Bruin Angels is a group of enthusiastic UCLA alumni who believe there should be a steady stream of entrepreneurial successes emanating from UCLA – Bruin Unicorns! We focus on supporting UCLA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through the education of UCLA Alumni as angel investors. This includes on-campus networking, education, experience building, coordinating with ecosystems of peer institutions, and generally supporting local efforts adjacent to UCLA as appropriate. Our group is authorized by the UCLA Alumni Association with relevant approvals in July 2024.
For educational programs, the suggested donation is $700 paid annually.
For those who are SEC accredited angel investors and ready to start investing, the suggested donation is $1,200 paid annually.
The suggested minimum for our angel members is $10,000 annually. It’s a suggestion rather than a requirement because we want to balance supporting Bruin founders with ensuring that our angels retain their investment discretion.
Dues are used to cover administrative expenses. Those include things like program management costs, producing educational content and media, cleanup fees after meetings on campus, group lunches or dinners, and other expenses.
Our process is to have all companies seeking support submit their request for review online through the Bruin Angels website. We use SparkXYZ which is linked on our website (www.BruinAngels.org). Even if our initial contact with a company or founder is in person, we will instruct everyone seeking support to submit a request online.
Companies seeking support who have submitted a request online will have their materials reviewed initially by our deal flow committee. That committee will make an initial determination within 30 day days of submission.
Vetted companies are then contacted by the executive director to determine their needs. Based on the results of the interview with the Executive Director and the screening committee, companies can be assisted with networking, connected with a mentor, offered a media opportunity, given an opportunity to practice pitching, or given an opportunity to pitch to members.
After pitching to members at an official pitching session, interested members can form a due diligence team with one member selected as the lead. Those members will conduct the due diligence process, and circulate their results within Bruin Angel membership. Those interested will be assisted in making an investment.
Members meet twice a quarter to review companies.
Companies are evaluated based on the connection with UCLA, the team, product, market size, business plan, IP and opportunity.
Bruin Angels itself does not make investments. Bruin Angels members may choose to invest directly into a company, or to form an SPV to facilitate that investment. Bruin Angels will assist members with this process either way.
We encourage each angel investor to invest at least $10,000.
UCLA companies are preferred, but as long as the company is referred to us by a Bruin Angels member they’re welcome to apply.
Bruin Angels works closely in partnership with other angel groups both locally and nationally to syndicate deals. Part of the reason we use Sparkxyz is to facilitate data sharing with partner groups.
We are in need of members, leads and administrative support. If you have expertise in or would like to volunteer, please reach out through our membership form.
Please see our events calendar.
