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Hawaii Angels
Hawaii Angels was founded in 2011 as a nonprofit angel investment network, welcoming high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional...
Hawaii Angels
Hawaii Angels was founded in 2011 as a nonprofit angel investment network, welcoming high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional investors to back Hawaii-based startups. The organization operates from Honolulu and Irvine, California, reflecting its dual role serving both local island capital and mainland members seeking Pacific-region diversification. Wealth origin among its members varies, with no single undisclosed source running the network. The network invests across health care, technology, consumer products and clean energy, typically at seed and Series A stages. It structures deals as pooled syndications, with members co-investing in selected companies at a minimum of $25,000 per deal. Portfolio companies have included DASH Systems, an aerospace logistics firm developing in-space delivery platforms, and Hawaiian Mushrooms, an agtech producer specializing in organic mushrooms (per public record, 2020s). Geographic focus is Hawaii, but the network has funded companies in California and other Pacific Rim markets. Membership totaled roughly 200 accredited investors as of 2023, with the network having completed over 200 investments since inception. Hawaii Angels also operates an affiliated venture fund, Hawaii Angels Fund, which offers family offices and institutions a structured vehicle to access deal flow without direct syndicate participation. Philanthropic ties are minimal beyond the network's nonprofit status; some members separately support local entrepreneurship programs. A structural differentiator is Hawaii Angels' nonprofit model: it charges membership fees and deal fees to cover operations, returning all investment profits to members. This contrasts with traditional venture capital firms that charge management fees and carry, aligning incentives toward deal sourcing and member returns rather than fund growth.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Honolulu
Corporate office
Honolulu, HI, United States
Additional offices
Irvine, CA, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment decisions at Hawaii Angels?
Investment decisions are made by the network's members, each of whom votes on opportunities presented by the due diligence committee. The committee, composed of volunteer members with sector expertise, screens deals before presenting to the full group. Hawaii Angels does not have a single CIO or managing partner; it operates as a decentralized member-led network.
Is Hawaii Angels structured as a single family office or a venture firm?
Hawaii Angels is neither. It is a nonprofit angel investment network that facilitates syndicated co-investments among accredited investors. It does not manage a permanent capital pool or charge management fees like a venture firm. The network's legal structure is a 501(c)(3) organization, though it has also created a separate venture fund vehicle.
What investment stages does Hawaii Angels target?
Hawaii Angels targets seed and Series A rounds, with check sizes ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 per member per deal. The network typically leads or co-leads rounds alongside other angel groups or early-stage venture funds. It does not invest at later stages or in growth equity.
Does Hawaii Angels participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Historically, Hawaii Angels only facilitated direct co-investments. In recent years, it launched the Hawaii Angels Fund, a pooled vehicle that allows members to commit capital to a diversified portfolio of startups managed by the network. Family offices and institutions can use this fund for exposure to Hawaii's startup ecosystem without managing individual syndicate participation.
Which sectors does Hawaii Angels explicitly avoid?
Hawaii Angels does not invest in real estate development, pure commodity plays, or gambling-related businesses. It has also declined deals in traditional hospitality unless the startup involves technology or sustainability innovation within that sector.
How does Hawaii Angels source proprietary deal flow?
The network draws on relationships with the University of Hawaii, local accelerators (including Blue Startups), and the Hawaii Economic Development Corporation. Its island-based members often identify startups before they seek mainland capital. The network also receives referrals from West Coast venture firms and family offices in the Pacific Rim.
What is Hawaii Angels' known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
Hawaii Angels frequently co-invests alongside institutional venture firms and other angel groups. It has co-invested with local funds like Pacific Venture Capital and with mainland firms in deals involving Hawaii-based startups. The network does not require lead investor rights but often takes a board observer seat in its largest syndications.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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