15 Angel Investors in Palo Alto Driving Growth

For founders raising capital, connecting with the right angel investors in Palo Alto is a critical step. This part of Silicon Valley is home to individuals who can provide more than just capital, offering valuable guidance from personal experience.

Unlike many venture capital firms, angel investors often bring direct mentorship to the table, making the right personal fit even more important for your company's early growth.

To help you find that fit, our team at Rho curated this overview of active angel investors in the area. Use this guide to quickly understand who might be relevant for your fundraising conversations.

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Top Angel Investors in Palo Alto By Stage

Many angel investors in Palo Alto concentrate on pre-seed and seed rounds. This allows them to apply their operational experience and help guide a company from its earliest days.

Understanding which investors are active at your particular stage helps you target your fundraising efforts and connect with the most relevant people.

Pre-seed Angel Investors in Palo Alto

Pre-seed is the earliest funding stage, often used to validate your initial idea and build a minimum viable product before seeking further investment. Among the angel investors in Palo Alto active at this stage are Charlie Cheever and Michael Jin.

Seed Stage Angel Investors in Palo Alto

Seed funding typically helps a startup with initial market traction to accelerate product development and begin marketing efforts. For founders raising a seed round, investors like Theresia Gouw, Puneet Agarwal, and Biao He are worth looking into.

Series A Angel Investors in Palo Alto

Series A funding is for companies with an established user base and consistent revenue, used to scale operations and expand market reach. Some Palo Alto angel investors who participate in this stage include Peter Fenton, Shawn Carolan, and Rama Sekhar.

Series B Angel Investors in Palo Alto

Series B funding is for companies that are well-established and ready to expand significantly, often into new markets. You might find investors like Miles Clements, Alex Kurland, and David Su participating in rounds at this level.

Keep in mind that many investors are multi-stage and may invest across different funding rounds depending on the opportunity.

Here is a closer look at some of the most active angel investors in Palo Alto. We've included key details on their investment stages, sector focus, and what makes each a compelling partner for founders.

1. Peter Fenton

Peter Fenton is a General Partner at Benchmark, a well-known venture capital firm he joined in 2006. He has a long history in the industry, having previously been a Managing Partner at Accel.

Fenton often invests in foundational technologies, with a portfolio that includes significant companies like Docker, Cockroach Labs, and Timescale. He participates in rounds from Seed to Series B, showing a commitment to companies at various growth phases.

Founders building businesses in cloud infrastructure and enterprise software may find Fenton to be a strong partner. His experience suggests a focus on product-centric companies that create essential tools for other businesses.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Sector focus: Cloud Infrastructure, Enterprise, BioTech, Consumer Internet
• Investment range: $2.0M - $20.0M
• Notable investments: Docker, Cockroach Labs, Timescale, Digits

You can find more information about Peter Fenton on his LinkedIn profile or the Benchmark website.

2. Theresia Gouw

Theresia Gouw is a co-founder and managing partner at Acrew Capital. She is a prominent figure in venture capital, recognized for her early and successful investments in the security and enterprise software sectors.

Her investment thesis often centers on companies working in AI, security, and enterprise software at the seed and Series A stages. Notable companies in her portfolio include the cybersecurity firm Exabeam and the healthcare platform Solv.

Founders building technology-driven businesses in her core focus areas may find her to be a valuable partner. Her background suggests a preference for companies with clear product-market fit and the potential for significant scale.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Sector focus: Enterprise, AI, Security
• Investment range: $1.0M - $7.0M
• Notable investments: Exabeam, Solv, HYCU, Pacaso

You can find more information about Theresia Gouw on her firm's website or her LinkedIn profile.

3. Charlie Cheever

Charlie Cheever is an active angel investor with a broad portfolio. He invests across a wide range of sectors and funding stages, from pre-seed ideas to companies raising their Series B.

His investment activity shows a flexible approach, with check sizes ranging from $10K to $500K. He has backed companies in AI, SMB software, gaming, and real estate technology, including notable investments in Etched.ai and Harmonic.

