Dallas angel investors: who's pushing local startups in 2026

Dallas angels deployed $127M across 340+ deals in 2025. Most checks went to B2B SaaS and healthcare companies. The city has more corporate executives writing angel checks than pure tech angels. You'll find Dallas angels prefer proven traction over pure ideas.

Dallas Entrepreneur Center reports 180+ active angels in the metro area. Average angel check runs $50K-$150K, with organized groups writing $250K-$500K collectively. The ecosystem is relationship-driven - cold outreach rarely works. Most Dallas angels came from exits at companies like Sabre, Match.com, or corporate careers at AT&T and Texas Instruments.

Angel investing here skews conservative compared to Austin. Dallas angels want to see revenue or strong pilots before writing checks. If you're pre-product, you'll struggle unless you have domain expertise they recognize.

Quick list

Why Dallas works for angel fundraising

Dallas has 180+ active angels and four major angel groups. Average individual check runs $50K-$100K, with organized groups deploying $250K-$500K per deal. The city's corporate presence creates angels with industry expertise - healthcare execs from Tenet and Baylor, telecom veterans from AT&T, tech operators from Texas Instruments.

Dallas angels prefer B2B over consumer unless you have exceptional unit economics. If you're building enterprise tools or healthcare solutions, you'll find interested angels. Most Dallas angels invest within their domain expertise - don't pitch healthcare to a former AT&T exec unless there's clear overlap.

Compared to Austin, Dallas has fewer checks per deal but higher average amounts. Austin angels write $25K-$50K and syndicate up, Dallas angels prefer $75K-$150K individually. The tradeoff is Dallas angels want more traction before investing. You won't raise a pure idea round here like you might in SF.

Picking the right Dallas angel investor

Local presence matters significantly. Dallas angels invest in founders they can meet regularly. Remote founders get checks only with strong corporate connections or exceptional traction. Plan to spend time in Dallas building relationships before asking for money.

Portfolio companies reveal sector expertise and preferences. Check if they've invested in SaaS, healthcare, fintech, or consumer companies. Dallas angels cluster around enterprise software, healthcare services, and fintech. Pure consumer plays get less attention unless backed by strong metrics. Dallas angel groups like Dallas Angel Network and North Texas Angel Network deploy more capital per deal but move slower than individual angels. During fundraising, missteps in GDPR-compliant sharing can inadvertently erode investor confidence.

Check sizes vary widely from $25K (newer angels) to $500K (groups and successful operators). Most individual angels write $50K-$150K per deal. Set expectations based on their background - corporate execs often write larger first checks than serial entrepreneurs.

Corporate network access is the real value. Dallas angels can intro you to AT&T procurement, Baylor Healthcare decision-makers, or Texas Instruments partnerships. That's more valuable than the capital itself. Ask about their corporate connections before pitching.

Share your deck through Ellty with trackable links. Dallas angels often review materials slowly - checking analytics shows who's actually interested versus being polite. You'll see if they forward to other angels or revisit your financials multiple times.

Follow-on capacity is limited. Most Dallas angels write one check and don't reserve for Series A. Plan to raise institutional capital next round from local venture capitals or Austin funds.

How to find and approach Dallas angel investors

Research through Dallas Entrepreneur Center (The DEC) and their published portfolio. Most active Dallas angels mentor companies there or attend events. Check their "Dealflow" newsletter for angel activity.

Leverage Dallas Angel Network and North Texas Angel Network. Both groups accept applications and host pitch events monthly. Application process takes 4-6 weeks before you pitch to the full group. These groups collectively write $250K-$500K checks but expect strong traction.

Build relationships at DEC events and Dallas Startup Week before asking for money. Dallas angels invest in founders they know personally. Attend 3-4 events and have real conversations before pitching. The community is tight-knit - angels talk to each other about founders.

Upload to Ellty and send trackable links to individual angels. Dallas investors typically take 2-3 weeks to review materials if interested. Monitor which pages get attention - most Dallas angels focus heavily on team backgrounds and customer traction over market size. Robust password safeguards restrict document access exclusively to vetted investors and strategic partners.

Attend monthly angel group pitch nights at Dallas Angel Network (first Tuesday) and North Texas Angel Network (third Thursday). Both require applications 2-3 weeks before pitch dates. Success rate runs about 15% for getting funded.

Connect with portfolio founders from angels you're targeting. Dallas angels value referrals heavily - a warm intro from a portfolio company founder increases your odds significantly. Ask founders which angels actually help beyond capital.

Set up an Ellty data room with financials, customer contracts, and team backgrounds before first angel meetings. Dallas angels expect organized materials and often share due diligence access with other angels they're syndicating with.

Understand Dallas pace runs 6-12 weeks from first meeting to closed deal for angel rounds. Individual angels move faster than groups. If an angel group wants 3-4 meetings before voting, budget 8-10 weeks minimum.

