22 angel investors in Los Angeles capitalizing founders in 2026

LA's angel ecosystem deployed $680M across 450+ deals in 2025. Most capital came from operator angels and successful founders backing next-generation companies. The ecosystem is relationship-driven - you won't get meetings with Gil Elbaz or Paige Craig without warm introductions from other founders or investors they trust.

Quick list

Why LA's angel ecosystem works for founders

Los Angeles has the fourth-largest angel network in the US after San Francisco, New York, and Boston. Individual angels deployed $680M during 2025, with consumer startups taking 40% and B2B SaaS getting 25% of check volume. Average angel checks run $50K-150K, lower than SF's $100K-250K range but angels move faster on decisions.

LA's advantage is operator angels who built successful companies and understand founder challenges. Most LA angels are former founders who sold companies or executives from major tech and entertainment firms. They provide hands-on support beyond just capital - customer intros, hiring help, strategic advice. The downside is they're harder to reach without warm introductions.

Santa Monica and Venice Beach host most tech angels. Beverly Hills and West Hollywood have entertainment industry angels. LA angels typically take 2-4 weeks from intro to wire versus 6-8 weeks for institutional funds. Consumer brands and entertainment tech get funded easily, deep tech needs stronger proof points before angel rounds. Companies tied to professional services often gain more credibility with investors because their revenue looks more predictable.

Finding the right LA angel investor

Local presence matters less for angel investing than institutional rounds. Many LA angels invest remotely and don't require in-person meetings. However, being in LA helps for building relationships at events and getting warm introductions through the founder network. Angels like Gil Elbaz and Paige Craig meet founders at LA tech events regularly.

Portfolio companies show angel investment patterns and expertise areas. Check if they backed companies in your sector - Jason Calacanis focuses on marketplaces and SaaS, Troy Carter invests in creator economy, Brian Lee backs consumer brands. Those patterns indicate where they add most value beyond capital. Upload your deck to Ellty and track which angels spend time on different sections. You'll see if they're genuinely interested in your space or just browsing.

Check sizes from LA angels range from $25K for first checks to $500K for well-known angels with multiple exits. Most LA angels write $50K-150K initial checks and occasionally participate in follow-on rounds. Operator angels like Gil Elbaz write larger checks ($200K-500K) because they bring strategic value. Celebrity angels typically write smaller checks ($25K-100K) unless deeply committed to the space.

Network access varies significantly by angel. Tech operators like Gil Elbaz can intro you to enterprise customers and help with technical hiring. Entertainment angels like Troy Carter and Scooter Braun open doors to artists, influencers, and content creators. Choose angels whose networks match your immediate needs, not just their check size. Successful investor outreach requires a thoughtful mix of cold email, warm intros, and relationship-driven communication.

Follow-on capacity is limited with most angels who reserve 1-2x their initial check for pro-rata participation. Don't expect angels to lead your Series A - they're bridge capital to institutional rounds. A few angels like Paige Craig and Jason Calacanis can write $500K+ follow-on checks through their funds, but most angels participate at $50K-100K in later rounds.

How to find and approach LA angel investors

Research recent deals through AngelList, Crunchbase, and Signal. Check which angels invested in companies like yours in the past 2 years. Those angels understand your market and have relevant portfolio companies for customer intros. Gil Elbaz backed 12 LA data companies in 2024-2025 alone.

Leverage founder networks through other startup founders who raised angel rounds. Most LA angel deals come from founder referrals, not cold outreach. Join founder groups like On Deck LA or Pavilion - founders share which angels respond quickly and add real value post-investment. The best introductions come from portfolio founders the angel has worked with successfully.

Build relationships at events like LA Tech Week, Santa Monica tech meetups, and angel group gatherings. Many LA angels attend these specifically to meet founders. Jason Calacanis runs Launch events, Paige Craig hosts Arena demo days. Show up, participate genuinely, and build relationships before asking for money. Share your Ellty deck link after meeting angels at events - you'll see who reviews your materials afterward.

Attend angel group meetings like Tech Coast Angels, Sand Hill Angels, and Pasadena Angels. These groups pool capital and conduct group diligence. Present at their monthly meetings for exposure to 20-50 angels simultaneously. Success rates are lower than individual angels but you can raise $200K-500K in one pitch if the group commits.

Connect through advisors who know angels personally. Lawyers, accountants, and startup advisors often facilitate angel introductions as part of their service model. Wilson Sonsini and Cooley have LA offices with deep angel networks. Ask your corporate counsel for introductions to relevant angels in their network.

Use LinkedIn strategically to research angel backgrounds and find common connections. Don't cold message angels on LinkedIn - success rates are under 2%. Instead, identify mutual connections and ask for warm introductions. When you do get connected, share an Ellty data room with your deck, financial model, and traction metrics. Angels appreciate organized founders who respect their time.

Understand angel pace - most LA angels decide in 2-4 weeks from introduction to signed docs. They move faster than VCs because they write smaller checks and do lighter diligence. However, some angels take 6-8 weeks if they're consulting advisors or waiting to see traction progress. When angels ask for updates, share current metrics through your Ellty link so they can see your latest progress. Active angels track 50-100 companies, so making updates easily accessible increases your funding chances.

What LA angels look for in startups

LA angels have different investment criteria than institutional VCs. Most angels invest $25K-150K based on founder quality and market intuition rather than extensive financial modeling. They want to see strong founding teams with relevant domain expertise, early customer validation or product-market fit signals, and capital efficiency plans that stretch runway 12-18 months.

Consumer startups need early traction - 10K+ users or $10K+ monthly revenue before most angels commit. B2B SaaS companies can raise pre-revenue if the founding team has enterprise sales experience and clear ICP validation. Entertainment tech needs content partnerships or talent attachments. Deep tech requires technical proof-of-concept and credible technical advisors.

Angels invest in people first, ideas second. They back founders they trust to adapt when the initial plan doesn't work. Show scrappiness, customer obsession, and ability to execute with limited resources. LA angels lived through their own startup struggles - they respect founders who are realistic about challenges and demonstrate resourcefulness.

22 top angel investors in Los Angeles

1. Gil Elbaz

Gil founded Factual and sold Applied Semantics to Google - he's one of LA's most respected operator angels who writes large checks into data and B2B SaaS companies.

• Recent Deals: Multiple LA data startups, B2B SaaS platforms, infrastructure companies
• LinkedIn: Gil Elbaz
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, Data companies, Infrastructure, AI/ML
• Check Size: $200K-500K
• Location: Santa Monica, California

2. Paige Craig

Paige runs Arena Ventures and made 200+ angel investments including Lyft, Postmates, and Twitter - he's extremely active in LA's startup ecosystem.

• Recent Deals: LA consumer startups, marketplace platforms, fintech companies
• LinkedIn: Paige Craig
• Sector Focus: Consumer, Marketplaces, Fintech, B2B SaaS
• Check Size: $50K-250K
• Location: Santa Monica, California

3. Jason Calacanis

Jason runs Launch accelerator and backed Uber, Robinhood, and Calm early - he's one of the most prolific angel investors globally with deep LA connections.

• Recent Deals: LA tech startups through Launch, marketplace platforms, enterprise SaaS
• LinkedIn: Jason Calacanis
• Sector Focus: Marketplaces, Enterprise SaaS, Consumer apps, Fintech
• Check Size: $25K-100K (through Launch)
• Location: Los Angeles, California

4. Cyan Banister

Cyan was early investor in Uber, SpaceX, and Postmates - she backs underrepresented founders and unconventional companies that other angels pass on.

• Recent Deals: Diverse founder startups, transportation tech, space technology
• LinkedIn: Cyan Banister
• Sector Focus: Transportation, Space tech, Diverse founders, Consumer platforms
• Check Size: $50K-200K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

5. Naval Ravikant

Naval founded AngelList and backed Twitter, Uber, and Notion - he's highly selective but writes significant checks when he invests.

• Recent Deals: Crypto platforms, developer tools, consumer apps
• LinkedIn: Naval Ravikant
• Sector Focus: Crypto, Developer tools, Consumer apps, Platforms
• Check Size: $100K-500K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

6. Jonah Peretti

Jonah founded BuzzFeed and Huffington Post - he backs media, content, and consumer technology companies.

