Updated: 28/06/2023
Angel Investors are defined as affluent individuals who provide capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. Often, they are found among an entrepreneur's family and friends. The funds they provide may be a one-time investment to help the business get off the ground or an ongoing injection to support and carry the company through its difficult early stages. These types of investments are risky and usually, do not represent more than 10% of their portfolio.
Angel Investors are often retired entrepreneurs or executives, who partake in angel investing for reasons beyond monetary return. They may want to keep abreast of current developments in a particular business arena, mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs, and making use of their experience and networks on a less than full-time basis. Angel investors provide feedback, advice, and contacts in addition to funds. A small but increasing number of angel investors invest online through equity crowdfunding or organize themselves into angel groups or angel networks to share investment capital, as well as to provide advice to their portfolio companies.
Angel investing has soared globally, especially the last 5-10 years due to the growing technology startups that had generated great returns. Individuals are seeking alternative returns that are better than traditional investment vehicles such as stocks and bond.
But unlike most other types of investors, many angels are not motivated solely by profit. Particularly if the angel investors are a current or former entrepreneur, he or she may be motivated as much by the process and the enjoyment of helping a young business succeed as by the money he or she stands to gain, and are therefore more likely to be persuaded by an entrepreneur's drive to succeed, persistence and mental discipline.
Core Angel Investors are individuals with extensive business experience who have operated and owned successful businesses. They are committed to their job of angel investing and continue to be involved with high-risk investments despite their losses. They possess a diversified portfolio that encompasses all industries, including public and private equity and real estate. They serve as valuable mentors and advisors to their invested companies.
High-tech angel investors may have less experience than core angels but invest significantly in the latest trends of modern technology. Their investments primarily depend on the value of their other high-tech holdings, which can vary considerably. Many high-tech angel investors enjoy the risk of their deals as well as the exhilaration of bringing novel technology to the marketplace but some may prefer not to be actively involved in their invested companies.
ROI angel investors are primarily concerned with the financial reward of high-risk investments, hence the ROI. Their motivation behind investing is their perception of what other angels’ gross income may be. ROI angels tend to stay away from investing when market performance is poor and emerge once the market shows stability and improvement. They view each of their investments as another company added to their diversified portfolio and rarely become actively involved in the invested companies.
There are different types of angel investors within the three categories, depending on the intentions and value propositions that the entrepreneur or angel investor is seeking; They may be affiliated and non-affiliated. The former is someone who has some sort of contact with you or your business but is not necessarily related to or acquainted with you while the latter has no connection with either you or your business.
The process of angel investing is not easy, same goes with being an angel investor. Entrepreneurs may be able to raise the desired capital for their venture but may not be compatible with their investors or the investors have unrealistic expectations of them. To avoid this discrepancy, entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to learn about the different types of angel investors before they go about recruiting one as it will help sort through and choose a well-matched angel investor for them. It can make the difference between establishing a strong foundation for a company or a failing venture.
Granted that it differs among cases, regions, or countries, it's safe to say that the typical angel investors would invest at least RM10,000 while the average angel investors would invest around RM100,000. The maximum really depends on the angel investor. Usually RM200,000 all the way to RM1,000,000. The numbers may have changed over time, but it's a good rule of thumb nonetheless.
Angel Investors would typically take 10-25% equity in return. Angel investors would take no more than 20-25% as it gives founders the right incentive and alignment with the founder to help grow the business in the right direction. If it is more than 25% this breaks the angel investors definition of being a good angel investor.
The key difference is whose money they use to invest. Venture capitalists generally use money pooled from investment companies, large corporations, and pension funds to invest. While angel investors use their own money. They are required to have a minimum net worth of $1 million and an annual income of at least $200,000 to be considered an accredited investor.
Angel Investors in Malaysia tend to be more private about their identity. Therefore, at NEXEA, we represent them on the front before most Startups get to meet them. We ensure that startups and investors are both ready and have a good match before the introduction. We would advise startups on how to approach investors so they can be prepared to pitch their business. This would help avoid all sorts of unnecessary situations where the deal would fall apart.
NEXEA's angel investors are focused on building value for the Startups. They have guided startup founders during really tough times – many of the startups almost failed due to reasons like poor cash flow management and unsustainable strategies. Our angel investors/mentors create values through sharing their years of experience to help guide startups in avoiding common pitfalls and drive performance results, not to mention at some cases, introducing relevant industry players or even opening doors to potential partners. Find out more about our angel investors at NEXEA Angel Investors Network.
Angel investors are individuals who provide crucial financial backing, expertise, and networking opportunities to early-stage startups. These investors are typically experienced entrepreneurs or high-net-worth individuals who invest their own capital in exchange for an ownership stake in the company. They play a vital role in supporting innovative ideas, fueling growth, and guiding entrepreneurs through the early stages of their ventures. The involvement of angel investors is instrumental in propelling startups towards success by providing not only financial resources but also mentorship and valuable industry connections.
Definition of Angel Investors
Main Categories of Angel Investors
Venture Capital
Size of Angel Investments
Updated: 20/12/2022
Most people have considered starting their own business at one point in their life, be it the food and beverage industry to starting a multimillion-dollar business. But no matter what their ideas are, all of them have one thing in common: They need capital to get their business started. For this to happen, startup companies have to find an investor who is willing to invest in their business. If they are in luck, they might find an angel investor for themselves!
Angel investors are wealthy individuals who invest in small businesses or entrepreneurs in exchange for a share of the company's ownership. They are frequently found among an entrepreneur's friends and family. They may provide a one-time investment to help a company get off the ground or a continuous injection to support and carry the company through its early stages.
Usually, an angel investor funds startup companies with their own capital and they possess high assets which can be over a million dollars, has an annual income of over $200,000 or a joint income with their spouse exceeding $300,000.
The investments they invest in are high-risk investments that typically account for less than 10% of an angel investor's total portfolio. Most of them have extra cash and are seeking a greater rate of return than standard investment possibilities can offer.
They are more interested in assisting businesses in their early stages than in making a profit from the company. They are essentially the polar opposite of venture capital firms. They have a lot of expertise because they've invested in a lot of businesses. They may share their knowledge with you and perhaps stop you from making costly blunders.
Informal investors, angel funders, private investors, seed investors, and business angels are all terms used to describe angel investors. Some of them pool their funds through online crowdfunding platforms or by forming angel investor networks.
Though angel investors and venture capital firms may appear to be similar, they differ in several ways: their investment process is faster, they are more flexible than Venture Capital (VC), they support smaller companies than VCs and frequently approach them online and directly. As it grows in popularity, many sorts of investors emerge, each with its own strategy and motives for investing.
Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs' primary aim is to secure financing as fast as possible, and in their rush, they frequently ink a deal with the first investor that comes along.
