All about Angel Investors

Introduction

The startup ecosystem is composed of several parts such as IPR, Entrepreneurship education, startups at various stages, angel investors, startup advisors and so on. In this article, I will discuss more on angel investors.

Meaning

• An angel investor is a high net worth individual who provides finance to small startups or entrepreneurs.
• They are often called private investors, seed funders or angle funders
• They provide funds in exchange for ownership equity or debt instruments.
• They are generally retired individuals as well as managerial people finding new innovative projects for high return.

Purpose of angel investors

• To gain a return on high-risk projects.
• To invest a small portion of their wealth(eg. just 10% of their wealth) in innovative ideas to get a chance to earn huge returns.

Benefits to startups

• Getting funds without hassles such as no need to fulfil burdensome conditions of the bank.
• They are a good source of funds for entrepreneurs going through immediate money crises.
• They don't require immediate return and provide flexibility in payoffs.
• They provide expertise as well as technical know-how to businesses.

Risk involved

• They require a higher rate of return(generally 20 to 30%) in comparison to other market sources.
• As they become part-owners, sometimes ego clashes with management may ruin the business.
• They may withdraw funds anytime as soon as they see the risk of business decline.

Growth in India

• In  2000, there were around 50 angel investors at most.
• This figure is increased to almost 7000 in the past year.
• Such an increase in numbers is a result of globalization as well as youngsters showing interest in angel investing. As per recent data, the average age group of angel investors is between 25-30 years.

Conclusion

With the recent growth in startups, angel investors have also grown in numbers. This increase shows the interest of startups in angel investors as a source of finance. They have many benefits as well as some risks. With some consideration in mind, they will provide a good source of funds for startups.

Also Read: Angel Investment Tax on Start-ups