14 Leading Hardware Angel Investors You Should Know

If you're building a company around physical products or deep tech, finding the right early-stage capital is a critical step for your startup.

Unlike many venture capital firms, angel investors often bring personal experience and their own capital to the table, making them valuable early partners.

To help you find the right fit, we've curated this overview of leading angel investors in the hardware space. This guide can help you quickly understand who the relevant investors are before or during your fundraising process.

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Top Hardware Angel Investors By Stage

Most angel investors in hardware prefer to get involved at the pre-seed and seed stages, where their personal capital and experience can have the greatest impact.

Knowing which investors are active at these early stages can help you focus your fundraising efforts more effectively.

Pre-seed Angel Investors in Hardware

The pre-seed stage is the earliest phase of funding, often used to validate an idea and build a minimum viable product. For founders at this initial step, investors like Bill Trenchard and Michael Jin are known to participate in pre-seed rounds.

Seed Stage Angel Investors in Hardware

Seed funding helps your startup with initial market entry, product development, and hiring key team members. Some active hardware investors at this stage include Peter Kellner, Tony Conrad, and Cyril Ebersweiler.

Series A Angel Investors in Hardware

Series A funding is typically for startups with a proven track record that need capital to scale their operations and optimize their business model. You might find investors such as Steve Abbott, Steve Goldberg, and Ilya Sukhar participating in this round.

Series B Angel Investors in Hardware

By Series B, a company is well-established and looking to expand its market reach and scale significantly. Investors like Anders Ranum, Joseph Ansanelli, and Mark Dyne often get involved at this growth phase.

Keep in mind that many investors are not limited to a single stage and may invest across the startup lifecycle. For example, both Gavin Christensen and Stan Reiss have investment experience from pre-seed through Series B.

Here is a closer look at some of the leading angel investors in the hardware sector. We've included key details about their investment stages, areas of focus, location, and what can make each a compelling partner for founders.

1. Peter Kellner

Peter Kellner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Richmond Global Ventures, a firm that invests in early-stage companies. His background combines deep experience in finance and law, giving him a unique perspective on building sustainable businesses.

He primarily focuses on seed-stage investments, with a broad interest in sectors ranging from Hardware and BioTech to Impact and ClimateTech. His approach is marked by a significant investment range, indicating flexibility in the size of his commitment to a founding team.

Founders at the seed stage who are working in his areas of interest and looking for a partner with a strong institutional background may find him to be a good fit. His experience suggests a preference for companies with clear potential for global scale.

• Investment stages: Seed
• Industries of focus: Hardware, BioTech, ClimateTech/CleanTech, Impact, and Consumer Health
• Geographical presence: Based in Boston, Massachusetts
• Ideal investment range: $200K – $2.0M, with a sweet spot of $600K
• Notable portfolio companies: Kueski, Siftery, and Qraved
• Background: Founder of Richmond Global LLC and holds degrees from Princeton, Harvard Business School, and Yale Law School

You can find more information about Peter Kellner on his LinkedIn or the firm's website.

2. Steve Abbott

Steve Abbott is a partner at Sapphire Ventures, a global venture capital firm. He is involved in later-stage funding and has experience across several technology sectors, including hardware and enterprise software.

His focus on Series A and B rounds with a significant investment range suggests a preference for companies that are ready to scale. His portfolio includes companies like Tonal, indicating an interest in hardware businesses with strong consumer appeal.

Founders with established traction who are seeking substantial growth capital would find him to be a good potential partner. This is especially true for companies in the hardware, SaaS, or cloud infrastructure spaces that are preparing for major market expansion.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Hardware, SaaS, Cloud Infrastructure, Security, Media/Content, and Entertainment & Sports
• Geographical presence: Based in Austin, Texas
• Ideal investment range: $10.0M – $100.0M, with a sweet spot of $25.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Tonal, Recommind

You can find more information about Steve Abbott on the Sapphire Ventures website or his LinkedIn.

3. Steve Goldberg

Steve Goldberg is an experienced investor and former Operating Partner at Venrock, where he spent over a decade. He has a background in supporting companies in the hardware, IoT, and robotics sectors.

He typically invests in Series A and B rounds, which is a bit later than many individual angels. His investment range of $10K to $100K suggests he contributes valuable, smaller checks to larger funding rounds, likely bringing his operational experience to the table.

