Question 1

What are the membership requirements for Boulder Angels?

Accepted Answer

Boulder Angels investor members are required to be affiliated with CU Boulder and to be accredited investors. Most members are alumni, but faculty, staff, students, parents, and donors are also eligible for membership. Graduates from any of CU Boulder undergraduate or graduate programs are eligible for membership. To be an accredited investor an individual must have over $200,000 in annual earned income (or $300,000 together with a spouse) or have a net worth of over $1 million (excluding the value of their primary residence). For more information on accredited investor requirements, please see the SEC’s accredited investor bulletin.

Question 2

What types of companies will the network invest in?

Accepted Answer

Our network invests in CU Boulder-affiliated and Colorado-based high growth startups. Companies must meet the following criteria to be considered for investment:

1: Have a founder, executive, or board member who is a CU Boulder alumnus, faculty, staff, or student.

or

The company is headquartered in Colorado

2: Raising pre-seed or seed equity capital of at least $250,000

3: Located in the United States.

The network facilitates investments from its members into companies that have the potential for high growth and significant financial returns. When screening opportunities for presentation to investor members, our team looks for the following attributes:

- A large market opportunity;
   - A unique value proposition;
   - Proprietary technology, intellectual property, or other basis for sustained competitive advantages;
   - A dedicated management team;
   - A corporate structure that allows for equity investment at defined terms and conditions (C corp);
   - A strategy and plan that has the potential to produce venture grade returns.

The network's operating team actively seeks input and feedback on members’ areas of interest and focuses its efforts on areas in which members have particular preferences.

Question 3

Are members committing to a fund?

Accepted Answer

No. Boulder Angels is not a fund and investments made by members are at their own discretion and are made directly into a given company. There is also no minimum investment requirement, unless otherwise dictated by the presenting company.

Question 4

Are there minimum annual investment amounts or annual membership dues?

Accepted Answer

There are no minimum annual investment amounts for members. Members are expected to be active in the network and, where a member has relevant experience, to be available for advice, guidance, and opinions to support investment decisions and to help portfolio companies grow.

Investor members are required to pay $1,500 in annual membership dues if based in Colorado, and $1,000 if based outside of Colorado. For institutional members, dues are $2,500 per year.

Dues fund the operations of the network, which includes both services and resources. Boulder Angels is a manager-led angel network with an operating team of professionals that devote all of their professional time to delivering services to members, as well as the following resources:

- Pitch events and regular networking events for members around the country and on/near campus.

- Diligence reports for investment opportunities.

- Educational resources for entrepreneurs and investors through the ACA and other organizations.

Question 5

Are there any management or investment fees?

Accepted Answer

Boulder Angels takes management fees and carry on SPVs formed for the group's investments.

We generally do not take success fees or finders fees on direct investments (one member to one company) we help to facilitate.

Question 6

What services are provided by the Boulder Angels team to members?

Accepted Answer

Deal Sourcing

- Actively seeking out investment opportunities that fit with member preferences.

- Developing early access to investment opportunities through various departments and individual stakeholders on and off campus

Preliminary Diligence

- Deal summaries are assembled for each presenting company for the convenience of members (not to be taken as investment advice).

Pitch Coordination

- The team coordinates quarterly pitch sessions and develops relationships with company founders.

Question 7

How does the network source and screen potential investment opportunities?

Accepted Answer

The network actively sources investment opportunities from existing members, our team, advisory board, the CU Boulder community, direct applications via our website, and other relationships within Colorado and surrounding regions.

The Boulder Angels team screens investment opportunities based on the preferences of angel members and readiness for venture investment before presenting opportunities to members.

Question 8

What resources does the network provide to members considering a particular investment?

Accepted Answer

Boulder Angels provides active guidance and support throughout the investment process, including:

- Sourcing deal opportunities to supplement deal referrals from members

- Screening initial company applications

- Creating deal summaries for members prior to pitch sessions

- Managing information dissemination between the companies and members prior to pitch sessions

- Providing resources to members in the diligence process

- Providing resources to members in the term negotiation process

- Boulder Angels does not provide investment recommendations

All investment decisions are made by individual members and all investments are made directly from members to companies. The team operates a platform and process that enables informed decision making in a timely manner.

Question 9

What are the responsibilities of investor members?

Accepted Answer

Boulder Angels investor members are expected to be active in the network. This includes actively sourcing investment opportunities for the group, collaborating and contributing to diligence processes and investment decisions, participating in the investment process on a regular basis, and providing support and guidance for portfolio companies based on experience and expertise.

Question 10

What support does the network provide following an investment?

Accepted Answer

The Boulder Angels team is active in monitoring and supporting portfolio companies wherever possible. Such support can take many forms, including advice on business strategy and tactics from mentors, introductions to potential customers, assistance with recruiting, or assistance in future financing rounds or exits.

The network also has a close relationship with CU Boulder's large network of startup  mentors who can be connected upon request.

Question 11

Can I see a list of members in Boulder Angels?

Accepted Answer

No. The network respects the privacy of members and will not publish or otherwise share a membership list. As companies enter the pitch process with the network, interested members will be introduced to the company. Any other information can then be shared directly by members with companies.

About

Our Team & Advisory Board

Frequently asked questions