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Writer's pictureHBS AngelsNYC
Nov 134 min read

How to Get Selected to Pitch to the HBS Alumni Angels of Greater NY


Author - Sharjeel Kashmir (PLDA 2007) - President, HBS Alumni Angels of Greater New York

The Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Greater New York (HBSAANY) is one of the largest and most prominent angel networks in the United States. We have over 300 members, and our deal flow is in the hundreds. People travel from all over the world to pitch their ideas and products at our monthly event.


How do we decide which companies to invite to pitch? We have over 50 expert sector leads who bring extensive expertise and dedicate significant time each month to evaluating a diverse array of companies.


We’ve created a rigorous selection process that incorporates three distinct levels of independent review:


  1. Initial Assessment: Sector leads conduct an in-depth review of the proposed company and provide insights.

  2. Secondary Evaluation: Additional interested members are invited to review the company submission, offering their perspectives.

  3. Final Selection: The screening committee conducts an independent review, considering sector leads' and participating members' insights and recommendations.


Ultimately, the screening committee selects up to six companies each month to present. These selected companies pitch on the first working Monday of every month. Following the presentations, a group discussion is facilitated among the members. If there is sufficient interest in investing, a due diligence lead is appointed to oversee the process.


There are ten key areas we prioritize in our evaluations:


  1. Customer Focus and Market Potential: We look for founders with a laser-sharp understanding of a proven pain point they are solving for customers. We assess the entrepreneurs' knowledge of these customer pain points and the extent to which their proposed solutions address these issues. We also evaluate the market's size and growth potential, particularly within areas ripe for disruption or expansion.

  2. Team Composition: We look for passionate, driven individuals who have the right team around them to execute. The experience and track record of the founding team are paramount. We favor teams possessing complementary skills and an unwavering commitment to their vision—founders who are genuinely driven to resolve significant challenges.

  3. Product or Service Differentiation: We look for a rock-solid market position. We scrutinize the uniqueness and value proposition of the product or service. It must not only address a genuine problem but also distinguish itself from competitors while demonstrating defensibility in the marketplace.

  4. Customer Feedback and Traction: We look for proof that customers want to buy what you’re selling. That means existing customers or strategic partnerships that bring access to customers, or evidence of demand through customer feedback. Early traction serves as a vital indicator of market validation.

  5. Business Model Clarity: We look for a well-defined path to profitability. A scalable business model is essential. We need to understand how the company plans to generate revenue and achieve profitability.

  6. Competitive Landscape: We look for companies who know exactly who they will take market position from. Understanding the competitive environment and the company's positioning within it allows us to gauge the potential for success and long-term sustainability.

  7. Exit Potential: We look for companies with an exit plan. While not the foremost consideration at this stage, potential exit strategies—such as acquisition or IPO—are assessed, including the likelihood of achieving tenfold plus returns on investment over 7-10 years.

  8. Networking and Connections: We look for opportunities that would benefit most from our network. The vast network associated with Harvard Business School is one of our greatest assets. We evaluate the company’s capacity to leverage these networks for partnership and mentorship opportunities.

  9. Portfolio Fit: Although we invest across various sectors, we look for companies that complement our existing investments. Our primary areas of focus include healthcare, financial services, software as a service, industrials, and climate technology.

  10. Investment Terms: We look to get the best deals first and are flexible depending on the investment opportunity. Depending on the stage of development, we typically make investments in companies that are valued at between $3 and $15 MM (pre-money). Preferred stock is generally our favorite form of investment, and SAFEs are our least favorite.


We assess each investment opportunity in the context of the above characteristics. We look to get in early on great ideas. That said, we often invest in later rounds of our portfolio companies because we understand them and want to support them throughout their lifecycle.


To increase your chances of being selected to pitch to our network, ensure the above ten areas are clearly addressed in your investor deck and well-articulated in your presentation. You will get seven minutes to present and seven minutes to answer questions from the Angels.


We hope this helps you understand our process and prepare to pitch.


We look forward to hearing how your big idea will change the world.



Author - Sharjeel Kashmir (PLDA 2007) - President of HBS Alumni Angels of Greater New York.


Sharjeel Kashmir invests in companies

that have a hyper-focus on the customer

and use innovation to disrupt the current

landscape. He brings the unique perspective of having worked at leading

investment banks, asset managers,

commercial banks, retail banks, private

equity firms, and innovative fintech

startups. He currently serves as

President of the Harvard Business

School Alumni Angels of Greater NY (HBSAANY). Sharjeel has more than 25 years of experience working in financial services in the US, UK, Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia. He currently works as an advisor to investment banks and asset managers in NYC, focusing on transformational initiatives, deal sourcing, due diligence, and post-merger integration. Sharjeel has worked at or advised the world’s leading banks and asset managers including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Bank of America, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, MUFG, SMBC, and ANZ. In addition, Sharjeel counsels the executive teams, CEOs, and boards of several early-stage companies on product strategy & development, capital structure, and the journey from negative to positive EBITDA. Sharjeel has been a member of the HBSAANY and served as co-chair of the screening committee since its inception. He is an avid art collector, enjoys golf and polo, and lives in New Jersey with his wife and son.



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