Google Angel Investors Spread Wealth, AdvicePublished Mar 12 2010 A recent BusinessWeek article discusses what has become of many Google ex-employees, many who made their fortunes from Google by investing in its beginnings and now are continuing to invest in new fledgling companies. Such investors are often called venture capitalists or "angel" investors. The most active Google angel is certainly Aydin Senikut, Google's 63rd employee who after leaving the company has invested in the start of over 60 new companies. Another Google angel, Chris Sacca, has chosen which start-ups to fund in unconventional ways. Sacca found one such startup, FanBridge, by posting a Twitter message one Friday night asking if there were any company startups working up late. Sacca's biggest hit so far has been his investment in the upstart of Twitter. Part of the entrepreneurship process is to originate an innovative idea, find out who would be interested in it, and then find a way to get it to them. This process also includes gathering the funding to propel your business forward. Google angels like Senkut and Sacca are the type of investors an entrepreneur wants to run into! Not only can angels help fund your new business, but they can even help your startup succeed by offering much needed advice that may save your company from obstacles ahead. For example, one of Sacca’s start-up companies, named FanBridge, creates software that helps musicians manage both marketing and their relationships with fans. When FanBridge considered branching out to authors and comedians, Sacca advised FanBridge to stick with its target market, musicians. With Sacca's help, FanBridge today has over 55 million fans. The example of angel investors like Sacca demonstrates the importance of consulting an experienced venture capitalist who can sense the market and the risks involved when starting a business. To a startup, an angel's money is not the only advantage to their relationship – the angel's expertise may be worth more than the money they invested up front. The success of Google angel startups can also remind entrepreneurs of the importance of originating an innovative idea that is worth substantial funding before attempting to start a company. Following Google's example, Google angels are now successful in investing in new ideas that consumers can really grab on to. |
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