Need Startup Cash? Angel Investor Summit Coming to Philly

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Anyone who says Philadelphia doesn’t have enough angel investors should probably be in town May 9-11, 2016. That’s when the Angel Capital Association is bringing 700 investors to town for its annual summit.

ACA is a professional association focused on helping angel investors and portfolio companies find success. It has more than 13,000 angels in its network that have over 10,000 companies in their portfolios.

While the Pennsylvania Convention Center has held conferences with 10,000 or more people in the past, having 700 angels in one place is no small feat. The fact that the group is coming to Philadelphia for the first time is a clear win for the city’s startup and entrepreneurial community.

“Philadelphia is surging with innovation, opportunity and a community of eager angel investors to match it and we are pleased to bring the ACA Summit to this city in 2016,” said Marianne Hudson, executive director of ACA. “As a globally respected home for technology commercialization, an eclectic mix of research institutions and a vibrant startup ecosystem, Philadelphia was the perfect choice for this gathering of angels. The support of local investors and community leaders is particularly exciting.”

Jack Ferguson, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that providing access to angel investors is huge for Philadelphia’s startups.

“The ACA doesn’t traditionally go to areas without thriving startup organizations,” said Ferguson. “They can go anywhere that has startups, but the fact that they know people in Philadelphia, know it’s growing, and know the scientific community is great played a big part.”