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“How can I meet angel investors?”

This is a great question because many angel investors value their privacy and deliberately maintain low profiles to avoid being hit on every day. So here are 5.5 things to consider when thinking about pursuing angel investors.



Be Angel-Ready. Jumpstart the process by pulling together a formal advisory board, gathering the data for a prospectus, and obtaining quotes for directors’ insurance.
Pluck the low hanging fruit. Start by exhausting your inner circle--the "family, friends, and fools" category. These are the folks who know you best and who should be among the first to believe in and invest in you and your vision.
Mind your “p’s” and “q’s in existing relationships. Because you and your company are always on display, being effective and professional in your dealings with both your suppliers and your customers goes a long way. A good relationship with either can be the basis for a subsequent investment in your young, well-run, company.
Network—the noun. Investigate the Web sites put up by geographically-based angel clubs or networks e.g. Maple Leaf Angels, The New York Angels, etc. in which individual angels have banded together into quasi-professional investment syndicates. The Web site will often detail the particular interests, selection criteria, and investment history of the group.
Network—the verb. When you're attending industry conferences talk to other attendees, in particular, to any venture capitalists in attendances. Chances are, they are looking at making investments in older, more established companies, but they can certainly point you to angel investors who specialize in your industry. Turn to your coterie of professional service providers--your lawyer, your accountant, your personal banker--for introductions. Consider inviting entrepreneurs you perceive as successful to lunch. Finally, speak with your local university's industry liaison/tech transfer office, they'll point you in the right direction to individuals who prefer to work as solo investors, or to angel networks (see above).

5.5 Do Your Due Diligence! Just as an angel will check deeply into you and your company prior to making an investment, entrepreneurs should be equally involved in enquiring into the background of prospective investors. If your company is breaking ground in life sciences, don't approach a technology-focused angel investment group. If your company is seeking a $200,000 equity injection, don't pursue investors for whom it is uneconomical to invest in amounts less than $ 1M. Find investors who understand your industry and whose investing thresholds match your needs.