Angel Investor’s Challenge #1: Finding the Next Google
Carl Filbrich | Aug 13, 2008
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. As founder of Sun Microsystems, he had an insider’s perspective on the latest developments in information technology. He also had a network of contacts throughout the IT world.
Andy Bechtolsheim is undoubtedly one of the most successful angel investors in US, but most of beginning angels don’t have his advantages. We don’t have an insider’s knowledge or network of contacts. How can we find the next Google, the next little startup that will go on to rock the world and change people’s lives?
Most people have a limited range of sources for investing ideas. Typically, they rely on tips from friends and business associates. Unfortunately, these tips often lead to dead ends or bad investments. And relying on the business news can be just as unrewarding. By the time a venture opportunity makes it to the news, it’s probably too late to invest in it.
How can you find the most promising companies, and how can you separate the winners from the losers?
What angel investors need is Venture Hype, a network of high-caliber researchers and venture enthusiasts who are passionate about delivering tools and resources to help you get started and make smart investments.
This is the first in a series of 5 articles that will introduce you to angel investing. In the other articles in this series you’ll learn how to overcome the challenges that all angel investors face. Keep reading, and keep looking for opportunities to change the world.
Filed Under: Angel Investing Basics • Picking Winners
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Thanks sybil! Let's all learn together — here as a team.
Thanks sybil! Let's all learn together — here as a team.
I agree with you on that cirereyes!! we have learned a lot here, they were very helpful in the information dissemination to us especially on Investing.
That was inspiring! I guess what i need is people like you here in venture hype that will keep us inform on some tips and facts regarding business opportunities.
Thank you very much for your nice words. We welcome all feedback and suggestions!
One thing I do is to keep in touch with successful consultants in the different sectors of the market, that way I can have a lot of sources of things and information that I might need for an investment. Venture Hype is a good site. I’ve learned a lot of things from this site, thank you very much for sharing all your knowledge in investing.
Finding a person like the angel investor is very important. One has to know on how to differentiate the losers from the winners. This can only be done by gaining experience. But all things cannot be done after gaining experience. So people like them who do not have much knowledge must take help from the experts. But i would like to stress that, one should go by what the expert says. He should do his ground work on experts words and gain wisdom and then start the works.
Thank you tongyun!
It's always nice to be able to be an industry expert and to have a network of friends and business associates when looking for business start-ups to work with. But since not everyone has those types of connections, a site like this is extremely valuable in getting the people together so they can make educated decisions.