What Gaingels does

Gaingels is a privately held venture investment syndicate founded in 2014 and headquartered in New York (with affiliated Vermont LLCs managed from Burlington), aggregating capital from a community of 4,621 individual members — 3,700 of whom are accredited investors — to co-invest alongside lead institutional VCs in companies from pre-seed through pre-IPO. As of January 2026, the network had deployed more than $1 billion across over 2,600 rounds into 2,400+ companies, producing 64+ unicorns, and operates through multiple legal vehicles including Gaingels Holdings LP, Gaingels Inc. (operating company), and pooled fund/SPV entities (Gaingels Early Stage Fund II LLC, Gaingels Iris AI LLC, Gaingels Begin II LLC) managed by Gaingels Management LLC.

The firm's core platform is the Gaingels Syndicate, supplemented by the Gaingels Nexus partnership layer (integrating AngelList Partners, Republic, Ourcrowd, Proof, and Cornice), the Gaingels Spark annual rolling fund for earliest-stage deals, and the Gaingels Investor Portal (portal.gaingels.com) for deal-flow access, portfolio data, and KYC/AML onboarding. Surrounding the investment platform is a set of value-add services for portfolio companies: the Board Access Program (sourcing diverse directors across 1,400+ candidates), the Venture Inclusion Program (career fairs, fellowship, supplier diversity), the Gaingels Scholarship ($5,000 grants to LGBTQIA+/minority students, administered via California Community Foundation), the Gaingels 100 annual editorial collection, and the Gaingels Job Board (13,000+ opportunities at portfolio companies).

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: management fees and carried interest on pooled fund vehicles and SPVs, a newly launched Gaingels Premium paid membership tier offering 10% carry on curated deals and exclusive programming, sliding-scale fees from the Board Access Program on successful placements, and ancillary revenue from recruitment partner integrations and ecosystem events. The membership layer includes a free accredited investor tier and a free social/educational tier for non-accredited participants. Gaingels is led by CEO Jennifer Jeronimo, with co-founders Paul Grossinger and David Beatty as Managing Partners, alongside Managing Partners Lorenzo Thione and Peter Steinberg.

Name

Gaingels

Legal name

Gaingels Holdings LP

Website

https://gaingels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gaingels is a venture investment syndicate founded in 2014 that aggregates capital from over 4,600 individual members to co-invest alongside lead VCs in LGBTQ+ and diverse-leadership startups. It operates pooled fund vehicles, premium memberships, and portfolio support programs including board placement and scholarships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital Syndicate

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

Keywords

• Venture capital syndicate
• Angel investing network
• Diversity-focused venture investing
• Portfolio company services
• Accredited investor membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues / Premium Membership Fees: Standard Gaingels membership is free, but the Gaingels Premium tier is a paid elevated membership offering enhanced access and improved economics (10% carry) across curated investment opportunities, exclusive events, and member discounts.
2. Carried Interest / Investment Returns: Gaingels and its management entities (e.g., Gaingels Management LLC) earn carried interest and management fees from pooled investment vehicles such as Gaingels Early Stage Fund II LLC (seeking up to $5M) and other SPVs. 50% of management fees from certain institutional funds are directed to fund the Venture Inclusion Program.
3. Board Access Program Service Fees: The Gaingels Board Access Program, normally a $25,000 value, is provided to portfolio companies at no upfront cost; a small sliding-scale fee is charged only when companies successfully identify and place a new corporate or advisory board member through the program.
4. Philanthropic / Pledge 1% Contributions: Gaingels has committed one percent of future upside to philanthropic causes serving the LGBTQIA+ community via the Pledge 1% initiative; 98.5% of donor money flows directly to Gaingels Scholarship grant recipients (administered through the California Community Foundation).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Gaingels is a venture investment syndicate of 4,600+ accredited investor members that pools capital into single-purpose LLCs (SPVs) to co-invest alongside top-tier VC leads at all stages from pre-seed to pre-IPO. The firm surrounds its syndicate with portfolio services including the Board Access Program (free diverse director sourcing for portfolio companies), the Gaingels Premium tier (10% carry and exclusive events), the Gaingels Scholarship Program ($5,000 grants), the Venture Inclusion Program, and a curated Job Board of 10,000+ opportunities at diverse-led portfolio companies.

