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Plains Angels
The Plains Angels are a group of Iowa-based angel investors. They invest in early-stage growth companies in the Midwest. Their portfolio includes 17...
Plains Angels
The Plains Angels are a group of Iowa-based angel investors. They invest in early-stage growth companies in the Midwest. Their portfolio includes 17 investments, including Brightn in February 2026.
General information
Firm type
Angel Group
Year founded
2012
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Des Moines
Corporate office
Des Moines, IA, United States
Principals
Tej Dhawan
Manager
Chris Sackett
Managing Partner, Brown Winick Law Firm (co-creator)
Paul Juffer
LWBJ Financial (co-creator)
JD Geneser
LWBJ Financial (co-creator)
Sheldon Ohringer
Formation Partners (co-creator)
Mike Colwell
Greater Des Moines Partnership (co-creator)
Christian Renaud
Startup City Des Moines (co-creator)
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Plains Angels?
The group is managed by Tej Dhawan, who was among its co-creators in 2012. Individual member angels make their own investment decisions; Plains Angels operates as a network that facilitates deal flow and due-diligence sharing, not as a managed fund. The co-creators from Brown Winick Law Firm, LWBJ Financial, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership provide deal-sourcing infrastructure but do not control members' capital.
Is Plains Angels a single family office or does it operate differently?
Plains Angels is an angel network, not a family office. It was founded in collaboration with local professional-services firms and startups rather than built around a single family's wealth. The group aggregates individual accredited investors who make direct startup investments, typically alongside other regional angel groups.
Does Plains Angels do fund commitments or only direct deals?
Based on its model as an angel network, Plains Angels facilitates direct investments into startups. It does not market itself as a fund-of-funds or LP in venture funds. Its co-investment partners appear to be other regional angel groups rather than institutional asset managers.
Which sectors does Plains Angels explicitly avoid?
The group's website states it is not structured to invest in medical-device, drug-discovery, or alternative-medicine startups. This negative screen contrasts with the historical inclusion of medical-related investments by some members earlier in the group's history.
How does Plains Angels source its deal flow?
Deal flow originates through the professional networks of its co-creators, which include a major Des Moines law firm (Brown Winick), a financial-advisory firm (LWBJ), and the region's economic-development partnership. The group also partners with other regional angel networks to share opportunities and co-invest, extending its reach beyond Iowa.
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