Angel Insights Blog

By: Pat Gouhin, Chief Executive Officer

After ACA’s multi-pronged, multi-year advocacy for amendment to the “accredited investor” definition, we are pleased to report we’ve met with success. The Securities and Exchange Commission announced yesterday that the definition of an “accredited investor” has preserved the existing income thresholds and has been expanded to provide more access to private equity by allowing investors to qualify based upon new criteria. 

By: Dror Futter, Legal and Business Adviser to Startups, Venture Capital Firms and Technology Companies

My firm, Rimon Law, is a "virtual" law firm with attorneys in 31 locations in 9 countries. The company has been virtual since its foundation about 10 years ago. Pretty much everybody works remotely, but we function as an integrated firm. To the credit of the firm's founders, they have adapted various practices that help avoid some of the pitfalls of remote work. 

By: Pat Gouhin, Chief Executive Officer

One of the fundamentals pillars of the Angel Capital Association is protecting and advocating for the rights of angel investors and the entrepreneurs they support. 

Join ACA on Wednesday, September 9, for a special two-part webinar to join subject matter experts from Assure, Carney Badley Spellman, and GrayRobinson as they discuss the current legislative environment as it relates to pending legislation on beneficial ownership and blue sky fees. 

By: Pat Gouhin, Chief Executive Officer

The Angel Capital Association and the broader angel investor community were represented during the recent committee meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission to discuss vital issues that impact capital funding.  The SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee met virtually on Tuesday, August 4 to discuss how to open the doors to US capital markets so that more Americans could participate as investors and entrepreneurs.  The angel perspective was represented by ACA member and former Chair, Catherine Mott, BlueTree Allied Angels, who sits on the advisory committee. 

By: Chris McCannell, Senior Government Affairs Consultant at GrayRobinson

GrayRobinson has created a side-by-side comparison of what is included in the Senate Republican introduced HEALS Act versus the House passed HEROES Act for easier understanding of what is included in each. 

By: Lance Cottrell, North Bay Angels

Editors Note - The following article shares points from one investor to founders.  ACA wants to know – does your group have similar expectations?  Or, do you have additional advice for founders who pitch to your group? 

I answer more questions and provide more coaching about investor pitches than anything else. Once you decide that you need investment to grow your company, your task as a founder is to convince investors to give it to you. The first step in that process is a pitch, and getting it right is essential to the future of your business. In this blog, I will share with you my five-step process for building a killer pitch. 

By: Samer Yousif, VentureWell

There’s been a reckoning in the early-stage investment ecosystem. 

By: Sarah Dickey, ACA Membership Director

Earlier this week the Clean Energy Venture Group (CEVG) and E8 announced a partnership for national climate tech angel investing with the goal to achieve greater efficiencies and impact.  This significant initiative to mitigate the threat of climate change and commitment to innovation is aiming to fill a void in the climate tech sector.  Jean-Noel Poirier, CEVG partner and Executive Managing Director, sat down with ACA to share even more about this new partnership and how interested angels can get involved: 

By: Dan Rosen, Alliance of Angels

The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused every startup to assess how to survive and plan to thrive in the “new normal.” No one knows what the new normal will look like, but based on other jolts to our economic system, we do know that life after this pandemic will be different than life before – at least for a while.  Just as there is no natural immunity to the Covid-19 virus, there will be no immunity to the economic disruption that results. 

By: Emily Angold, ACA Marketing Manager

The Angel Capital Association was honored to have Martha Miller of the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) participate in ACA 2020 – The Summit of Angel Investing.