# Plains Angels

Plains Angels is an Angel Group based in Des Moines, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Angel Group
- **Headquarters:** Des Moines, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Des Moines, IA, United States
- **Founded:** 2012
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.plainsangels.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/plainsangels

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Plains Angels is a network of angel investors seeking opportunities to invest and grow with scalable startups across diverse industries. Established in 2012, members have invested across pure technology, manufacturing, agriculture, Fintech, Insurtech and more, and partner with regional angel groups to co-invest and share best practices. The group invests in entrepreneurs seeking growth and innovation across the upper midwest and focuses on early-stage companies.

## Sectors

- AgriTech & FoodTech
- FinTech
- InsurTech
- Enterprise Software
- Industrial Tech

## People

- 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)

## 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.

### 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.

## Related profiles

- [PKU Founder Life Insurance](https://altss.com/profile/pku-founder-life-insurance)
- [PlainsCapital Bank](https://altss.com/profile/plains-capital-bank)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:49.000Z

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