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§ Angel Group · WA, USA
Angel investment group providing seed capital, mentorship, and support for early-stage startups in diverse Pacific Northwest sectors.
Alliance of Angels is a Seattle, Washington-based angel investment group that provides seed and early-stage capital, mentorship, and support to startups in the Pacific Northwest. The organization operates through a network of accredited investors, family offices, and seed-stage venture capitalists targeting sectors such as information technology, life sciences, cleantech, and consumer products. Comprising over 140 active members, the group typically deploys approximately $10 million annually into 20 to 30 early-stage companies through individual contributions and pooled innovation funds. Since its inception, the syndicate has invested over $125 million into over 220 startups, resulting in over 40 exits that generated over $1 billion in returns. The firm's historical portfolio includes notable technology and consumer brands such as DocuSign, Clarisonic, Impinj, Leanplum, and PicMonkey. Alliance of Angels was founded in 1997 by Tom Alberg, Bill Gates Sr., and Tom Cable.
Key people at Alliance of Angels.
Alliance of Angels (AoA) is the largest and most active angel investment group in the Pacific Northwest, based in Seattle. Its mission is to support high-growth startups by providing early-stage capital, mentorship, and strategic guidance. AoA invests primarily in seed and early-stage rounds, typically between $500,000 and $2.5 million, focusing on sectors such as technology, hardware, consumer products, life sciences, SaaS, AI, and biotech. The group comprises over 180 accredited investors who collectively invest more than $10 million annually into around 20 startups. AoA has generated over $1 billion in returns from successful exits, including companies like DocuSign and Elemental Technologies, significantly impacting the startup ecosystem by fueling innovation and growth in the Pacific Northwest and beyond[1][2][3].
Founded in 1997 (or 1998, as some sources note) under the umbrella of the Technology Alliance, Alliance of Angels spun out as an independent nonprofit in 2012. It was established to create a structured angel investment community in the Pacific Northwest, leveraging a network of experienced investors to support emerging startups. Key partners have included longtime Seattle startup community leaders such as Yi-Jian Ngo, who recently stepped down, with Maren Nelson taking over as interim executive director. Over time, AoA has evolved from a regional angel group to a significant player with a broad geographic reach, including investments across the US and Canada, while maintaining a strong focus on the Pacific Northwest[1][2].
Alliance of Angels rides the trend of early-stage startup acceleration through angel investment networks, which are critical in bridging the funding gap before venture capital involvement. The timing is favorable due to the growing startup ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest, a region increasingly recognized for technology innovation and entrepreneurship. Market forces such as the rise of AI, biotech, and hardware innovation align well with AoA’s investment focus. By providing capital and mentorship, AoA influences the broader ecosystem by enabling startups to scale, attracting further investment, and fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial community in a region that competes with Silicon Valley and other tech hubs[1][2][3].
Looking ahead, Alliance of Angels is poised to continue expanding its influence by leveraging its Innovation Fund for faster investments and deeper engagement with startups. Trends such as AI, deep tech, and life sciences will likely shape its portfolio and investment strategy. As the Pacific Northwest tech ecosystem grows, AoA’s role as a key early-stage investor and mentor will become even more critical, potentially increasing its deal flow and impact. The group’s ability to syndicate investments and collaborate with other angel groups and venture funds will enhance its capacity to support startups through multiple growth stages, reinforcing its position as a cornerstone of the regional innovation economy[1][2][3].
Key people at Alliance of Angels.
Alliance of Angels has more than 26 tracked investments across 25 companies. The latest tracked deal is $18.0M Series B in Gallant in June 2025.
