Ask HN: How do I start angel investing?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1014793

by bpick • 17 years ago

19 13 17 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I am interested in becoming an angel investor, but I lack the whole "bringing something extra to the table" outside of the money aspect.

What advice would you give to someone like me, who is willing and able to put money into an early-stage start-up?

pg2• 17 years ago

Come to Demo Day at YC. It will be March 25.

How to be an angel investor: http://www.paulgraham.com/angelinvesting.html

toisanji• 17 years ago

So does that mean anyone who is interested in investing can show up on demo day? If so I would also be very interested in investing.

wheels• 17 years ago

As long as "anyone" == "Accredited investor", I believe that's mostly true:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accredited_investor

pg2• 17 years ago

Anyone who's genuinely interested in investing in startups, sure. Just send an email to info@yc asking for an invitation.

mbenjaminsmith• 17 years ago

Send me an email: mbenjaminsmith AT gmail DOT com

vaksel2• 17 years ago

According to your blog, you are a 20 year old college student, even if you have the money(which I kinda doubt, unless of course parents), few will take you seriously.

Think of angel investing as doing startups, before the big results...you have to spend 3-5 years growing your site, 1 user at a time. So take the next 5-10 years building up your credentials and contacts, and by then you'll have something to offer besides money.

webwright2• 17 years ago

"...few will take you seriously."

What a ridiculous notion. I won't disagree that an angel has to build their "practice". But really? You think the majority of Startups out there wouldn't take cash from someone who brought nothing else to the table?

1 in 100 startups has the luxury of being super choosy with investors. Every YC session, there are YC companies that raise less than they wish they could.

And, to be honest, there isn't consensus about whether investors generally DO bring more to the table.

To the OP, go get 'em. You won't get in on the competitive deals but there are still more promising startups than there are angels to fund them. But yeah, first and foremost, you have to be an accredited investor.

vaksel2• 17 years ago

my implication was more of a...people not trusting that he has the money because of his age or thinking that at 20 he'll be a horrible investor who doesn't know what he is getting into.

And yes most people only want the money, but money comes from different sources. Would you really want a crack dealer as your investor? How about someone with a criminal record?

DanielBMarkham• 17 years ago

According to your blog, you are a 20 year old college student...

Wonder how many 20-year-old college students with a million spare bucks to be an accredited investor there are? If you eliminate trust-fund kids (which typically don't have access to all their wealth), what? A dozen or so? Versus how many 20-year-olds willing to ask bogus questions in a room full of people likely to take them seriously and respond?

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I really feel you punked us with this question.

bpick• 17 years ago

Your time is your own concern, see you at Demo Day this March.

BerislavLopac• 17 years ago

Where do you live? The simplest advice would be to join one of the local angel networks and join a more experienced member to mentor you.

Ask HN: How do I start angel investing?

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