West Texas Angel Network
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For Immediate Release

West Texas Angel Network Announces New Leadership Team and Regional Growth

Formerly the Lubbock Angel Network, the organization has adopted a new name that reflects a broader investment thesis spanning Amarillo, Lubbock and the wider West Texas region.

LUBBOCK, Texas — October 27, 2026 — The West Texas Angel Network (WTAN), formerly the Lubbock Angel Network, today announced its new leadership team and continued efforts to expand opportunities for investors, businesses and community partners across West Texas.

Executive Director Dr. Nick Bergfeld, Head of Growth Taylor McAlpine and Head of Strategy Zane Ancell are leading the network’s operations, growth and investment strategy alongside the organization’s board and Board President Ryan Reber.

The leadership team and new name reflect a broader investment thesis designed to connect more West Texas investors with promising companies and strengthen the region’s private-investment ecosystem.

New leadership team

Bergfeld, McAlpine and Ancell will lead WTAN’s operations, growth and investment strategy.

  • Dr. Nick Bergfeld, Executive Director, oversees the network’s operations and regional partnerships. He is an LHS and Texas Tech alumnus and holds a medical degree from Yale and a master’s in public policy from Harvard. Nick is a serial entrepreneur, investor, award-winning entrepreneurship educator and executive coach.
  • Taylor McAlpine, Head of Growth, leads membership and sponsorship, working with prospective investors and the banks, firms and businesses that support the network. Taylor is an entrepreneur and community builder whose work spans local media, economic development and business growth across West Texas.
  • Zane Ancell, Head of Strategy, leads investment strategy and deal flow and works directly with companies seeking capital. Zane is a Texas Tech graduate, M&A adviser, investor and business-development professional with experience in acquisition strategy, business valuation and capital-partner outreach across West Texas.

A broader thesis for West Texas

The organization was founded in 2015 as the Lubbock Angel Network. The West Texas name signals growth on two fronts: where the network invests and the kinds of companies it seeks to support.

WTAN now serves founders and investors in Amarillo, Lubbock and the broader West Texas region, with a focus on companies connected to West Texas talent, research and markets.

The network’s thesis extends beyond early-stage investment opportunities to include growth capital for established businesses, exceptional brick-and-mortar companies, software, life sciences and agricultural technology. WTAN is also exploring opportunities in advanced manufacturing, energy and water, healthcare services, regional consumer brands, targeted investment funds and mission-aligned organizations.

Investments made under the Lubbock Angel Network name already reflect that range, including Lubbock software company SitePro and craft brewery Good Line Beer Co. The network also helped launch the Seraph Hub Fuel Fund, a seed-stage agriculture technology fund, with Texas Tech Research Park and Seraph Group.

“West Texas has the talent, the research and the business leaders to build great companies here. Our new name is an invitation to founders throughout West Texas to make WTAN their first stop for capital.”
Dr. Nick Bergfeld, Executive Director

Building the network and investment ecosystem

WTAN is actively developing new ways to connect investors, students, businesses and community partners with private-investment education and opportunities.

The network is developing internship opportunities with local universities that would allow students to receive academic credit while gaining exposure to angel investing, investment analysis and the process of evaluating privately held companies.

WTAN is also actively in discussions with agricultural organizations about how the network can better support innovative farmers and agricultural businesses seeking capital. The organization is looking to build additional relationships with agricultural partners across the region to better understand financing gaps, identify promising opportunities and connect strong operators with investors.

The network is also continuing to develop educational programming, regional partnerships, membership opportunities and a stronger pipeline for companies seeking capital.

“The strongest angel networks are built on community. We’re inviting investors who want to back local companies, and the banks and firms that want to strengthen this ecosystem, to come see what we’re building.”
Taylor McAlpine, Head of Growth

The network looks to work with regional economic development organizations to strengthen the ecosystem that supports West Texas startups and businesses poised for growth.

“The Lubbock Angel Network has been a true collaborative partner, helping talented entrepreneurs find the capital and connections they need to build their companies. We look forward to working with WTAN as it expands across the region to help more innovative businesses grow right here in West Texas.”
Taysha Williams, Managing Director, Texas Tech University Innovation Hub
“Strong investors are essential to getting businesses off the ground, and having them locally not only supports our startups, but the entire area. Having regional capital strengthens our companies and provides a vast network of growth opportunities to keep them in West Texas.”
Carolyn Rowley, Vice President of Business Retention and Innovation, Lubbock Economic Development Alliance

How to get involved

Accredited investors can engage with WTAN and learn more about membership before applying. Membership requires sponsorship by a current member.

Banks, CPA groups, law firms and other professional service providers can support events and educational programming and receive Preferred Partner recognition across WTAN’s markets.

Founders and business owners can apply for funding through WTAN’s application process on Dealum. The screening committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, typically within two weeks, and invites strong fits to present to members. WTAN also maintains a free directory of capital, planning, manufacturing and small-business programs across West Texas, available to entrepreneurs throughout the region.

“If you’re building a company with roots in West Texas, from a software startup to an established business ready to grow, we want to hear from you. Our job is to connect strong companies with investors who understand this region.”
Zane Ancell, Head of Strategy

WTAN welcomes conversations with area colleges and universities interested in developing student internship and private-investment education opportunities, as well as business and community organizations interested in financial literacy or private-investment programming. The network is also seeking conversations with agricultural organizations and industry partners interested in improving access to capital for innovative farmers and agricultural businesses across West Texas.

For partnership, sponsorship or membership conversations, contact Taylor McAlpine at taylor@westtexasangelnetwork.com. Businesses interested in presenting an investment opportunity can contact Zane Ancell at zane@westtexasangelnetwork.com or submit through westtexasangelnetwork.com.

About the West Texas Angel Network

The West Texas Angel Network (WTAN) is a member-directed network of accredited angel investors serving the West Texas region. Founded in 2015 as the Lubbock Angel Network, it connects high-potential companies with investors, brings founders and community partners together and helps entrepreneurs find resources across the region. More than $6.5 million has been deployed across 44 companies since 2015. Most of those investments have been made into Texas-based companies, with 9 of them based in the Lubbock area.

WTAN is a member of the Alliance of Texas Angel Networks. WTAN is not a fund. Members invest their own capital, individually and on their own terms.

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