If you're raising a first check for an AI or developer tools company and you're based in the Bay, this is the list.
We track 113 investors in the justmovetosf directory who actively fund pre-seed rounds in AI and developer infrastructure out of San Francisco. Not a "top 10 VCs" listicle. The full working list of firms that pattern-match your stage and sector.
Who's writing pre-seed checks into AI/dev tools right now
Some write $250k first checks. A few write $2M. A handful will lead a $5M pre-seed. Filter by how much you actually need on the full investor directory.
How to actually get intros
Cold email works if the email is specific. Bad: "we're building an AI platform." Good: "we shipped X to Y customers last month, here's a 90 second demo, we're raising $1.5M." Reference one thing from their thesis or a recent portfolio company. If you're already in SF, most of these firms host office hours or informal Friday coffees. Show up.
If you don't have warm intros yet, the fastest path is to be in a room with 20 founders every week. See where founders actually meet and this week's events.
What pre-seed AI rounds look like in SF (2026)
Typical AI pre-seed here: $1M to $3M raised on a SAFE at $10M to $20M post. Investors want a working prototype, one to three design partners, and a founder who has shipped before. If you're pre-product, expect angels first, then a lead.
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