Dingman Center Angels

Dingman Center Angels (DCA) is a Maryland based angel investment group that provides funding to early-stage companies primarily located in the mid-Atlantic region. Our members are entrepreneurs, CXO's, venture capitalists and business leaders who have founded, funded and built world-class companies. Our investors come from a variety of industries, have diverse investment experience and expertise; and, in association with the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, help foster a vibrant local early-stage venture investment community.

Generally, we are looking for innovative startup companies that have developed a product or service that addresses a significant market opportunity or need and demonstrated some early evidence of traction. We also look for companies where our investment and expertise can help accelerate growth. Although DCA is sector agnostic, most companies that receive investment capital have developed some degree of technology-enabled differentiation and/or competitive advantage. We introduce prospective entrepreneurs to DCA investors at monthly investment meetings held from September to June.

Typically, DCA invests between $100,000 and $250,000 in growth seed/early-stage companies and will often participate in syndicates with other local angel groups and VC’s for capital raises up to $2 million. DCA is not a fund and does not invest as a group. Our members often collaborate on due diligence but make individual investment decisions.

Since 2005, DCA has completed over 135 transactions representing ~ $18 million in capital invested.

Eligibility & Application Process

To be eligible to apply, the company should be located in the mid-Atlantic region (we give preference to companies in Maryland, D.C., Virginia, or Delaware). A complete application must be submitted, which includes an executive summary (one-page length) and investor pitch. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please review our detailed Investment Criteria page, but generally you should apply when:

Seeking capital in one of the following ranges:
- $100K to $1M in series A preferred stock or convertible note
- $1M+ with lead investor and term sheet
Have a fully-developed product or service offering
Have a current sales pipeline & revenue stream
Can demonstrate that the business is likely to grow rapidly, is scalable and has sufficient untapped market potential
Have developed and tested a sales/marketing strategy with defendable market differentiation
The company addresses a high-growth market (20% CAGR minimum) or a large market ($500mm+) with a demonstrated strategy to obtain market share
Pre-money valuation expectations are less than $7.5M

Self-Assessment

Before submitting your application for our consideration, you must determine if angel capital — and specifically capital from our group - is right is for your company. Please review our investment criteria and current portfolio companies to evaluate that fit.

Take this quiz to help assess if your company is prepared to pitch to the Dingman Center Angels.

Step 1: Submit Application

Dingman Center Angels accepts applications through Gust. There is a $75 application fee payable by credit card at the time of application. Dingman Center Angels Application.

Our process will result in actionable feedback and insight that will prove helpful for business development and in other investor meetings. This application fee is the only fee we charge throughout our process. We encourage you to network with one of our members to get a warm introduction to our organization.

A completed application to Dingman Center Angels will include: a company pitch deck, a completed "executive summary" section on Gust and completed financials. In addition, applicants should review these Key Questions to Consider to ensure that all questions applicable to your company have been answered in your combined application and supporting materials.

Step 2: Pre-Screening

Your application will undergo an initial screening by our team. The Dingman Center Angels team conducts due diligence of the product, financial plan and business team. Our goal is to bring in companies that are prepared to successfully pitch investors. Following our initial screening, we will send you an email to inform you of whether your application has been advanced to the review committee.

Step 3: Screening Day

After reviewing your materials, our internal committee will determine if your business could be of interest to our members. If you succeed, you will be invited to present to our screening committee which includes Dingman Center entrepreneurs-in-residence and select angel investors. These coaches are professionals who have experience in raising capital across many different industries and will provide real-time feedback on content and delivery. Be prepared to deliver a 10-minute investor presentation followed by in-depth questioning and advice. We usually look at five to six presentations during this meeting and devote about one hour to discussing the investment merits and concerns of each business opportunity. After the meeting, each presenter is notified regarding the results from the screening committee and receives feedback. Normally, three to four of the candidates receive an invitation to present their business to our full membership.

Step 4: Presentation to Full Membership

Following the review committee, a select few companies will be invited to present to our full membership. Invited entrepreneurs deliver their presentation at a formal Dingman Center Angels investor meeting, held between September and June. Entrepreneurs will deliver a 10-minute presentation and address questions for an additional 10 minutes. Following the Q&A session, the investors will meet privately and then allow additional time for the entrepreneur to answer any final questions. The objective is to peak investor interest in a follow-up due diligence meeting. The goal is to get the second date, not to get married right away. You will have the chance to go into the details of your business with no time limit in a subsequent due diligence meeting with any interested investors. After all the presentations, we excuse the entrepreneurs and have an extensive discussion on each business opportunity. The investors express their interest by filling out indications of interest forms which are then compiled and send to the entrepreneurs as a follow-up.

