Angels can be hard to find – and to spot. Some work in packs. Others seem to work in the wild. To make it a bit easier, we’ve tracked down of some of the top New York-based angel groups, and here they are, in no particular order:
Click here to see all 15 of the angel groups
1. New York Angels
New York Angels is the No. 1 most active angel group in the country. According to the website, more than $45 million has been invested in startups. Originally spawned from the New York New Media Association (founded in 1994), the group created an Angel Investor Program in 1997, which evolved into today’s New York Angels group. New York Angels membership is by invitation only, and members must invest at least $50,000 annually in early-stage technology deals. There is also a $3,500 annual fee for membership.
Date founded: January 2004
Chairmen/leaders: David S. Rose, founder and chairman emeritus; Brian Cohen, chairman
No. of angels: More than 75
Sector focus: Business products and services, IT services, consumer products and services, marketing/advertising, education, media and entertainment, electronics/instrumentation, medical devices and equipment, fashion, mobile, financial services, retailing/distribution, food/drink, software, gaming, sports, healthcare services, telecommunications, Internet/web services, travel
2. Georgetown Angels
Georgetown Angels was founded by two Georgetown University alums: Joshua Siegel and Andrew Romans. The group was originally founded to help Georgetown grads connect and share resources, but membership is not restricted to alumni. Described as “industry agnostic,” Georgetown Angels does not restrict itself to certain sectors, either. Instead, the group invests in five companies per quarter. The Georgetown Angels were previously featured on AlleyWatch.
Date founded: October 2012
Chairmen/leaders: Joshua Siegel, co-chairman; Andrew Romans, co-chairman
No. of angels: Not available
Sector focus: No specific focus; seeks the best five investments per quarter
3. ARC Angel Fund
ARC Angel Fund is a self-proclaimed hybrid model of part angel group, part venture fund. The group invests in various technology-based sectors in which the members have experience. The members actively participate in investment decisions because of their ranges in experience, from owning companies to investing in them.
Date founded: July 2010
Founding team: Edward G. Reitler, David J. Freschman, Michael J. Kelley, Joe Rubin
No. of angels: 79
Sector focus: Software, IT, Internet, tech-enabled services, business services, digital media, mobile, healthcare IT
4. Harvard Business School Alumni Angels
Harvard Business School Alumni Angels is an alumni organization that was started in California and has spread across the globe. The investors are all Harvard alumni. Members gain certain benefits in investment, educational seminars, networking, shared screening of companies and due diligence. Members have an annual fee of $175 per year or $395 for three years.
Date founded: 2007
Chairmen/leaders: David Teten, founder/chairman; Tom Cervantez, co-president; Sean Jacobsohn, co-president; Sajjad Masud, co-president
No. of angels: not available
Sector focus: business products and services, IT services, clean technology, Internet/web services, consumer products and services, media and entertainment, electronics/instrumentation, medical devices and equipment, gaming, mobile, healthcare services, software
5. STAR Angel Network
STAR Angel Network is a group of celebrities and professional athletes who invest in various startups. The investment aspect is unique because they’re presented with the top five opportunities per quarter and elect whether or not to invest. Because the members already have fanbases, return on invested capital can be leveraged through the members’ star power. The Star Angel Network was previously featured on AlleyWatch.
Date founded: April 2012
Chairmen/leaders: Erica Duignan Minnihan, executive director
No. of angels: 65
Sector focus: No specific focus, open to tech-enabled companies with some sort of intellectual property
6. Golden Seeds
Golden Seeds prides itself on empowering female entrepreneurs through its investment firm. It is the fourth largest angel network in the United States, according to the website. Golden Seeds has four primary business groups: one of the largest national investor networks, a family of venture capital funds, a training academy and an emerging private equity business. Above all else, the main thing Golden Seeds values is positive equity.
Date founded: 2004
Chairmen/leaders: Stephanie Newby, founder/managing director; Jo Ann Corkran, Loretta McCarthy, Peggy Wallace, Vanessa Wilson, managing directors
No. of angels: 250
Sector focus: No specific focus, companies should have a female founder who maintains a C-level operating position. Golden Seeds does not fund real estate projects, TV or radio programs, films, theater or art productions, or companies represented by brokers
7. 37 Angels
37 Angels is a group of investors trying to raise the number of female angel investors. According to the website, 13% of angel investors are women, and 37 Angels strives to increase that number to 50%. Along with investing, 37 Angels also offers a training program to teach others how to become angel investors. Members are required to invest in at least one company per year, with at least a $25,000 investment.
Date founded: 2012
Chairmen/leaders: Angela Lee, founder
No. of angels: Not available
Sector focus: No specific focus, companies must be a good fit between investors and entrepreneurs. 37 Angels does not require the businesses to be women-led.
