Best way to find a Business Angel

[LeftmostAardvark]

I have got to the point where I have developed a business plan which is showing a fair bit of promise, but there are two things that I'm missing which might be covered by the right business angel. Ironically, finance isn't one of them (it does need a level of investment but that is circa £5-10k, so probably accessible elsewhere).

What I would need from the angel is specific knowledge and marketing expertise - someone to bounce common sense off etc and someone with commercial gravitas in order to corner the market and prevent competition in the early days.

How would I best go about the process of engaging with reputable Angels who I can trust and work with to build something?

[Treemonkey]

Try having a good look through AngelList. https://angel.co/

I'd look at the raising money part as even though you don't it where you will find angels.

[Doofus]

You could always try PMing a few people on here

[foliedouce]

So you're looking for a senior BD person to work for buttons?

Sorry if I have misinterpreted, but that's what it sounds like.

[LeftmostAardvark]

foliedouce said:

So you're looking for a senior BD person to work for buttons?

Sorry if I have misinterpreted, but that's what it sounds like.

No, looking for someone that can work with me to take a current product to a new market in return for equity stake - in essence someone that can help me corner the market in a way that I'm not strong enough to do on my own.

[Doofus]

I'm in a similar neck of the woods to you, and always have funds to invest. Whilst it's unlikely that my industry experience matches what you need, you never know, so feel free to drop me a line next week.

[Mattt]

What sector are you looking at?

[DSLiverpool]

Mattt said:

What sector are you looking at?

Yep what sector and are you the dusty, maker, importer etc

[Frimley111R]

LeftmostAardvark said:

foliedouce said:

So you're looking for a senior BD person to work for buttons?

Sorry if I have misinterpreted, but that's what it sounds like.

No, looking for someone that can work with me to take a current product to a new market in return for equity stake - in essence someone that can help me corner the market in a way that I'm not strong enough to do on my own.

You might not realise this but foliedouce is right. You want help to build your business for a stake in it but the person you want would have to do all this for, quite probably. nothing for many years before the business makes enough money to pay him and you. I've been there and done this so trust me when I say this is the reality.

[DSLiverpool]

Frimley111R said:

You might not realise this but foliedouce is right. You want help to build your business for a stake in it but the person you want would have to do all this for, quite probably. nothing for many years before the business makes enough money to pay him and you. I've been there and done this so trust me when I say this is the reality.

Whilst it might not appeal to an "angel" if it was up someone's street and they had time and talent with clear upside potential then why not.

If I was approached by an established business that needed a hand to get into second gear and I could see the upside clearly (independently of the owner) then I would be interested.

It doesn't suit a silent partner of any sort however.

[Doofus]

DSLiverpool said:

Whilst it might not appeal to an "angel" if it was up someone's street and they had time and talent with clear upside potential then why not.

If I was approached by an established business that needed a hand to get into second gear and I could see the upside clearly (independently of the owner) then I would be interested.

It doesn't suit a silent partner of any sort however.

To be fair, if you excuse the OPs use of 'angel', when that's not what he meant, the nature of what he's looking for is right there in his post.

[DSLiverpool]

O

Doofus said:

To be fair, if you excuse the OPs use of 'angel', when that's not what he meant, the nature of what he's looking for is right there in his post.

But no indication of sector or position in chain plus rereading it I see its at the "plan" stage ie not trading

[Doofus]

DSLiverpool said:

But no indication of sector or position in chain plus rereading it I see its at the "plan" stage ie not trading

Agreed. That doesn't necessarily make it a no-go for somebody in the right place at the right time. I've invested in a few businesses, and never been a silent partner.

Having said which, over the past couple of years, I've followed up on a two of three of this type of post on PH, talked to the OP, and then asked my standard set of fact-finding questions. I've never received a single answer to any of them.

[LeftmostAardvark]

DSLiverpool said:

Yep what sector and are you the dusty, maker, importer etc

Clothing manufacturer - have got a few contracts teed up that will cover the day to day overheads but the route to market I'm proposing gives me a capacity issue that I want to make sure doesn't overstretch me on my own with limited resources. Maybe a better time to seek Angel investment would be at the point (well, just before) where I become overstretched.

[bob-in-toon]

Something like this may be better? http://www.virginstartup.org/

[AyBee]

LeftmostAardvark said:

DSLiverpool said:

Yep what sector and are you the dusty, maker, importer etc

Clothing manufacturer - have got a few contracts teed up that will cover the day to day overheads but the route to market I'm proposing gives me a capacity issue that I want to make sure doesn't overstretch me on my own with limited resources. Maybe a better time to seek Angel investment would be at the point (well, just before) where I become overstretched.

I'm still struggling to understand why you need angel investment? If you're worried about becoming overstretched, you just need to employ someone to help out and make sure that your supply chain is able to keep up with your forecasted requirements. What's an angel investor going to do that you can't do with some extra time on your hands?