Step 5: Investor Follow-Up

Our investors make their own decisions about which companies, and how much, to invest. They lead their own due diligence and negotiations with the company. Investors with a mutual interest in a particular company may collaborate to perform due diligence, provide feedback, and/or pursue an investment in a company. Investors may choose to directly contact an entrepreneur or request the facilitation of a meeting through the Dingman Center.

Step 6: Dingman Center Connectivity

After presenting to Dingman Center Angels, you will be part of our community of entrepreneurs. If you so choose to be involved, this will provide you with opportunities to get connected with the various activities of the Dingman Center. We also ask presenting companies to keep connected with the Dingman Center so we can update our investors on your company’s progress and milestones.

Concerned About Disclosure?

Dingman Center Angels does not sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). This is a common apprehension for most entrepreneurs. However, most professionals and venture capitalists will NOT sign an NDA until a time later in the due diligence process. A company presenting to Dingman Center Angels, or to any private or institutional investors outside of Dingman Center Angels, should prepare its business plan and presentation in such a way that its secrets are not fully revealed. Most ideas which entrepreneurs are afraid to disclose have to do with scientific or technical details. Entrepreneurs need to realize that investors are not concerned about such details in the first or second meeting. What they are concerned about is the market need; the cure for the need; the demonstration of a large and growing market; validation of product or service viability; and the management team and its capability to execute the business plan.

Dingman Center Angel Benefits

Investor presentations by the region’s most promising early-stage companies
Monthly networking with a diverse group of quality investors and advisors
Unique access to a pipeline of proprietary technologies developed at the University of Maryland
Mentoring opportunities with Dingman Center’s student entrepreneurship initiatives

Investor Meetings

Investor meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month from September to June. Dingman Center Angels invites up to three companies to present to DCA investors at our pitch events. After each event, the center works with investors on follow-up due diligence and supports companies throughout the funding process. Meetings take place both at Van Munching Hall and at various locations in the region.

Investors Meetings 2020-21

Wednesday, September 9, 2020, from 10 a.m.-Noon (Virtual)
Wednesday, October 14, 2020, from 10 a.m.-Noon (Virtual)
Wednesday, November 11, 2020, from 10 a.m.-Noon (Virtual)
Wednesday, February 10, 2021, from 10 a.m.-Noon (Format TBD)
Wednesday, March 10, 2021, from 10 a.m.-Noon (Format TBD)
Wednesday, April 14, 2021, from 10 a.m.-Noon (Format TBD)
Wednesday, June 2, 2021, from 10 a.m.-Noon (Format TBD)

Credentials

The following credentials are required for our investors:

You must be an accredited investor: an individual investor as defined in rule 501(a) of Regulation D or an institutional investor
It is recommended that you live and/or frequently visit the Mid-Atlantic region
Have experience managing and/or building successful companies
Have a peer network of domain expertise and contacts to support your portfolio of investments
Are sincerely interested in making at least one angel investment per year.

Join Our Network

To join our investor network, download and complete the Dingman Center Angels Investor application. Send your completed form and membership fee, either $1,500 for individuals or $2,500 for a business entity, payable to University of Maryland, to:

Robert H. Smith School of Business
Office of Finance & Accounting
ATTN: William Hedges
3570H Van Munching Hall
7699 Mowatt Lane (039)
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-1815

What Our Investors Are Saying?

"I moved to Maryland in 2014 and began working as a full-time angel investor in 2015. The Dingman Center has been my "second office" ever since. I met my first angel investment through the Dingman Center Angels. DCA is indispensable to my work as a Maryland angel investor."

—Justin Label, Inner Loop Capital

"Veenome came to Dingman Center Angels with an object-recognition algorithm to make video searchable. I used a prototype of the Veenome service and loved it. I am now an investor in a company that could unlock a whole new way to monetize free video on the web. If you are an angel investor, companies like Veenome are what you want to see in your deal flow. Dingman Center Angels did a great job sourcing this deal for me."

