Archive: Angel Insider

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The late stage secondary market is the perfect hunting ground for bargains. Take Stripe for example. In 2021, the payment processor raised at around a $95 billion valuation. In 2023, it’s raising at around a $55 billion valuation. And there are many more companies like it that have slashed their valuations dramatically. But why are we seeing these valuation cuts? Is it a sign that companies are in trouble? Overvalued? Or is it something else entirely?…
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Angel Insider: A Love Letter to the Late Stage Secondary Market

By Early Investing on February 14, 2023

It’s Valentine’s Day — a day to buy chocolates and celebrate love. And not just a love of romantic partners or friends or family. It can also be a celebration of love for what you do. There’s certainly a lot to love about investing. In this…
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Angel Insider: Generative AI Without the Hype

By Early Investing on February 7, 2023

If you’ve been perusing the internet lately, you’ve probably come across generative artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI technology can “create” artwork, blogs, and other content by drawing from data it ingests from interactions with real users. From viral “magic avatars” on…
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According to PitchBook, 2023 is expected to be a record year for the private equity secondary market. Secondary transactions — where investors buy and sell existing shares in private companies or funds — reached new highs in 2022 and hit $57 billion in…
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Angel Insider: The Dangers of Disrupting the Auto Industry

By Early Investing on January 10, 2023

It’s a tough gig for electric automakers right now. Electric vehicle maker Rivian originally forecast it would produce 50,000 cars in 2022. Then it cut that production target in half to 25,000. And it still missed the target. Rivian produced 24,337 vehicles last year and…
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Angel Insider: The Wisdom (and Worries) of Pivoting

By Early Investing on January 3, 2023

Pivoting — changing the core product, service, or fundamental direction of a business — is nothing new in the startup world. Startup founders pivot their companies all the time. Sometimes the pivot is straightforward, like switching from direct sales to a subscription-based revenue model. Other pivots can move…
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Different Ways to Give Back to Your Startup Investments

By Early Investing on December 13, 2022

It takes a lot for a startup to succeed. At minimum, it needs a good idea, a stellar team to bring that idea to life and money to make it all happen. Most startup founders need help with all of this. Investors provide money, of course.
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Angel Insider: Why Investors Can’t Miss CES

By Early Investing on December 6, 2022

CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) is the biggest tech event in the world. More than 2,000 exhibitors and more than 150 countries, territories and regions will be represented at it in 2023. It will cover every aspect of the tech sector: 3D printing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, fintech, wearables,…
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Angel Insider: Investing Lessons From the FTX Disaster

By Early Investing on November 29, 2022

The FTX disaster is still getting top billing in the financial press these days. The crypto exchange — which was backed by major venture capital (VC) investors — collapsed after news broke that founder Sam Bankman-Fried had been secretly moving customer money to his trading firm and blowing…
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Angel Insider: Investing Beyond Silicon Valley

By Early Investing on November 15, 2022

Silicon Valley is the most well-known startup hub in the world. But it’s far from the only home of innovation. There are hardworking and talented founders all around the world. And it’s in investors’ best interests to not ignore founders outside of the Bay Area. So…
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Angel Insider: A New Way for Startups to Exit

By Early Investing on November 1, 2022

Two of the most common ways startups exit is via initial public offering (IPO) or acquisition.  But what about an “exit to community”? That’s what a growing number of founders are pushing for. It’s a new way…
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Angel Insider: Africa’s Red-Hot Startup Scene

By Early Investing on October 18, 2022

African startups are on fire right now. According to the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, venture capital deals on the continent reached $3.5 billion from January through June this year. That’s more than double the amount in the same period in 2021. If the…
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Angel Insider: How to Invest in Web3

By Early Investing on October 4, 2022

Web3 is the vision for a new version of the internet that’s built on decentralization, blockchain technology and token-based economics. A key part of Web3 will be the metaverse — a virtual world that often incorporates elements of virtual or augmented reality. And people will own their data. …
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Angel Insider: Invest in What You Know… or Not

By Early Investing on September 20, 2022

“Invest in what you know.” It’s a simple concept. It seems safe. And hey, Warren Buffett stands by it. So it must be good advice, right? But there are no guarantees in investing — even when you stick to products and business models that…
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Angel Insider: SoftBank Warns Investors About Startup Winter

By Early Investing on August 23, 2022

SoftBank is worried. Earlier this month, SoftBank founder and chief executive Masayoshi Son said unicorn founders are refusing to accept lower valuations in fresh funding rounds. As a result, “startup winter” — or the funding crunch startups are currently facing in…
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Angel Insider: Why Bridge Rounds Are All the Rage

By Early Investing on August 9, 2022

Bridge rounds or flat rounds — interim funding rounds between larger funding rounds — are all the rage among startups today. You don’t have to try too hard to find headlines about them. Founders may choose to do bridge…