After a founder understand this, one must realize that there are angel investors who specialize in an industry while others are “agnostic” meaning they are open to all industries. Do your homework in advance of contacting investors.
What all investors rate highest in evaluating a deal is the strength of the team.
1) Does the management team have the relevant skills to be successful?
2) The team should bring diverse skill sets to the business.
3) After funding, who would be the first hires to help round out the team?
4) If not the management team, are there mentors or an advisory board to help guide the management team.
5) The gold star is a founder or early team member that has been through the business stages from concept to an exit.
6) Many investors like to see some “skin in the game”. Have the founders invested in their own startup?
7) Passion for their concept
8) Are the founders coachable? Will they listen to others and sift through their advice for better ways to build the company?
A great team can carry a good concept to success. A dysfunctional team can kill the best business models.
Back to the ROI…
Is there an exit in the plan? The business can be very successful but without an exit there is generally no ROI. Ideally, investors would like to see an exit (acquisition or an IPO for example) in 5 to 7 years. There are other ways to structure an exit. This could be a form of revenue sharing or a guaranteed founder buy out of the investors.