Founders with companies in the hardware or robotics space who are raising a Series A or B could find him to be a great partner. He is a good fit for teams looking for an investor with deep operational history from a major venture firm.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Hardware, IoT, Robotics
• Geographical presence: Based in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Ideal investment range: $10K – $100K, with a sweet spot of $50K
• Notable portfolio companies: Quantenna Communications, Canesta
• Background: Former Operating Partner at Venrock (2009-2020)

You can find more information about Steve Goldberg on his LinkedIn or Crunchbase profile.

4. Tony Conrad

Tony Conrad is a Partner and a founding team member at True Ventures, bringing a dual perspective as both an investor and a serial entrepreneur. His background includes founding companies like about.me and Sphere, giving him firsthand experience in building a business from the ground up.

A key aspect of his investment approach is his focus on Seed and Series A rounds, particularly in hardware, social networks, and local services. His history as a founder and his role at True Ventures suggest he provides both operational guidance and substantial capital, with portfolio companies including Stocktwits and Modern Animal.

Founders raising a Seed or Series A round in his areas of interest could find him to be a strong ally. He is a particularly good match for teams who value an investor with direct experience as an operator and the resources of an established venture firm.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: Hardware, Social Networks, Local Services
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $1.0M – $50.0M, with a sweet spot of $20.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Stocktwits, Modern Animal, PullString
• Background: Partner at True Ventures and founder of about.me and Sphere

You can find more information about Tony Conrad on his LinkedIn or the firm's website.

5. Bill Trenchard

Bill Trenchard is a partner at First Round Capital and a founding partner at Founder Collective. He brings a wealth of experience as both a serial entrepreneur and an early-stage investor, having founded and led multiple companies himself.

His investment approach is distinguished by his focus on pre-seed and seed rounds, where he applies his deep operational background. His portfolio includes companies like Verkada and Ossium Health, demonstrating his ability to back businesses that achieve significant growth.

Founders at the earliest stages, especially in SaaS, hardware, or enterprise sectors, may find him to be a valuable partner. He is a great match for teams who want an investor with direct experience building companies from the ground up.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed
• Industries of focus: SaaS, Hardware, Enterprise, Consumer Health, and ClimateTech/CleanTech
• Geographical presence: Based in the United States
• Ideal investment range: $750K – $4.0M, with a sweet spot of $2.4M
• Notable portfolio companies: Verkada, Ossium Health, EvolutionIQ
• Background: Partner at First Round Capital, Founding Partner at Founder Collective, and a serial entrepreneur with multiple CEO and founder roles.

You can find more information about Bill Trenchard on his LinkedIn or the First Round Capital website.

6. Ilya Sukhar

Ilya Sukhar is a General Partner at Matrix Partners and brings a unique founder's perspective to his investments. He is well-known for co-founding Parse, a mobile backend-as-a-service company that was acquired by Facebook.

His background signals a strong product-centric approach and deep technical knowledge, especially in developer tools and enterprise infrastructure. He primarily invests at the Seed and Series A stages, with notable portfolio companies including Flock Safety and Mashgin.

Founders with a technical background building in sectors like AI, SaaS, or cloud infrastructure may find him to be a great fit. He is a good match for teams looking for an investor who has direct experience building and scaling a successful tech company.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: Cloud Infrastructure, Generative Tech/AI, DeepTech, Hardware, Enterprise, and SaaS
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $100K – $10.0M, with a sweet spot of $2.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Flock Safety, Mashgin, Parabola
• Background: General Partner at Matrix Partners; Co-founder & CEO of Parse (acquired by Facebook)

You can find more information about Ilya Sukhar on his website or LinkedIn.

7. Gavin Christensen

Gavin Christensen is the founder and managing partner of Kickstart Fund, a venture firm known for backing early-stage companies. He has a strong reputation for investing in the Mountain West region, particularly in Utah's growing tech scene.

His investment approach is marked by its flexibility, with involvement from pre-seed all the way to Series B. He invests across a broad range of industries, including FinTech, SaaS, and Hardware, with notable portfolio companies like Spiff and SonderMind that have gone on to raise significant capital.

Founders based in the Mountain West who are seeking a partner for the long haul may find him to be a great match. His ability to invest across multiple stages and sectors makes him a versatile ally for companies with high-growth potential.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: FinTech, E-commerce, SaaS, Hardware, Enterprise, and Education
• Geographical presence: Based in Salt Lake City, Utah
• Ideal investment range: $100K – $5.0M, with a sweet spot of $1.5M
• Notable portfolio companies: Spiff, SonderMind, Nursa

You can find more information about Gavin Christensen on his LinkedIn or the firm's website.

