Angel Investor vs Angel Syndicate: What’s the difference?
Updated: Oct 19
Finding and matching with angel investors can take a lot of time and effort. Due to this, angel investors are increasingly banding together to form syndicates. As a founder, it could be better if choose a syndicate over an angel investor, or converse. In spite of relatively the differences between these two terms, they are used often interchangeably. Let’s examine the differences between both.
Angel syndicate vs Angel investor
What is Angel Investor?
An angel investor or a seed funder is a high-net-worth-individual, who invests their own money in startups in the seed or early stage to alternate for convertible debt or possession fairness. This is the cardinal phase of constructing a startup’s business enterprise and finding out its fatality.
In most instances, angel investors put money into startups with a prominent level of risk. They will follow the businesses’ plans for at least 5-7 years to assist agencies to regain the capital. They often claim a sizeable proportion of the organization because the likelihood of failure is extraordinarily excessive.
The investment of angel investors varies at different tiers. It is able to be low around $5k, or maybe higher, about $100k. Commonly, it takes 1-6 months for these angels to finish their offers. This timeframe includes due diligence in your organization and time period sheet negotiation.
What Angel Investors benefit Startups
Angel investors can offer greater flexibility in investment terms and can tailor their investment to the specific needs of the startup. Moreover, working with individual angel investors can result in a more personal and collaborative relationship with founders. Because of the perhaps smaller fund, angel investors may offer a simpler and more streamlined investment process than angel syndicates.
What drawbacks Startups should consider
As above-mentioned, an individual angel investor could sink money into a startup a bit more ‘humble’ than a syndicate. Furthermore, even if some angel investors fund with their real-angel purposes, others could require varying degrees of control and benefits over your business.
What is Angel Syndicate?
An angel syndicate is a group of investors who agree to invest in the same project together. These investors are able to be from any source in dissimilar industries. A lead angel of the syndicate will present deals to its contributors. Individuals then decide whether or not to invest their personal funds in the organizations on offer. Angel syndicates handle the deal flow, due diligence, and transactions for their investors. Angel syndicates typically take 1-6 months to complete their transactions
A syndicate not only permits investors to diversify their investments and percentage any dangers with other fellow angel traders but also makes the funds in higher amounts compared to individual angel investors for startups, which could be up to 1 million dollars in some cases.
What Angel Syndicates benefit Startups
Via the angel syndicate, startups can have a chance to reach a group of HNWI members without self-finding each. It could benefit startups in the next round.
Angels in a syndicate may from a variety of backgrounds and industries, providing valuable insights and advice. This platform will act as a conduit for its investors to process, execute, negotiate, and conduct due diligence on startups. As a result, founders do not have to deal with numerous and disparate investors.
What drawbacks Startups should consider
A large investment from a syndicate may require control right. When startups opt for angel syndicates to raise capital, it can result in dilution of ownership. This may cause the startup founders to have less control over their company.
Furthermore, conflicts of interest may arise among syndicate members due to different investment goals or priorities. This can complicate the investment process and startups may bide for a longer time to get the decision of syndicates. Therefore, startups must carefully consider these potential disadvantages before deciding to go with an angel syndicate investment.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, both angel investors and angel syndicates are able to give valuable resources and support to startups, such as capital, business expertise, and contact networks. However, there are some key distinctions between the two types of investors that startups should bear in mind when deciding which approach to take.
Individual angel investors may provide greater flexibility, a more personal relationship, as well as a better-streamlined investment process. Nevertheless, they could offer less funding and limited access to networks and resources.
Angel syndicates, notwithstanding, can provide larger amounts of funding, broader networks and expertise, and a more diverse range of perspectives. Alternatively, they may also involve more complex investment terms, reduced control for the founding team, and potentially greater risk of conflicts.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to work with individual angel investors or an angel syndicate will depend on the specific needs and goals of the startup, as well as the preferences and priorities of the founding team. By carefully weighing the pros and cons of each approach, startups can make informed decisions that will best position them for success in the competitive world of entrepreneurship.