Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs: Early-Stage Funding for Long-Term Success [Hardcover]

Susan L. Preston (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787987506 | ISBN-13: 978-0787987503 | Publication Date: March 23, 2007 | Edition: 1

Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs will give you the information you need to understand how angel investors think, as well as how to identify investor expectations, understand the investment analysis process, and prepare for post-investment requirements. Written by Susan Preston, an experienced angel investor, worldwide speaker and consultant on angel financing, and former Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneur-in-Residence, this hands-on resource, explains the factors that determine how private equity investors spend their money and what they expect from entrepreneurs. For example:

• Most venture capitalists do not invest in seed or start-up financing rounds
• Investors typically require seasoned management, with successful start-up experience
• Investors are looking for entrepreneurs with passion for their ideas and the willingness to take and apply sound advice
• Business plans must be well-written with detailed financial projections that extend 3–5 years
• Investors are looking for a clear path to profitability in the business model
• Entrepreneurs must have developed a corporate structure that is clean and uncomplicated
• And much more

Editorial Reviews

Review

“If only the entrepreneurs pitching my Dinner Clubs and others in our alliance of angel groups had had this wonderful guide to the murky world of angel investing when they approached us! Clear, concise, chockfull of facts and contacts, a great resource!”--John May, chair, Angel Capital Association; manager, Active Angel Investors; and author of Every Business Needs an Angel

 

 

“Susan Preston is the entrepreneur’s best friend.  She has an incredibly sharp intellect, added to by her years of experience in angel investing, business, and the law.  Sue possesses that rare combination of great knowledge and down-to-earth practicality, and smart entrepreneurs will pay close attention to her teaching and her advice.”--Susan P. Strommer, president and CEO, National Association of Seed and Venture Funds

 

 

“Entrepreneurs and angels alike will generate a strong return on their investment of time in reading this complete primer on seeding a venture for success. Susan Preston is an expert on angel investing and entrepreneurship, and it shows in this lucid survey of everything an angel or entrepreneur needs to know when seeding a venture.”--Ian Patrick Sobieski, managing director, Band of Angels and Band of Angels Fund, LP

 

 

  “This is the BEST book I’ve seen to help both entrepreneurs and investors with invaluable advice on how to be successful in this marvelous free-enterprise system of ours.   Susan speaks from first-hand knowledge and experience and is a top expert in this field with practical, insider tips you won’t find anywhere else.”--Bob Geras, president, LaSalle Investments with 40-plus years of experience as an angel investor and venture capitalist

 

 

“An invaluable resource for both angels and entrepreneurs.  Susan Preston puts it all together in one easy-to-read, well-organized, and practical book.”--Susannah Malarkey, executive director, Alliance of Angels and the Technology Alliance

 

From the Inside Flap

Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs will give you the information you need to understand how angel investors think, as well as how to identify investor expectations, understand the investment analysis process, and prepare for post-investment requirements. Written by Susan Preston, an experienced angel investor, worldwide speaker and consultant on angel financing, and former Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneur-in-Residence, this hands-on resource explains the factors that determine how private equity investors spend their money and what they expect from entrepreneurs. For example:

• Most venture capitalists do not invest in seed or start-up financing rounds
• Investors typically require seasoned management with successful start-up experience
• Investors are looking for entrepreneurs with passion for their ideas and the willingness to take and apply sound advice
• Business plans must be well-written with detailed financial projections that extend 3–5 years
• Investors are looking for a clear path to profitability in the business model
• Entrepreneurs must have developed a corporate structure that is clean and uncomplicated

The message is this: if you are to succeed as an entrepreneur you must be like a Boy Scout and always "be prepared." The book presents many scenarios and creative ideas for working with investors that address the wide variety of situations you may encounter in dealing with angel investors. In addition, Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs is filled with extensive lists of contacts, worksheets, sample business plans, and proposals that will give you the edge you need to attract capital.

Even though it's written for entrepreneurs, Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs is equally valuable for all angel investors, novice to experienced. The book provides a wealth of information and tools for angel investors to use in evaluating companies and understanding realistic expectations from entrepreneurs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (March 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787987506
• ISBN-13: 978-0787987503
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So you need investors and need to write a business plan..., October 14, 2008

By 

Thomas D. Kehoe (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs: Early-Stage Funding for Long-Term Success (Hardcover)

I did, so I bought five books. I will review them from worst to best.

"Finding an Angel Investor In a Day," by The Planning Shop (2007), told me nothing I didn't know, and I didn't know anything about business plans or angel investors. The title is ludicrous and the advice is obvious, e.g., "Your business plan should be concise, compelling, and irresistible to investors." 1 star.

"The ABC's of Writing Winning Business Plans," by Garrett Sutton (2005), walks you through writing business plans for a lawn mowing business and buying a pizza restaurant. If your business is more complicated, this is not the book for you. 1 star.

"The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide," by Brian Ford, Jay Boorstein, and Patrick Pruitt (2007), is a good book but hardly inspiring or insightful. If you follow this book your business plan will be competent but won't grab investors. 3 stars.

"Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs," by Susan Preston (2007). This book doesn't explain how to write a business plan, but it explains how to make a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation to investors -- a presentation that will grab investors. For example, one question is "How is your product or technology scalable?" I also learned some of the financials that angel investors look for, such as what IRR is expected. This book helped and inspired me to write an excellent presentation, that became the basis for my business plan. 5 stars.

"Raising Venture Capital for the Serious Entrepreneur," by Dermot Berkery (2008). This is a textbook for a business school course about venture capital. This book is full of insights. Every few pages new ideas would compel me to go to my computer and add stuff or rewrite my business plan, for example, Berkery emphasizes the need for clear milestones. Preston mentioned milestones but didn't make it clear why they are so important. The financials that were briefly presented in Preston's book are thoroughly presented in Berkery's book, for example, what gross margin investors look for (80% or more) and why they need such extremely profitable products or services. Plus you learn the jargon or key phrases of venture capitalists, e.g., "a large but well signaled market," the importance of "market power" and an effective "route to customers." I feel that my business plan now speaks to investors in their language, with the numbers they are looking for. 5 stars.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource..., May 1, 2007

By 

Jeffrey L. Stinson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs: Early-Stage Funding for Long-Term Success (Hardcover)

I just completed "Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs" and found it to be exceptionally informative. I manage an angel investment group, and this book conveys exactly the information I would like entrepreneurs to know before approaching our group for investment. The presentation of and explanatory comments regarding a preferred stock term sheet (a staple in our industry) were ecxellent, as were the discussions of determining your capital requirements and preparing for presentations with investors. It's a great balance of technical information with solid, down-to-earth advice on raising money. It should give readers a great advantage prior to launching what for some is the daunting process of raising capital for an early-stage company.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A lot and not, April 19, 2007

By 

lenonline (South Dakota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs: Early-Stage Funding for Long-Term Success (Hardcover)

I purchased this book with great expectations. I wanted more information on structuring deals and term sheets. This book has 375 pages, but glossary and contact information take up almost half. Most of the information in this book is general - I can find most with a simple search on the internet. There are a few great hints and key points that angel investors would look at. It's a hard cover book, but the information that is useful could of been put in a small paperback at a much lower price. Good book for someone who knows nothing about angel investors, but lacks real substance for serious entrepreneurs.