Why Apply?
Starting and growing a company demands an initial investment: available in many forms, entrepreneurs navigate very quickly from self-funding (credit cards, lines of credit, savings) to family, friends and associates, and from capital investment and debt financing to venture capital.
While debt is the most common form of external financing, not all companies can be financed by debt alone - an equity base may be required provided by the owners through the re-investment of retained earnings, or through risk capital investments made by outside parties such as angel investors.
Angel investment is often referred to as “compassionate capital” for several reasons, the most importantly because angels are senior business people who are:
- serial entrepreneurs with proven business successes (and even some failures!),
- seasoned experts in sectors they invest in because they’ve had first-hand experience,
- able to provide crucial growth capital between seed and venture capital when risk is highest,
- invaluable management mentor, supporters, industry-specific advisors, and
- owners of a “golden rolodex” of contacts, connections and colleagues.