Product overview

Gaingels is a venture investment syndicate built around a core platform (the Gaingels Syndicate) that aggregates capital from over 4,600 accredited investor members and co-invests alongside top-tier VC leads at all stages from pre-seed to pre-IPO. Surrounding this core are multiple programs and fund vehicles: Gaingels Nexus (a partnership module that brings additional venture partner syndicates into deals), Gaingels Spark (an annual rolling fund for earliest-stage deals), and several pooled LLC vehicles such as Gaingels Iris AI LLC, Gaingels Begin II LLC, and Gaingels Early Stage Fund II LLC. The membership layer is structured into Standard and Social tiers, with an elevated Gaingels Premium tier offering enhanced economics and curated experiences. Supporting services include the Gaingels Board Access Program (board/advisor recruiting for portfolio companies), the Gaingels Venture Inclusion Program (career fairs, scholars, fellows, supplier diversity), the Gaingels Scholarship Program ($5,000 grants to LGBTQIA+ students), and the Gaingels 100 annual editorial collection. Access is delivered through the Gaingels Investor Portal (portal.gaingels.com) for deal flow and portfolio data, the Gaingels Job Portal (jobs.gaingels.com) for talent, and the public-facing gaingels.com site for membership applications and the Gaingels Letter onboarding pledge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gaingels Scholarship: Need-based scholarship program for LGBTQIA+ and underrepresented students pursuing college; grants $5,000 awards with mentorship and internship interview components. Established 2020.
• Gaingels Venture Inclusion Program (VIP)
• Gaingels Board Access Program
• Gaingels 100
• Gaingels Nexus
• Gaingels Spark
• Gaingels Premium
• Gaingels Letter

Products and services

• Gaingels Syndicate The core venture investment network of more than 4,600 accredited investor members that co-invests alongside top-tier VC leads in companies at all stages (pre-seed through pre-IPO) across all sectors. Member commitments are pooled into single-purpose LLCs (SPVs) that appear on portfolio cap tables as a single Gaingels entity.
• Gaingels Nexus A partnership module that brings together venture partner syndicates (AngelList Partners, Republic, Ourcrowd, Proof, Cornice) and additional investors to co-invest alongside the core Gaingels Syndicate under the Gaingels brand and allocation.
• Gaingels Spark An annual rolling fund vehicle through which Gaingels members participate in earliest-stage investments alongside Gaingels and its partners.
• Gaingels Premium An elevated paid membership offering for investors, operators, and founders providing enhanced access, improved investment economics (10% carry) on curated deals, exclusive events, member-only programming (AMAs, AI coaching, roundtables), board & leadership access pathways, and discounts across Gaingels portfolio companies and community partners.
• Gaingels Board Access Program A recruiting service that helps Gaingels portfolio companies source, vet, interview, and recruit independent board and advisor candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. Normally a $25,000 value; provided free upfront to portfolio companies with a small sliding-scale fee charged only when a board member is successfully placed.
• Gaingels Scholarship Program Need-based scholarship program awarding $5,000 grants to LGBTQIA+ and underrepresented students to help cover college tuition and living expenses. Recipients are paired with mentors and invited to interview with Gaingels portfolio companies for internships. Administered through the California Community Foundation with 98.5% of donor money flowing directly to grant recipients.
• Gaingels Venture Inclusion Program (VIP) A set of initiatives designed to increase participation of underrepresented minorities in the innovation economy, including career fairs, expanded board access, scholars, a paid 16-week fellowship, thought leadership partnerships, and minority supplier purchasing programs.
• Gaingels Job Portal (Jobs Board) A job board at jobs.gaingels.com listing over 10,000+ opportunities at Gaingels portfolio companies that value diverse leadership. Open to members and the broader community.
• Gaingels Investor Portal A member-only portal at portal.gaingels.com where accredited investors can view portfolio holdings, account transactions and balances, manage profile information, and access confidential deal information.
• Gaingels Early Stage Fund II LLC A pooled investment fund (Vermont) managed by Gaingels Management LLC, raising up to $5,000,000 under SEC Rule 506(b)/(c), focused on early-stage opportunities.
• Gaingels Iris AI LLC A pooled investment vehicle (Burlington, Vermont) used for AI-focused investments within the Gaingels network, structured as an LLC managed by Gaingels Management LLC.
• Gaingels Begin II LLC A pooled investment vehicle (Vermont) formed in 2021, managed by Gaingels Management LLC, used for early-stage investments within the Gaingels network.
• Gaingels 100 An annual publication and collection profiling 100 inspiring LGBTQIA+ venture-backed entrepreneurs to elevate their stories and promote representation in the venture ecosystem. Editions published in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1 billion+ invested since 2019
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

