AngelList
AngelList
Description
AngelList (now encompassing AngelList Venture, Stack, and Rollups brands) is the world's largest platform for startup fundraising, talent acquisition, and equity management, connecting over 5 million members including 100,000+ startups and investors. The platform offers multiple pathways for raising capital: Roll Up Vehicles (RUVs) that consolidate multiple angel investors into a single cap table line (over $1B deployed since 2021), Syndicates for pooled angel investing with $1,000+ minimum checks, and access to AngelList's own venture funds for select companies.
2025/2026 Focus: AngelList has doubled down on RUVs through the new Rollups brand (launched July 2025), making cap table consolidation and investor management the centerpiece of their founder offering. The platform now includes Consolidation Vehicles (CVs) for retroactively cleaning up existing cap tables.
For ZHC builders, AngelList is particularly valuable for:
- Angel rounds ($100K-$2M) where you want broad investor participation without cap table bloat
- Cap table management - one RUV line replaces 10-100+ individual angels
- Rolling fundraising - continuous capital raises rather than discrete rounds
- Hiring infrastructure - AngelList Talent connects startups with 8M+ candidates
- Equity management - AngelList Stack handles cap tables, 409A valuations, and option grants
The platform's integrated ecosystem means you can fundraise, hire, and manage equity all in one place - reducing fragmentation and administrative overhead for early-stage companies.
Eligibility
Fundraising Pathways (2025/2026)
Roll Up Vehicles (RUVs) via Rollups.com
- Purpose: Consolidate 10-100+ angel investors into ONE line on your cap table
- Typical raise: $50K to $10M+ (most common: $100K-$1M)
- Minimum investor check: Typically $1,000-$5,000 per angel
- Setup time: Launch in minutes, close in 30 days
- Cost: Filing fees only (AngelList eliminated RUV fees in 2024)
- Requirements:
- Incorporated company (Delaware C-Corp preferred)
- Fundraising documents (SAFE, convertible note, or equity round docs)
- Investor list (RUV handles accreditation/KYC/banking)
- You designate the RUV representative (typically founder or lead investor)
Consolidation Vehicles (CVs) - NEW 2025
- Purpose: Retroactively consolidate existing shareholders
- Use case: Clean up messy cap tables from previous rounds
- Process: Existing investors exchange their shares for CV ownership
- Benefit: Reduces cap table lines without new fundraising
AngelList Syndicates
- Structure: Lead investor organizes and invites their network
- Minimum per backer: $1,000+ (lead sets minimums)
- Lead requirement: Experienced angel with track record
- Typical raise: $100K-$500K
- Carry structure: 0-20% carry to lead investor (negotiable)
- Access: Need syndicate lead to champion your deal
AngelList Venture Funds
- Type: AngelList's own capital deployment
- Access: Invitation-only, highly selective
- Criteria: High-traction startups on platform with strong metrics
- Check sizes: Varies by fund ($50K-$2M typical)
AngelList Stack (Equity Management)
- Free tier: Basic cap table management
- Paid tier: 409A valuations, option management, investor reporting
- Pricing: Free for early-stage, scales with company size
- Integration: Seamlessly connects with RUV/fundraising data
AngelList Talent (Hiring)
- Access: 8M+ candidate profiles
- Free for startups: Post unlimited jobs
- Candidate quality: Tech-focused, startup-experienced talent
- Integration: Candidates can see equity via Stack integration
ZHC-Specific Fit Assessment
✅ Excellent fit for:
- Raising angel rounds efficiently ($100K-$2M seed/pre-seed)
- Startups wanting 10+ angels without cap table nightmare
- Companies building for future VC rounds (clean cap tables matter)
- Rolling fund structures for continuous capital influx
- Teams needing integrated fundraising + hiring + equity tools
- International startups raising from US angels (RUVs handle complexity)
- Growth-stage companies cleaning up messy cap tables (CVs)
- Founders who value speed and simplicity over traditional fundraising
❌ Poor fit if:
- Need institutional VC lead (AngelList is angel-focused)
- Raising less than $50K (overhead not worth it)
