A new option if you want to invest in startups

Just a decade ago, if you wanted to invest in a startup you had to know someone. A lawyer, an accountant or a friend of friend would give you a referral to a company looking to raise money, or they’d invite you to invest with them. That’s how you got in the door.
 
You had to have a lot of money to play – often $50,000 or more. And the startups you’d see were from your geographical region. That traditional scenario left a lot of interested angel investors sitting on the sidelines.
 
Today, it’s a lot easier to become an angel investor, due to crowd funding, micro lending and investment sites like MicroVenture Marketplace Inc., which is opening doors to those looking to invest $1,000 to $20,000 or more.
 
The way to win at angel investing, of course, is to invest in the right startups. To get there, you need:
 
1) Good deal flow from which to spot potential winners.
2) The ability to invest in multiple deals so you gain experience.
3) A knack for spotting companies, and more importantly people, who will succeed.