Investor Groups

The following investors, investor groups, angel groups, VCs, and family offices have agreed to fast-track (with some variations, conditions and specific terms for each of the organizations) the top 10 category winners, including the grand finalist winner, to their screening or equivalent process.  We believe that this opportunity provides greater value, above and beyond any monetary prizes allowing the winners several opportunities to raise capital.

Pismo Ventures - National Venture Plan Competition
Tech Coast Angels

Tech Coast Angels

TCA is a catalyst in helping to build Southern California’s economy

Tech Coast Angels is actively seeking great startups to fund. Providing more than just money, with its 400+ members, TCA brings connections, knowledge, mentoring and operational assistance to bold early-stage entrepreneurs with game-changing ideas. Let us help you to turn your vision into a sustainable and successful business.

  • One of the largest and most active angel organizations in the U.S.
  • Over 400 members in 5 regional Networks
  • Members with diverse industry backgrounds
  • Entrepreneurs with start-up experience
  • We have invested in over 400 companies
  • Our members have invested over $230 million
  • Our portfolio companies have gone on to attract over $1.7 billion in additional investment capital
Okapi Venture Capital

Okapi Venture Capital

Okapi Capital provides long-term capital and management support to technology start-ups. We take pride in partnering with exceptionally talented entrepreneurs and operational executives to develop their emerging businesses.

We are currently managing three funds and invest in technology startups along the Tech Coast that is southern California during their proverbial “seed phase”.

Our first fund was a “field of dreams” fund in that we were told by a small group of local business leaders “if you build it, we will invest”. Well, we shared their vision for a seed and early-stage VC fund focused on information technology and life science investments so we did and they did and the rest, as they say, is history having closed our first fund in May 2006.

Expert Dojo

Expert Dojo

Expert DOJO improves the success rate of early-stage entrepreneurs with investment, foundation, influence, community, branding, marketing, communication, mindset. Based in Santa Monica, Expert DOJO is the fastest growing start-up community in Southern California. Entrepreneurs love Expert DOJO and the power of our startup community. All entrepreneurs in our programs have agreed to support the whole community as we get stronger together.
Blue Venture Fund

Blue Venture Fund

The Blue Venture Fund is a unique collaboration between BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) companies, the BlueCross BlueShield Association (BCBSA), and Sandbox, to which thirty-six BCBS companies have committed over $800 million across four funds. The Blue Venture Fund invests in promising emerging companies of strategic relevance to Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plans and provides the portfolio with access to BCBS companies to deploy innovation at scale. Sandbox is an independent company that provides healthcare-related investment management exclusively for the Blue Venture Fund.

Sandbox Industries is a venture capital firm that works at the intersection between entrepreneurial thinking and large corporate enterprises. Its Collaborative Investment Vehicles drive both investments in and partnerships with startups that address strategic priorities of its Corporate Limited Partners.

Sierra Angels

Sierra Angels

Sierra Angels is Nevada’s premier angel investment group founded in North Lake Tahoe in 1997. Our Membership consists of 50+ highly experienced executives and entrepreneurs who provide funding, mentoring and strategic introductions for meritorious early-stage technology companies primarily in Nevada and California. We also proactively collaborate with other angel groups throughout the Western States. To date, our Members have funded approximately 100 companies in a wide range of industries, including software, mobile, social media, IT, IoT, robotics, AI, cybersecurity, health tech, clean tech, among others. Sierra Angels is a founding member, and on the Board of Angel Capital Association (ACA).
New Mexico Angels

New Mexico Angels

For more than 20 years, New Mexico Angels has been investing in New Mexico-based high growth potential early stage and seed companies. The New Mexico Angels is not a venture fund, and it does not make direct investments; it does, however, serve as an intermediary between its members and potential investment opportunities — with members making direct investments through the vehicle of New Mexico Angels.

Emergent VC

Emergent VC

We invest in category-defining startups at seed and early stages. We partner with ambitious entrepreneurs on a rapid growth trajectory and the desire to make an immense impact. Our targeted inputs, growth playbook and community of successful mentors enable our portfolio entrepreneurs to get to the next major milestone faster.

