Angel and Entrepreneurs Network Review
If you landed on this page, chances are, you have an interest in being an angel investor, right? You are probably looking to purchase a membership with Angels and Entrepreneurs Network and want to find out more about it. This post will give a legit Angel and Entrepreneur review and break down the services it provides. If you read this entire post, you will be able to make an educated decision if purchasing the membership is right for you.
First and foremost, this Angels and Entrepreneurs Network review is entirely independent. Our blog has not received any form of payment for this post. Whatever you read in this post are conclusions drawn from our experiences and from our independent research.
The internet is filled with similar opportunities. You pay for a membership, and all the tools are given to help you make massive amounts of money.
Sounds good, right? In all honesty, it sounds just like any other scam on the internet. If you watch the pitch videos, they are sitting on a multimillion-dollar yacht, talking about how a $50 investment will turn out to be $1,000 in a couple of years. It sounds and looks like a get rich scheme.
But in this case, the company has the face of two trustworthy, well-known legit people. Neil Patel, prominent in the digital marketing arena, and Robert Herjavec, a famous shark tank investor. I have researched this company every possible way. Not only from my point of view but also from other folk’s perspective.
When you visit the main site (https://angelsandentrepreneurs.com), if you click on the “Join Now” button, it will take you to a different webpage (https://pro.angelsandentrepreneursinfo.com). Driving traffic to a funnel website is a technique that is often used by junk marketers. It is a tactic that I personally despise.
Before we get into what the site has to offer, let’s look into what is an angel investor.
What is an angel investor
According to Investopedia, an angel investor is a person with a high net worth that provides financial backing to startups or entrepreneurs in exchange for equity of the company. Those funds are typically a one-time investment to help start-ups to get off the ground. The idea is to support the brains behind the operation during difficult times in the early stages.
As a general rule, angel investors have gained accredited investors’ status. The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) defines it as an individual with a net worth of $1M in assets or more (not to include personal residence). Or a single person earning an income of more than $200k or more for two consecutive years. For a couple, the requirement changes to earning an income of $300k or more.
If you do not qualify as an accredited investor does not mean you cannot be an angel investor. However, due to the minimum amount required to invest and the time table on the return of investment, these types of investments are not viable to just anyone. Thus, companies seeking angel investors, tend to pitch their business plan to high net worth individuals.
What does it mean for someone wanting to become an angel investor? It means that unless you are willing to part ways with at least $50k, knowing that you might never see that money again, you might never have a chance to be an angel investor.
But through Angels and Entrepreneurs Network, anyone has access to the world’s hottest startups, right? Yes, but before you jump the gun, you have to understand what they are really offering.
Who needs angel investors?
When someone comes up with an idea for a product or service, and they believe they can create a successful business around the idea. Resources and lots of capital are required to bring their plans into life. Most of the time, these individuals do not have the money, and bootstrapping is not feasible. That is when an angel investor comes into play.
For instance, in 2009, Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick came up with a brilliant idea. They wanted to create a phone app that would allow people to use their privately owned car to give rides to strangers and make money. And anyone could call for a private ride by using an app on their phone.
To develop that idea, they needed time and money. Both were willing to give their time if they had the money to pay themselves. While both were able to put some money into the idea, it was not enough to expand into a profitable business. Thus, they pitched the idea to other investors.
The founder or founders will create a business plan and present it to several investors. Angel investors are silent partners — they have no say so on the daily operations of the company.
Depending on the idea, and the potential, some startups require millions of dollars from a wide array of investors.
Companies such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Paypal, to name a few, were only able to reach their current status due to angel investors. The founders of those startups had the idea, and they turned to angel investors for funding. In those cases, by the time the company went public, the angel investors banked well over 100,000% on their initial investment.
Because of situations mentioned above is what makes angel investing is so appealing.
Who is behind Angel and Entrepreneur Network?
Angel and Entrepreneurs Network is a company lead by Neil Patel. According to his website, Patel is a New York Times Bestselling author, a top influencer on the web, and well recognized around the internet as a top entrepreneur.
While Robert Herjavec appears in the promo videos. It seems that he is only a spoke person for the company. Once you sign up and get into the nitty-gritty of the site, the Shark Tank star fades away.
Angels and Entrepreneurs Network First Impression
Seeing the video starring Robert Herjavec, really caught my attention. I love watching Shark Tank. It is probably my favorite show on cable TV. It is a perfect marketing move — having a Shark Tank star as the face for an angel investing company. When you watch the show, you can see that he is not willing to take a super high-risk chance.
I’m sure a lot more people were attracted to the site because of his image. However, it was not till later that I found out he is not really part of it.
Neil Patel is well-known for his ability to rank websites by using search engine optimization. He has worked for and with some big Silicon Valley companies. It’s no surprise that the Angels and Entrepreneurs site is popular. The digital marketing expert claims to be a successful angel investor, and now he wants to give you the same opportunity to invest like a pro.
Aside from the information that Neil Patel and Robert Herjavec are providing in the video, the fact they are in a flashy yacht, it immediately raises some concerns. I have seen many similar videos in yachts, private jets, expensive vehicles, etc. for getting rich schemes. That put me on the edge.
