ENTREPRENEURS SEEKING ANGELS
The secret to making contact with this network of angels is to first find an angel sponsor (that’s your first challenge!) and then get that angel to work with you towards getting invited to make a presentation at an upcoming meeting. BUT – YOU DO NOT NEED A SPONSOR TO APPLY. WE’LL HELP YOU FIND ONE.There is no “list” of angel sponsors. Entrepreneurs who cannot find sponsors are probably not sufficiently entrepreneurial to be of interest to angels.
First-time entrepreneurs such as students and professors may attend a VANTEC meeting and make a short, “sneak preview”, presentation in an effort to find a sponsor.
See the presentation on Finding Angels in B.C. for additional ideas on finding angels. Don’t worry! There are many of them! If you can’t find one, then you are probably not “investor-ready”.
Making a Presentation
Screening and Selection
Upon receipt of your application, you will be invited to attend a pre-screening session. Our screening committee will make the selections and notify you accordingly.
Company Presentations
Our presentation format allows time for entrepreneurs to network with the angel investors and with each other:
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS highlight the services and programs available to the entrepreneurs and investors in our community. Presentations are 5 minutes with no Q&A.;
PREVIEWS introduce new technologies or companies to investors with a view to find a sponsor or mentor. Previews are 90 seconds, no Q&A;, no slides but will have their website or Gust site up on the screen. No pre-screening is required.
FULL PRESENTATIONS are 15 minutes (5 minutes presentation, 5 minutes Q&A; and 5 minutes post-presentation feedback for the Angel Sponsor). Pre-screening is required and companies must be sponsored (see below for further explanation regarding sponsors).
UPDATES are given by previous presenters on their progress. Updates are 2 minutes, no Q&A; but slides are fine; otherwise their website or Gust site will be up on the screen. No pre-screening is required.
Exhibit tables are provided for the presenters to use during the networking portions of the meeting. Presentations are made in person only.
Meeting Agenda
A typical meeting will look like:
- Pre-presentation networking
- Announcements & Introductions
- Special Presentations, 5 minutes (1 or 2)
- Previews, 90 seconds each
- Full Presentations (up to 4)
- Updates, 2 minutes each
- Post-presentation networking
