Investment Practices and Outcomes of Informal Venture Investors

This study explores a model of venture investing developed from the literature on formal venture capital research in the setting of angel investing in the USA. The model explores the role of venture stage, due diligence, deal flow, co-investing and post investment participation on the distribution of returns to angel investors. Doing so directly addresses an interesting question regarding the extent to which formal venture capital practices are appropriate and effective in the typical angel investment setting. In the process, results from the first relatively large-scale study of angel investor outcomes in the USA are reported and related to earlier findings for UK angel investors.