- Raising more than $5M as primary round (need traditional VC)
- Want traditional investor engagement (RUV investors are more passive)
- Building consumer apps without network effects (angel investors prefer B2B/SaaS)
- Can't articulate clear path to $100M+ outcome
Platform Statistics (2025/2026)
- 5M+ members globally (investors, founders, job seekers)
- 100,000+ startups on platform
- $1B+ deployed through RUVs since 2021
- $100M+ saved in founder administrative costs
- 41.5% of deals went to AI/ML startups in H1 2025
- 8M+ candidates on AngelList Talent
- 170+ countries represented
Application Process
Roll Up Vehicle (RUV) Process - Most Common Path
| Step | Timeline | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Create account | Day 1 | Sign up at rollups.com (powered by AngelList) |
| 2. Set up RUV | Day 1 | Define deal terms, investment structure, minimum check size |
| 3. Build investment page | Day 1 | Private fundraising page with deck, financials, deal terms |
| 4. Generate invite links | Day 1-3 | Custom, trackable links for each investor or investor group |
| 5. Investor commits | Days 3-30 | Investors sign docs and commit capital via private page |
| 6. Real-time tracking | Ongoing | Dashboard shows visits, commitments, wire transfers |
| 7. Accreditation/KYC | Days 1-30 | AngelList handles investor verification automatically |
| 8. Close RUV | Day 30 | Click to close, provide financing docs (SAFE/note/equity) |
| 9. Funds transfer | Day 30+ | Single wire transfer from AngelList to your bank |
| 10. Cap table update | Day 30+ | Add ONE line for RUV entity (not 50 individual angels) |
Syndicate Fundraising Process
| Step | Timeline | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Find syndicate lead | 1-4 weeks | Connect with experienced angel who'll champion your deal |
| 2. Lead due diligence | 2-4 weeks | Lead evaluates company, terms, fit for their network |
| 3. Syndicate setup | 1-2 weeks | Lead creates deal on AngelList with terms |
| 4. Network outreach | 2-4 weeks | Lead invites their backers to invest |
| 5. Commitments roll in | 2-4 weeks | Backers commit $1K-$25K+ each via platform |
| 6. Close | Week 6-8 | Collect funds, single entity on cap table |
Consolidation Vehicle (CV) Process - NEW
| Step | Timeline | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identify need | Day 1 | Determine which existing shareholders to consolidate |
| 2. Apply for CV | Day 1-7 | Submit request through Rollups platform |
| 3. Legal structure | 1-2 weeks | Rollups handles CV entity formation |
| 4. Shareholder outreach | 2-4 weeks | Communicate benefits, get buy-in from investors |
| 5. Share exchange | 4-6 weeks | Existing shares exchanged for CV ownership |
| 6. Cap table cleanup | Week 6-8 | Multiple lines consolidated into single CV entry |
What You Receive
RUV Infrastructure
- Entity formation (Delaware LLC or LP)
- Legal documentation handled by AngelList
- Automated investor accreditation checks
- KYC/AML compliance processing
- Banking and wire transfer coordination
- Single wire transfer to your company
- One designated representative for all RUV investors
- Ongoing investor reporting tools
Platform Tools (Included)
- Real-time fundraising dashboard
- Trackable investor invite links
- Automated daily progress email digests
- Document signature management
- Commitment and wire tracking
- Integration with AngelList Stack (cap table)
AngelList Stack Integration
- Free cap table management
- 409A valuations (paid service)
- Option grant management
- Investor dashboard access
- Scenario modeling tools
- Portfolio company reporting
AngelList Talent Access
- Post unlimited job listings
- Access 8M+ candidate database
- Applicant tracking system
- Candidate equity visibility via Stack
- Startup-focused talent pool
Cost Structure (2025/2026)
Roll Up Vehicles:
- RUV setup: FREE (filing fees only, ~$500-1,000)
- Platform fee: $0 (AngelList eliminated in 2024)
- Ongoing admin: Included
- Note: This is dramatically cheaper than managing 50+ individual angels
Consolidation Vehicles:
- CV setup: Contact Rollups for pricing
- Legal costs: Included in platform fee
- Shareholder communication: Tools provided
Syndicates:
- Setup: FREE for companies
