In recent times, Charleston has set many new records displaying its exceptional startup growth. The city is known as a great tourist destination and has been ranked as the No 1 Tourist Destination for 7 years in a row.

Similarly, dozens of VC firms have entered the startup landscape of Charleston and are ready to boost many ventures. Famous individual investors and startup incubators are now providing funding to the city as a part of their funding campaigns.

Do you also have a startup idea that is worth getting funded?

Well, let's wait no longer and start discussing the list of top 5 angel investors in Charleston and ways to connect with them.

Top 5 Angel Investors in Charleston

Following is the list of some of Charleston's top-ranked venture capital firms and individual investors.

Charleston Angel Partners

Website: Charleston Angel Partners (chapsc.com)

Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm

Investment Interests: healthcare, consumer, enterprise, software, artificial intelligence, machine learning, advertisement tech, and energy sectors.

Investment Stage: Seed

Charleston Angel Partners is a venture capital firm that is headquartered in Charleston. The network was founded by John Osborne in 2004 and has funded 23 startups since its inception. With a focus on tech-related startups, Charleston Angel Partners fund startups at the seed/late stage and highly prefer ventures with massive growth potential.

As for the screening tests, they evaluate various factors of a startup that can impact its growth and market standings. They look for experienced businesses demonstrating market product fit, focusing on environmental and social impact. Once a startup has been funded, the mentors at Charleston Angel Partners follow a hands-on investment approach and monitor the startup journey. Throughout the year, they arrange mentorship programs and workshops dedicated to their portfolio companies.

The investment range of Charleston Angel Partners can range upto $2M. Although they have made many investments, some famous names in their portfolio are:

Xequel Bio (First String Research): Xequel Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Their breakthrough solutions provide therapies for inflammation and injury-based medical conditions.

Nirvana Sciences: Nirvana Sciences is developing new fluorescent dyes with ultra-narrow emissions. These are being commercialized to improve the efficiency of fluorescence-based medical diagnostic and imaging systems and procedures.

Luminelle (formally UVision360): Luminelle is a FemTech company dedicated to solving the issues of diagnosing and treating Uterine/Urologic Diseases. They have developed the Luminelle DTx Hysteroscopy System, an office-based system that allows diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy.

VentureSouth

Website: Home - VentureSouth

Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm

Investment Interests: Tech and E-Commerce.

Investment Stage: Early Stage

Although the network isn't located inside Charleston, VentureSouth is known to be one of the biggest and most famous venture capital firms in South Carolina. The network was founded by the investors/entrepreneurs Matt Dunbar, Charlie Banks, and Paul Clark in 2008. Since its inception, the network has invested over $500M and funded over 100 companies, most at the seed stage. Consisting of over 400 investors, VentureSouth aims to change the entrepreneurial landscape of South Carolina.

While funding startups, VentureSouth, like most other investors, follows a pitching contest schedule to hunt the most deserving companies. They have monthly screening meetings where their angels hear formal pitches from the strongest companies in their pipeline. These screening pitches typically last 12-15 minutes, followed by about 15 minutes of Q&A.

Aside from their investments, VentureSouth also arranges mentorship programs and networking events, allowing entrepreneurs and investors to interact with each other.

The investment range of VentureSouth ranges from $250,000 to $2M, depending on the startup. Some of their famous investments are:

Baebies: Baebies develops early disease detection and comprehensive diagnostic solutions. They operate on digital microfluidics, which maximizes diagnostic yield from low-volume samples.

Verdeeco: Verdeeco is a smart grid analytics company that provides a suite of cloud-based software applications for utilities.

Seurat Technologies: Seurat Technologies is developing a metal additive manufacturing technology offering unprecedented speed, scale, and quality.

GoodGrowthCapital (GGC)

Website: GGC (goodgrowthvc.com)

Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm

Investment Interests: Biotech

Investment Stage: Seed Stage

Another famous name in the VC firm community of Charleston is GoodGrowthCapital. Often referred to as GGC, the network has made a total of 89 investments, most at the seed stage. The network was founded by the investors Amy Salzhauer and Maureen Stanick Boyce in 2015. There are currently 9 investors working at the firm who provide funding to startups based in South Carolina and other cities.

