Angels Den Blog

I admit it, I’m guilty of being a little overly focussed on my work – which of course is code for spending every waking moment totally immersed in the world of entrepreneurs, business angels, the media, small business advisors, et al. So it sometimes comes as a surprise to me when people get that blank vacant look in their eyes when I’m talking about things that I just assume everyone knows about. Of course I’m rather used to the blank looks, the vacant looks and even the shocked looks because of my random sense of humour, but this is about work, when I’m being serious (hey, I can be serious if and when the need arises!). It first happened when I started talking to people about the concept of speed-pitching to offer small businesses a new way to raise additional funding, and the other day it happened when I was talking to someone about the business angels that I work with. “What do you mean, you don’t know what a business angel is?”

It seems that I may have a slight case of “wood for the trees syndrome”, or at least that’s what I call it, so let me address this situation right here and now and give you the low down on who and what these mysterious business angel characters are.

Business angels – or angel investors, angels or informal investors as they are sometimes known – are individuals who invest their own money in start-ups and small businesses for an equity share that they hope will see dividends, and one day, with a little luck and a lot of effort, might reward them with a rather large pay-out if the company is sold as a going concern. Business angels are mavericks, trail blazers and to a certain extent educated gamblers. They can also come from any walk of life, educational background, work history and financial footing. A business angel could be a bank manager, a CEO, a successful entrepreneur or great aunty Ethel. Literally anyone with the disposable funds, a steady nerve and a belief in their ability to spot a successful business-in-the-making could be one.

In recent years some business angels have decided to pool their expertise and funds to create angel groups or angel networks. This allows them to make larger investments, spread their risk and share their research, all in the name of increased profits.

Although the concept has been around for some time, it’s TV shows like Dragon’s Den that have brought this far more relaxed, exciting and accessible form of business funding to the attention of the mass public.

Angel’s Den was formed by co-founders Bill Morrow and Lois Cook with the goal of offering business angels and entrepreneurs a new format for meeting one another. Speed-pitching affords a few lucky entrepreneurs, small business owners and inventors the opportunity to pitch one-on-one with a number of business angels in a single night to seek out the best investors for their venture. So if, with your new understanding of the lesser spotted business angel, you feel that your business or business concept could benefit from the boost angel funding can give it, why not visit www.angelsden.co.uk and see when our next speed-pitching event is. Alternatively, if you believe that you have the qualities and resources to be a business angel yourself, come to our site to see how you could make it onto our panel.

Image © Adam Selwood