Entrepreneurs

Why apply for funding from GAIN?

GAIN provides access to capital and to investors/mentors/advisors from the members of the larger Georgetown Community. By participating in GAIN, you play a part in boosting Georgetown's entrepreneurial impact.

The GAIN Investment Review Committee reviews each company and selects the top three to five companies to pitch at each pitch event. These pitches are conducted in-person and online via Zoom three or four times a year. While GAIN filters deal flow to facilitate pitch days, members have access to all companies who apply and can pursue investment opportunities independently.

We offer a secure online angel investing software platform making it easy for you to submit your company information. In addition, we commit to provide high-level feedback to companies that are not selected to pitch.

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible to apply, the company MUST have a founder, senior executive, board member, advisor, or investor who is:

A Georgetown alumnus
A current student, faculty or staff member of Georgetown University
A parent of a current Georgetown alumnus or one of the foregoing who has a parent who is a Georgetown alumnus

What is GAIN looking for in a start-up?

Teams: Impressive teams in attractive markets: Since we invest early, the team is paramount
Traction: You should have at least 6 months of customer data. Most of the companies we fund have between $50K-500K in revenue
Stage: We are seed investors. Usually we invest in companies valued between $3-8M raising between $500K-$2M
Our pitches in-person and virtual via Zoom. We feel that offering virtual participation enables Georgetown start-ups and angel investors from around the world to join.
Deals that already have a lead investor or initial capital commitments in place are preferred

Apply today!

If you think your start-up is a good fit, please submit your application through Gust.

Visit the Events & Deadlines Page to view the upcoming pitch events and application deadlines.

Entrepreneur Application

2025 GEA Alumni Pitch Competition

Georgetown is heading to Philadelphia! After successfully gathering in Dublin—we can’t wait to come back stateside! The GEA and GAIN will host its 8th Alumni Pitch Competition at John Carroll Weekend Philadelphia - this is an event you won’t want to miss.

Join us for an exciting “Shark Tank-style” pitch competition between three ventures that are created, managed, and led by alumni. Each company will pitch in front of a live audience, followed by a quick-fire Q&A from seasoned alumni judges in the entrepreneurial and venture capitalist spaces. The winner of this pitch competition will get an opportunity to receive an investment prize from Georgetown Angel Investor Network members.

Applicants to the GEA Alumni Pitch Competition in Philadelphia on April 5, 2025 must have a founder, senior executive, board member, or significant investor who is a Georgetown University alumnus/a - and the alumnus/a must be willing to be the pitch presenter in person during the competition. The winner can choose to accept a pooled investment of up to $100,000, and all finalists will have the opportunity to pitch virtually to the wider GAIN membership a week and a half after the JCW pitch.

For more informaiton visit the pitch competition website and application website.

GAIN Review Process

The GAIN Entrepreneur Review Committee (ERC) will review all application materials and determine if your business could be of interest to our members. If selected, you will be invited to present in person and/or online via Zoom to the ERC. After this final evaluation, three to five companies will receive an invitation to present to the full network of GAIN members.

Following the presentations, investors who have expressed interest in a company will be invited to collaborate with other members on due diligence. Our investors make their own decisions about which companies and how much to invest. They collectively conduct due diligence and negotiations with the company separate from the network. GAIN only provides the connection and opportunity to connect for Georgetown investors and entrepreneurs.

Evaluation criteria

Is a capital-efficient, early stage growth company.
Is operating in a large and/or growing market with a barrier to entry (e.g., an intellectual property position).
Has a demonstrated proof of concept and can articulate the revenue strategy clearly. Note: Priority goes to applicants with revenue traction (users, clients, customers).
Has some unique / competitive advantage over other companies (or would-be companies) in the space.
Can articulate an exit strategy.
Has a strong founder and senior management team (with compelling presentation and strong delivery skills).
Has the stated Georgetown University connection.

“I am a big believer in building networks and that no founder builds in isolation. I also believe that we should look at the different networks we belong to and lean on them for help. Knowing that Julie Kennedy, my first employee, was a graduate of Georgetown made that network a logical group to contact. What I found was that the network was stronger than I even anticipated, and we have been so appreciative of the level of attention to detail throughout the process..”

— Joe Schneider, Circle

FAQ

GAIN is looking for the following in start-ups:
- Impressive teams in attractive markets: Since we invest early, the team is paramount.
- Traction: You should have at least 6 months of customer data. Most of the companies we fund have between $50K-500K in revenue.
- Stage: We are seed investors. Usually we invest in companies valued between $3-8M raising between $500K-$2M.
- Our pitches in-person and virtual via Zoom. We feel that offering virtual participation enables Georgetown start-ups and angel investors from around the world to join.
Deals that already have a lead investor or initial capital commitments in place are preferred.
The Selection Committee reviews the companies against the following criteria:
- Has the stated Georgetown University connection.
- Is capital-efficient, early stage growth company.
- Is operating in a large and/or growing market with a barrier to entry (e.g., an intellectual property position).
- Has a demonstrated proof of concept and can articulate the revenue strategy clearly. Note: Priority goes to applicants with revenue traction (users, clients, customers).
- Has some unique / competitive advantage over other companies (or would-be companies) in the space.
- Can articulate an exit strategy.
- Has a strong founder and senior management team (with compelling presentation and strong delivery skills).
GAIN does not sign non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements. Company information is shared with members through a private, secure online platform. Members are expected to keep all information confidential and to use information only for purposes of making investment decisions. Members are bound by a code of conduct and confidentiality agreement with GAIN; if any investor member distributes information outside the network without consent, he or she will be asked to leave the organization.
At later stages in the diligence process, individual members may be asked to sign an NDA or CA directly with the company. These agreements will not include GAIN as a party.
Companies initiate the process by completing an online application, via Gust. The ERC will review all application materials and determine if your business could be of interest to our members. If selected, you will be invited to present in person and/or online via Zoom to the Entrepreneur Review Committee. After this final evaluation, three to five companies will receive an invitation to present to the full network of GAIN members.
Following the presentations, investors who have expressed interest in a presenting company will be invited to collaborate with other members on due diligence. Our members decide in which companies they choose to invest. They also determine the amount of their contribution. Afterwards, the group of interested members conduct their own due diligence and negotiations with the company.