Funding the
future of DC Tech
District Angels is a new kind of investing collective - activating capital, community, and conviction across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We bring seasoned and first-time angels together to fund the nation's most exciting startups, while building capacity through fellowships, deal flow, and shared learning.
We're building a better way to angel invest
💸 Angels, we understand that:
- Investing is lonely and noisy
- Deal quality is inconsistent
- Due diligence is time-consuming and difficult to vet
- Many want in - but don’t know where to start or who to trust
- & there is much FOMO
Our Approach
🤝 We make investing more transparent and community-driven. Angels in our community get visibility into high-quality deals, can learn from others, and co-invest with confidence. Our Slack channel welcomes angels from various syndicates, .
🛠️ We create shared infrastructure for diligence. Our Venture Fellows support deal research and memo-writing - so members save time while making better-informed decisions.
🌱 We bring new energy into the ecosystem. We’re helping unlock the next generation of investors by cultivating talent that is values-driven. We believe who writes checks shapes what gets built.
📡 We syndicate signal, not just capital. We actively collaborate with other angel groups, VCs, universities, and founder networks to drive collective momentum and early conviction - so more great companies get funded faster. Low walls, no ego.
Our Investment Process
🔍 Scouting
We leverage our networks and unique partnerships, such as that with DC Tech Meetup, DC Tech Studio, DC Startup and Tech Week, and beyond, to identify promising startups. We build trust and actively maintain relationships with entrepreneurs to foster robust communication pathways.
🧠 Due Diligence
For deals that pique our curiosity, we seek a Champion Angel, who is partnered with a Venture Fellow and a Deal Team member to drive towards further clarity by analyzing market sizing and business model to founder readiness and growth potential. Angels
💰 Investment
When we believe a company is ready, we present it to our syndicate. You’ll get a clear summary of our analysis and a chance to opt in. No pressure to invest in every deal—just thoughtful opportunities and the flexibility to follow your conviction.
Membership
- Accredited Investor Status: Prospective members should meet the criteria of accredited investors as outlined here.
- Membership Fees: Membership is currently free, though we may introduce a nominal fee in the future to help support programming and operations.
- Minimum Investment Requirement: Members can participate in any deal with a starting check size of $1,000 (+platform fees).
- Flexibility in Investment: Members are not obligated to invest in any or all deals presented.
- Investment Support: Members are not expected to be well-versed in the intricacies of investing; our team will provide guidance every step of the way.
- Global Participation: Angels from around the globe are welcome to our Slack to support our great founders. That being said, we host in person events only in the DMV (for now).
- Dedicated Communication Channel: Members will have access to our Slack group for seamless communication and closer engagement with the community.
- Ongoing Updates: For startups invested in, members will receive regular updates on progress and roadblocks, and be able to offer guidance when needed.
We’re a volunteer-led collective - open by design - because we believe the best ideas deserve better odds.
Join us to build bridges, back brilliance, and reimagine what angel investing can be in the DMV. ✨
You’re building the future. We’re here to help you fund it.
We’re an early-stage investor collective supporting founders across the DMV and beyond. We’re new, growing fast, and deeply embedded in the local ecosystem. Our mission is to make fundraising easier, clearer, and more collaborative for startups doing bold work.
What we look for
🧠 Stage: Pre-seed and Seed. For the right deals, we’ll consider Series A
🛠️ Sectors: We’re industry-agnostic, but especially love SaaS, FinTech, AI/ML, Health, Climate, and GovTech
💵 Check Size: $100K–$200K total syndicate check; $1K–$25K per angel. We're especially excited about co-syndicating!
We care about defensibility, some traction (even small!), and your grit + story-telling potential
How we do things
A Note on Community
We’re building a more accessible angel investing landscape in the DMV - one that welcomes new investors, collaborates across groups, and makes it easier for great founders like you to *efficiently* raise capital.
If you know angels looking to co-invest, share deals, or syndicate more easily, we'd love to meet them.
Also, we are a fully volunteer-run, brand new collective in the DMV. Our processes may take longer, but please be patient with us! We'll surely provide you value.
Investing needs a new pipeline.
Talent shouldn’t be gated. Conviction shouldn’t be reserved for the well-connected. We believe the next generation of investors isn’t sitting on the sidelines - they’re ready to get in the game.
The District Angels Fellowship gives ambitious students and early-career professionals hands-on access to the early-stage investing world. Fellows help decide what gets funded.
What you’ll do
🔎 Source & Select: Sift through our deal flow and help identify standout startups for internal review
🧠 Diligence Deep Dives: Work alongside seasoned investors to analyze startups - traction, market, team, defensibility, and more
📝 Write Investment Memos: Turn your research into actionable insights shared with our investor community
🎤 Present to Partners: Lead learning sessions to present your findings and sharpen your lens
📈 Grow Your Network: Connect with investors, founders, and ecosystem operators across the DMV and beyond
Who this is for
We’re looking for curious, sharp thinkers who want to become investors, operators, or founders. You're also:
- A grad student or recent graduate (<5 years since undergrad)
- Eager to learn by doing, not just reading
- Passionate about startups, innovation, and economic transformation
- Interested in VC, PE, tech, finance, or policy
- Based in the DMV - or want to plug into its growing startup scene
💥 8–10 hours/week. 10 weeks. Twice a year.
🚀 Why We Built This
Startups shouldn’t struggle alone - and neither should aspiring investors. We created the DA Fellowship to bring fresh energy, new voices, and critical thinking into a space that too often recycles the same perspectives. This is our way of building bridges across generations and sectors. And we’re just getting started.
Participating Companies
Give your feedback on DC tech incentives and taxes.
DCTAV is preparing written testimony for the official DC Tax Revision Commission on ways to improve local DC tech and startup taxes. We are also gathering feedback on DC tech and startup incentives.We want to include your feedback. Please take our survey.
Leadership
Member Benefits
Resources
