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5 Ways to Find Angel Investors in Your City (That Actually Work)
"I don't know any investors" is the #1 thing I hear from first-time founders.
The good news? Angel investors are everywhere. The challenge is knowing where to look and how to approach them.
Here are 5 proven ways to find angels in your city:
1. Reverse-Engineer from Local Exits
How: Find companies in your city that were acquired in the last 3-5 years. Look up the founders on LinkedIn. Many became angels after their exit.
Where to look:
Crunchbase acquisitions filter (by location)
Local tech news sites
Your city's "40 under 40" or similar lists
Approach: "Congrats on the [Company] exit. I'm building in [space] and would love 15 minutes of advice."
Advice calls often turn into investment conversations when you're impressive.
2. Angel Groups in Your Region
Most cities have organized angel groups. They host pitch events, office hours, and networking.
How to find them:
Google "[your city] angel investor group"
Check Angel Capital Association directory
Ask at your local startup incubator
Examples by city:
Austin: Capital Factory Angels, Central Texas Angel Network
Denver: Rockies Venture Club
Atlanta: Invest Atlanta Angels
Seattle: Alliance of Angels
Pro tip: Many have application processes. Apply even if you're not "ready." Getting feedback from angels builds relationships.
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3. Portfolio Page Mining
The strategy: Find VCs who invest in your city at later stages. Look at their portfolio. Find companies that raised seed rounds 2-3 years ago. Look up who invested in those seed rounds on Crunchbase.
Those seed investors are often angels who invest locally.
Example:
VC firm invests in Denver companies at Series A
They backed Company X
Company X raised seed from 5 angels in 2022
3 of those angels have made 10+ other investments
Those are your targets
4. University and Accelerator Networks
Where:
Alumni investor networks (especially from top MBA programs)
Accelerator demo days (meet investors who attend)
University entrepreneur centers (often have angel networks)
How: Email the accelerator director: "I'm a local founder raising [round]. Can you introduce me to angels who typically invest in your graduates?"
Most accelerators WANT to help with this. It's how they market their program.
5. Industry Operators Who've "Made It"
Your best angels are often people who've worked in your industry for 20+ years and have liquidity.
Where to find them:
LinkedIn search: "[Your city] + [Your industry] + VP/SVP/Chief"
Industry conferences and events
Trade association boards
Approach: Lead with asking for advice on distribution, pricing, or GTM strategy. If they like what you're building, they'll often say "I'd be interested in investing."
The Operator Advantage: They bring industry expertise, customer intros, and credibility to future investor conversations.
Your Action This Week:
Pick ONE of these strategies. Spend 30 minutes building a list of 10 potential angels. Reach out to 3 this week with the email template from Monday.
Fundraising is a numbers game. You need to be talking to 20-30 potential investors at any given time.
P.S. Getting lost in investor research? Next Round has already vetted 100+ active seed investors who are looking for founders like you. Learn more here.