Angel investors are investors who lend their own money to business startups. Like when the founders run out of cash from friends and family and savings and credit cards but still don’t have a big enough business to get tons of investment money, angel investors can come to the rescue.
They’re the ones willing to take the personal risk, but also the reward if the deal pans out.
On top of that, though, most angel investors are in it for more than money. Most of them are ex-entrepreneurs who love business and want to pass on what they learned along with their capital. They like the excitement of startup culture.
Normally, you need tens of thousands of dollars worth of cash to get into the angel game, not to mention the background experience that usually goes with it. But here’s an easier way to break into it, sort of.
I’m talking about Kiva.
Kiva is a non-profit organization that connects rich people, which is pretty much everyone in the U. S., with not so rich entrepreneurs in developing countries. For as little as 25 bucks, you can get into it. You can help build businesses on the other side of the world.
Angels typically want at least 10x returns within five years. You won’t get that on your money with Kiva. But there’s more to count than money. There are other ways to get 10x returns that aren’t so easy to count.
So check it out. I’ve even added it to my Do list.
