What Sierra Angels does

Sierra Angels is a private angel investment group founded in 1997 and headquartered in Incline Village, Nevada, with secondary gathering locations in Reno and Las Vegas. Its membership consists of approximately 40-50+ high net worth families, Fortune 1000 C-Suite executives, and successfully exited founders. The group provides seed-stage funding, mentoring, and strategic introductions to early-revenue technology companies with an enterprise/B2B focus, and since 1997 its members have collectively funded more than 100 companies. Investment preferences target capital-efficient startups raising rounds under $3M, with novel solutions, deep founder expertise, early revenue from at least two customers, and a clear path to a >30x return in under ten years.

The group operates through a structured annual calendar of 5 in-person investment cycles held simultaneously in Reno/Tahoe and Las Vegas (with virtual attendance), 2 virtual-only portfolio update meetings, and 1 summer social event. Members can invest directly onto company cap tables at $10k-$250k+ per deal, or pool capital via Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and a Venture Index Fund that matches when three or more angels invest. Sierra Angels leads and follows deals, syndicates with funds, HNW investors, and a network of more than 15 partner angel groups (e.g., Sacramento Angels, MIT Angels, Tech Coast Angels, Golden Seeds).

Revenue is generated primarily through membership fees: a $2,000/year Family (in-person) Membership covering up to two family members, a $1,000/year Virtual Membership, a $500 one-time initiation fee, and a 50% discount applied across all tiers for Executive Members born 1991 or later. The organization also has a prominent role in the Nevada startup ecosystem, including teaching and leadership positions at UNR and UNLV, partnerships with StartUpNV, EDAWN, LVGEA, and GOED, and direct participation in shaping Nevada legislation (SB-9 in 2021, AB-75 and AB-77 in 2023, and AJR-8 in 2025) to create a more startup- and venture-friendly regulatory environment. Sierra Angels is a founding member of the Angel Capital Association and hosted the 2023 ACA National Convention in Las Vegas. Roland Schumann serves as Chairman.

Name

Sierra Angels

Legal name

Sierra Angels

Website

https://sierraangels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sierra Angels is a Nevada-based angel investment group founded in 1997 whose 40-50+ member families, F1000 executives, and exited founders provide seed funding, mentoring, and strategic introductions to early-revenue enterprise/B2B technology companies across the American West.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investment Services

NAICS

Open-End Investment Funds (525910)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

Keywords

• Angel investment group
• Seed stage funding
• Venture capital network
• Startup mentoring
• Technology investments

Headquarters

HQ city

Incline Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Sierra Angels generates revenue through annual membership fees from high net worth families, executives, and successfully exited founders who join the angel group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sierra Angels is a member-based angel investment group that provides seed-stage capital, mentoring, and strategic business introductions to early-revenue technology companies. Members collectively evaluate startup applications through five annual investment cycles and deploy capital directly onto cap tables, through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), or via a Venture Index Fund. The group operates as a membership organization funded by annual dues from high net worth families, executives, and exited founders.

Product overview

Sierra Angels is a seed-stage angel investment group that offers a unified investment membership platform rather than a technology product portfolio. The core offering consists of angel investment services facilitated through tiered membership programs (Family at $2,000/year, Virtual at $1,000/year, and Executive at 50% discount for those born 1991 or later). The group facilitates investments through multiple vehicles including direct cap table investments, Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), and a Venture Index Fund. Members access investment opportunities through 5 annual investment cycle meetings and 2 virtual portfolio update meetings, plus social events. The service connects early-revenue technology startups with funding, mentoring, and strategic introductions from 50+ high net worth families and experienced executives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Angel Investment Services
• Sierra Angels Membership
• Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)
• Venture Index Fund
• Investment Cycle Meetings
• Portfolio Update Meetings

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ companies funded since 1997
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• StartUpNVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with StartUpNV, Nevada's statewide startup accelerator, for deal sharing and ecosystem collaboration in the Nevada startup community.
• Angel Capital AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), the professional association for angel investors. Hosted the 2023 ACA National Convention in Las Vegas.
• EDAWNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada for startup ecosystem development and deal flow.
• LVGEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance for startup ecosystem development in Southern Nevada.
• GOEDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development for startup ecosystem and venture capital development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tech Coast Angels: One of the largest and most active angel networks in the US, based in Southern California. Comparable as a member-driven angel group investing in early-stage technology companies, with overlapping syndication partnership.
• Band of Angels: Silicon Valley-based angel group composed largely of successful technology entrepreneurs. Comparable as a syndication partner focused on seed-stage technology investing with similar check sizes and member profile.
• Golden Seeds: National angel network focused on women-led companies. Comparable member-driven angel investing model and active syndication partner of Sierra Angels.
• Sacramento Angels: Sacramento-based angel investment group focused on seed-stage technology companies. Directly comparable as a California-region angel group with similar membership-driven model, deal cadence, and active syndication relationship with Sierra Angels.
• North Bay Angels: Northern California-based angel network focused on seed-stage technology companies. Comparable in structure and a direct syndication partner.
• Pasadena Angels: Southern California-based angel network investing in seed and early-stage technology companies. Directly comparable member-driven model, deal cadence, and active syndication partner of Sierra Angels.
• TIE Angels: Network of angel investors associated with the TIE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) global entrepreneurship organization. Comparable member-driven angel model and active syndication partner.
• Desert Angels: Arizona-based angel investment group focused on early-stage technology and life sciences. Comparable as a Western US angel group with similar member-driven model and existing syndication relationship.
• SLC Angels: Salt Lake City-based angel investment group investing in early-stage technology companies. Comparable as a Mountain West regional angel group and active Sierra Angels syndication partner.

Broad incumbents

• Angel Capital Association: Professional trade association for angel investors across the US. Sierra Angels is a founding member and 2023 national convention host. Comparable as the umbrella organization for the angel investing category in which Sierra Angels operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments32 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Sierra Angels