The Emergent team is based in Silicon Valley, and we invest in Intelligent Software startups targeting the US as a primary market. We like partnering with companies that build products in an emerging tech hub and leverage Silicon Valley to create a world-class go-to-market engine. We have backed companies originating from – or with engineering teams in – tech hubs such as Bangalore, Atlanta, Austin, and Eastern Europe.

Bellingham Angel Investors

Bellingham Angel Investors

Founded in 2005, bai is composed of a maximum number of 50 accredited investors who share a common interest in seeking investment opportunities in early or middle stage companies in the Pacific Northwest & British Columbia, giving preference to Whatcom, Skagit & Island counties. In addition to investing individually, participants in bai are eligible, but not required, to invest in an associated but legally separate fund, which leverages the processes of bai—including deal flow, screening and due diligence—and seeks to assemble a diversified portfolio of high-growth startups.
Pasadena Angels

Pasadena Angels

We invest in category-defining startups at seed and early stages. We partner with ambitious entrepreneurs on a rapid growth trajectory and the desire to make an immense impact. Our targeted inputs, growth playbook and community of successful mentors enable our portfolio entrepreneurs to get to the next major milestone faster.

The Emergent team is based in Silicon Valley, and we invest in Intelligent Software startups targeting the US as a primary market. We like partnering with companies that build products in an emerging tech hub and leverage Silicon Valley to create a world-class go-to-market engine. We have backed companies originating from – or with engineering teams in – tech hubs such as Bangalore, Atlanta, Austin, and Eastern Europe.

With targeted inputs from our partnership, we will help your startup get to the next level faster. In addition to providing strategic inputs, making introductions and being a sounding board, we provide targeted inputs in three key areas – Product-Market Fit Refinement,

TiE SoCal Angels

TiE SoCal Angels

TiE SoCal Angels was launched in Q3 2018 with the intention of bringing together promising early stage companies and exposing them to investors and serial entrepreneurs. We have successfully organized sold out pitch events and have had more than 50 companies participate in our quarterly events.

TiE SoCal Angels and participating TiE partners have invested more than $ 1 million since the inception of this new initiative (past 12 months). One of our participant companies had the opportunity to pitch and get funding from TiE Global Angels and more are in the pipeline.

TiE SoCal Angels is attracting entrepreneurs, companies looking to get funding, investment partners companies, accelerators, incubators and individual investors.

TiE SoCal Angels and TiE Southern California chapter would like to invite you to join TiE SoCal chapter and participate in our regular events. If you represent a company looking for funding, do contact us.

OSEA Angel Investors

OSEA Angel Investors

OSEA Angel Investors is a membership-based private angel investment group focused on and driven by women executives and entrepreneurs with very diverse and successful backgrounds. We provide a forum for the introduction of emerging companies to potential women angel investors and offer access to meaningful education regarding the vetting and investment process. Educated entree to investment opportunities will allow our members possibilities to diversify their investment portfolios.

We inspire women to learn more about the angel investing world by offering education and access to early stage companies looking for investors.

OSEA Angel Investors supports local charities and causes that are important and meaningful to its members and the local entrepreneurial community.

Unicorn Venture Partners

Unicorn Venture Partners

Unicorn Venture Partners is a venture capital fund focused on hands-on engagement with our founders and portfolio companies. We started as entrepreneurs, operators, and finance geeks. We found success with more than $2 billion in exits and several billion more as investors and financial advisers. Our operational and transactional experience, in addition to, our vast network allows us to invest confidently across multiple industries. Our network and reputation provide us a rich and diverse, and often exclusive, source of deal flow.
Mehta Ventures

Mehta Ventures

Mehta Ventures is an independent, privately-owned boutique family office that invests in early stage startups. Mehta Ventures has first cheque investing capacity for founders with relevant industry backgrounds. We also provide comprehensive startup, estate and crypto co-investment opportunities to our trusted network of HNI families globally.

The family has a significant exposure to India investments, having invested in over 100 Indian startups. We aim to add value to our startups by providing unparalleled access to the India market through of our deep network, which has been built over the past 30 years of technology entrepreneurship and investments. Likewise, we provide warm corporate and family office introductions for later stage funding. All in all, the family has invested in 140+ startups by investing in a combination of direct and indirect investment vehicles.

