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INVESTORS
Investing in the Future of the RGV and beyond
Our Vision
Through our efforts, we seek to be a key source for funding and educational resources for entrepreneurs and a platform of meaningful investment opportunities for our members.
43
Angel investors with diversity in many sectors and significant expertise.
$1.5 M
Invested over $1.5 million to startup companies to date.
4
Funding cycles per year when applications are screened and evaluated by formal investment committees.
Investors
The Rio Grande Valley and Texas benefit from having an organized group of angels that aid local entrepreneurs in need of capital and/or expertise to build their businesses. Angel investors are a necessary funding option that keeps the startup environment thriving. In south Texas there are high-net-worth individuals and family offices with business experience who are looking for investment opportunities and who enjoy being involved with entrepreneurial ventures. RGVAN provides a structured forum for such individuals to cooperatively vet and source deal flow.
Background
RGVAN was founded in 2015 by local investors and community leaders, who believed that early-stage investing could provide a meaningful return for investors while also spurring local economic growth. Individual members of the organization volunteered their time and expertise to review potential investments and assist entrepreneurs.
Management
RGVAN is an independent member-based organization. RGVAN has a part time Executive Director, and a fully engaged volunteer Board of Directors and leadership committees whose time, effort, and involvement allow RGVAN to fulfill its mission for investors and entrepreneurs.
Become A Partner
The following are our membership fees along with requirements and benefits you will receive as a member of the Rio Grande Valley Angel Network.
Accredited Investor
A Member must qualify as an “accredited investor” as defined under Rule 501 of the SEC regulations, which defines an individual accredited investor as: “Any natural person whose individual net worth or joint net worth with that person’s spouse at the time of his purchase exceeds $1,000,000”; OR “Any natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that person’s spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year.” New members must be sponsored by a current member. Members must agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the RGVAN Membership Agreement.
Diversity
Membership should be diverse and represent different skill sets and experience to make the collective knowledge as broad based as possible. New members must be sponsored by a current member. The Rio Grande Valley and Texas benefit from having an organized group of angels that aid local entrepreneurs in need of capital and/or expertise to build their businesses. Angel investors are a necessary funding option that keeps the startup environment thriving. In south Texas there are high-net-worth individuals and family offices with business experience who are looking for investment opportunities and who enjoy being involved with entrepreneurial ventures. RGVAN provides a structured forum for such individuals to cooperatively vet and source deal flow.
Deal Flow/Best Practices
RGVAN hopes to attract a healthy pipeline of startup companies seeking early stage and accelerator stage investments. In addition, the group may be able to participate in the syndication of deals with other Texas angel groups through its membership in the Alliance of Texas Angel Networks. RGVAN will maintain memberships in the Angel Capital Association and the Alliance of Texas Angel Networks (ATAN). Training for members will be available through these and other sources to increase the success of the network and its members.
Screening and Coaching
Companies applying to present to the RGVAN will be pre-screened by the UTRGV Center of Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) staff against standards approved by RGVAN membership. Those companies that pass the initial screening will be interviewed and coached by the CIC staff and RGVAN screening committee before presenting to the members of RGVAN. The RGVAN screening committee has final say on who is allowed to present to the full membership.
Organization
Quarterly or as needed meetings will be organized by the CIC, where companies will present, members will provide updates on portfolio companies, and due diligence updates made. The CIC staff will also maintain the website and online applications processes and provide other administrative and logistical support.
Portfolio Diversification
As a result of ATAN membership RGVAN members will benefit from the ability to invest in a more diverse portfolio of startup companies and leverage the experience of the group and other angels from all over the state during the due diligence process.