8. Mark Dyne

Mark Dyne is a partner at Morpheus Ventures, an early-stage venture firm based in Los Angeles. He is recognized for backing companies that challenge large, established industries.

His investment activity spans from Seed to Series B, with an interest in sectors like FinTech, hardware, and data services. His portfolio includes companies like Bestow and RapidDeploy, which points to a focus on businesses with significant market-changing potential.

Founders building companies in his areas of interest, particularly those with a clear strategy for entering large markets, may find him to be a good partner. His involvement across multiple funding stages suggests he can support companies through different phases of growth.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: FinTech, Hardware, Data Services, Gaming/eSports, and IoT
• Geographical presence: Based in Los Angeles, California
• Ideal investment range: $100K – $5.0M, with a sweet spot of $1.5M
• Notable portfolio companies: RapidDeploy, Bestow

You can find more information about Mark Dyne on his LinkedIn or the firm's website.

9. Anders Ranum

Anders Ranum is a partner at Sapphire Ventures, a global venture capital firm. He concentrates on later-stage investments, particularly in enterprise technology and infrastructure companies that are ready to scale.

His investment approach is defined by a focus on Series A and B rounds with substantial capital commitments, typically ranging from $10M to $100M. His portfolio, which includes companies like Auth0 and Alation, shows a strong interest in high-growth businesses within cloud infrastructure and security.

Founders with a proven business model in SaaS or enterprise infrastructure seeking significant growth capital would find him to be a good potential partner. He is a strong match for companies that are ready to scale their operations and expand their market presence.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Hardware, Cloud Infrastructure, SaaS, and Security
• Geographical presence: Based in San Carlos, California
• Ideal investment range: $10.0M – $100.0M, with a sweet spot of $25.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Auth0, Alation, Dremio

You can find more information about Anders Ranum on his LinkedIn or the Sapphire Ventures website.

10. Joseph Ansanelli

Joseph Ansanelli is a partner at a venture firm and an active investor in the tech community. He is known for participating in later-stage funding rounds, specifically Series A and B, which is less common for individual angel investors.

A key aspect of his investment style is his focus on companies ready for significant scaling, with a sweet spot of $8.0M. His portfolio, which includes companies like Sumo Logic and Trifacta, shows a strong interest in enterprise software, data services, and security.

Founders with established traction who are raising a Series A or B round could find him to be a valuable partner. He is a particularly good match for teams in the enterprise, SaaS, or data sectors looking for significant capital to accelerate growth.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: SaaS, Hardware, Enterprise, Data Services, Security, and BioTech
• Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $4.0M – $40.0M, with a sweet spot of $8.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Sumo Logic, Trifacta, Gladly

You can find more information about Joseph Ansanelli on his website or LinkedIn.

11. Jennifer Kaehms

Jennifer Kaehms is an investor at Foundation Capital, where she supports early-stage companies. She is active in both Seed and Series A rounds, with a focus on sectors like AI, SaaS, and hardware.

Her investment approach is characterized by a focus on early-stage companies with a significant investment range, suggesting she can participate in various round sizes. Her portfolio includes AI-focused companies like Tennr and Omneky, indicating an interest in businesses with strong technical foundations.

Founders working in AI, SaaS, or digital health who are raising a Seed or Series A round may find her to be a good fit. Her role at an established venture firm suggests she can offer both substantial capital and strategic guidance.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: AI, SaaS, Hardware, Digital Health, and Consumer Internet
• Geographical presence: Based in Austin
• Ideal investment range: $1.0M – $10.0M, with a sweet spot of $5.5M
• Notable portfolio companies: Tennr, Omneky

You can find more information about Jennifer Kaehms on her LinkedIn or the Foundation Capital website.

12. Michael Jin

Michael Jin is a Managing Partner at Tsingyuan Ventures and a Founding Partner at TEEC Angel Fund, with a deep technical background. His experience includes multiple CTO and engineering leadership roles, complemented by a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford.

A defining characteristic of his investment approach is his focus on the earliest stages, from pre-seed to Series A, where his technical expertise can be most impactful. His portfolio includes companies like Subtle Medical and DataFox, showing an interest in sectors like BioTech and Data Services.

Founders with a strong technical foundation, particularly in hardware, enterprise software, or biotech, may find him to be a good partner. His involvement across the early funding stages makes him a valuable ally for teams looking for support from idea to initial scale.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: Hardware, Enterprise, BioTech, Data Services, Education, and Social Networks
• Geographical presence: Based in Palo Alto, California
• Ideal investment range: $100K – $10.0M, with a sweet spot of $1.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Subtle Medical, iSono Health, DataFox
• Background: Managing Partner at Tsingyuan Ventures and Founding Partner at TEEC Angel Fund; holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford

You can find more information about Michael Jin on his LinkedIn or the Tsingyuan Ventures website.