• Recent Deals: Media platforms, content technology, social apps
• LinkedIn: Jonah Peretti
• Sector Focus: Media tech, Content platforms, Social apps, Creator tools
• Check Size: $50K-200K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

7. Brian Lee

Brian founded LegalZoom, ShoeDazzle, and Honest Company - he exclusively backs consumer brands and ecommerce companies.

• Recent Deals: LA DTC brands, ecommerce platforms, consumer products
• LinkedIn: Brian Lee
• Sector Focus: Consumer brands, Ecommerce, DTC products, Retail tech
• Check Size: $100K-300K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

8. Chad Hurley

Chad co-founded YouTube and sold to Google - he backs video technology and creator platforms.

• Recent Deals: Video platforms, creator tools, streaming technology
• LinkedIn: Chad Hurley
• Sector Focus: Video tech, Creator platforms, Streaming, Media technology
• Check Size: $50K-250K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

9. Steve Chen

Steve co-founded YouTube with Chad Hurley - he invests in video streaming and content technology.

• Recent Deals: Streaming platforms, video technology, content tools
• LinkedIn: Steve Chen
• Sector Focus: Streaming tech, Video platforms, Content technology
• Check Size: $50K-250K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

10. Roelof Botha

Roelof is Sequoia partner who led YouTube, Instagram, and Square investments - he makes selective angel investments outside Sequoia.

• Recent Deals: Highly selective consumer and B2B investments
• LinkedIn: Roelof Botha
• Sector Focus: Consumer platforms, B2B SaaS, Fintech, Infrastructure
• Check Size: $100K-500K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

11. Kevin Rose

Kevin founded Digg and True Ventures partner - he backs consumer apps, crypto, and web3 companies.

• Recent Deals: Consumer apps, crypto platforms, web3 projects
• LinkedIn: Kevin Rose
• Sector Focus: Consumer apps, Crypto, Web3, Social platforms
• Check Size: $25K-100K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

12. Tony Hsieh Estate

Tony's estate continues his investment legacy through Downtown Project and VegasTechFund - his advisors still back LA founders.

• Recent Deals: Consumer startups, community platforms, ecommerce
• LinkedIn: Tony Hsieh Legacy Investments
• Sector Focus: Consumer tech, Ecommerce, Community platforms
• Check Size: $50K-150K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

13. Bill Gross

Bill founded Idealab and incubated 150+ companies - he backs LA startups through Idealab studio model and angel investments.

• Recent Deals: Idealab portfolio companies, energy tech, consumer platforms
• LinkedIn: Bill Gross
• Sector Focus: Clean tech, Consumer platforms, B2B SaaS, Energy
• Check Size: $100K-500K (through Idealab)
• Location: Pasadena, California

14. Alexis Ohanian

Alexis co-founded Reddit and runs Seven Seven Six - he backs diverse founders and consumer platforms.

• Recent Deals: Diverse founder startups, consumer apps, creator economy
• LinkedIn: Alexis Ohanian
• Sector Focus: Consumer apps, Creator economy, Diverse founders, Social platforms
• Check Size: $50K-200K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

15. Troy Carter

Troy managed Lady Gaga and runs Cross Culture Ventures - he backs creator economy and entertainment technology.

• Recent Deals: Creator platforms, music tech, influencer tools
• LinkedIn: Troy Carter
• Sector Focus: Creator economy, Music tech, Entertainment platforms, Influencer tools
• Check Size: $50K-150K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

16. Scooter Braun

Scooter manages major artists and backs entertainment technology and consumer brands.

• Recent Deals: Entertainment tech, consumer brands, music platforms
• LinkedIn: Scooter Braun
• Sector Focus: Entertainment tech, Music platforms, Consumer brands, Creator tools
• Check Size: $50K-200K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

17. Ben Silverman

Ben produces major TV shows and backs content technology and media platforms.

• Recent Deals: Content platforms, production tech, streaming services
• LinkedIn: Ben Silverman
• Sector Focus: Content tech, Production platforms, Streaming, Media tools
• Check Size: $25K-100K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

18. Michael Ovitz

Michael founded CAA and backs entertainment technology and media platforms.

• Recent Deals: Entertainment tech, talent platforms, media technology
• LinkedIn: Michael Ovitz
• Sector Focus: Entertainment tech, Talent platforms, Media technology
• Check Size: $100K-300K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

19. Ashton Kutcher

Ashton runs Sound Ventures and backed Airbnb, Uber, and Spotify early - he's one of Hollywood's most successful tech investors.