Keep in mind that your investor relationship is a long-term commitment. Consider your investment to be a spouse: you"ll be together for a long time and will share assets. As a result, you'll need to locate someone who won't abandon you if things go wrong. You need someone who will support you and your company through good times and bad.
Here are some tips for you when looking for an investor:
Despite their amusing name, angel investors do not fall from the sky. You must approach people, and you must do so in a way that is particular to them. Successful entrepreneurs have no patience for people who are shy. In order to get your startup an angel investor, you need to get out there and talk to people, inspiring them to believe in your company as much as you do.
In order to do the above, you need to do some research on the possible investor and discover at least a few basic information about them. What have they been investing their money into? What criteria do they use to evaluate possible investment opportunities? Your objective should be to hook them fast. You should consider every pitch to be an all-in gambit. You either immediately thrill them or they never want to hear from you again.
Creating a brief elevator pitch for your first encounter is a wonderful method to do this. In essence, this is a short version of your presentation which is meant to get their attention right away. Your pitch should be no more than 150 words and no more than 30 seconds, but it should also identify the precise problem that your solution solves.
Never appear unprepared, or worse, uninterested in your own project, or just plain lazy.
In order to discover angel investors, you must first get to know the investor you are interested in, which requires immersing yourself in your local business and social communities. Concentrate on business owners, as they are the people who may be or become angel investors, or who know someone who is.
Join commercial and trade associations and attend meetings on a regular basis. Joining civic and community groups is also a good way to meet new people. Participate in trade shows and events. Make your face and name known by meeting as many people as possible.
You'll want to be as personable as possible when seeking angel investors. Find things you have in common, such as friends or interests, and utilise your shared experience to your advantage.
You might be able to connect with an angel investor through a website that matches entrepreneurs with angel investors. At the very least, you'll be able to get your company idea in front of a larger audience.
In NEXEA Angels, the angel investors are all seasoned business owners and/or C-level executives who can contribute more than just funding for your firm. We also give guidance and assistance through industry professionals and mentors. The NEXEA Investors/Mentors look for investment possibilities in technology firms that can demonstrate revenue and future development prospects.
Angel investors are always seeking for methods to make more money with their money than they would if they put it in the stock market. However, it's important to remember that angel investors' motivations are usually more than just financial.
They might want to mentor a new generation of entrepreneurs, work in a specific field, or use their expertise and abilities in a different way. There are some advantages and disadvantages of having an angel investor for your startup company:
Advantages Of Angel Investing | Disadvantages Of Angel Investing |
No obligation. Business owners aren't obligated to repay the angel backer if the firm fails. | Less control. Companies that engage with angel investors may have to give up some of their company's stock. |
An angel investor is also an entrepreneur. Angel investors frequently have a wealth of business expertise and experience. | Inexperienced angel investor. You may end up with an unskilled angel investor that provides bad advice. |
More money down the line. When angels invest in a firm, they are frequently in it for the long haul. | Expectations are higher. Angel investors are in it to generate money, they anticipate a significant return on their investment. |
Some of the advantages of angel investing is that there is no obligation. Because they haven't asked for a new line of credit, and most angel investment includes stock transactions, business owners aren't obligated to repay the angel backer if the firm fails.
An angel investor is also an entrepreneur. Angel investors frequently have a wealth of business expertise and experience. They can provide insights and advice for startup companies because they most likely have been in your shoes before. They made the mistakes for you, so you don't have to.
More money down the line. When angels invest in a firm, they are frequently in it for the long haul. They frequently make another cash injection later on as the company progresses.
Some disadvantages of angel investing is there is less control. Companies that engage with angel investors may be required to give up some of their company's stock. While this is usually a small sum, angel investors may decide they want a larger say incorporate choices.
Inexperienced angel investor. One major disadvantage of an angel investor is that you may end up with an unskilled angel investor that provides bad advice or hounds business owners for status updates. This is especially true for new angel investors who put substantial sums of money into a firm.
Expectation are higher. Within five to six years, angel investors frequently expect a big return on their investment, which is equal to ten times their initial investment. Before taking moeny from business angels, you must establish whether your firm can develop at the rate that an angel investor anticipates and set growth goals.
Angel investors typically invest their own money, rather than managing funds for others, and invest at the seed or angel funding stage, which is the early stage of a company's development. They often invest after the initial round of funding, which may come from the founders themselves, friends, and family, or bank financing, and before a company requires a larger investment from a venture capital firm. The goal of angel investing is to provide capital to help a company grow at a critical stage of development and potentially generate a return on investment.
The angel investing process works:
The contribution amount for angel investing can vary widely, with funding levels ranging from as low as $5,000 to as high as $150,000. Sometimes angel investors form a syndicate and can provide funding up to $1 million for select companies.
It is also common for angel investors to not acquire more than a 25% stake in a company. This is because experienced angel investors understand that the founders of the company should hold the majority stake in order to maintain a strong incentive to make the company successful.
Finding an angel investor is not a simple task. Even though there are its pros and cons, it all ends up in how much effort you put to find an angel investor for your company.
With the hard work you put in, we assure you that the work will be well worth it when you discover an angel investor who is eager to invest in your firm. Besides just providing funds for your company, an angel investor's advice and expertise can be very important in moulding your company's success.
How To Master Angel Investment In 5 Simple Steps
What Every Angel Investor Wants You to Know
Updated 20/7/2022
While inspiration and emotion are constantly present in the field of innovation and startups, most investors would want to think of themselves as rational beings. However, it's well acknowledged that they, too, are human - and business angels are no exception. Hence, some psychological factors may be influencing business investments.
We all know the simple stuff that goes into funding decisions: financials, competition, team, unique selling proposition, the risk versus reward calculations, portfolio diversity and so forth. But what about the less tangible factors that might tip the scales either way?
To respond, this article is a quick rundown of some of the factors that might impact all types of investors, including angel investments.
Before we understand the psychological factors influencing business angel investors, here is a short introduction of who they are.
Angel Investors (also known as a private investor, seed investor, or angel funder) is a wealthy individual who invests in small businesses or entrepreneurs in exchange for a share of the company's ownership. Angel investors are individuals that aim to invest at the early stages of startups. These are high-risk funding that typically account for less than 10% of an angel investor's total portfolio.
Most angel investors have extra cash and are looking for a higher rate of return than standard investment possibilities can offer. Angel investors provide more advantageous conditions compared to other lenders since they usually invest in the entrepreneur launching the business rather than the profitability of the business. Angel investors are more interested in assisting startups in their early stages than in making a profit from the company.
Below is a video that further explains what is an angel investor.
There are many individual angel investors to choose from, but how do you know if the one you've approached is a good business angel? Working with business angels is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity since they bring so much more to the table than just initial money.
They bring their expertise, strong connections, talents, and experience to the table, which may aid you in your desire to develop your business immensely. And it is already a significant accomplishment for the company. Here are a few distinguishing features of good angel investors that set them apart from the competition in the angel investing market.
