Like Money from Heaven
Angel investors are people who have some money to invest and choose to provide capital for an entrepreneur just beginning a new business. In return, the angel investor receives ownership equity or convertible debt. As Robert Bratt will tell you, some of today’s biggest companies started small with an angel investor.
Not Only for Millionaires
The term angel investor was coined to describe people who invested in Broadway shows, but today it refers to anyone who invests in an entrepreneurial company. One of the reasons people are attracted to angel investing is because the returns can be much higher than traditional investing, but the main reason is because they want to help an individual. However, most angels are not millionaires. They are medium to high income earners who are looking for the next big thing. This means there may be people you know who would be willing to invest in your start-up.
Not Venture Capitalists
Angels are the opposite of venture capitalists because they are investing their own money in the start-up and not someone else’s. Some angels are former entrepreneurs who got help from an angel and want to give that opportunity to someone else. Angels also give more favorable terms than other lenders because their aim is to help. Often an entrepreneur can find an angel among their family members and friends.
Angels You Know and Angels You Don’t Know
There are two types of angel investors. One type is the person you know as already mentioned. The other type is someone you don’t know, and you find through an organization or list of angel investors. Before choosing an angel you don’t know, you need to make sure what the terms are. This is not just the terms of the loan but other things such as what percentage of your business are you giving in equity, and can they fire you.
Some Tips When Meeting an Angel
• Don’t offer too much equity in the beginning. You may be tempted to give a higher percentage of your company to get more money, but this should be avoided because it is not good long-term strategy.
• Be very fluent in your financials. Investors want to see that you know the ins and outs of your money, and how you plan to make a profit.
• Include a salary for yourself in your calculations. Angels expect you to do this because it shows that you respect yourself. If you can’t take a salary some months because of other expenses, you should keep track of how much you earn, and take your salary as soon as you can.
Whether it is an angel you know or not, angel investing is an excellent way to either get your business off the ground, or take your already successful fledgling business to the next level.
Angel investors are people who have some money to invest and choose to provide capital for an entrepreneur just beginning a new business. In return, the angel investor receives ownership equity or convertible debt. As Robert Bratt will tell you, some of today’s biggest companies started small with an angel investor.
Not Only for Millionaires
The term angel investor was coined to describe people who invested in Broadway shows, but today it refers to anyone who invests in an entrepreneurial company. One of the reasons people are attracted to angel investing is because the returns can be much higher than traditional investing, but the main reason is because they want to help an individual. However, most angels are not millionaires. They are medium to high income earners who are looking for the next big thing. This means there may be people you know who would be willing to invest in your start-up.
Not Venture Capitalists
Angels are the opposite of venture capitalists because they are investing their own money in the start-up and not someone else’s. Some angels are former entrepreneurs who got help from an angel and want to give that opportunity to someone else. Angels also give more favorable terms than other lenders because their aim is to help. Often an entrepreneur can find an angel among their family members and friends.
Angels You Know and Angels You Don’t Know
There are two types of angel investors. One type is the person you know as already mentioned. The other type is someone you don’t know, and you find through an organization or list of angel investors. Before choosing an angel you don’t know, you need to make sure what the terms are. This is not just the terms of the loan but other things such as what percentage of your business are you giving in equity, and can they fire you.
Some Tips When Meeting an Angel
• Don’t offer too much equity in the beginning. You may be tempted to give a higher percentage of your company to get more money, but this should be avoided because it is not good long-term strategy.
• Be very fluent in your financials. Investors want to see that you know the ins and outs of your money, and how you plan to make a profit.
• Include a salary for yourself in your calculations. Angels expect you to do this because it shows that you respect yourself. If you can’t take a salary some months because of other expenses, you should keep track of how much you earn, and take your salary as soon as you can.
Whether it is an angel you know or not, angel investing is an excellent way to either get your business off the ground, or take your already successful fledgling business to the next level.
