In addition to these formal governance methods, it is widely acknowledged that coaching/mentoring is equally, if not more, important (e.g., Starcevich). While these differ in many important respects, most Angels find these informal mechanisms to be personally, as well as financially, rewarding.
Mentor vs Coach
Mentor
Coach
Focus
Individual
Performance
Role
Facilitator With No Agenda
Specific Agenda
Relationship
Self-Selecting
Comes With the Job
Source of Influence
Perceived Value
Position
Personal Returns
Affirmation/Learning
Teamwork/Performance
Arena
Life
Task-Related
Source: Starcevich , Coach, Mentor: Is There a Difference?
Most founders have less experience than most Angels. So it makes a lot of sense to have at least one of the investing Angels take on the role of a coach or mentor to help guide the founders as they encounter issues that are new to them. Both ARI and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE) provide formal mentorship training programs.
5.2 Metrics As a minimum, boards are required to track key internal financial information and ensure compliance with the law. This information includes cash in the bank and up-to-date expenses to track the current “burn rate.” The burn rate is the rate at which an investor’s money is being used up, normally expressed in dollars per month. When combined with how much cash the company has remaining, you get “months to fumes.” So, a company burning at $10,000/month will be five months to fumes if there is $50,000 remaining in the bank account. According to Ross Finlay, of First Angel Network in Nova Scotia, “We put the quarterly reporting requirements, access rights and the required reporting format directly into the term sheet.” In addition, boards must have metrics in place to assess the CEO’s performance and the company’s overall performance. That normally means a mutual understanding, and a plan to achieve certain milestones, in order to hit the valuation target required to raise the next round of money. As discussed in section 3.3, many different analysis lenses provide insight into a company’s performance, and each lens favours different metrics. Trying to continuously acquire, monitor and report on all metrics is too time-consuming and distracting. The key is to select a small number of key metrics that everyone can focus on and readily understand. This will drive shareholder value and get the company to its next major event.
84 A Practical Guide to Angel Investing
Powered by FlippingBook