William Hockey

William Hockey is a highly influential figure in the fintech ecosystem, best known as the co-founder of Plaid, a company that revolutionized financial data connectivity and was acquired by Visa (though the deal was later blocked by the DOJ). He subsequently co-founded Column, a nationally chartered bank built on a modern technology stack. His deep operational experience and success at Plaid have positioned him as a sought-after angel investor, particularly within the financial technology sector.

As an angel investor, Hockey primarily focuses on early-stage companies (seed and Series A) that are building critical infrastructure or innovative solutions within fintech and adjacent B2B SaaS verticals. His portfolio includes several high-profile startups that have gone on to achieve significant valuations, such as corporate spend management platform Ramp, treasury management solution Modern Treasury, and small business banking provider Mercury. He is known for backing founders with ambitious visions for transforming financial services.

Hockey's investment thesis often revolves around companies that leverage technology to create more efficient, accessible, or robust financial systems. He typically provides capital alongside strategic guidance, drawing from his experience scaling Plaid from its nascent stages to a multi-billion dollar enterprise. While specific check sizes for angel investors are rarely public, William Hockey's typical first checks are estimated to range from $100,000 to $750,000, reflecting his capacity to make meaningful contributions to early funding rounds. He has made over 30 angel investments, demonstrating his active engagement in the startup community. His involvement often signals strong validation for a nascent company, attracting further institutional capital.