We need to raise a Series B to expand into Europe. Who are the best US-based VCs with a strong presence in London or Berlin?
Data as of Sep 21, 2026 · Based on 313 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
Data as of Sep 21, 2026 · Based on 313 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
When raising a Series B to expand into Europe, firms with active transatlantic infrastructure and strong offices in London or Berlin are best suited for the task. 
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Source | Citation share |
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 Which US VCs have partners on the ground in Europe? | Siftedhttps://sifted.eu/articles/uc-vcs-in-europe | 8% |
 50 European early-stage VC funds to invest in your startup | Vestbeehttps://www.vestbee.com/insights/articles/50-european-early-stage-vc-funds-to-invest-in-your-startup | 2% |
WINNING IN THE US | WHEN TO EXPAND | Index Ventureshttps://www.indexventures.com/winning-in-the-us/when-to-expand | 2% |
 17 Top London VC Firms (2026 Active List) & Market Datahttps://visible.vc/blog/venture-capital-firms-in-london/ | 2% |
 Top 20 Venture Capital Firms in the UK for Startups in 2025https://www.pitchdrive.com/academy/top-20-venture-capital-vc-firms-in-the-uk-for-startups-in-2025 | 2% |
 Lightspeed Venture Partners - Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightspeed_Venture_Partners | 2% |
Buy fisearch.co.uk – Premium Expired .co.uk Domain on GoDaddy | ExpiredDomains.comhttps://fisearch.co.uk/which-us-vcs-are-pitching-flags-in-london/ | 2% |
60 VC funds investing in European growth-stage companies | Vestbeehttps://www.vestbee.com/insights/articles/vc-funds-investing-in-european-growth-stage-companies | 1% |
Sapphire Ventures - Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapphire_Ventures | 1% |
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Raising a Series B with a US-based fund that has a dedicated, boots-on-the-ground presence in London or Berlin is a great strategy for international expansion. They bridge the gap between US scaling playbooks and local European networks, regulatory landscapes, and talent pools. The top US-based venture capital firms…
Raising a Series B with a US-based fund that has a dedicated, boots-on-the-ground presence in London or Berlin is a great strategy for international expansion. They bridge the gap between US scaling playbooks and local European networks, regulatory landscapes, and talent pools.
The top US-based venture capital firms with robust, active footprints in London and/or Berlin that heavily target Series A/B rounds include the following:
If you want to narrow this down, tell me:
I can help tailor which specific partners at these funds actively lead deals in your sector.
For a **Series B where the capital is also supposed to accelerate a European expansion**, I’d focus on U.S.-headquartered firms that have actual European investment teams—not just firms that occasionally invest in Europe. ### Shortlist VC | London | Berlin | Particularly relevant if…
For a Series B where the capital is also supposed to accelerate a European expansion, I’d focus on U.S.-headquartered firms that have actual European investment teams—not just firms that occasionally invest in Europe.
| VC | London | Berlin | Particularly relevant if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Catalyst | Strong | Strong | You want meaningful operations in both markets |
| Accel | Very strong | Strong network | London is your main European hub; SaaS, AI, fintech, consumer |
| Insight Partners | Strong | Strong network | You’re B2B software and need European GTM scaling |
| Bessemer Venture Partners | Strong | Network | Cloud/SaaS, AI, fintech, cybersecurity |
| Lightspeed | Strong | Strong network | AI, infrastructure, enterprise software, fintech |
| a16z | Strong | Network | AI, infrastructure, fintech, developer platforms |
| Battery Ventures | Strong/Europe | Network | Enterprise software and infrastructure |
This is the most literal match to your requirement. GC has offices in both London and Berlin, with investment professionals based locally. Its London team spans areas including healthcare, fintech, consumer and enterprise technology, while its Berlin operation has a particularly strong European/industrial orientation.
Why put them on the list: if you're establishing a genuine European organization—not merely selling into Europe—the local operating network can be particularly relevant.