50 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• AngelList PartnersflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSyndicate / investment infrastructure partner; Gaingels oversees relationships with AngelList Partners along with Republic, Ourcrowd, Proof, Cornice, and others via the Nexus business unit run by Max Frenkel.
• RepubliccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSyndicate / investment infrastructure partner within Gaingels' Nexus business unit for distributing deal flow to members.
• OurcrowdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSyndicate / investment infrastructure partner within Gaingels' Nexus business unit for distributing deal flow to members.
• ProofminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSyndicate / investment infrastructure partner within Gaingels' Nexus business unit for distributing deal flow to members.
• CorniceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSyndicate / investment infrastructure partner within Gaingels' Nexus business unit for distributing deal flow to members.
• CanvascoreTechnology or IntegrationRecruitment partner used by Gaingels to support portfolio companies with diverse talent acquisition via the Gaingels Job Portal.
• HallocoreTechnology or IntegrationRecruitment partner used by Gaingels to support portfolio companies with diverse talent acquisition via the Gaingels Job Portal.
• ValencecoreTechnology or IntegrationRecruitment partner used by Gaingels to support portfolio companies with diverse talent acquisition via the Gaingels Job Portal.
• DiversiocoreTechnology or IntegrationRecruitment / DEI partner used by Gaingels to support portfolio companies with diverse talent acquisition via the Gaingels Job Portal.
• California Community FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscal sponsor and administrator of the Gaingels Scholarship program; enables 98.5% of donor money to flow directly to grant recipients and provides 501(c)(3) tax deductibility for contributions.
• Athena AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• Harvard Business School (HBS) Alumni AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• Latino Corporate Directors AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• Ascend Pan-Asian LeaderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• Women Corporate DirectorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• Women Execs On BoardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• FIF CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• Women in Bio (WIB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• The Fourth EffectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• LLIANCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• Wharton AlumniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• Leavey Executive Center (Santa Clara University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization maintaining a database of board-ready diverse candidates, supporting Gaingels' Board Access Program for sourcing independent directors.
• Out LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThought-leadership partner within Gaingels' Venture Inclusion Program; collaborates on white papers, leadership training, research, and conferences extending DEI work to the venture-backed innovation economy.
• National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner working with Gaingels to create standards and certifications for credentialing minority ownership in the venture economy and to support supplier diversity programs for portfolio companies.
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner working with Gaingels on standards and certifications for credentialing minority ownership and supporting supplier diversity programs; HRC also referenced as a resource for non-discrimination policies in the Gaingels Letter.
• StartOutflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Lorenzo Thione (Gaingels General Partner) and Board Chair Emeritus of StartOut, the leading non-profit network supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs; deep ecosystem alignment with Gaingels' mission.
• BrexflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; financial operating system for businesses with integrated corporate cards and spend management software. Featured on Gaingels portfolio page.
• CartaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; global ownership management platform helping companies, investors, and employees manage equity. Featured on Gaingels portfolio page.
• Better.comcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; redefining the homeownership process using technology. Status: SPAC.
• Ro (fka Roman)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; online prescriptions and delivery for personal health conditions.
• JackpocketflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; app enabling anyone to play official state lottery games. Status: Acquired.
• BoltflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; payment processing platform helping businesses complete online transactions.
• DataikuflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; platform democratizing access to data and enabling enterprises to build AI in a human-centric way.
• Relativity SpaceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; aerospace company designing, developing, and building 3D printed rockets. Status: Wind Down.
• Worldcoin (Tools for Humanity)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; collectively owned global currency distributed fairly to as many people as possible.
• UdemyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; world's largest selection of online courses with 130,000+ offerings. Status: IPO.
• FigureflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; AI robotics company aiming to deploy autonomous humanoid workers to support humanity.
• WHOOPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; human performance company delivering real-time fitness, sleep, and recovery data via its wearable WHOOP band.
• ByHeartflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; baby nutrition company making evolved foods and formulas along the pregnancy-to-toddler continuum.
• BlockstreamflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; technology company developing Bitcoin and blockchain products and services for financial infrastructure.
• FlutterwaveflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; payment platform enabling businesses to make and accept payments from customers anywhere.
• Fetch RewardsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; grocery receipt scanning app offering free rewards and savings.
• Carbon HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; smart, hassle-free primary and urgent care provider offering same-day appointments.
• RemoteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; platform helping companies hire, manage, and pay global talent.
• MasterClassflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; online classes platform offering content from world-class instructors.
• Dapper LabsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; blockchain-based games and digital collectibles company.
• EquipmentShareflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; construction equipment rental and fleet management platform.
• Mobile Premier League (MPL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; Asia's largest competitive mobile gaming and eSports platform.
• UaláflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; digital banking application democratizing access to financial services in Argentina.
• VaroflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Gaingels portfolio company; all-digital consumer bank with a US national bank charter — the first to achieve this distinction.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AngelList: AngelList is the dominant venture syndicate and rolling-fund platform — Gaingels itself partners with AngelList Partners via its Nexus unit. Both platforms aggregate accredited investor capital and execute deals through SPVs alongside lead VCs, making AngelList the closest direct competitor and infrastructure partner.
• Republic: Republic is a multi-asset investment platform offering venture syndicates and rolling funds to retail and accredited investors — Gaingels partners with Republic through its Nexus unit. Both platforms pool member capital into SPVs and target similar deal-flow categories (early-stage tech, crypto, consumer).
• OurCrowd: OurCrowd operates a global venture investing platform with accredited-investor syndicates and sector/thematic funds — a Gaingels Nexus partner. Comparable business model: pooled SPVs, online investor onboarding, and co-investments alongside institutional leads.
• Wefunder: Wefunder is a leading retail-accessible venture crowdfunding and syndicate platform running rolling funds. Comparable to Gaingels in enabling broad participation in venture deals via pooled vehicles and SPVs, though with a retail-heavy rather than accredited-investor focus.
• SeedInvest: SeedInvest is a venture crowdfunding and syndicate platform for accredited and select non-accredited investors, operating SPVs and rolling funds. Comparable to Gaingels in investor aggregation, SPV execution, and co-investment alongside institutional leads.
• Backstage Capital: Backstage Capital is a diversity-focused early-stage venture fund specifically targeting underrepresented founders (women, people of color, LGBTQ+). Highly comparable mission overlap with Gaingels, and a direct competitor for diverse-check-writer deal flow and LP commitments.
• SoGal Ventures: SoGal Ventures is a female-founded, diversity-led global venture firm investing in diverse founders across stages. Directly comparable to Gaingels' mandate on underrepresented leadership, with a similar thesis that diversity and outperformance are correlated.
• Female Founders Fund: Female Founders Fund is an early-stage venture fund investing in women-led businesses with a sector-agnostic thesis. Comparable to Gaingels' diversity-focused, stage-agnostic approach and similar stage/sector breadth.
• StartEngine: StartEngine is a leading equity crowdfunding platform for private companies, offering both Reg D and Reg A+ vehicles. Comparable to Gaingels in providing accredited investors with pooled access to venture deals, though broader in regulatory structure and deal mix.

Broad incumbents

• Carta: Carta is a major portfolio company of Gaingels and a dominant ownership-management and cap-table platform broadly used across the venture ecosystem. While not a direct syndicate competitor, Carta provides critical infrastructure (SPV administration, cap table, fund management) that competes for the same back-office workflows underpinning venture syndicates like Gaingels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gaingelsvc
• Facebookfacebook.com/gaingels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gaingels

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1504 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gaingels