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Berkeley Angel Network

ActiveVenture Capital
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Updated: Feb 17, 2026 ·
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Quick Facts

Type
Investment Firm
Status
Active
Founded
2011
HQ
California
IPO Status
Private

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Financial History

Total Raised
N/A
Valuation
N/A

Leadership Team

Key people at Berkeley Angel Network.

LF
Lan Fong
Investor
KB
Kajal Bhargava
Investor
CC
Catherine Chiu
Investor
DB
Domagoj Babic
Investor
CF
Cathy Farmer
Investor
DL
Deborah Leoung
Investor
BB
Benjamin Bayat
Investor
BR
Bob Rintel
Investor
JW
Jeff Wallace
Investor
KD
Kal Deutsch
Investor
SO
Sammy Oh
Investor
SZ
Shelley Zhuang
Angel Investor
HB
Himanshu Bari
Investor
AW
Alison Wellsfry
Investor
NJ
Nidhi Jain
Investor
PJ
Praveen Joseph
Investor
RP
Ranjit Pradhan
Investor
SA
Sahab Aslam
Investor
AT
Attila Takacs
Investor
JS
Jate Samathivathanachai
Investor
GT
Gene Tenberg
Investor
SG
Scott Graham
Investor
YY
Yi Y.
Investor
JS
Jasmine Shih
Investor
SB
Stephen Bulfer
Investor
GW
George Willman
Investor
MH
Michael Henry
Investor
CT
Clifford Tong
Angel
CS
Christopher Seiwald
Investor
SS
Shaheen Shamsavari
Investor
EB
Eduardo Buenviaje
Investor
SM
Scott Mirer
Investor
HW
Hobert Wai
Investor
CC
Chen Chang
Investor
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Deep Dive

Berkeley Angel Network (BAN) is an angel investor community primarily composed of UC Berkeley alumni, faculty, and former faculty members. Its mission is to build a collaborative network that enhances the collective skills and knowledge of angel investors within the UC Berkeley ecosystem, supporting early-stage startups—especially those founded by UC Berkeley students, alumni, or based on Berkeley technology. BAN focuses on pre-seed and seed investments in sectors such as fintech, AI, health tech, and blockchain, emphasizing capital-efficient startups with strong teams, scalable business models, and proven market traction. Beyond funding, BAN provides mentorship and coaching to first-time entrepreneurs, fostering growth and entrepreneurship education within the Berkeley community and the broader startup ecosystem[1][2][3][4].

Founded as an affinity group within the Berkeley Haas Alumni Network, BAN leverages the deep expertise of its members, many of whom have experience in building and investing in successful companies. The network operates informally with volunteer members who meet SEC accredited investor criteria and share a passion for supporting Berkeley-affiliated startups. BAN hosts regular pitch meetings, educational seminars, and networking events to facilitate investment opportunities and skill development. Its investment philosophy prioritizes long-term growth, hands-on operational support, and strategic partnerships to help portfolio companies scale effectively[1][2][3][4].

Core Differentiators

  • Unique Investment Model: Focus on startups with UC Berkeley ties, combining capital investment with mentorship and education.
  • Network Strength: Access to a broad, experienced community of alumni and faculty investors with diverse industry expertise.
  • Track Record: Over 50 deals led by the network’s managers across North America and Europe, with a strong emphasis on technology and healthcare sectors.
  • Operating Support: Active involvement in portfolio companies through mentoring, coaching, and strategic guidance.
  • Education Focus: Regular workshops on deal structuring, due diligence, and regulatory compliance to enhance investor capabilities[1][2][4].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

BAN rides the trend of university-affiliated angel networks that leverage academic innovation and alumni connections to accelerate startup success. The timing is favorable due to increasing demand for early-stage capital and mentorship in tech-driven sectors like AI and fintech. By focusing on capital-efficient startups, BAN aligns with market forces favoring sustainable growth and reduced dependency on large follow-on funding rounds. Its influence extends beyond funding, as it cultivates entrepreneurship education and a culture of giving back, thereby strengthening the Bay Area and global startup ecosystems[3][4].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Berkeley Angel Network is poised to deepen its impact by expanding its investor base and continuing to support high-potential startups emerging from UC Berkeley’s innovation pipeline. Trends such as AI, blockchain, and health tech will likely shape its investment focus. As the network grows, its role as both a capital provider and a mentorship hub will enhance its influence, helping to nurture the next generation of transformative companies while reinforcing the entrepreneurial spirit within the Berkeley community and beyond[1][2][3][4].

