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Lehigh Valley Angel Investors

Our purpose is to provide eligible candidates that possess a potentially lucrative opportunity with capital in form of seed or growth funding.

Bethlehem, PA, USA

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Description

Lehigh Valley Angel Investors (LVAI) is a member-led angel investment group based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2011, it is a key player in the Lehigh Valley’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, connecting accredited investors with early-stage, high-growth companies primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. 
  • Seed & Series A: LVAI primarily focuses on early-stage companies that have moved past the "napkin sketch" phase.
  • Post-Revenue Preference: While they consider pre-revenue companies with significant intellectual property (IP), they strongly prefer startups with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and early customer validation or pilot revenue. 
  • Method: Founders apply through the LVAI application portal, which is hosted on the Gust platform.
  • Materials: A professional pitch deck, executive summary, and 3-year financial projections are required for initial review.
  • Selection Criteria: They seek companies with a clear competitive advantage, a scalable business model, and a strong management team.
  • Applications for the February 2026 meeting cycle should be submitted via Gust by mid-January 2026.
  • Monthly Cycle: LVAI reviews deals and holds pitch sessions on a monthly basis throughout 2026 (typically excluding mid-summer and year-end holidays).

Eligibility

  • Geography: Strong preference for companies based in Pennsylvania, particularly the Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton) and the broader Mid-Atlantic region.
  • Sectors: Industry-agnostic, with historical activity in Healthcare/MedTech, SaaS, Advanced Manufacturing, and Consumer Products.
  • Capital Seek: Typically targets companies raising between $250,000 and $2,000,000.

Process

  1. Selection: Applications are screened by a committee of members to assess sector fit and investment readiness.
  2. Screening Meeting: Selected companies pitch to a smaller screening committee for a deep-dive technical and business review.
  3. General Presentation: The top finalists are invited to pitch to the full membership of 40+ accredited investors during monthly meetings.
  4. Due Diligence: Interested members form a team to conduct a 4–8 week rigorous review of the business, technology, and legal standing.
  5. Investment: Members make independent investment decisions, which are often aggregated for the cap table.

What an Applicant can Obtain

  1. Strategic Capital: Access to funding from a network that includes former CEOs, engineers, and clinical professionals.
  2. Local Mentorship: Direct coaching and potential board advisory from members who are deeply embedded in the Pennsylvania business community.
  3. Regional Connectivity: Introductions to local resources such as Ben Franklin Technology Partners and Lehigh University innovation hubs.