Top 15 Angel Investors in San Francisco

For founders raising capital in the Bay Area, understanding the local network of angel investors in San Francisco is a critical first step. These individuals can provide the initial funding and support to get your company off the ground.

Angel investors often write the first check from their personal funds, which can mean a different kind of partnership compared to institutional venture capital firms.

To help you connect with the right people, our team at Rho has curated this overview of top angel investors active in the San Francisco area.

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 Angel Investors in San Francisco By Stage

Most angel investors in San Francisco focus on pre-seed and seed-stage companies, as this is where their capital and mentorship can have the most significant impact.

Understanding which investors are active at your particular stage will help you target your fundraising efforts more effectively.

Pre-seed Angel Investors in San Francisco

Pre-seed funding is the earliest stage of financing, often used to validate an idea and build a minimum viable product. While the San Francisco investors on our list primarily focus on later stages, many seed-stage investors are also open to pre-seed opportunities for promising teams.

Seed Stage Angel Investors in San Francisco

Seed funding helps a startup refine its product, expand its team, and begin to establish market traction. Among the many San Francisco angel investors active at this stage are Jed McCaleb, Alexander Rosen, and Stephanie Zhan.

Series A Angel Investors in San Francisco

Series A funding is for companies with a proven product and consistent revenue, intended to help them scale operations and optimize their user base. For founders reaching this milestone, investors like Ryan Sweeney, Sam Baker, and Vijay Pande have experience backing Series A companies.

Series B Angel Investors in San Francisco

This funding stage is focused on aggressive expansion, allowing companies that have met their Series A goals to grow their market share. You'll find that some of the top investors in San Francisco, including Michael Dixon, Andrew Reed, and Bryan Roberts, participate in Series B rounds.

It's also worth noting that many investors, such as Mike Volpi and Ping Li, are multi-stage investors who participate in rounds from Seed to Series B and beyond. This flexibility can be valuable for founders looking for long-term partners.

To help you find the right partner, we've gathered more detail on some of the top angel investors in San Francisco. We'll cover their typical investment stages, industry focus, and what makes each of them a compelling choice for founders.

1. Ryan Harris

Ryan Harris is a General Partner at Norwest Venture Partners, bringing a unique blend of medical and investment expertise to the firm. His background as a physician and researcher gives him a distinct perspective on the healthcare industry.

His experience as a medical doctor and researcher at Stanford's School of Medicine clearly informs his investment thesis, which centers on health-related sectors. He often invests in companies at both the Seed and Series B stages, with portfolio examples like Crossover Health and Onsite Dental.

Founders working on complex challenges in health IT, pharmaceuticals, or consumer health may find a valuable partner in Ryan. He is likely a good match for teams who can benefit from an investor with deep clinical and research-based insights.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series B
• Industries of focus: Health IT, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Health & Hospital Services
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $1M - $30M
• Notable portfolio companies: Crossover Health, Onsite Dental

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

2. Jed McCaleb

Jed McCaleb is an angel investor in San Francisco who participates in early-stage funding rounds. He is associated with Pantera Capital and is known for backing companies in the technology sector.

His investment activity shows a preference for Seed-stage companies in both the Enterprise and Consumer Internet spaces. With portfolio companies like AstroForge and Socket, he appears to support founders with ambitious technical goals.

Founders building businesses in the enterprise or consumer internet markets may find a good partner in Jed. He seems particularly well-suited for teams seeking early capital to develop their core product and find initial traction.

• Investment stages: Seed
• Industries of focus: Enterprise, Consumer Internet
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $1M - $40M
• Notable portfolio companies: AstroForge, Socket

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

3. Ryan Sweeney

Ryan Sweeney is a partner at Accel, a venture capital firm where he invests across a broad spectrum of technology companies. He is recognized for supporting businesses from their initial funding stages all the way to their growth rounds.

His investment activity shows a pattern of multi-stage support, with participation in Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds for companies like Transit and BrowserStack. His portfolio, which includes notable names like Gopuff and Xendit, indicates a strong interest in FinTech, SaaS, and consumer internet businesses.