Accel is one of the deepest U.S.–Europe bridges. It opened its London office in 2000 and has spent decades building a European network; Accel itself describes the firm's network as spanning London and numerous other European tech hubs, including Berlin.
Especially relevant for: SaaS, AI, fintech, marketplaces and consumer. If London is likely to be your European HQ, I'd make Accel one of the first conversations.
For a Series B, Insight is worth serious consideration if your expansion is primarily about enterprise sales, GTM and scaling an already-proven business. Its model is particularly oriented toward scaling software companies rather than simply providing early-stage capital.
Especially relevant for: B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, data infrastructure and enterprise software.
Bessemer has a dedicated London office and says it has been investing in Europe since 2004, with the London team established in 2021. Its broader platform is particularly deep in cloud, SaaS, AI and fintech.
Especially relevant for: B2B SaaS/cloud companies whose Series B thesis is partly "use European expansion to compound revenue."
I'd add Lightspeed if you're in AI, infrastructure, enterprise software or fintech. It has built a substantial European investing presence and is actively participating in major European technology financings; for example, current reporting has it involved alongside Index in a major UK AI financing.
Rather than treating these as a generic "top VC" list, I'd segment your outreach:
One important distinction: “strong presence” can mean an actual office, a dedicated European investment team, or simply portfolio/network coverage. Those aren't equivalent. GC and Bessemer, for example, have explicit physical London/Berlin or London footprints, while some other firms' Berlin strength is more network- or partner-driven.
If you give me your sector, current ARR/revenue, Series B target ($ amount), and whether London or Berlin is the intended HQ, I can turn this into a 10–15-firm target list with the relevant partners to approach and examples of comparable investments.
Why put them on the list: if you're establishing a genuine European organization—not merely selling into Europe—the local operating network can be particularly relevant.
Accel is one of the deepest U.S.–Europe bridges. It opened its London office in 2000 and has spent decades building a European network; Accel itself describes the firm's network as spanning London and numerous other European tech hubs, including Berlin.
Especially relevant for: SaaS, AI, fintech, marketplaces and consumer. If London is likely to be your European HQ, I'd make Accel one of the first conversations.
For a Series B, Insight is worth serious consideration if your expansion is primarily about enterprise sales, GTM and scaling an already-proven business. Its model is particularly oriented toward scaling software companies rather than simply providing early-stage capital.
Especially relevant for: B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, data infrastructure and enterprise software.
Bessemer has a dedicated London office and says it has been investing in Europe since 2004, with the London team established in 2021. Its broader platform is particularly deep in cloud, SaaS, AI and fintech.
Especially relevant for: B2B SaaS/cloud companies whose Series B thesis is partly "use European expansion to compound revenue."
I'd add Lightspeed if you're in AI, infrastructure, enterprise software or fintech. It has built a substantial European investing presence and is actively participating in major European technology financings; for example, current reporting has it involved alongside Index in a major UK AI financing.
Rather than treating these as a generic "top VC" list, I'd segment your outreach:
One important distinction: “strong presence” can mean an actual office, a dedicated European investment team, or simply portfolio/network coverage. Those aren't equivalent. GC and Bessemer, for example, have explicit physical London/Berlin or London footprints, while some other firms' Berlin strength is more network- or partner-driven.
Yes. For a **U.S.-based company raising a Series B specifically to enter Europe**, I’d prioritize investors that can give you both **U.S. fundraising credibility and genuinely local European help**—not just a partner who occasionally flies to London. ## My shortlist Rank | VC | London | Berlin | Best fit
Yes. For a U.S.-based company raising a Series B specifically to enter Europe, I’d prioritize investors that can give you both U.S. fundraising credibility and genuinely local European help—not just a partner who occasionally flies to London.
