A new angel can join a regional angel group such as Band of Angels in Silicon Valley or Alliance of Angels in Seattle, a multi-chapter network such as Keiretsu Forum or Golden Seeds, or an online syndicate. Groups screen startups, host pitch meetings and share diligence, while members usually decide and invest individually.
Angel groups are the oldest organized way for individual investors to find and vet startups together. They suit new angels in particular: you see more deals than you could source alone, and you learn by sitting in diligence with people who have done it many times. This guide explains how groups work, lists established networks with facts taken from their own websites, and covers how to choose one. It's a starting list, not a ranking.
I'm an angel investor with 234 investments, ranked the #1 most active angel investor in 2024 by Lenny's Newsletter. Whatever route you take into deals, the mechanics below are worth understanding before you pay any dues.
How do angel groups work?
Most groups follow a similar cycle:
Screening. Startups apply, and a committee of members reviews applications and picks a few to pitch.
Pitch meeting. Selected companies present to members, often monthly, in person, online or both.
Diligence. Interested members form a small team to examine the company, check references and negotiate terms.
Investment. Members decide individually whether to invest and how much. Some groups also run a fund or sidecar vehicle that invests alongside members, and many use an LLC or SPV to pool members' checks into one line on the startup's cap table.
Membership in the US usually requires being an accredited investor, and groups commonly charge annual dues and expect members to attend meetings, help with diligence and invest in some deals each year. Dues and expectations vary, so check each group's membership page.
Angel groups and networks to look at
Listed alphabetically within each type. Facts come from each organization's own website as of October 2026; confirm details with the group before applying.
Regional US angel groups
Alliance of Angels (Seattle). Describes itself as a group of 180+ accredited investor members backing startups in technology, hardware, consumer and the life sciences in the Pacific Northwest.
Band of Angels (Silicon Valley). Founded in 1994 as the first organized high-tech angel group in the US, with 150+ members who are mostly former and current tech executives. The group meets monthly to hear three startups chosen from more than 50 screened, and members invest as individuals. New members are generally sponsored by an existing member and are expected to attend a third of meetings and invest in at least one deal a year.
Launchpad Venture Group (Boston and New England). A network of angels active since 2001, investing in tech and science-driven startups headquartered in New England, with members building individual portfolios.
Pasadena Angels (Southern California). Founded in 2000 and one of the longest-running angel groups in the region.
TCA Venture Group (Southern California), formerly Tech Coast Angels. About 400 members across regional networks, with five angel funds, investing at seed, bridge and early Series A, and open to accredited investors who apply.
Multi-chapter networks
Golden Seeds. Founded in 2004 to invest in women-led startups, with chapters across the US. It runs monthly virtual open houses for prospective members.
Keiretsu Forum. Founded in 2000 in the San Francisco East Bay by Randy Williams, now a global community of accredited investors with chapters on four continents.
Associations and directories
These are not angel groups themselves, but they are the best way to find one near you:
Angel Capital Association (North America). The professional association for angel groups and individual angels, offering education through its Angel University programs. It does not fund startups directly.
UK Business Angels Association. The UK trade body for angel and early-stage investing, with a member directory and regional angel hubs that non-members can join.
EBAN (European Business Angel Network). A Brussels-based association of business angel networks across Europe, useful for finding groups by country.
Angel group, syndicate or solo?
Groups are one of three main routes into deals, and many angels use more than one.
Angel groups offer shared diligence, local deal flow and a learning community. The trade-offs are dues, meeting time and a slower process.
Online syndicates let you invest small amounts behind a lead investor who sources and negotiates the deal, usually for carry and fees. The guide to angel investing syndication explains how they work, and the overview of angel investing platforms and syndicates covers the main platforms.
Investing solo gives the most control and the best access to founders who know you, but you carry all the sourcing and diligence. The guide to building deal flow as a new angel covers that route.
Which angel group should you join?
Questions worth asking any group before joining:
Where and what does it invest in? Regional focus matters for meetings and for the startups you'll see. Sector focus matters if you want to use your own expertise.
What does membership cost in money and time? Ask about annual dues, meeting frequency, and any minimum number of investments per year.
How do members invest? Directly as individuals, through a pooled vehicle, through a group fund, or a mix.
How is diligence done? Ask to see a past diligence report. It tells you how rigorous the group is and how much you'll learn.
How does it handle follow-on rounds? Some groups reserve capital or have a sidecar fund for follow-ons; others leave it to members.
Who are the members? Attend a meeting as a guest if you can, and talk to two or three members about their experience.
The step-by-step process of applying is covered in how to join an angel group or syndicate. More guides for new angels are in the angel investing section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Do I need to be accredited to join an angel group?
In the US, almost always. Groups invest through private offerings that rely on the SEC's accredited investor rules, which cover people with $200,000 of income ($300,000 jointly) in each of the last two years, $1 million of net worth excluding their home, or certain financial licences. Rules differ in other countries, so check locally.
Q:How much does it cost to join an angel group?
Many groups charge annual dues, and some add fees for deals made through a group vehicle. The amounts vary widely between groups, so ask for the current fee schedule before applying. Remember that dues come on top of the money you invest.
Q:How much time does an angel group take?
Expect at least one meeting a month, plus diligence work on deals you're interested in. Some groups set attendance expectations, such as a share of meetings each year. The time is also where most of the learning happens.
Q:Are founder communities the same as angel groups?
No. Founder communities such as Superfounders or Post-Exit Founders are networks of founders, built around peer support and shared experience rather than investing. An angel group exists to screen and fund startups, and its membership is tied to investing.
Q:Can I join more than one angel group?
Yes, and some angels do, often one local group and one focused on a sector or theme. Watch the combined dues and time, and expect some overlap in deals, since groups often syndicate rounds with each other.