4 Angel Investing Lessons from an Angel Group Veteran

How to Be a Better Angel Investor: Intention, Etiquette and More

Interest in angel investments is growing, but those new to startup investments may overlook important advice on perspective, networking and communication. Take it from someone who has attended angel group meetings—there is more to angel investing than numbers.

Below are four angel investing lessons that you don’t want to miss.

Today’s Angel Investors

Around the time the JOBS Act became law in 2012, some angel groups expressed concern that equity crowdfunding would hurt them on two counts. First, there was a concern that more money would chase deals, thus inflating valuations on potential investments. Second, there was a concern that the advent of such portals (in the Title III context) and platforms (in the Reg D context) would compete with them for members.

Now, it seems clear that interest in angel groups is growing, not shrinking.

Why is this? The lifting of the ban and, to a lesser extent, the media attention on crowdfunding, is serving as a wake-up call to the approximately 13 million accredited investors in the U.S. who have never acted as angel investors. According to the Angel Capital Association, 300,000 people made angel investments in the past two years, and that number could certainly increase.

In recent years, these people have just begun learning about the value of allocating investment dollars into “alternative assets.” Angel groups are among the best places to learn.

If you are thinking about checking out an angel group near you, or if you are thinking about making an investment, here are some helpful lessons for angel investors.

Lesson 1: Angel Investing is Not Always About Making Money

Ever hear the adage, “The easiest way to make a small fortune is to start with a large fortune?” Keep that quote in mind as you read this. Angels invest in the very earliest stages of a startup, making it a highly risky endeavor. Although it sounds counterintuitive, making money shouldn’t be the sole focus for an angel. If it is, you should look into investing in a company that has more secure footing during later-stage rounds.

Angels in general invest because they like the thrill of the chase. Angels like to be part of something brand new, where they can find adventure in the ups and downs that a startup presents.

If that doesn’t sound like you, proceed with caution. If it does, enjoy the rollercoaster ride!

Lesson 2: Angel Investing is More Like a Date Than a Marriage

Many startups appreciate the insight and connection you, as an angel, may bring to the table (though your investment capital will probably be appreciated more). At the same time, don’t expect to take up an office at the company. In other words, your initial interaction may be “hot and heavy” (particularly before you write a check), but it is not likely to last.

Lesson 3: It’s Best to Stick with What You Know

When you’re exploring angel investing, there is a distinct advantage to sticking to what you know. In other words, if you are a physician, consider pharma. If you made your fortune on the internet, investing in that may make the most sense.

This will help you increase your chances of picking a winner, and it will help you to have more meaningful involvement with the company in which you invest, since you will be able to provide real-world advice from your own experience.

Lesson 4: Treat People Well

One of the great things about being part of a good angel group is that there will be a lot of smart people in the room with you. I have found these meetings to be a great place to meet people and, over time, forge some close friendships.

One of the things I will never forget—and one of the most important angel investing lessons—however, is the way one person in particular treated the entrepreneurs who came to pitch. This angel (though I don’t think I ever saw him write a check) cross-examined every pitching CEO as if the CEO was on trial.

The angel’s main priority seemed to be to try to make people look dumb or to make himself appear to be the smartest person in the room. Needless to say, we didn’t invite him to dinner with us after the meetings.

So, like the Golden Rule asserts (my paraphrasing), just because you’re writing checks doesn’t mean you can be a jerk.

These angel investing lessons—while not technical or even exclusive to angels—can absolutely make a difference in how you approach your investments and whether or not you make the most of your knowledge and connections.

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[Editor’s Note: To learn more about this and related topics, you may want to attend the following webinars: Basic Investment Principles 101 – From Asset Allocations to Zero Coupon Bonds and Advanced Investing Topics: Unicorns and Pre-Unicorn Scalable Private Company Propositions. This is an updated version of an article originally published on December 18, 2018.]

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