Who Funds Deep Tech Startups in California?

Real, verified funding sources for deep tech founders in California: VC funds, accelerators, angel networks, and active grant programs — sourced from SEC filings and Grants.gov, not estimates.

Deep Tech Funding Snapshot — California (as of July 2026)

  • 1
    1 VC fundsheadquartered in California with "Deep Tech" in their name
  • 2
    8 acceleratorsopen to deep tech founders in California (including globally-available programs)
  • 3
    6 angel networksbased in California
  • 4
    53 open grantsin the Technology category, refreshed nightly from Grants.gov

Deep Tech VC Funds in California

Boost VC Deep Tech Fund 4, L.P.

📍 San Mateo, CA📅 Filed July 2024

General partners: Brayton Williams, Adam Draper

$84.4M
Effective fund size

Deep Tech Accelerators Open to California

8 programs

Y Combinator

San Francisco, CA

Y Combinator

$500K
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

Pear VC Accelerator

Palo Alto, CA

Pear VC Accelerator

$500K
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

Lemnos

San Francisco, CA

Lemnos

$500K
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

Contrary Capital

San Francisco, CA

Contrary Capital

$500K
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

500 Global

San Francisco, CA

500 Global

$250K
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

Mucker Capital

Santa Monica, CA

Mucker Capital

$250K
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

AngelPad

San Francisco, CA

AngelPad

$120K
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

Techstars Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

Techstars Los Angeles

$120K
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

Angel Investor Networks in California

6 networks

Band of Angels

👥 150 members💰 $25K - $500K check range

📍 Menlo Park, CA

TechnologySoftwareHardwareDeep Tech

Keiretsu Forum

👥 3000 members💰 $25K - $2M check range

📍 San Ramon, CA

TechnologyHealthcareConsumerFintechSaaS

Keiretsu Forum

👥 1000 members💰 $25K - $2M check range

📍 Palo Alto, CA

TechnologyHealthcareCleanTechConsumer

Tech Coast Angels

👥 400 members💰 $5K - $150K check range

📍 San Diego, CA

TechnologyLife SciencesCleanTech

Investors Circle

👥 250 members💰 $25K - $500K check range

📍 San Francisco, CA

ImpactSocial EnterpriseSustainabilityCleanTech

Stanford Angels and Entrepreneurs

👥 200 members💰 $25K - $500K check range

📍 Stanford, CA

TechnologyHealthcareConsumerFintechSaaS

Grants in the Technology Category

Deep Tech falls under the broader "Technology" category in federal grant data. These are federal programs open to eligible founders nationwide (including California) — live from Grants.gov, refreshed nightly.

Ready To Learn Programming

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Deadline: July 8, 2026Apply →
$1 - $400K
Deadline: July 15, 2026Apply →

TechAccess: AI-Ready America

U.S. National Science Foundation

$3M - $4M
Deadline: July 16, 2026Apply →

CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service

U.S. National Science Foundation

$300K - $2.5M
Deadline: July 21, 2026Apply →

?Deep Tech Funding FAQs — California

Are there deep tech VCs headquartered in California?

Yes — 1 funds headquartered in California have "Deep Tech" (or a close synonym) in their legal name, based on SEC Form D filings. This is a name match, not a verified thesis, so it understates true local investor interest.

What accelerators in California support deep tech startups?

8 accelerator programs open to California-based deep tech founders are in our database, including programs based in California and globally-available programs.

Are there angel investor networks in California?

Yes — 6 angel investor networks based in California are in our database, ranked by member count with deep tech-relevant groups surfaced first where our sector data supports it.

What grants are available for deep tech founders?

53 currently open federal grant programs are tagged under the Technology category, which is where deep tech falls in our grant classification. These are federal programs open to eligible founders nationwide (including California), pulled live from Grants.gov and refreshed nightly.

Your Deep Tech Funding Action Plan

1

Research & Prepare

  • Review the 1 deep tech-matched funds above and their filing history
  • Check each fund's website for current investment criteria before reaching out
  • Prepare a pitch deck and financial projections tailored to your stage
2

Apply & Connect

  • Apply to the 8 accelerator programs listed above
  • Reach out to the 6 angel networks in California
  • Check eligibility for the 6 open grant programs above
3

Follow Up

  • Track deadlines for any application-based programs above
  • Look for warm introductions through your existing network before cold outreach
  • Revisit this page periodically — fund and grant data refreshes nightly