What Angel Investing Readiness Really Means

Angel investing isn’t a side hustle. It’s not “spare cash in startups”, and it’s definitely not a way to feel adjacent to the tech scene.

It’s a 7–10 year commitment of capital you can genuinely afford to lose, in an asset class where plenty of investments fail, and the ones that do well often take longer than you think to pay out.

So before you write your first cheque, let’s get honest about whether you’re ready. Not “ready” as in perfect. Not “ready” as in you’ve got it all figured out. Ready as in you’re financially secure enough to take real risk, you’re psychologically prepared for what angel investing actually feels like, and you’re clear-eyed about the timeline and the work involved.

Because the worst thing you can do, for yourself and for the founders you back, is invest before you’re ready.