Angel Investing (Online)

Gain the critical skills needed to evaluate and invest in early-stage startups

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

TBD

Course Duration

DURATION

6 weeks, online
4-6 hours per week

Course Fee
Course Fee

For Your Team

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Find Your Next Early-Stage Investment Opportunity

Recent years have seen a global rise in the size of seed and angel investment deals. Investors are finding more opportunities to drive innovation, create jobs, and bolster their own wealth-generating portfolios through early-stage investment.

Would you like to go from being a potential investor to a key player in scaling promising startups? You’ll need the ability to find and evaluate opportunities as well as have familiarity with risks and rewards, portfolio management, and networking skills.

Join us for Angel Investing (Online) to learn angel investing methodologies through a blend of academic and practitioner-based training. Your Faculty Director is Angela Lee, the founder of 37 Angels, an investing network that has evaluated over 20,000 startups. Plus, pre-recorded interviews with eminent industry veterans David Beatty and Joanne Wilson will provide an insider’s perspective and bring to life many of the concepts taught in the program by discussing real-world scenarios from the angel investment space.

US$6.3B

Value of seed and angel deals in the second quarter of 2021, approximately US$2.5B higher than the previous year’s same quarter.

Source: Statista

20-25%

Increased likelihood of survival past four years when startups receive angel investment.

Source: Forbes

4x

The increase in angel investing groups in the United States since 2000.

Source: Seraf

Key Takeaways

By the end of the program, you will be able to:

  • Develop a framework to make well-grounded investment decisions, armed with the knowledge of how to assemble a diverse portfolio
  • Identify and value strong early-stage investment targets using proven methodologies
  • Calculate and pressure-test a startup’s investment and market potential
  • Access and leverage players who will advance your investing agenda

Who Should Attend?

High net-worth investors seeking tools to identify and invest in promising startups:


  • Prospective and current angel investors
  • Entrepreneurs looking to become active investors
  • Institutional investors growing their portfolios

Early-stage startup entrepreneurs seeking to understand an investor’s perspective and learn strategies to secure funding:


  • Founders/co-founders
  • CXOs

Program Modules

Module 1:

What is Angel Investing?

Explore how angel investing fits into the startup ecosystem, including identifying players and stakeholders. Explore the risks and rewards and the different stages of startup funding.

Module 2:

Deal Sourcing and Due Diligence

Learn how to shortlist high opportunity startups and determine investment and market potential. Explore due diligence and discuss non-negotiables and red flags with founding teams.

Module 3:

Groundwork for investment

Discuss how the term sheet negotiation process lays the groundwork for investment, including structures, financial terms, and governance terms. Learn to calculate ownership dilution across the life of a startup.

Module 4:

Early-Stage Startup Valuation

Review the methodologies of determining value and investment potential. Learn to assess a startup’s risk and ability to mitigate them, create a valuation scorecard, and calculate startup exit value.

Module 5:

Managing a Portfolio

Understand how to create wealth through a healthy portfolio and discuss refinancing and exit strategies. Identify and develop your own portfolio strategy and calculate the value of your portfolio over time.

Module 6:

Lessons Learned from 20,000 Pitches

Learn through real-world examples from lead faculty, who will share lessons learned from the industry. Discuss the role of negotiation, networking, mentorship, and other soft skills in advancing your investing agenda.

Module 1:

What is Angel Investing?

Explore how angel investing fits into the startup ecosystem, including identifying players and stakeholders. Explore the risks and rewards and the different stages of startup funding.

Module 4:

Early-Stage Startup Valuation

Review the methodologies of determining value and investment potential. Learn to assess a startup’s risk and ability to mitigate them, create a valuation scorecard, and calculate startup exit value.

Module 2:

Deal Sourcing and Due Diligence

Learn how to shortlist high opportunity startups and determine investment and market potential. Explore due diligence and discuss non-negotiables and red flags with founding teams.

Module 5:

Managing a Portfolio

Understand how to create wealth through a healthy portfolio and discuss refinancing and exit strategies. Identify and develop your own portfolio strategy and calculate the value of your portfolio over time.

Module 3:

Groundwork for investment

Discuss how the term sheet negotiation process lays the groundwork for investment, including structures, financial terms, and governance terms. Learn to calculate ownership dilution across the life of a startup.

