Payfazz, Frubana

• Portfolio size: 171 investments

• Investor type: Accelerator, Micro VC, Venture Capital

You can refer to their website here.

8. Great Wave Ventures

Great Wave Ventures is a New York-based fund that invests in early-stage companies shaping the future of the "built world." They focus on seed and early venture rounds for startups in construction, real estate, and sustainability.

The firm backs ambitious, tech-forward ideas that redefine physical spaces, from a car-free neighborhood by Culdesac to real-time 3D earth mapping by Array Labs. Their portfolio shows a willingness to fund transformative projects that go beyond traditional property tech.

This firm is a good fit for founders with a bold vision for the built environment, especially those working at the intersection of technology and sustainability. If your early-stage startup has a transformative idea for how we live and build, they could be a strong partner.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Construction, Real Estate, Sustainability

• Geographical presence: New York

• Founded: 2020

• Notable investments: Venus Aerospace, Array Labs, Culdesac

• Portfolio size: 32 investments

You can refer to their website here.

9. Prudence

Based in New York, Prudence is an early-stage venture firm that backs technology companies reshaping the global "built world." They invest across a wide spectrum, from seed to private equity, focusing on startups in real estate, finance, and related industries.

The firm is known for backing major platforms and guiding them to significant exits. Their portfolio includes the real estate tech company Compass, which had a successful IPO, and Properly, a Canadian brokerage that was acquired by Compass.

Prudence is a strong potential partner for founders building scalable technology platforms, particularly in real estate and finance. If your goal is a major exit like an IPO or strategic acquisition, their track record makes them a compelling choice.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity

• Industries of focus: Real Estate, Finance, Financial Services

• Geographical presence: New York

• Founded: 2009

• Notable investments: Compass, Properly, CREXi, Blockchain.com

• Portfolio size: 33 investments

You can refer to their website here.

10. MetaProp

MetaProp is a New York-based venture capital firm with a singular focus on the PropTech sector. They are one of the most active investors in the space, backing companies that are changing how the real estate industry operates.

The firm operates both as a venture fund and an accelerator, signaling a hands-on approach to company building. Their portfolio includes workplace-experience platform HqO and co-warehousing network Saltbox, showing a clear interest in technology that modernizes commercial and residential real estate.

MetaProp is an ideal partner for founders building technology specifically for the real estate industry. If you are seeking an investor with deep sector expertise and an ecosystem designed to support PropTech startups from their earliest stages, they should be high on your list.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate

• Geographical presence: New York

• Founded: 2015

• Notable investments: HqO, Saltbox, VergeSense, Blueprint Power

• Portfolio size: 177 investments

• Investor type: Accelerator, Venture Capital

You can refer to their website here.

11. Kairos HQ

Kairos HQ is a New York-based firm that operates as both an incubator and venture capital fund. They build and invest in companies that aim to make life simpler and more affordable for the current generation.

The firm's incubator model signals a hands-on approach to building companies that solve major consumer pain points. Their portfolio includes breakout companies like Bilt Rewards, a prop-tech unicorn, and Rhino, a security deposit alternative, showing a focus on affordability in housing.

Kairos HQ is a great match for founders building consumer-facing businesses in sectors like FinTech, Health Care, and Real Estate. If your startup has a clear mission to address affordability and accessibility challenges, their portfolio and approach are a strong fit.

Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools — including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay — help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Financial Services, FinTech, Health Care, Real Estate

• Geographical presence: New York

• Founded: 2017

• Notable investments: Bilt Rewards, Rhino, Little Spoon, Cera

• Portfolio size: 23 investments

• Investor type: Incubator, Venture Capital

You can refer to their website here.

12. Derive Ventures

Derive Ventures is a San Francisco-based firm that invests in companies focused on the travel and hospitality sectors. They back startups building software and technology to modernize industries like leisure and real estate.

The firm concentrates on technology that improves the travel and hospitality experience, investing from seed to late-stage rounds. Their portfolio includes prop-tech unicorn Bilt Rewards and the hospitality-tech platform Canary Technologies, showing a clear interest in modernizing these sectors.

Derive Ventures is a good match for founders building technology for the hospitality, travel, and real estate industries. If your startup is creating software to improve guest experiences or property management, their focused expertise makes them a relevant partner.

Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools — including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay — help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Hospitality, Travel, Real Estate, Software

• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California

• Founded: 2021

• Notable investments: Bilt Rewards, Canary Technologies, Cardless

• Portfolio size: 26 investments

You can refer to their website here.

13. GS Futures

GS Futures is a corporate venture capital firm based in San Mateo, California, that makes strategic investments in early-stage companies. They focus on startups in the construction, real estate, energy, and sustainability sectors.

As a corporate venture capital firm, their approach is strategic, targeting seed and early-stage startups. Their portfolio features several unicorns, including autonomous-drone maker Skydio and the blockchain protocol LayerZero Labs, and they have a record of successful exits like the acquisition of AutoGrid.

This firm is a strong fit for early-stage founders in the construction, real estate, or sustainability industries who are seeking a strategic partner. If your startup could benefit from corporate alignment and is aiming for significant scale, their model is particularly relevant.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Construction, Consumer, Energy, Real Estate, Sustainability

• Geographical presence: San Mateo, California

• Founded: 2020

• Notable investments: Skydio, LayerZero Labs, Nowports, Heirloom

• Portfolio size: 40 investments

• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital

You can refer to their website here.

14. Alexandria

Alexandria is the San Francisco-based strategic venture arm of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, a major real estate investment trust. While their parent company is in real estate, their venture investments show a deep focus on the life sciences and biotechnology sectors.

The firm's portfolio is heavily weighted toward health and biotech, featuring unicorns like Kallyope and Immunai, and a successful IPO with Disc Medicine. This signals a clear strategy of investing in the innovative companies that often occupy the specialized lab and office spaces their parent company develops.

This firm is an excellent match for founders in the life sciences, biotech, or AI-driven health sectors, especially from seed to late stages. If your company's growth is tied to physical infrastructure like labs, their strategic alignment could provide significant advantages beyond just capital.

Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools — including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay — help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage venture, late-stage venture, private equity

• Industries of focus: Real Estate, Life Sciences, Biotechnology

• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California

• Founded: 1994

• Notable investments: Kallyope, Disc Medicine, Immunai

• Portfolio size: 44 investments

• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Real Estate Companies

This overview shows that investor interest in real estate technology is well-balanced. You will find strong support across all funding stages, with many firms concentrating on seed and early-stage rounds, while others back companies through growth and private equity. This suggests a healthy market for new ideas and for established businesses ready to scale.

Geographically, these investors are primarily located in major US hubs like New York and California, a point to consider for your networking plans. The mix of investor types—from PropTech specialists to generalist funds and corporate venture arms—gives you options to find a partner whose expertise aligns with your specific goals. Once funding is secured, our integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help you manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Raise Confidently with Rho

A targeted list of investors is one of your most valuable assets when fundraising, letting you focus your limited time and energy. We created this guide to help you connect with the right partners who understand the Real Estate tech sector.

Once your funding is secured, Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes. Our integrated platform provides business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay to help you manage your new capital efficiently.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Real Estate

Which proptech VC firms are in Austin, TX?

While our list highlights major hubs, Austin's tech scene is growing fast. We recommend attending local industry events and connecting with incubators to find Austin real estate venture capital firms that fit your startup's stage and focus.

Are there many real estate tech venture capital firms in NYC?

Yes, New York is a primary center for real estate and finance VCs. Firms like MetaProp, Prudence, and Third Sphere are based there, making it a key location for founders in the proptech sector to build connections.

How do I find local real estate venture capital firms?

Beyond major hubs, you can find regional venture capital firms through online investor databases, local startup accelerators, and professional networks. Searching for partners in your area can lead to valuable connections with investors who understand your market.

What should I expect from an early-stage proptech VC firm?

Early-stage firms provide capital to help you scale operations and expand your market share. They often offer strategic guidance and access to their network. Once funding is secured, Rho helps you manage that capital with integrated financial tools.

What is the difference between a proptech VC and a corporate venture capital firm?

A traditional proptech VC’s main goal is financial return. A corporate venture capital (CVC) firm, like GS Futures or Alexandria, also seeks strategic alignment with its parent company, which can offer unique industry access and partnership opportunities.

How can Rho help after I secure funding from a real estate VC?

After your raise, Rho helps you manage your new capital. Our integrated platform provides business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay, letting you set up your financial stack in minutes and deploy funds efficiently.