New York Angels
Encyclopedia
New York Angels is an organization of business angel investor
s based in New York, New York, US that provides equity capital
for early stage companies, primarily in the field of technology and new media. Its members typically invest between US$250,000 and US$1,000,000 in companies that have begun operations but are not yet ready for venture capital
.
New York Angels is the successor group to the Angel Investor Program of the former New York New Media Association (NYNMA), which began as the industry association representing the fast-growing technology companies in what was nicknamed Silicon Alley
. In 1997, at the suggestion of a number of NYNMA's original founders, including Brian Horey, Laura Sachar, Alain Bankier and Jason Wright, the organization facilitated the creation of program to match new entrepreneurs with experienced Angel Investors. Following the crash of the dot-com bubble
, NYNMA was disbanded and in 2003 the active angel investors whom it had brought together spun themselves off into a separate, not-for-profit group under the leadership of David S. Rose
, a serial entrepreneur and investor.
Since 2003, New York Angels has invested over $50 million into more than 60 early stage companies, mostly in and around the New York regional area. Among the 75 Accredited Investor members of the invitation-only group are Gideon Gartner
(Gartner Group and GIGA), Esther Dyson
(Release 1.0 and PC Forum), Alan Patricof
(Apax Ventures and Greycroft Partners
), Scott Kurnit
(About.com
), Roger Ehrenberg (IA Capital), Jeff Stewart (Mimeo.com), Jon Whelan (AfterNIC.com), Linda Holliday (Digitas Health) and other technology entrepreneurs. The group also accepts venture capital firms as members, among which are First Round Capital
, Softbank Ventures, RRE Ventures
, and SAVP/Greenhill.
New York Angels was the first member of the Angel Capital Association
, the professional trade group of American angel investor organizations.
Angel investor
An angel investor or angel is an affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity...
s based in New York, New York, US that provides equity capital
Ownership equity
In accounting and finance, equity is the residual claim or interest of the most junior class of investors in assets, after all liabilities are paid. If liability exceeds assets, negative equity exists...
for early stage companies, primarily in the field of technology and new media. Its members typically invest between US$250,000 and US$1,000,000 in companies that have begun operations but are not yet ready for venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
.
New York Angels is the successor group to the Angel Investor Program of the former New York New Media Association (NYNMA), which began as the industry association representing the fast-growing technology companies in what was nicknamed Silicon Alley
Silicon Alley
Silicon Alley is a nickname for an area with a concentration of Internet and new media companies in Manhattan, New York City. Originally, the term referred to the cluster of such companies extending from the Flatiron District down to SoHo and TriBeCa along the Broadway corridor, but as the location...
. In 1997, at the suggestion of a number of NYNMA's original founders, including Brian Horey, Laura Sachar, Alain Bankier and Jason Wright, the organization facilitated the creation of program to match new entrepreneurs with experienced Angel Investors. Following the crash of the dot-com bubble
Dot-com bubble
The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1995–2000 during which stock markets in industrialized nations saw their equity value rise rapidly from growth in the more...
, NYNMA was disbanded and in 2003 the active angel investors whom it had brought together spun themselves off into a separate, not-for-profit group under the leadership of David S. Rose
David S. Rose
David Stuart Rose was an American politician and was twice elected mayor of the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin serving from 1898 to 1906 and from 1908 to 1910....
, a serial entrepreneur and investor.
Since 2003, New York Angels has invested over $50 million into more than 60 early stage companies, mostly in and around the New York regional area. Among the 75 Accredited Investor members of the invitation-only group are Gideon Gartner
Gideon Gartner
Gideon I. Gartner is an entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known as the founder of Gartner, an information technology research and advisory company.- Early life :Gartner was born in Israel and grew up in New York City...
(Gartner Group and GIGA), Esther Dyson
Esther Dyson
Esther Dyson is a former journalist and Wall Street technology analyst who is a leading angel investor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and commentator focused on breakthrough innovation in healthcare, government transparency, digital technology, biotechnology, and space...
(Release 1.0 and PC Forum), Alan Patricof
Alan Patricof
Alan Patricof is an American investor and one of the early pioneers of the venture capital and private equity industries. Patricof founded Apax Partners , which is today one of the largest private equity firms globally.-Career:Over the course of his 40-year career in...
(Apax Ventures and Greycroft Partners
Greycroft Partners
Greycroft Partners is a venture capital firm focused on investments in early stage companies primarily in the digital media sector. The firm raised its first fund with $75 million of investor commitments and has deployed that fund into 34 companies....
), Scott Kurnit
Scott Kurnit
Scott P. Kurnit is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor inmedia and technology.-Early career:After graduating from Hampshire College with a BA in Communications, Kurnitbecame a Program Director at WGBY-TV He was the youngest program director...
(About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
), Roger Ehrenberg (IA Capital), Jeff Stewart (Mimeo.com), Jon Whelan (AfterNIC.com), Linda Holliday (Digitas Health) and other technology entrepreneurs. The group also accepts venture capital firms as members, among which are First Round Capital
First Round Capital
First Round Capital is a venture capital firm that specializes in providing seed-stage funding to technology companies. Managed by Josh Kopelman, Chris Fralic, Rob Hayes and Howard L. Morgan, the Philadelphia-based company typically provides seed-stage investment that ranges from $250,000 to $500,000...
, Softbank Ventures, RRE Ventures
RRE Ventures
RRE Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on investments across several disciplines, including software, internet, mobile, financial services, environmental, and other related technologies, primarily within the United States, and especially in and around New York...
, and SAVP/Greenhill.
New York Angels was the first member of the Angel Capital Association
Angel Capital Association
Angel Capital Association is the official industry alliance of over 100 of the largest angel investor groups in the United States. Since its founding in 2004, it has played a significant role in bringing together the previously separate angel and venture capital industries, in order to make...
, the professional trade group of American angel investor organizations.