Investors Circle

What Investors Circle does

Investors Circle (IC) is a Vermont-incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit angel investing network founded in 1992 to connect investors with entrepreneurs building early-stage ventures that produce social and environmental impact alongside financial returns. The organization reports $275MM+ in cumulative impact capital deployed, 350+ portfolio companies funded, and 10,000+ jobs generated in those companies, positioning it as one of the longest-tenured field-building bodies in U.S. impact investing. IC operates as a collaborative community, not a software platform: it curates deal flow from angel investors, family offices, foundations, and institutional partners; runs collaborative screening and due diligence; and supports portfolio founders with mentorship and ongoing engagement. Its portfolio concentrations are skewed toward cleantech (approximately 50% of historical member investments, 62% of 2024 monthly presenting companies), with additional exposure to healthcare, food systems, criminal justice reform, community development, and building materials.

The organization does not operate proprietary technology as its core business. Its public web presence is built on Google Sites; entrepreneur applications are accepted via the third-party Dealum opportunity-tracking platform, and donations are processed through Stripe and Zeffy alongside ACH/wire/check. Service offerings are membership-driven rather than transactional: an annual Full Membership tier (pricing not publicly disclosed), a Student/Initiative Participation tier, regional events across California, Boston/Northeast, Philadelphia, and partner cities, monthly virtual gatherings on third Thursdays, and an educational curriculum (Foundations of Angel Investing Parts I & II with IFEL and She Invests!, Ready to Raise founder coaching cohort, Funding Tactics Live, and a SILC Masterclass series).

Revenue mechanics are those of a non-profit membership organization: annual member dues (not publicly disclosed), tax-deductible donations from individuals/foundations/corporate sponsors via ACH/wire/check/Stripe/Zeffy, and corporate sponsorship packages that confer visibility within the IC community. Distribution is community-led and event-driven — participating in SOCAP, FOOD FUNDED, ImpactPHL Total Impact Summit, Venture Summit West, the IC Cleantech Circle (launched 2025 in partnership with Cleantech Open), and Day of Impact regional events with JSC Impact and others. Governance is exercised through a Board of Directors led by Chair Annarie Lyles and Vice Chair Babbie Jacobs, with Executive Director Don Megrath (also Founder & Managing Director of VectorPoint Ventures) running operations.

Name

Investors Circle

Legal name

Investors Circle, Inc.

Website

https://investors-circle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Investors Circle is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) non-profit angel investing network founded in 1992, connecting impact-focused individual investors and entrepreneurs and facilitating $275MM+ in deployed capital across 350+ early-stage companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investing Network / Impact Investing Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

Keywords

• Angel investing network
• Impact investing
• Cleantech venture capital
• Early-stage impact funding
• Community investing platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Vermont

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 Fees: Investors Circle generates revenue through membership fees for investors and entrepreneurs who join the network. The organization offers different membership tiers including full membership with associated benefits.
2. Donations and Contributions: As a Vermont 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID: 99-3200566), Investors Circle accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Donations can be made via ACH/wire, check, or through merchant platforms like Stripe and Zeffy.
3. Sponsorship: Corporate and organizational sponsorship opportunities are available for partners looking to support the impact investing ecosystem and gain visibility with the Investors Circle community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Investors Circle operates a collaborative angel investing network that connects individual accredited investors, family offices, and institutional investors with vetted early-stage impact entrepreneurs. The organization facilitates deal sourcing, collaborative due diligence, co-investment, and portfolio support through monthly meetings, regional events, educational programs, and the Dealum opportunity tracking platform. Core service lines include full membership, educational programming (Foundations of Angel Investing, Ready to Raise coaching), and specialized community circles such as the IC Cleantech Circle (ICCC).

Product overview

Investors Circle is an angel investing network that functions as a collaborative community connecting impact-focused investors with early-stage entrepreneurs. The organization does not offer a software product or platform in the traditional SaaS sense—it operates as a membership-based investment network facilitating deal flow, due diligence, and capital deployment. Key service offerings include: membership programs for investors, entrepreneur application processing via Dealum platform, educational programming (Foundations of Angel Investing Part I & II, Ready to Raise coaching cohort, Cleantech Circle), networking events and mixers, portfolio company support, and the Cleantech Circle initiative. The organization accepts donations through ACH, wire, check, Stripe, and Zeffy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IC Cleantech Circle (ICCC): A community circle launched in 2025 to strengthen impact and deepen collaboration across the cleantech investment ecosystem, uniting key players in early-stage cleantech investing to foster partnerships and co-investment opportunities.

Products and services

• Investors Circle Membership Full membership tier providing access to curated impact investment opportunities, monthly meetings, educational programs, and community networking for individual accredited investors, family offices, and institutional investors.
• Foundations of Angel Investing Part I & II Educational program series covering angel investing mechanics and impact deal-making, developed in partnership with the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) and She Invests!; targeted at early-stage impact investors.
• Ready to Raise Coaching Cohort Coaching cohort hosted by Executive Director Don Megrath to prepare early-stage impact founders for engaging with the Investors Circle investor network.
• IC Cleantech Circle (ICCC) Specialized community circle within Investors Circle launched in 2025 to strengthen collaboration across the cleantech investment ecosystem, foster partnerships, and enable co-investment opportunities in early-stage cleantech ventures.
• Student Impact Investing Initiative Initiative enabling university students to participate in Investors Circle programming at reduced or no cost, coordinated by Board Vice Chair Babbie Jacobs, with partner universities including University of Michigan, NYU Impact Investing Club, and Northeastern Impact Initiative.

