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Buffalo Angel Network

The Buffalo Angels, a division of the Western New York Venture Association, is an angel investor network limited to accredited investors.

Buffalo, NY, USA

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Description

The Buffalo Angel Network (BAN) is a member-led organization of accredited investors headquartered in Western New York. Managed through the University at Buffalo (UB), it serves as a bridge between early-stage high-growth companies and private equity capital.
  • Seed & Early-Stage: The network targets companies that have moved past the pure "idea" phase and are seeking their first or second rounds of outside capital.
  • Traction Focus: Preference is given to ventures that have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and either early revenue or significant customer validation (pilots, beta tests). 
  • Method: Founders apply through the Buffalo Angel Network application portal, which is typically hosted on the Dealum platform.
  • Materials: A standard submission requires an executive summary, a pitch deck, and financial projections.
  • Fees: There are no fees to apply, but a nominal presentation fee may be charged if a company is selected to pitch to the full membership.

Eligibility

  • Geography: Strong preference for companies based in Buffalo, Rochester, and the Western New York region, though they occasionally consider deals from Ontario or the broader Northeast.
  • Sector: Industry-agnostic, with a history of investing in SaaS, MedTech, CleanTech, and Advanced Manufacturing.
  • Scalability: The business must have the potential to reach $20M+ in annual revenue within 5 years. 

Process

  1. Screening: A selection committee reviews applications to assess market size, scalability, and exit potential.
  2. Screening Presentation: Selected founders pitch to a small committee of 5–10 investors for deep-dive questioning.
  3. Member Meeting: Finalists are invited to pitch to the full network (approx. 50+ members) during quarterly dinner meetings.
  4. Due Diligence: Interested members form a team to conduct a 4- to 8-week investigation into the company’s legal, financial, and technical claims.
  5. Investment: Members make independent decisions to commit capital, often pooling funds into a single entity for the cap table. 

What an Applicant can Obtain

  • Capital: Individual deal aggregates typically range from $100,000 to $500,000.
  • Mentorship: Direct access to seasoned Buffalo-based executives and serial entrepreneurs.
  • Ecosystem Access: Through its management by UB Business & Entrepreneur Partnerships, startups gain links to university research and talent.