| Rank | VC | London | Berlin | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Catalyst | Strong | Strong | Broadest cross-border fit |
| 2 | Accel | Exceptional | Strong network | SaaS, AI, fintech, consumer |
| 3 | Insight Partners | Strong | Strong network | B2B SaaS, enterprise, GTM |
| 4 | Bessemer Venture Partners | Strong | Network | Cloud, SaaS, AI, fintech |
| 5 | Lightspeed Venture Partners | Strong | Strong | AI, infrastructure, software |
| 6 | Andreessen Horowitz | Strong | Network | AI, software, fintech, crypto |
| 7 | Battery Ventures | Strong | Network | Enterprise software/infrastructure |
| 8 | NEA | Europe | Network | Deep tech, healthcare, enterprise |
This would be my first call if you genuinely care about both London and Berlin. GC has physical offices in both cities and has built a substantial European investment team. Its Berlin presence also has unusually deep roots in the local ecosystem through the combination with La Famiglia.
Why: You get a U.S. multistage platform plus people actually operating in Europe. That's particularly valuable for recruiting, enterprise introductions, partnerships and eventually a European financing round.
Accel is arguably the strongest choice if London is your primary beachhead. It opened its London office in 2000 and has spent roughly 25 years building a European network. Accel specifically describes its European team as an integrated part of its global platform.
Why: Exceptional founder network and credibility in both Silicon Valley and Europe. I'd particularly like them for SaaS, fintech, AI and consumer.
For a company that's already demonstrated product-market fit and is raising to build a European sales organization, Insight becomes extremely interesting.
Why: Their value is less "here are some London introductions" and more systematizing international expansion—sales, recruiting, pricing, RevOps and subsequent growth financing.
Bessemer has a dedicated London presence and an explicit European investment team. Its European portfolio and focus skew heavily toward technology businesses, including cloud, AI and enterprise software.
I'd move Bessemer into the top 2–3 if you're B2B SaaS/cloud/AI and Europe will primarily be a sales expansion.
A particularly good candidate for AI, infrastructure, developer tools and fintech, where European technical talent and markets can be strategically important.
I'd split your outreach into two groups:
Core U.S. leads
European ecosystem leverage
There's also one firm I'd make an exception for despite your "U.S.-based" criterion: Index Ventures. Its U.S./European integration is unusually strong, and if London is central to the strategy, I'd absolutely take a meeting.
One important distinction: if Europe is merely your next sales territory, I'd overweight Insight/Bessemer/Accel. If you're actually building a European operating center, especially Berlin, I'd overweight General Catalyst because of its actual local footprint. GC currently lists both London and Berlin offices, while its Berlin team includes investors working directly on European industrial and technology themes.
If you give me your sector, current ARR, YoY growth, Series B target ($), and whether London or Berlin is the planned HQ, I can turn this into a ranked top-10 investor list with specific partners at each firm and the pitch angle I'd use for each.
Why: Exceptional founder network and credibility in both Silicon Valley and Europe. I'd particularly like them for SaaS, fintech, AI and consumer.
For a company that's already demonstrated product-market fit and is raising to build a European sales organization, Insight becomes extremely interesting.
Why: Their value is less "here are some London introductions" and more systematizing international expansion—sales, recruiting, pricing, RevOps and subsequent growth financing.
Bessemer has a dedicated London presence and an explicit European investment team. Its European portfolio and focus skew heavily toward technology businesses, including cloud, AI and enterprise software.
I'd move Bessemer into the top 2–3 if you're B2B SaaS/cloud/AI and Europe will primarily be a sales expansion.
When raising a Series B to expand into Europe, partnering with a US-based VC that has physical offices, established networks, and dedicated teams on the ground in London or Berlin can make all the difference for cross-border hiring, regulatory navigation, and scaling your European go-to-market motion. The top…
When raising a Series B to expand into Europe, partnering with a US-based VC that has physical offices, established networks, and dedicated teams on the ground in London or Berlin can make all the difference for cross-border hiring, regulatory navigation, and scaling your European go-to-market motion.