8. TriState Ventures
The mission of TriState Ventures is to “identify investment opportunities from all sectors of the economy,” according to the website. TSV was founded in 1999 as a NYC-based angel investor group. TSV was expanded in 2007 into what it is today. Investment ranges between $25,000 and $500,000. The fund prides itself on connecting with seed-stage entrepreneurs who want to create sustainable businesses.
Date founded: 1999
Chairmen/leaders: Sam Klepfish, Larry Haddock, Steve Nagler, Stephanie McConnon
No. of angels: Not available
Sector focus: No specific focus but includes Internet, social media, life sciences, technology, healthcare and consumer products
9. Empire Angels
Empire Angels is a member-led group with a primary focus on fintech and other technology-based sectors. Empire Angels is structured through five committees: sourcing, evaluation, due diligence, investment and monitoring. Members make their own decisions on investments, but they also collaborate through the committees. Potential members must be in the Empire Angels’ peer group of young, New York-based professionals and must agree to make at least one investment per calendar year.
Date founded: 2012
Chairmen/leaders: Graham Gullans, co-founder and founding managing director; Christina Bechhold, co-founder and managing director
No. of angels: 30-35
Sector focus: FinTech, Payments, Lending and Trading Software, E-Commerce and Mobile Apps, Education and Enterprise Software
10. Topstone Angels
Topstone Angels is a newly-launched private investment group specializing in early- and mid-stage companies. Topstone was woman-founded and encourages female founders to apply for funding. The annual membership fee is $2,000, and members must invest in at least one company per year, with an investment of at least $10,000. Topstone also publishes a monthly Deal Book that has additional information on investment opportunities for members.
Date founded: 2012
Chairmen/leaders: Kristin Calve, founder and CEO
No. of angels: 25
Sector focus: No specific focus, encourages female founders
11. Jumpstart New Jersey Angel Network
After more than a decade since its founding, Jumpstart NJ Angel Network is the leading angel group in the Garden State. According to the website, “Jumpstart believes that wealth creation starts with a strong relationship between the angel investor and the entrepreneur.” Investors act as individuals rather than as a group based on his or her preferences. Jumpstart began investing in 2004 and has invested more than $33 million in 53 companies.
Date founded: November 2002
Chairmen/leaders: Stephen Dyer, chairman; Katherine O’Neill, executive director
No. of angels: 40
Sector focus: No specific focus, prefers proprietary technologies and companies that apply innovative technology to traditional business
12. Mid-Atlantic Bio Angels
Mid-Atlantic Bio Angels is a group of investors for various early-stage life science companies. Membership is by invitation only, and an annual membership fee is $1,000 but is waived if the member invests at least $25,000 in one or more companies. MABA also has a Steering Committee, which includes 12-15 MABA members who select and coach up to four companies being presented at each monthly meeting for potential investment.
Date founded: 2012
Chairmen/leaders: Yaniv Sneor, Bernard C. Rudnick, Stephen M. Goodman, co-founders
No. of angels: 60
Sector focus: Life science, pharmaceuticals, health devices, health apps
13. Long Island Angel Network
Long Island Angel Network is a technology- and innovation-focused investment group in which investors’ decisions are made individually. According to the website, “LIAN’s goal is to bring our region’s most exciting, promising early stage growth companies together with its most savvy investors.” Membership is by invitation only, and prospective members must attend a Network presentation meeting before being considered for membership.
Date founded: 2006
Chairmen/leaders: Michael Faltischek, board of directors chair; Russell Artzt, board of directors vice chair; Richard Lippe, board of directors chair emeritus
No. of angels: Not available
Sector focus: Software and IT, mobile apps, biotechnology, nanotechnology, medicine, energy, environmental technology
14. SoundBoard Angel Fund
SoundBoard Angel Fund is described as a group of founding investors who use the “SoundBoard” approach to leadership and entrepreneurship. SBAF has a unique strategic approach to investing and seeks to step outside the investment box to provide additional support to funded companies. Ideal candidates for SBAF are open to the 3 C’s: coaching, collaboration and change in the business and themselves.
Date founded: 2011
Chairmen/leaders: Jonathan Hakakian, managing director; Richard Magid, founding investor
No. of angels: Not available
Sector focus: Food/beverage, education, healthcare, consumer products, efficiency
15. Angel Investor Forum
Angel Investor Forum was founded to “create a dynamic investment environment where private investors and entrepreneurs can find mutual success,” according to their mission statement. AIF holds monthly meeting,s with 2-3 companies presenting their ideas. Membership fees are $1,000 per calendar year for those who have invested, and $1,500 for those who haven’t. AIF invests in companies in the Northeast, with a special interest in Connecticut-based companies.
Date founded: 2004
Chairmen/leaders: John Seiffer, president; Mary Anne Rooke, chairman
No. of angels: Not available
Sector focus: No specific focus, many are web-based or medical devices