Sources

  1. venturecapitalarchive.com
  2. berkeleyangelnetwork.com
  3. scet.berkeley.edu
  4. orielipo.com
  5. marylandentrepreneurhub.com
  6. angelspartners.com

Leadership Team

Key people at Berkeley Angel Network.

Lan Fong
Lan Fong
Investor
Kajal Bhargava
Kajal Bhargava
Investor
Catherine Chiu
Catherine Chiu
Investor
Domagoj Babic
Domagoj Babic
Investor
Cathy Farmer
Cathy Farmer
Investor
Deborah Leoung
Deborah Leoung
Investor
Benjamin Bayat
Benjamin Bayat
Investor
Bob Rintel
Bob Rintel
Investor
Jeff Wallace
Jeff Wallace
Investor
Kal Deutsch
Kal Deutsch
Investor
Sammy Oh
Sammy Oh
Investor
Shelley Zhuang
Shelley Zhuang
Angel Investor
Himanshu Bari
Himanshu Bari
Investor
Alison Wellsfry
Alison Wellsfry
Investor
Nidhi Jain
Nidhi Jain
Investor
Praveen Joseph
Praveen Joseph
Investor
Ranjit Pradhan
Ranjit Pradhan
Investor
Sahab Aslam
Sahab Aslam
Investor
Attila Takacs
Attila Takacs
Investor
Jate Samathivathanachai
Jate Samathivathanachai
Investor
Gene Tenberg
Gene Tenberg
Investor
Scott Graham
Scott Graham
Investor
YY
Yi Y.
Investor
Jasmine Shih
Jasmine Shih
Investor
Stephen Bulfer
Stephen Bulfer
Investor
George Willman
George Willman
Investor
Michael Henry
Michael Henry
Investor
Clifford Tong
Clifford Tong
Angel
Christopher Seiwald
Christopher Seiwald
Investor
Shaheen Shamsavari
Shaheen Shamsavari
Investor
Eduardo Buenviaje
Eduardo Buenviaje
Investor
Scott Mirer
Scott Mirer
Investor
Hobert Wai
Hobert Wai
Investor
Chen Chang
Chen Chang
Investor

