Four years ago, we launched our global angel investor community called Angel Squad. It was a bit of an experiment. When we first started, our goal was simple: break down the barriers that have traditionally kept most people out of angel investing – education, check size, dealflow, and networks. Our ambitious goal was to mint 10,000 new angel investors over the course of Angel Squad’s life.
That sounded like a tough goal back then, but today I’m incredibly excited to announce we’ve officially crossed 10,000 Angel Squad applications across 50+ countries!
Beyond Silicon Valley’s Model
Our journey to 10,000 applications reveals there’s an enormous appetite for angel investing globally. We’ve seen Squad applications from engineers in Bangalore, teachers in Buenos Aires, and entrepreneurs in Lagos — proving that great investment potential isn’t confined to Sand Hill Road.
You don’t need to be in a traditional tech hub to be a meaningful startup investor. Our 10,000 applications have come from every point in the globe — small towns in Latin America, the emerging MENA market, and regions historically left out of the startup funding conversation.
One of our members, a professional chef in Turkey, joined the Squad after attending one of our online workshops. Another, a commercial pilot based in Australia, saw our community’s global presence as a way to meet and support local entrepreneurs in the cities he flies to. These stories of global impact aren’t exceptions; they’re becoming the new norm.
Small Checks, Big Impact
When I wrote about our last major milestone of reaching 2,000 Angel Squad members, I highlighted how impactful micro-checks can be for founders. Just a few months later, more and more data points are coming in on how these small investments combined with their networks can be the lifeline for early-stage startups. Recently, a Squad member that works at Nike offered to introduce a portfolio company in the clothing space to one of their execs. One discussion led to the next, and Nike has since become that startup’s biggest client yet. People joke about how VCs try to be “value-add”, but angels who work in specific industries or domains can truly be valuable in opening doors for relevant companies in those spaces. Angel investors catalyze entire startup ecosystems. This is what has made Silicon Valley thrive – its robust angel investing community.
Our Vision Continues
Reaching 10,000 Angel Squad applications is incredible, but it’s just the beginning. Our goal remains to grow to 10,000 Squad members and now we’re moving the target to 100,000 angel investors who can support entrepreneurs globally, regardless of their background or location.
But, for us, each application represents more than just a potential investor. It represents a dream of supporting innovation and of believing that great founders can look like anyone and come from anywhere. We’re not just building an investment community; we’re creating a global network that breaks down economic barriers.
Let’s go!
To everyone who has applied, supported, and believed in our mission — thank you. The future of startup investing is global, accessible, and more exciting than ever before.
To mark this 10,000 application milestone, we’re going to go crazy and give away 30-day Guest Passes over the next 10 days.
To apply for a Guest Pass, simply fill out this Typeform. If selected, you’ll get the full Angel Squad experience to attend our weekly workshops, network with the community, and even invest in startups alongside Hustle Fund.
Tactical fundraising by Elizabeth Yin 