The top US-headquartered VCs with a robust, active presence in London and/or Berlin are profiled below:
To help narrow down the best fit, could you share:
When raising a Series B with the explicit goal of expanding into Europe, having a US-based VC with boots on the ground—and a robust, native network—in `London or Berlin` is a massive strategic advantage. They can help you navigate local hiring, cross-border compliance, European go-to-market strategies, and bridge the…
When raising a Series B with the explicit goal of expanding into Europe, having a US-based VC with boots on the ground—and a robust, native network—in London or Berlin is a massive strategic advantage. They can help you navigate local hiring, cross-border compliance, European go-to-market strategies, and bridge the next layer of capital.
The top US-based venture capital firms with dedicated local footprints and strong track records in London and/or Berlin include:
To help narrow down which of these firms (or specific partners) alignment-wise fits best, could you share:
For a **Series B focused on European expansion**, I would not optimize purely for “US-based.” The best partners are the firms that can help you **open London/Berlin offices, recruit leaders, land enterprise customers, navigate EU regulation, and raise the next round**. Several US firms have built meaningful European…
For a Series B focused on European expansion, I would not optimize purely for “US-based.” The best partners are the firms that can help you open London/Berlin offices, recruit leaders, land enterprise customers, navigate EU regulation, and raise the next round. Several US firms have built meaningful European platforms, and a few transatlantic firms are especially strong fits.
My shortlist:
| Rank | Firm | London/Berlin fit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | generalcatalyst.com | Strong London presence and Berlin presence | AI, enterprise, fintech, healthcare, marketplaces |
| 2 | accel.com | One of the deepest US–Europe bridges; long-standing London team | SaaS, infrastructure, fintech, consumer |
| 3 | insightpartners.com | Excellent European growth-stage network | B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, data, scaling GTM |
| 4 | bvp.com | Strong London presence and cloud/software expertise | Enterprise SaaS, AI, fintech |
| 5 | lsvp.com | Active European investing footprint | AI, consumer, marketplaces, software |
| 6 | a16z.com | Increasing London/EU coverage | Category-defining AI, infra, fintech |
| 7 | nea.com | Global platform with European network | Deep tech, healthcare, enterprise |
| 8 | frontline.vc | Specifically built around US↔Europe expansion | US companies entering Europe |
Parse Frontline## My top targets by scenario
I would start with:
London is particularly strong for enterprise sales talent, fintech, and international go-to-market.
I would move these up:
Berlin has a particularly strong startup ecosystem, but for a Series B many companies still benefit from pairing Berlin operating depth with larger London-based growth capital networks.
Probably the cleanest fit if Europe expansion is central to the investment thesis. Their Berlin/London footprint gives them unusually strong local context.
One of the best “US company → European scale-up” investors. They understand both Silicon Valley fundraising expectations and European operating realities.
Especially compelling if your Series B is about turning product-market fit into repeatable international sales. Their operating model is built around scaling companies.
Worth including even though it is not a classic US mega-fund. Their explicit focus is helping companies cross the Atlantic, including US companies making Europe their next growth market.
If you are open to Europe-headquartered investors, I would add:
Assuming a US company with traction (roughly $5M–$30M ARR, enterprise software/AI/SaaS):
If you share:
…I can narrow this to a partner-level target list (specific investors, relevant portfolio overlap, and likely fit).
Worth including even though it is not a classic US mega-fund. Their explicit focus is helping companies cross the Atlantic, including US companies making Europe their next growth market.
If you are open to Europe-headquartered investors, I would add:
Assuming a US company with traction (roughly $5M–$30M ARR, enterprise software/AI/SaaS):
If you share:
Expanding into Europe via a Series B from a US-headquartered VC with boots on the ground in London or Berlin is a well-established play. Several prominent US firms have built robust, local European investment teams rather than just dropping in from Menlo Park or New York. Top US-based VCs with a strong physical and…
Expanding into Europe via a Series B from a US-headquartered VC with boots on the ground in London or Berlin is a well-established play. Several prominent US firms have built robust, local European investment teams rather than just dropping in from Menlo Park or New York.