Cheever could be a good match for founders in his core sectors who are looking for an investor with a wide-ranging perspective. His willingness to invest at multiple stages suggests he can be a long-term partner.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B
• Sector focus: AI, SMB Software, Games, Real Estate/PropTech
• Investment range: $10K - $500K
• Notable investments: Etched.ai, Harmonic, Logseq, Socket

You can find more information about Charlie Cheever on his website or LinkedIn profile.

4. Puneet Agarwal

Puneet Agarwal is a partner at the early-stage venture capital firm True Ventures, where he has been investing since 2008. His background includes extensive experience in product management at companies like BEA Systems and Geodesic Systems.

Agarwal concentrates on Seed and Series A investments, often in enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, and tools for small and medium-sized businesses. His portfolio includes companies like the code automation platform Moderne and the data security company Veza.

Founders with a strong product focus who are building technical solutions for businesses may find Agarwal to be a relevant investor. His deep experience in product suggests he can provide valuable guidance for companies at this stage.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Sector focus: Enterprise, Cloud Infrastructure, SMB Software, Social Networks
• Investment range: $1.0M - $50.0M
• Notable investments: Veza, Moderne, Understory

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

5. David Su

David Su is a partner at Apax, following more than a decade as a partner at Norwest Venture Partners. He has a history of investing in companies across the enterprise, FinTech, and consumer internet sectors.

Su’s investment activity shows a focus on both Seed and Series B rounds, a combination that suggests he can support companies from their early days through significant growth stages. His portfolio includes companies like the ed-tech platform Swing Education and the fundraising platform Classy.

Founders building businesses in enterprise software, IoT, or FinTech may find Su to be a relevant investor. His experience at large venture firms indicates he can be a valuable partner for companies preparing to scale.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series B
• Sector focus: Enterprise, IoT, FinTech, Consumer Internet
• Investment range: $1.0M - $30.0M
• Notable investments: Swing Education, Classy, GAN Integrity

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

6. Miles Clements

Miles Clements is a partner at Accel, where he focuses on investments in enterprise, cloud infrastructure, and SaaS companies. He has a track record of backing businesses from their early stages through significant growth phases.

A key aspect of his investment approach is his involvement across Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds, indicating he can be a long-term partner for founders. His portfolio includes high-growth companies like Remote, Podium, and Bumble, showing an interest in businesses with the potential for massive scale.

Founders building enterprise or SaaS companies who are looking for a partner to support them through multiple funding stages may find Clements to be a good fit. His experience suggests a focus on companies that are ready to scale their operations and market presence.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Sector focus: Enterprise, Cloud Infrastructure, SaaS, Consumer Internet
• Investment range: $15.0M - $70.0M
• Notable investments: Remote, Podium, Bumble, Linear

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

7. Shawn Carolan

Shawn Carolan is a Partner at Menlo Ventures, where he has been investing since 2002. His background as an engineer and a founding CEO gives him a blend of technical and operational experience that he brings to his portfolio companies.

He concentrates on Seed and Series A investments, often in FinTech, enterprise software, and media. His portfolio includes breakout companies like Chime and ShipBob, indicating a knack for identifying businesses with high-growth potential early on.

Founders in his key sectors who value a partner with hands-on operational experience may find Carolan to be a strong match. His history suggests an interest in companies that are ready to build a scalable foundation.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Sector focus: FinTech, Media/Content, Enterprise, Consumer Internet
• Investment range: $8.0M - $15.0M
• Notable investments: Chime, ShipBob, Arc Boats, OpenSpace

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

8. Rajeev Dham

Rajeev Dham is a partner at Sapphire Ventures, a global venture capital firm. He is known for backing high-growth companies of consequence, with a focus on enterprise, FinTech, and digital health sectors.

He primarily invests at the Seed and Series A stages, but his involvement in later rounds for companies like Chargebee and Hightouch shows he supports businesses through their growth. His focus is on B2B technology, particularly SaaS and marketplace models that have the potential to become market leaders.