To summarize, Mehta Ventures provides capital, functional expertise, and the right connections to help early stage ventures build, grow, and scale their business. For entrepreneurs that look to leverage the experience, network, and the expertise of our team and family, we are always ready to offer our help.

Band of Angels

Band of Angels

The Band reviews more than 1,000 deals per year. In 2019, the Band members invested in 27 startups. Obviously this is a competitive dynamic. Nevertheless, our goal is to provide as much value as we can to all companies that pitch the Band. Many companies that do not progress further in our process still benefit from it; especially those that make it to a Deal Dinner presentation. Reflecting the diverse career expertise of its membership the Band invests in ALL categories of seed technology deals and life sciences. We do not invest in real estate, restaurants, retail, or funds, but we do invest in agtech, blockchain, energy, fintech, hardware, life sciences/medtech, and software. Typically, the Band’s investment is the first “organized” money into the company, either as a series Seed or Series A.
Alliance of Angels

Alliance of Angels

We are the largest and most active angel group in the Pacific Northwest. Each year, we invest $10M+ into 20+ companies. Since 1997, we have invested $100M+ into 200+ companies and celebrated 40+ exits generating more than a billion dollars of returns. Our network of 140+ active angel investors is further augmented by a $6.6M seed fund.

We are veteran entrepreneurs or senior business leaders from companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Starbucks. We provide a network of relationships and a wealth of experience in building and growing companies.

Nearly every one of us has written a check in the last 2 years. We are committed to connecting our entrepreneurs with the resources they need to turbocharge their startup.

We know entrepreneurs are busy, and that raising capital one angel at a time is a little like herding cats. We connect the best entrepreneurs with 140+ angels at once, and target to provide entrepreneurs with an investment decision within 6 weeks.

Cove Fund

Cove Fund

The Cove Fund is a family of seed-stage venture capital funds that provides startup funding for promising new Southern California ventures. The Fund is headquartered in “The Cove” at UC Irvine Applied Innovation, a centrally located and vibrant gathering place for entrepreneurs, innovators and investors in the Southern California startup ecosystem.

The $5.6M Cove Fund I began investing in 2015 and currently has 16 companies in its portfolio. Cove Fund II launched in early 2018 with $14.2M in capital. The funds invest in early stage technology and life science companies that demonstrate the potential to address large markets with highly differentiated products and services, and that can achieve significant value-creating inflection points with their seed funding.

Wolverine Angels

Wolverine Angels

Wolverine Angels was created to connect investors, entrepreneurs, and executives in the University of Michigan community. Michigan alumni, professors, and family members are supporting entrepreneurs as mentors and investors.

Our investment syndicate invests in the best investment opportunities, regardless of affiliation to Michigan.

Our goal is to support entrepreneurial programs at U of M by donating a portion of future investment profits.

Alexandria Venture Investments

Alexandria Venture Investments

Alexandria Venture Investments, founded in 1996, is the strategic venture capital arm of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE). With nearly $1B under management, Alexandria Venture Investments has been recognized as the most active new investor in biopharma deals by Silicon Valley Bank since 2017. Alexandria Venture Investments provides long-term strategic investment capital to innovative life science, technology, and agtech entities developing breakthrough technologies and therapies aimed at advancing human health by curing disease and improving nutrition. Based on its experience and in-depth understanding of the life science and technology industries, its long-term relationships with leading investors, and its world-class international scientific advisory network, Alexandria Venture Investments is uniquely positioned to fund seed-, early- and growth-stage life science companies.

Launchpad Venture Group

Launchpad Venture Group

Launchpad Venture Group is a nationally-recognized leader among angel networks in providing human and financial capital to help entrepreneurs build successful companies. Our members represent a cohesive network of talented professionals who are active angel investors committed to our culture of learning, service-orientation, mutual responsibility and respect. We develop and deploy best-in-class processes and strive for diversity across our membership and our investment portfolio.
Berkeley Angel Network

Berkeley Angel Network

The Berkeley Angel Network is a group of angel investors who are alumni, faculty and former faculty of UC Berkeley. The mission of the Berkeley Angel Network is to build an angel investor community among the alumni and faculty of UC Berkeley, and to improve the collective skills and knowledge of this angel investor community through activities related to angel investing.

As many of us have experience in growing successful companies, investing in successful companies and/or both of the above, we strive to promote entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education within UC Berkeley and the alumni community.

