The Most Successful VC Funds, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the funds you think is the most successful!

Updated on May 4, 2024 06:16

In the dynamic world of venture capital, identifying the most successful funds can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Investors seek out those funds that not only promise high returns, but also have a consistent track record of visionary investments. This ranking helps to highlight those funds that have truly made a mark in the industry by delivering outstanding results over time. Your votes play a crucial role in shaping these rankings and ensuring they reflect the current sentiment of the investment community. By participating, you contribute to a clearer understanding of which venture capital funds are leading the charge in innovation and success. This interactive list is updated based on your input, offering a fresh perspective on the landscape of venture capital funding with each visit.

What Are the Most Successful VC Funds?

1

55
votes
Sequoia Capital

Donald Valentine

Sequoia Capital is with successful investments in companies like Google, Apple, and Airbnb, Sequoia Capital is one of the most successful VC funds in the world.
Sequoia Capital is a renowned venture capital firm known for investing in early-stage technology companies. Founded in 1972, it has become one of the most successful and influential VC funds globally.

Founded: 1972

Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States

Investment Focus: Early-stage technology companies

Notable Investments: Apple, Google, Cisco, WhatsApp, YouTube

Portfolio Companies: Over 450
2

18
votes
Accel Partners

Arthur Patterson

Accel Partners is with investments in Facebook, Dropbox, and Etsy, Accel Partners has a history of backing successful startups.
Accel Partners is a prominent global venture capital firm that invests in early-stage and growth-stage companies. Founded in 1983, Accel has established itself as one of the most successful VC funds in the industry. They support entrepreneurs and startups across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and financial services.

Year Founded: 1983

Headquarters: Palo Alto, California

Number of Investments: Over 600

Total Capital Raised: Over $12 billion

Notable Investments: Facebook, Slack, Dropbox, Atlassian
3

20
votes
Andreessen Horowitz

Andreessen Horowitz is with investments in Airbnb, Slack, and Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz has made a name for itself as a top-tier VC fund.
Andreessen Horowitz is a prominent venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. It was founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, two experienced entrepreneurs and investors. The firm primarily focuses on technology companies and invests across various stages, from early seed to late-stage growth. Andreessen Horowitz is known for its strategic approach to investing, providing not only capital but also operational expertise and access to a vast network of industry professionals.

Location: Menlo Park, California

Year Founded: 2009

Focus Area: Technology

Investment Stages: Early seed to late-stage growth

Investment Strategy: Strategic approach with operational assistance
4

9
votes
Greylock Partners

Bill Elfers

Greylock Partners is with investments in LinkedIn, Airbnb, and Dropbox, Greylock Partners has a history of backing successful startups.
Greylock Partners is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage technology startups. It was founded in 1965 and has since become one of the most successful VC funds in Silicon Valley. The firm primarily invests in sectors such as software, mobile, consumer internet, enterprise, and healthcare.

Year Founded: 1965

Location: Silicon Valley

Investment Focus: Early-stage technology startups

Sectors: Software, Mobile, Consumer Internet, Enterprise, Healthcare

Total Assets Under Management (AUM): Over $3.5 billion
5

16
votes
Bessemer Venture Partners

Henry Phipps

Bessemer Venture Partners is with investments in Pinterest, Twitch, and LinkedIn, Bessemer Venture Partners has a history of backing successful startups.
Bessemer Venture Partners is a prominent venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, California. It was founded in 1911 and has been actively investing in innovative companies ever since. With a focus on early-stage investments, Bessemer Venture Partners has had notable success in backing some of today's most prominent tech companies.

Year Founded: 1911

Location: Silicon Valley, California

Investment Stage: Early-stage

Industry Focus: Technology

Number of Investments: Over 200
6

16
votes
Founders Fund

Founders Fund is with investments in SpaceX, Palantir, and Airbnb, Founders Fund has made a name for itself as a VC fund that backs bold ideas.
The Founders Fund is a renowned venture capital firm known for its investments in groundbreaking companies across various industries. It focuses on early-stage and growth-stage investments in technology-driven companies.

Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States

Year of Establishment: 2005

Assets Under Management: Over $3 billion

Investment Focus: Technology-driven companies

Investment Stages: Early-stage and growth-stage
7

11
votes
Khosla Ventures

Vinod Khosla

Khosla Ventures is with investments in Square, Stripe, and DoorDash, Khosla Ventures has a history of investing in startups that disrupt industries.
Khosla Ventures is a venture capital fund that focuses on early-stage investments in cleantech, consumer, internet, mobile, and software industries. The fund was founded by Vinod Khosla in 2004. Khosla Ventures has a reputation for being an active investor and has had significant success in backing promising startups. Over the years, it has demonstrated a commitment to supporting innovative ideas and disruptive technologies. Here are ten important specs about Khosla Ventures:

Investment Size: Varies from seed to late-stage

Year Founded: 2004

Geographic Focus: Global

Investment Stage: Early-stage

Target Industries: Cleantech, consumer, internet, mobile, software
8

9
votes
Benchmark Capital

Benchmark Capital is with investments in Uber, Twitter, and Snapchat, Benchmark Capital has a history of backing successful startups.
Benchmark Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 1995 that focuses on early-stage technology startups. The firm has a long history of successful investments in companies like eBay, Twitter, Uber, and Snapchat. Known for its hands-on approach and expertise, Benchmark Capital provides not only funding but also strategic guidance to its portfolio companies.

Year Founded: 1995

Focus: Early-stage technology startups

Successful Investments: eBay, Twitter, Uber, Snapchat, etc.

Hands-on Approach: Active involvement and guidance

Investment Areas: Internet, software, mobile, consumer, and enterprise
9

13
votes
500 Startups

Dave McClure

500 Startups is with investments in Twilio, Credit Karma, and Udemy, 500 Startups has a history of investing in diverse startups.
500 Startups is a prominent global venture capital seed fund and startup accelerator founded in 2010. It aims to support early-stage startups and help them succeed through funding, mentorship, and access to a vast network of resources. The fund focuses on investing in a wide range of industries and geographies.

Year Founded: 2010

Investment Stage: Seed

Global Presence: Yes

Number of Investments: 2,400+

Total Fund Size: $560+ million
10

6
votes

First Round Capital

First Round Capital is with investments in Uber, Warby Parker, and Blue Apron, First Round Capital has a history of backing successful startups.

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Ranking factors for successful funds

Assets Under Management (AUM)

A larger fund has more capital available for investment, which may indicate success in raising funds from institutional investors and limited partners. However, AUM alone does not guarantee success in delivering returns.
Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

The IRR measures the annualized return on investment and is a key metric for evaluating a VC fund's performance. A higher IRR indicates better investment performance.
Multiple on Invested Capital (MOIC)

MOIC measures the fund's total value (both realized and unrealized) divided by the total capital invested. A higher MOIC indicates a better return on investments.
Track record

The fund's history of successful investments and exits, including IPOs and acquisitions, is a strong indicator of success. Funds with a longer and more consistent track record of high-performing investments are typically more successful.
Portfolio company performance

The success of a VC fund is often tied to the performance of its portfolio companies. Key factors to consider include revenue growth, profitability, market share, and successful exits.
Management team

A strong management team with experience in investing, industry knowledge, and a track record of successful exits can be an important factor in a fund's success.
Investment strategy and focus

The fund's investment thesis, sector focus, and stage of investment can significantly impact its success. Funds with a clear and focused investment strategy that aligns with market trends and opportunities are more likely to perform well.
Deal flow and sourcing capabilities

Top VC funds have a strong deal sourcing network and the ability to identify and invest in high-quality startups before their competitors.
Value-added services

Successful VC funds often provide more than just capital to their portfolio companies. They may offer strategic guidance, industry connections, or operational support, which can contribute to the success of the investments.
Participation in follow-on funding rounds

A fund's ability and willingness to participate in follow-on funding rounds for its portfolio companies can be a sign of success, as it indicates the fund's conviction in the potential of the startups and its ability to support their growth.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most successful VC funds. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Fund is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

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173 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Fund once every 24 hours. The rank of each Fund is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most successful vc funds

Venture capital funds are investment firms that provide funding for startups and small businesses with high growth potential. These funds typically invest in early-stage companies that are not yet profitable, but have a promising business idea, product or service. VC funds raise capital from various sources, such as institutional investors, high net worth individuals and corporations, and use the funds to invest in multiple companies. The success of a VC fund is measured by the returns it generates for its investors. VC funds typically aim to generate high returns by investing in companies that have the potential to grow rapidly and become leaders in their industries. The most successful VC funds have a proven track record of identifying and investing in companies that have gone on to become hugely successful and generate significant returns for their investors. Some of the most successful VC funds include Sequoia Capital, Accel Partners, Kleiner Perkins, Andreessen Horowitz, and Benchmark. These funds have invested in companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Airbnb and Uber, and have generated returns that are many times higher than the initial investments made. Investing in VC funds can be a high-risk, high-reward proposition. While some funds may generate significant returns, others may fail to generate any returns at all. However, for investors who are willing to take on the risk, investing in VC funds can be a way to gain exposure to some of the most innovative and disruptive companies in the world, and potentially reap significant rewards.