• Recent Deals: Consumer apps, entertainment tech, AI platforms
• LinkedIn: Ashton Kutcher
• Sector Focus: Consumer apps, Entertainment tech, AI, Social platforms
• Check Size: $50K-200K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

20. Jared Leto

Jared invests through his family office in consumer technology and entertainment platforms.

• Recent Deals: Consumer apps, entertainment tech, wellness platforms
• LinkedIn: Jared Leto
• Sector Focus: Consumer tech, Entertainment platforms, Wellness, Social apps
• Check Size: $25K-150K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

21. Nas

Nas runs Queensbridge Ventures and backs diverse founders building consumer and tech companies.

• Recent Deals: Diverse founder startups, consumer apps, music tech
• LinkedIn: Nas
• Sector Focus: Consumer apps, Music tech, Diverse founders, Entertainment platforms
• Check Size: $25K-100K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

22. Will Smith

Will runs Dreamers VC and backs entertainment technology and consumer platforms.

• Recent Deals: Entertainment tech, consumer apps, social platforms
• LinkedIn: Will Smith
• Sector Focus: Entertainment tech, Consumer apps, Social platforms, Creator tools
• Check Size: $50K-150K
• Location: Los Angeles, California

Start tracking your LA angel outreach

These 22 angels invested in 300+ LA startups during 2024-2025. Before you start reaching out through warm introductions, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each angel investor. You'll see exactly which slides they review and how long they spend on your traction metrics versus team backgrounds. LA angels typically make quick decisions based on founder quality and early validation - your analytics will show if they're genuinely interested or just being polite.

When angels ask for more information after initial meetings, share an Ellty data room with your financial model, customer testimonials, and product demo. Your key metrics organized in one place with view analytics. You'll know which angels are actively evaluating your startup versus those who asked once and got distracted by other deals.

Common questions

Do I need warm introductions to LA angel investors?

Yes for most LA angels. Cold outreach success rates are under 2%. Angels like Gil Elbaz and Paige Craig only take meetings through trusted referrals from other founders or investors. The best path is getting introduced by portfolio founders they've worked with successfully. Some angels like Jason Calacanis accept applications through Launch accelerator program without warm intros.

How does raising from LA angels compare to institutional seed funds?

Angels move faster - 2-4 weeks versus 6-8 weeks for seed funds. Angels write smaller checks ($25K-150K) so you'll need 5-10 angels to raise $500K-1M versus one lead investor. Angels provide more hands-on support but less capital for follow-on rounds. Most founders raise from 3-5 angels then add institutional lead for larger rounds.

What's the typical angel check size in LA?

$50K-150K for most operator angels, $25K-100K for celebrity angels, $200K-500K for super angels like Gil Elbaz or Paige Craig. First-time angels typically write $25K-50K checks. Expect to raise from 5-10 angels to close $500K-750K angel rounds. Some angels commit to SAFEs, others prefer priced rounds with clear valuations.

Should I raise from LA angels before approaching VCs?

Raise from angels first if you're pre-revenue or early traction. Angels take more risk on unproven teams and provide validation for later VC rounds. However, if you have strong metrics ($50K+ MRR, 100K+ users), go straight to seed VCs for larger checks and higher valuations. Don't waste 3 months raising $300K from angels when you could raise $3M from VCs.

Do LA celebrity angels add value beyond capital?

Depends on the celebrity and your business. Troy Carter and Scooter Braun add real value for entertainment and creator companies through artist relationships. Ashton Kutcher and Jared Leto provide consumer insights and press coverage. However, many celebrity angels are passive investors who write small checks without ongoing involvement. Prioritize operator angels over celebrities unless the celebrity has direct relevance to your market.

What traction do I need before approaching LA angels?

Consumer apps need 5K-10K users or $5K+ monthly revenue. B2B SaaS can raise pre-revenue with strong founding team and 5-10 customer validation calls. Ecommerce brands need $10K+ monthly revenue. Entertainment tech needs content partnerships or talent commitments. If you have zero traction, focus on proving customer problem first before wasting angel time.