Dham may be a good match for founders building enterprise software or health tech platforms who need a partner for substantial funding rounds. His investment range suggests he is looking for companies with clear potential for large-scale impact.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Sector focus: Enterprise, SaaS, FinTech, Digital Health, Marketplaces
• Investment range: $10.0M - $100.0M
• Notable investments: Hightouch, Gorgias, Chargebee, Qualified

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

9. Alex Kurland

Alex Kurland is a Partner at Meritech Capital, a venture firm that specializes in later-stage investments. He is known for backing high-growth technology companies, primarily at the Series B stage.

Kurland’s investment activity shows a clear focus on enterprise applications and FinTech. His portfolio includes major players like the automation software company UiPath and the security platform Verkada, signaling an interest in businesses with established market traction.

Founders leading established companies in the enterprise or FinTech sectors that are ready for a significant growth round may find Kurland to be a relevant partner. His focus on Series B suggests he is best suited for companies looking to scale aggressively.

• Investment stages: Series B
• Sector focus: FinTech, Enterprise Applications
• Investment range: $5.0M - $25.0M
• Notable investments: UiPath, Verkada, tray.io, Huntress

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

10. Rama Sekhar

Rama Sekhar is a Partner at Norwest Venture Partners, where he has been investing since 2009. He tends to back companies building foundational technologies in enterprise, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity.

Sekhar invests across Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds, showing a capacity to support companies from their early days through major growth stages. His portfolio includes technical companies like Harness and Dremio, which points to a focus on product-centric businesses with deep engineering roots.

Founders building highly technical products in cybersecurity, developer tools, or cloud infrastructure may find Sekhar to be a good partner. He seems particularly well-suited for teams that need a long-term investor who understands complex software.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Sector focus: Cloud Infrastructure, Enterprise, Cybersecurity, AI, Developer Tools
• Investment range: $1.0M - $30.0M
• Notable investments: Veza, Harness, Dremio, InfluxData

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

11. Dror Nahumi

Dror Nahumi is a General Partner at Norwest Venture Partners, where he has been investing since 2008. He tends to back companies in enterprise software, cybersecurity, and AI.

Nahumi invests across Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds, showing he can support companies from their early stages through significant growth. His portfolio includes companies like the data platform lakeFS and the security company ActiveFence.

Founders building businesses in enterprise software, AI, or cybersecurity may find Nahumi to be a relevant investor. His experience suggests a focus on companies with strong technical foundations.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Sector focus: Enterprise, Cybersecurity, AI, Semiconductors, Consumer Internet
• Investment range: $1.0M - $30.0M
• Notable investments: lakeFS, ActiveFence, Guidde, Intezer

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

12. Biao He

Biao He is a founding partner at Tsingyuan Ventures, a firm that invests in early-stage technology companies. He is particularly active in the BioTech sector, backing companies at their earliest stages.

His investment approach is concentrated on the Seed stage, with a focus on companies in the life sciences. A notable investment in his portfolio is the biotech company Cureseq.

Founders building a BioTech company and raising a Seed round may find Biao He to be a relevant investor. His firm's focus suggests an interest in technically-driven solutions with the potential for significant impact.

• Investment stages: Seed
• Sector focus: BioTech
• Investment range: $100K - $10.0M
• Notable investments: Cureseq

You can find more information about Biao He on the Tsingyuan Ventures website or his AngelList profile.

13. Craig Frances

Craig Frances is a Managing Director at Summit Partners, bringing a unique perspective to venture capital as a physician. He is known for his focus on the healthcare sector, where he primarily backs growth-stage companies.

His background as a doctor gives him deep domain expertise in areas like digital health, biotech, and health IT. He invests across multiple stages, from Seed to Series B, and was involved with companies like Healthline Media.

Founders building technology-driven healthcare businesses may find Frances to be an insightful partner. His experience suggests he can provide valuable guidance on navigating the complexities of the health industry.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Sector focus: Health & Hospital Services, Digital Health, BioTech, Health IT
• Investment range: $5.0M - $50.0M
• Notable investments: Healthline Media

You can find more information about Craig Frances on the Summit Partners website or his LinkedIn profile.

