About Us
The Westchester Angels is an investor group whose mission is to provide financial and strategic partnerships to entrepreneurs in the Westchester area. Our interest in companies goes beyond the capital. We work with, and mentor, the companies we invest in. We provide both the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs and the infrastructure to facilitate individual assessments. We enjoy building businesses, seeing them succeed, and are committed to helping new and innovative companies prosper.
We are also serious about education: we become better investors by learning from each other and studying the art of Angel investing. Join our next course cohort starting soon, learn more about how to become an angel investor here.
News Room
Michael Wieser Rubbing Elbows with Sir Richard Branson
What a thrill. Unbelievably, a few weeks ago at a Toastmasters event I gave a speech on the one person, dead or alive, I would most like to meet. Without hesitation, my speech told of my admiration of who I think is the world's greatest entrepreneur; Sir...
Compassionate Capitalist & Angel Investor, Sandy Wollman shares insights
Sandy Wollman joins Karen Rands to share his experience in growing the Westchester business community by cultivating entrepreneurs and encouraging more investors to get involved and syndicate their investment. Karen & Sandy will also talk...
Sandy Wollman, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Westchester Angels
In Episode 10, we sit down with the vibrant Sandy Wollman co-founder of Westchester Angels, a member-based angel investment group dedicated to funding innovative new startup companies in and around Westchester that are “disrupting,” or shaking up, current markets....
3 Quick Ways To Turn Off Angel Investors
Much advice is given hopeful entrepreneurs about how to pitch angel investors, but the truth is that what not to do can be as important as what you should do. I interviewed Sandy Wollman, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Westchester Angels. He is also the star...
You must define an exit strategy for your startup, here is how
One of my favorite stories about companies pitching the Angels is about a company with a good idea that eliminated themselves with one phrase. When we asked how the investors would make money, the CEO suggested we ask our financial advisors. For the future benefit...
11 Things Angel Investors Always Look For In A Pitch
You’ve been working so fast and furiously on your idea that you’ve started to forget what day of the week it is. Your family and friends can barely recognize you. Your bank account balance is showing more red than you care to admit. And yet you’re exhilarated because...
Our Members
Membership is by invitation on an annual basis. Members pay a nominal fee to participate. Individual members are not allowed to solicit business and the expectation is that they are serious about making investments.
We ask members to help with company selection, governance and group management. A sense of humor and a constructive mindset are required. While we are serious about investing in, and growing companies, life is too short to take anything too seriously.
You must also be an accredited investor per the SEC definition.
Investors
Recent Investments
Upcoming Events
Westchester Angels Investor Meeting
All Angel Investor Meetings take place at the KOI Creative Space located at 169 Mamaroneck Ave 2nd Floor, White Plains, NY 10601.
* Click on any of the times below to register.
Westchester Angels Networking Get Together
Join us after our Investor Meetings for networking opportunities over drinks and music. Located downstairs at The Hudson Grille at 730pm.
* Parking information can be found here
| Date | Westchester Angels Investor Meeting | Westchester Angels Networking Get Together |
|---|---|---|
| Thur, 02/07 | 5:45pm-7:45pm | 7:45pm-9pm |
| Thur, 03/21 | 5:45pm-7:45pm | 7:45pm-9pm |
| Thur, 05/30 | 5:45pm-7:45pm | 7:45pm-9pm |
| Thur, 09/12 | 5:45pm-7:45pm | 7:45pm-9pm |
| Thur, 10/24 | 5:45pm-7:45pm | 7:45pm-9pm |
| Thur, 12/12 | 5:45pm-7:45pm | 7:45pm-9pm |
* As per the SEC, you must be an accredited investor to attend Angel Investor meetings.
Upcoming Screenings
| Date | Westchester Angels Investor Screening |
|---|---|
| Thur, 01/24 | 8:30am-12pm |
| Thur, 03/07 | 8:30am-12pm |
| Thur, 05/16 | 8:30am-12pm |
| Thur, 08/22 | 8:30am-12pm |
| Thur, 10/10 | 8:30am-12pm |
| Thur, 11/21 | 8:30am-12pm |
Entrepreneurs
We are looking for early stage businesses with strong growth prospects to invest in. We review all submissions and invite the most promising companies to a preliminary screening. At this screening you will present your idea to our selection committee. They will ask you questions, evaluate the business, and decide if you will pitch to our investors. This decision is based on how well your business meets our criteria, the quality of the presentation, and how interested our investors are likely to be.
If you are selected, you will be given 8 minutes to present to our investors, followed by an 8 minute Q/A session. Interested investors will engage you directly after the meeting in order to conduct due diligence, negotiate terms, and potentially invest. Presenting does not guarantee funding. Decisions to fund are made by individual investors based on their view of the company, the team, and the future.