Neil Patel mentions, over and over, how he is determined to change angel investing by offering investment opportunities to the world’s hottest startups and trendiest enterprises. But in my opinion, the video leaves out the ugly truth of being an angel investor.
Startups like Google, Facebook, Pinterest — which is mentioned by Patel over and over — are the exception. In reality, most startups don’t pass the beginning stages. They shut down before taking off.
The truth is, angel investing is one of the riskiest types of investment — especially if the company is in the seeding phase. Additionally, if you watch Shark Tank and listen to Robert’s advice, you will know that it is a very high-risk investment. And a lot of investors are not willing to put their money in such high stakes — even when it comes to the world’s hottest startups.
I am not saying that the companies offered by Angels and Entrepreneurs Network are in the seeding phase. However, they are young companies that are in the high-risk phase.
My first impression that they seem to be offering a lot, with very little risk. At this point I have a few red flags raised.
What services are they offering?
As I mentioned before, anyone can be an angel investor. But when a startup searches for investors, they will naturally gravitate towards high net-worth people. These businesses require a minimum investment, which can vary anywhere from $25,000 and up to millions.
Unless you have deep pockets, you would not be able to partake in such investment. Therefore, for decades, angel investors were part of a small club. And this is where Patel’s offer comes in.
According to the official site, Patel claims to offer a unique opportunity by providing members the chance to invest in the hottest startups of the moment. Anyone can become a part of what was once a small selected club. The minimum required investment is substantially less than traditionally. The site claims that you can start an investment with as little as $50.
Before a company is recommended to a member, Patel claims to do due diligence. According to the site’s algorithm, the approved startups have the potential to deliver 1,000x the amount invested. The digital marketing expert claims that this is a ground floor opportunity in these startups.
Once you purchase a membership, you will receive two deals monthly. The deals vary depending on the level of your membership. If you have the top membership, you will receive better companies to invest. Also, Angels and Entrepreneurs Network provides due diligence documents and access to videos explaining how and why they think the particular startup has the potential to succeed.
Additionally, the site offers various videos ranging from personalized financial advice to step by step on how to become a successful angel investor.
Patel believes that it is reasonable to expect a 20 percent return from angel investing. But the author assures that you can expect 30-40% from the opportunities he is offering.
Another upside of the service is that all of the information is vetted by a team of experts. On the other hand, there has been a lot of complaining about the deal members are receiving. The best deals were only available to the highest membership — where the fees are hefty.
Is this site a scam?
Without a shadow of a doubt, the site is not a scam. What Neil Patel is offering is legit. But, do not expect to be riding a multimillion dollar yacht after investing $50.
However, before purchasing a membership, you must understand what you are buying. While the Angels and Entrepreneurs Network claims to show investors huge profits, keep in mind that it is still angel investing, and returns are not guaranteed.
Another factor to remember, even if you see a high return on your investment, timing is not on your side. Several members complained that the site was misleading. They were under the impression they would receive huge profits within a short period of time.
While a startup can bring huge profits, it takes time — meaning years — to nurture it to reach the point of IPO or selling it altogether. If you are not willing to wait for years before seeing the fruit of your investment, you might have to consider other forms of investing, such as stocks and forex.
Is there a risk involved?
Yes. Like any investment, there is a risk of you never seeing your money again. While Patel claims to have done thorough due diligence, it is no guarantee they will not fail. A Harvard Business School research indicates that 75% of venture-backed companies never return cash to investors.
Angels and Entrepreneurs Network portrait the most beautiful image of an angel investor. While the numbers presented are truthful, it is only an insignificantly small fraction of startups that can deliver that kind of numbers.
Reaping the rewards they are promising means taking huge risks, and it often demands long holding periods for a turnaround or a liquidity event, such as an initial public offer (IPO).
Is the program right for me?
The site offers three types of membership, and the price for all of them is considerably hefty. Each membership offers a set of companies that you can invest in. Keep in mind that unlike stocks, angel investment might take years before you see the results. In fact, most of the time it does not give you any return. You have to be willing to part with the money for several years before seeing the return on your investment.
It is crucial to keep in mind that most start-ups fail in the early stages. Even the ones under the microscope, and passed the most meticulous audits. When investing in stocks, you are in full control of your money. Meaning, you can pull it at any time. Angel investment, on the other hand, you do not have any control over it. It must follow the exit strategy guidelines.
If you are trying to make a short-term investment, you might want to consider forex. Once you understand the mechanics of its marketplace, you are more likely to succeed as a short-term investor.
Conclusion
In summary, while the service itself is legit, the way it is presented leaves a getting rich scam feeling. If you decide to purchase the membership, you will be able to invest and possibly make money. But you have to keep in mind that it is a long term investment with high-risk involved. Once the investment is made, you have zero control over the company or the money invested.
After reading this Angel and Entrepreneurs Network review you should be able to decide if you want to proceed with the membership.
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
Has anyone signed on to Angels and Entrepreneurs actually made any money following Patel’s advice?
Hey Tim,
Thanks for the comment. I’m not sure if anyone has made any money. It is certainly something that I should look into. It would be interesting to know if they made money and how much…