It sounds crazy, right? The #1 most active angel investor. If you told me this would be my title back when I was coding away on my first startup, I would have laughed. I wasn't some trust fund kid or a venture capitalist with a fancy MBA. I was just a guy who liked to build things.
But here we are. In 2024, I made over 200 angel investments, backing some of the most brilliant minds in AI and beyond. We're talking about companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, Scale AI, and Hugging Face. It's been a wild ride, and I want to share how I got here.
From Founder to Angel
My journey wasn't a straight line. I started as a founder, pouring my heart and soul into building companies. I co-founded MovieLaLa, a film marketing platform that was later acquired by Gfycat. Then came RemoteTeam, which we sold to Gusto in 2021. Those exits were validating, but they also gave me something else: the capital and the freedom to start investing in other founders.
I remember my first angel investment. It was a tiny check into a company that a friend was starting. I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I just believed in the founder and their vision. That investment didn't turn into a unicorn, but it taught me a valuable lesson: angel investing is about people, first and foremost.
My Investment Thesis: People, Product, and Passion
Over the years, I've refined my investment thesis. It's not some complex algorithm or a 50-page deck. It boils down to three simple things: people, product, and passion.
- People: I look for founders who are obsessed with solving a problem. They're the ones who will work tirelessly, pivot when necessary, and never give up. I want to see that fire in their eyes.
- Product: The product doesn't have to be perfect, but it needs to be something that people want. I look for products that are solving a real pain point, not just a "nice-to-have."
- Passion: This is the intangible that ties it all together. I want to see founders who are genuinely passionate about what they're building. It's that passion that will carry them through the tough times.
Building Deal Flow
One of the biggest challenges for any angel investor is building deal flow. You can have the best investment thesis in the world, but if you're not seeing the best deals, it doesn't matter. I've been fortunate to build a strong network over the years, which has been a huge source of deal flow for me.
But I don't just rely on my network. I'm constantly reading, attending events, and talking to people. I'm active on Twitter, where I share my thoughts on startups and investing. I also wrote a book, "Becoming Top 1%," which has helped me connect with a wider audience of founders and investors.
Here's the thing: you have to be proactive. You can't just sit back and wait for the deals to come to you. You have to go out and find them. For more on this, you can check out my post on how to build a world-class network.
The Future of Angel Investing
I believe we're in a golden age of angel investing. With the rise of AI and other transformative technologies, there are more opportunities than ever to back the next generation of world-changing companies. It's a thrilling time to be an investor, and I'm excited to see what the future holds.
But I also want to be clear: angel investing is not for the faint of heart. It's a high-risk, high-reward game. You will lose money on some investments. But if you're smart, disciplined, and you believe in the power of innovation, it can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do.
If you're thinking about getting into angel investing, my advice is to start small. Find a founder you believe in and write a small check. See how it feels. And if you want to learn more about my approach, you can read my post on my angel investing framework.
So, that's my story. That's how I became the #1 most active angel investor in 2024. It wasn't about the money or the title. It was about the people, the products, and the passion. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to became the #1 most active angel investor in 2024?
The timeline varies depending on your starting point and resources. For most founders, expect 2-4 weeks for initial setup and 2-3 months to see meaningful results. I've seen teams move faster when they focus on one thing at a time rather than trying to do everything at once.
What tools do I need to get started?
Start with the basics. You don't need expensive software or fancy tools. A spreadsheet, a note-taking app, and direct access to your customers will get you further than any enterprise platform. Add tools only when you hit a specific bottleneck.
Do I need technical skills to became the #1 most active angel investor in 2024?
Not necessarily. While technical understanding helps, the most important skills are clear thinking and the ability to break problems into smaller pieces. Many successful founders I've invested in started with zero technical background and either learned enough to be dangerous or found the right technical partner.