Angel Investing 101 - Complete Guide

You might have heard the term "angel investing," wondered what it means, and asked yourself if becoming an angel investor is right for you.

Angel investors are individuals who invest in small businesses to help them start-up or expand. By investing in the company early on for an equity stake in the business, angel investing offers the possibility of yielding a fairly high return.

Small businesses look for angel investors if they're unable to raise startup money on their own or through personal resources, or if their business is too small to appeal to venture capitalists.

If angel investing piques your interest, then this guide is for you. Our experts breakdown why to consider angel investing, including the possible benefits and risks as well as how to get started. This easy-to-follow angel investing guide will help answer all of your questions.

Key Benefits to Angel Investing

There are many reasons why individuals decide to become angel investors. Here are a few key benefits this type of startup investing offers.

Angel investing can:

  • Expand your investment portfolio
  • Potentially yield high returns
  • Provide seed capital to new business ventures
  • Potentially offer the opportunity to influence the company in which you're investing
  • Broaden your investment network

But, how do you become an angel investor and get these benefits? To help you get started, our comprehensive Angel Investing 101 Guide will walk you through the fundamentals of angel investing.

$81.5 Million

Raised by companies with crowdfunding in the first two quarters of 2020. Q2 was up 44.7% from Q1 according to StartEngine.

<$250K

70% of seed round investments in 2019 were less than $250K according to Angel Capital Association. You don’t have to be a millionaire!

27%

Of angel investments in 2019 went to the HealthTech and Biotech industries. Other top industries include SaaS (8%) and E-Commerce (7%).

What Is Angel Investing?

Do you know what the difference is between angel investing vs. venture capital? Learn this and many other things in our complete guide to angel investing!

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Man in a business suit with angel wings watering a pot with a dollar sign growing out of it.

Become an Angel Investor: How to Start

Wondering how to become an angel investor? Find out how, and what being an angel investor entails, in this easy-to-understand article.

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A dollar sign in the middle with a green check mark on its left and a red x on its right.

Angel Investment Opportunities: Risks & Rewards

Angel investment opportunities offer exciting rewards for well-informed investors. Check out this article to learn the pros and cons of angel investors.

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A man at a computer researching and taking notes on angel investing.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Angel Investor?

Do you have what it takes to be an angel investor? Being an angel investor is not for everyone, but we’ll help you to figure out if it’s right for you.

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An angel investor group meeting to discuss and evaluate potential angel investment opportunities.

5 Types of Startup Investors to Know

Angel investors play an important role in the success of startups, but they aren’t the only type of individuals investing in them. Learn about the different types of startup investors here.

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How to Find the Best Startup Companies to Invest In

You have decided to become an angel investor. But how do you find startup companies to invest in and make a profit? Read this article and our complete guide to learn how!

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Best Startups to Invest In: Key Factors for an Angel Investor

Do you know the key factors for finding the best startups to invest in? Discover seven key elements to consider when investing in all types of startups.

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A streetlight with a directional arrow reading, "Exit Strategy."

Why You Need an Angel Investor Exit Strategy Before You Invest

Are you just getting started with angel investing? In this article, you'll learn the importance of having an exit strategy before you invest so you can set yourself up for success!

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Angel Investing Frequently Asked Questions

Many new and seasoned investors often have questions about the specifics of angel investing. We’ve provided some answers to the most commonly asked questions below:

1. How Much Do Angel Investors Invest?

The amount of an investment varies from angel to angel, but...

The amount of an investment varies from angel to angel, but the median funding amount is about $25,000 per company. Of course, many angel investors maintain diverse portfolios by investing in multiple companies at the same time, making the total amount they’re investing much higher. There are also opportunities to be a micro-angel investor for as little as $50.

2. Is Angel Investing Risky?

As with all investments, Angel investing includes risk...

As with all investments, Angel investing includes risk. Understanding which businesses and firms to invest in can help you make angel investing profitable. Many successful angels maintain those diverse portfolios by investing in more than ten firms at one time, with the idea that one or two will yield high returns.

In fact, the American Angel study found that 11% of angel investor portfolios produced a high yield on returns.

3. How Many Angel Investors are in the United States?

The number of angel investors in the United States...

The number of angel investors in the United States grows continuously. The Angel Capital Association last estimated that there were about 300,000 angel investors in the United States.

4. Can Anyone Become an Angel Investor?

For the most part...

For the most part, yes. In order to become an accredited angel investor, you must first be an accredited investor with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). The SEC has certain income and net worth requirements you must meet to qualify as an accredited investor. You can also become a micro angel investor without accreditation. Micro investors invest small increments, or amounts, of money in a business.

5. What are Angel Groups?

Angel groups are formed when...

Angel groups are formed when a number of individual angel investors get together to invest collectively in startups and entrepreneurial companies. These groups convene regularly to meet with new entrepreneurs, discuss business proposals, plan new investments, and make financial decisions.

You can find a listing of Angel Groups through the Angels and Entrepreneurs Network.