FAQ

Angels are accredited investors with a high personal net worth that have been successful in previous business endeavors. Our angels are eager to bring their experience, skills and expertise to new ventures.

Robin Hood Ventures is the most active angel investment group focused on the Mid-Atlantic region. Since 1999, Robin Hood Ventures has invested in over 85 early-stage, high-growth startups, en route to building great companies. We are passionate about using our expertise to build great companies.

Our members boast a wealth of experience in a range of industries from IT to life sciences to healthcare, and they are able to leverage their knowledge and networks to add real value to our companies. Check out our members here.

Our members have experience and connections in nearly every industry. They are eager to share their knowledge with new companies and help ventures scale. Some examples of support RHV provides include deal structuring, legal support, introductions to potential customers and assistance building out teams.

If your venture meets our screening criteria, you can apply to Robin Hood using the application Gust. After you log in, you will be asked basic questions about your company. You’ll also have the opportunity to upload documents like your marketing and financial plans and presentation. Once you submit your application to Gust, it will be read by the RHV team. You will receive feedback on your application in a timely manner.

It is always a good time to apply to Robin Hood Ventures. We read applications daily and meet monthly to discuss potential new ventures. If you have missed the cutoff for this month, we will discuss your application next month. Applications are always open.

If you have any technical questions or concerns regarding the application process, please contact support@gust.com or visit www.gust.com. For other questions, contact info@robinhoodventures.com

RHV members meet monthly to screen applicants and discuss potential ventures. After this meeting, if your company garners significant interest among members, it will proceed into formal due diligence. During this time, your firm will be evaluated closely by a team of RHV members, who will determine the viability of an investment. Due diligence can take as little as one month, although the timing can vary greatly. If your company passes due diligence, the process will proceed to deal structuring.

Yes, RHV is happy to syndicate with other angels and investors.

Come to our office hours! At RHV Office Hours, different members will be available to chat with entrepreneurs about their ventures. Meet over Zoom with RHV investors to discuss your startup and gain first-hand knowledge from experts. Please register here.

RHV is open to all industries; most of our investments are in innovation-driven companies. We do NOT invest in lifestyle businesses or services.

What is a lifestyle business?

Yes, RHV focuses investment in companies based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. We examine deals from New York to Washington D.C. and will look outside of the region on occasion.

Our initial investments generally range from $250,000 to $500,000. We invest up to  $1 million over the lifetime of a company. We syndicate with venture capitalists, institutions, and other angels in our network.

We expect a board seat commensurate with the level of investment. In the cases where RHV does not receive a board seat, we generally receive a board observer seat.

RHV does not offer traditional loans, although we do invest in convertible notes with the intention of converting to equity at a future priced financing.

Our strong preference is preferred equity or series seed, followed by convertible notes. In specific situations, we’ve invested in SAFE agreements.

Yes. National Venture Capital Association templates streamline the timeline of completing a deal, making information easily accessible. A full list of document templates from the NVCA can be found here.

No, RHV will not sign a confidentiality agreement or NDA. Most angels and venture capitalists will not sign a non-disclosure agreement. Angel investors look at many similar deals, and NDAs confuse and complicate the investing process. Read Brad Feld’s explanation of “Why Most VC’s Don’t Sign NDAs.”

Robin Hood Ventures does not retain agents or brokers, nor will we pay broker’s or finder’s fees in connection with deals brought to the group. It is our preference that no monies invested in a company be paid by the company to brokers, although exceptions for reasonable fees may be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the strength of the deal.