Finding a trustworthy angel investor is crucial since you don't want someone who subsequently uses the privileged information against you and your business, causing troubles for you and your company. Angel investing is more of a two-way street; both the angel investor and the entrepreneur must be trustworthy and dependable. Find a business angel that can help you not just with money, but also with advice and knowledge.
A smart business angel would not only invest in your company but also in you and your team. These are the angels who put a premium on establishing connections with other investors and organisations. They are also looking forward to working with you in the future.
When it comes to making a decision, seasoned business angels don't hesitate to get down to the nitty-gritty details. They have a keen eye for talent, and if they perceive promise in you and your concept, they will act quickly to invest in your business. The greatest angel investors make decisions based on the current scenario and provide their judgement right away, rather than putting the entrepreneur through a nerve-wracking wait just to turn him down later.
Not only does this slow down the fundraising process, but it also takes time. Look for an angel whose primary purpose is to assist you in launching your firm and making it successful, rather than anticipating a cut of the profits from your growth.
If you have an angel investor who is also a successful entrepreneur, consider yourself lucky since they have seen it all. Such investors are well-versed in what it takes to build a successful business as well as the obstacles that your firm will face in its early stages. They are familiar with the highs and lows that a new business endeavour must experience in the corporate sector before achieving success.
These are the investors who will push and challenge you every step of the way, as well as offer you advice, when necessary, to help you grow as an entrepreneur during the process of building a successful business. Good business angels are people who are enthusiastic supporters of entrepreneurs, eager to roll up their sleeves or pick up the phone to assist them in difficult times.
Angel investors, individuals who invest in high-risk enterprises without the help of professional portfolio advisors, are an essential source of early-stage entrepreneurial funding. An angel must decide how much time to spend on due diligence, how much money to contribute, and how much post-investment involvement with entrepreneurs while offering fundings.
They may be particularly influenced by behavioural issues because they are individual investors. Psychologists have discovered that inevitable psychological, cognitive, and emotional biases can affect and influence every person's judgement. Having said that, below are some psychological characteristics that are linked to an investor's financial decision.
Angel investors are often interested in solutions that address important issues for broad target markets. When it comes to investment, venture capitalists look for market qualities such as high growth and low competition.
When pitching to investors, your brand will have a stronger competitive advantage if it has a larger and more consistent consumer base. A larger and more consistent customer base will demonstrate that your business has a significant impact on its target market.
If everything else is equal, targeting a huge market is the most effective method to pique investors' interest. Investors will have little reservations about passing on a funding that will struggle to develop beyond a million dollars in the future; yet, an opportunity that elegantly addresses a billion-dollar market will be carefully considered by even the most cautious investor.
Founder of 500 Startups, Dave McClure says “Market size matters because most investors want to know that you’ve got a big business. Bigger is generally better.”
If an investor is familiar with your sector, they are likely to be aware of at least a few competitors for your company, and if they aren't, they may rapidly learn about them. They'll want proof that you have a strong competitive edge that the competitors can't simply overcome before they invest in you.
Investing in a company is dangerous financially and in terms of the angel's professional reputation. A positive public image is beneficial to investors since it aids deal flow and making a bad move might tarnish that image. It is debatable how much impact making the wrong funding will have on future business and how much of it is just about pride.
Clearly, one's environment has an impact on one's beliefs: Americans are more optimistic about failure than Europeans, viewing it as a learning opportunity. Investors in America are less concerned about appearing to make a mistake. Most business angels, however, consider reputation to some extent when making an investment decision.
You must invest your money in order to receive returns and pursue an increase in your wealth. The quantity of money an investor can invest in startups and businesses is determined by our income levels. It may also have an effect on our level of risk tolerance.
Investors who have a large pool of income are more likely to take risks and make substantial investments than those who have a smaller pool of income. Having a greater income stream can undoubtedly bring up new investment opportunities and patterns.
An important pointer to consider for investors before investing is the nature of the founders and their capabilities. For business founders, having a passion for their startup is relatively easy to come by. They have faith in the product or service they desire to offer. They believe it is a step forward from previous items or a novel approach to an old problem—in other words, the better mousetrap. But how passionate are they? Are they willing to keep going despite being told “No” over and over?
The decision to invest by investors may be affected by the following capabilities:
Angel investors place a higher value on “investor fit” than venture capital fund managers. Because angel investors typically take a more hands-on approach to the businesses they invest in, they place a high value on “chemistry” between themselves and the founder.
Understanding your risk tolerance level will assist you in managing the risk and anxiety associated with the investment. Risk tolerance is frequently influenced by our risk perception. In this case, investors look in-depth at company profitability and cash flows.
Investors will look for certain key performance indicators in a company's financial accounts before investing. These essential KPIs will be scrutinized by investors, so work with your controller services to track and enhance them. Financial statements for a business are similar to a report card that shows how well your company is doing.
Investment is often guided or influenced by plenty of other factors apart from the aforementioned one. Aspects like family history, personal profile, financial obligations, and others also tend to affect your investment choices. These aforementioned factors do tend to influence the choices, but it’s still in the hands of the investor to build a solid investment portfolio based on the need and profile of the investor.
Angel investors bring a specific attitude to the table before ever looking at a single company pitch deck. As a result, what's going on in the investment sector can lead to different judgments at any particular time.
Therefore, understanding the psychological factors influencing angel investors' decision-making process will be able to help you to tell the difference and secure funding from the right business angel who will assist you in all your endeavours to make your new company a great success.
Factors Influencing Business Angel Investments
Psychological Factors Influencing Business Angel Investments
Last updated on 25th March 2022
Angel investing has evolved into a major source of fuel for the national economy, jobs, and new innovation, in addition to being trendy and highly profitable. Angel investors have become a primary source of finance for entrepreneurs, and for many firms, a necessary component of their survival. What is the relationship between angels and networking? What makes this form of fundraising unique?
An angel investor (also known as a private investor, seed investor, or angel funder) is a wealthy individual who offers financial support to small businesses or entrepreneurs in return for owning stock in the firm. Angel investors are frequently found among an entrepreneur's relatives and friends. Angel investors' cash may be a one-time investment to assist the firm get off the ground, or they may be a continuous infusion to support and sustain the company through its challenging early phases.
An Angel Investor (also known as a private investor, seed investor, or angel backer) is a wealthy individual who invests in small businesses or entrepreneurs in exchange for a share of the company's ownership. Angel investors are frequently discovered among an entrepreneur's friends and relatives. Angel investors are basically anyone who has extra money to invest in a business or firm, and there is a tax advantage for angel investors in Malaysia.
In general, an angel investor is a high-net-worth individual who invests in a startup firm in exchange for a piece of the company's ownership. An angel investor must meet the following criteria:
An angel investor network is a collection of angel investors that have banded together to make larger investments, work more efficiently, and offer mutual support. Angel networks and angel groups are two terms for the same thing. Members of the angel network gather to hear presentations from entrepreneurs, then examine the ideas and make investment decisions.
