5 Angel Investors in Austin Every Startup Should Know

For founders in Central Texas, understanding the local funding environment is a major advantage. Knowing the key angel investors in Austin can help you secure the capital and mentorship needed to grow.

Unlike venture capital firms that manage institutional money, angel investors typically invest their own personal funds, often becoming the first believers in a new company and providing early guidance.

To help you find the right partners, our team at Rho curated this overview of notable angel investors active in the Austin area to help you identify relevant investors for your fundraise.

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Top Angel Investors in Austin By Stage

Many angel investors in Austin focus on pre-seed and seed-stage companies. This allows them to offer early capital and mentorship when their support can have a significant impact.

Knowing which investors are active in the local community can help you find the right partners for your company's specific needs.

Pre-seed Angel Investors in Austin

Pre-seed is often the first money a startup raises, helping founders move from an idea to a minimum viable product. Among the angel investors in Austin, Texas, you'll find individuals like Drew Oetting and Zach Ware who have participated in these very early rounds.

Seed Stage Angel Investors in Austin

Seed funding typically supports initial product development and helps a company establish early market traction. Some active seed stage angel investors in Austin include Brian Spaly, Creighton Hicks, and Drew Oetting.

Series A Angel Investors in Austin

Once a company has a proven product and consistent revenue, it may raise a Series A round to scale its operations and team. Investors to know for this stage are Steve Abbott, Zach Ware, and Creighton Hicks.

Series B Angel Investors in Austin

Series B funding is geared toward companies that are already well-established and are looking to expand their market reach. For founders seeking this level of capital, investors like Steve Abbott and Drew Oetting are active at this stage.

It's also common for investors to work across different funding stages, participating in rounds from seed all the way through a company's later growth phases.

To help you identify the right partners, we've gathered more information on several notable angel investors in Austin. The following profiles include details on their preferred investment stages, industry interests, and other key attributes for founders to consider.

1. Steve Abbott

Steve Abbott is a partner at Sapphire Ventures, a global venture capital firm with a presence in Austin. His investment activity is more aligned with a growth-stage VC than a traditional angel, focusing on larger rounds for more established companies.

He concentrates on Series A and B rounds, with a clear interest in sectors like SaaS, cloud infrastructure, and hardware. His portfolio includes companies like the smart home gym company Tonal, indicating an interest in businesses with strong consumer-facing technology.

Founders who have already achieved product-market fit and are seeking significant growth capital would be a good match for Abbott. If your company operates in the SaaS or hardware space and is ready for a Series A or B round, he could be a relevant investor to connect with.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Cloud Infrastructure, SaaS, Security, Hardware, Media/Content
• Geographical presence: Austin, Texas
• Ideal investment range: $10.0M - $100.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Tonal, Recommind

You can find more information about Steve Abbott on his firm's website or his LinkedIn profile.

2. Brian Spaly

Brian Spaly is a partner at Brand Foundry Ventures and an active seed-stage investor in Austin. He is known for backing consumer-facing companies, particularly in sectors like fashion and e-commerce.

His investment activity centers on seed-stage startups in retail, e-commerce, and food and beverage. His firm's name, Brand Foundry, suggests an approach that supports founders in building strong consumer brands, with portfolio companies like Cann and Crown Affair reflecting this theme.

Spaly is a good match for founders of early-stage consumer product companies who are looking for capital and brand-building expertise. If you are building a direct-to-consumer business, he could be a valuable partner.

• Investment stages: Seed
• Industries of focus: Fashion, Retail, E-commerce, Food and Beverage
• Geographical presence: Austin, Texas
• Ideal investment range: $100K - $10.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Cann, Crown Affair, Hello Cake

You can find more information about Brian Spaly on his firm's website or his LinkedIn profile.

3. Drew Oetting

Drew Oetting is a founding partner at 8VC, a venture capital firm with a strong presence in Austin. His investment activity reflects his role at a major firm, often participating in larger rounds across various technology sectors.

Oetting demonstrates versatility by investing across Seed, Series A, and Series B stages. His portfolio includes notable companies like Karat and Resilience, showing an interest in high-growth businesses in FinTech, SaaS, and BioTech.

