By: Amy Duncan, Fund Manager - San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC) III

The number of accredited angel investors in the U.S. has held steady at around 300,000 for the last ten years. Based on the definition of an accredited angel of a net worth of $1 million or more, the potential number of angel investors could be up to four million. As angels are typically characterized as making individual investments between $25,000-500,000 in early-stage companies, it’s likely that many who are qualified have a lower risk appetite. 

By: Matt McMahon, Director – SEED (Small business Education and Entrepreneurial Development), National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is proud to be an Angel Capital Association Platinum Partner. NIH supports a dynamic portfolio of 1,500 cutting edge small businesses with over a billion dollars of non-dilutive investment every year. Angel investors can partner with NIH to help NIH-funded small businesses bring their products and services to the healthcare marketplace, where they can improve health and save lives. 

John Guy, Manager, Emerging Companies Section Policy at Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Five years ago today, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act was signed into law. This important piece of legislation included several provisions helpful to start ups like small biotechs, including permanently extending both the R&D Credit and the Small Business Stock Gains Exclusion (Tax Code Section 1202), providing both investors and the companies they invest in security without worry of losing access to the critical incentive in the future. 

By: Elaine Bolle, RTP Capital Associates

Rob Neville is a serial entrepreneur, and his story is a powerful testimonial about the importance of angel funding. 

By: Warren Spiwak, IBTX Partner

ACA Affinity Partner IBTX recognizes the risk that angels and startups face.  Now during these unique and extremely challenging times, these risks are more complex then ever before.  IBTX Partner Warren Spiwak recently sat down with ACA to discuss what angels need to be aware of and what the IBTX team of dedicated risk management professionals can do to create innovative solutions to fit the unique needs of the startup ecosystem. 

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

The SEC announced a series of amendments (likely to be effective early next year) to the rules governing private offering exemptions – by far the most frequent path for venture fundraising.  The amendments retain the same “menu” of exemptions but make incremental improvements. For the early stage community, the amendments include a very useful provision that excludes “Demo Days” from being considered general solicitations provided certain conditions are met. 

By: Russ Krajec, CEO of BlueIron

Due diligence is essential for any business deal, and IP due diligence is shockingly left out of the equation for most angel investors and venture capital investors. 

By: Nicholas McKinley, CEO of Verafī

Verafī, ACA’s new Affinity Partner, has a unique background that generates the knowledge and experience to assist angels in completing the valuable due diligence needed to ensure confidence in personal and investment decisions. 

By: Robert Weber, Managing Partner of Great North Ventures, an Upper Midwest Venture Fund

Angel investors and advisors, have you checked in with your tax advisor lately? If not, may I suggest a good reason to do that would be to discuss Section 1202 of the U.S. Tax Code.

By: Pat Gouhin, Chief Executive Officer

The Angel Capital Association’s continued advocacy toward harmonizing and simplifying the existing framework to improve capital raising pathways and expand investment opportunities has yielded successful results for U.S. investors.