Top New York Healthcare VC Firms

Ohio's tech scene has witnessed exceptional growth in the last decade.   The state is home to three software unicorns and hundreds of IT companies.

But even with all this growth, startups face a common challenge: securing early-stage funding.

As VC Firms are more inclined towards startups at the growth or middle stage, founders with early-stage IT startups are always worried about whom to pitch to and how to secure funding.

This is where angel investors step in. These individuals provide capital that allows startups to grow and innovate.

To make your job easier, we have come up with a list of top angel investors in Ohio who are dedicated to supporting the state's tech ecosystem.

Get To Know  The List of Top 7 Angel Investors in Ohio Who Invest in IT Startups

Steve Jaffee

• Focused Sectors : Business Intelligence, Computer, Education, Enterprise Software, Food & Beverage, Health Care, Hotel, Industrial Automation, Information Technology, Internet of Things, Market Research, Mobile, Mobile Apps, Restaurants,
• Present In : Ohio
• Notable Investments : Advisen, CFN Enterprises Inc, Clickability, Clinicient, ClearCompany, CoverMyMeds, DATIS, DATIS Corp

With over 20 years in equity and debt financing, Steve Jaffee has established himself as a leading angel investor with a particular focus on SaaS companies.

Jaffee is also the founder of Dreadnought Capital, a feeder fund for SaaS Capital, which he joined in 2006. He started his career as a General Partner at Reservoir Venture Partners from 2005 to 2014, where he focused on SaaS investments.

Steve Jaffee has funded over 100 startups through SaaS Capital and Dreadnought Capital. His average check size is around $200,000.

Dave Knox

• Focused Sectors : Home Renovation, Real Estate, Real Estate Investment, Residential, Software, Recruiting, Social Recruiting, Staffing Agency, CRM, Enterprise Software, Information Technology, Internet of Things, Broadcasting, Digital Media, Sports, Cloud Management, Human Resources, SaaS, Advertising Platforms, B2B, Digital Marketing, Marketing Automation, Consumer Lending
• Present In : Ohio
• Notable Investments : Ahalogy, Hunt Club, Vine Street Ventures, IncludeFitness, Braxton Brewing Company, FG Angels Syndicate Fund II, MomentFeed

Dave Knox, based in Cincinnati, has a mix of corporate and entrepreneurial insight to his investments. With a background as Chief Marketing Officer at Rockfish and co-founder of The Brandery accelerator, Knox has been supporting startups since the early 2010s.

His investment range lies between $50,000 to $250,000 as he prefers startups with strong leadership, a clear value proposition, and the potential for market disruption.

Sam Lee

• Focused Sectors :  IT, Social Media, Women Founded, Women Led, Big Data, Travel, Vacation Rental, Analytics, Cloud Computing, Data Integration, Marketing, Project Management, Apps, Personalization, Wearables
• Present In : Ohio
• Notable Investments :  Shinsegae

Sam Lee is an experienced angel investor with a background in both venture capital and technology. He has over 20 years of experience in venture capital and has helped build more than 50 early-stage technology and alternative energy companies.

When investing in startups, Lee prefers to invest in technology-driven startups, particularly in sectors like alternative energy and enterprise solutions. He looks for companies with strong technical foundations and innovative approaches to solving industry problems.

The investment range of Sam Lee lies between $50,000 to $400,000.

Joshua Kubicki

• Focused Sectors : Clean Technology, Consumer Internet, Enterprise Software, Mobile, Healthcare, Legal, Telecommunications, Health Care Information Technology, Personal Health, Temporary Staffing, Staffing Firms, SaaS, Deep Information Technology
• Present In : Ohio
• Notable Investments : Plum The Light Switch Reinvented, Atlas Wearables, Gone, Fosbury

As the Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Richmond School of Law, Joshua Kubicki combines a passion for legal tech with a deep understanding of scalable business models.

Kubicki’s investment philosophy centers on startups in SaaS and consumer internet that display strong growth potential and innovative solutions.

The investment range of Joshua Kubicki is around $250,000.

Rodger Davis

• Focused Sectors :  Information Technology, Internet of Things, Market Research, Mobile, Mobile Apps, Restaurants, SaaS, Search Engine, Social Media, Software, Sustainability, Telecommunications, Waste Management, Video, Wireless
• Present In : Ohio
• Notable Investments : AlphaCoin, Mediflow, ZRG Partners

Rodger Davis is also an active angel investor with a background in finance and the investment banking industry. He is currently the Managing Director at Church House Investment Management, a UK-based firm specializing in private client wealth management and institutional asset management.

Like most other angel investors, Davis prefers investing in early-stage startups that have an innovative business model. He looks for companies with strong leadership and a clear pathway to profitability before committing funds.

Ever since the start of his investor career in 2010, Davis has funded around 15 startups and usually invests around $150,000 to $300,000.

Raj Kanuparthi

• Focused Sectors : Social Recruiting, Staffing Agency, CRM, Enterprise Software, Information Technology, Internet of Things, Broadcasting, Digital Media, Sports, Cloud Management, Human Resources, SaaS, Advertising Platforms, B2B, Digital Marketing, Marketing Automation, Consumer Lending, E-Commerce, Social Media, Women Founded, Women-Led, Big Data, Travel, Vacation Rental, Analytics, Cloud Computing, Data Integration, Marketing
• Present In : Ohio

Raj Kanuparthi is the founder and CEO of Narwal, a technology solutions company that focuses on data, automation, and cloud services.

As an angel investor, Kanuparthi tends to invest in tech-focused startups, especially those operating in the data science, AI, and cloud computing sectors.

The investment range of Raj Kanuparthi lies around 300,000, depending upon the startup and its idea. Kanuparthi mostly makes his investments through startup events and fundraisers.

Mark Sancrant

• Focused Sectors :  Digital Media, Advertising, Internet, Advertising Platforms, Tradeshows, Publishing, Digital Publishing, Social Media, Big Data, ECommerce, Training, Consumer Internet, Internet of Things, SaaS, Content, Media, Adtech, Consumer Goods, Online Marketplaces
• Present In : Cincinnati
• Notable Investments : Xplor Technologies and Finch

Mark Sancrant is the founder of eGateway Capital LLC, which he launched in 2021. As an angel investor, he focuses on startups within the finance, consumer services, and technology sectors.

Like most other investors, Mark Sancrant participates in many startup programs and fundraiser events. He is mostly looking for companies that can easily provide 3-4x ROI and are dealing in large addressable markets.

Before becoming an investor, Sancrant spent a lot of time in different venture capital firms. He served as Director of Corporate Development at iNET Interactive LLC (2008–2012) and was a Senior Associate at BlueStone Capital Corp.

The investment range of Mark Sancrant is around $150,00.

Wrap-Up:

So, summing up the discussion, there are dozens of investors in Ohio who can help founders secure an investment.

But, securing an investment isn’t a cup of tea with hundreds of competitors, especially if you’re doing it for the first time.

When initiating a talk with investors, founders should prioritize relationship-building over pitching. Be concise, and show how your product solves a real problem. Talk about common concerns such as revenue models, customer acquisition strategies, and competition early on.