He is a good match for founders building companies in these technology-driven industries who are seeking a partner with both founding and investing experience. His ability to invest across different early stages makes him a relevant contact for companies at multiple points in their growth journey.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: SaaS, FinTech, BioTech, Enterprise, Health IT
• Geographical presence: Austin, Texas
• Ideal investment range: $3.0M - $30.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Karat, Resilience, Better Health, Raydiant

You can find more information about Drew Oetting on his firm's website or his LinkedIn profile.

4. Zach Ware

Zach Ware is a partner at Trust Ventures and an active investor in the Austin community. He primarily engages with companies in their early stages, providing capital during critical growth phases.

His investment activity shows a focus on Seed and Series A rounds, with a particular interest in the FinTech sector. His portfolio includes participation in rounds for companies like the developer-focused platform Stedi and the tech giant Asana.

Ware is a good match for founders of early-stage technology companies, especially those in FinTech, who are raising their initial funding rounds. If your company is seeking between $100K and $5M, he could be a relevant investor to connect with.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: FinTech
• Geographical presence: Austin, Texas
• Ideal investment range: $100K - $5.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Asana, Stedi, AdQuick

You can find more information about Zach Ware on his firm's website or his LinkedIn profile.

5. Creighton Hicks

Creighton Hicks is a partner at LiveOak Venture Partners, bringing experience from other major firms like Dell Technologies Capital and Kleiner Perkins. His background is rooted in enterprise technology, with previous roles at VMware and IBM.

He shows a strong preference for B2B software, especially in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and developer tools. Investments in companies like DryRun Security and CloudKnox Security point to his interest in technically complex products for enterprise customers.

Hicks is a good match for founders with deep technical knowledge who are building enterprise or SaaS solutions. If your company is raising a Seed or Series A round in these sectors, he could be a relevant investor to connect with.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: SaaS, Cybersecurity, Cloud Infrastructure, Developer Tools, AI
• Geographical presence: Austin, Texas
• Ideal investment range: $250K - $4.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: DryRun Security, CloudKnox Security, Passage Identity

You can find more information about Creighton Hicks on his firm's website or his LinkedIn profile.

What Austin’s Angel Investor Activity Tells Us

The investors we've covered provide a useful window into Austin's funding scene. It's clear the city has a robust community of investors ready to support companies at different points in their journey.

While there is a strong concentration of investors focused on early-stage rounds like seed and Series A, you can also find partners for later stages. This suggests a well-balanced environment where founders can secure capital from idea to expansion.

The city's investors also show a wide range of industry interests. You'll find support for everything from consumer brands and e-commerce to deep-tech areas like cybersecurity, AI, and BioTech.

This variety means that with thorough research, you can build a targeted list of investors who are a genuine fit for your vision. Finding a partner who aligns with your company's stage and sector is a critical step in your fundraising process.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Building a focused list of relevant investors is one of the most effective ways to manage your fundraise. With limited time and energy, concentrating your efforts on the right people makes all the difference.

If you’ve just raised, Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes. Our platform offers business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay designed for startups.

This allows you to manage your new capital efficiently from a single platform. It helps direct your angel investment toward growth and operations, not manual financial tasks.

FAQs about Angel Investors in Austin, Texas

How do I find angel investors in Austin?

Start by networking at local startup events and using professional platforms like LinkedIn. You can also research local VC firms in Austin, as their partners sometimes make personal angel investments in early-stage companies.

Are there angel investors in Austin for SaaS startups?

Yes, Austin has a strong community of investors interested in SaaS. Many local angels and VCs in SaaS have experience in this sector and actively look for B2B software companies with high growth potential.

What about angel investors in other Texas cities?

Absolutely. While Austin is a major hub, you can also find active angel investors and venture capital firms in other Texas cities like Dallas and Houston, each with its own growing startup community.

What is the difference between an angel investor and a VC?

Angel investors typically invest their own money in very early-stage companies. Venture capital (VC) firms invest institutional funds from limited partners, usually in larger amounts and at slightly later funding stages.

How can I manage my funds after raising from an angel investor?

Once you've secured funding, a unified financial platform is key. Rho offers banking, corporate cards, and expense management to help you deploy your capital efficiently and focus on growing your business.