Investors
The Georgetown Angel Investor Network (GAIN) is seeking members who, in addition to investing, have the time and desire to be active in the network by sourcing deals, contributing to due diligence and, when possible, providing expertise and/or mentoring to the companies.
Membership Requirements
A Georgetown alumnus/a, current faculty member.
Individual accredited investor.
Annual membership dues ($295 as of July 2024)
Mandatory New Member Orientation (virtual)
GAIN is not accepting applications from members who represent accredited investors or invest on behalf of an investment fund.
Why become a member?
GAIN creates avenues for early-stage investment opportunities, bolsters professional networks and enables engagement with the Georgetown alumni community. Through GAIN, you help strengthen Georgetown’s entrepreneurial innovation and spirit.
As a member, you will be invited to participate in networking events and educational programs with other Georgetown alumni investors.
GAIN is a member of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), the largest angel professional organization in the world. As a member of GAIN, you have access to resources, industry trends, discounts to the annual conference and ACA’s educational webinar program. Click here for ACA’s Member benefits.
Why deploy your capital through GAIN?
The GAIN review committee assess every company that applies for funding and approves three to five companies to pitch. These pitches take place three to four times a year. GAIN hosts the events either in-person or online via Zoom. Members who are interested in a company work alongside other members to conduct due diligence. Each member makes his/her own decision on whether to invest. We are not a fund nor do we have a minimum investment requirement (although the company may have a minimum).
We use a secure online angel investing software platform, Gust, for collaboration, deal flow management and due diligence. A student fellow assists with the recommended due diligence process and outline for the “Deal Lead” to execute. While GAIN filters deal flow to facilitate pitch days, members have access to all companies within the platform and can pursue any investment independently.
GAIN is not responsible for due diligence and is not an intermediary in the investment. We function as a means to spark connections between angel investors and entrepreneurs.
Apply today.
Interested alumni/faculty investors are encouraged to apply. Our review process for new applicants is on-going but has periodic deadlines throughout the year.
Upcoming Investor Application Deadlines
Check out the Events page to see the next member/investor application deadline
“GAIN allows me, as an investor and alum, to have both potentially significant financial gains whilst supporting an immeasurably impactful cause about which I am passionate.”
— Devon George (B’00)
FAQ
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Georgetown Angel Investor Network members are required to be affiliated with Georgetown University and be accredited investors. Most Georgetown Angel Network members are alumni, but current faculty and parents are also eligible for membership. Graduates from any of Georgetown’s undergraduate or graduate programs are eligible for membership. Members are required to pay annual membership dues ($295 as of July 2024).
For the most up-to-date information on accredited investor requirements, please see the SEC’s accredited investor bulletin.
Members are also expected to be active in the network, which includes:
Suggest potential new members who should join the network
Actively source investment opportunities
Collaborate and contribute to diligence processes and investment decisions
Participate in member meetings and/or video conference presentations
Provide support and guidance for portfolio companies based on experience and expertise
PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept applications from members who represent accredited investors nor work of an investment fund.
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GAIN charges annual membership dues. Currently dues are $295 per year. GAIN membership dues directly support the operational aspects of running the network, including the following existing and future elements (annual membership dues are not a tax-deductible donation to Georgetown University):
Angel Capital Association membership for the network and individual benefits for members ACA is a professional society of accredited angel investors who make up the world’s most prolific early-stage investment class. It is the largest professional development organization for angel investors in the world, deploying more than $650 million in capital each year. By the numbers: 15,000+ members, 250 angel groups and family offices, and 30,000+ entrepreneurial companies within member portfolios.
Providing hands-on student experience and exposure with venture capital/angel investment Leveraging the MSB Venture Fellow program and Cawley Career Center VIEW program, GAIN employs MBA and undergraduate students throughout the academic year and summer to support deal flow, diligence, and portfolio engagement.
Member events and networking opportunities In addition to our three pitch events, GAIN plans to expand programming and networking opportunities virtually and in person to assist in continuing to build community within the network.
Portfolio management for the network GAIN will be leveraging Seraf, which provides visibility into a portfolio to track, analyze, and report on early-stage investments allowing investors to understand investing better, learn faster and drive superior returns.
Access to additional deal flow and investment opportunities GAIN will be implementing opportunities to provide access to additional deal flow and investment opportunities throughout the year and outside of the three pitch events. Opportunities may include access to additional companies not selected to pitch and access to follow-on funding opportunities for existing GAIN portfolio companies.