14. Doug Dooley

Doug Dooley is an active angel investor and the current Chief Operating Officer at Data Theorem. His background includes time as a Venture Capitalist at Venrock, giving him experience from both the operator and investor sides of the table.

He has a clear focus on cloud and enterprise infrastructure, investing at the Seed and Series A stages. His extensive product and engineering background at companies like Cisco and Citrix suggests a product-centric approach and deep technical knowledge.

Founders building foundational technologies for businesses, particularly in the infrastructure space, may find Dooley to be a good fit. His operational experience could be especially helpful for early-stage teams refining their product and go-to-market strategy.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Sector focus: Cloud Infrastructure, Enterprise Infrastructure
• Investment range: $10K - $100K
• Notable investments: VeloCloud, Evident.io, Niara

You can find more information about Doug Dooley on his LinkedIn profile or AngelList profile.

15. Michael Jin

Michael Jin is a Managing Partner at Tsingyuan Ventures and a founding partner of the TEEC Angel Fund. His extensive background as a CTO and VP of Engineering gives him a strong technical perspective when evaluating early-stage companies.

He invests from pre-seed to Series A, with a clear interest in hardware, biotech, and enterprise software. His portfolio, which includes companies like Subtle Medical and iSono Health, reflects his deep technical expertise and background in biomedical engineering.

Founders with deep technical experience, particularly those building complex hardware or biotech solutions, may find Jin to be a valuable partner. His operational history suggests he can offer practical guidance to teams navigating early product development.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Sector focus: Hardware, Enterprise, BioTech, Data Services, Education
• Investment range: $100K - $10.0M
• Notable investments: Subtle Medical, iSono Health, DataFox

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

What Palo Alto’s Angel Investor Activity Tells Us

Looking at the investors on our list, it’s clear that Palo Alto offers a robust funding environment for founders. There is a strong concentration of investors active in Seed and Series A rounds, but many also participate in later stages like Series B, showing a willingness to support companies through multiple growth phases.

The sector focus is also quite varied. While enterprise software and cloud infrastructure are common themes, you'll find significant activity in specialized areas like FinTech, BioTech, and AI.

For you, this means there are many potential partners available, whether you're just starting out or are ready to scale. The key is to research which individuals align with your company's specific stage and industry to make the most of your fundraising efforts.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Having a focused list of relevant investors is a significant advantage when fundraising. It saves you critical time and energy, allowing you to concentrate on the most promising conversations.

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

This allows you to manage your new capital efficiently. Your angel investment can be directed toward growth and operations, not lost to manual financial admin.

FAQs about Angel Investors in Palo Alto, California

What are the most common sectors for Palo Alto angel investors?

Many Palo Alto angels focus on enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, and AI. However, you'll also find investors interested in specialized areas like BioTech and FinTech, reflecting the area's diverse technology ecosystem.

How do I find angel investors in Palo Alto?

Beyond lists like this one, networking is key. You can also explore platforms and other strategies to identify potential investors who align with your company's stage and sector, helping you build a targeted outreach list.

Are there other Bay Area cities with active angel investors?

Yes, the entire Bay Area is a hub for early-stage funding. Many investors are also active in nearby cities like Menlo Park and San Francisco, so it's worth expanding your search beyond just Palo Alto.

Do Palo Alto angels invest in pre-seed rounds?

Yes, many do. Investors like Charlie Cheever and Michael Jin are active at the pre-seed stage. This early support is often crucial for validating an idea and building an initial product before seeking larger rounds.

What is a typical check size from a Palo Alto angel investor?

Check sizes vary widely, from $10K for an early-stage investment to several million from partners at larger firms. The amount often depends on the investor's strategy, your company's stage, and the specific funding round.

How can Rho help after I secure angel funding?

Once you've raised capital, our platform helps you manage it effectively. With business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay, Rho provides the financial tools you need to focus on growing your business.