Every IT startup starts with a problem worth solving.
And in West Virginia, a new class of founders is stepping up with code, cloud, and clean UI.
However, solving big problems requires more than just good technology; it needs early believers who have capital.
That’s where West Virginia’s angel investors come in.
These investors are domain-savvy and region-aware, quietly backing IT startups that are built to last. If you're building something useful where software runs faster, scales smoother, or just makes life easier, there’s capital waiting to meet you halfway.
In this guide, we break down the top 8 angel investors in West Virginia who are actively funding IT ventures.
Discover The List of Top 7 Angel Investors in West Virginia Who Invest in IT
Here’s a quick table to sum up the list!
| Investor Name | Focused Sectors | Funding Stages | Notable Investments | Total Investments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Cilluffo | AI, Media, Banking, Bitcoin, Consumer Internet, Credit Cards, Crypto, Dev APIs, E-commerce, Enterprise | Seed–Pre-Series A ($100K–$500K) | Fundera, GuiaBolso, MotoRefi, Zinobe, Kin Insurance, Albert, Roofstock, Coru | 50+ startups |
| Roland Reynolds | AI, Media, Aerospace, SaaS, Biopharma, Biotech, Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cloud Infra, Compliance | Series A–B ($1M–$20M) | Windfall, Spine Wave, Metabiota, LeanData, Kin Insurance, Node, Booksy | 30+ startups |
| Cody Nystrom | AI, Media, E-Learning, Analytics, Architecture, SaaS, Mobile, Big Data, Career Planning, Biz Services | Seed–Growth ($100K–$500K) | SchooLinks | 9+ startups |
| Sam Meek | Media, Android, B2B, Biotech, Consumer Internet, Defense, Dev Tools, Enterprise Software, Social Media | Seed–Early ($25K–$150K) | Mobot, Fourstay | 10+ startups |
| J.S. Gamble | AI, Media, Cybersecurity, Analytics, SaaS, Angel, Mobile, Big Data, Biotech, Black/AA Founded | Seed, Pre-seed ($25K–$250K) | PathSensors, CommSafe AI, Blue Triangle, SocialToaster, Atomicorp, Ethix360, TCARE, Trip Tribe, Immuta | 50+ startups |
| Arjun Narayan | Media, Cybersecurity, Analytics, Apps, SaaS, Banking, Biz Dev, Data Integration, Employment | Early-stage ($50K–$300K) | Syncsort, Woundtech, ProcessMaker, Paymerang, Lavu, eHealth Technologies, TechFetch | 10+ startups |
| John Burke | Media, Digital Media, Cybersecurity, Android, B2B, SaaS, Mobile, Big Data, Biotech, Cloud Computing | Seed–Growth ($100K–$500K) | Eko Devices, TerraEchos, Wireless Registry, Lily, Always Prepped, Spree Commerce, The House Fund, B-Stock, Neon, Valencell | 30–50 startups |
Bill Cilluffo
- Focused Sectors: : Artificial Intelligence (AI), Media and Entertainment, Banking, Bitcoin, Consumer Internet, Credit Cards, Cryptocurrency, Developer APIs, E-commerce, Enterprise
- Present In: : McLean, Virginia
- Notable Investments: Fundera, GuiaBolso, MotoRefi, Zinobe, Kin Insurance, Albert, Roofstock, Coru
Bill Cilluffo is a veteran fintech investor and Partner at QED Investors, based in McLean, Virginia.
He has a career rooted in nearly two decades at Capital One, including roles as EVP of Card Partnerships, President of International & Canada, and Deputy Chief Credit Officer.
Bill invests across seed to pre-Series A stages, typically giving checks between $100K–$500K. He’s funded over 50 startups and likes to fund companies with strong unit economics, defensible tech, a clear path to scale, and alignment with financial services transformation.
Roland Reynolds
- Focused Sectors: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Media and Entertainment, Aerospace, SaaS, Biopharma, Biotechnology, Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cloud Infrastructure, Compliance
- Present In: Alexandria, Virginia
- Notable Investments: Windfall, Spine Wave, Metabiota, LeanData, Kin Insurance, Node, Harvest Power, Booksy
Roland Reynolds is an individual investor based in Alexandria, Virginia, currently serving as Senior Managing Director at Industry Ventures.
He first made his mark as Founder and Managing Partner of Little Hawk Capital Management, later acquired by Industry Ventures, and before that, served as Principal at Columbia Capital and Associate at J.P. Morgan.
Roland favors startups with scalable B2B infrastructure and enterprise-ready platforms. He evaluates founder expertise, technical depth, business model clarity, and enterprise traction. \
Although he doesn't host public pitch contests, Roland engages through curated screening events and limited partner forums hosted by Industry Ventures.
He invests primarily in Series A and B rounds, with a sweet-spot check size of $10M, ranging from $1M to $20M per deal.
Cody Nystrom
- Focused Sectors: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Media and Entertainment, E-Learning, Analytics, Architecture, SaaS, Mobile, Big Data Analytics, Career Planning, Business Services
- Present In: : Richmond, Virginia
- Notable Investments: : SchooLinks
Cody Nystrom is a seasoned IT and technology investor based in Richmond, Virginia, currently serving as a Partner and Managing Director at SJF Ventures.
