Two Israeli venture capital firms, Group 11 and NFX, were named to TIME magazine’s first-ever ranking of the top 350 firms shaping the U.S. venture capital industry in 2025. The firms were chosen from more than 10,000 reviewed for the list, which was compiled by TIME in partnership with international data firm Statista. The ranking evaluated firms across three categories: fundraising strength (35%), investment activity (35%), and exit and fund performance (30%).
Group 11, founded in 2012, has invested more than $700 million and manages assets with a fair market value above $1.4 billion. The firm has backed seven unicorns and holds a predominantly Israeli portfolio. “This is a great honor for the fund and for the Israeli high-tech industry,” Group 11 founder Dovi Frances said in a statement.
“For over a decade, Group 11 has stood out by being agile, pursuing bold opportunities, and investing heavily and fearlessly in Israeli entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship.”
Frances added that the ranking reflected “both the impressive results the fund delivers to its investors and our unique approach to portfolio companies – deep involvement, strategic connections, and operational knowledge that help them lead their categories.”
The list, announced on Aug. 19, excludes funds whose focus is primarily on growth equity, private equity, fund-of-funds, or venture debt, and emphasizes those deploying capital and delivering exits. The firms on the list are evaluated not merely on capital raised but also on a three-pillar framework designed to reflect breadth of activity and performance.
The methodology rests on three pillars: fundraising strength, investment capacity and activity, and exit and fund performance, with weights of 35%, 35%, and 30%, respectively. Data were gathered from desk research, firm applications, and third-party market intelligence providers, with more than 10,000 firms reviewed before narrowing to the top 350. Group 11, cited in coverage, lauded the recognition as a validation of a strategy that combines early-stage focus with deep portfolio involvement and AI-oriented opportunities.
The firm’s founder described the honor as a milestone for both the fund and its Israeli-tech emphasis. Here’s a summary of recent deals and fundraising activity by some of the notable firms:
Group 11, based in Los Angeles, has deployed over $600–660 million across multiple funds.
Israeli firms among top US VCs
Its investment strategy focuses on leveraging AI and fintech to transform industries, particularly in areas such as payments, financial services, enterprise software, and Insurtech. The firm has backed unicorns such as Tipalti (valued at $8.3 billion), Navan (valued at $9.2 billion), and Next Insurance, which was acquired in 2025 for $2.6 billion. Sands Capital Alternatives had a notable exit through its global ventures strategy.
Its portfolio company Brightflag, an AI-powered legal-operations platform, was acquired by Wolters Kluwer for about €425 million ($480 million), with the transaction closing in mid-June. Frazier Life Sciences successfully closed an oversubscribed $1.3 billion venture fund (FLS XII) focused on creating and investing in early-stage biotechnology startups, signaling strong investor demand for life-science innovation. Spark Capital led a $70 million first-close of a Series C funding round for the sports gaming platform Underdog, which is expected to exceed $100 million, valuing the company at over $1.2 billion.
RA Capital Management has taken active steps in the biotechnology space. In February, it led a $90 million Series B round in Bambusa Therapeutics, focused on bispecific antibody therapies. Earlier, AbbVie closed its $1.4 billion acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics, a portfolio company originally backed by RA Capital.
Flagship Pioneering announced a $3.6 billion fund raise aimed at building some 25 startups across human health, sustainability, and AI, setting aside $1 billion for strategic partnerships. Lux Capital, having closed a $1.15 billion fund in 2023, has launched a new initiative: a $100 million effort via its Lux Labs program to back early-stage academic research in biotech and AI. Battery Ventures in June agreed to acquire Enzo Biochem in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $37 million, representing a premium of 75% over the prior trading price.
Global Ventures, based in Princeton, N.J. with offices in New York City, specializes in deep tech, with a particular focus on human and planetary health. As of early 2024, it had approximately $1.5 billion in assets under management and nurtured nearly 1,000 startups in over 56 countries.