Top US-based VCs with a strong physical and operational presence in London and/or Berlin include:
To help narrow down the best specific partner fit, could you share:
Yes. For a **Series B where European expansion is a core part of the story**, I’d prioritize U.S.-origin firms that have actual investing teams on the ground—not just a London mailing address. ### My shortlist VC | London | Berlin | Best fit | My take
Yes. For a Series B where European expansion is a core part of the story, I’d prioritize U.S.-origin firms that have actual investing teams on the ground—not just a London mailing address.
| VC | London | Berlin | Best fit | My take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Catalyst | ✅ | ✅ | Enterprise, fintech, healthcare, AI, deep tech | Best overall |
| Lightspeed Venture Partners | ✅ | ✅* | AI, SaaS, infra, fintech, consumer | Excellent cross-border choice |
| Bessemer Venture Partners | ✅ | — | B2B SaaS, cloud, cyber, AI | Top choice for enterprise software |
| Insight Partners | ✅ | — | SaaS, software, growth | Especially strong for a scaling Series B |
| Andreessen Horowitz | ✅ | — | AI, infra, fintech, software | Huge U.S. platform + London reach |
| Accel | ✅ | — | SaaS, fintech, consumer, marketplaces | Exceptional U.S./Europe bridge |
| Battery Ventures | ✅ | — | Enterprise software, infrastructure | Worth adding for B2B |
| NEA | Europe | — | Enterprise, healthcare, deep tech | Good if you want a very large platform |
*Lightspeed has a London office and Berlin-based partners; its European operation explicitly spans London, Berlin and Paris.
This is the cleanest fit if Europe is strategically important rather than just a sales market. GC has offices in both London and Berlin, with investors actually based there. Its London team covers areas including healthcare, fintech, consumer and enterprise technology, while its Berlin team has been building a particularly strong European presence.
Why I'd pursue them: They can help with U.S. capital and European hiring, partnerships, customers and local ecosystem access.
Lightspeed has invested heavily in Europe, with a London office and partners in Berlin and Paris. Its European portfolio includes companies such as Helsing, Mistral, Personio, Vinted, Grafana and Matillion.
I'd move them toward #1 if you're AI, infrastructure, developer tools, enterprise software or fintech.
Bessemer has a genuine London investing operation and has specifically expanded its European strategy to include growth-stage SaaS, with focus areas including cloud, fintech, cybersecurity, gaming, robotics and AI. The firm says it has made 50+ investments across Europe and has 13 partners who have backed European companies.
If you're selling to enterprises and your Series B is being justified by European revenue expansion, I'd put Bessemer very high.
Insight is particularly compelling if you're beyond the "promising startup" phase and can show strong ARR growth, enterprise customers and a repeatable go-to-market engine. Their European presence makes them useful for scaling rather than simply funding the next 18 months.
I'd target them if you're in AI, infrastructure, fintech, developer platforms or another large U.S./European category where their network and platform can materially accelerate expansion.
Accel is arguably one of the strongest bridges between the U.S. and European startup ecosystems. For a company that wants to become genuinely international, their European network can be more valuable than simply having a U.S. megafund on the cap table.
Assuming this is a typical tech Series B:
Tier 1:
Tier 2: 6. a16z 7. Battery 8. NEA
But I'd change that ranking substantially based on your vertical.
For example:
The key question I'd use in the pitch isn't "Who has a London office?" but "Which U.S. investor can give us a partner in the room in New York/SF and a partner/network in London or Berlin when we need to hire, sell and raise the next round?"
If you tell me your sector, current ARR/revenue, growth rate, U.S. HQ, and whether London or Berlin is the primary European hub, I can narrow this to 10 specific partners to approach, what each is likely to care about, and the best warm-intro path for each.
Why I'd pursue them: They can help with U.S. capital and European hiring, partnerships, customers and local ecosystem access.
Lightspeed has invested heavily in Europe, with a London office and partners in Berlin and Paris. Its European portfolio includes companies such as Helsing, Mistral, Personio, Vinted, Grafana and Matillion.