Founders building scalable companies in these sectors may find Sweeney to be a good match. His history of backing companies through subsequent funding rounds suggests he is a valuable partner for teams seeking long-term support.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Cloud Infrastructure, FinTech, SaaS, Consumer Internet, Payments
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $15.0M - $70.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Gopuff, BrowserStack, Xendit, Misfits Market

You can find more information about Ryan Sweeney on his firm's website or his Twitter profile.

4. Alexander Rosen

Alexander Rosen is the co-founder and Managing Director of Ridge Ventures, where he concentrates on early-stage enterprise companies. With a long career in venture capital, including roles at Sprout Group and General Atlantic, he brings extensive experience to his investments.

His investment activity is centered on enterprise software, with a strong interest in SaaS, AI, and data services. His portfolio, which includes companies like SafeGraph and Horizon3.ai, shows a preference for businesses with deep technical foundations.

Founders building companies in the enterprise SaaS or data infrastructure markets would likely find a good partner in Rosen. His background suggests he is a good fit for teams that value an investor with both technical and financial acumen.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: SaaS, Enterprise, AI, Cloud Infrastructure, Data Services
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $1M - $7.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: SafeGraph, Horizon3.ai, Outlier

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

5. Sam Baker

Sam Baker is an investor at Scale Venture Partners, where he concentrates on early-stage companies. He is active in funding rounds for businesses in sectors like cybersecurity and robotics.

His investment activity shows a focus on Seed and Series A rounds, with a particular interest in SMB Software and Marketplaces. His background in growth and strategic planning at companies like Box and Tilt.com gives him a practical perspective on scaling a business.

Founders building companies in cybersecurity, robotics, or SMB software may find Baker to be a good partner. His operational experience suggests he is well-suited for teams looking for support in developing their commercial strategy.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: Cybersecurity, Marketplaces, Robotics, SMB Software
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $5.0M - $15.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: HUMAN, ProcessUnity

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

6. Ryan McDonald

Ryan McDonald is a partner at Norwest Venture Partners, where he concentrates on investments within the healthcare industry. His work involves supporting companies across various health-related fields, from pharmaceuticals to consumer health.

His investment activity shows a pattern of engagement across different growth phases, with participation in both Seed and Series B rounds. With portfolio companies like Scratch and Onsite Dental, he appears to back businesses that address needs in consumer health and direct-to-patient services.

Founders working in the health services or health IT sectors may find McDonald to be a good match. His experience across early and growth stages suggests he can be a supportive partner for teams with long-term ambitions.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series B
• Industries of focus: Pharmaceuticals, Health & Hospital Services, Health IT, Consumer Health
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $1M - $30.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Scratch, Onsite Dental

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

7. Michael Dixon

Michael Dixon is a partner at Transform Capital, where he invests in growth-stage companies. He is recognized for his activity in the health and software sectors, often participating in later-stage funding rounds.

His investment history shows a consistent focus on Series B companies, particularly within Health IT and SaaS. With portfolio companies like Nayya, Cleo, and Datavant, he has a clear interest in businesses that are scaling within the healthcare and data industries.

Founders with an established product in health services or enterprise software who are raising a Series B round may find a good partner in Michael. His focus on this specific growth stage suggests he provides capital to help companies expand their market presence.

• Investment stages: Series B
• Industries of focus: Health & Hospital Services, Health IT, SaaS, Consumer Internet
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $10K - $50K
• Notable portfolio companies: Nayya, Cleo, Datavant, Percolate

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

8. Mike Volpi

Mike Volpi is a partner at Index Ventures and a multi-stage investor who supports companies from their earliest days through their growth rounds. He is known for his broad interest in technology, with investments spanning from enterprise infrastructure to financial technology.

A key characteristic of his investment approach is his long-term commitment to portfolio companies, often participating in multiple funding rounds from Seed to Series B and beyond. His portfolio, which includes companies like Kong, Temporal Technologies, and incident.io, shows a focus on businesses with strong technical foundations.

Founders building companies in sectors like cloud infrastructure, AI, and data services may find a good partner in Mike. His experience supporting companies through significant scaling makes him a valuable investor for teams with long-term growth ambitions.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Cloud Infrastructure, FinTech, AI, Security, Data Services, Future of Work
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $100K - $2.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Kong, Temporal Technologies, incident.io, BRINC Drones

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

9. Andrew Reed

Andrew Reed is a partner at Sequoia Capital, where he concentrates on growth-stage companies. He is known for backing businesses in the consumer and software sectors as they prepare to scale.

His investment activity shows a pattern of engagement at the Series B stage, with a focus on FinTech, consumer internet, and SMB software. With portfolio companies like Strava, Vanta, and Phantom, he supports businesses that have already found product-market fit and are entering a high-growth phase.

Founders with established companies in his target industries who are raising a Series B round may find a strong partner in Andrew. His role at a major firm like Sequoia suggests he is a good match for teams with ambitions for significant market leadership.

• Investment stages: Series B
• Industries of focus: FinTech, Consumer Internet, SMB Software
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $10.0M - $200.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Strava, Vanta, Phantom, Tourlane

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

10. Ping Li

Ping Li is a partner at Accel, where he focuses on enterprise software companies. He is known for backing businesses in foundational technology sectors like cloud infrastructure, SaaS, and security.

His investment activity shows a pattern of multi-stage support, backing companies from their early rounds through significant growth, as seen with portfolio companies like Snyk and Sysdig. He has a clear interest in technically complex businesses that form the backbone of modern enterprise operations.

Founders building ambitious enterprise or cloud infrastructure companies may find a strong partner in Ping. He appears to be a good match for teams seeking a long-term investor who can provide support across multiple funding stages.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Enterprise, Cloud Infrastructure, SaaS, Security
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $15.0M - $70.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Snyk, Klaviyo, Sysdig, Jellyfish

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

11. Bryan Roberts

Bryan Roberts is a partner at Venrock, where he concentrates on companies in the healthcare sector. He is known for participating in growth-stage rounds for businesses in health and life sciences.

His academic background in chemistry and chemical biology from Harvard and Dartmouth informs his investment approach, giving him a deep technical understanding. He consistently backs companies in Series A and B rounds, with a portfolio that includes health-tech businesses like Lyra Health and Stride Health.

Founders with a strong scientific foundation building companies in biotech, medical devices, or health IT may find him to be a good partner. He is well-suited for teams seeking an investor who can appreciate complex technical challenges and support them through key growth stages.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Health & Hospital Services, BioTech, Health IT, Medical Devices
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $2.0M - $40.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Lyra Health, Element Biosciences, Stride Health

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

12. Vijay Pande

Vijay Pande is a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), where he leads the firm's investments in companies at the intersection of biology and computer science. His extensive background as a scientist and professor gives him a unique perspective on the health and biotech industries.

His approach is defined by his deep technical expertise, stemming from his time as a professor at Stanford and as the founder of the Folding@home distributed computing project. He invests across multiple stages, from Seed to Series B, and his portfolio includes companies like Devoted Health and BioAge Labs, indicating a focus on businesses with strong scientific foundations.

Founders with a background in computational biology, digital health, or biotech may find a strong ally in Vijay. He is an ideal partner for teams tackling complex scientific challenges who would benefit from an investor with both academic rigor and venture experience.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: BioTech, Digital Health, Health IT, Pharmaceuticals
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $100K - $10.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Devoted Health, BioAge Labs, Asimov, Levels

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

13. Stephanie Zhan

Stephanie Zhan is a Partner at Sequoia Capital, where she concentrates on early-stage companies. She is known for investing in both enterprise and consumer internet businesses.

Her investment activity shows a clear focus on Seed and Series A rounds, with a product-centric approach likely informed by her computer science background and past roles at Google and Nest. Her portfolio includes developer-focused companies like Linear and Replicate.

Founders building product-led companies, particularly in the enterprise software space, may find a strong partner in Stephanie. She is a good fit for teams who value an investor with deep technical and product experience.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: Enterprise, Consumer Internet
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $1M - $10.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Linear, Middesk, Replicate

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

14. Alex Clayton

Alex Clayton is a General Partner at Meritech Capital, where he concentrates on growth-stage companies. He is known for backing businesses in the enterprise software and cloud infrastructure sectors.

His investment activity centers on Series A and Series B rounds, with a clear emphasis on enterprise and SMB software. Portfolio companies like Flock Safety and Personio show his commitment to businesses that have found product-market fit and are ready to scale.

Founders leading growth-stage companies in sectors like SaaS, cybersecurity, or data services may find a good partner in Alex. He is well-suited for teams looking for capital to expand their market presence and scale operations.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: SaaS, Enterprise, Cybersecurity, Cloud Infrastructure, Data Services
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $5.0M - $25.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Flock Safety, Personio, Framer, tray.io

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

15. Sameer Gandhi

Sameer Gandhi is a partner at Accel with a long and distinguished career in venture capital, including a decade spent at Sequoia Capital. He is known for backing companies in both the consumer and enterprise software spaces as they enter their growth phases.

His investment activity shows a consistent focus on Series A and Series B rounds, with a broad interest in sectors like SaaS, consumer internet, and cloud infrastructure. With portfolio companies such as Public and Fictiv, he supports businesses that have established a market presence and are ready to scale.

Founders leading growth-stage companies in his areas of focus may find a valuable partner in Sameer. His extensive experience suggests he is well-suited for teams seeking an investor who can guide them through significant expansion.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: SaaS, Consumer Internet, Cloud Infrastructure, Consumer Health, Media/Content, SMB Software
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Ideal investment range: $15.0M - $70.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Public, Fictiv, Orum.io, DecisionLink

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

What San Francisco’s Angel Investor Activity Tells Us

After reviewing this list, it’s clear that San Francisco’s funding environment is quite balanced. The investors we’ve covered show strong support for companies from the Seed stage through Series B, rather than leaning heavily toward one end of the spectrum.

Many individuals on our list are multi-stage investors, which is a positive sign if you’re looking for long-term partners who can support you through different growth phases. In terms of industry, there is a noticeable concentration in enterprise software and health-related technologies, but also significant activity in FinTech and consumer internet.

This diversity suggests that founders across many sectors can find investors with relevant experience. The key is to identify individuals whose stage focus and industry knowledge align with your company’s specific needs and goals.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Fundraising requires immense focus, and your time is your most valuable asset. A targeted list of investors helps you direct your energy toward the right conversations.

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

This allows your new capital to be put to work on growth and operations, rather than being lost to manual financial admin. You can move forward with confidence, knowing your financial backend is managed efficiently.

FAQs about Angel Investors in San Francisco, California

How do I find a free list of angel investors in San Francisco?

While curated lists are helpful, you can also find investors by attending local industry events and researching SF-based VC firms, as many partners also make personal angel investments. Professional networks are another valuable resource.

Are there angel investors in San Francisco for SaaS startups?

Yes, San Francisco has a strong concentration of investors focused on enterprise software and SaaS companies. Many individuals on our list, including Ping Li and Alex Clayton, have experience backing businesses in this sector.

What is the typical check size for San Francisco angel investors?

Check sizes vary widely based on the investor and the company's stage. An angel might invest anywhere from $10,000 to over $100,000, often as part of a larger pre-seed or seed round with other investors.

Which other California cities have active angel investors?

Beyond San Francisco, California's tech ecosystem is robust. You can find active angel investors and venture capital firms in other hubs like Los Angeles, San Diego, and throughout Silicon Valley, including San Jose and Menlo Park.

How can Rho help after I secure angel funding?

Once your funding is secured, Rho helps you manage it effectively. Our platform provides integrated banking, corporate cards, and automated payables, letting you focus on growth. You can get started with Rho in minutes.