- Carry to lead: 0-20% (negotiated with lead investor)
- Management fee: Typically 2% to lead (if structured like fund)
AngelList Stack:
- Basic cap table: FREE
- 409A valuations: $1,000-3,000 per valuation
- Full equity management: Scales with company size
Best Practices for Success
Pre-Launch (Do This First):
- Have financing docs ready (SAFE, convertible note, or priced round)
- Build investor pipeline BEFORE launching RUV (warm intros only)
- Set clear minimum check sizes ($5K-$25K typical for angels)
- Designate RUV representative (usually founder or lead investor)
- Prepare investor materials (deck, data room, financial model)
During Fundraise:
- Send personalized invite links (not generic link to everyone)
- Follow up within 24-48 hours of investor visits
- Create urgency with rolling close dates
- Leverage social proof (show who's already committed)
- Use daily digest emails to track momentum
Post-Close:
- Send welcome email to all RUV investors
- Set up quarterly investor updates via email
- Invite investors to AngelList Stack for transparency
- Use investor network for hiring, customer intros, next round
- Plan next RUV if doing rolling fundraising
Pro Tips from Founders
- Speed matters: RUVs close 2-3x faster than traditional angel rounds
- Minimum check sizes: Set at $10K+ to avoid too many micro investors
- Lead investor visibility: Even with RUV, having 1-2 direct angels as "leads" signals quality
- Future rounds: VCs love clean cap tables; RUVs make Series A easier
- Rolling structure: Some companies keep RUV open for 6-12 months, adding angels continuously
- International investors: RUVs handle currency/compliance automatically
- Signature chasing: RUV eliminates the worst part of future rounds (re-signing docs)
Contact
Official Resources
Primary Platforms
- Rollups by AngelList - RUV and CV product
- AngelList Main Platform - Syndicates, venture, talent
- AngelList Stack - Equity management
- AngelList Talent - Hiring and recruiting
Product-Specific Pages
- Roll Up Vehicles Explained - Complete RUV guide
- Syndicates - Find syndicate leads
- AngelList Venture - Platform fund info
- Fund Administration - For GPs and fund managers
Support & Contact
- General inquiries: Contact form at angel.co/contact
- RUV questions: rollups@angellist.com
- Syndicate setup: syndicates@angellist.com
- Stack support: stack-support@angellist.com
- Talent hiring: talent@angellist.com
Educational Resources
- AngelList Blog - Platform updates, data reports
- State of Venture Reports - Market benchmarks
- Fund Benchmarks 2025
- RUV Launch Guide
Data & Research
- H1 2025 Venture Report: 41.5% of deals went to AI/ML startups
- Fund Performance Data: 2024 vintage funds showing recovery
- Operational Benchmarks: GP commits, deployment rates, fundraising timelines
Social Channels
- Twitter/X: @AngelList
- LinkedIn: AngelList
- YouTube: AngelList (founder interviews, platform tutorials)
Finding Syndicate Leads
How to Connect:
- Browse syndicate leads on angel.co/syndicates
- Filter by industry, check size, investment thesis
- Review lead's track record and portfolio
- Submit your startup for consideration
- Warm introductions work best (mutual connections)
Top Syndicate Lead Categories:
- AI/ML specialists: Focus on artificial intelligence startups
- B2B SaaS leads: Enterprise software expertise
- Consumer/marketplace: Two-sided platform experience
- FinTech/Crypto: Financial services and Web3
- Healthcare/BioTech: Life sciences and digital health
Platform Navigation
For Companies Fundraising:
- Start at rollups.com for RUV setup
- Use angel.co for syndicate connections
- Integrate with Stack for cap table management
For Investors:
- Create profile at angel.co
- Browse deals and syndicates
- Connect portfolio with Stack for tracking
For Hiring:
- Post jobs at angel.co/talent
- Access candidate database
- Show equity details via Stack integration
Community & Network
AngelList Network Events:
- Regular founder office hours
- Investor networking sessions
- Product launch webinars
- State of Venture report releases
Partner Ecosystem:
- Law firms (Clerky, Carta integration)
- Accounting firms (Pilot, Kruze)
- VCs (for follow-on rounds)
- Accelerators (Y Combinator, Techstars integration)