I'd move them toward #1 if you're AI, infrastructure, developer tools, enterprise software or fintech.
Bessemer has a genuine London investing operation and has specifically expanded its European strategy to include growth-stage SaaS, with focus areas including cloud, fintech, cybersecurity, gaming, robotics and AI. The firm says it has made 50+ investments across Europe and has 13 partners who have backed European companies.
If you're selling to enterprises and your Series B is being justified by European revenue expansion, I'd put Bessemer very high.
Insight is particularly compelling if you're beyond the "promising startup" phase and can show strong ARR growth, enterprise customers and a repeatable go-to-market engine. Their European presence makes them useful for scaling rather than simply funding the next 18 months.
I'd target them if you're in AI, infrastructure, fintech, developer platforms or another large U.S./European category where their network and platform can materially accelerate expansion.
Accel is arguably one of the strongest bridges between the U.S. and European startup ecosystems. For a company that wants to become genuinely international, their European network can be more valuable than simply having a U.S. megafund on the cap table.
Raising a Series B with the explicit goal of expanding into Europe makes US-based VCs who have physical footprints and deep networks in hubs like London or Berlin ideal partners. They bridge the gap between US scaling playbooks and on-the-ground European hiring, regulatory navigation, and customer acquisition. Top…
Raising a Series B with the explicit goal of expanding into Europe makes US-based VCs who have physical footprints and deep networks in hubs like London or Berlin ideal partners. They bridge the gap between US scaling playbooks and on-the-ground European hiring, regulatory navigation, and customer acquisition.
Top US-headquartered VCs with active Series B focus and strong local presences in London, Berlin, or broader Europe include:
Alternative (Transatlantic-First) Mention: Index Ventures
Could you share your specific sector (e.g., B2B SaaS, fintech, deep tech/AI) and your target initial ticket size for the Series B so I can narrow down which of these partners is the best fit?
Yes. For a **U.S.-based company raising a Series B specifically to expand into Europe**, I’d prioritize VCs that can do more than write the check: they should have partners on the ground, European hiring/customer networks, and experience helping U.S. companies establish a London or Berlin operation. ### My shortlist…
Yes. For a U.S.-based company raising a Series B specifically to expand into Europe, I’d prioritize VCs that can do more than write the check: they should have partners on the ground, European hiring/customer networks, and experience helping U.S. companies establish a London or Berlin operation.
| VC | London | Berlin | Series B fit | Why I’d target them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Catalyst | ✓ | ✓ | Excellent | Best literal fit for a London + Berlin expansion; substantial European operating footprint |
| Accel | ✓ | Strong network | Excellent | One of the deepest U.S.–Europe bridges; dedicated London team since 2000 |
| Insight Partners | ✓/Europe | Network | Exceptional for B2B | Particularly strong at scaling software companies internationally and building European GTM |
| Bessemer Venture Partners | ✓ | Network | Excellent | Strong cloud/SaaS/AI/fintech expertise and a dedicated London team |
| Lightspeed Venture Partners | ✓/Europe | Network | Very good | Strong U.S. platform plus European investing, especially AI/enterprise/fintech |
| a16z | ✓ | Network | Very good | Huge U.S. network plus London presence; compelling for category-defining software/AI |
| NEA | Europe | Network | Very good | Broad capital base and useful for companies anticipating later growth rounds |
| Battery Ventures | ✓/Europe | Network | Excellent | Particularly interesting for enterprise software and infrastructure |
GC is the cleanest match to your exact requirement: it has physical offices in both London and Berlin, rather than merely having investors who cover Europe.
Its European strategy is explicitly built around supporting companies across their lifecycle and helping founders scale internationally. The combination with Berlin-based La Famiglia also gives it unusually deep German/European relationships.
Best for: AI, enterprise, fintech, healthcare, industrial/defense; particularly strong if you're actually building a meaningful German operation.
Accel has had a London office since 2000 and has built a substantial European investment organization over 25+ years.