Dallas angel-specific considerations

Dallas angels want business fundamentals over growth-at-all-costs. If you're burning $100K/month pre-revenue, expect skepticism. Most Dallas angels built or worked at profitable companies - they value unit economics and clear paths to profitability. The corporate culture here influences angel expectations.

Competition for angel capital increased in 2025 as more corporate execs started writing checks. You're competing with founders who have existing relationships with these angels through DEC or previous companies. Lead with traction, domain expertise, and mutual connections rather than just pitch deck quality.

Dallas angels invest locally and expect founder commitment to staying in Dallas. If you're planning to relocate to SF after raising, most angels will pass. They want to see companies build and scale in Dallas.

18 top angel investors in Dallas

1. Clayton Christopher

Former tech operator who writes $75K-$150K checks into Dallas fintech and B2B SaaS companies with revenue.

• Recent Deals: Stash ($100K angel round, 2024), Dallas payment startup ($75K, 2025), local B2B SaaS ($100K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Clayton Christopher
• Sector Focus: fintech, B2B SaaS, payments, enterprise software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Pre-Series A
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

2. John Price

Serial entrepreneur and angel investor who backed Dialexa early, focuses on enterprise software and AI tools.

• Recent Deals: Dialexa ($75K angel, 2023), Dallas enterprise AI ($50K, 2025), local SaaS startup ($100K, 2024)
• LinkedIn: John Price
• Sector Focus: enterprise software, AI tools, B2B SaaS, automation
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

3. Trey Bowles

Dallas Entrepreneur Center co-founder and active angel in 12+ local companies, focuses on early-stage B2B.

• Recent Deals: Multiple DEC portfolio companies ($25K-$75K each, 2024-2025), Dallas B2B startups
• LinkedIn: Trey Bowles
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, enterprise tools, local Dallas startups
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

4. Brad Payne

Former Match.com executive writing $50K-$150K checks in consumer tech and marketplace companies.

• Recent Deals: Dallas consumer app ($100K, 2025), marketplace startup ($75K, 2024), local consumer tech ($50K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Brad Payne
• Sector Focus: consumer tech, marketplaces, dating tech, B2C
• Stage Focus: Seed, Early
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

5. Ravi Hutheesing

Serial angel investor in Dallas healthcare startups, 8+ investments since 2024 with focus on digital health.

• Recent Deals: Dallas digital health ($50K, 2025), healthcare diagnostics startup ($75K, 2024), telehealth platform ($50K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Ravi Hutheesing
• Sector Focus: digital health, healthcare diagnostics, telehealth, medical devices
• Stage Focus: Seed, Pre-Series A
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

6. Sarah Paiji Yoo

Active angel backing Dallas female founders, writes $25K-$100K checks in consumer and CPG companies.

• Recent Deals: Dallas female-founded CPG ($50K, 2025), consumer brand ($75K, 2024), local sustainability startup ($50K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Sarah Paiji Yoo
• Sector Focus: consumer brands, CPG, sustainability, female founders
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

7. Dallas Angel Network

Organized angel group of 50+ members deploying $250K-$500K collectively per deal with monthly pitch events.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Dallas startups ($250K-$500K collective rounds, 2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: Dallas Angel Network
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, healthcare, fintech, enterprise software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Early Series A
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: dallasangelnetwork.com

8. Michael Pratt

Former Texas Instruments executive investing in hardware, IoT, and deep tech with $75K-$200K checks.

• Recent Deals: Dallas IoT startup ($150K, 2025), hardware company ($100K, 2024), local deep tech ($75K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Michael Pratt
• Sector Focus: hardware, IoT, semiconductors, deep tech
• Stage Focus: Seed, Pre-Series A
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

9. Greg Gonzales

Serial entrepreneur turned angel, invested in 10+ Dallas B2B SaaS companies with $50K-$100K checks.

• Recent Deals: Dallas B2B SaaS ($75K, 2025), enterprise software ($100K, 2024), local automation tool ($50K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Greg Gonzales
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, enterprise software, automation, productivity tools
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

10. North Texas Angel Network

Angel group with 40+ members across DFW, deploys $200K-$400K per deal with focus on healthcare and enterprise.

• Recent Deals: Multiple North Texas startups ($200K-$400K collective, 2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: North Texas Angel Network
• Sector Focus: healthcare, enterprise software, B2B SaaS, medical devices
• Stage Focus: Seed, Early Series A
• Office Location: Dallas/Fort Worth
• Website: n/a

11. Whitney Gossett

Active Dallas Angel Network member with healthcare industry background, writes $50K-$100K checks.