E8 Angels

E8 Angels

E8 is an international, Seattle-based community whose mission is to accelerate the transition to a prosperous and cleaner world by investing in and fostering emerging cleantech enterprises.

Its flexible, investor-centric platform supports different types of investors and asset classes, including direct angel for-profit investing, pooled investing in expertly managed VC funds such as the E8 Fund and via syndication.

In the future E8 looks to develop pathways for anyone who believes in the power of entrepreneurship and technology and wonders what more they can do to mitigate climate change to share in this mission.

Since 2006, E8, a 501(c)(6) membership organization, has facilitated more than $40M in investment in 98 companies in companies across the US and Canada.

Through investment pitches, collective due diligence and learning opportunities, the E8 community unites interest, passion and expertise from the Northwest and nationally.

Rockies Venture Club

Rockies Venture Club

RVC holds over 140 events per year throughout Colorado and now virtually via Zoom. These include monthly pitch events, Angel Accelerators, HyperAccelerators, RVC Class Clusters, Angel investor forums, group mastermind meetings, and two major conferences that bring together over 300 community members each.

At RVC we believe that the best investments get done when investors and entrepreneurs have a strong understanding of how angel investing and venture capital. We have developed a curriculum of 16 separate classes that are packed with information that is relevant to investors and entrepreneurs no matter what their experience level is. The classes are offered individually and through the RVC Class Cluster series where 2-3 workshops are offered back-to-back in one sitting. Each quarter, RVC offers the entirety of its curriculum so new members can dive right in!

RVC is one of the most active Angel groups in the country! RVC funds 25-30 companies annually. The club runs a professional due diligence team that produces reports that are best in breed and allow RVC to syndicate with other Angel Groups across the U.S. Additionally, RVC hosts multiple investor forums across the front range, effectively pooling together a greater amount of wisdom and capital in Colorado.

Capital Thirteen

Capital Thirteen

We are an Orange County-based alternative investment firm. Since our founding in 2019, we have focused on opportunistic real estate and early-stage angel investments. We only invest our own capital allowing us to make founder friendly investments in what we want, when we want.

Our team’s experience consists of operating the largest public homebuilders as CEO, sitting on boards of enterprise and SMB level companies, and investing and/or operating early stage technology startups.

In addition to cash, we leverage our years of operations, board experience, and network to provide advisory services to our portfolio and others.

Stage Venture Partners

Stage Venture Partners

Stage Venture Partners is a seed venture capital firm that invests in emerging software technology for B2B markets.

Founded in 2015 by two entrepreneurial partners, Stage is designed to deliver active, thoughtful investment and exceptional performance. One of us is a successful international operator who has built global businesses. The other is an experienced investor and venture capitalist with a strong track record.

Stage VP invests in founders building cutting edge software technology for enterprise clients. Founders, especially those solving hard problems that matter, seek us out for our unique expertise, and our alignment with their daring vision. We have the conviction to be first; often the first institutional investor on the cap table and the first to identify new technological trends.

We are not driven by thesis, geography, or sector. Instead, we seek out recurring revenue earned at the frontiers of what’s possible in enterprise software.

Venture Well

Venture Well

We envision a world in which science and technology innovators have the support, training, and access to networks and resources they need to solve the world’s most difficult problems.

VentureWell is on a mission to cultivate a pipeline of inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs driven to solve the world’s biggest challenges and to create lasting impact.

We foster collaboration among the best minds from research labs, classrooms, and beyond to advance innovation and entrepreneurship education and to provide unique opportunities for STEM students and researchers to fully realize their potential to improve the world.

Hub Angels

Hub Angels

The Hub Angels began meeting in March 2000 with the notion of matching active, early stage investors with technology-driven, start-up companies. With a focus on the greater Boston area known as the “Hub” by Boston locals the Hub Angel Investment Group developed its present methodology and structure of investing which includes a venture fund with co-investment rights for the individual Members of the Fund. Currently there are nearly 200 Members in Hub Funds I, II, III, IV, V, and VI.

