Author Archive for Carl Filbrich
Prior to directing a successful consulting firm that advises and counsels state agencies, Carl Filbrich managed share owner services for General Electric and served as editor of special publications for the Fortune Top 15 company.
Big Troubles, Big Opportunities
The current downturn in some of the world’s largest economies has spooked many investors. They wonder if they should just sit on the sidelines and wait for things to turn around. But a number of visionary angel investors see the current troubles as an exceptional opportunity to take a stake in some exciting startups
Angels Finding Strength in Numbers
Once upon a time, the typical angel investment involved one or two individuals putting money into an enterprise started by a friend or family member. That type of investment is still widespread, and still vital to economic development. But one of the most important investment trends in recent years is the growth of groups or [...]
Investing in the Sun and Wind
You don’t have to look far to find what’s powering the hottest trend in angel investing. All you have to do is step outside. With help from angel investors, “green-tech” companies are finding new ways to harness the power of the sun and wind. The race to develop alternative energy sources is driven by two [...]
Angel Investor’s Challenge #5: Now What?
You and a group of other angel investors have placed your trust — and your money — in a startup venture. Now what? What can you and your fellow investors do to help your portfolio company live up to its potential? The previous articles (Challenges #1, #2, #3, #4) in this series focused on choosing [...]
Angel Investor’s Challenge #4: What’s It Really Worth?
Mature companies are like mature race horses. It’s fairly easy to place a value on them based on their winnings. But startup companies are more like foals. You can study their bloodlines and their conformation, but placing a value on them is more an art than a science. The most successful angel investors have mastered [...]
Angel Investor’s Challenge #3: Facts Please
New angels often make crucial decisions based on intuition alone. They follow hunches or invest in a startup company because they have a “gut feeling” it’ll be the next Google. Unfortunately, mere intuition is often a poor guide in making investment decisions, especially decisions about investing in startups. This is not to say you shouldn’t [...]
Angel Investor’s Challenge #2: Due Diligence
Thousands of new businesses are launched every year. A handful goes on to become hugely successful, earning vast profits for their original investors. Many more struggle to survive, barely keeping afloat. And many others, unfortunately, fail completely, losing money for their investors and never living up to their initial promise. This is the second in [...]
Angel Investor’s Challenge #1: Finding the Next Google
In 1998, Andy Bechtolsheim wrote a check for US$100,000 to an insanely ambitious startup company called Google. At the time, Google didn’t even have a checking account. Today, Bechtolsheim’s investment is worth US$1.5 billion. How did Bechtolsheim find this incredible opportunity, and how can you discover the next Google? Well, Bechtolsheim had some serious advantages. [...]
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