The most popular question I am asked as an angel is what forces in the universe do you look for when you invest? That answer has been steady for years now, a side benefit of being specifically vague.

I call it the Golden triangle of start ups: 1) ideas that solve big problems, 2) killer teams, 3) access to resources. And there is an important inflection point as well: financial-able entrepreneurs who’ve just begun to look for capital, and market -changing ideas that have just begun to gel. Catching entrepreneurs at that moment in time, and bringing in a small group that can add value through operational and leadership experience, can secure reasonable valuations and governance, adequate influence and information rights, and enough quality looks to generate a diversified angel portfolio for SFOs.