13. Cyril Ebersweiler

Cyril Ebersweiler is a General Partner at SOSV, a global venture capital firm known for its deep-tech accelerator programs. He is particularly recognized for his role in HAX, which provides extensive support to early-stage hardware startups.

His investment activity is concentrated at the Seed and Series A stages, with a strong interest in hardware, robotics, and biotech. His connection to SOSV suggests a hands-on, product-focused approach that gives founders significant operational support, which is reflected in portfolio companies like Particle.

Founders building companies in deep tech or hardware who are looking for more than just capital could find him to be an excellent partner. He is a good fit for early-stage teams that can benefit from the resources and structured support of an accelerator environment.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: Hardware, Robotics, BioTech, Digital Health, Space, and Consumer Health
• Geographical presence: Based in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Ideal investment range: $250K – $5.0M, with a sweet spot of $500K
• Notable portfolio companies: Particle, Flair, xRobotics

You can find more information about Cyril Ebersweiler on his LinkedIn or the SOSV website.

14. Stan Reiss

Stan Reiss is a general partner at Matrix Partners, where he applies a deep technical background to his investment strategy. His education in electrical engineering from both MIT and Cornell provides him with a strong foundation for evaluating complex technologies.

A defining aspect of his approach is his flexibility to invest across the entire early-stage lifecycle, from pre-seed through Series B. His portfolio, which includes companies like LogRocket and Acacia, highlights an interest in developer tools, semiconductors, and enterprise infrastructure.

Founders with a technical background building in deep tech sectors such as AI, robotics, or cloud infrastructure may find him to be a good fit. His ability to support companies through multiple funding rounds makes him a valuable partner for long-term growth.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Cloud Infrastructure, Semiconductors, Generative Tech/AI, Robotics, and Hardware
• Geographical presence: Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Ideal investment range: $100K – $10.0M, with a sweet spot of $2.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: LogRocket, Acacia
• Background: Holds an MBA from Harvard and engineering degrees from MIT and Cornell

You can find more information about Stan Reiss on his LinkedIn or the Matrix Partners website.

What Startup Founders Should Look for in a Hardware Investor

Finding the right hardware investor means looking beyond capital. As the profiles above show, many bring direct operational or technical experience that can be invaluable for a growing company. This expertise is often as critical as the funding itself.

You'll notice that while many investors are in major tech hubs, capital is increasingly accessible in other regions. It's also clear that hardware rarely exists in a vacuum; investors often focus on related sectors like SaaS, AI, and enterprise software, which reflects the integrated nature of modern hardware products.

When building your target list, align your funding stage with an investor's focus. Understanding the different startup funding types will help you identify the right partners, whether you're at pre-seed or raising a Series B. A good fit ensures you get not just a check, but a true partner for your journey.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Building a focused list of relevant angel investors is critical when your time and energy are limited during a fundraise. We hope this guide helps you identify the right partners for your hardware company's specific stage and goals.

Once your round is closed, the work of managing that capital begins. If you’ve just raised, Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay solutions built for startups.

Our platform helps you direct your new capital toward growth and operations, not manual financial admin. This allows you to concentrate on what matters most—scaling your business.

FAQs about Hardware Angel Investors

Are there hardware angel investors in emerging tech hubs?

Yes, while the Bay Area is prominent, many hardware investors are active in other cities. You can find strong investor communities in places like Austin and Boston, which have growing ecosystems for deep tech and hardware startups.

What related industries do hardware investors look at?

Hardware investors often have interests in related software sectors. It's common to see them invest in companies that combine physical products with SaaS platforms, AI, enterprise solutions, and other integrated technologies.

Do hardware angel investors participate in Series C rounds?

It's less common. Angels typically invest at the pre-seed and seed stages. By Series C, funding usually comes from larger venture capital firms that specialize in growth-stage companies and can write larger checks.

How important is a working prototype for hardware investors?

A prototype is often critical for hardware startups. It demonstrates your technical ability and validates your product concept, which can significantly de-risk the investment for an angel investor and show a clear path to manufacturing and market entry.

How can I best manage my capital after closing a funding round?

Once your round is closed, use a financial platform built for startups. Rho offers integrated banking, corporate cards, and spend management to help you deploy your new capital efficiently and focus on scaling your business.