Venture capital involves providing early stage funding to growing companies with promising potential, while angel investing typically involves one or a few individuals making a personal investment in a business in exchange for equity. Both methods of investment carry risks, but also offer potentially high returns.
In the Shark Tank setting, entrepreneurs appear on a national television show to pitch their businesses to the sharks, a group of well-established angel investors. Each investor then decides whether to invest in the pitched businesses and, if so, negotiates the investment terms.
Not everyone gets to this stage, but those who do are generally categorized into three types: personal investors, angel investors, and venture capitalists. Knowing the stages and types of investors is essential, not just for people who are diversifying their portfolios.
How to find angel investors Get involved with angel groups and angel investment networks. Attract interest to your business on social media. Attend networking events. Compete in startup events and pitch competitions. Talk with fellow founders. Engage with an incubator or accelerator. Participate in local startup ecosystems.
Corporate Bodies: Corporates interested in investing in startups as angel investors must demonstrate a minimum net worth of INR 10 crore. This requirement ensures that only entities with substantial resources are involved in the early stages of business development.
Early stage investors are people and companies who provide start-up businesses funding for their projects, typically when these projects are just beginning and are still in the market research or development stages.
How to pitch angel investors Understand your business and market. Craft your pitch. Showcase your financials. Highlight your team. Know your ask.
The specific odds sound daunting: of every 40 companies that apply for financing from angel investors, only one will receive it, and for venture capital investments, the odds drop to one out of 400. But that is because most 'companies' that seek investors are really just an ill-prepared founder.
Individual Investors: To qualify as an angel investor, an individual must possess net tangible assets of at least INR 2 crore, excluding their principal residence. Additionally, they should have experience in early-stage investments, be a serial entrepreneur, or have a minimum of 10 years in a senior management role.
Participating in startup events, pitch competitions, and industry conferences can be a great way to expose your startup to angel investors. Investors could be convinced by your product pitch, or your personality might inspire them.