Questions

I need some basic guidelines what one needs to consider when choosing : 1) How to decide the angel investor who wants to invest in you is the right investor, because I might be deal with them everyday. 2) Once I do have the funding what are the usual things I need to consider. Trying to understand how the funding should be alloted. Does the angel investor tell me where I should invest to pivot my innovation (because its his cash) or do I need to make those decisions. 3) What do most entrepreneurs do when they receive funding from an angel investor? FYI : I'm in the R&D industry and do have a working product.

1. When you have the luxury of choice: You chose the right angel based on:
1.1. Culture and personality fit. Do they trust you? Do you trust them?
1.2. Do they have a network of funders, mentors and business relationships they can and will open to you?
1.3. Are they experienced investors? Better if they are as they will understand how a business is built and that it takes time. The course is NEVER straight nor smooth
2. To ask for capital, you start by laying out the goals. Generally you raise 18 months of funding. Figure out what you need to accomplish to take you to profitability/ the next raise. Reverse engineer toward those goals. Create a budget. Add 25% fat.
2.1. Once you have a budget you will know how much you actually need to ask for
2.2. Set a valuation/ valuation cap
2.3. You NEVER let an angel set your goals or execution plan. You set it, stand by it and execute. Investors invest in the team that executes on the team vision.
2.4. You pivot when the MVP hits tests and the market resists, not on an opinion unless that opinion is ENTIRELY convincing. Don't confuse capital with control nor insight.
3. Good ones execute to plan, inform the investors every month with a simple financial and business update + asks


Answered 7 years ago

Unlock Startups Unlimited

Access 20,000+ Startup Experts, 650+ masterclass videos, 1,000+ in-depth guides, and all the software tools you need to launch and grow quickly.

Already a member? Sign in

Copyright © 2024 Startups.com LLC. All rights reserved.