KW Angel Fund

High-Level Overview

KW Angel Fund is a personal angel investment fund led by Kevin Weatherman, focusing primarily on early-stage startups in New York City. The fund targets founders who are deeply committed to building impactful companies, especially in sectors like AdTech and MarTech. Its mission is to support founders in reaching milestones that attract institutional investors for subsequent funding rounds. The investment philosophy centers on backing strong product and engineering teams addressing clear market problems, with a goal of helping startups scale from seed to Series A and beyond. KW Angel Fund has made over 108 investments, including direct and syndicate deals, with notable portfolio companies such as Slack, Rent The Runway, and Electric.ai, reflecting its impact on the startup ecosystem by enabling early-stage growth and scaling[1][2][3].

Origin Story

KW Angel Fund was founded by Kevin Weatherman, who has a background in scaling startups from early stages to significant growth. Before founding the fund, Kevin played a key role in scaling MoPub from zero to over $250 million in revenue and was instrumental in its acquisition by Twitter in 2013. His experience includes helping startups grow from fewer than 10 employees to over 100, which informs his hands-on approach to angel investing. The fund emerged from Kevin’s desire to leverage his operational and scaling expertise to support founders in NYC, particularly those building technology-driven companies with transparent market problems. This personal fund reflects his commitment as a fellow founder to help others succeed[1][2].

Core Differentiators

• Unique Investment Model: Personal angel fund with a focus on founder support rather than just capital deployment.
• Network Strength: Deep connections in NYC’s tech ecosystem, especially in AdTech and MarTech, leveraging Kevin’s operational background.
• Track Record: Over 108 investments including early stakes in high-profile companies like Slack and Rent The Runway.
• Operating Support: Hands-on guidance from Kevin’s experience scaling startups, helping founders prepare for institutional investment rounds.
• Sector Focus: Specializes in technology startups with strong product/engineering teams addressing clear market needs[1][2][3].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

KW Angel Fund rides the trend of early-stage, founder-focused angel investing in a vibrant tech hub like New York City. The timing is favorable due to NYC’s growing prominence as a tech center, especially in AdTech and MarTech sectors where the fund has expertise. Market forces such as increasing startup activity, demand for specialized early-stage capital, and the need for operationally experienced investors work in KW Angel Fund’s favor. By supporting startups through critical early growth phases, the fund influences the broader ecosystem by helping build scalable companies that attract larger institutional investors, thus fueling the local innovation economy[1][3].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, KW Angel Fund is likely to continue leveraging Kevin Weatherman’s operational expertise to back startups that can scale rapidly and attract institutional funding. Trends shaping its journey include the ongoing growth of NYC’s tech scene, increasing specialization in AdTech and MarTech, and the rising importance of founder-centric angel investors who provide more than just capital. The fund’s influence may evolve by expanding its network and portfolio, potentially playing a larger role in bridging seed-stage companies to Series A and beyond. This aligns with its core mission of making the intangible tangible through dedicated founder support[1][2][3].