Tech Coast Angels (TCA), a not-for-profit organization, has been consistently ranked as one the top five angel investment groups in the U.S., and has been fueling the growth of innovative companies and supporting entrepreneurs since 1997. TCA identifies, mentors and funds early stage and startup companies to help get their ideas to market, and where TCA members devote their time, expertise and capital to help companies successfully grow.
TCA currently has more than 425 members consisting of experienced C-Level executive (CEO, CFO, CFO, CIO, CMO), owners/founders of small companies, senior executives, current and former entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, academicians, doctors, lawyers, and other professionals. In addition to regular members, TCA has virtual members for those who do not live within the geography of a network chapter as well as affiliate members who may invest as an entity and can include Family Offices, foundations, corporate VCs, and other VCs. Members not only invest but also frequently serve on boards and assist companies with relationships, strategy, supply chain, team building and additional fundraising. TCA has maintained outstanding deal flow and a simplified yet organized process for screening and promptly completing due diligence.
Founded in 1997, Tech Coast Angels (TCA) has invested more than $270 million in more than 520 companies and has helped attract more than $2.1 billion in additional capital/follow-on rounds. One of the largest and most active angel investor groups in the nation, TCA has steadily remained one of the top three angel groups nationally–in number of funded deals, amounts invested in those companies, and number of members–for over two decades. From 2019 – 2022, TCA invested more than $15 – 21 million each year in 40 – 55 companies per year.
TCA is a leading source of funding for seed-stage and early-stage companies, and its members are founders and business leaders, all accredited investors with extensive knowledge in the investment process and world-class business practices. That real-world experience allows TCA members to provide companies with benefits beyond capital: counsel, mentoring, and access to an extensive network of investors and other resources.
The most recent Halo Report rated TCA as #2 nationally in number of funded deals. A recent analysis by CB Insights ranked TCA #1 out of 370 angel groups on “Network Centrality” and #5 overall in “Investor Mosaic.” In December 2020, TiE (named Tech Coast Angels the Most Active Angel Network in the World. These numbers and the success of TCA generally are a function of on both individual investments by its members as well as investments from three regional TCA Network funds which supplement the investments by its individual members.
The Tech Coast Angels network is comprised of more than 400 members within TCA Los Angeles, TCA Orange County, TCA Inland Empire, and licensees including Pasadena Angels and MEDA Angels. Each network holds screening sessions, normally semi-monthly, where entrepreneurs present their companies and investment opportunity to the TCA membership. While a member joins a specific network, he/she is able to and encouraged to participate in any other network’s activity — including training sessions, seminars, special meetings between entrepreneurs and investors and other events.
Tech Coast Angels, one of the first angel groups in the country, is ever-mindful that some of the world’s greatest companies began with angel investments and we take our commitment to that tradition seriously. Our TCA members collaborate with each other on deal flow and due diligence and then make individual decisions regarding potential investments. TCA also has three funds in the LA, OC and SD networks which invest alongside individual sidecar investments. The funds help members achieve instant diversification and risk reduction. All investments are made under a common term sheet. Not limited to a specific technology, industry, or geographic location, our members invest in exciting companies in a wide range of industries including biotech, pharma, medtech, consumer products, Internet, IT, media, software and environmental, among others.
Tech Coast Angels is a major catalyst and hub in helping build not only Southern California’s economy into a thriving center of technology and entrepreneurship, but also helps the US economy through our investments across the country. Our members are highly active in the entrepreneurial community, attending and participating in conferences, networking events, entrepreneurial competitions and other venture capital events. TCA itself sponsors many events throughout the year. Relationships with the major colleges and universities in Southern California, incubators, accelerators, and as part of the Angel Syndication Network, provide us both access to potential commercialization opportunities and expertise that is invaluable as we analyze potential investments.
TCA has relationships with more than 50 angel groups, incubators and accelerators and receives numerous investment opportunities for review from our relationship with angel groups across the United States. Our relationship with the venture capital community, incubators, and accelerators often gives us early looks at deals from them that fit our investment criteria. TCA also has an excellent relationship with the major economic development agencies in Southern California which are often a referral source of entrepreneurial /investment ideas. All these sources keep our deal pipeline full which is critical in creating a high-quality diversified pool of investments for our members.