The intrinsic optoelectronic properties of heteroleptic bipyridyl Cu(I) complexes bearing functionalized acceptor subunits have been investigated by density functional theory and time-dependent DFT. The Cu(I) complexes exhibit distorted trigonal-pyramidal geometries and typical metal-to-ligand electron transfer characteristics at the long wavelength region. Replacing carboxylic acid with cyanoacrylic acid in acceptor subunits stabilizes the LUMO levels, thus lowering the HOMOLUMO energy gaps and facilitating favorable donor-to-acceptor intramolecular electron transfer and charge separation. Introduction of heteroaromatic groups and cyanoacrylic acid significantly improves the light-harvesting capability of the complexes. Our results highlight the effect of functionalized acceptors on the optoelectronic properties of bipyridyl Cu(I) complexes and provide a fresh perspective on screening of efficient sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells.