Make sure your company’s solution solves the problem you’ve identified. Does your solution have some proprietary features that distinguish you from potential competitors in the market? Attributes that convey competitive advantage include intellectual property protection, exclusive licenses, exclusive marketing and distribution relationships, strong brands, scarce human resources (i.e. knowledge and skills), and access to scarce raw materials.

We look for high quality people with a track record of leadership and performance – either in the company’s specific industry or in prior ventures.
We also look at your team’s passion for and commitment to the new business idea, and your ability to inspire confidence among future stakeholders, including employees, potential customers, and investors. At the end of the day, we are investing in you, so be prepared to also get some advice.

How do you intend to bring in the revenues? Do you have a sound business model in place with a well thought out business plan? There are plenty of great business ideas – but not all businesses will generate returns that justify angel investor and venture capital financing. Therefore, providing a solution to a problem with a large potential market is essential. We look for companies that can grow quickly and manage the scale necessary to succeed. Your company must demonstrate a plan to generate significant profits beyond the initial product idea.

You must demonstrate “skin in the game”, showing your commitment to the success of your company. A set of financials – both past and projected – that you can explain is important. We are comforted when you can talk about your numbers in a clearly articulated manner. If you can explain your burn rate and know how long your runway is, it gives us greater comfort that you are all over your business. Additionally, it's important for us to understand your financials beyond just numbers, but also how they align with your overall business strategy and plans for growth.

Progress is a critical factor in our investment decision. We want to know what steps you have taken since the inception of your business and the progress you have made within a specific time frame. This includes any milestones you have achieved, partnerships you have formed and any traction or validation you have received for your solution. It's important for us to see the efforts you have put in and the progress you have made in addressing the problem you have identified, and how it aligns with your proposed solution. 

Our members typically seek returns of at least ten times their initial investment in around five years. This level of return on investment is essential due to the high risk and likelihood of failure among early stage ventures. Thus, a clearly articulated exit strategy is essential. Angel investors are not just interested in the strategy you select, but more importantly in the how – the operational strategy that shows specific steps you will take to
achieve the exit.