Cody’s background includes board roles at Versify Solutions, Community Energy, and Vital Farms, and she led the acquisition of CleanScapes.
In her investing role, Cody provides $100K–$500K checks in seed to growth-stage deals and has funded around 9 companies.
She seeks founders with scalable IT infrastructure, strong technical teams, and systems-level solutions addressing complex sector challenges, especially in health and education technology.
Sam Meek
- Focused Sectors: : Media and Entertainment, Android, B2B, Biotechnology, Consumer Internet, Defense, Developer Tools, Enterprise Software, Social Media, Productivity Software
- Present In: : Virginia, United States
- Notable Investments: Mobot, Fourstay
Sam Meek is an active angel investor based in Virginia, with a wide-ranging portfolio spanning enterprise software, developer tools, and productivity platforms.
When funding, He invests primarily in seed and early-stage startups, typically writing checks in the $25K–$150K range and often co-investing through regional syndicates.
Beyond capital, Sam brings hands-on support, participating in private demo days and founder meetups within the Mid-Atlantic tech community. His investment criteria center on startups with early traction or pilots, and scalable enterprise value, especially in areas like developer infrastructure and mobile platforms.
J.S. Gamble
- Focused Sectors: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Media and Entertainment, Cybersecurity, Analytics, SaaS, Angel Investment, Mobile, Big Data, Biotechnology, Black / African American Founded
- Present In: : Reston, Virginia
- Notable Investments: PathSensors, CommSafe AI, Blue Triangle, SocialToaster, Atomicorp, Ethix360, TCARE, Trip Tribe, Immuta
J.S. Gamble is a seasoned angel investor based in Reston, Virginia.
J.S. doesn't come from traditional VC/PE firms; rather, he operates as a solo micro-VC but has deep company-building experience and often advises across technical and strategic domains.
What he looks for:
- Founders who know their market or tech inside out:
- Defensible, scalable tech platforms, preferably with initial traction or pilots:
- Diversity in leadership, especially Black/African American-founded ventures:
He engages with the ecosystem via curated demo days, cybersecurity roundtables, and biotech pitch events in the D.C. area.
Since entering the angel scene around 2014, he’s personally backed over 50 startups, typically writing checks of $25K–$250K, and co-investing alongside both angels and early-stage VCs.
Arjun Narayan
- Focused Sectors: : Media and Entertainment, Cybersecurity, Analytics, Apps, SaaS, Banking, Business Development, Data Integration, Employment
- Present In: Fairfax, Virginia
- Notable Investments: Syncsort, Woundtech, ProcessMaker, Paymerang, Lavu, eHealth Technologies, TechFetch
Arjun Narayan is an active angel investor and private equity professional based in Fairfax, Virginia. He currently serves as a Private Equity Analyst at Aldrich Capital Partners LLC and has been actively investing since 2017.
Rather than running public pitch contests, Arjun sources deals through curated networks and PE pipelines, participating in screening sessions within Aldrich and select industry events.
He seeks startups with solid domain expertise, enterprise-grade architecture, early validation, and the ability to integrate into larger IT ecosystems.
Arjun writes checks typically ranging from $50K–$300K, focusing on early-stage companies with strong technical foundations and scalable IT.
John Burke
- Focused Sectors: : Media and Entertainment, Digital Media, Cybersecurity, Android, B2B, SaaS, Mobile, Big Data Analytics, Biotechnology, Cloud Computing
- Present In: Great Falls, Virginia
- Notable Investments: Eko Devices, TerraEchos, Wireless Registry, Lily, Always Prepped, Spree Commerce, The House Fund, B-Stock Solutions, Neon, Valencell
John Burke is a veteran tech investor based in Great Falls, Virginia, with a strong focus on enterprise software, cybersecurity, analytics, cloud infrastructure, mobile, and biotech.
Formerly the founder of the renowned firm True Ventures and an early-stage venture capitalist, John now operates independently through his advisory firm, The Kernel LLC, investing in B2B and IT startups.
With more than 40 years of experience, he has personally backed dozens of startups (approximately 30–50 known deals.
John prefers startups with enterprise‑grade infrastructure, strong data or interoperability layers, and fit for regulated sectors such as healthcare or finance.
He seeks teams with technical depth, traction with production customers, and architectures built for scale and security. Having co-founded True Ventures (later part of Mayfield Fund) and served as an LP advisor across multiple VC and PE rounds, John brings deep access to follow-on capital opportunities.
The investment range of John Burke ranges between $100,000-$500,000.
Wrap-Up:
West Virginia’s IT founders don’t need to stress over capital anymore.
From seasoned angel investors in Northern Virginia to ex-VCs now funding from their checkbooks, there’s a growing network of backers ready to invest in cloud, cybersecurity, SaaS, analytics, and enterprise tech.
But money follows momentum.
If you’re building an IT startup that solves real infrastructure problems or improves how businesses work, these investors want to hear from you.
They’re backing high-functioning teams, clean code, and systems that scale.
Remember that before you pitch!
