FUNDING
OUR INVESTMENT CRITERIA
The Pasadena Angels is committed to helping forward-thinking innovators, creators and entrepreneurs with the mentorship and funding that fuels success. Small businesses are major engines of economic growth and the cornerstone of emergent technologies, requiring capital and guidance during the critical early phases of the venture. We offer early-stage companies an opportunity to harness the insights and experience of more than a 100 successful entrepreneurs, senior executives, technologists and skilled professionals from a diverse set of industry
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The Pasadena Angels works with companies with the potential to build sustainable and successful businesses. Simply put, we're looking for companies with a solid proof of concept whose potential we can help to maximize. While we have invested in a wide variety of businesses and industries, we look for these basic requirements when evaluating your venture:
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United States Based Companies
Our focus is on supporting business ventures in California. We believe strongly that Pasadena Angels can add real value by investing in our region to nurture growth, promote prosperity, and foster collaboration. As opportunities expand in our increasingly connected worlds, US applicants located outside of California that meet our investment thesis are also encouraged to apply.
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Stage
Seed +. The company should have at least a prototype with customer discovery (from lean start up). The process is competitive thus the more traction you have the stronger your chances. Companies that have customers and revenue.
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Scalability
Must be able to grow to a $20+ million dollar company within 3-5 years.
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Industries
We are open to all industries but our most successful companies have been in technology especially in software as a service business. View our portfolio.
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Management Team
We are interested in companies that are driven by an energetic, talented team of founders and advisers. We particularly look for a track record of successful performance and leadership and a passionate commitment to your vision. The team should have experience in their current ventures industry.
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Market Opportunity
We invest in ventures that are focused on a large market opportunity with sufficient untapped potential. Your business strategy must reflect a realistic approach to its potential to capture a significant share of your target market.
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Proof of Concept
Your venture will have progressed beyond product proof-of-concept to clearly demonstrate its feasibility. A potential manufacturer, for example, will have progressed beyond early prototype to development of a production design.
Proprietary Assets
Your company should be able to demonstrate its key value proposition competitive advantage. The venture should possess proprietary assets, intellectual property or processes that distinguish it from its competitors.
Rapid Growth Potential
Your company should have a scalable business design with solid prospects for rapid growth. In particular, your company should have a clear strategy for generating profits, and managing revenue sources effectively.
Market Differentiation
We are looking for companies that are working toward compelling and defendable market differentiation. Your company will be focused on developing a strong business presence and establishing clear dominance in your market.
Know Your Customer
We are interested in companies that are pursuing marketing and sales strategies based on a keen understanding of their customer base. You must know who your customers are, what there needs are, and how to reach them.
Realistic Financials
You are realistic about your financing plan to fund growth toward profitability.
Your venture should have a clear, actionable plan and a realistic forecast of revenue projections under different conditions to predict likely outcomes.
Exit Strategy
Your company will be open to an exit strategy that provides strong returns. Because early-stage investment has a significant level of risk, our members look for a promising return within a defined period, with a clearly defined exit strategy.
If your company meets the above criteria, we would like to encourage you to apply to the Pasadena Angels for funding and welcome the opportunity to review your application.
MORE THAN MONEY
The Pasadena Angels is committed to helping forward-thinking innovators, creators and entrepreneurs with the mentorship and funding that fuels success. Small businesses are major engines of economic growth and the cornerstone of emergent technologies, requiring capital and guidance during the critical early phases of the venture. We offer early-stage companies an opportunity to harness the insights and experience of more than a 100 successful entrepreneurs, senior executives, technologists and skilled professionals from a diverse set of industry.
SUCCESS STORIES
Meet some of our successfully funded companies.
We don’t just invest in companies. We invest in the people who create them.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Pasadena Angels hold both private members only events as well as public outreach events. Our members only events include our social gatherings as well as our “Next Big Thing” panels on topics such as AI, Crytocurrency & Blockchain as well as AR/VR.
Our public events are our quarterly entrepreneurial outreach events such as our popular “How I got Funded” panels. We also partner with Innovate Pasadena’s annual Connect Week in October for events in the entrepreneurial space.