In this unprecedented and extraordinary time of the COVID-19 crisis, the Pasadena Angels recognize the vital contributions of the early-stage startups and small businesses that we invest in. You are responsible for the competitive innovations, jobs, and economic growth in this country; accounting for two-thirds of net new jobs in the US.

As angel investors, we each write individual checks to the companies that we invest in. This economic crisis has also affected our businesses and our cashflow. We have weathered several economic crises in our 20 years as angel investors, investing $90M in over 230 companies. We believe in the resilience of our community and the entrepreneurs who are building this economy. The next few months and even years will not be eas...

The Pasadena Angels announces the upward revision of our 2018 investment to $5.4 million from our previous report of $5.2 million, the largest annual investment in our 18 years as one of the United States’ most respected angel investing groups. 2018 was a watershed year for the Pasadena Angels with three noteworthy milestones.   

Our most important milestone is the fact that the companies receiving the top four largest investments were led by female founders, with an average round size over $400,000.  Female-led companies also accounted for 38% of the total investment in 2018.  While the Pasadena Angels do not have a mandate to invest in female-led startups, these companies and founders exemplify what we look for in a successful company.  These four...

The Angel Resource Institute spotlights the Pasadena Angels as one of the top four angel investing groups in California in its newly released report.   https://www.angelresourceinstitute.org/

We are proud to be a part of California’s vibrant economy, which is the 6th largest economy in the world. Our members have invested over $70 Million dollars in 185 companies in the last 17 years.  Some of our notable portfolio companies are Mindbody Software, Bluebeam, and Savara Pharmaceuticals.

The Pasadena Angels was founded in 2000 and is one of the longest running angel groups in Southern California. We were ranked one of the top ten angel investing groups in the country according to Forbes Magazine (2015).  

Pasadena Angel members have served as advisors, me...

Pasadena, California (February 23, 2017) – The Pasadena Angels (PA) today announced the fourth investment from their PA Fund 1 (The Fund).  The Fund invested an additional $100K in Repurpose, a Los Angeles based consumer products company that makes plant based, 100% compostable tableware products.  Repurpose is now distributed in over 4,000 stores nationwide including Safeway, Whole Foods, Target, Albertsons, Target, and Wegmans.  The Pasadena Angels have previously invested $750K in Repurpose.  This additional investment from The Fund will allow Repurpose to expand their product offering in the retail space and support their rapid growth in mainstream and mass retail.  Repurpose is also a Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) company, one of four LACI...

Richard Chino is passionate about investing in the business environment. In addition to his membership with the Pasadena Angels, Richard has been serving on the Board of ShipHawk, StaffRanker, and C2FO, and is a member of the Advisory Board of Chippmunk.

Today, Richard shares his views on how the Pasadena Angels fit in today’s competitive funding landscape.

Q, With so many options for today’s entrepreneur seeking funds – accelerators, incubators, super angels, crowdfunding – how do you see the Pasadena Angels fitting in?

RC: Often, I see us as complementary components of an investment round. We will rarely —almost never — say, “Okay, we love the company and we’re going to take the whole round, and no one else comes in.”

I’ll often advise applicants to s...

Dr. Ananth Natarajan is a physician and engineer specializing in the utilization of advanced technology to solve pressing clinical problems.  As a member of the Pasadena Angels, he brings extensive experience in the healthcare field to bear on emergent business opportunities.

Dr. Ananth founded Infinite Biomedical Technologies, LLC (IBT) in 1997 and served as the Chief Executive Officer of the company for over ten years. IBT is a medical device company, develops and supplies neurodiagnostic monitoring instruments for clinical care, research, and field setting applications.

Dr. Natarajan received his BSE in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering from Duke University at age 18, with Distinction.  He received an MSE in Biomedical Engineering from J...

Dr. Ananth Natarajan is a physician and engineer specializing in the utilization of advanced technology to solve pressing clinical problems.  As a member of the Pasadena Angels, he brings extensive experience in the healthcare field to bear on emergent business opportunities.

Dr. Ananth founded Infinite Biomedical Technologies, LLC (IBT) in 1997 and served as the Chief Executive Officer of the company for over ten years. IBT is a medical device company, develops and supplies neurodiagnostic monitoring instruments for clinical care, research, and field setting applications.

Dr. Natarajan received his BSE in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering from Duke University at age 18, with Distinction.  He received an MSE in Biomedical Engineering from J...

There are a lot of great Angel Funding opportunities in Southern California. Each organization utilizes different processes for the funding process.

I have listed below five reasons to bring your deal to the Pasadena Angels.

1) Mentorship: When you submit a deal to our group we select one of our accomplished members to discuss your business with you. The initial conversation will highlight your strengths and weaknesses and expose your opportunities and threats. If you are fortunate enough to continue through our screening, breakfast selection and due diligence you will have experienced successful people mentor through the whole process. This benefit is provided all free of charge. The companies that are funded usually have a Pasadena Angel board member to...

Having started two companies and been on the boards of several more, I have some first hand insights to what work and what doesn’t for early stage companies.  While the following are my top four, there are certainly many others.  And none of these are truly unique to me.  

Similarly, there are always examples of companies who’ve done just the opposite and yet prospered immensely.  

See:  

a) Amazon losing $7 on each book and making it up in volume,

b) Twitter not needing revenue and

c) Zenga raising money when its not needed.

So without further adieu, here’s what I look for as best practices within an early stage company:

Ideas are easy, Implementations are hard

While its imperative that companies be able to pivot based on customer feedback (see bullet...

I think there are three fundamental truths regarding the valuation of early stage businesses by potential investors:

1. The first is that a pre-money valuation is ultimately an outcome of negotiation, rather than a mathematical calculation of discounted cash flow or any other metric of potential company performance.

2. The second is that, despite the typical non-reliance on formal calculation, investors’ views on valuation are in some way based on a perception of risks and potential return of the investment—or, put another way, of the interaction of fear and greed.  

3. The third is that pre-money valuation is just one of many funding terms and conditions important to investors and companies, and not necessarily the most important...