Importantly for a Series B, Accel now has London-based investors explicitly focused on late-stage opportunities, including AI, enterprise software and fintech.
Best for: SaaS, AI, fintech, marketplaces, consumer tech. My take: If London is your primary beachhead, I'd put Accel at or near #1.
Insight is especially interesting if the European expansion is fundamentally a GTM/revenue expansion rather than simply opening an engineering office.
Insight says nearly 60% of its portfolio companies over the preceding decade had expanded into Europe, and it has developed a specific playbook around helping North American companies make that transition.
Best for: B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, enterprise software, infrastructure, data. My take: For a $20–50M Series B in software, I'd make Insight one of the first calls.
Bessemer has a dedicated London office and has deliberately expanded its European focus into growth-stage SaaS, alongside cloud, fintech, cybersecurity, gaming, AI and robotics.
It's particularly attractive if you want a U.S. investor that can remain useful as you move from Series B toward later-stage growth.
Best for: SaaS/cloud, AI, cybersecurity, fintech.
I'd put Lightspeed high on the list if your company is AI/infra-heavy. Its U.S. platform combined with its European investing activity can give you both sides of the expansion.
Worth targeting if you're building something that could become a category leader, particularly in AI, infrastructure, software or fintech. The value proposition is somewhat different from Insight: less "here's the European expansion playbook" and more massive U.S. network + European presence + recruiting/customer/strategic leverage.
If you told me nothing else about the company, I'd make the first wave:
GC → Accel → Insight → Bessemer → Lightspeed → a16z
But I'd change the ordering based on your expansion strategy:
One important nuance: Index Ventures deserves to be on the list even though it doesn't cleanly satisfy your "U.S.-based" criterion. For a transatlantic company, its London/SF setup makes it arguably one of the most natural investors for this exact situation.
If you give me your sector, current ARR, YoY growth, Series B target ($), and whether London or Berlin is the intended HQ, I can turn this into a ranked 10–15-investor target list with the specific partners I'd approach, relevant portfolio companies, and the pitch angle I'd use for each.
Its European strategy is explicitly built around supporting companies across their lifecycle and helping founders scale internationally. The combination with Berlin-based La Famiglia also gives it unusually deep German/European relationships.
Best for: AI, enterprise, fintech, healthcare, industrial/defense; particularly strong if you're actually building a meaningful German operation.
Accel has had a London office since 2000 and has built a substantial European investment organization over 25+ years.
Importantly for a Series B, Accel now has London-based investors explicitly focused on late-stage opportunities, including AI, enterprise software and fintech.
Best for: SaaS, AI, fintech, marketplaces, consumer tech. My take: If London is your primary beachhead, I'd put Accel at or near #1.
Insight is especially interesting if the European expansion is fundamentally a GTM/revenue expansion rather than simply opening an engineering office.
Insight says nearly 60% of its portfolio companies over the preceding decade had expanded into Europe, and it has developed a specific playbook around helping North American companies make that transition.
Best for: B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, enterprise software, infrastructure, data. My take: For a $20–50M Series B in software, I'd make Insight one of the first calls.
Bessemer has a dedicated London office and has deliberately expanded its European focus into growth-stage SaaS, alongside cloud, fintech, cybersecurity, gaming, AI and robotics.
It's particularly attractive if you want a U.S. investor that can remain useful as you move from Series B toward later-stage growth.
Best for: SaaS/cloud, AI, cybersecurity, fintech.
I'd put Lightspeed high on the list if your company is AI/infra-heavy. Its U.S. platform combined with its European investing activity can give you both sides of the expansion.
Worth targeting if you're building something that could become a category leader, particularly in AI, infrastructure, software or fintech. The value proposition is somewhat different from Insight: less "here's the European expansion playbook" and more massive U.S. network + European presence + recruiting/customer/strategic leverage.
If you told me nothing else about the company, I'd make the first wave:
GC → Accel → Insight → Bessemer → Lightspeed → a16z
But I'd change the ordering based on your expansion strategy:
