9 Angel Investors in the United States Supporting Startups

For founders raising capital, finding the right partners is crucial. Understanding the world of angel investors in United States can connect you with individuals who provide not just funding, but also valuable early-stage guidance.

Unlike many venture capital firms, angel investors often use their own funds and can be more flexible in their approach. They frequently get involved earlier in a company's life, offering mentorship alongside their investment.

To help you find the right fit, our team at Rho curated this overview of notable angel investors. This guide is designed to help you quickly identify individuals who may align with your vision.

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Top Angel Investors in United States By Stage

Angel investors typically get involved at the pre-seed and seed stages, where they can offer hands-on guidance and help shape a company from its earliest days.

Understanding an investor's preferred stage helps you target your outreach and connect with partners who are the right fit for your current growth phase.

Pre-seed Angel Investors in United States

The pre-seed round is typically the first capital a startup raises, often used to validate the core business idea and build an initial prototype. Among the many US angel investors active at this stage are Bill Trenchard, Betsy Cohen, and Frank Torti.

Seed Stage Angel Investors in United States

Seed funding helps a company with early traction finance its first steps toward growth, such as product development and market entry. This list of angel investors in the US includes several who focus on this phase, like Christine Aylward, Barak Kaufman, and Bill Trenchard.

Series A Angel Investors in United States

Once a startup has a proven business model, Series A funding is used to scale operations and optimize the go-to-market strategy. Founders seeking this level of investment might connect with angel investors in the US such as Dan Tapiero, Scott Sandell, and Jeremy Whelchel.

Series B Angel Investors in United States

Series B is a growth stage round focused on expanding market share and building out the team to meet rising demand. Notable United States angel investors who participate in this stage include Dan Tapiero, Scott Sandell, and Mike O'Dell.

Keep in mind that many investors are flexible, participating in rounds across different funding stages based on the opportunity.

To help you find the right match, here is our overview of notable angel investors in the United States. We've included information on their typical investment stages, industry interests, and what distinguishes them as potential partners.

1. Dan Tapiero

Dan Tapiero is a global macro investor and the founder of 10T Fund, a private equity firm focused on mid-to-late-stage companies in the digital asset ecosystem. He is known for his deep experience in financial markets and a strong focus on the Web3 and crypto sectors.

His investment approach centers on established companies in high-growth phases, often participating in Series A and B rounds. Notable investments like Ledger and QuickNode show his interest in foundational infrastructure for the digital economy.

Tapiero may be a great partner for founders with proven traction in the Web3 space who are preparing to scale significantly. His background is particularly suited for companies seeking capital and strategic guidance for their Series A or B rounds.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Web3/Crypto, SMB Software
• Ideal investment range: $100K – $5.0M, with a sweet spot around $1.5M
• Notable portfolio companies: Ledger, QuickNode, Figure

You can find more information about Dan Tapiero on the 10T Fund website or his LinkedIn profile.

2. Scott Sandell

Scott Sandell is a managing general partner at the venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA). With a long career at the firm, he has been involved in a wide range of technology and energy investments.

His investment interests are broad, including enterprise software, consumer internet, and ClimateTech. Sandell often participates in Series A and B rounds, backing companies like VAST Data and Transfix that are ready to scale.

Founders with a validated business model in his areas of focus who are seeking significant growth capital could find a strong partner in Sandell. His role at NEA suggests access to extensive resources and a deep network.

• Investment stages: Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: SaaS, Enterprise, ClimateTech/CleanTech, Consumer Internet
• Ideal investment range: $2.0M – $50.0M, with a sweet spot around $25.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: VAST Data, Transfix, Inkitt

You can find more information about Scott Sandell on the NEA website or his LinkedIn profile.

3. Betsy Cohen

Betsy Cohen is a highly experienced financial executive and the founder of FTAC, a firm known for sponsoring special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). Her career is marked by founding and leading several banks, giving her deep operational knowledge in the financial sector.

Her investment activity shows a strong preference for FinTech and DeepTech companies, participating in rounds from pre-seed to Series B. Investments in companies like Arta Finance and Railsr highlight her focus on businesses building new financial infrastructure.

Founders building companies in the FinTech space could find an ideal partner in Cohen. Her extensive background in banking and capital markets is particularly valuable for startups that require sophisticated financial and regulatory guidance.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: FinTech, DeepTech
• Ideal investment range: $100K – $5.0M, with a sweet spot around $1.5M
• Notable portfolio companies: Arta Finance, Railsr, ClickSWITCH

You can find more information about Betsy Cohen on the FTAC website or her LinkedIn profile.

4. Bill Trenchard

Bill Trenchard is a partner at First Round Capital and a founding partner at Founder Collective, with a background as a serial entrepreneur. His experience founding companies like LiveOps and Jump Networks gives him a founder-centric perspective on investing.

He concentrates on early-stage investments, typically at the pre-seed and seed rounds. His interests are broad, spanning SaaS, enterprise software, and consumer health, with investments in companies like Verkada and Ossium Health.

Trenchard is an excellent match for early-stage founders who value hands-on guidance from an investor with deep operational experience. His focus on the pre-seed and seed stages makes him a key partner for companies just starting their growth journey.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed
• Industries of focus: SaaS, Enterprise, Consumer Health, ClimateTech/CleanTech, Hardware
• Ideal investment range: $750K – $4.0M, with a sweet spot around $2.4M
• Notable portfolio companies: Verkada, Ossium Health, EvolutionIQ

You can find more information about Bill Trenchard on his First Round profile or his LinkedIn profile.

5. Barak Kaufman

Barak Kaufman is an active angel investor who participates in venture capital rounds, focusing on early-stage companies across several technology sectors. His investment activity shows a pattern of backing businesses in FinTech, Health IT, and SaaS.

He primarily engages at the pre-seed and seed stages, providing foundational capital to help startups get off the ground. His portfolio, which includes companies like Adalo and Wonderful, suggests an interest in businesses with strong product-led growth potential.

Kaufman could be a great fit for founders in his key industries who are seeking their first check to build an MVP or find initial market traction. His investment range is well-suited for early, catalytic funding before a larger institutional round.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: Health & Hospital Services, FinTech, Real Estate/PropTech, SaaS, Health IT
• Ideal investment range: $25K – $150K, with a sweet spot around $75K
• Notable portfolio companies: Adalo, Wonderful, Screenloop

You can find more information about Barak Kaufman on his LinkedIn profile or Crunchbase.

6. Mike O'Dell

Mike O'Dell is a venture partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), where he concentrates on technology investments. He is recognized for his work with companies in the cloud infrastructure space.

His investment activity centers on later-stage companies, particularly in Series B rounds, with a clear interest in cloud infrastructure. Notable investments like Cleversafe and Vonage highlight his focus on businesses that are scaling their core technology platforms.

O'Dell is a strong potential partner for founders whose companies have already established product-market fit and are seeking substantial capital for expansion. His position at NEA is particularly beneficial for technology companies ready to scale their operations significantly.

• Investment stages: Series B
• Industries of focus: Cloud Infrastructure
• Ideal investment range: $2.0M – $50.0M, with a sweet spot around $25.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Cleversafe, Vonage

You can find more information about Mike O'Dell on the NEA website or his Crunchbase profile.

7. Frank Torti

Frank Torti brings a unique blend of medical, business, and investment experience to his angel investing. He is the current CEO of Telavant and a former partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), indicating a background in institutional venture capital.

His investment activity is concentrated in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors at the pre-seed and seed stages. With an MD and an MBA, Torti offers deep domain expertise, which is reflected in his portfolio companies like Galera Therapeutics.

Torti is an ideal investor for founders with a background in life sciences or medicine who are seeking early-stage capital. His experience suggests he can provide valuable guidance on both the scientific and business aspects of building a healthcare company.

• Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed
• Industries of focus: Health & Hospital Services, Pharmaceuticals, Social Networks
• Ideal investment range: $10K – $50K, with a sweet spot of $25K
• Notable portfolio companies: Galera Therapeutics, OrphoMed, Tarveda Therapeutics

You can find more information about Frank Torti on his LinkedIn profile or Crunchbase.

8. Christine Aylward

Christine Aylward is the founder of Magnetic Ventures, a firm that reflects her deep commitment to the healthcare sector. Her investment activity is concentrated in companies working at the intersection of health and technology.

Aylward primarily backs companies at the seed and Series A stages, showing a preference for businesses developing solutions in digital health, biotech, and health IT. Her portfolio, which includes companies like Relation Therapeutics and Weave, points to an interest in technology-driven healthcare platforms.

She is a great potential partner for founders with a background in healthcare or life sciences who are seeking early-stage funding. Her experience as a firm founder suggests she can provide strategic support for companies ready to build and scale.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A
• Industries of focus: Health & Hospital Services, Digital Health, BioTech, Health IT
• Ideal investment range: $100K – $5.0M, with a sweet spot around $1.5M
• Notable portfolio companies: Relation Therapeutics, Weave, SameSky Health

You can find more information about Christine Aylward on the Magnetic Ventures website or her LinkedIn profile.

9. Jeremy Whelchel

Jeremy Whelchel is a partner at GV (formerly Google Ventures), where he invests across a broad spectrum of technology sectors. His work covers areas from AI and robotics to FinTech and enterprise software.

His investment activity shows a flexible approach, participating in rounds from seed to Series B. An investment in the Web3 security company Blowfish points to an interest in foundational technologies, while his large investment sweet spot suggests he often engages in significant growth-stage rounds.

Whelchel could be a strong partner for founders building technology-intensive companies who are looking for an investor to support them through multiple funding stages. His position at GV is particularly suited for companies that can benefit from deep technical resources and a global network.

• Investment stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Industries of focus: Health IT, FinTech, Robotics, SaaS, Enterprise, AI, Security
• Ideal investment range: $250K – $50.0M, with a sweet spot around $25.0M
• Notable portfolio companies: Blowfish

You can find more information about Jeremy Whelchel on the GV website or his LinkedIn profile.

What United States’s Angel Investor Activity Tells Us

This overview of prominent angel investors in the United States offers a few key takeaways for your fundraising strategy. The market appears quite balanced, with investors active across all funding stages, from pre-seed to Series B.

You’ll find partners who concentrate on the earliest rounds, while others tend to engage with companies ready for later-stage growth. This means that no matter your company's current phase, there are potential investors to connect with.

We also see considerable diversity in sector focus, with strong representation in FinTech, HealthTech, SaaS, and Web3. This variety suggests that founders from many different industries can find knowledgeable capital. Our list is a starting point for your own detailed research to find the right fit.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Focusing on the right investors saves you valuable time and energy during a fundraise. This targeted approach helps you connect with partners who are genuinely aligned with your vision.

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 growing companies.

This allows your angel capital to be directed toward growth and operations. You can reduce time spent on manual financial administration and concentrate on building your business.

FAQs about Angel Investors in United States

How many angel investors are in the US?

The exact number fluctuates, but estimates suggest there are hundreds of thousands of active angel investors in the US. The key is not the total number, but finding the right ones for your specific company and stage.

Are there angel investors in US cities outside of Silicon Valley?

Yes, major tech hubs like New York and Austin have active angel communities. Many investors also operate remotely, so your location does not have to limit your fundraising opportunities.

Which sectors attract US angel investors?

While SaaS, FinTech, and HealthTech are popular, many US angel investors also focus on other areas. You can find investors interested in everything from generative AI to consumer goods and ClimateTech.

How do I find a list of angel investors in the US?

Beyond curated lists like ours, you can find angel investors through networking events and professional platforms. Researching companies in your industry to see who funded their early funding rounds is also a great strategy.

How are angel investors different from venture capital firms?

Angel investors typically invest their own personal funds and often get involved at the earliest stages. VCs manage pooled capital from limited partners and usually write larger checks for companies with more established traction.

How can Rho help after I secure angel funding?

Once you've raised capital, Rho helps you manage it effectively. Our platform combines banking, corporate cards, and expense management, letting you focus on growth instead of financial admin.