8 Impact Angel Investors Making a Difference in Social and Environmental Change
To help your fundraising, we've identified 8 active impact angel investors. Learn about who they are and what social and environmental causes they support.
Rho Editorial Team
Impact angel funding provides not just capital, but also access to a network of mission-aligned advisors and partners who can help your startup grow its social or environmental mission.
Notable backers with an interest in the impact sector include Peter Kellner, Venky Ganesan, Ian Schafer, and Brian Baynes, who have supported various startups and small businesses.
If you’re raising or just closed a round, our platform at Rho gives you FDIC-insured accounts, corporate cards with up to 2% cashback, automated bill pay, spend controls, and real-time accounting integrations.
If you're a founder building a company focused on social or environmental good, finding the right capital is key. Angel investors can be a great starting point for startups in the sustainable tech and ESG space.
Unlike many venture capital firms, angel investors often invest their personal funds and can be more flexible. Many are driven by a personal connection to a mission, making them valuable partners for early-stage impact companies.
To help you find the right fit, we've curated this overview of notable angel investors in the impact sector. Use this guide to identify individuals who align with your company's goals.
Just raised or about to? Set up your financial stack with Rho in minutes. Rho provides business banking, corporate cards, accounting integrations, and more—built for startup teams moving fast.
Top Impact Angel Investors By Stage
Most impact angel investors get involved at the pre-seed or seed stage, where they can offer hands-on support and help shape a company's direction from the beginning.
Knowing which investors are active at this stage can help you find the right partners who are genuinely aligned with your mission.
Pre-seed Angel Investors in Impact
Pre-seed is the earliest stage of startup funding, where capital is used to validate an idea and begin product development. For founders in the impact space, investors like Ian Schafer, Sebastien de Halleux, and Jeff Pomeranz are active at this foundational level.
Seed Stage Angel Investors in Impact
Seed funding helps startups refine their product-market fit and begin scaling their team and operations. You'll find many angel investors active at this stage, including Peter Kellner, Brian Baynes, and Zach Malone.
Series A Angel Investors in Impact
Once a company has a solid user base and consistent revenue, it may raise a Series A round to scale its operations and market presence. Some investors who participate in this growth stage are Venky Ganesan and Sebastien de Halleux.
Series B Angel Investors in Impact
Series B funding is for companies looking to expand beyond their initial markets and solidify their position as leaders in the industry. Impact-focused investors like Venky Ganesan and Sven Strohband often get involved at this later stage of sustainability investing.
Keep in mind that many investors are flexible and invest across multiple funding stages. For example, an investor like Sven Strohband has experience from pre-seed through Series B, offering support at various points in a company's journey.
Here is a more detailed overview of leading angel investors in the impact sector. We've gathered key information on their investment stages, areas of focus, and location, plus what makes each a valuable connection for founders.
1. Peter Kellner
Peter Kellner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Richmond Global Ventures, a firm with a wide-ranging investment portfolio. His background includes a JD from Yale and an MBA from Harvard, giving him a strong foundation in both legal and business strategy.
He primarily invests at the seed stage, with a typical investment between $200K and $2.0M. While his interests are broad, he has a notable focus on sectors like Impact, ClimateTech, BioTech, and Consumer Health.
Founders working on seed-stage companies in the impact and tech sectors may find a good partner in Kellner. His experience across diverse industries suggests he could be a valuable resource for companies with cross-disciplinary business models.
- Investment stages: Seed
- Industries of focus: Impact, ClimateTech/CleanTech, BioTech, Consumer Health, Real Estate/PropTech
- Geographical presence: Based in Boston, Massachusetts
- Ideal investment range: $200K - $2.0M
- Notable investments: Kueski, OpenSponsorship, Qraved
You can find more information about Peter Kellner on his LinkedIn or the Richmond Global Ventures website.
2. Venky Ganesan
Venky Ganesan is a partner at Menlo Ventures, where he invests across several technology sectors. He is active in areas ranging from enterprise software and cybersecurity to consumer internet and impact-focused companies.
A key aspect of his approach is his involvement across multiple funding stages, from seed to Series B. His investment range of $8M to $15M suggests a particular strength in participating in later-stage rounds for companies like HomeLight and Immersive Labs.