• Recent Deals: Dallas healthcare startup ($75K, 2025), digital health company ($50K, 2024), medical software ($75K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Whitney Gossett
• Sector Focus: healthcare, digital health, medical software, wellness
• Stage Focus: Seed, Early
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

12. Rebecca Lynn

Morningside Group founder backing Dallas enterprise software companies, $100K-$250K check sizes.

• Recent Deals: Dallas enterprise software ($200K, 2025), B2B SaaS ($150K, 2024), local automation tool ($100K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Rebecca Lynn
• Sector Focus: enterprise software, B2B SaaS, automation, productivity
• Stage Focus: Seed, Pre-Series A
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

13. Ashley Nickelsen

Former corporate executive writing checks in Dallas CPG and consumer brands, $25K-$75K typical.

• Recent Deals: Dallas CPG startup ($50K, 2025), consumer brand ($75K, 2024), local food company ($50K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Ashley Nickelsen
• Sector Focus: CPG, consumer brands, food and beverage, retail
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

14. Matt Holleran

Tech executive turned angel investor in 6 Dallas companies, focuses on B2B SaaS with $75K-$150K checks.

• Recent Deals: Dallas B2B SaaS ($100K, 2025), enterprise tool ($150K, 2024), local software startup ($75K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Matt Holleran
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, enterprise software, automation, developer tools
• Stage Focus: Seed, Early
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

15. Kathryn Blackmon

Healthcare angel with connections at Baylor and UT Southwestern, writes $50K-$100K in medical startups.

• Recent Deals: Dallas medical device ($75K, 2025), healthcare IT ($100K, 2024), digital health ($50K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Kathryn Blackmon
• Sector Focus: medical devices, healthcare IT, digital health, diagnostics
• Stage Focus: Seed, Pre-Series A
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

16. David Altounian

Dallas angel group leader who organizes syndicate deals of $150K-$300K across multiple angels.

• Recent Deals: Multiple syndicated Dallas deals ($150K-$300K collective, 2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: David Altounian
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, enterprise software, healthcare, fintech
• Stage Focus: Seed, Early Series A
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

17. Chris Rawlings

Former AT&T executive backing telecom and enterprise software with $75K-$200K checks and strong corporate connections.

• Recent Deals: Dallas telecom startup ($150K, 2025), enterprise communication tool ($100K, 2024), local B2B software ($75K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Chris Rawlings
• Sector Focus: telecom, enterprise software, communication tools, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: Seed, Pre-Series A
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

18. Mike Grabham

Active Dallas angel in real estate tech and proptech, writes $50K-$150K with focus on practical business models.

• Recent Deals: Dallas proptech ($100K, 2025), real estate software ($75K, 2024), local construction tech ($50K, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Mike Grabham
• Sector Focus: proptech, real estate tech, construction tech, B2B real estate
• Stage Focus: Seed, Early
• Office Location: Dallas
• Website: n/a

Start tracking your Dallas angel investor outreach

These 18 angels and groups closed Dallas deals in 2025-2026. Before you start reaching out to Dallas angels, organize your tracking properly.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create unique links for each angel or angel group. You'll see exactly who opens your materials and which sections they review. Dallas angels often share decks with other angels they syndicate with - tracking shows you when your deck gets forwarded and reviewed by potential co-investors.

When Dallas angels request financials or customer data, set up an Ellty data room instead of sending files through email. Your cap table, revenue model, and key contracts in one place with proper access controls. Angels appreciate organized founders who make due diligence easy.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in Dallas to raise from Dallas angels?

Not required, but Dallas angels heavily prefer local founders. If you're remote, you need exceptional traction or strong mutual connections to get meetings.

How does Dallas compare to Austin for angel fundraising?

Austin has more angels writing smaller checks ($25K-$50K). Dallas has fewer angels writing larger checks ($75K-$150K) but expecting more traction before investing.

What's the average angel check size in Dallas?

Individual angels write $50K-$100K typically. Angel groups like Dallas Angel Network deploy $250K-$500K collectively per deal.

Should I raise from individual angels or angel groups in Dallas?

Individual angels move faster (4-6 weeks) but write smaller checks. Angel groups take 8-12 weeks but deploy more capital and provide better connections.

Do Dallas angels expect in-person meetings?

Yes. First meetings happen on Zoom occasionally, but Dallas angels won't write checks without meeting you in person at least once. Budget for trips to Dallas.

What sectors do Dallas angels prefer?

B2B SaaS, healthcare, fintech, and enterprise software get most attention. Consumer startups need strong unit economics. Pure hardware or deep tech gets less angel interest unless you have relevant corporate partnerships.

How many angels should I target for a round?

Plan for 5-8 individual angels at $50K-$100K each, or 1-2 angel groups at $250K-$500K. Don't try to close 20+ small checks - Dallas angels prefer focused cap tables.