About Us
The IPO Angels Approach to Early-Stage Investing
Traditional angel portfolios once expected liquidity in five to seven years. Today many stretch beyond a decade, tying up capital and slowing portfolio velocity.
IPO Angels was created to introduce a more disciplined model that combines curated angel deal flow with a structured pathway to the public markets.
Keiretsu Forum-MST contributes institutional-grade diligence and a global network of experienced angel investors. MDB Capital provides a purpose-built public-venture platform designed to move breakthrough companies from Series A toward the public markets.
Together, the partnership creates a disciplined framework for selecting exceptional companies and positioning them for a credible pathway from private investment to public market liquidity.
For investors, the model combines curated opportunities, structured rights that carry through the IPO, and a focus on improving both the probability and timing of liquidity.
The Minds Behind IPO Angels
Howard Lubert
President, Keiretsu Forum-MST President, IPO Angels
Christian Haller
Vice President, Keiretsu Forum-MST
Vice President, IPO Angels
Chris Marlett
CEO of MDB Capital
George Brandon
President & Head of Community Development of MDB Capital
Proven Players Behind the IPO Angels Model
• 29 years of taking “Big Idea” companies public
• Never failed to successfully take a company public
• All companies traded at a premium to their IPO price
• All reached valuations where they could raise additional capital
• 300+ companies funded by members in 16 years
• $172M+ in member investments
• One of the highest presentation-to-funding conversion rates in angel investing
Investment Philosophy
Exceptional companies deserve more than capital; they require disciplined governance, aligned investors, and a credible path to the public markets.
IPO Angels focuses on a small number of opportunities each year where the combination of market potential, intellectual property, and execution capability supports a realistic pathway from Series A to IPO.
Our model is built on a simple principle: early-stage investing works best when discipline replaces optimism. By combining curated deal selection, structured investor rights, and experienced public-venture execution, IPO Angels is designed to improve both the probability and timing of liquidity for investors and founders alike.
How Investors Participate
IPO Angels is designed for experienced angel investors who want disciplined deal flow and a credible pathway to liquidity.
Members gain access to a curated pipeline of early-stage opportunities selected through the diligence process of Keiretsu Forum-MST and evaluated for compatibility with MDB Capital’s public-venture model.
Each year, a small number of exceptional companies are selected and positioned for a structured pathway from Series A investment toward the public markets. Investors participate at the early stage while maintaining rights designed to carry through the IPO.
Through this model, investors gain access to curated opportunities, structured investor protections, and a framework designed to improve both the probability and timing of liquidity.