Angel networks frequently partner with other similar organisations to make investments. Most angel networks concentrate their efforts in areas where some of their members have prior experience or knowledge, though they are usually open to investing in other areas as well. The most prevalent sectors of investment for angel networks, according to the Angel Capital Association, are software, medical devices, telecommunications, and manufacturing.
Angel investing is becoming more popular as an asset class, and many accredited investors want to learn more about how they may become involved. Start with a local l angel group to find an answer to this question. Working alongside like-minded angels is the best approach to simplify the difficulties of angel investing.
There are numerous options for investment, including investing on their own or informally with friends using online portals for accredited investors and collaborating with local startup accelerators. While angel groups are more traditional than cloud investment, they do provide excellent returns, especially when compared to an individual angel investor.
Angel Investor Network recognise that members have varying levels of commitment and interests, and they invite investors to participate in the organization in the way that best suits them. Members can participate in events such as pitch competitors, screening meetings, due diligence sessions, educational and networking opportunities and so forth.
Most clubs have limited or no investment restrictions and each member has complete discretion over whether or not to invest. Every group is a little different, so make sure you know what to anticipate before you join. If members are mutually supportive and engaged with the group, groupings become more beneficial to them in the long run.
Hundreds of applications are reviewed by most angel groups each year, with applicants coming from online applications, conferences, pitch competitions, syndicate partners, and personal relationships. Each year, invitations are sent to 20–30 companies to formally pitch the groups' members. Groups typically undertake due diligence on 25 per cent to 50 per cent of the proposals provided. As a result, every month, an angel group is likely to evaluate at least one investment possibility.
Follow-up meetings with founders, calling customers, doing personal reference checks, and negotiating or reviewing contracts are all examples of due diligence tasks. Unless one angel investor can devote full-time to sourcing, vetting, and assessing investment prospects, the advantage of enlisting the help of a group far surpasses the difficulty of going it alone.
One of the risks of making independent angel investments is not knowing whether the entrepreneur will be able to raise more funds. Writing that check is a leap of faith in and of itself; doing so without knowing whether or not additional capital will be pooled with yours can be unsettling.
Investing with a group of angel investors can assist to mitigate this risk. Transparency in a startup's investment by the entire group provides some assurance that there is sufficient cash for a sustainable runway.
Angel groups frequently give members a variety of tools and services to help them manage deal flow and track investment activities more effectively. Many of these instruments can be purchased individually, but without a bigger group to compare them to, they can be pricey and ineffective.
Many angel clubs also allow members to fund funds through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), which allows them to invest less than $25,000 in any individual project. This is a terrific alternative for people who want to establish a portfolio of investments by participating in a variety of deals with smaller check quantities.
The sharing of collective expertise among members is one of the most valuable effects of bringing together multiple angel investors into one organisation. Angel investors frequently prefer to invest in industries with which they understand. It makes sense; angel investing is hazardous enough, and backing businesses in new areas can be intimidating.
However, statistics suggest that diversifying an investor's portfolio is the best approach to maximise their chances of making a profit. Individuals can obtain exposure to topics they might not consider on their own by combining investors from various backgrounds into one group. Members benefit from having access to other members' perspectives, which are frequently provided by professionals from the same industries as those presented by startups.
Angel group settings are a terrific way for people to learn more about angel investing, in addition to exchanging knowledge about specific investment prospects. A simple internet search will turn up a slew of articles on the subject, which is a wonderful place to start. However, one of the best ways for novice investors in the area to get their feet wet is to dive into the process alongside experienced angels.
NEXEA is Malaysia's leading Angel Investment Network, with a focus on Southeast Asian business. Because of our proven track record and multiple high-growth firms in our portfolio, NEXEA has a large network of angel investors who fund and coach startups. At NEXEA Angel Investment Network, we worked with investors and businesses in a unique approach.
We do not make money until our investors do, and even then, it is only a portion of their profit. NEXEA is motivated to drastically improve return rates by investing in only the best firms and only hiring the best mentors (successful CEOs, entrepreneurs, and C-Suite Executives) to guide the startups.
NEXEA reviews over 1000 companies each year to ensure that we present investors with 3-10 high-quality investments each year. The selected companies are screened using a proprietary startup principles methodology. Our due diligence procedure, background checks, and investment committees must all be passed by each startup.
NEXEA's Angel Investor Network provide several advantages. We assist our investors by handling the legal parts of startup investments, such as your Term Sheet, Due Diligence, and other legal matters and offers startup support that no other angel groups can match. Because of our understanding of the industry, we are able to advise startups on technology and business tasks.
Our angel investor network allows our investors to invest in many firms with the same amount of money, lowering their startup investment risks significantly. To assist new investors in the group, we encourage our investors to share their investment and business experiences with one another improving their investment's success rate.
Participating in an organized angel investor network gives several time-saving and experiential benefits, whether you are exploring a hobby or wanting to devote many hours each week to angel investment. It is also a wonderful place for seasoned angel investors to share their knowledge with newcomers to the field.
Give the group setting a try if you have been walking the route alone or have considered getting into angel investing. It is possible that you might actually enjoy it.
What Is A Angel Investor Network
Benefits of Angel Investor Network
What are investor's looking for? This article will be looking upon some of the important concepts and areas that what are investors looking for, in terms of a business as a whole, entrepreneur characteristics and personalities as well as business plans and financial records and statements. Investors thought process may be conducted prior to investment or during the businesses pitch for investment. Have a read below!
What are investor's looking for? Let's divide this question into further sub-categories so it becomes easy for us to understand. Prior to making any investments, it is fundamental that an investor goes through the process of thorough research and due diligence to understand what they are investing in and what is the return that they are receiving.
Attitudes and approach to investing are being dramatically changed by the minute because of the ever-growing business environment. An investor in one geographical region will not have the same requirements as another. Investor's goals and expectations also vary from their age and demographic.
According to a survey by Visual Capitalist, to analyse the reasons why most investors prefer to invest their money and how does it differ from one country to another. A handful of countries chosen made Canada stand at the top at 78% where the majority of investors are investing their money for the reason to save for retirement, followed by Australia at 74%, United States and the United Kingdom at 71% and Singapore at 57% respectively. Whereas, 12% of Singaporean investor also spends their investments in estate planning and beneficiaries.
Other countries showed different trends as shown below. Majority of Chinese investors, for example, chose to spend their investments towards beneficiaries and estate purchases rather than saving for retirement in comparison to North America and Europe. French population saved 26% of their investments for the purpose of needing it for emergency funds whereas UAE saw a trend of 31% savings towards starting their own businesses.
Not surprisingly, as investors get older, their goals shift away from making immediate big-ticket purchases and holding riskier investments for a higher rate of return. Later on in life, goals are more focused on retirement and maximising wealth.
What are investor's looking for in terms of entrepreneurial skills, personality, work ethos, ability to work in a team and the list goes on. There's always a clicking moment that happens between an investor and a founder that plays into the investment decision. Sometimes it's easy to identify - an affinity based on a common background, such as shared work or educational experiences -- or perhaps a co-investor that's mutually known and trusted.
In other cases, it might be harder to put a finger on, such as likeability of the entrepreneur, or merely an instinct or impression that the investor develops, good or bad, either way, the investor is going to be asking a lot of tough questions and requiring in-depth detail.
What are investor's looking for in an entrepreneurs business skills and personality traits? Initially, you might think that all investors make their decisions based on the business plan, but there’s another set of factors just as important to most investors, and it’s all in the entrepreneurs' personality.
Startups need to know how to attract investors if they want to get funded by them. In this section, there is a discussion of the key items investors look for when making an investment decision, particularly for startups.
Most potential funders wish to see a business plan as a first step in deciding whether or not to invest. What are investor's looking for exactly in a business plan that decides whether they are willing to invest or step back?
There are key performance indicators that investors will want to see in a company's financial statements before they will invest. Financial statements are financial records of a company's working consisting of many components, so which components to be precise, are investor's looking for?
What are investor's looking for in a pitch deck and how can you create the ideal pitch deck to present? Summarised below are 3 key elements of creating a successful pitch deck to meet the requirements of what are investor's looking for from an entrepreneurs pitch:
For more detailed guidance, see our insights on creating successful Pitch Decks and important components required with examples.
Are you looking for investors in Malaysia for your startup? NEXEA's Angel Investor Network
"Most people think that to become rich, it’s enough to be talented and capable. But in fact, the world is full of such people, and most of them are poor. What they are missing is financial intelligence, a comprehensive aptitude for financial subjects like accounting, investing and so forth. This lack of training in financial intelligence is a problem not only for today’s youth but also for highly educated adults, many of whom make poor decisions with their money"
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
How Investment Goals Vary by Country and Age
What is an Angel Investor? This article is your ultimate guide to angel investors, who are they, what is the angel investor funding process as well as the most commonly asked questions regarding Angel Investors.
Angel investors are individuals who are providers of funds and/or capital for a business start-up normally in its early stages of the business, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. Since angel investors are very often individuals that have been at executive positions at large firms, they can often provide useful advice and introductions to the entrepreneur based on their own experiences, in addition to the funds.
A Harvard report provided information on how angel-funded start-ups had a higher chance of survival, likely up to four years more in comparison to non-angel invested firms.
Alejandro Cremades, the author of "The Art of Startup Fundraising: Pitching Investors, Negotiating the Deal and Everything Else Entrepreneurs Need to Know", states that angel investing has not only become trendy and highly profitable, but it has also emerged into being a powerful source of fuel for the national economy, jobs and new innovation.
Taking a peek into the world of angel investors, using the United States as an example, GeekWire Statistics reveals that Angels are more diverse than venture capitalists and the majority are women with the number increasing by the minute. However, the statistics will differ in every country.
This is a step-by-step process and not something that reaps success overnight. New startup businesses or individual entrepreneurs often seek out for angel investors to pitch in capital to their business in return for a stake in the company they invest in. It's not just limited to the capital, their experience and knowledge in the industry hold immense value as well.
To put this timeline into perspective, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos himself benefited from 22 "angels" that supported his startup, Amazon in the 1990s when it was a struggling online bookselling service. Many of Amazon’s initial investments came from Bezos’ family and friends, an input of $50,000 secured 1% of the company. Today, those shares are worth more than $8.5 billion. That investment saw a 17-million-per cent gain 25 years later! However, this is just an example and this does not mean that your angel-funded business will take decades to be successful too!
According to MintyMint, angel investors enter the lifecycle of a startup in these early stages where they are in need of guidance and capital the most.
Let's start with the most basic question: Why and when do you need an Angel Investor? This type of investment is targeted to those entrepreneurs in need of business expertise and financing for their startup. Usually, a method of recommendation and referrals also allows investors and entrepreneurs to meet together. Entrepreneurs are usually provided with the angel investor's profile and vice versa. Both parties will have their own series of requirements; a checklist of expectations.
The screening process for entrepreneurs will include their requirement in terms of investor skill and capacity of capital input whereas for investors, they need to look out for any "red flags" within the business and how attractive is the investment opportunity based on the input of time, money and attention.
What is an Angel Investor expecting from your pitch? Pitches like this can turn out to be quite stressful for the entrepreneurs because of a lot of reasons: they are time-sensitive and they need to be able to fit all information regarding their business in that time slot for the angels, the environment may also have a stressful impact on the entrepreneurs pitching and often sometimes leads them to forget their numbers. Amongst all, it is of utmost importance to remain transparent with the investors and provide them with all the key figures.
Once both parties have agreed upon working together before the angel investor funding process begins, there are some angels that might prefer to invest straight after a pitch but the majority are interested in a little due diligence at first. This may include going through scenario building or a certain checklist of things to be approved by the angel. Before ending the due diligence process, it is at this point that both parties sit down together and agree on their deal terms, goals that are mutually accepted and beneficial as well as the deal structure and meeting notes that are to be shared with the diligence report once it is complete.
Once all the legal implications are completed, a closing date is assigned, documents are signed. The process is a lot more time consuming and further technicalities are involved. Described above is a brief summary for quick understanding!
As a summary, Neil Patel, New York's best selling author, and renowned online marketer, having helped renowned companies like Zappos, Amazon, Viacom, Airbnb and the list goes on; explain in detail what angel investing is all about. He simplifies what is an angel investor in the short video below:
What is an angel investor and a venture capitalist? Many people often confuse the two and fail to notice the differences between the two entities. Here is just a brief outline to clear out any confusions you may have regarding the difference in both. Angel investors are individuals willing to spend their own money whereas venture capitalists (VCs) come from a venture capital company. Angel investors have limited funds and prefer the investment amount under a limit whereas venture capitalists prefer a large number of investments.
Most angel investors prefer investing at the start-up stage of a business in comparison to VCs that prefer entering the business when they see a potential to progress further. A few further characteristics are detailed in the diagram above detailing what is an angel investor and how is it different from a venture capitalist.
What is an angel investor's ideal qualities? Angels step in as saviours for budding entrepreneurs to help them kick start their business. Therefore, it is important, for an entrepreneur, to know and understand the characteristics and qualities to look for in a potential angel investor. This debate can be divided into three sub-sections:
What is an angel investor's ideal personality? Finding a trustworthy angel for your business is crucial because you do not want to provide your private and confidential information to someone who will later use that privileged information against you. What is an angel investor's personality trait that is suitable for your business? It is important for angels and entrepreneurs to build a relationship on mutual trust and reliability, not only for monetary assistance and protection but for guidance and knowledge as well. They must have good decision-making skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure. They have a quick eye for talent (based on their years of experience, of course!) and potential in your business and give you the verdict straight away whether they see potential in your business idea or now.
Patience is truly a virtue, a patient angel understands the business environment and dynamics and that profits do not start rolling out overnight. They possess the ability to see through the bigger picture and focus on the long-term operation and not be afraid of whatever challenges that may come their way. An angel should not only be in it for the profits but also enjoy nurturing, mentoring and have the thrill to deal with challenging situations alongside the entrepreneurs.
What is an angel investor's preferred decision-making skills? Seasoned business angels rely heavily upon due diligence before making any commitments or signing contracts. What is an angel investor's focus when it comes to investment decisions? They prefer getting into the 'nitty-gritty' details to prevent any risk of fraud, scams or other unfavourable circumstances. Angels also need to possess great networking skills, they will help bring on board more individuals if they are well-connected in the industry.
Angel investors will follow the principle of diversity and know that not all business models are the same therefore they won't yield the same results upon investment. When investing in multiple businesses, they understand that no two ventures are going to work on the same dynamics.
What is an angel investor's ideal coaching attitude? Secondly, it is also important to note that what is an angel investor's top mentoring skills that you should keep track of? Along with having the aim to make money, angels should also be relationship builders for successful business partnership and understanding. They also need to have great mentoring skills as the majority of their time will be spent engaging with the entrepreneurs and coaching them and their teams on how to make it big in the corporate world.
Other than their monetary input, angels also need to be willing to remain actively involved in the venture in terms of advice and their knowledge on brand management, networking, product and service strategies.
What is an angel investor's role in Malaysia? Every country will have their own means to approach an angel investor usually through an angel investor directory. But, if you are reading this article and in need of an angel investor, you came to the right place.
Visit the NEXEA Angel Investors Network and submit your application for approval to get funded!
What is an Angel Investor's registration process if any? It is not required that you register yourself as an Angel Investor, you can still be an angel investor without registration. However, according to the Malaysian Business Angel Network (MBAN), if you are to register yourself as an accredited angel investor in the country, you would then be eligible to enjoy a tax benefit amounting to RM 500, 000 under the Angel Tax Incentive Programme.
For registration purposes, you are to meet the following requirements:
On the flip side, if you are a startup seeking an angel investor, according to MBAN, your startup is to fulfil the following requirements:
What is an angel investor? Hopefully, this article would've helped to increase your knowledge about angel investors. Angel investors are playing a more and more important role in financing many new businesses, even though in comparison to other sources of financing, they individually invest relatively small amounts of capital in the early stages of enterprise development.
Visit the NEXEA Angel Investors and take advantage of the most experienced network of investors and Startup Mentors in Malaysia.
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Angel investment networks have not just become trendy and highly lucrative, they have become a major source of growth, innovation, and jobs for the national economy.
For startup founders, these angel networks became an indispensable part of their existence. How do these angel networks operate? How do they provide funds? How can startup founders approach these angel investors in Malaysia?
Angel investors or business angels are commonly wealthy individuals who provide capital for startups. The injection of money can help with turning an idea into an actual company and lay the foundation for the company to offer its products or services.
Not only do these individuals provide capital, most often they also invest their knowledge and expertise to support startup's growth.
Support outside of providing capital is one of the aspects that sets angel investors apart from other more traditional investors. Other investors tend to limit their involvement in providing capital in return for a share in the startup.
Angel investors or networks commonly have a much closer relationship with the startups they have invested in. They monitor the startup and it's progress attentively and provide advice when needed. These angel investors become a sort of mentor or guide for the startups.
As angel investors are mostly individuals who have held executive positions at large corporations or have successfully ran their own companies, gaining mentors through angel investors can be just as valuable as the invested capital for novice entrepreneurs.
Fast-growing small firms often need aid overcoming funding gaps to sustain their growth. Angel investors can help resolve this issue. Furthermore, angel investors can support startups by sharing contacts and networks to secure additional capital. The fact that angel investors mostly invest locally is an added positive to the local market as a whole.
Business angels usually fill in the gap between family and friends, and larger more formal entities such as VC's. Some of these angels purely seek profit while others seek more meaningful investments.
For instance, some angels will only invest in startups that are active in specific industries or serve a certain cause. These industries could range anywhere from sustainable agriculture to education and tech startups. Since angel investors are very often individuals that have held executive positions at large corporations
Another reason startups would seek out angel investment networks would be for the fact that angel investors can provide debt-free financing.
In the case of a bank, even when they agree to provide a startup with funds, they will likely restrict the quantity you are allowed to borrow, as the bank will be much more risk-averse than the average angel investor. Contrarily angel investors will not shy away from investing larger sums if they feel the startup has a lot of potential.
Unlike loans and different forms of credit financing, angel investor funding is usually a much cheaper option when looking for seed-stage capital.
Startups are not tied to monthly payments on the capital plus the interest, instead, with angel funding, a portion of the company profits will be given to the investor relative to the investment made. The share of ownership for the angel investor usually starts at about 10%, however, the share could increase with consecutive funding in the startup.
Furthermore, unlike a loan, invested capital does not have to be paid back in the event of a business failure.
There are many angel investors in Malaysia open to funding startups at any given time. There are also many 'dormant' investors who have the capital but find it difficult to look for suitable startups to invest in. In such cases, angel investment networks provide the solution by linking startups to so-called dormant investors. Naturally, non-dormant investors are also involved in these business angel networks.
Angel Investor networks in Malaysia invest varying amounts as compared to Venture Capital – and recently groups of angel investors have been putting down investments as large as early-stage VC investment sizes. Angel Investor networks in Malaysia could invest anywhere between RM50k to RM2m or more, where early-stage VC investments could start at RM500k to RM1m.
Business angels are more often joining forces to form and participate in angel networks. In fact, the entire startup and angel investor ecosystem in Malaysia has gone through a considerable expansion in the last 10 years.
During the last 10 years, many business angels have gotten involved with business angel networks. The main reason for this is to get access to the best deals as this is much harder when working alone. Unless you already have a big name in the angel investor and VC industry, joining an angel group could be considered essential to gain success.
There are different reasons for these angel investment networks to form and operate, such as:
These angel networks can provide individual investors with more confidence which often leads to startups receiving better deals as well.
Most business angel networks tend to establish themselves within certain geographic regions. In the case of Malaysia, most of these networks would focus either exclusively on Malaysian startups or more broadly on ASEAN startups. Some of these groups focus will only invest in certain industries, mostly tech, while others have a wider range of industries they are willing to invest in.
Malaysian angel investors often shy away from public appearance. Therefore they may be hard to find and approach by startups. Angel Investors in Malaysia are usually found in angel Investment Groups or Networks. Finding the right business angel network can be very valuable for both startups and investors.