The Hub Funds invest across industry sectors as part of a diversification strategy, but with a focus on health care/life sciences, IT/Internet/communications, and technology domains. Hub has invested in more than 40 companies, with the Hub Group and its members investing more than $40 million. Venture firms that have participated in financing Hub’s portfolio of companies include: DFJ Gotham, Greenhill, Javelin, First Round, Norwich, Rock Maple, Brook, Thomas Weisel, Fidelity, BCVP, Bessemer, Blue Chip, VCFNE, Seed, Origin, Intel, TL, Singapore EDB, Venrock, Commonwealth, Stage 1, Long River, Anchor Capital, Project11, Supply Chain Ventures, River Hollow Partners, Polaris, Foundation Capital, SAPPHIRE, Atlas, Raine Capital, GGV, InterWest, Nauta Capital, Laconia, 645 Ventures, Pallasite, and FlagShip. Collectively this constitutes nearly $1 billion of invested capital.

Praetorian Venture Partners

Praetorian Venture Partners

Yes, Praetorian Venture Partners, LLC has access, as well as the ability to secure Venture Capital, for those Companies who are READY to receive capital. To this point, Praetorian Venture Partners, LLC specializes in serving two distinct segments of the venture capital market:

Those who are PROVIDING various forms of Capital
Those who are SEEKING various forms of Capital
To those reading, YOU are either….

1) A Provider of Venture Capital, (Venture Capital Firm decision maker, Hedge Fund Manager, Wealth Management Advisor, and / or Angel Investment Group Principal / Angel Investor) OR 2) A Business Principal, seeking capital (Owner, Founder, Entrepreneur and / or CEO-CFO)

Titan Angels

Titan Angels

Titan Angels is an angel investment fund based in Orange County. The fund uses its strong network and affiliations to locate and fund very early stage companies and ideas. We look for investors that look beyond the numbers and for investors who love entrepreneurship. Our founding team have all been involved in start-ups. We enjoy running profitable companies and being successful; and we take great pride and pleasure in helping nurture entrepreneurs be successful.
Emerging Ventures

Emerging Ventures

Early stage start-ups creating or using emerging technologies to provide better solutions which were previously not possible.
“Early Stage” is not R&D or “idea” stage, but solid companied with “real” product and some form of traction. In most cases they have actual revenue (i.e. paid pilots, live Beta, etc.).

We are not looking to fund ideas or moonshots from this fund. That’s the role of non-profit labs, incubators, and other programs and fund.
Current Emerging Technologies include (but are not limited to) the fields of:

  • Ag-tech (agriculture)
  • Space-tech
  • Robotics
  • Drones
  • IoT (Internet of Things)
  • Autonomous vehicle tech
  • AI/ML (Machine Learning)
  • VR/AR (Virtual and Augmented reality)
  • Bio-tech
The Artemis Fund

The Artemis Fund

The Artemis Fund invests in an overlooked asset class that is simply outperforming. We are one of a handful of female-led venture funds in the US that invest exclusively in female-led companies. The Fund seeks to move the needle on access to capital for female founders throughout the US. We invest in high growth, high-impact, seed and Series A stage companies led by women across the US.
Sustain Equity

Sustain Equity

Our Mission is to connect, empower, and build. To provide you with first hand tools in order to empower you to demonstrate the excellence you have and share it with our community To connect with people, by creating meaningful conversations and innovative Sustainable solutions while still enjoying what this world has To build purposetul products and business, by integrating a system of sustainable solution.
Tamiami Angels

Tamiami Angels

Headquartered in Naples, Fla., Tamiami Angel Funds I, II, III, and IV are member-managed investment funds that allow high-net-worth individuals and families to invest in promising early-stage and expansion-stage companies located in the U.S., with a preference to those in Florida. Fifth Avenue Family Office, the administrator of the angel funds, caters their multi-family office services to high-net-worth entrepreneurs and their families. The Tamiami Angel Funds invest in startups that:

  • have products/services that solve a real problem, not a perceived one;
  • are attacking a large addressable market or plan to dominate a small niche market;
  • have documented marketplace validation; and
  • are founded by an awesome entrepreneurial team that knows how to execute.

In the past 11 years, we have invested over $18.7MM in 31 fast growing startups across a broad range of industries including medical devices, consumer package goods and SAAS software. For more information, visit

Keiretsu Forum Southern California

Keiretsu Forum Southern California

Keiretsu Forum Southern California, a regional group within the world’s largest network of accredited investor members. With 54 chapters on three continents and over 3000 accredited investor members, Keiretsu Forum is the world’s largest by-invitation angel investor network. More than $950 million has been invested into technology, consumer products, Internet, healthcare, life sciences and real estate companies in the Keiretsu Forum Network.

