Navigating the 2023 Startup Landscape: Angel Investors and the Money Game

Fellow tech enthusiasts, business hustlers, and startup aficionados – this one is for you. 

Evolving from a post COVID society we can now see which startup heavy hitters had what it took to stay afloat. 

Now more than ever we are examining the money funnel involved in having the great idea of having a great company to amass great wealth.

How does a startup lean on those angel investors to see value in their model and – how do we as a society place emphasis on those worthy of the helping hand?

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‍Touched By an Angel

Now, for those who aren't familiar, angel investors are like the guardian angels of startups, providing much-needed funding, wisdom, and connections. They're betting on your success, hoping for a big return when your startup takes off.

But let's face it, the money funnel in 2023 has a couple of twists and turns. 

On one side, there are startups chasing the work-life balance dream. They're not here to conquer the world; they simply want to build a profitable business without burning out. No midnight oil burning here, just a sensible approach to entrepreneurship.

On the flip side, we've got the relentless, "growth-at-any-cost" startups, fueled by venture capital, hustling 24/7, and occasionally flaunting their yachts.

So the real question in this money funnel isn't about which startups are thriving, but rather, how they're thriving. Are they genuinely innovating and making a positive impact, or are they just cleverly extracting money from every available source and piggy-backing on the clickbait of AI?

So which business will win out for that once in a lifetime visit from an angel? We have a feeling it's not the humble entrepreneur…

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‍Buck the System

While angel investors can be a godsend, they're not the only path to startup success. Startups in 2023 have a variety of funding options to explore. 

You can bootstrap, using your own savings and revenue to grow steadily and when that might not be an option, crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow you to pitch your idea to the masses. 

Venture capital is an option for rapid growth, though it comes with high expectations and a bit of soul selling along the way. 

Traditional financing, such as government grants or bank loans, remains a tried-and-true method. And with the collective push toward sustainability, compatibility and connectivity don't forget about incubators and accelerators, which offer funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities in exchange for equity.

If your prospectus did not land you in startup heaven with your Angel investor landing you in a pile of cash – these options could be for you – although true vision and dedication along with purpose and a great pitch will need to be in your toolbox.

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‍City of Angels

At Big Pixel we are all for tearing down the house and rebuilding if the plan isn't built on solid ground.

Your startup, must solve a problem, be innovative and if it has any hopes of raking in some Angel investors, it must show that it will also bring in some serious dough #billionaire status.

The future we envision isn't our reality yet but it could be if we disrupted the status quo and forced those investors out there to see the value in the journey not the destination. To find a greater value in 3 million than 1 billion.

What could the future hold when the "best" startups are measured not just by their ability to make money, but by the positive impact they have on society and our lives?

In the world of startups and angel investors, let's continue the quest to strike the perfect balance between profit and purpose. 

Grab your entrepreneurial spirit and join the conversation because, in 2023, the startup landscape is anything but predictable, and the possibilities are endless.

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This blog post is inspired by excerpts from Biz/Dev Podcast Episode 106 and is proudly brought to you by Big Pixel, a 100% U.S. based custom design and software development firm located near the city of Raleigh, NC.