Founders building enterprise or cybersecurity companies with proven traction may find a strong ally in Ganesan. His experience makes him a good match for teams looking for a partner to help them scale through Series A and B.
- Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
- Industries of focus: Impact, Enterprise, Cybersecurity, Cloud Infrastructure
- Geographical presence: Based in Menlo Park, California
- Ideal investment range: $8.0M - $15.0M
- Notable investments: HomeLight, Immersive Labs, Dedrone
You can find more information about Venky Ganesan on the Menlo Ventures website or his LinkedIn.
3. Ian Schafer
Based in New York, Ian Schafer is an angel investor who concentrates on the earliest stages of a startup's journey. He invests his personal capital with a focus on pre-seed and seed rounds.
A key characteristic of his approach is his investment range of $5K to $50K, which suggests he is often an early supporter in a company's first funding round. He is active in sectors like ClimateTech, Impact, Media, and Advertising, with investments in companies such as Paloma and Hulah.
Founders at the pre-seed or seed stage in media, advertising, or impact-related fields may find Schafer to be a good match. His focus on smaller, initial checks makes him an accessible first investor for teams just getting started.
- Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed
- Industries of focus: ClimateTech/CleanTech, Impact, Media/Content, Advertising
- Geographical presence: Based in New York, New York
- Ideal investment range: $5K - $50K
- Notable investments: Hulah, Dash Radio, Paloma
You can find more information about Ian Schafer on his website or LinkedIn.
4. Brian Baynes
Brian Baynes is a Boston-based investor with deep roots in the BioTech and Health sectors. He is a founder of both the venture firm Pillar VC and the accelerator Petri, reflecting his commitment to supporting companies from their earliest stages.
His background is notable for its blend of scientific expertise—holding a PhD from MIT—and extensive entrepreneurial experience as a founder of multiple companies. He primarily invests in seed and Series A rounds, with a clear focus on health and biotech innovations.
Founders with a strong technical or scientific foundation in BioTech, Health IT, or Digital Health may find Baynes to be an ideal partner. His operational history suggests he provides more than capital, offering valuable guidance to teams building complex products.
- Investment stages: Seed, Series A
- Industries of focus: BioTech, Health IT, Digital Health, Impact, Pharmaceuticals
- Geographical presence: Based in Boston, Massachusetts
- Ideal investment range: $250K - $500K
- Notable investments: Joule Unlimited Technologies
You can find more information about Brian Baynes on his website or LinkedIn.
5. Sven Strohband
Sven Strohband is a partner at Khosla Ventures, where he invests in companies working on complex technical problems. He is known for his work with businesses in sectors like robotics, AI, and enterprise infrastructure.
A key aspect of his investment approach is his flexibility across funding stages, from pre-seed to Series B. His portfolio includes companies like Collaborative Robotics and Nomagic, reflecting a focus on businesses with deep technical foundations.
Founders building companies in technically demanding fields may find a good partner in Strohband. His ability to invest across a company's lifecycle makes him a valuable connection for teams seeking long-term support.
- Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B
- Industries of focus: Impact, Space, Robotics, SMB Software, AI, Enterprise Infrastructure
- Geographical presence: Based in Mountain View, California
- Ideal investment range: $100K - $50.0M
- Notable investments: Collaborative Robotics, Nomagic, Speak
You can find more information about Sven Strohband on the Khosla Ventures website or his LinkedIn.
6. Sebastien de Halleux
Sebastien de Halleux is a Founding Partner at Graph Ventures and an angel investor with deep operational experience. He co-founded the gaming company Playfish and served as COO of Saildrone, giving him a founder-centric perspective on building companies.
He invests across a wide range of sectors, including Impact, ClimateTech, and Robotics, with a focus on pre-seed and seed stages. His background as an operator suggests he provides hands-on support for founders navigating early product and growth challenges.
You may be a good match for de Halleux if you are an early-stage founder in the impact or deep tech space. His experience is particularly valuable for teams looking for a partner with a strong product and operational background.
- Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
- Industries of focus: Impact, ClimateTech/CleanTech, Games, Robotics, FinTech
- Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
- Ideal investment range: $100K - $250K
- Notable investments: Regent, ClearSpace, MightyFly
You can find more information about Sebastien de Halleux on his LinkedIn or the Graph Ventures website.
