About
Puget Sound Venture Club was founded in 1985 by Gary Ritner as Seattle's first venture group, establishing itself as a pioneer in angel investing in the Pacific Northwest. Over its 38-year operating history, the club functioned as a curated forum connecting accredited angel investors with early-stage companies, with members investing approximately $220 million across more than 1,350 portfolio companies. The investment thesis centered on seed, early-stage, and first-round deals across most industries, with a geographic emphasis on North American companies, particularly those based in the Pacific Northwest including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia. Puget Sound Venture Club's portfolio included early investments in companies that became regional and national successes, such as Amazon, DocuSign, Costco, and Starbucks. The membership model comprised active angel investors who represented themselves or their organizations, providing access to collective experience and investment insights. Members benefited from a structured investment forum, due diligence support, and syndication opportunities with fellow investors. Entrepreneurs gained access to organized capital pools and investor networks without the formal fund structure of institutional venture capital. In 2021, PSVC members invested approximately $18.1 million collectively. The organization's average deal size ranged from $5-10 million valuations, with capacity for larger rounds in the $10-50 million range. Effective September 20, 2023, Puget Sound Venture Club merged its membership with the Alliance of Angels, another Seattle-based investment group founded in 1998, consolidating two of the region's longest-standing angel networks. Following the merger, PSVC ceased independent operations and no longer accepts new company applications.