In 2019, total angel investments amounted to $23.9 billion, an increase of 3.2% over 2018, according to the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire. Not just anyone can be an angel investor. Typically, angel investors are wealthy individuals who use their personal assets to invest in startups. And out of a desire to protect the investing public from fraud, angel investing is generally limited to accredited investors who are legally defined at the individual level by specific training or financial means.
How Does Angel Investing Work?
Angel investors will often target companies they believe will provide at least a 10-times return on their investment over a five-year period, with a normal investment amount falling around $600,000. To find opportunities, investors can network with other angel investors, or use a digital search platform like the Angel Investment Network to find companies that are seeking financial advancement. After identifying potential targets and before investing in a company, angels will perform their due diligence by reviewing information the firm has available, such as background on who the founders are, industry trends, or macroeconomic information. Generally, the investor receives the following:
Partial ownership of the company. If you’ve seen an episode of Shark Tank, this is the “stake” they are talking about in the negotiations—how much ownership over the company an investor will maintain. The percentage typically falls between 10% and 30%.A convertible note. This allows the investor to exchange the note for common shares when they are eventually issued.
The deal could be a combination of ownership and convertible securities, as well. The goal then is for the company to grow until it becomes the target of an acquisition or the owners choose to take it public, whether that be with an IPO, through a SPAC, or another method.
What Are Angel Groups?
Angel investors can either act independently or as part of a larger group. Angel groups are associations of individuals that pool their money together and decide as a group which startups will receive the investment. This can be helpful because the angels have one another to share ideas with and get different perspectives on potential investment targets during the due-diligence process. The Angel Capital Association (ACA), the official industry collective of the largest angel investor groups in the U.S., has more than 400 angel groups in its database. According to the most recent data from the ACA, the average member angel group has 42 members involved and invests a total of $2.42 million, allocated across 9.8 deals per year.
How To Become an Angel Investor
If you think you may be interested in becoming an angel investor, there are a few basic steps to follow.
Verify You Are Eligible To Be an Angel Investor
The first step is to make sure you qualify and are eligible to become an angel investor. As previously mentioned, angel investors generally need to be accredited investors. The requirements to be an accredited investor can be found in Rule 501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933.
Find Startups Looking for Angel Investors
There are several digital platforms that help connect angel investors to startups looking for funding. Platforms such as SeedInvest and Angel Investment Network could be a good place to start.
Present a Term Sheet
Once you’ve decided on an investment amount and the business you want to invest in, you’ll need to work out the details of the arrangement with the founders. Deals are negotiated between angel investors and funded startups. Again, that is unlike a typical investment when you simply buy stocks and bonds on an exchange. You can propose a deal to a target startup with a term sheet, which outlines the details of the deal and brings lawyers in the process to determine the relationship between the company and its investors.
Is Angel Investing Right for You?
Angel investing is very different from investing in typical securities like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. It’s much riskier. Most angel investments fail, and the majority of an angel investor’s return comes from just a few successful investments. If you decide to invest in up-and-coming startups, keep in mind that you will likely need to be able to financially withstand several failed investments before turning a profit. As with any investment choice, make sure it fits into your plan, and don’t overextend yourself.
