What Cowboy Technology Angels does

Cowboy Technology Angels (CTAN) is an Oklahoma-based angel investment network, structured as an OK Series LLC with approximately 15 members, that connects accredited investors who are alumni and friends of Oklahoma State University with investor-ready entrepreneurs and early-stage companies. The network's stated objective is to channel university-developed research, innovation, and talent into commercial ventures, with individual members retaining discretion over their own investment selections rather than pooling into a single fund.

CTAN does not develop proprietary technology; the offering is a curated investment community rather than a software product. Operational and administrative functions — including investment facilitation, capital and technology connections, and platform operations via the WBTangels login system — are handled through a core partnership with FortySix Venture Capital. CTAN operates under the holding entity Development Capital Networks, which holds the website copyright and trademarks, and maintains a primary digital presence at cowboytechnologyangels.com where both investors and companies submit applications.

The business model centers on membership-based angel investment facilitation: accredited investor members pay into the network and select individual deals, while entrepreneur-side applicants are screened and routed through the platform. Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed but are described as membership contributions and investment facilitation services. The company serves a geographically narrow market (Oklahoma, USA) and a narrow LP base tied to a single university ecosystem, with no public pricing, ARR, or financial disclosures available.

Name

Cowboy Technology Angels

Legal name

Development Capital Networks

Website

https://cowboytechnologyangels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cowboy Technology Angels (CTAN) is an Oklahoma-based angel investment network of approximately 15 accredited investors who are Oklahoma State University alumni and friends, connecting investor-ready entrepreneurs with university-affiliated capital through a partnership with FortySix Venture Capital.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investment Network

NAICS

Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

Keywords

• Angel investment network
• Early stage funding
• Venture capital
• Startup investment
• Technology ventures

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Angel Investment Facilitation: CTAN facilitates connections between accredited investors (OSU alumni and friends) and investor-ready entrepreneurs. The network structure allows members to select their own investments. Revenue generation is through membership contributions and investment facilitation services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Cowboy Technology Angels operates an OK Series LLC with ~15 members that invests in early-stage companies. It connects accredited OSU-affiliated investors (the 'Cowboys'/'Friends') with investor-ready entrepreneurs and young companies, sourcing and co-investing deals in partnership with FortySix Venture Capital and aligning with Oklahoma State University research and talent.

Product overview

Cowboy Technology Angel Network (CTAN) is a single unified angel investment platform that connects Oklahoma State University alumni and friends (accredited investors) with investor-ready entrepreneurs and their young companies. The network is administered in partnership with FortySix Venture Capital, which facilitates investment processes, provides technology and capital connections, and manages CTAN administration. Members select their own investments through the platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cowboy Technology Angel Network (CTAN) Membership and Investment Program OK Series LLC with ~15 members that connects accredited investors (OSU alumni and friends) with investor-ready entrepreneurs and young companies, sourcing and co-investing in early-stage opportunities alongside FortySix Venture Capital.
• Investor Onboarding and Application Service Online application service that allows prospective accredited investors to apply to join the CTAN member network through the cowboytechnologyangels.com website.
• Company Application and Venture Sourcing Service Online application pipeline for entrepreneurs and early-stage companies to submit opportunities for consideration by the CTAN angel network, with sourcing supported by the partnership with FortySix Venture Capital.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Oklahoma State University (OSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOklahoma State University is the foundational partner of the Cowboy Technology Angel Network. CTAN is comprised of OSU alumni and friends. The network aims to commercialize research, innovation and talent developed at the university.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Alliance of Angels: A Pacific Northwest angel network in which individual accredited members select their own investments through a formal application and screening process — the same operating model CTAN uses at smaller scale.
• Keiretsu Forum: A large multi-chapter global angel network where accredited members invest individually; directly comparable to CTAN as a member-driven angel syndication platform rather than a centralized fund.
• Tech Coast Angels: One of the largest U.S. angel networks, organized around individual accredited investor members screening and backing early-stage companies — structurally identical to CTAN but at much greater scale.
• Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs: A university-affiliated angel network leveraging Stanford alumni as accredited investors to back startups tied to the university ecosystem — the closest analogue to CTAN's OSU-anchored model.
• New York Angels: One of the oldest U.S. angel networks with individual accredited investor members selecting deals through a structured screening process — directly comparable in operating mechanics to CTAN.
• Georgia Tech Angel Network: A university-tied angel vehicle connecting Georgia Tech alumni and accredited investors with university-sourced startup opportunities — a near-direct functional comparison to CTAN's OSU focus.

Broad incumbents

• AngelList: A dominant online platform for angel syndication and rolling funds; an alternative channel that founders and investors can use instead of a regional/network-based angel group like CTAN.
• Techstars: A global accelerator and early-stage investor whose accelerator-driven model sits adjacent to CTAN's angel network approach; comparable as an ecosystem participant serving very early-stage founders but not a member-driven angel group.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 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

Investments7 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Cowboy Technology Angels