—Jason Shrensky, serial entrepreneur

	SecondWrite - 2020 SecondWrite has developed an innovative automated malware analysis solution for detecting advanced malware.
	HyperQube - 2020 HyperQube is a "cyber range as a service" offering that enables enterprises to quickly and easily build an exact copy of any IT infrastructure.
	Nayya - 2020 Nayya is a software platform that helps employees choose and use their employee benefits, and transforms the way teams plan, experience, and pay for care.
	Cardboard Live - 2020 Cardboard Live creates a superior experience for streamers and viewers of live board games and card games.
	FORTË - 2020 FORTË allows users to stream live and on-demand boutique fitness classes from top studios worldwide.
	Reconnect - 2020 Reconnect fights recidivism by providing a single dashboard for your court to monitor your entire community supervision population.
	Babylon Micro-Farms - 2019 Babylon Micro-Farms provides an intelligent platform that makes indoor farming simple and accessible, enabling anyone to grow fresh food.
	InfoSec - 2019 InfoSec helps IT and security professionals advance their careers with certifications and skills.
	PediaMetrix - 2019 PediaMetrix brings AI & Computer Vision tools to pediatric healthcare.
	Senseware - 2019 A full-stack, out-of-the-box IoT Platform that captures the real-time energy submetering, IAQ, and HVAC operational data you need.
	Sorcero - 2019 Developed by MIT Media Lab veterans, Sorcero is democratizing enterprise access to AI technologies.
	Retrium - 2019 Retrium powers better agile and scrum retrospective meetings to enable teams to continuously improve faster.
	Sisu Global Health - 2019 Sisu Global Health is a medical device company that creates products for use in the emerging markets.
	Pathotrak - 2019 Based on our extensive knowledge and expertise in the science of food safety, pathOtrak solutions address the needs of a broad set of stakeholders involved in ensuring the safety of our food supply.
	Ash & Erie - 2018 Modern-fit clothing specifically tailored for shorter men.
	Wild Kombucha - 2018 A kombucha brewery based out of Baltimore, Maryland, with flavors and brewing processes appealing to both new and seasoned drinkers.
	JRINK - 2018 Cold-pressed juice bar and juice delivery in Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Offering juice cleanses and subscriptions.
	ARMR Systems - 2018 ARMR Systems develops hemorrhage control systems designed to increase the survivability of traumatic battlefield injury in situations where advanced medical support is not immediately available.
	Bounce Imaging - 2018 360 degree cameras for tactical and rescue applications in law enforcement, fire, industrial safety, and defense.
	Student Opportunity Center - 2018 S.O.C. Enterprise is the leading technological infrastructure for institutions to scale experiential learning and other high-impact practices.
	AllStacks - 2018 Allstacks delivers quantitative insights to engineering managers so they can understand their team's performance and proactively remove roadblocks.
	VRGO - 2018 The virtual reality chair, tilt and move in VR - hands free.
	Insightin Health - 2018 Insightin Health's patented platform centralizes member activities and delivers automated and personalized preventative actions for healthcare journey.
	FarmRaiser - 2018 FarmRaiser helps schools, nonprofits and civic groups create authentic, efficient, and high-profit fundraisers.
	Ethix360 - 2017 ETHIX360 provides Compliance as a Service (CaaS); a simple, affordable answer to employee ethics communication and human resources case management.
	Rybbon - 2017 Rybbon is an online platform for marketers to send and manage e-gift campaigns like Amazon or Visa e-gift cards. Rybbon integrates with top marketing platforms like Marketo, HubSpot, SurveyMonkey, and Qualtrics.
	Pype - 2017 Pype is a software company that provides innovative software solutions for construction industry.
	Sonavex - 2017 Sonavex is committed to improving outcomes for surgical patients by using cutting-edge imaging technology to provide clinicians with visualization of critical data -- directly at the point of care.
	CoapTech - 2017 CoapTech is a seed stage company seeking partners interested in improving medical care delivery for patients young and old around the world.
	gel-e - 2016 gel-e designs wound treatments for a variety of applications and patients, spanning from surgical gels to bandages for patients on blood-thinners experiencing routine nuisance bleeds.
	Hatch Apps - 2016 A website that allows people to design and build apps without needing to know how to code.
	InHerSight - 2016 InHerSight brings women's insights together into a common framework to show what's working and what's not at companies, and to help more women find their ideal workplace.
	MISFIT Juicery - 2016 MISFIT Juicery repurposes ugly fruits and vegetables into delicious cold-pressed juice to fight food waste.
	Inky - 2016 Inky by Arcode® Corporation makes exchanging encrypted and digitally signed email a breeze.
	Cybrary - 2016 Cybrary provides free and open source cyber security training.
	MyQVO - 2016 MyQVO is an online community for students that creates an enjoyable platform for studying and completing classwork.
	Eventuosity - 2016 Eventuosity is a customizable event management software solution that allows event planners to more efficiently plan and manage their events and team.
	NetBeez - 2015 NetBeez enables companies with a large network infrastructure to quickly troubleshoot and repair network problems, cutting costs and reducing network downtime.
