Central Texas Angel Network

Gary Forni, the head of the Central Texas Angel Network, was asked to speak at the ATX Investor Salon this week with an impressive group of investors, family offices, founders, and fund managers focused on the future of innovation and capital formation.

One of the themes he discussed was the important role angel investors play as the first experienced capital into emerging companies, often helping founders bridge the gap between early traction and the larger VC and PE firms that come later.

Great conversations, strong companies, and a reminder of how quickly the Central Texas innovation ecosystem continues to grow.

CTAN members and the CTAN Sidecar Fund are investing $150K into SunRay Scientific, a company developing advanced conductive adhesives for flexible wearables and semiconductor electronics.

SunRay’s technology is designed to replace traditional solder, wire bonds, and conductive films with a solution that enables smaller, lighter, and more flexible electronics while also improving manufacturing efficiency and sustainability.

The funding will support continued commercialization efforts as the company works with major manufacturers across medical devices, automotive, RFID, and semiconductor applications.

Today, we had the opportunity to present “Getting Started in Angel Investing” to the team at HiBob.

Using HiBob’s own fundraising journey as a backdrop, we discussed:
• How to get started building a thoughtful angel investment strategy
• Why accredited investor rules exist and the realities of early-stage investing
• The risks, timelines, and return dynamics behind venture investing
• What types of companies angels typically back — and how startup exits work

One of the biggest takeaways: successful angel investing is rarely about chasing one company. It’s about education, diversification, disciplined due diligence, and consistent exposure to quality deal flow.

Thank you to Emily Davila for organizing the session and to the HiBob team for the thoughtful discussion and engagement.

Gary Forni and Katie Russel presented, representing CTAN.

If your company or executive team is interested in learning more about angel investing, startup ecosystems, or how to get started as an investor, reach out to us at [email protected].