FirstCheck Angel Investor Accelerator
Angel investing is a skill, not a secret.
Learn how a Smart Angel Investor evaluates a deal, sizes a first check, and builds a portfolio on discipline instead of guesswork.
A program of iCUE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit • No cost to you
3,000+ educated $10M AUM 6 funds 5 exits 250+ active investors
Supported by
✓ No cost to you
Reserve your spot
Houston, Tulsa, or virtual. Takes 30 seconds.
We’ll never share your information. We’ll email your session details.
The move nobody taught you
You've built the discipline. This is the asset class no one showed you.
Investing in private companies has looked like a closed club. It is actually a learnable skill, and FirstCheck is the framework for it. Two people tend to find us:
The capable professional
You've done the work. Now learn what to do with it.
You maxed the 401(k), funded the IRA, indexed the rest. You have capital and discipline, but no one ever taught you how to invest in a private company. FirstCheck gives you the framework.
The operator, close to deals
You've pitched investors. Now think like one.
You’ve built things and sat on the founder’s side of the table. Being close to deals isn’t the same as knowing how to evaluate one. FirstCheck turns your instinct into a repeatable discipline.
The A.D.D. Method
Every Smart Angel Investor operates on three principles.
The framework at the core of FirstCheck. It turns access into good decisions.
Accessible
Smaller checks and structured entry points into the innovation economy. Not six-figure minimums.
Diversified
A portfolio built across multiple companies. Not one big bet.
Derisked
Disciplined diligence, experienced guidance, and validation. Not speculation.
What you'll learn
A repeatable way to evaluate, decide, and act.
Six focused modules take you from the fundamentals to
writing a first check with a framework instead of a guess.
FirstCheck 101Investor Foundations
FirstCheck 201Smart Angels Do Smart Deals
FirstCheck 301 · Coming Q4 2026Find the Deal
FirstCheck 302 · Coming Q4 2026Evaluate the Deal
FirstCheck 303 · Coming Q4 2026Structure the Deal
FirstCheck 304 · Coming Q4 2026Value the Deal
How it works
Three steps to your first session.
Reserve your spot
Enter your name and email. That’s it. No cost, no accreditation required.
Choose how you learn
Join in Houston, Tulsa, or virtually from anywhere. We’ll email you the details.
Learn and connect
Live sessions and on-demand resources, plus a community of active investors.
Why FirstCheck
Built by people who invest, not people who sell courses.
people educated
assets under management
investments made
exits
active investors
“This class helped me understand how to pitch the concept of my business to angel investors.”
Program participant
“The iCUE session helped me understand exactly what angel investors look for.”
Product Manager
The FirstCheck Investor Accelerator is run by Vantage, and funded by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.
Questions
Good to know before you reserve.
No cost to you. The FirstCheck Investor Accelerator is run by Vantage, and funded by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.
No. Everyone is welcome, including corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, future founders, and anyone serious about learning to invest with discipline.
Professionals who have built financial discipline but were never taught this asset class, and operators who have been close to startups without a formal investing framework.
Live sessions in Houston and Tulsa, and a virtual option available nationwide, plus on-demand resources.
We’ll email you your session options and details. You choose the format that works for you.
Start with FirstCheck
You've done the work.
Now learn what to do with it.
Reserve your spot in the next session. No cost, no accreditation required, no obligation.
✓ No cost to you
Reserve your spot
Houston, Tulsa, or virtual. Takes 30 seconds.
We’ll never share your information. We’ll email your session details.
FirstCheck is a program of iCUE (Innovation Center for Urban Entrepreneurship), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supported by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. © 2026 iCUE. All rights reserved.