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Angels in the architecture

PUBLISHED : 02 Sep 2010 13:45:13 | Kath Walters

Overworked entrepreneurs might wonder why it matters if angels get organised – will all those meetings and conference really result in money flowing to start-up companies? The answer is yes. Angel investors stake their own money. They need to feel confident, and talking with other angel investors builds confidence. They learn from each other about how to help the entrepreneurs they back. And the more they meet, the more opportunities to get your company in front of them.

There are now eight angel groups across Australia (see the list below), a national peak body to advocate for angels – the Australian Association of Angel Investors – a new matchmaking service – Wholesale Investor – as well as established services such as Business Angels, founded by Christine Kaine 15 years ago, and a survivor when many others have failed.

For Sydneysiders, Wholesale Investor is holding an expo at the Hilton on September 13 with some good speakers, including Simon Baker, former CEO of RealEstate.com.au, and serial entrepreneur Tom McKaskill. They are promising exposure to 300 investors, which might make it worth a trip to Tinsel Town for those outside NSW.

In February 2011, the AAAI is holding its annual conference. All are welcome, so this is a chance to get to meet some and to hear what is interesting and important to angel investors.

Melbourne Angels, BioAngels, and Sydney Angels are the most organised angel groups, with regular meetings scheduled well ahead. Sydney Angels is raising a sidecar fund (which I wrote about last time), which will give them extra funding power, and is good news for entrepreneur.

Don’t overlook the Hunter Angels. They have a good board, an excellent website. Founders Forums (in both the Hunter and in Brisbane) offer the chance to get in front of angels at regular pitch fests.

New Zealand groups might consider an Aussie investment. There’s a New Zealand Angels summit in November.

Angels worldwide are organising, too. There is the World Business Angels Association (no news yet on its conference for 2011), and The National Angel Capital Organisation (with a conference in Montreal in October).