About
Angel Investor Forum (AIF) was founded in 2004 in response to a critical gap in Connecticut's capital markets, where early-stage companies struggled to access funding between the seed stage ($250K-$5M) and traditional venture capital. Based in the Hartford area with operations referenced in Lyme, Connecticut, AIF functions as a regional community of accredited investors who pool their capital, expertise, and networks to support high-potential startup companies. The organization operates on a membership model where individual investors maintain autonomy in their investment decisions while benefiting from the collective due diligence and screening processes of the group. AIF's screening committee reviews applications monthly on the fourth Monday, evaluating companies with scalable business models and a clear path to exit within 5-7 years. The organization manages its own seed fund, which has invested between $125K and $200K per company in early-stage ventures, with the aggregate investment range across all members and the fund ranging from $200K to $500K per investment round. Notable recent investments include Clearcut Surgical, which received a combined $650K from Fund V and individual members—representing one of AIF's largest investments to date. AIF maintains a geographically diverse portfolio while maintaining a strong focus on Connecticut's entrepreneurial ecosystem, actively sourcing opportunities and providing portfolio companies with advisory support and board-level participation from member investors. Members often serve as advisers or directors to their portfolio companies and contribute to supporting local and state entrepreneurial initiatives. The organization takes pride in staying current with market trends and regularly hosts pitch events, investor workshops, and member meetings to facilitate deal flow and investor education.