Angel Investment Network Blog

Angel investors are the lifeblood of the early-stage startup ecosystem, providing crucial capital and invaluable experience for early stage businesses. For those involved in startups, understanding the angel investors playbook can be invaluable. As part of our ongoing commitment to the startup community, we regularly interview leading investors across our network to gauge the state of the current fundraising landscape. These experts evaluate countless pitches and have extensive collective experience in nurturing emerging companies. read more

Robin Leigh is a highly experienced private investor and deal structurer, with extensive knowledge of investing in the UK and Asia. In the second part of our interview, Robin tells AIN about his strategies for navigating evolving markets and the benefits an experienced investor can bring a startup as a ‘thought partner’. He also highlights the importance of understanding regional differences for startups raising funds in different territories.

As market trends and economic situations evolve, what approaches are you employing to mitigate risks while identifying promising startups?

My angel investment decisions generally start from hearing a great idea, then trying to understand for myself whether I think the sector, opportunity and so on all offer the potential the founder believes.  Each time I go through this process I’m therefore considering the relevant market trends and economic situation as they affect the risks of the investment.  Overall, though, I stay very close to geopolitical and macroeconomic events as I manage a much broader portfolio of both liquid and illiquid investments across multiple geographies so I try to remain aware of the risks and to balance my overall portfolio by adjusting holdings. read more

Robin Leigh is a highly experienced private angel investor and deal structurer, with extensive knowledge of investing in the UK and Asia. In the first of our two part interview, Robin details his shift from corporate finance to early-stage business support and the importance of trust and transparency in investor-founder relationships. He also reveals his key criteria for backing startups, why ‘under promising’ and ‘over delivering’ is key.

Why did you become an angel investor?

With my background as a qualified City lawyer, corporate finance adviser and McKinsey consultant I realised I had a wide range of skills, useful to small businesses but which they can’t typically afford. So as well as investing I enjoy taking an active role in business-building where I can lend those skills to the startups. read more

In a recent webinar hosted by Angel Investment Network, fundraising expert Alex Arnott shared invaluable insights on how startups can buck the trend of failure that will afflict the majority of startups. To avoid the fate of 75% of startups requires a lazer-like focus on the crucial role of founders and the senior leadership team. In the latest in our Investment ready series we break down the insights and reveal the top startup success strategies for founders.

The startup world is certainly not for the fainthearted. While many founders are driven by passion and innovative ideas, the statistics reveal a harsh reality: the vast majority of startups fail to achieve lasting success. This isn’t always due to a lack of talent or promising products. Often, the pitfalls lie in the execution, the management, and the strategic decisions made along the way. read more

Kelly Clifford is an experienced CFO turned angel investor, who reveals the crucial financial insights startups often overlook. He discusses the incredible potential of ‘Tech for Good’, why transparency is key to successful  startup-investor relationships and the single most impactful action founders can take to improve their financial health

Why did you become an angel investor? 

Most entrepreneurs are exceptional at building products and solving problems, but they often struggle with the financial side—whether it’s unit economics, pricing strategy, or  financial forecasting. As an experienced CFO, I bring a unique combination of financial numeracy, empathy, and entrepreneurial experience to help them navigate these challenges.  read more

The UK has the potential to become a global tech powerhouse, but are we truly maximising our opportunities? A recent event that AIN attended, “UK 2.0 Building a Pro-Tech Britain,” hosted by Digital Frontier brought together industry leaders and policymakers to discuss the challenges and, more importantly, the immense potential of the UK tech scene. 

The consensus was clear: the UK has the ingredients to support startups as they grow, but it need to address some critical issues to truly flourish. Joe Hill from public services think tank Reform set the stage, acknowledging that while the UK faces “huge problems,” they are “fixable.” He emphasised the UK’s unique appeal and the fact it was ‘underpriced’.

He made the point that “Few countries have such an appeal…people want to be here.” This inherent attractiveness, coupled with our existing strengths, forms a solid foundation upon which to build. The challenge lay in the institutional factors hampering growth. read more

Colin Boey is a global investor and syndicate leader, renowned for his strategic insights and successful ventures in the B2B SaaS sector. With a keen eye for innovation and growth, Colin’s discusses the importance of founder-investor alignment and common fundraising misconceptions. He has also shares his views on the ongoing benefits of SEIS/EIS for the UK’s startup landscape and why he’s not chasing AI ‘for the sake of it’.

Why did you become an angel investor?

I’ve always been fascinated by tech. Before becoming an angel investor, I focused on investing in publicly listed tech companies. During my time as an investment banker, I advised on fundraises for high-growth private companies, which introduced me to the world of early-stage venture and angel investing. It felt like a light bulb moment. read more

The new year is a great chance to reset your fundraising plans and develop positive new habits. In today’s economy, raising funds requires more preparation and strategic thinking than ever. So, what resolutions should you make?

Our latest article as part of our ‘investment ready’ series provides essential “dos and don’ts” for startups seeking funding, drawing on expert insights from our brokerage team and angel investors across our network. Let’s make 2025 the year of the angel. read more

In our latest Meet The Investor interview, we are delighted to hear from Joanna Jensen, chair of the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA), and founder of Childs Farm. She discusses her motivations for backing challenger brands to the key foundations of investor-founder relationships. She also looks at current market trends, the importance of social responsibility, and what the UK Government needs to now do to better support the UK’s startup ecosystem.

Why did you become an angel investor?

Because I have an absolute belief that Challenger Brands deliver consumers and businesses what they need, as opposed to what big businesses think they need. The journey an SME takes is full of twists and turns – some fabulous, some horrific – and I understand this better than many. To be able to be a sounding board to other founders, helping them on their journey to success is a real honour. And it gives me the ability to go on their journey with them in a very small way – and without any stress!  Owning M&S shares is a little dull in comparison. read more

In our second Meet The Investor interview, we speak to Hailey Eustace, founder of Commplicated and now a passionate DeepTech angel investor. Driven by her desire to work with companies and founders she truly believes in, Hailey shares her journey from entrepreneur to investor, the unique opportunities in deeptech and the qualities she values most in founders.

Why did you become an angel investor? 

I worked as a deeptech VC over ten years ago in the US and really enjoyed it and since then I have worked in deeptech, including at a neurotech startup in Cambridge for five years helping it to grow from preseed to series A+.  read more

Today, we launch a new content series to help startups become #investmentready for 2025. In the first of our Meet The Investor interviews we speak to Phil McSweeney, angel investor and author of AngelThink. He shares how a chance encounter led to his successful career as an angel investor. Additionally, he discusses the key factors that drive investment decisions, the common pitfalls founders face, and the strategies for building strong relationships between investors and startups.

Why did you become an angel investor?

OK – here’s the truth –  I became an angel investor by accident. I had been made redundant, had time on my hands whilst wondering what to do next and went along to an angel group meeting as a guest. I got hooked on the storytelling.  read more