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What is the typical amount angelinvestors investwithin a company?Angel investors typically invest $25,000 to $100,000 into a company. Depending on the opportunity involved, they are willing to invest more to retain a larger equity percentage.
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What six criteria are most important to angel investors?The following is what angel investors seek in a company:
Do the founders operate on quality, is their passion behind the company’s products or services, are the founders committed to the long-term vision, and do the founders value integrity.
The market opportunity has to be well researched and backed up with facts and the company has to effectively outline their strategy to go big.
A well put together business plan, and evidence verifying that the plan is actually producing traction within the marketplace.
Disruptive technology that impacts industries or intellectual property that will increase in value overtime.
A valuation that is not exaggerated but rather consistent with actual market value.
The ability to raise additional rounds of financing if growth does occur.
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• An articulate elevator pitch for their business that demonstrates they know truly know their business.
• An executive summary outlining the business or a pitch deck that gives a brief but comprehensive illustration of the business.
• A prototype demonstrating how the proposed product or service works.
• Early adopters or customers showing that an actual demand for the company exist.
�What�are�the�specific�qualities�angel investors like to see from an entrepreneur?
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It’s important to realize that it will always take longer to raise angel financing than you expect, and it will be a much more difficult process than you had initially thought. Not only are you tasked with having to find the right investors who typically invest in your business sector, but you will have to go through numerous meetings, complete your due diligence, come to agreement on the negotiations of terms, and much more. The act of raising capital can be a very time-consuming and frustrating process.
4 What is the average time-frame to�raise�angel�financing?
5 What�are�the�standard�financial�questions�from�angel�investorsthat entrepreneurs should be prepared to answer? • What is the amount of capital that you are
seeking to raise? • How long do you project this initial round of
capital to last? • What will be your monthly burn rate and how
long do you anticipate this rate to persist? • Are you able to readily share your detailed
financial projections for the next two years? • What are the key assumptions that support
your financial projections? • What key cost components determine the
pricing for your product or service? • What are the unit economics of your business? • Can you accurately predict the likely gross
margins?
6 What�are�the�key�questions�that�an�entrepreneur�should�anticipate�in�regards�to�marketing�and�customer�acquisition?An angel investor will need to have an strategic outline of how the company plans to market itself, what are the cost of acquiring�a�customer,�and�the�long-term�value�of�an�ideal�customer.�Therefore,�an�entrepreneur�should�be�prepared�to�answer the following:
• How does your company conduct its marketing activities or what will be your plan to market your products or services?
• What is the strategy being used to promote your company to the public?
• How will your company utilize social media to develop brand followers?
• What is the cost of acquiring a customer? • What is the projected lifetime value of your ideal customer? • What are the advertising activities you will be utilizing? • What will be the average sales cycle between initial
customer contact and closing of a sale?
What�are�the�questions�an�entrepreneur should expect in regards to the management team and its founders?
• Who are the founders and key team members involved?
• What experience does the team have that will lead the company to success?
• What key additions to the team are needed immediately to operate more effectively ?
• Why is the team in place well suited to execute the company’s business plan?
• How many employees do you currently have on staff? • What are the motivating factors that push the
founders to grow the company? • What are the plans to scale the team in the next
12 months?
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What is the level of risk involved for angel investing?
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There is a great deal of risk involved, and it is a huge gamble. An angel will only invest if he or she is comfortable with potentially losing all of their investment. At best, only one in ten startups are successful.
What are the best ways to�find�an�angel�investor?There�are�numerous�ways�to�find�angel�investors, some options include:
• Networking with entrepreneurs • Contacting lawyers and accountants • Signing up on Angel List • Joining angel investor networks (groups
that aggregate individual investors) • Presenting to venture capitalists and
investment bankers • Listing campaigns on crowd-funding
sites like Kicks-tarter and IndiegogoThe best way to increase your odds of securing an angel investor is through a warm introduction from a colleague or friend�of�an�angel.�Using�a�social�media�platform�like�LinkedIn�to�find�powerful�connections�can�also�be�quite�useful.
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Are angel investors opposed to signing a nondisclosure agreements?Yes. Angel investors are presented with many options of deals to choose from daily. You don’t want to make a challenging process even more difficult by imposing a roadblock to getting an investor interested in your company. You will just have to be careful and not disclose highly confidential information.
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NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS
What are some of the key questions�a�CEO�should�ask�of�potential angel investors?An entrepreneur should be thorough in analyzing whether a prospective�angel� investor�will�be�a�good�match� for� them.�Here�are�questions�that�should�be�asked:
• Do you have referrals of other entrepreneurs you have worked with? • What methods do you use to help your portfolio companies? • What amount of follow-on investment do you think our company will
need to succeed? • Do you have good relationships with venture capitalists who would
fund our next round? • What actions will you implement that can be helpful to us in growing
the business? • How deeply involved are you with your portfolio companies? • What other investments do you have that are similar to our company?
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• Unsecured or secured on the assets of the company – the option chosen is almost always unsecured.
• The rate of interest and payment options – interest is usually accrued and not paid currently.
• Discount rate – this is the discount rate that investors enjoy for making an early investment (at a risk) in the company, expressed as a discount from the company’s Series A round of financing. A discount rate of 20 percent is standard.
• Valuation cap – this is the maximum valuation of the company where the note can be converted in the next round of financing. For example, the valuation cap could be set at $15 million, so that if the next round valuation is set at $20 million, the seed investor only converts at the lower $15 million valuation. This option rewards an early investor for taking the earlier stage risks. Some notes are uncapped, but most early stage investors are strongly against this.
