How will you find an Angel Investor?
By Venture Giant

Venture Giant is not the only place on the internet that can locate and assist you in finding Business Angel Investors that are interested in investing in you or your business. Venture Giant explores the different methods of attracting angel investment and finding an angel investor that may be able to provide you with a level of support and mentoring that will get your product and service to the next level.

Finding an angel investor can be quite challenging and whether it's a face to face meeting or an online presentation, you need to be as professional and well prepared as possible.

Here are a few guidelines that will help you improve your chances of finding an angel investor.

Is there a typical Angel Investor and how do you recognize them? 

Angels are successful business people who most likely have had considerable exposure to early stage companies from both the entrepreneur and the investor vantage points. They are attracted to the challenge of start up companies that offer promising growth opportunity and in which they can contribute their experience and knowledge. Angel investors could be family, friends, colleagues, business associates, other successful business people etc.

They all share one common element and that is the desire to invest in new ventures.

Target Angels in your industry first

Angel investors typically prefer to invest in industries in which they are familiarand have extensive knowledge or in-depth experience. This allows them tocontribute beyond just money. While this represents your best opportunity forfunding, Angels have been known to invest in opportunities outside their knowledge base. When you find an investor do some research to determine what their interests are and how you should approach them. 

Know the preferred investment range

It's also important to know that most Angel investors have a preferred investment range which is typically anywhere from £50,000 upwards of £500,000. Why is this important? It saves you from not wasting your time or the investor’s time when the amount you require is either above or well below the investors comfort zone.

Begin your search close to home 

Angels for the most part are very territorial and prefer to invest close to home.

The rule of thumb is to stay within a 50 mile or 100 km radius. Investors are not only investing in a concept or a business, they are also investing in its people. Most investors have an interest in knowing who the principals of the company are and prefer being close enough to meet face to face with the principals when needed. Another compelling reason is that many angel investors like to play an active role in the business they invest in, so the closer they are to the business the better. 

And - go where they go! 

Active or serious angel investors interested in finding good companies, will attend most events where they believe good companies will be represented. So to find them ... go where they go. You should make the effort to attend local business networking events, especially those featuring company presentations and technologies. These types of events are of particular interest to Investors. Chamber events and industry trade shows, Technology shows and Venture capital events that highlight specific Angel investor sessions, are always a good idea. Make it a habit of attending these various events and you may find an angel investor or meet someone who knows an angel investor.

Always be networking

Individual investors are hard to find and to be successful you need to do a lot of business networking. Make it a habit of getting your name and your face out there and meet as many business people as you can. Many business owners have experienced the same challenges you are facing and may want to help. Consider all of them potential angel investors and even if they aren’t they may know one. Getting the word out in your community and business network maximizes your chance of getting an investor referral. 

Continue to get the word out and get referred

In most cases, you need to be referred to an angel investor. Approach the people you know, friends, associates, business contacts who may be able to refer you to an angel investor. 

Don’t forget Venture Giant and the internet

Research on line services to find web sites that provide entrepreneur and angel investor matching. Subscribing to this type of search method gets your business proposal sent to a wider audience. It’s extremely important that your proposal hits on all the triggers that investors look for and sites like this one, will ensure that your investment proposal  is properly categorised in the right format, by way of Region, investment amount and industry. Further Venture Giant ensures that all Angel Investors that sign up to use us are vetted to ensure that they meet self certification guidelines of Net worth and that they would like to receive investment proposals like yours. All this means that we provide a valuable service, at a very reasonable cost, that is streamlined, efficient, and is a great way to get your investment proposal out to Angel Investors that want to hear from you!

Look for Angel Investment groups

There may be active group of angel investors in your community. While there are angel investors who invest entirely on their own, many will also associate with an investment group where they can spread the risk and share the resources.

So ask yourself now, how do you intend to find Angel Investors that you can pitch your investment needs to?

Approach people in an Industry trade show

if you are thinking thatyou will find an investor at Industry trade shows and this is part of your investment proposal that requires additional consideration. Same with:

Send out an Email campaign

If you think you will find a business investor or angel investor by email and this is part of your investment proposal that requires additional consideration.

The information on www.venturegiant.com, in combination with our streamlined approach with getting your investment proposal out to Angel Investors that are interested in investing in your chosen industry and region ensure that if used properly will help to improve your chances to attract a potential Angel investor. 

By using Social & business networking 

If you will use social and business networking to search for an angel investor, this is an excellent way to meet a potential investor and continuously getting out there and doing more social and business networking can only help you in your efforts to find and attract a potential investor.

Targeting Organized angel groups

If you will look for an organised angel group for an angel investor this is an excellent way to meet a potential investor and you can usually find organized angel groups close to where you do business.

Using online angel investment networks like www.VentureGiant.com

If you will register with an "online" angel investment network service to find an angel investor this is an excellent way to meet a potential investor and it has become extremely popular over the last few years. 

Go on Dragon’s Den

Oh dear. Best of luck with that.

Venture Giant is a premier UK business Angel investment network and small to mid sized business networking portal that matches active business angel investors with entrepreneurs' seeking investment capital and business funding. 

Written for and behalf of Venture Giant Enterprises Ltd. All rights reserved 2009