Stage 1 (pre-seed and seed)
Qualify angels before pitching them
A founder at S1 seeking a first angel check must decide which prospects to spend time on because most people who call themselves angels are not actively investing.
Options
Pitch anyone with wealth and interest
Filter by active investing, last check date, and size
Go to customers first and use letters of intent
What mattered
- Wealth source predicts investor behavior and speed
- Founder-background angels move on conviction; corporate angels move as committees
- A letter of intent with teeth changes the investor question
What was done
Founders in the sessions asked three filter questions to cut noise and brought hypothetical purchase orders from customers to shift the discussion to hitting numbers.
ClaimAsk every angel prospect if they are actively investing, when the last check was, and how much.
FAQ
- Which stage does this apply to?
- Stage 1 (pre-seed and seed).
- Where does this come from?
- Synthesized from FounderNexus founder sessions, with speakers abstracted.
FounderNexus convenes stage-matched founder groups around decisions like this one.