FAQs
WHAT IS AN ANGEL INVESTOR?
An angel investor is an individual who makes direct investments of personal funds into a venture, typically early-stage businesses. This is in contrast to venture capitalists who typically raise and invest third party funds. Because the capital is being invested at an early, risky stage in a business venture, angel investors must be capable of taking a loss of the entire investment; as a result most angel investors are relatively high-net-worth individuals.
WHAT IS AN ANGEL GROUP?
An angel group is a formal or informal assembly of active angel investors who consider co-investing in businesses. Key characteristics of an angel group are: organization and control of the group by one or more member angels (who manage the group's processes and procedures), and collaboration by member angels in the investment process.
WHEN AND WHERE DOES branch venture group MEET?
Meetings are limited to angel members and invited guests only. Branch Venture Group meets once per month virtually.
IS MEMBERSHIP IN branch venture group RESTRICTED?
Yes. Please see the Become A Member section of the above drop-down menu for a description of membership requirements.
WHAT IS branch venture group's POLICY ON GUESTS?
Guests must be sponsored by an existing member and are welcome to attend one meeting given advanced notice to the Partners. Guests’ behavior must conform to Branch Venture Group’s Code of Conduct. Before investing in an opportunity presented at a group meeting, guests must be approved as members and agree to the terms of the Membership Agreement.
MUST I MAKE A MINIMUM INVESTMENT EACH YEAR TO REMAIN A MEMBER?
Members are encouraged to be active investors, but since each investor’s threshold and interests differ, there is no strict investing requirement. In order to keep Branch Venture Group’s membership as active and vibrant as possible, the Partners reserve the right to refuse renewal for members who are neither investing nor making active contributions to the community.
IS THERE A MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY I MAY INVEST?
No. Individual deal terms may impose per-angel minimums or per-angel maximums on a deal-by-deal basis. Typical deal minimums will range from $10,000 -$50,000.
HOW ARE INVESTMENT DECISIONS MADE?
Branch Venture Group members will pool their expertise, experience, and observations and work together on due diligence to review deals of interest, but in the end, each member will make his or her own personal investment decisions.
HOW IS branch venture group FUNDED?
The administration of Branch Venture Group is funded by its members’ dues. Members of Branch Venture Group invest directly on their own behalf.
DOES branch venture group MAKE MONEY OFF MY INVESTMENTS?
No. Branch Venture Group does not charge any management fee, we do not receive carry on your investments, nor does Branch Venture Group receive (nor would it ever consider receiving) any finder or referral fees from the companies in which you invest. You keep all the returns you generate. Branch Venture Group's role is to provide its membership with the best opportunities in which to invest.
HOW WILL PRESENTING COMPANIES BE SELECTED?
A screening committee consisting of the Partners and interested members reviews plan submissions and meets to discuss and select the opportunities likely to be of greatest interest to the group. Any member is welcome to apply to join the screening committee.
HOW SHOULD COMPANIES APPLY FOR FUNDING?
Go to the Entrepreneurs section of this site, review our investment criteria, preferred stages and investment process and then visit our Gust application.
ARE THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL RESTRICTIONS ON WHERE branch venture group WILL INVEST?
Companies must have a US-based entity to be considered for funding by Branch Venture Group. The firm welcomes companies across the US to apply for funding.
HOW IS DUE DILIGENCE CONDUCTED?
Due Diligence is led by the Branch Venture Group co-founding team and partners. Members are welcome to participate in any and all due diligence meetings, calls, and information-gathering activities. For each opportunity that successfully completes the due diligence process, an Investment Memo is generated which is a summary of all diligence findings. This is circulated to all group members to inform individual investment decisions. Diligence reports are not shared outside of the group or with the entrepreneur.
HOW IS branch venture group RUN?
The Co-founding team administers the group and welcomes the input of Branch Venture Group members on how the group is managed. Branch Venture Group works in service of members and consults with members on matters relating to a wide-range of issues and fundamental policy questions.