Angel investors make decisions to invest under conditions of extreme uncertainty. Angel investors face cases in which uncertainty is so extreme that it qualifies as unknowable: they decide on investments in ideas for markets that often do not yet exist, and they propose new products and services without knowing whether they will work. For experienced Angel investors rather than being undesirable, unknowable risks are deliberately sought, on the basis that it is by investing in companies with unknowable risks that they can find the most attractive, most profitable investments.
Experienced Angels do not seek to maximize each decision but instead seek potentially extraordinarily profitable opportunities and accept a high failure rate. They rely on building a large portfolio to spread risk and accept that the overall failure rate, by number of investments, may be as high as 70%, even in the most developed capital markets[1], with 85% of all returns coming from just 10% of investments made. They are willing to accept that most of their investments will be total losses.
A key role for “training” therefore needs to be providing nascent Angels with an understanding of the characteristics of the Angel market, tactics to deal with the high risk, and thus confidence to join with others in making their first investments.
Experienced Angel educators suggest that individuals new to Angel investing tend to seek out training on subjects such as valuation, looking for the “correct” valuation method or formula, reflecting a desire to reduce uncertainty (and perceived risk). In practical terms valuation training will likely highlight that there is no “right” answer, instead presenting a number of different methodologies, and suggesting that several should be used in each case and the results compared, but that local comparatives are likely to be the most significant influencer. Many of those new to investment struggle with this lack of a definitive answer but gain confidence when they see that all Angels face the same issues.
[1] 2016 Angel Returns Study, Angel Resource Institute, 2016.