Every Business Needs an Angel : Getting the Money You Need to Make Your Business Grow

Rating:
Summary: Real Help for PhD's and MD's (with no MBA's)
Review: "Every Business Needs an Angel" will become a treasured resource to scientists and scholars with great credentials and ideas but with little formal business background and training. It is an excellent travel guide for "intellectual property" company entrepreneurs who are represented by top tier lawyers and accountants but who also wish to acquire, on their own and in advance, an overall perspective and broad oriention to the entire fund raising process along with insight into what to expect and direction about how to behave.

May and Simmons provide an entertaining, fascinating-to-follow road map of the complete process of working with investors which will appeal especially to those who are uncomfortable when put into the position of accepting advice and direction from their professional advisors without some overall comprehension of the substance and scope of the territory which will be navigated together. This book is a first rate companion for what may initially appear to be a very bewildering journey.

Rating:
Summary: an easy, accessible style that works
Review: A really good intro to the inner works of angel investing, useful for angels and entrepreneurs alike. Focuses on angel groups (the author makes his living managing some large angel groups). A must read insider account if you're starting an angel group or, alternatively, are an entrepreneur looking for angel money. Don't read it for a definitive textbook on everything you need to know about business plan writing, making a equity deal etc. but invaluable nonetheless.

Rating:
Summary: best of breed
Review: I'm a serial entrepreneur... and lately when I mention that to people, they almost look at me with sympathy. They tell me how difficult it must be for me right now. Well, yes, it is a tough economy out there, but "Every Business Needs an Angel" really gave me a renewed sense of optimism, in myself and the whole process of launching a new venture.

As May and Simmons write, "it takes more than just a good idea and a business plan these days." The real-life stories in their book discuss how successful businesses get started and the benefits of having an "angel" on board. The book goes beyond others, which merely talk about the capital and expanded network that an angel can bring to the table. May and Simmons dig down to uncover the specifics behind organized angel groups, how to find the right type of angel, and how to negotiate investment terms.

I highly recommend this book. Not only for entrepreneurs such as myself, but for anyone who is looking for an introduction to angel investing, or anyone who would just like to read some real-life stories about early-stage companies. We hear a lot about the Cisco's and Intel's or the world, but this book gives the reader an incredible insight into young and emerging ventures. It's very easy to read, and written in such a way that you can skip around to different chapters if you choose to do so.

Rating:
Summary: Entrepeneur? Need to raise money? Get this book now!!!
Review: John May and Cal Simmons are old hats in the Washington DC/Northern VA community. They each have grown businesses and
have helped countless entrepenuers in the DC Metro area. They
run several Angel Investor Groups and a business incubator.
Their book tells the story of many of the folks they have
helped over the years. This is an INSIDERS view of the process
of raising capital to get your business going and making it
successful! If you are planning on starting a business, read
this book now!

Rating:
Summary: Light-hearted view of subject
Review: John May and Cal Simmons spell out the steps, but more importantly give insight into the relationships, that allow businesses to get their initial capitalization. If you have a business in need of capital or a business plan, you should read this book. In the examples, pay attention to the the sub-themes of who introduces new companies to the investor group and who endorses the concept.

Rating:
Summary: Light-hearted view of subject
Review: This is a fun, easy-read on the subject of angel clubs - which are valuable but should not be confused with real individual angel investing. John and Cal's writing style is case-book and easy to read. This is a business book that makes you smile ... a little bit because the stories are fun ... and a little bit because there are a lot of not-so-happy stories that they don't tell you about. But being the perpetual optimist, I like reading about the nice stories.