Investors who provide financial support to startups, entrepreneurs, or small businesses are known as angel investors. Angel investors are typically high-net-worth individuals who have the means to invest their personal funds into early-stage companies. Besides providing capital, they also provide valuable guidance, expertise, and connections to help startups succeed.

The source of angel funding primarily comes from individuals who are often referred to as "angel investors." Angel investors are high-net-worth individuals who use their personal financial resources to invest in early-stage startups, entrepreneurs, or small businesses. These individuals typically have accumulated wealth through various means, such as a successful business venture, an investment, real estate, or other financial endeavours usually results in wealth accumulation for these individuals.

Characteristics of An Angel Investor

Personal Investment: Angel investors use their own money to invest in startups, distinguishing them from venture capitalists who manage pooled funds from multiple investors.

Early-Stage Focus: Angel investors typically invest in companies during their early stages of development when they may have limited access to traditional sources of funding.

Risk Tolerance: Angel investors are willing to take on higher levels of risk compared to more conservative investment options. They understand that startups have a higher likelihood of failure.

Involvement: Many angel investors are not just passive investors; they often become actively involved in the companies they support. They may offer guidance, mentorship, and industry expertise to help the startup succeed.

Diverse Backgrounds: Angel investors come from various industries and backgrounds, including former entrepreneurs, successful business executives, and professionals with specialised knowledge.

Networks: Angels often have extensive networks of contacts, including other investors, potential customers, and industry experts, which can benefit the startups they invest in.

Exit Strategy: Angel investors typically expect a return on their investment in the form of capital appreciation, dividends, or a share of the profits when the company is sold or goes public.

Local and Regional Focus: Some angel investors prefer to invest in companies within their geographic region, contributing to the growth of local startup ecosystems.

Diversity: The world of angel investing is becoming more diverse, with efforts to encourage participation from women, minority groups, and individuals from different backgrounds.

What Is The Source Of Angel Funding?

Personal Savings: Many angel investors use their own savings and accumulated wealth to fund startups. They invest a portion of their personal assets into promising early-stage companies.

Business Profit: Some angel investors may have generated substantial profits from their own businesses and allocate a portion of those profits for angel investments.

Investment Returns: Individuals who have successful investment portfolios, including stocks, bonds, or real estate, may allocate a portion of their investment returns to angel investments.

Entrepreneurial Success: Former entrepreneurs who have successfully built and sold their own businesses often become angel investors. They use the proceeds from their previous ventures to fund new startups.

Inheritance or Windfalls: In some cases, angel investors may receive inheritances, windfalls, or lump-sum payments when they choose to invest in startups.

Crowdfunding Platforms: While not traditional angel investors, individuals can also provide angel funding through crowdfunding platforms where they invest smaller amounts of money in startups alongside other investors.

Angel Investor Vs. Venture Capitalists

• Angel investors are individuals who often fund startups from personal wealth. Venture capitalists are most often a group of institutional investors who pool their funds to invest in a startup.
• Angels help startups in their early stages, often at the seed stage. Venture capitalists could come in at any stage of a startup.
• Angels give smaller investment amounts, less than $1 million usually. Venture capitalists come in for bigger funding rounds since money is pooled from different investors.
• Angel investors may demand equity or convertible debt in exchange for funding. When approaching venture capitalists, equity demand is usually a lot higher.
• Angels can turn into mentors and provide active guidance. A startup may choose to engage with one or more venture capitalists for guidance but they are usually not involved in the day-to-day operations.
• Angels demand equity shares while venture capitalists have a goal of making gains through an IPO or an acquisition.

Angel investors play a crucial role in the early-stage funding landscape, helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses. Their support often goes beyond financial assistance, as they provide mentorship and guidance, which can be invaluable to startups as they navigate the challenges of building a company.