7. Zach Malone
Zach Malone is a Principal at Draper Triangle Ventures, a Pittsburgh-based firm that invests in early-stage technology companies. He is active across a variety of sectors, including FinTech, Robotics, and Enterprise SaaS.
Malone typically invests in seed and Series A rounds, with an investment sweet spot around $2.0M. His portfolio includes companies like Locomation and Thread, indicating an interest in both deep tech and businesses with a social impact component.
You may be a good fit for Malone if you are a founder in the SaaS, FinTech, or Robotics space raising a seed or Series A round. His position at a venture firm suggests he can provide strategic support beyond just capital for companies ready to scale.
- Investment stages: Seed, Series A
- Industries of focus: FinTech, Robotics, SaaS, Impact, Medical Devices, Enterprise
- Geographical presence: Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Ideal investment range: $500K - $3.0M
- Notable investments: Ikos, Locomation, Thread
You can find more information about Zach Malone on his LinkedIn or the Draper Triangle Ventures website.
8. Jeff Pomeranz
Jeff Pomeranz is a Managing Director at Right Side Capital Management, a San Francisco-based firm. With extensive experience in finance and investments, he concentrates on supporting companies at their earliest stages of development.
His investment approach is marked by its wide range of industry interests, from Impact and ClimateTech to Games and Consumer Health. He focuses on pre-seed and seed rounds with investments typically between $50K and $200K, and has been involved with companies like TradingView.
Founders at the pre-seed or seed stage across a variety of sectors may find Pomeranz to be a good fit. His focus on smaller, initial checks makes him an accessible first investor for teams just getting started.
- Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed
- Industries of focus: Impact, Games, Consumer Health, Food and Beverage, ClimateTech/CleanTech
- Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
- Ideal investment range: $50K - $200K
- Notable investments: TradingView
You can find more information about Jeff Pomeranz on his LinkedIn or the Right Side Capital Management website.
What Startup Founders Should Look for in a Impact Investor
When seeking an impact angel investor, look beyond the capital. The most valuable partners are those who genuinely share your commitment to your mission and have a track record in sectors relevant to your work.
As the investors above show, there's a concentration of activity in tech hubs like San Francisco and Boston, but opportunities exist across the country. Many investors also have specific industry interests, from ClimateTech to BioTech, so finding someone with domain expertise can provide a significant advantage.
Pay close attention to an investor's typical stage and check size. Aligning your funding needs with their investment thesis—whether it's a $25K pre-seed check or a $2M seed round—is crucial for a successful partnership.
Ultimately, the right investor acts as a strategic ally. Use this list as a starting point for your research to find partners who can help you build a sustainable and impactful company.
Raise Confidently with Rho
Fundraising requires significant time and focus, so starting with a curated list of investors is a major advantage. It allows you to direct your energy toward partners who are already aligned with your mission.
Once you've secured capital, we're here to help you manage it. 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 put your new funding to work right away. This ensures your angel capital is directed toward growth and operations, rather than being lost to manual financial admin.
FAQs about Impact Angel Investors
Are there impact angel investors in emerging tech hubs?
Yes, impact investors are increasingly active in cities like New York and Austin. While major tech hubs have a high concentration, many angels invest remotely, so your location shouldn't be a barrier to finding a partner.
Do impact investors fund SaaS companies?
Absolutely. Many impact investors support SaaS businesses, especially if the software addresses a social or environmental challenge. This could include platforms for education, healthcare access, or sustainability reporting, connecting profit with purpose.
How does pitching an impact angel differ from a traditional VC?
With impact angels, your mission is as important as your financial projections. Be prepared to clearly articulate your company's social or environmental benefit alongside your business model and growth strategy. They want to see a dual return on investment.
What are angel investor networks for impact startups?
Angel networks group investors by interest. Look for networks focused on sustainability, edtech, or social impact. These groups can connect you with multiple potential investors who are already aligned with your mission and funding stage.
What do impact investors look for during due diligence?
They assess your team, market size, and financial model, but also scrutinize your impact metrics. Be ready to show how you measure and report on your social or environmental goals, as this is central to their investment thesis.
How can Rho help after I secure angel funding?
Once you've raised capital, our platform helps you manage it effectively. Rho provides integrated banking, corporate cards, and expense management, letting you focus on growth instead of financial administration.