Why WAAN?
Raise capital from seasoned angelsWhether you're actively raising capital now or preparing for the future, start building a relationship with our strong network of accredited investors from the Wharton and Penn alumni community.
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Access exceptional advisors, mentors, and talent Get connected to some of the brightest stars in the industry. Through WAAN, you'll get access to amazing mentors, advisors, and maybe even your next potential hire.
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Showcase your company to a high impact communityTake advantage of our pitch sessions, educational events, and other avenues to showcase your company and vision. Get feedback, win business or generate buzz.
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Applying To WAAN
Submit Your ApplicationThe first step in getting your startup connected to WAAN is to fill out our quick and easy startup application.
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Get SelectedYour application will be vetted by our experienced screening committee and select companies will be invited for additional follow up.
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Connect And RaiseIf your startup is approved by our screening committee, we will find the most suitable medium to engage you with our membership base.
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We are partnering with Wharton Alumni Angels so this application link connects to their website
FAQ
1) Who is eligible to apply?
We are open to submissions from diverse sectors based in the Northeast region of the United States. Currently, we do not consider international deals. The fundraising rounds we focus on tend to be pre-Seed or Seed. Unlike some other organizations, we do not believe there should be a strict cut-off on the size of the raise and valuations, given the often nuances between sectors.
2) How often are the pitch events? When should I apply? How do I know if I am selected?
The pitch events generally happen quarterly. We update on our website when the next pitch event is targeted to be. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, until we have enough candidates (generally 5) for an upcoming pitch. We suggest applications to be submitted well in-advance, not cutting too close to the target date, as a shortlist is usually decided 3 - 4 weeks prior to the event date. All applications should get a response from WAAN upon receipt (automatic message through Gust) and a decision on the outcome. If you want to check on the status of your application, you can email us at waan.boston@gmail.com. Please allow for at least a month before you contact us to check.
3) I have submitted my application through the Gust portal. Can I submit more information? Can I call the reviewers?
We have a large team reviewing the deal submissions. We ask all the information to be submitted through Gust, so that everyone on the committee can have equal access to the material. To that extent, we ask entrepreneurs to please refrain from emailing us additional information on a one-off basis. Because of the large number of applications we receive, we don't usually take calls upfront but will reach out with questions if applicable.
4) What are you looking for in the deals?
Broadly speaking, we are evaluating the merits of the products/services, opportunities in the market, competitive advantage, management and financials (achieved or projected). For different industries, there are industry-specific KPIs we would look for as well. Examples of what we generally find useful are product-market fit, differentiations in its solution/business model/team, milestones, financial projections and use of proceeds.
5) My application is declined. Can I get feedback? What are some paths forward? Can I resubmit?
Feedback can be provided directly to the entrepreneurs upon request. One can send us an email waan.boston@gmail.com. We are building out a mentorship initiative, so companies can choose to participate in that in the meantime. Previously declined applications can still be considered and chosen for future pitches, provided that the review committee believes that the company has improved and met the standards outlined in #4.
We are open to submissions from diverse sectors based in the Northeast region of the United States. Currently, we do not consider international deals. The fundraising rounds we focus on tend to be pre-Seed or Seed. Unlike some other organizations, we do not believe there should be a strict cut-off on the size of the raise and valuations, given the often nuances between sectors.
2) How often are the pitch events? When should I apply? How do I know if I am selected?
The pitch events generally happen quarterly. We update on our website when the next pitch event is targeted to be. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, until we have enough candidates (generally 5) for an upcoming pitch. We suggest applications to be submitted well in-advance, not cutting too close to the target date, as a shortlist is usually decided 3 - 4 weeks prior to the event date. All applications should get a response from WAAN upon receipt (automatic message through Gust) and a decision on the outcome. If you want to check on the status of your application, you can email us at waan.boston@gmail.com. Please allow for at least a month before you contact us to check.
3) I have submitted my application through the Gust portal. Can I submit more information? Can I call the reviewers?
We have a large team reviewing the deal submissions. We ask all the information to be submitted through Gust, so that everyone on the committee can have equal access to the material. To that extent, we ask entrepreneurs to please refrain from emailing us additional information on a one-off basis. Because of the large number of applications we receive, we don't usually take calls upfront but will reach out with questions if applicable.
4) What are you looking for in the deals?
Broadly speaking, we are evaluating the merits of the products/services, opportunities in the market, competitive advantage, management and financials (achieved or projected). For different industries, there are industry-specific KPIs we would look for as well. Examples of what we generally find useful are product-market fit, differentiations in its solution/business model/team, milestones, financial projections and use of proceeds.
5) My application is declined. Can I get feedback? What are some paths forward? Can I resubmit?
Feedback can be provided directly to the entrepreneurs upon request. One can send us an email waan.boston@gmail.com. We are building out a mentorship initiative, so companies can choose to participate in that in the meantime. Previously declined applications can still be considered and chosen for future pitches, provided that the review committee believes that the company has improved and met the standards outlined in #4.