Quantifiable outcome

• $275MM+ capital deployed to impact companies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DealumcoreTechnology or IntegrationInvestors Circle utilizes Dealum's opportunity tracking platform for entrepreneur applications on a rolling basis. The platform serves as the primary gateway for startups seeking to present to the Investors Circle community.
• Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Investors Circle and She Invests! to develop the 'Foundations of Angel Investing' educational program series, Parts I and II, focusing on angel investing mechanics and impact deal-making.
• She Invests!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Investors Circle and IFEL to create the Foundations of Angel Investing educational series for early-stage impact investors.
• Cleantech OpencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInvestors Circle partnered with Cleantech Open to host the IC Cleantech Circle at their 2025 Global Forum in San Jose, CA, co-located with VERGE 25 and GreenFin events.
• JSC ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted the Boston Day of Impact event in June 2026, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem partners for site visits and networking.
• Foley Hoag, LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored the Boston Day of Impact event, contributing to the impact investing community gathering.
• Democracy BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorker-owned brewery that hosted the networking reception at the Boston Day of Impact event, representing the employee ownership model celebrated by Investors Circle.
• ImpactPHLcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner co-hosting events including the Philadelphia Day of Impact and Total Impact Summit 2026, one of the most respected convenings in impact investing.
• SOCAPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInvestors Circle participates in SOCAP, the largest global impact event, where movement makers and institutional investors connect with entrepreneurs showcasing scalable solutions.
• Chloe CapitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner presenting the 2026 Founder Fellowship Showcase in NYC, supporting women-led startups through educational and capital access programs.
• FOOD FUNDEDcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInvestors Circle serves as community co-host of FOOD FUNDED Entrepreneurship & Investor Fair, connecting food entrepreneurs with investors in the regenerative food system space.
• Student Impact Investing Initiative PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Michigan, New York University Impact Investing Club, Northeastern Impact Initiative, and other academic institutions participating in the Student Impact Investing Initiative.
• Angel Capital Association Cleantech Syndication GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-sponsored the IC Cleantech Circle mixer events, facilitating cleantech investment opportunities across angel networks.
• Greentown LabsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCleantech incubator and community partner, supporting the Boston impact investing ecosystem and hosting site visits.
• Top Tier Impact (TTI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted Earth Day dinner event and LA impact investing gatherings, bringing together investors and changemakers focused on regenerative economy.
• GaiaVisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered on LA impact investing events, translating capital markets and living systems expertise into regenerative economy infrastructure.
• Earthstock EnterprisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted LA impact investing gatherings focused on regenerative solutions for people and planet.
• Light DAOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for LA impact investing events, advancing decentralized approaches to regenerative finance.
• ZambeziminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for LA impact investing events, transforming biodiversity data into actionable operational intelligence.
• Invest for BetterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner offering the 'Investing with Purpose' 7-week course, co-led by Investors Circle Board Vice Chair Babbie Jacobs.
• Social Venture Network (SVN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner for NYC Climate Week events, connecting impact investors and entrepreneurs.
• Living Planet Working GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNature-minded entrepreneur and investor group where Investors Circle Board Chair Annarie Lyles serves as Founding Co-Chair.
• Sustainability Investment Leadership Council (SILC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestors Circle participated in SILC's Masterclass Program 2026 on sustainability integration into accounting, legal frameworks, and investment decisions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Greentown Labs: The largest cleantech startup incubator in North America, hosting cleantech founders and connecting them to investors. Direct thematic overlap with IC's Cleantech Circle, and an existing GTM partner — comparable as a cleantech-specific ecosystem player.

Direct peers

• Golden Seeds: An angel investing network focused on women-led companies, structured as a membership-based organization with educational programming and curated deal flow — a direct structural peer to IC, with a more narrow demographic focus.
• Toniic: A global network of impact investors (individuals and family offices) focused on deploying capital for social and environmental returns. Toniic is the closest direct peer to IC in mission, structure, and member base within the impact angel space.
• Angel Capital Association: The trade association for accredited angel investors and angel groups in North America. ACA already co-sponsors IC's Cleantech Circle mixers, and its syndication group model directly parallels IC's collaborative due-diligence approach.
• New Stack Ventures: A venture and angel syndicate platform focused on early-stage impact-driven startups. Comparable to IC as a curated deal-flow and co-investment vehicle, though with a more tech-enabled syndication layer.
• Keiretsu Forum: One of the largest global angel investing networks, with multiple regional chapters that collaborate on deal screening, due diligence, and co-investment — structurally analogous to Investors Circle. IC has an existing partnership with Keiretsu Mid-Atlantic/Southeast/Texas, underscoring direct comparability as a multi-regional angel network.

Broad incumbents

• Acumen: A pioneering impact investment organization deploying patient capital into early-stage companies tackling poverty across the developing world. A broader incumbent in the impact investing space than IC, with deeper programmatic infrastructure but a different geographic and thematic focus.
• Y Combinator: The world's largest startup accelerator and seed-stage investor. While not focused exclusively on impact, YC serves a comparable early-stage founder audience and is a benchmark for angel/seed community-building — providing a structural comparison for IC's network and educational programming.
• SJF Ventures: A certified B Corp impact venture capital firm investing across health, education, and cleantech. SJF is listed in IC's portfolio and operates in adjacent impact-VC territory, sharing cleantech and impact-thesis overlap with IC.

Others

• SOCAP: The largest global convening for impact investors and entrepreneurs. IC is a participating community co-host at SOCAP events; SOCAP is not a direct investing competitor but is a key ecosystem venue and adjacent community organizer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/investors-circle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Investors Circle