How To Become A Business Angel

Practical Advice for Aspiring Investors in Unquoted Companies

This book offers practical guidance to those who wish to invest in unquoted companies for the first time or who have invested before but feel the need to learn more. It will explore the wide range of objectives and rationales that angels might have - some invest in one company on a whim (rather like buying a lottery ticket), some invest as part of a collaborative group, yet others seek a significant shareholding for themselves and some expect to get closely involved with the management of the business. Richard Hargreaves has been in venture capital for the majority of his professional life, starting with 3i (as it is now called), which was then easily the largest investor in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, and evolving over time to become an active business angel. The book draws on his experience as a venture capitalist as well as his broad experience as an active angel - a prolific investor (as part of a syndicate) who is often closely involved with the management at board level. The purpose of this book is to help readers avoid a few of the many pitfalls and increase their chances of success in their investments. The UK needs successful angel investors as no other group of investor is as well suited to, and inclined to invest in, early stage entrepreneurial businesses which are a vital source of innovation, growth and job creation.