Seed Capital From Angel Investors: Elizabeth Marchi, Frontier Angel Fund (Part 1)

By guest author Irina Patterson This is the twenty-eighth interview in our series on financing for entrepreneurs. I am talking to Elizabeth Marchi, fund coordinator at Frontier Angel Fund LLC. It’s a member managed pooled fund – that is, they review deals together and then vote to invest their pooled capital. Their investments range from

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Seed Capital From Angel Investors: Raymond Chan, Tech Coast Angels (Part 6)

By guest author Irina Patterson Irina: What do you think is the most important thing that angel-backed founders can do to increase their chances of success? Ray: The execution. It means you have to work with partners — work with partners like us, work with the team, and execute the plan. They also be able

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Seed Capital From Angel Investors: Raymond Chan, Tech Coast Angels (Part 5)

By guest author Irina Patterson Irina: What do you do when you get incomplete business teams? Ray: We go in there and help. I especially love to work together with the entrepreneurs. We do what they don’t want to do or what they don’t know that they need to do.

Seed Capital From Angel Investors: Raymond Chan, Tech Coast Angels (Part 4)

By guest author Irina Patterson Irina: What is a typical valuation of a company when you are investing? Ray: We don’t touch anything more than $4 million. Irina: Do you think in terms of equity, and how much equity do you usually seek? Ray: In terms of equity, it depends. We don’t have the percentage

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Seed Capital From Angel Investors: Raymond Chan, Tech Coast Angels (Part 3)

By guest author Irina Patterson Irina: Let me ask you, are there any charges to entrepreneurs at any stage as they are going through the process of presenting to TCA? Ray: No, we don’t believe in charging because we see them as our customers; they are our partners. I don’t think its right to charge

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Seed Capital From Angel Investors: Raymond Chan, Tech Coast Angels (Part 2)

By guest author Irina Patterson Irina: What are your current sources of deal flow? Ray: It’s an interesting question. About three months ago we actually redid our website, making it more entrepreneur-friendly, so that people can just apply with a very simple application. On top of that, I designed a new marketing program. In the

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Seed Capital from Angel Investors: Raymond Chan, Tech Coast Angels (Part 1)

By guest author Irina Patterson This is the twenty-sixth interview in our series on financing for entrepreneurs. I am talking to Raymond Chan, a member of Tech Coast Angels. TCA has over 260  members and provides funding and guidance to early-stage, high-growth companies in Southern California. Irina: Hi, Ray. Let’s start with your personal background.

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Seed Capital From Angel Investors: George Zachary, General Partner, Charles River Ventures (Part 3)

By guest author Irina Patterson Irina: Do you think in terms of total available market, like a certain number? George: At the seed stage, we are just thinking of a big picture – will the innovation of this create brand new behaviors, have an impact, or change an industry or market? And that’s qualitative. At

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