Financial History

Total Raised
N/A
Valuation
N/A

Investments Made

DateCompanyRoundLead Investor(s)Co-Investor(s)
Jul 1, 2025Receive$4.0M Seed—Blank Ventures, NextGen Venture Partners, Alex Oppenheimer, Antoine Nivard, Nitay Joffe, Ron Pragides
Mar 1, 2025Icertis$50.0M Venture Round—Asylum Ventures, B Capital Group, Coinbase Ventures, FTAC Ventures, Greycroft, Ignition Partners, Innovation Endeavors, Merak Ventures, Meritech Capital Partners, Shailendra Singh, Baris Gultekin, Kelvin Beachum Jr.
Jul 1, 2024Partior$60.0M Series B—Asylum Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, FTAC Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Merak Ventures, Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA), Baris Gultekin, Kelvin Beachum Jr.
May 1, 2024Atomgrid$1.0M Seed—Asylum Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, FTAC Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Merak Ventures, Shailendra Singh, Baris Gultekin, Kelvin Beachum Jr.
Aug 1, 2023SATIM$2.0M Seed—Blank Ventures, Jenny Fielding, Scott Hartley, Everywhere Ventures (The Fund), New Stack Ventures, NextGen Venture Partners, Antoine Nivard, Nitay Joffe, Ron Pragides
Jun 1, 2023Rose Rocket$38.0M Series B—Baseline Ventures, Canaan Partners, Root Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Shine Capital, Social Capital, Tet Ventures
Jun 1, 2023Tomorrow.io$87.0M Series E—Baseline Ventures, Canaan Partners, Clearvision Ventures, Cyberstarts VC, Flybridge Capital Partners, Fontinalis Partners, National Grid Partners, Pitango Venture Capital, Root Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Spark Capital, Square Peg Capital, Danny Hadar
Jun 1, 2023Invalidate$4.0M Seed—186 Ventures, Accomplice VC, ALLVP, Arrive, Baseline Ventures, Boston Seed Capital, Canaan Partners, Cortical Ventures, Curious Capital, DGF Investimentos, Jenny Fielding, Firework Ventures, Founder Collective, Homebrew, Impellent Ventures, NextGen Venture Partners, NextView Ventures, Operator Collective, Predictive VC, Root Ventures, Rumbo Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, The Hit Forge, The Hive, Rick Lewis, Village Global, VitalStage Ventures, Y Combinator, David Chang, Jeff Seibert, Jennifer Lum, Mo El-Bibany, Pierpaolo Barbieri, Scott Belsky, Wayne Chang
Jan 1, 2023Receive$3.0M Seed—Blank Ventures, Hoxton Ventures, NextGen Venture Partners, Novastar Ventures, Alex Oppenheimer, Michael Stoppelman, Nitay Joffe, Ron Pragides
Dec 1, 2022Fastbreak AI$5.0M Seed—Asylum Ventures, B Capital Group, Coinbase Ventures, FirstHand Alliance, FTAC Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Merak Ventures, Pareto Holdings, Shailendra Singh, TSVC Capital, Baris Gultekin
Nov 1, 2022OneRail$33.0M Series B—A3 Ventures, Band of Angels, Bessemer Venture Partners, Bullpen Capital, Gaingels, Ironspring Ventures, Las Olas Venture Capital, Lavrock Ventures, Mana Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Openview Venture Partners, Piva Capital, Tech Square Ventures, Nicholas Shekerdemian, Trimble Ventures, Type One Ventures, Verve Capital, Virta Ventures, Charles Zedlewski
Nov 1, 2022ARTA$90.0M Series A—2045 ventures, Accel, Afore Capital, Alpaca VC, Alumni Ventures, Asylum Ventures, Aux21 Capital, B Capital Group, Coinbase Ventures, Commerce Ventures, DST Global, FTAC Ventures, Golden Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Intuit Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, M13, Makers Fund, Merak Ventures, Multicoin Capital, Shailendra Singh, Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA), Penny Jar Capital, Point72 Ventures, Quona Capital, Sarona Ventures, Serena Ventures, Seven Seven Six, Sterling Equity, Trucks Venture Capital, Venture Highway, Y Combinator, Aaron Harris, Alex Lieberman, Andre Iguodala, Baris Gultekin, Claire Hughes Johnson, Gokul Rajaram, Justin Timberlake, Kelvin Beachum Jr., Kevin Lin, Kunal Shah, Mohit Saxena, Peter Kight, Rohit Gupta, Ryan Shea
Sep 1, 2022Morpheus Space$28.0M Series A—Afore Capital, Airbus Ventures, Alpine Space Ventures, Autotech Ventures, Band of Angels, Clocktower Technology Ventures, Convective Capital, FPV Fund, Gaingels, Human Capital, Humba Ventures, Lavrock Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Ribbit Capital, Techstars, Virta Ventures, Aaron Peterman, Charles Zedlewski, Mark Cuban, Tikhon Bernstam, Vivek Garipalli