Angels will often choose to invest in start-ups�through�a�convertible�note.�The�key�terms�negotiated are:
What are typical terms for convertible�note�seed�financings?
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• The experience and past accomplishments of the team• Conditions within the marketplace• The competitive environment• The market opportunity that exist• Amount to be invested and resulting payout to the founders• The additional value expected to be brought by the investor• Market comparables• The potential for a big exit
Overall,�valuation�is�determined�by�negotiations,�but the key factors will consist of:
What are the key factors in determining the appropriate valuation in a seed round of financing?
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• How did you know how to contact them – was it a warm referral from one their trusted colleagues or friends?
• Present some short bullet points within the email about what your company does, what problem it’s addressing, and any early traction it’s producing.
• Provide information that illustrates the founders competence, experience, and passion.
• Attach a 2- to 3-page executive summary or 15-page PowerPoint deck.
Angel investors get tons of emails from start-ups, asking for consideration in investing in their�company.�Here�are�the�key�elements�that�will get an angel’s attention:
What�is�required�within�an�email introduction to an angel investor from an entrepreneur?
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It is advisable to give monthly updates to your angel investors, no matter if you have good or bad news. If you are experiencing issues, this can be an opportunity to seek help or advice. And if you are in need extra investment, this might warrant a discussion. No one likes to be blindsided, so regular communication is very important. Jason Calacanis, a noted angel investor, has said, “There is another really awesome reason to keep investors updated: they didn’t give you all their money — they have more!!! They want to give you more!!! If you keep your investors engaged with honest updates, they will reward you by participating in future rounds.”
How�frequently�should�an�entrepreneur give updates to his or her angel investors?
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• The market opportunity or potential size of the business is seen as too small to risk investing within.
• The founders don’t illustrate their knowledge or passion.• The sector that the start-up operates in is not where the investor
typical invest.• The pitch was made by the entrepreneur through a cold email and not
a warm referral from a trusted colleague of the angel investor.• The financial projections are vastly exaggerated and the founders
couldn’t convince the investor of the justifications that support the projections.
• The company was based too far away from the angel investor (most angel investors like to invest locally, and in tech-oriented cities like San Francisco or New York).
• The investor wasn’t convinced of the demand that would exist for your product or service.
There are numerous reasons as to why an angel investor will� reject� your� pitch.� Honestly,� the�majority� of� prospective�investors�are�likely�to�reject�you.�Here�are�some�of�the�typical�reasons for rejection:
What are the main reasons angel investors will reject an investment?
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• Charter document (Certificate or Articles of Incorporation)• Bylaws• Organizational Board Resolutions• Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreements for all employees and contractors• Organizational Board resolutions• Tax ID number• Federal and state securities law filings for any previously issued stock or options• Stock option plan for employees and directors• Indemnification Agreement for directors• Stock Ledger and Capitalization Table• Stock Vesting Agreements with founders
For�the�angel�round�of�financing,�the�following�legal�documents�will likely be needed:• Board and stockholder resolutions approving the financing• Securities law filings• Subscription Agreement• Convertible note agreement, unless stock is being issued• Amendment to the charter documents, if necessary
An�investor�will�expect�these�specific�documents�prepared�by�experienced counsel to already be in place:
What legal documents will anangel investor expect to analyze from a company prior to investing?
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• Not showing an investor why the market opportunity is key • Bringing your team to the pitch meeting, but CEO only speak
- it shows a weak team dependent on one person • Telling an investor you don’t have any competition • Showing uninteresting or exaggerated projections • Taking too much time in your presentation - you need to be precise • Not demonstrating a demo • Being unable to explain the key assumptions in your projections • Being unable to clearly explain why your product or technology is
differentiated from a competitor • Being unable to tell the investor how you will use their investment
capital and how long it will last • Being uneducated about your potential customers and what they
are thinking
What are the common mistakes made by entrepreneurs during a pitch meeting with angel investors?
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• Network of venture capitalists • Network of strategic partners • Advice and counsel • Valuable credibility added by being associated
with the investor • Contacts to potential customers • Contacts with lawyers, banks, accountants, and
investment bankers • Deep knowledge of the marketplace and strategies
utilized by similar companies
Beyond investment capital, a few or all of these benefits�are�obtainable�from�good�angel�investors:
What�are�the�additional�benefitsan entrepreneur can receive bytaking on an angel investor?
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• Analyze the investor’s LinkedIn profile and website to learn key information. • Determine if you have any common connections on LinkedIn and ask those
connections for insight or advice. • Practice your pitch in front of an audience that will give you critical feedback on
what to improve. • Review what portfolio companies the investor has invested in. • Be prepared to be interrupted and asked questions. • Be prepared to answer difficult questions like “What do you think is the appropriate
pre-money valuation for your company?” • Revise and refine your PowerPoint deck. Keep it under 20 slides. Review other
company decks for guidance.
Here are some key things an entrepreneur should do when preparing for a pitch meeting:
Singapore has a healthy environment of angel investors who are always looking� for� the�next�breakout�startup.�Listed�below�are� few�sources�for�finding�angel�investors:
Singapore Angel Investors • Angel Investment Network • Spring Singapore • Singapore Angel Network
What are the best ways for an entrepreneur to prepare for a pitch meeting with an angel investor?
