About
Dingman Center Angels (DCA) is a Maryland-based angel investment group founded in 2010 and affiliated with the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. The group operates as a university-run angel network that connects early-stage entrepreneurs with accredited investors for seed and early-stage funding, primarily targeting companies in the mid-Atlantic region. DCA members include entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, venture capitalists, and business leaders who have founded and built established companies. The group typically invests between $100,000 and $250,000 per deal, though sources indicate the range extends to $1,000,000, and frequently syndicates with other local angel groups and venture capital firms for larger capital raises up to $2 million. DCA does not operate as a pooled fund; rather, individual accredited investors make independent investment decisions. The group hosts monthly pitch meetings from September through June where entrepreneurs present to investors. Since inception, DCA has deployed more than $12 million across more than 50 portfolio companies, with particular strength in enterprise software and consumer internet sectors. Prospective founders apply through the Gust platform and must demonstrate alignment with the group's investment criteria. Accredited investors joining DCA are expected to have experience managing and building successful companies, maintain a peer network of domain expertise to support portfolio companies, and ideally reside in or frequently visit the mid-Atlantic region. The organization serves as the largest university-run angel investor network in the country, reflecting the University of Maryland's Top 10 ranking in undergraduate entrepreneurship education.