Please download the Westchester Angels PitchGyde to help you prepare a great pitch.
The Process
1. Application
Submit your application via Gust. Serious inquiries only. Applications will only be accepted when submitted through Gust.
3. Investor Meeting
Now is your big chance to make a great impression on our investors! Your objective is to “Get to the Next Conversation”!
2. Pre-Screening
We prescreen the most promising startups in person so we can select the 3 most compelling startups that will pitch at the next investors’ meeting.
4. Due Diligence
If we have enough interest, a Due Dilligence Team is formed. We’ll learn more about your company and team as we consider making an investment.
1. Application
Submit your application via Gust. Serious inquiries only. Applications will only be accepted when submitted through Gust.
2. Pre-Screening
We prescreen the most promising startups in person so we can select the 3 most compelling startups that will pitch at the next investors’ meeting.
3. Investor Meeting
Now is your big chance to make a great impression on our investors! Your objective is to “Get to the Next Conversation”!
4. Due Diligence
If we have enough interest, a Due Dilligence Team is formed. We’ll learn more about your company and team as we consider making an investment.
* Companies must be located in Westchester, NYC, or surrounding counties.
Our Partners
News Room
Break Through the Crowd is a competition that blends the best of business reality formats like Shark Tank and The Apprentice. The show has a crowdfunding focus which is a big part of how the millennial’s do business.
Join Sandy and his fellow Sharks; Alan Brody, Nick Adams and Ramit Arora as start-ups pitch to advance to the next round. The show features both compelling and some not-so-compelling start-ups and takes many fun twists and turns along the way.
Sunday’s Thru Nov. 25th @8:30 PM (ET) On Zee TV USA
Who We Are
Sandy Wollman
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Sandy Wollman is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Westchester Angels. He is also on the Executive Committee for the Veridian Member’s Fund and member of the ARC Angels and has reviewed well over 1000 pitches in the past year. He knows what works and what doesn’t!
Sandy is starring in ”Break Through the Crowd” a new TV show which features startups pitching to investors to get to the next round where the winner receives a large crowdfunding prize. The show combines elements of Shark Tank and The Apprentice and is being televised on Zee Tv in the USA, Canada and the Caribbean.
In addition Sandy created and leads the New York Area Angel Group Leaders Initiative which brings the Directors of the largest Angel Groups in the Tri-State Area together to share deal flow. Being intimately involved in his community Sandy serves on the Westchester County Task force for innovation and created a non-profit to help small business owners succeed.
He is an accomplished distance athlete having competed 3 Ironman Triathlons, The Swim Around Manhattan and was the 470th individual to successfully swim the English Channel.
Jeff Loehr
Co-Founder and Director
Jeff Loehr, Founder and CEO of Engage and expert strategist, marketer and story teller. He has seen hundreds of pitches, thousands of stories and countless marketing programs – he knows what engages and what doesn’t. He developed Engage’s BrandStory framework and leads BrandStory workshops for marketers – he is on a mission to never see another lousy pitch again.
Michael Wieser Esq.
Director
As a co-owner, frequent investor, legal counsel, sponsor and a member of the screening committee of the Westchester Angels, Michael is active in providing deal flow and assisting with due diligence services to the Members.
In addition, Michael is a go-to resource and service provider in the tri-state entrepreneur and emerging company community. Michael counsels emerging companies and startups throughout all phases of growth, as well as the angel investors that fund and acquire them.
For entrepreneurs and emerging companies, Michael collaborates and works with founders from the spark of their idea to the successful growth and scaling of their companies. He provides outside general counsel and advisory board services that help companies create the proper legal and business foundation to make them investor-ready.
Michael is different than any other business attorney as he practices law with a business person’s mindset. A serial entrepreneur having founded 6 startups himself with successful exits, there is nothing that Michael hasn’t experienced as either a lawyer or a business owner.
Finally, Michael is an educator as an adjunct professor for entrepreneurship at Westchester Community College, leads legal workshops for the WEDC organization and teaches business and legal workshops at NYC tech coding schools. He is a frequent lecturer and panelist on business and law panels at conferences and a judge at pitch events.
Scott C. Nevins
Director of Membership
Scott C. Nevins is one of the Senior Investment Advisors of Bernstein Private Wealth Management where he provides asset allocation and wealth planning advice to individuals, families, endowments and foundations, and entrepreneurs. Scott is one of his client’s trusted advisors.
Scott is involved with all financial aspects of his clients including retirement planning, multi-generational wealth transfer planning, and the sale of a business. The culture of Bernstein is a culture of honesty, ethics and where the client always comes first.
Contact us
Westchester Angels HQ
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