Keiretsu Forum membership is comprised of serious investors, business leaders, venture capitalists, corporate/institutional investors and serial entrepreneurs. Keiretsu Forum enjoys synergies and close relationships with venture capital firms, universities, and other partner organizations. These relationships facilitate the access to capital, talent, technology, and resources needed to build a successful venture.

Our quality and diverse deal flow comes from our community of members, venture capitalists, sponsors, incubators and universities. Keiretsu Forum members invest in investment opportunities that focus on emerging technologies, healthcare/life sciences, consumer products, real estate and other segments with high growth opportunity.

Keiretsu is a Japanese term describing a group of affiliated corporations with broad power and reach. Keiretsu Forum is described as a conglomeration of individuals or small companies that are organized around private equity funding for mutual benefit. Keiretsu Forum believes that through a holistic approach that includes interlocking relationships with partners and key resources, they can offer an association that produces the highest quality deal-flow and investment opportunities.

First Row Partners

First Row Partners

Society and technology are reshaping our lives, creating big market opportunities.

We invest in where technology is tamed for the benefit of everyday individuals as they connect, contribute, and consume in this new world.

As first row people, we invest at the pre-Series A stage.

Born in Seattle, we cover the West Coast or wherever direct flights take us.

Allied Venture Partners

Allied Venture Partners

Allied Venture Partners is Western Canada‘s largest angel syndicate, investing in early-stage software & technology companies across Canada and the US. Founders are encouraged to learn more and submit an application for funding by visiting www.allied.vc.

Texas Halo Fund

Texas Halo Fund

Texas HALO Fund (THF) is an investment company that specializes in investing in early stage businesses with promising growth prospects and exceptional management teams. Our investment approach identifies compelling businesses from multiple sources and without regard to industry or geographic location. Quite simply, we seek the best opportunities, locally, regionally and nationally, in order to generate the highest returns for our investors with the lowest possible risk. Each Fund invests in multiple companies in a variety of industries in order to construct a diversified portfolio. Our process involves rigorous due diligence and extensive interaction with management prior to making a capital commitment and then active on-going oversight often through board positions or board observation rights.

Texas HALO Fund was created to give investors access to the potentially high returns available in early stage investments while addressing the unique challenges that confront investors attempting to create a portfolio on their own, such as lack of quality deal flow, insufficient time to devote to due diligence and inadequate capital to spread among the number of investments needed in a diversified portfolio.

Tie South Coast

Tie South Coast

TiE South Coast, formed in 2000, is a non-profit community welcoming entrepreneurs from San Diego and surrounding areas. The chapter’s goal is to foster entrepreneurship within the community. We believe in creating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem through mentoring, networking, and education.

TiE was founded in Silicon Valley in 1992 by a group of successful entrepreneurs and is currently the world’s largest entrepreneurial organization. With programs like TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) and Mentor Match, TiE is reaching out and fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs. Everyone is welcome to join!

Addvia Ventures

Addvia Ventures

Addvia Ventures makes early stage investments into innovative high growth companies addressing large end markets.

South Coast Angel Fund

South Coast Angel Fund

We’re a group of successful entrepreneurs who provide early stage capital and bring a wealth of experience along with an extensive network of relationships to help build emerging-growth companies.
At South Coast Angel Fund our mission is to facilitate entrepreneurship and accelerate startup success. We do that by bringing together an extraordinary group of business and technology leaders for the benefit of local entrepreneurs and by providing capital for early stage companies. Our investors are excited about, and committed to, giving back to the community by supporting another generation of entrepreneurs while generating healthy returns on their own investments.
Auctus

Auctus

Established west coast business leaders who have been operators and cross-border dealmakers in high tech, medical device, clean tech, energy, aerospace, retail, manufacturing, consumer products and professional services businesses. We recognize many investment opportunities are driven by an owner’s desire for liquidity, corporate restructuring, and generational turnover. As such, we know that human capital is the most valuable piece of every equation. Most entrepreneurs and management have invested years of their lives building their businesses and take pride in their achievements. This is why we work closely with sellers to structure a deal that enables all stakeholders to achieve their personal goals while allowing the company and its employees to move forward in the most powerful and positive way.
Rhizome

Rhizome

Unlike traditional venture capital investors, we co-create and develop companies alongside early founders, acting as strategic investors. We also help established startups pivot and grow using our network of resources.