May 1, 2022Dusty Robotics$45.0M Series B—Anorak Ventures, Jon Stein, Asylum Ventures, Band of Angels, Baseline Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Canaan Partners, First Round Capital, Gaingels, Khosla Ventures, Lavrock Ventures, Lemnos Labs, MS&AD Ventures, Root Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Virta Ventures, Zigg Capital, Charles Zedlewski, Keith Masback, Rob Meyerson, Sahin Boydas, Sam Altman
Feb 1, 2022OPT Industries$15.0M Series A—Animo Ventures, Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, Carao Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Dig Ventures, E14 Fund, Genoa Ventures, Northpond Ventures, SignalFire, The House Fund, Y Combinator
Sep 1, 2021CatalyzeX$2.0M Seed—AIX Ventures, Alven, Animo Ventures, Ascend Vietnam Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Darling Ventures, Dig Ventures, FJ Labs, Goat Capital, Greylock, Infinite Niches, Picus Capital, Redpoint Ventures, SignalFire, Unusual Ventures, Abby Kearns, Akshay Chaturvedi, Musaab Hakami, Shaun Cooley, S J
Aug 1, 2021Morty$1.0M Seed—Animo Ventures, Avalanche VC, Crosslink Capital, Dig Ventures, General Catalyst, Grishin Robotics, Learn Capital, Menlo Ventures, Rebalance Capital, SignalFire
Aug 1, 2021OneRail$9.0M Series A—Alpine Meridien, Band of Angels, Bessemer Venture Partners, Bullpen Capital, Chicago Ventures, Endeavor Venture Funds, Gaingels, Health Velocity Capital, Ironspring Ventures, Las Olas Venture Capital, Lavrock Ventures, Mana Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Openview Venture Partners, Piva Capital, Tech Square Ventures, Trimble Ventures, Valspring Capital, Verve Capital, Virta Ventures, Charles Zedlewski, Jack Boren
Aug 1, 2021Knowde$72.0M Series B—Array Ventures, Band of Angels, CapitalG, Craft Ventures, CrunchFund, Cyberstarts VC, Fifty Years, Founders Fund, Gaingels, Gigafund, Hack VC, Helium-3 Ventures, Highbury Group, LAUNCH, Lavrock Ventures, Liquid 2 Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, Jeff Richards, Paradigm, Polychain Capital, Refactor Capital, Ribbit Capital, Sequoia Capital, Tribe Capital, TSVC Capital, Verified Capital, Virta Ventures, Y Combinator, Ameet Patel, Aston Motes, Charles Zedlewski, Kamiar Kordari, Matt Bellamy, Namrata Ganatra, Todd Corenson, Tyler Willis, Alumni Ventures, Left Lane Capital
Jul 1, 2021Geosite$5.0M Series A—10X Venture Partners, Animo Ventures, Blu Venture Investors, Crosslink Capital, Dig Ventures, Gaingels, Insight Partners, Lavrock Ventures, MS&AD Ventures, SignalFire, Virta Ventures, Vitalize Venture Group, Oded Hermoni
Jul 1, 2021Bubble$100.0M Series A—Abstract Ventures, Kevin Hartz, Addition, Alt Capital, AME Cloud Ventures, Animo Ventures, B Capital Group, BoxGroup, Champion Hill Labs, Conversion Capital, Crosslink Capital, Dig Ventures, Electric Capital, First Round Capital, FJ Labs, Fuel Capital, Greylock, David Krane, Hardware Club, Hoxton Ventures, Insight Partners, LGF, NEO, Hans Tung, Robin Li, Rajan Anandan, Primary Venture Partners, SignalFire, Sommet AB, Summit Partners, SV Angel, Tiger Global Management, Two Sigma Ventures, Ameet Patel, Balaji Srinivasan, Charlie Songhurst, David Petersen, Eric Wu, Gordon Wintrob, Guy Podjarny, Ilya Golubovich, James Beshara, John Hennessy, Julia Hartz, Kyle Vogt, Leah Busque, Louis Beryl, Mark Goines, Mark Pincus, Mike Abbott, Sahin Boydas, Tim Griffin
Jun 1, 2021Dusty Robotics$17.0M Series A—Anorak Ventures, Band of Angels, Baseline Ventures, Canaan Partners, First Round Capital, Gaingels, Khosla Ventures, Lavrock Ventures, Lemnos Labs, MS&AD Ventures, Root Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Virta Ventures, Charles Zedlewski, Keith Masback, Rob Meyerson, Sahin Boydas, Sam Altman
May 1, 2021Syncari$17.0M Series A—Animo Ventures, Banana Capital, B Capital Group, Chingona Ventures, ClimacticVC, Crosslink Capital, Kevin Ding, Hack VC, Insight Partners, Javelin Venture Partners, Mango Capital, Recursive Ventures, Science, SignalFire, UpHonest Capital, Y Combinator, Douglas Carlisle, Evan Cheng, James Reinhart, Jeremy Yap, Kyle York, Marc Benioff, Mo El-Bibany
Apr 1, 2021SplitSpot$2.0M Seed——
Mar 1, 2021Icertis$80.0M Series F—Allegion Ventures, Asylum Ventures, B Capital Group, Coinbase Ventures, FTAC Ventures, Greycroft, Ignition Partners, Innovation Endeavors, Merak Ventures, Meritech Capital Partners, OrbiMed, Shailendra Singh, Sorenson Ventures, Baris Gultekin, David Caluori, Kelvin Beachum Jr.