Tech Coast Angels: Supporting Startups and Innovation

Tech Coast Angels is a group of experienced investors who provide funding and guidance to startups in Southern California. With over $1 billion in investments, they've had a significant impact on the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The group was founded in 1997 by a group of successful entrepreneurs who wanted to give back to the community by supporting innovative ideas. This spirit of collaboration and giving back is still at the heart of Tech Coast Angels today.

Their investment portfolio includes companies like Vitrue, which was acquired by Oracle for $150 million, and Home Hero, which was acquired by Home Depot. These success stories demonstrate the group's ability to identify and support promising startups.

A different take: New York Angels

At Tech Coast Angels, we're looking for companies that demonstrate a strong management team with relevant experience. This experience should be in the same domain as the company, and if the team is incomplete, we expect you to identify who is needed to round out the team.

A different take: Ra Capital Team

A successful applicant must also be able to demonstrate market validation of its technology, ideally with revenue and a strong sales pipeline. This can be achieved by showing how you can sell cost-effectively into a well-defined niche, which can be within an existing market or a new one.

We're not looking for grand visions of a multi-billion dollar market unless you can convincingly show how you'll dominate that market. Instead, we prefer companies that can achieve at least a 25% market share in a specific niche.

To demonstrate high growth potential, you must present a credible plan for achieving that growth. This can be in a developing market or an existing one, and you should provide supporting data to show how you would sell your product or service.

Some examples of exceptional return on investment include a "blocking patent" that can keep out competition, a vanity number or domain name, or a "first-to-scale" advantage. We're looking for opportunities where the capital sought will take the company to the next level, and materially increase its valuation.

Here are some examples of what we consider to be a successful investment:

So you're trying to figure out what your NAICS code is? Well, the NAICS codes for Tech Coast Angels are 5239, 523, 54, 52, 541, and 52393.

Finding your own NAICS code can be a challenge, but knowing that it's a six-digit code assigned by the government can give you a good starting point.

Tech Coast Angels' NAICS codes are quite specific, and they cover a range of industries, including miscellaneous activities, real estate and rental and leasing services, and professional, scientific, and technical services.

The NAICS code is a crucial piece of information when applying for funding, licenses, or permits, so it's essential to get it right.

Discover more: Why Do Angels Say Fear Not?

The Tech Coast Angels' portfolio is quite impressive, with investments in a wide range of industries. They've got a diverse portfolio of companies across various sectors, including Life Sciences, Internet and Apps, Software, and more.

Some of the notable companies in their portfolio include Apeel Sciences, which develops tasteless edible coatings for fresh produce, and Cloudbeds, a SAAS hotel hospitality management software. These companies are just a few examples of the many innovative businesses that TCA has invested in.

TCA's portfolio has seen significant returns, with a total of 106 exits, including 11 IPOs. Their successful exits include companies like Procore, Mindbody, and Green Dot Corporation, which achieved multiples between 149x and 368x.

The TCA investment portfolio is a diverse collection of companies across various industries. It includes Life Sciences, Internet and Apps, Software, Consumer, CleanTech, and Industrials, Hardware, Financial, and Business.

Active portfolio companies include Apeel Sciences, which develops tasteless edible coatings for fresh produce, and The Bouqs Company, an online flower shopping platform. Cloudbeds offers SAAS hotel hospitality management software, while ElephantDrive provides storage-as-a-service software.

Other notable companies in the portfolio are Kickstart, which helps people with severe disabilities walk, and myLAB Box, a testing service for STDs from the comfort of home. Ninja Metrics measures social influence, and PharmaSecure offers mass serialization codes for products in emerging markets.

Ranker is a user-generated content platform for ranking things, and YouMail offers voice messaging for cell phones.

TCA has had a remarkable track record of company exits, with a total of 106 successful exits. This is a testament to the firm's ability to identify and nurture promising startups.

Four of these exits achieved multiples between 149x and 368x, which is a staggering return on investment. These successful exits include companies like Procore, Mindbody, and Green Dot Corporation.

Some of the notable exits include Procore Technologies, a construction management SAAS company, and Mindbody, a wellness business services software provider. These companies have made a significant impact in their respective industries.

Here are some of the notable companies that have exited TCA's portfolio:

In addition to these successful exits, TCA has also had 141 companies in their portfolio that were shutdowns with no returns.