Rhizome Ventures is backed by Spring St. Group, a family office whose business is centered around the distribution and wholesale of pharmaceuticals, over the counter medications, health and beauty products, and home goods. Through their sales we have strong ties with many of the largest big-box-retailers in the nation.

Today, the family is heavily involved in the health and wellness industry, and has built a digital health platform bringing pharmacy services, API-first e-commerce capabilities, and telemedicine assets to startups who otherwise would have difficulty entering the space.

Marion Street Capital

Marion Street Capital

 Marion Street Capital helps innovative growth companies solve their most pressing challenges. MSC’s resources include relationships with institutional investors (family office, private equity firms, venture capital firms, hedge funds, and mutual funds), relationships with local and international banks, “expert networks,” relationships with top academic institutions, outsourced software development teams, graphic design services, and industry information providers. This robust suite of services enabled MSC to help clients across 16 different industries during the last two years.

37 Angels

37 Angels

At 37 Angels, our mission is to close the gender gap in startup investing. We are committed to:

Clarity Through Education: 37 Angels is the antidote to the fuzzy, black box world of angel investing. Our goal is to bring this world into focus through education – education of our investors, our founders, and the broader startup community.

Transparency In Communication: Too often, founders are unaware of why they didn’t receive investment, and investors don’t communicate the steps in the due diligence process. 37 Angels has a process that’s built around open communication.

Advice Grounded In Empathy: We’ve been there. Our process was built by investors who are former entrepreneurs who understand the highs and lows of business-building. The collective experience of our network creates a body of understanding that we extract, document, and organize as a resource.

Oklahoma Life Science Fund

Oklahoma Life Science Fund

With over twenty years of industry experience working in management consulting, large pharma, and venture capital, OLSF contributes many diverse perspectives to our portfolio companies.

OLSF I is invested in five start-ups that have created over 100 jobs with a mean income that is three times greater than the state average. These companies have attracted over $210 million in venture capital from regional and national venture capital firms after OLSF’s first investment. These entrepreneurial success stories have continued with our second round, OLSF II, which has already invested in five promising start-ups in Oklahoma, which have attracted over $74.3 million in outside venture capital.

Since its inception in 2000, The Oklahoma Life Science Fund has been the single largest driver of private equity capital to Oklahoma

Desert Angels

Desert Angels

Founded in 2000, the Desert Angels is a Tucson-based non-profit organization of accredited investors that seeks opportunities to invest in regional startup and early-stage companies. We represent a network of over 100 active angel investors, who have invested $60million into 132 portfolio companies and 10 Sidecar funds.

Angel investing strengthens startup companies, which leads to new jobs, new resources, and regional economic impact. To that end, we are launching new educational and outreach programs and actively seeking strategic partners for collaboration and sponsorship. If you are interested to learn more, we encourage you to please reach out to any of us at the “CONTACT US” links below.

The Desert Angels have consistently been recognized as one of the most active angel groups in the country and, in 2019 was ranked #1 in the southwest and #8 in the country according to the 2019 ARI HALO report. (https://angelresourceinstitute.org/research-reports.php). The Desert Angels is a charter member of the Angel Capital Association, which is the trade association of angel investment groups in North America and today represents over 240 angel investor groups and funds. To learn more about the ACA: www.angelcapitalassociation.org.

Monday Club

Monday Club

Monday Club helps Southern California companies improve their business plan presentations and meet experts who can help them achieve their objectives.  Monday Club is a group of seven hundred High-Tech Executives and Business Professionals, in Southern California, who meet once a month to help start-up companies improve their business plans. Monday Club Members have extensive experience in working with high-tech firms. They know what it takes to make a good presentation, and they know what investors are looking for. Some, but not all, of the members are investors. As an exception to this list, the Monday Club is NOT an investment group but provides a great service to startups and entrepreneurs. Many companies that presented to the Monday Club have raised capital from investor groups.