Module 6:

Lessons Learned from 20,000 Pitches

Learn through real-world examples from lead faculty, who will share lessons learned from the industry. Discuss the role of negotiation, networking, mentorship, and other soft skills in advancing your investing agenda.

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Program Experience

World-Renowned Faculty

Learn from accomplished faculty, and industry experts whose diverse backgrounds encompass a broad range of disciplines

Guest Speakers

Accomplished academics and experts offer unique perspectives and the opportunity to put learning into practice

Peer Interaction

Stimulating discussions with like-minded global peers expand your professional network and build a supportive community

Engaging Assignments and Activities

Hone business acumen and executive skills with try-it activities that help you redefine your potential

Adding Value to Your Experience

Investor Interviews

Your program experience includes extensive insight into current angel investing trends through recorded investor interviews with seasoned experts in the field, including:


  • David Beatty, managing partner and co-founder of Gaingels and active member of Golden Seeds
  • Joanne Wilson, angel investor, blogger, and co-founder of Women’s Entrepreneur Festival at Gotham Gal Ventures

Boost Your Network

Learn how to effectively grow your network and leverage it to advance your investing agenda, and build a value-proposition pitch to use when introducing yourself to potential connections.

Program Faculty

Image of the faculty Angela Lee

Angela Lee

Professor of Professional Practice in Finance, The Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center, Columbia Business School

Angela Lee is an award-winning professor and former Chief Innovation Officer at Columbia Business School, where she teaches venture capital and leadership programs... More info

Guest Interviews

Image of David Beatty

David Beatty

Managing Partner and Co-founder of Gaingels

Entrepreneur and angel investor David Beatty is the managing partner and co-founder of Gaingels, an LGBTQIA+ investment syndicate aimed at fostering social change through their investment portfolios. Originally from Ireland, he is also the co-founder of Digital Irish Angels. Beatty has co-founded three other tech enabled companies with successful exits. He has been an active member of Golden Seeds for over ten years, and is the founder of MAIN, the Mekong angel investor network.

Image of Joanne Wilson

Joanne Wilson

Angel Investor

Joanne Wilson has had many careers. She started out in retail, eventually moving to the wholesale arena. She then transitioned to the media side of the technology world, before once again reinventing herself as an investor. She is currently an active angel investor with a portfolio of over 100 companies, such as Food52, Sweeten, Vengo, Shippabo, Misen, Clutter, and Parachute Home. She has been involved in numerous real estate deals and continues to make investments in that world, including founding Frame Home, which develops residential spaces with an unprecedented level of commitment to sustainable living by utilizing state-of-the-art technologies including solar arrays, passive house design, insulated concrete, and cross-laminated timber. She is also an investor in a few restaurants in the New York area. In addition to these endeavors, Joanne has been involved in various education projects and has served as chairperson at Hot Bread Kitchen, a non-profit committed to increasing access to the culinary industry for women and minority entrepreneurs. She currently sits on the board of The Highline and The Fund for Public Housing in NYC.

Certificate

Example image of certificate of participation that will be awarded upon completion of the program

Certificate

Upon completion of the Angel Investing (Online) program, you will receive a certificate of participation from Columbia Business School Executive Education. This certificate also awards two credits towards the Certificate in Business Excellence, which grants select alumni and tuition benefits. Learn More

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Your digitally verified certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, including all modules of the program (online, in person, or live online, inter-module). All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.

FAQs

  • How do I know if this program is right for me?

    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.


    Are there any prerequisites for this program?

    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.


    Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.


    What is the typical class profile?

    More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.


    What other dates will this program be offered in the future?

    Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.

  • How much time is required each week?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.


    How will my time be spent?

    We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:



    • Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
    • Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
    • Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
    • Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
    • Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
    • Completing your final project, if required

    The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.


    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.


    How do I interact with other program participants?

    Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

  • What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

    Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.


    Do I need to be online to access the program content?

    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

    Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.


    What type of certificate will I receive?

    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.


    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.


    How long will I have access to the learning materials?

    You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

  • Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

    Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.


    What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

    The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

    • Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
    • Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.


    I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

    Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.


    How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

    Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.


    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

    Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.


    How can I obtain a W9 form?

    Please connect with us via email for assistance.


    Who will be collecting the payment for the program?

    Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

  • What is the program refund and deferral policy?

    For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 315 387 4431 (US) / +44 203 838 0836 (UK) / +65 3138 4449(SG)

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