THE FIRST REQUIREMENT FOR BEING AN ANGEL INVESTOR IS YOU HAVE TO BE AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) first developed these accredited investor rules back in 1933 to protect potential investors.
Angel investors typically seek a 10%-30% equity stake in a company. This percentage is negotiated based on your startup's valuation, the funding amount and the perceived risk. It's essential to strike a balance that reflects your company's current value and future potential.
Several variables, including the type of investment, the level of risk, and the expected return, will affect what constitutes a fair percentage for an investor. For angel investors, the typical standard is to provide between 20-25% of your company's profits.
To be an angel, you need to qualify as an accredited investor, defined by the SEC as $1 million of net worth or annual income over $200,000. (I'm simplifying – the real definition is a bit more complex – but it gives you the idea.)
Typically, an angel investment deal is typically composed of two key elements: an investment in equity, and a convertible note. Each of these components has distinct characteristics and implications for both the investor and the entrepreneur.
Ideally, you would want to only list investors that have invested in related projects, but not the ones that may be your direct competitors. You can then go to fellow entrepreneurs with the list, and ask them for their opinion on which investors on your list are worth doing business with.
A lot of advisors would argue that for those starting out, the general guiding principle is that you should think about giving away somewhere between 10-20% of equity.