Today we’re talking about getting your business ready for investment with Angel funding. It can be a great way to access funds, expertise and a well established network. But first….

Today’s highlights:

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“Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.”

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You’re Not Looking For A Saviour.

Just someone who’ll believe in your slightly chaotic, wildly ambitious idea enough to part with some cash. Preferably someone with good instincts, a healthy tax bill, and a flexible calendar.

Welcome to the world of angel investment: where charisma matters more than cap tables, and relationships often beat revenue.

The Market

The UK angel investment market tipped over £1.6 billion last year—roughly a fifth the size of VC investment, but often the first cheque in.

Angels typically invest between £10k and £50k a pop, often pooling together for rounds of £50k to £500k.

First rounds usually land somewhere between £100k and £1.5m, though it’s not unheard of to close smaller ones faster (especially if you’re charming and prepared).

But angels aren’t just handing out cash for fun.

They want an exit in 3–8 years, usually via a trade sale or IPO.

And in return for their money, they’ll expect 10–25% of your equity.

Sometimes more if you haven’t got traction.

Sometimes less if you’re really onto something.

So How Do You Get On Their Radar — And More Importantly, Get A “Yes”?

Here’s what the best early-stage founders show:

• Proof that people want what you’re building (LOIs, waitlists, pilot users, early revenue… anything with teeth).

• Fit between founder and market (credible, obsessed, well-networked).

• Focus about the next 12–18 months (what you’ll do, and why it matters).

• Flair, but not fluff (ambition, not arrogance).

Show Them The Fuel, Not Just The Fire.

Angel investors want to know where their money is going, and what it will unlock. They’re not just funding hope, they’re accelerating progress.

If you’ve already squeezed every ounce out of your current resources and now need capital to unlock the next stage, that’s a good story. It shows you’ve done the work.

Even better? You’ve got something that’s working, and the money isn’t needed to survive, it’s there to pour fuel on the fire. Growth is already happening. Their investment just gets you there faster.

Angel Investors, Despite The Name, Are Not Saints.

But many are exited founders themselves, keen to pay it forward and stay close to the action.

SEIS and EIS is a no brainer: offering up to 50% income tax relief and full capital gains exemptions after three years.

Still, they’re not looking for a quick chat and a term sheet. They’re investing in you. That means showing:

• Energy, purpose, EQ.

• Humility in your pitch.

• Curiosity in the conversation.

And above all—don’t be the founder who’s only in it for the money. Angels can spot that from 30,000 feet.

Last but not least….

Flash back to our chat with Ashley Tate on episode two of the podcast - its the stories you tell not the numbers you crunch.

Next time….

We’ll dive into the process of getting angel funding and the playbook for success.

See you same time next week.

Carl.