An example of an angel investment network is Nexea. Nexea ensures that both the startups and investors are a good fit before the introduction takes place.
At Nexea startups receive advice and knowledge on what and how investors think prior to making the introduction. This will help startups in preparing their presentations for potential investors. Furthermore, it will also reduce the risk of a potential altercation taking place where the deal would not go through.
Generally, finding angel investors in Malaysia can be done in various ways, for example:
Another place to look for angel investors in Malaysia would be the Malaysian Business Angel Network (MBAN). The Malaysian Business Angel Network is the official trade association and governing body for angel investors and angel investment networks in Malaysia. The main objective for the company is to support the angel investors and startup environment as a whole.
Angel investors as individuals can have a very wide range of unique characters and perspectives. Hence, finding a business angel network can be very valuable when it comes to gaining consistency and structure in investments. Furthermore, the fundraising procedure for startups can be more organized and simple.
Regardless, it is important to find the right angel investment network. The following should be considered when deciding which angel investment network to go with:
Overall, angel investors have had a very positive impact on many entrepreneurs and the startup ecosystem in general. Today there are more angel investment networks than ever before, leading to more opportunities, less risk and more impactful investments.
Startup founders could not have lived in a better time when it comes to variety and options of business angel networks to approach.
Angel Investors in Malaysia are defined as investors who provide financial backing, industry knowledge, as well as industry or business experience to early-stage startups or entrepreneurs. Angel Investors in Malaysia are usually found in Angel Investment Groups or Networks. They usually provide mentoring and guidance to startups. Some of the best angel investors are known to help Startups during tough times.
Angel Investors in Malaysia are plentiful. There are easily 100 angels in Malaysia that are open to funding Startups at any point in time. There are at least 1000 dormant or inactive angel investors out there, who have the money but find it hard to look for Startups. That's where we come in as an Angel Investment Network in Malaysia.
Angel Investors in Malaysia are very willing to help businesses succeed rather than just chasing for profits. This is because angels are usually people who have achieved financial freedom, and they also tend to be people that own or have owned successful businesses. Many angels in Malaysia are retired or sit on the board, and no longer work on the operational side of their business. Therefore, angel investors usually mentor young entrepreneurs as their next challenge, as part of giving back to their community and adding value to the second half of their life.
Angel Investors tend to be very founder-friendly; they usually invest in the founder and team, rather than the business itself. This is because, at such an early stage of a business, there is usually not much testing done to prove the business itself. It is then up to the founder to make changes to the business until it works.
Usually, angels do not take more than 10-20% equity when investing in a startup. This gives them the right incentive and alignment with the founder to help grow the business in the right direction, while not taking too much away from the founders as well.
Most angels at NEXEA are focused on building value for the Startups. For example, they have guided startup founders during really tough times - many of which startups almost died due to many reasons like poor cash flow management, unpredictable market conditions, unfortunate events, and unsustainable strategies. Most of the time, our angel investors/mentors help startups by introducing relevant industry players, and even opening doors to potential partners or other startups.
Our mentors in Malaysia have also created value by guiding Startups to form strong strategies that increased sales results and shared their years of experience to help startups avoid common pitfalls.
Angel Investors in Malaysia invest varying amounts as compared to Venture Capital - and recently groups of angel investors have been putting down investments as large as early stage VC investment sizes. Angel Investors in Malaysia could invest collectively anywhere between RM50k to RM2m or more, where early stage VC investments could start at RM500k to RM1m.
Angel investors in Malaysia generally invest in a larger variety of startups and are a little more involves than VCs. Their involvement usually does not touch operational matters like how to run the business, but they can offer invaluable experience and guidance in the strategies that a business puts in place. The larger the investment rounds, the less involvement there is from the investor. This is because in the later stages, Startups are more mature and stable, and in the earlier stages, startups still need some input to find the right direction.
Our Malaysian Angel Investors look for a few key things when evaluating your business. The good news is that most of these things are covered by the pitch deck. The team, product, market, traction, and so on are important factors that we take into consideration. Generally, the younger a startup is, the more we need to rely on evaluating the team because there is not much else to evaluate. The larger a startup is, the more we rely on the traction (or results) of a startup, as the results are the proof that a startup can walk the talk. Evaluating the product and market helps determine how much demand and/or how big the startup can get. Do have a look at the pitch deck guide as it explains how investors look at each piece of information.
Angel Investors in Malaysia tend to be more private about their appearance in the public. Therefore, at Nexea, we represent them on the forefront before most Startups get to meet them. We ensure that startups and investors are both ready and have a good match before the introduction. For example, we advise startups on how the investors think before we make the introduction to help Startups have a little more of an advantage when presenting their business. This helps to avoid all sorts of unwanted situations where the deal would fall apart.
If you are interested to pitch to a group of investors in Malaysia, do send us a pitch deck: Startup Fund in Malaysia.We also look at startups around Southeast Asia, and not only in Malaysia.
If you are interested to become join NEXEA's Angel Investor Network, you can visit how to be an Angel Investor.
https://www.nexea.co/angel-investors-network-club-malaysia/
https://www.nexea.co/startup-grants-malaysia/
There is so much to know how to be an angel investor! Knowing so, it is also about who you know - because we simply don’t know what we don’t know.
We gather as an angel investment group here in South East Asia because there are so many of us that can contribute to startups in many different ways. These are the things that are unique to every one of us, like what we know or how we can add tremendous value to Startups apart from just money. Our lead angel investors have introduced the right mentors from the right industries, matched startups with acquirers, and even brought huge business to Startups.
There are other things that all of us should know in common to be an angel investor, like;
Here I will highlight the many real reasons angel investors join us, as well as explain startup investment strategies that are broken into 2 categories - risk management and value creation. Before we get into angel investor investment strategies, let's look at why we got into startup angel investment.
There are many reasons why investors join us. Some investors want a challenge in life by helping founders solve huge problems. Some want to give back to the entrepreneurial community by guiding new entrepreneurs. Some want to increase their investment prowess by learning from other great investors. But none are in it purely to make a quick buck.
Non-Monetary Reasons for Angel Investing
Our investors are sophisticated and are not chasing after money anymore. In a weird way, money chases after them. They have proven themselves successful in life. Now, they are pursuing the top level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - where they are now pursuing their inner talent and creativity fulfilment (in other words, to do what makes them happy).
Monetary Reasons for Angel Investment
Angel Investors know that wealth preservation is one thing, and that wealth creation is another matter. To preserve wealth, it is all about hedging against inflation plus generating enough passive income to sustain one's lifestyle.
To create more wealth, the usual safe & conservative investments won't be able to do the job well. This is where high risk, high return investments like startup or angel investment comes in.
