Early-stage startups can open doors by connecting with the Hawaiʻi Angels: gain funding, get strategic advice, and find the networks needed to scale.
Early-stage startups can open doors by connecting with the Hawaiʻi Angels: gain funding, get strategic advice, and find the networks needed to scale.
For Founders
Pitch Our Investors
As early-stage investors, the Hawaiʻi Angels tend to look at startups at the Pre-seed, Seed, and Series A stages.
Our "sweet spot" is post-revenue Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and app products—which comprise over half our pitches. Beyond these, we also invest in tech hardware, consumer packaged goods (food, beverage, and other consumables), and scalable retail and service businesses.
We don't have hard-and-fast requirements, but our organization generally considers businesses for investment that meet all of the following guidelines:
Current committed annual revenue of $25,000 or more (unless the company relies on innovative new science/development requiring substantial R&D expenses)
National or international focus (cannot be primarily limited to a single location/market)
Scalable to produce $5 million in annual revenue—or more—within 5 years
Businesses that don't meet Guidelines 2 or 3 above, but which are already producing $500,000+ in revenue annually will also sometimes be considered by our members for alternative investments (such as royalty models).
Get started with the Hawai'i Angels
We utilize Gust.com to manage our dealflow.
Please submit your application using the button above, which will ensure we are notified by Gust.
It is REQUIRED that you attach a pitch deck to your application.
For Founders
Pitch Our Investors
As early-stage investors, the Hawaiʻi Angels tend to look at startups at the Pre-seed, Seed, and Series A stages.
Our "sweet spot" is post-revenue Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and app products—which comprise over half our pitches. Beyond these, we also invest in tech hardware, consumer packaged goods (food, beverage, and other consumables), and scalable retail and service businesses.
We don't have hard-and-fast requirements, but our organization generally considers businesses for investment that meet all of the following guidelines:
Current committed annual revenue of $25,000 or more (unless the company relies on innovative new science/development requiring substantial R&D expenses)
National or international focus (cannot be primarily limited to a single location/market)
Scalable to produce $5 million in annual revenue—or more—within 5 years
Businesses that don't meet Guidelines 2 or 3 above, but which are already producing $500,000+ in revenue annually will also sometimes be considered by our members for alternative investments (such as royalty models).
Get started with the Hawai'i Angels
We utilize Gust.com to manage our dealflow.
Please submit your application using the button above, which will ensure we are notified by Gust.
It is REQUIRED that you attach a pitch deck to your application.
Our Investment Process
From deal flow to "done deal"
We escort founders through a process from sourcing through investment
Our Investment Process
From deal flow to "done deal"
We escort founders through a process from sourcing through investment
Our Investment Process
From deal flow to "done deal"
We escort founders through a process from sourcing through investment
01
Step
01
Deal sourcing
We field submissions from dozens of startups each month, from our members, our extended network, and through our application portal on the Gust service.
01
Step
01
Deal sourcing
We field submissions from dozens of startups each month, from our members, our extended network, and through our application portal on the Gust service.
Step
01
Deal sourcing
We field submissions from dozens of startups each month, from our members, our extended network, and through our application portal on the Gust service.
02
Step
02
Screening
Our Managing Director selects a handful of startups to introduce at our monthly Screening Committee sessions—made up of a small subset of our members—to listen to pitches, kick tires, and offer feedback on pitching to our group.
02
Step
02
Screening
Our Managing Director selects a handful of startups to introduce at our monthly Screening Committee sessions—made up of a small subset of our members—to listen to pitches, kick tires, and offer feedback on pitching to our group.
Step
02
Screening
Our Managing Director selects a handful of startups to introduce at our monthly Screening Committee sessions—made up of a small subset of our members—to listen to pitches, kick tires, and offer feedback on pitching to our group.
03
Step
03
Member Meeting
Once a month, our full membership gathers in person at the Pacific Club in Honolulu to see presentations from two companies our Screening Committee selected, in addition to occasional intros to sidecar opportunities from our members' personal or VC-firm dealflow. After the presentations, we discuss and collect interest from members for further due diligence.
03
Step
03
Member Meeting
Once a month, our full membership gathers in person at the Pacific Club in Honolulu to see presentations from two companies our Screening Committee selected, in addition to occasional intros to sidecar opportunities from our members' personal or VC-firm dealflow. After the presentations, we discuss and collect interest from members for further due diligence.
Step
03
Member Meeting
Once a month, our full membership gathers in person at the Pacific Club in Honolulu to see presentations from two companies our Screening Committee selected, in addition to occasional intros to sidecar opportunities from our members' personal or VC-firm dealflow. After the presentations, we discuss and collect interest from members for further due diligence.
04
Step
04
Follow-up
We assign one of our members to be a Deal Honcho for each startup that successfully garners member investment interest. The Deal Honcho works with the founders to assemble due diligence information, and then organizes a Zoom-based follow-up meeting (typically a week later) for the interested members and the founder to discuss. Following this process, founders and members can engage privately to discuss investment.
04
Step
04
Follow-up
We assign one of our members to be a Deal Honcho for each startup that successfully garners member investment interest. The Deal Honcho works with the founders to assemble due diligence information, and then organizes a Zoom-based follow-up meeting (typically a week later) for the interested members and the founder to discuss. Following this process, founders and members can engage privately to discuss investment.
Step
04
Follow-up
We assign one of our members to be a Deal Honcho for each startup that successfully garners member investment interest. The Deal Honcho works with the founders to assemble due diligence information, and then organizes a Zoom-based follow-up meeting (typically a week later) for the interested members and the founder to discuss. Following this process, founders and members can engage privately to discuss investment.
Founder FAQs
Got questions?
What is an "angel investor"?
What is an "angel investor"?
Do you invest as a group or individually?
Do you invest as a group or individually?
How much am I likely to raise?
How much am I likely to raise?
What is required to pitch my company?
What is required to pitch my company?
Does my company have to be based in Hawaiʻi?
Does my company have to be based in Hawaiʻi?
Are there any fees/costs?
Are there any fees/costs?
Can I pitch my fund?
Can I pitch my fund?
Do I have to pitch in-person?
Do I have to pitch in-person?
Do you cover expenses?
Do you cover expenses?
Where should I stay?
Where should I stay?
Founder FAQs