Latest edition of Southeast Capital Landscape released
Tennessee ranks fourth highest among 10 states in VC firms.
Believe it or not, Tennessee has the fourth-largest number of venture capital firms among the 10 states ranked in the latest edition of the Southeast Capital Landscape released last week.
The Volunteer State trails two states by wide margins – Florida (176 firms) and Georgia (98) – but is only one behind Virginia (75) and four ahead of North Carolina (70). Other states considered in the Southeast include:
- Kentucky (32).
- Alabama (30).
- South Carolina (17).
- West Virginia (8).
- Mississippi (3).
The database first launched in 2019 to bring visibility and clarity to the venture ecosystem across the Southeastern United States. By cataloging the region’s active venture firms and pairing that database with analysis of major trends, our reports help investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders understand how capital is flowing and where opportunities are emerging.
The project is a collaboration between Build In SE, a community-driven platform increasing visibility, capital, knowledge, and connectivity for founders and investors, and Tampa-based Embarc Collective, Florida’s fastest-growing start-up hub. Together, the two groups publish the Landscape to spotlight the firms shaping the Southeast and highlight the dynamics that set the region apart from other U.S. venture markets. Now in its sixth year, the Landscape has become a trusted reference point for stakeholders across the region.
The 2025 edition builds on that foundation, surfacing not only data on firm activity but also the stories and signals that define today’s Southeastern start-up ecosystem.
Click here to review the listing for each state.
The Landscape also highlights four key trends:
- Trend 1: From New Fund Formation to Sustainable Deployment.
- Trend 2: Proliferation of Government-Backed Capital.
- Trend 3: Cross-City Collaboration and an “Abundance” Mindset.
- Trend 4: Shifting Sector Focus – Deep Tech, Defense, and Climate on the Rise.
You can read the full report at this link.
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