Here are the aggregate numbers of angel investing for those who want to test their investment skills:
20-25% Annual Return is the average over 5-7 years, for a total of 2.5X capital returns average (US statistics). Compared to other asset classes, Stocks give an average of 6-7%, and 3-4% for Fixed Deposits (varies across countries). This makes startups an asset class that is perfect for the high-risk portion of an investment portfolio. It is generally recommended that it be no more than 5-10% of a high net worth individuals' net worth.
Angel Investment also gives investors much more control and transparency vs. investing into VC funds. You get to choose what you invest in, learn more about businesses, and via mentoring, learn a lot more about business from a different perspective. There is also less cost vs the typical 2% annual fees (on initial investment) and 20% carry fee (on exits) that VCs typically charge. That adds up to a huge percentage considering fund terms are typically 5-7 years.
If you've heard about 500 Startups, they are popular among the industry for employing this strategy. They invest in anything and everything where they see potential. They take it as a numbers game (luck or probability, however one can see it) betting that the successful startup exits will cover all the money-losing startups, plus give a good return. While the math does work out, it depends on successful startups churning out a minimum 50X return (more if they are lucky), and 10% of the portfolio hitting these return numbers. This strategy also depends on getting back money from startups that are not dead, and are able to pay back some of the investment.
In all asset classes, diversification is a must-do strategy - be it stocks or bonds or property. Having all your eggs in one basket is never a good idea, as Warren Buffet himself said so.
Diversification is surely needed in startup investment, but over-diversification can also be bad as it reduces the average returns as you diversify more. However, it does get you closer to the 25% average returns! By diversifying just enough, an investor is more likely to hit a big one. Typically we advise our angel investors to invest in 10-20 startups to have a reasonable chance of hitting a big one. Depending on your portfolio size, it may or may not make sense to invest in more than 20. For example, if the minimum you can invest is $10K in general, then you will find it hard to split to more than 20 startups if you've allocated $200k to invest into startups.
Startup Selection can be a tough one if you are a solo angel investor. Joining an angel investor network will definitely help you gain better access to quality startup deals.
A good methodology for startup selection is developed over time. It is beyond just evaluating the problem, solution, market, product, traction and financials. The timing of the industry and the valuations also matter. More importantly, the founding team and your ability to add value matters more.
Joining an angel investment group or network has many benefits. You learn more from each other. You get more deals and better deals at that. You have access to more expertise among each other - allowing the startup to benefit more from investors' knowledge. This often creates value, as I will explain in the next section below.
There are many types of angel investment groups;
The best mentors create value by 80% listening and 20% sharing. We have seen mentors guide startups to find their own solutions - and this might just be the best way to do it. When asked why the mentor said he will never understand as much as the founder what problem they are facing. Of course, the experience is still shared from mentor to mentee - but every situation is different.
So, how does it actually create value?
Mentoring, being a very complex art form, is able to give founders clarity when needed. Founders have to make a huge number of hard decisions in their lifetime, and sometimes it can be quite lonely and confusing. That is why at Nexea, we gather actual successful businessmen to mentor the new generation of entrepreneurs. Only they can understand what problems and pain these founders are going through. Therefore, the chances that they are able to successfully guide founders is much higher. We have seen our mentors guide startups out of problem after problem. Problems that if left unsolved, would have left startups dead in the water.
Some other investors introduce their startups to their networks that can help. Recently, one of our lead investors brought in a large company ready to pump in business >30X their current revenues. Another investor of ours introduced a company that is interested in acquiring a startup. We also have had investors make introductions for startups to merge to immediately transform from 2 local startups to a regional startup. That is all in the realm of value creation.
Let us know if you agree/disagree with the strategies above. If you have another strategy, even better! Let me know and I will include it above.
If you are an Investor looking to help startups in any form, do get in touch!
Angel Investment in Malaysia is basically a form of early-stage investing in new businesses. The main characteristic of this asset class is that it is a long-term investment (5 years+) with a high risk, high return nature. Capital is given to a startup by angel investors to Startups in exchange for equity.
Angel Investment funding amounts vary widely, and generally, angel investment groups do have more firepower to handle larger rounds of fundraising. Individual Angel Investors do invest large amounts but not often, as they quickly run out of cash to allocate to Startup investments. Usually, larger rounds are done when an Investor is confident that they have found a winner, and when it is the 2nd round onwards.
We see some Angel Investors in Malaysia investing through Equity Crowd Funding, with amounts ranging from 20k to 500k per startup. Not to be confused with retail investors, who typically invest 1k to 10k per startup, Angel Investors in Malaysia are defined as HNWI (High Net Worth Individuals). These are individuals with net personal assets of RM3m according to MBAN. Many Angel Investors are registered with MBAN (an association for Angel Investors & Groups by the government) for the tax incentive provided by the government, without any sensitive information required.
As of writing this, there are more than 10 Angel Investment groups in Malaysia. Not all are registered or formal. Many angel investors choose to invest as a group or syndicate to spread the risks of angel investing. Angel Investors & Groups in Malaysia typically invest mostly around RM200-600k.
Recently we are seeing more and more family offices and successful business owners getting into Startup investment. Some have gone as far as creating their own VC arms under their listed companies, as well as creating accelerator programs and startup support programs.
The main difference between Angels Networks & VCs is that angels do not typically run as a fund, and therefore are not managed by professionals. Instead, Angel Investment clubs are often run by Lead Investors, who typically come up with the larger chunk of the capital for deals, for others to follow up with the rest of the investment capital. Lead Investors put in their own money, and therefore are very motivated to make their startups successful.
Typically, VCs tend to gather or hire some professionals as their mentors. In Angel groups, the investors themselves are the mentors. This means that startups then get access to:
This on varies across every Angel & VC. Some Angels and VCs have unfriendly terms and other friendly terms. This is why we encourage startups to talk to as many Angels & VCs as possible. Generally, however, Angels tend to have friendlier terms compared to VCs, with simple term-sheets. We encourage every startup to understand every term in the term sheet, as there are some unfriendly terms out there designed to protect VCs from losing money. Some get it back by using conditions that give the VC more equity, and some allow VCs to claw back capital. Here is an example of some term-sheet jargon.
VCs are the most effective for startups when it comes to stages beyond early-stage funding. This is when mentorship and guidance matter less and capital matters a little more. Typically startups in later stages require more growth and have already tested what works and what doesn't.
It is worth noting that sometimes, Angel Investment groups do come in to invest at later stages as well. Some are large Angel groups that can easily fund large deals. Although we are not too large of an angel group, we have gone into pre-IPO investments as part of a strategic play, where our mentors can provide value to the company.
Beyond VCs, there are also PE firms that will invest in a controlling stake. They are useful for exit plans, in which startup founders can acquire access to large amounts of capital to create growth prior to an exit play.
NEXEA Angels - We run with a group of experienced mentors who are/were entrepreneurs and found success in business. We also have a management team called Venture Partners handling the deals for Angel Investors. If you are an Angel Investor or want to explore being an Angel Investor, you can learn more about our Startup Investment Opportunities in Malaysia.