IrishAngels

Investment screening and due diligence are led by managing partners John Garry, Timothy McSweeney, and Brian Kearney. They curate deal flow, run the vetting process, and make final investment recommendations. Individual members retain discretion over whether to participate in each specific deal after the firm presents the opportunity.

The firm sources heavily through the University of Notre Dame alumni network. Founders who attended Notre Dame, companies licensing university research, and referrals from existing members and university affiliates form the primary pipeline. This single-network concentration creates a sourcing moat that generalist Midwest funds cannot easily replicate.

IrishAngels operates both models. It maintains a traditional angel syndicate where accredited members invest directly in individual portfolio companies on a deal-by-deal basis. It has also introduced a pooled fund vehicle that allows members to gain diversified exposure without selecting each investment individually.

The firm focuses primarily on seed and Series A rounds. It will selectively participate in later-stage growth rounds for existing portfolio companies that demonstrate strong traction, but the core mandate is early-stage capital formation.

While the Notre Dame connection is a strong filter, it is not an absolute requirement. The network prioritizes companies with alumni founders, university research ties, or referrals from trusted affiliates, but considers other opportunities that reach the partnership through credible channels — particularly those located in the Midwest.