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GAIN members invest in Georgetown-affiliated startups. Companies must meet the following criteria to be considered for investment:
Have a founder, senior executive, board member or major investor who is a Georgetown alumnus/a, current faculty, staff, or parent.
Team: Operate in attractive markets with impressive teams. Since we invest early, the team is paramount.
Traction: Companies typically have at least 6 months of customer data. Most of the companies we fund have between $50,00-500,000 in revenue.
Stage: We are seed investors. Usually GAIN members invest in companies valued between $3-8M raising between $500K-$2M.
Deals that already have a lead investor or initial capital commitments in place are preferred.
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GAIN is an alumni volunteer-run organization that sits within the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Alliance (GEA) and under the Georgetown University Alumni Association (GUAA). As an organization, GAIN is fully committed to the missions the Alumni Association and Georgetown’s Jesuit values.
Oversight and operational support are provided by:
GAIN Board: alumni angel investors and entrepreneurial leaders who guide strategy and operations.
Senior Director of Alumni Alliance & Affinity Engagement: A Georgetown University Alumni Association staff member who assists with the general operations and volunteer support of GAIN.
Student Fellows: exceptional student(s) from Georgetown University who support, all aspects of the network including deal diligence, transaction management, and communications.
Are there management or investment fees? Is there a requirement that members invest in opportunities that other members have decided to invest in?
No. GAIN members are NOT committing capital to a fund and are not required to invest in any deals. Individual members are free to either invest or not invest in any opportunity as they so choose.
Is there a minimum annual investment amount? Or Pledge?
There is not currently a minimum investment or pledge. However, our Investors typically invest at least $10,000-$25,000 per year. Separately, a company conducting fundraising may have a minimum investment requirement.
What does GAIN provide Members?
Deal Flow, Deal Vetting, Platform for Deal Management and Due Diligence
The GAIN Board Investment Review Committee (IRC) evaluates each company that applies for funding and curates three to five companies to pitch, multiple times a year.
Pitches are conducted in-person and online via Zoom.
We use a secure online angel investing software platform, GUST, for collaboration, deal flow management and due diligence.
A GAIN fellow assists with the recommended due diligence process and outline for the “Deal Lead” to execute.
While GAIN filters deal flow to facilitate pitch days, members have access to all companies within the platform and can pursue any investment independently.
GAIN is not responsible for due diligence, is not an intermediary in the investment and does not provide advice on specific deals. We function as a liaison between angel investors and entrepreneurs.
How does the Georgetown Angel Investor Network source and screen potential investment opportunities?
The Georgetown Angel Investor Network actively sources investment opportunities from existing members, the GAIN Board, and the global Georgetown community, as well as direct applications via our Georgetown Angel Investor Network website.
What is GAIN’s investment decision process?
Members who are interested in moving forward on a deal work alongside other members to conduct due diligence. Each member makes his/her own decision on whether to invest.
Can GAIN members see all deals in addition to the ones selected to pitch?
Yes! All GAIN members have access to all deals through gust.com.
How are deal negotiations managed?
A GAIN member and investor serves as the “Deal Lead”. This person is the initial point of contact for the entrepreneur. The GAIN Board is informed periodically on the proposed deal terms and status of the investment.
If none of the deal investors feel experienced enough to negotiate deal terms, one of our GAIN Board members or an experienced member will help. However, we prefer that an investor in the deal serve as the “Deal Lead”.
Where can I find upcoming pitch event information?
Please visit the Events page to view upcoming pitch events. Pitch events are for GAIN members. They occur three to four times a year in person or online via Zoom. The Investment Review Committee evaluates every company that applies for funding and curates three to five companies to showcase for each pitch event.
Where can I learn more about angel investing or find reference material?
GAIN is a member of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), the largest angel professional organization in the world. By joining GAIN, you have access to resources, industry trends, discounts to the annual conference and to ACA’s educational webinar program. Click here to read more on ACA’s Member benefits.
GAIN also hosts educational events throughout the year. They will be posted on the Events page.
Who can see a list of GAIN members?
The Network respects the privacy of members and will not publish a membership list. Companies that submit do not have access to GAIN member information. As companies enter the formal diligence process with GAIN, interested members will be introduced to the company. Afterwards, members can share background information with companies.
GAIN members can make their contact information available to other GAIN members through GUST, the GAIN deal flow platform.