	Yet Analytics - 2015 Yet provides software and interoperability solutions that put the power of connected data into the hands of decision makers.
	Delight Me - 2015 Delight Me's cloud-based goal management platform empowers knowledge workers and employers to make better decisions with better data and better advice.
	Card Isle - 2015 Meaningful, personalized greeting cards on-demand.
	LePrix - 2015 LePrix is the first online marketplace to shop pre-owned luxury from the best brick-and-mortar designer consignment stores.
	Terbium Labs - 2015 Terbium Labs builds Matchlight, which alerts clients the instant their stolen data appears on the dark web.
	Omni Speech - 2015 OmniSpeech is an innovative software technology company that aims to revolutionize the enhancement of voice communication in speech-enabled applications and in digital mobile devices.
	VitusVet - 2015 VitusVet is an online sharing system for veterinary records. Helping pets speak to their vets.
	Describe It - 2014 Describe It is a sales and presentation tool that helps you better deliver, track, and close more landscaping proposals.
	SurveySnap - 2014 SurveySnap is a smarter, more efficient and more profitable system for collecting, reporting and communicating around site-survey information. This is done through the use of our intuitive mobile application and site-survey technology that is specifically designed for maximum efficiency.
	GOPOP.TV - 2014 With the proliferation of 'second screen' devices, TV, movie, and Internet video activities are primed for disruption. Gopop plans to exploit this disruption by engaging viewers through dynamic social interactions while offering a wider monetization model.
	DivvyCloud - 2014 DivvyCloud reduces the overall complexity of a company's cloud environment to allow engineers to spend more time developing the core business and less time managing cloud assets.
	Zoobean - 2014 Zoobean is a monthly subscription service that handpicks books for children based on their age, gender, interests, reading level and other factors.
	Cobrain - 2014 Cobrain is one of the fastest growing shopping apps today. Imagine walking into a virtual mall, except you only see the items you're going to want to buy!
	Pendo - 2014 Pendo brings the data, the insight, and the tools to Product Managers that will enable them to make the decisions that until now they were unable to make.
	Wheel Shields - 2013 Wheel Shields makes a longboard skateboarding device that improves safety, keeps riders dry, and lets skaters perform new tricks.
	Astrapi Corporation - 2013 Astrapi's patented Compound Channel Coding™ (cCc™) allows for dramatic improvements in communication performance by smoothly integrating periodic and exponential signal parameters.
	ZeroFOX - 2013 ZeroFOX provides enterprise grade security technology dedicated to identifying, monitoring and preventing risk across the socially connected enterprise.
	Naaya - 2013 Naaya is a game-based social learning platform for Elementary Schools (K-5) focused on global and social studies and 21st Century Skills - Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character.
	Distil Networks - 2012 Distil Networks protects websites against web scraping, content theft and competitive data mining.
	YaSabe - 2012 YaSabe connects businesses, Latino culture and community by allowing users to be "in the know" and confidently make choices about how and where to spend their time and money.
	E-ISG Asset Intelligence LLC - 2012 E-ISG Asset Intelligence delivers cost efficient solutions to help customers manage and track their assets so they can reduce costs and improve operation efficiency.
	Mobile Systems 7 - 2012 Mobile Systems 7 allows enterprises to securely deploy smartphones and tablets by monitoring deployed systems, securing sensitive data and enforce corporate policies without relying on software agents.
	Brain Sentry - 2012 Brain Sentry's helmet-mounted sensor detects impacts that could cause a concussion - helping prevent further injury or death.
	Ringio - 2012 Ringio is a cloud-based Communication Software for SMBs focused on real-time data and customer intelligence.
	Tista Games - 2012 Tista Games is a platform for regularly scheduled episodic games that keeps players engaged and monetizing for years, not just weeks.
	Lemur Technologies - 2012 Lemur Technologies is a software company that brings together experts in retail, programming, and social media marketing to develop innovative solutions for common retail problems by leveraging smart phone technology and social networking.
	Social Toaster - 2012 SocialToaster is a social marketing platform that engages supporters to promote content directly to social networks while driving website traffic and providing comprehensive reporting on the effectiveness of efforts.
	Social Tables - 2012 Social Tables has created the world's first social seating chart through its event planning and community-building platform.
	SpydrSafe - 2012 SpydrSafe's mobile security platform prevents corporate data breaches due to intentional or inadvertent misuse of mobile apps, thus enabling the use of employee-owned devices in the workplace and providing IT departments the tools necessary to safeguard corporate data.
	Eco Armour - 2012 Eco Armour produces shaving and skin-care products using all natural and organic renewable resource ingredients.
	LearnZillion - 2012 LearnZillion is a learning platform that combines video lessons, assessments, and progress reporting. Each lesson highlights a Common Core standard, starting with math in grades 3-9.
