A: Angel investors are high-net-worth individuals who invest in early-stage companies. Angel investors provide cash to young companies in exchange for equity (typically in the form of preferred stock). Many angel investors are members of angel groups like Women’s Capital Connection and Mid-America Angels in our region. These networks allow the angels to increase their access to investment opportunities and diversify their investment portfolio.
A: Women’s Capital Connection (WCC) is a regional network of accredited angel investors dedicated to identifying and funding the most promising start-up business opportunities in the region.
A: Neither WCC nor its members sign nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements for initial proposals. Also, neither WCC nor its members pay finder’s fees of any kind to any person or entity in any way connected with investments made by its members.
A: Once a proposal is received by WCC, it will be reviewed by a pre-screening team. Based on the team’s review of the opportunity, they may:
Regardless of the outcome, the application and Executive Summary will be posted to the member’s area of the website and will be accessible to all WCC members for review for 90 days. If a member indicates an interest in the opportunity, the entrepreneur will be contacted so that a meeting may be scheduled with the prospective investor.
A: After pre-screening, the application will be submitted to the Screening Committee. At this stage of the process, entrepreneurs will be asked to make a 15-minute presentation about their opportunity to the Screening Committee. This will be followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer period. Following the screening meeting, entrepreneurs will receive an email informing them of the committee’s decision.
Once a deal is approved by the Screening Committee, the entrepreneur will be asked to present again before the full membership of WCC at a member meeting. Two or more members of the Screening Committee will assist the entrepreneur with appropriate information to present at the meeting. If a presentation generates sufficient interest, it will proceed to due diligence.
A: During the due diligence review process, interested investors will analyze the company in great detail. Entrepreneurs will be provided with a list of information they will need to make available for review. Entrepreneurs will also need to make members of their management team available for discussions. Additionally, entrepreneurs will be expected to pay any legal fees associated with the review. These fees will be discussed with the entrepreneur in detail before the due diligence process begins.
A possible outcome of due diligence is that the entrepreneur will be asked to consider a Strategic and Business Plan Review. This might include reshaping the strategic plan, refining the product offering, expanding the management team, focusing the sales effort, etc. The due diligence team will report its findings to WCC members along with a recommendation. If the recommendation is to proceed with an investment in the company, a term sheet will then be negotiated with the entrepreneur.
A: Once WCC members have identified the amounts they wish to invest in an opportunity, a WCC member will negotiate the term sheet with the entrepreneur. WCC members’ terms of investment follow “standard” terms for financing developed over the years by venture capitalists and other sophisticated investors. These terms explain what is contemplated and what is prohibited.
At this point, the entrepreneur is ready for the final stage of Investment and Closing, where each interested member of WCC invests individually in the company and signs the appropriate investment agreement.
A: Following investment, WCC members will be available to assist the entrepreneur in a number of ways. WCC members can help identify and assess management candidates and board members. WCC can help craft the company’s financial strategy in raising follow-on capital, and assist with customer acquisition and alliance building. They can also assist with issues involving organizational structure, sales, marketing, and distribution strategies, and other challenges entrepreneurs face in building a strong company.
In addition to WCC members, both the Women’s Business Center and the Enterprise Center in Johnson County are available to assist entrepreneurs. WBC and ECJC specialize in providing business development and support services to early-stage technology companies.