When funding startups, GGC organizes pitching contests and selects the startups with the highest chances of growth and unique ideas. And since the venture funds Series A and Seed stage startups, they also select early-stage startups based on their ideas, and the mentors guide them throughout the startup stages.

Moreover, GGC doesn't participate in or arrange networking events and public workshops. They only focus on funding startups and don't want to think otherwise.

The investment range of GGC can range upto $1.5M. Some of their recent investments are:

AdipoPharma: AdipoPharma SAS is a biotech company committed to understanding the role of adipocyte cells in diabetes.

Aluna: Aluna is a company that provides an at-home spirometer to maintain healthy lung function.

Azalea Capital

Website: Azalea Capital Lower Middle Market Private Equity Fund

Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm

Investment Interests: Tech and Consumer Products

Investment Stage: Seed Stages

Azalea Capital is a private equity firm that invests in lower middle-market companies throughout South Carolina. Founded in 1995 by Patrick A. Duncan, the network has invested in 20 startups and continues to expand their portfolio.

During the screening tests, the group of investors at Azlea Capital fund startups based on their growth and market competition. Usually, the firm doesn't invest in startups with huge competition and cannot generate 2-5x ROI within 36 months of investments.

Aside from funding, Azlea Capital also organizes networking events and accelerator programs to boost the startup growth in their region. The investment range of Azlea Capital starts from $5M and can range upto $20M, depending on the startups. Notable companies in their portfolio are:

Jones Naturals: Jones Naturals specializes in manufacturing and provides treats, chews, and bones for dogs. They have 32 employees and generate $16 million in revenue.

ACL Airshop: ACL Airshop provides unique products and services to numerous leading passenger and air cargo carriers. The company operates on 6 continents at nearly all of the world's top 50 air cargo airports.

InTech Aerospace: InTech Aerospace is a proven leader in commercial aircraft interior refurbishment, maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) services.

Power Services Group (PSG): PSG provides integrated turnkey solutions in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of steam and gas turbine equipment.

Micheal Mashaal

LinkedIn: Michael Mashaal | LinkedIn

Investor Type: Individual Angel Investor

Investment Interests: Biotechnology, Health Care, Therapeutics, Medical, Health Diagnostics, Digital Entertainment. 

Investment Stage: Early and Seed

Micheal Mashaal is one of the most active individual angel investors in Charleston. As the senior managing director at Healthcare Venture Partners, Micheal Mashaal actively funds startups related to healthcare at the seed stage. As for his individual investments, Micheal Mashaal has made 8 investments in Charleston and will continue to expand his portfolio.

When funding startups, Mashaal focuses on healthcare companies that can solve real-time problems and provide quality healthcare services to people. From his past investments, it is evident that Micheal Mashaal funds companies that can generate 3-4x ROI within 3 years of investment.

Moreover, Micheal Mashaal also arranges many public workshops and attends networking events to boost startup growth in the city.

Micheal Mashaal's investment range ranges from $50,000 to $150,000, depending on the project. If a startup shows potential, Mashaal can also do additional fundraising. Some of his famous investments are:

Corindus: Corindus designs, manufactures, and commercializes remote robotic systems for interventional procedures.

Claret Medical: Claret Medical develops a cerebral protection system designed to reduce the risk of stroke during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Their system offers endovascular technology and cerebral vascular protection systems.

CareView Communications: CareView Communications is a healthcare technology provider. They have developed a variety of clinical products to serve the best hospitals, nursing homes, caregivers, patients, families, and visitors alike.

Ikena Oncology: Ikena Oncology is a biotechnology company that discovers and develops biomarker-driven therapies for cancer treatment.

How to Connect With Angel Investors

Pitching to an investor who already knows about your startup is just like marching toward success with no hurdles in between.

However, the biggest question that most entrepreneurs get confused with is what methods are applicable when connecting with investors.

Generally, the golden opportunity to connect with angel investors is through startup events. Many entrepreneurs have connected with angel investors through networking events or pitching competitions.

But, if this doesn't work for you, it is also possible to look out for some recommendations through friends or colleagues. At the end of the day, what matters is that you successfully secure the investment and get the required boost for your startup.

Wrap Up

Summing up, you can easily pitch to angel investors and secure an investment, provided an amazing pitch deck and confident behavior. Angel investors are always eager to fund startups that can turn out to be profitable investments.

Good Luck!

Frequently Asked Questions