Last week I attended the annual TiE-AZ Angel Capital Event where 20 entrepreneurs presented their businesses to a panel of experienced angel investors and a large crowd of observers. I met many presenting entrepreneurs and attendees who were not aware of the existing angel investor groups in Arizona.
There are several active angel networks in Arizona: Arizona Technology Investor Forum (ATIF), Arizona Angels and Desert Angels. Smaller angel groups and events are growing too.
These angel investor groups provide a formal process for a network of investors to learn about new businesses and evaluate investment opportunities. They each have a screening process to select the best deals. Selected entrepreneurs are then invited to present at regular group meetings. Some networks invest as a group, while others invest individually.
Active Investor Networks in Arizona
Arizona Technology Investor Forum (ATIF)
ATIF members have directly invested $2.3 million in technology startup companies based in Arizona since 2007. ATIF focuses on technology ventures that are seeking seed or early-stage funding. www.atif-az.org
Arizona Angels
Arizona Angels is a network of investors that reviews and invests in a variety of startup and early stage companies based in Arizona. www.arizonaangels.com
Desert Angels
Desert Angels is a Tucson-based investment group that reviews and invests in early stage startups in a wide range of industries. www.edesertangels.com
Invest Southwest Capital Conference
While it is not a formal investor group, the annual Invest Southwest Capital Conference is a premier forum for Arizona companies to present to angel and venture capital investors. www.investsouthwest.org
Northern Arizona Angels
Northern Arizona Angels is affiliated with the Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies (NACET) in Flagstaff. www.nacet.org Contact Rick Gibson for information at rick@hotventures.com.
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Additional Angel Network Resources
- Inc. Magazine directory of national investor networks
- Angel Capital Association directory of angel organizations
- Arizona Angel Investment Tax Credit The Arizona state Department of Commerce provides state tax credits to investors who make capital investment in participating small businesses
- TiE Arizona The Phoenix chapter of TiE – a global support organization for entrepreneurs
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Dear Greg:
I love the new blog! It is great you are an angel investor now. You will be an asset to any entrepreneur building a company and brand given your success!
I am down here in Tucson learning from Bob Morrison, the Executive Director of the Desert Angels, everything he knows about angel investing (which is quite a bit). The Desert Angels are a great group!
Thanks for sharing the blog post and I look forward to possibly pitching you one day!
Thanks,
Micky Thompson
Greg — Thanks for commenting on the TiE Arizona event from this past Wednesday.
There are actually a few other angel groups around as well. Main Street Angels is one and, as I understand it, the Forest Angels of Flagstaff are currently being reorganized. Also, numerous angels have their own informal groups. The New Mexico Angels and Las Vegas Angels are also groups that have shown some interest in AZ-based deals.
Anil