	Saleswarp (Formerly 6th Street Commerce) - 2012 Saleswarp focuses on simplifying and streamlining the critical business processes associated with managing a successful E-commerce business.
	Target Entertainment Properties - 2012 Target Entertainment Properties (TEP) is a Maryland based company dedicated to developing a suite of celebrity branded games across multiple platforms.
	ClearEdge3D - 2011 ClearEdge3D, Inc. provides 3D software for the 3D modeling of plants and buildings.
	Cirrus Works - 2011 CirrusWorks is a scalable integrated infrastructure solution that forms the basis of efficient technology management in commercial networking environments.
	Spotflux - 2011 Spotflux has developed several unique technologies that bypass censoring technologies, protect privacy, and allow users all over the world to browse an open and free internet.
	Spinnakr - 2011 Increase click-throughs and conversions by automatically displaying the right message to the right visitor.
	Veenome - 2011 Veenome translates video content into data for superior organization, publishing, sharing, searching and monetization.
	Talk Local - 2011 Talk Local is the next-generation request aggregator and filtering search engine. It goes beyond traditional search engines by eliminating the inefficiency caused by the "guess and check" method of matching consumers to service providers.
	YouEye - 2011 YouEye is dedicated to creating the best services and tools for improving the user experience of the web.
	Sworkit - 2011 A free mobile application that rewards users with virtual medals, discounts and free merchandise for good health.
	Brazen - 2011 A growing community of connectors, coaches, job-seekers, recruiters and entrepreneurs to help you find your next great opportunity
	uKnow - 2010 uKnow enables parents to "have their child's back" without constantly looking over their shoulder. By giving parents the information they need to educate and engage their children about staying safe online and smarter tools to supervise their children in a digital world, uKnow helps make technology safer for kids and less intimidating for parents.
	Seguro Surgical - 2010 An innovative medical device company specializing in the development and commercialization of quality surgical devices that will benefit both medical professionals and patient populations. Seguro has established links with leading Educational Institutions to enable it to access, assess and license new technologies that match our mission - to reduce health care costs, while improving patient safety.
	Gold Lasso - 2010 A provider of sophisticated multi-channel marketing technologies and services that help companies easily interact with their customers in a more relevant and personalized way. In an ever-changing marketing environment, long-term client success is our mission, therefore we provide every client with a dedicated and knowledgeable Account Manager who delivers strategic guidance.
	MeMeMe - 2010 Provides the world' s most advanced speech recognition platform by enabling real-time voice control of any mobile application or automated phone service, and the most accurate transcription of any audio content.
	SitScape - 2010 Provides award-winning, Web-based, situational User-Defined-Operating-Picture (UDOP) software. It enables ops and mission users to easily aggregate and visualize disparate application and information sources into collaborative Common- Operating-Picture (COP) for situational awareness, live monitoring, executive briefing, visual contextual collaboration and information sharing.
	B4Health - 2008 Through B4Health, hospitals and healthcare facilities have an opportunity to realize short term benefits both in cost and time efficiency while applying long term solutions to build flexible business models around staffing acquisition and retention.
	mySBX - 2008 Operates an online network for businesses and professionals to exchange opportunities, resources, and information. A Web-based tool that enables government contractors to find qualified partners, form contract teams, and create winning bids on GWAC and IDIQ task orders from their own Web portal. Sold to Deltek.
	Interaction Labs - 2008 Developer of computer interface technologies for immersive physical interactions that people usually only experience in the real world. The focus is on adding resistance and mass to virtual objects in video games, military simulations and other digital content.
	Zymetis - 2007 Develops innovative biotechnologies which enable the economical production of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel.
	MAX Endoscopy - 2007 Develops medical devices used in gastrointestinal endoscopy and related specialties. One product currently in development has applications in the treatment of hemorrhoids; assists a physician in performing a colonoscopy.
	Goozex - 2006 An award-winning peer-to-multi-peer video game and movie trading company headquartered in College Park, Maryland. The company has designed and developed an innovative online system that connects members to build a community across North America, and allows them to trade games with each other.
	Hook & Ladder Brewing Company - 2006 An award-winning microbrewery founded by a firefighter from Bethesda, MD. Hook and Ladder is currently available in 27 states and has donated over $60,000 to burn treatment centers in local communities.
	Sensics - 2005 The panoramic virtual reality display company. Based on patented technology developed over nearly a decade of research, Sensics delivers upgradeable, lightweight, panoramic head-mounted displays that combine ultra-wide field of view and high resolution.