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5 ways top angel investors improve their deal flow

5 ways top angel investors improve their deal flow

Sep 11, 2014 | , ,

For a startup investor, getting good deal flow is paramount for success. Even if your investment process is solid, your risk management is sound, and your luck is (really, really) good, without good deal flow, well, you’re not going to end up a very successful investor. Why? Your investment results will depend on the quality of the opportunities you have — the better the opportunities, the better the expected results. In fact, one could argue that the art and science of early-stage investing lies solely in a person’s ability to develop their own sources of deal flow. Mark Suster writes about why he doesn’t like meeting with bankers who are pushing deals: The process of raising capital IS part of running a business. It’s where you get to test your ideas in the marketplace of people who see many similar ideas. It’s where you meet people who have broad networks and even if they don’t invest in you may prove very helpful in your future. It’s part of a process where you learn which investors YOU like so you can decide with whom...

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23 entrepreneurs turned investors who are banking huge profits

23 entrepreneurs turned investors who are banking huge profits

Sep 9, 2014 | , ,

Just because you’re a great entrepreneur doesn’t mean you’ll make a great investor. While there’s overlap, the skillset that makes an individual a powerhouse when it comes to building a company (and exiting it) isn’t the same as what makes a profitable investor. Gallup research shows certain behavioral traits are shared among top entrepreneurs. Out of 2,500 entrepreneurs studied, top performers tend to spend a lot of time aligning employee responsibilities with corporate goals. That makes for great entrepreneurs but that same behavior doesn’t necessarily manifest itself in top investors. Investors need to be able to identify that trait in the entrepreneurs they fund. It’s common in the startup space for entrepreneurs to try their hands at investing in startups once they cash out, only to find that the same skills that made them rich won’t necessarily make them successful investors. But, there are a few entrepreneurs turned investors that have parlayed their business-building skills into become successful angel investors and venture capitals. Thankfully for us, many of these entrepreneurs-turned-investors write extensively about their experience. Here’s a list of 23 entrepreneurs who...

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5 Mistakes Rookie Angel Investors Make

5 Mistakes Rookie Angel Investors Make

Aug 28, 2014 | , , ,

Startups are exciting again. Reeling from the 2007-2008 financial crisis, investors seemed to sour on illiquid investments. Too many financially-engineered investments in derivatives and wacky mortgage products made investors feel that the game was fixed. But that’s all changed as America’s economic engine — small technology-driven companies — is revving up. Companies with big visions and ambitious growth goals are getting snapped up, merged and acquired, and IPO’d, making their early investors celebrities… and extremely wealthy. Events like Facebook’s multi-billion dollar IPO in 2012 and its subsequent purchase of Whatsapp for $12 billion in 2014 have attracted new investors seeking their fortunes in angel investing. New investors, new mistakes Many of the same rules of the game apply to angel investing, as they do to investing in the stock market. But given the fact that most startups are private, small, and closely-held companies, investors new to the asset class are finding that there is a learning curve to scale before they’re able to reap the historical returns which average close to 30% per year, according to a Kauffman study. While we have...

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What we’re investing in: Current investment opportunities on OurCrowd (August 2014)

What we’re investing in: Current investment opportunities on OurCrowd (August 2014)

Aug 28, 2014 | , , ,

Welcome to another edition of “What We’re Investing In.” Each month, we bring you a short summary of all of our currently funding companies to give you a glimpse into all of the activity and excitement happening on OurCrowd’s platform. While most of the world was busy with summer vacation, OurCrowd — together with our network of over  5,000 investors — continues to invest in some of the top startup companies in the world today. Stay up to date and access all of the latest investment opportunities on OurCrowd’s platform by registering here to become a member of the OurCrowd community. Milla Milla is a software platform that connects Internet enabled smart systems. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a current technological revolution, aiming to connect systems and devices to the Internet, increasing functionality and automation. According to a recent study at IDC, there are already over 10 billion systems that have already been connected to the Internet and that number is set to skyrocket in years to come. Milla’s platform allows users to build what they refer to...

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What we’re investing in: Current investment opportunities on OurCrowd (July 2014)

What we’re investing in: Current investment opportunities on OurCrowd (July 2014)

Jul 15, 2014 | ,

The stage is set for what should be a record-breaking month here at OurCrowd. As the world drifts into summer vacation, we’re ramping up our activities to bring our community of investors some of the top investment opportunities in the startup scene today. In the past three weeks, we have launched 5 new investments — which means, 5 new companies on our online platform. Join in on the excitement and stay current with all of the upcoming investment opportunities by visiting our homepage and joining the OurCrowd community. BT9: Internet of things for supply chain management The global food and produce shipping industry uses what is known as a “cold chain” system to keep their products fresh through delivery. A major problem in this system is detecting malfunctions or sudden changes in humidity or climate, which can completely destroy the products being shipped. BT9 has created an integrated data collection and communication platform that accurately monitors the temperature and condition of individual shipping crates and pallets in real time. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN,...

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