District Angels

About Us

Welcome to District Angels, the DCTAV Angel Investor Syndicate, dedicated to accelerating the growth of groundbreaking startups. Our syndicate comprises seasoned investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who are passionate about supporting and nurturing early-stage startups to help them achieve their full potential. We believe that the DMV has tremendous promise for growth, and we are committed to providing the necessary resources, mentorship, and funding to help startups succeed. Our primary focus is on tech and innovation startups that are solving real-world problems and creating disruptive solutions across various industries.

For Investors

Why Join our Syndicate?

From seasoned entrepreneurs to politicians and business leaders, District Angels strives to unite all committed to making the DMV a beacon of tech innovation on the global stage. 

As a member of our syndicate, you'll enjoy:
Unique Deals
+  Gain exposure to the rapidly growing tech and innovation startups in the DMV. 

+  Collaborate with fellow members who share your values and interests to combine investments.

+  Benefit from direct access to vetted investment opportunities.
Expert Network
+  Join a diverse group of self-starters, corporate executives, retirees, and emerging leaders, all with a stellar track record of making an impact.

+  Grow your personal and professional relationships with likeminded people.

+  Leverage subject matter experts and forge meaningful mentor/mentee relationships.
Growth Opportunities
+  Access panel events, workshops, networking opportunities, and more to deepen your understanding of angel investing. 

+  Develop your mentoring skills by advising and mentoring young companies. 

+  Forge meaningful connections with fellow DMV residents, foster lasting professional relationships. 

Our Investment Process

We strive to identify, evaluate, and invest in promising startups.

Our investment process includes:
Scouting
We leverage our networks and unique partnerships, such as that with DC Tech Studio to identify promising startups. We build trust and actively maintain relationships with entrepreneurs to foster robust communication pathways.
Due Diligence
Our team of experienced investors and entrepreneurs conduct thorough due diligence on each startup to assess their potential for success, market viability, and scalability.
Investment
Once we identify a startup with high potential, we present it to the syndicate (you) for consideration. Our investors have the opportunity to review the due diligence report and decide whether to invest. You don't need to invest in every deal - giving you ultimate flexibility.

Membership Details

If you resonate with our mission to drive meaningful change in our community and are interested in becoming a part of District Angels, please take a moment to review the following:
  • Accredited Investor Status: Prospective members should meet the criteria of accredited investors as outlined here.
  • Membership Fees: At the termination of the free trial, members will be charged a nominal fee of $300 to help cover operating expenses.
  • Minimum Investment Requirement: Members can participate in any deal with a starting check size of $1,000 (+platform fees).
  • Flexibility in Investment: Members are not obligated to invest in any or all deals presented.
  • Investment Support: Members are not expected to be well-versed in the intricacies of investing; our team will provide guidance every step of the way.
  • Global Participation: Members do not have to reside in the DMV area to invest; all domestic and foreign investors are welcome.  
  • Dedicated Communication Channel: Members will have access to our Slack group for seamless communication and closer engagement with the community.  
  • Ongoing Updates: For startups invested in, members will receive regular updates on progress and roadblocks, and be able to offer guidance when needed.  

Join Us Today!

If you are interested in joining our group and investing alongside other community-oriented investors in the DMV, we encourage you to reach out to us today! Our team will provide you with more information on our investment process, portfolio companies, and answer any questions you may have.
Join As Angel Investor

For Startups

If your Company...

has proven traction (minimal revenue ok!), employs disruptive technology, and has a compelling team, we are excited to get to know you.

Investment Criteria

  • Focus Sectors: We are industry agnostic and welcome startups across SaaS, CleanTech, FinTech, EdTech, AI/ML, Robotics, and more.
  • Focus Stages: Pre-seed, seed, and for the right deals, Series A.
  • Expected Check Size: $100-200K  

Our Investment Process

Once you submit your deck, here is the flow we follow...
1.) Invitation to Pitch
If your thesis and traction align with our expectations, we'll invite you to give a live pitch to our Investment Committee, followed by a brief Q&A session.
2.) Confidentiality Agreements + Deal Rooms Access
If you progress, we will send over NDAs and request access to your data/deal room to better understand your solution, financials, and traction.
3.) Due Diligence
Over 4-5 weeks, our investment fellows and deal leads will collaborate with you to gain insight into your growth plans, investor and customer testimonials, IP defensibility (when relevant), and more.
4.) Investment
Finally, we'll draft a memo with our findings (that you're also comfortable sharing with investors) and present the deal to our community of angel investors.
Following investment, we are committed to offering mentorship and resources to support you in achieving your growth objectives.

Join Us Today!

If you're raising or looking to get connected to key stakeholders in the DMV, we encourage you to reach out to us today! Our team will be in touch with more details.
Apply to Pitch

For Fellows

About the Fellowship

We are delighted to announce a part-time venture capital fellowship program, designed for 4-5 ambitious young professionals and graduate students from the DMV area curious about early-stage investing. 

As an Investment Fellow, you will receive comprehensive training and mentorship covering deal sourcing, founder evaluation, market analysis, technology assessment, memo writing, and fundraising.

Venture Fellow Responsibilities

Throughout the Fellowship, you will...
  • Sift through our deal flow to identify top candidates for partner review.
  • Choose startups that pique your curiosity and conduct thorough due diligence
  • Engage in weekly roundtable discussions with a General Partner/Limited Partner to present due diligence findings, seek insights, and deepen your understanding of venture capital
  • Create market reports and investment memos for our Investor Community 
  • Grow your network of investors, startup founders, business leaders, and more
  • Have the opportunity to gain a certain % of carry if/when the Syndicate invests in your startup(s), and it has a successful exit

Fellow Expectations

Please review the following qualifications needed for the application...
  • A graduate student or young professional (<5 years since completing a college program)
  • Committed to 8-10 hours of work per week
  • Experience assisting in conducting direct equity investing, including venture capital, private equity, and/or investment banking
  • Eagerness to research on and prepare investment memos
  • Interest in evaluating early-stage innovative startups (Pre-seed, seed, Series A round)
  • General curiosity about Venture Capital

Join Us Today!

If you're interested in catalyzing innovation in the DMV, you're in the right place! Our Fellowship is slated to begin in November'24, and is currently accepting applications. Apply now!
Join As Venture Fellow

Our Team

Sriram Gollapalli
Michael Luciani
Naviya Kothari

Contact Us

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