Are you a budding entrepreneur with a great business idea? Does your startup idea need a boost of capital to get it off the ground? Angel Investors might just be the heavenly help you have been praying for.
An Angel investor (also known as a seed investor, a business angel, a private investor or an angel funder) is an individual who invests money in your startup, by providing you funding, usually in exchange for business equity.
Angel Investors are different from Venture Capital firms and provide different benefits to Startup Accelerators or Startup Incubators. Not only will the right angel investors in Australia help you with funding your startup, but they can also add immense value in the form of expertise and the professional network they will bring with them.
With such backing, your startup idea – whether it’s in tech (an app idea?), travel & hospitality, education – or even Space! – is almost certain to get the wings it needs to fly.
We at Elegant Media are all about helping startups, which is why we have curated this list of the Top 15 Angel Investors in Australia 2023 For the sake of simplicity, we have divided the list into three categories:
Angel Investors Australia
01. Perth Angels
Perth Angels Key Features
- Founded in 2010 as a Not for Profit
- Part of the Angel Loop Network
- Most active angel investors in Western AustraliaFocus on Western Australian BusinessesCo-founder Greg Riebe awarded Angel of the Year 2020
- Active Linkedin profile
- Regular events for entrepreneurs and investors
- Great range of articles for entrepreneurs looking for investments – Are you investment ready?
Perth Angels bring together a passionate and experienced group of businesspeople who prefer investing in Western Australian businesses that have high growth entrepreneurial potential.
They collaborate with South West Angels and other Angel groups across Australia with a view to expanding their portfolio, which also makes their investments more reliable.
According to their official website, “Perth Angels is the only group in Western Australia with global and national angel investor network affiliation.”
Recognising the success Perth Angels has had in the recent past, Greg Riebe, one of the Co-founders at Perth Angels was awarded Angel of the Year at the Australian Angel Awards 2020.
If you are an entrepreneur based in Western Australia then Perth Angels should be your goto option to pitch for funding.
02. Byron Bay Angels
Byron Bay Angels Key Features
- Established in 2018
- Looking to invest in startups trying to solve problems of consequence
Winner of the Most Active Regional Angel Group in 2020, Byron Bay Angels ‘back the bold’ and believe in the power of business as a force for change, and the key to a better tomorrow.
Byron Bay Angels are willing to support those trying to solve widespread problems that are of consequence. They invest in ‘purposeful’ early-stage startups and have some promising names in their portfolio.
If you are a startup working on solving a genuine problem our world faces and are looking for an investor, you will be wise to direct your pitch to the Byron Bay Angels.
03. Rockhampton Angel Network
Rockhampton Angel Network Key Features
- Founded in 2017 by local Chartered Accountant, Chris Harris
- Most Active Regional Angel Group’ at the Techboard Australian Angel Awards 2021 for having the highest number of confirmed investments for a regional area
- Operates from Rockhampton Regional Council’s SmartHub
“We host a pitch night once a month. If you’re wondering what that’s like – picture Shark Tank but without all the drama. There’s no pressure to invest, and instead of competing with each other we all collaborate to understand the ins and outs of the business, and we all bring a different perspective to the table.” – Chris Harris
04. Brisbane Angels
Brisbane Angels Key Features
- They offer introductions to valuable contacts essential to a startups success
- Brisbane Angels have won the Most Active Angel Group in Australia Award consecutively in 2019, 2020 and 2021
- Member Richard Moore won Most Active Angel Investor at the Australian Angel Awards 2021
- Focus on startups in Brisbane
- Information on the website for entrepreneurs and how to apply for an investment- Link
Brisbane Angels are considered one of the biggest Angel Investors Australia wide.
On the occasion of the Australian Angel Awards 2021, Brisbane Angels Founder and Chairman John Mactaggart said “We might not be the largest Angel group in Australia, but our membership punches above its weight and is very active in the angel investing space and In that regard 20/21 saw us get involved in more deals than ever.”
Brisbane Angels are adept at providing ambitious companies with seed and startup capital through multiple investment channels like direct or private investments. They facilitate introductions to valuable business contacts that may be essential for new startups to achieve success.
The economic factors they look for are high growth potential, strong market position and sustainable advantages. Further, their network of potentially active investors, reliable partners and publicly invested members puts them into the select group of dependable angel investors.
05. Angel List
Angel List Key Features
- A massive list of 1,586 investors
- One of the largest communities of investors and startups in the world
- Active Linkedin Page
Angel List is one of the biggest platforms in the world that facilitates the meeting of entrepreneurs and Angels and vice versa. The website lists a massive 1,586 investors who have set themselves up as angel investors actively interested in making capital infusions into early-stage startups based in Australia.
Many of these 1,586 investors might be interested in your idea, just make sure you approach them with a scalable and viable plan so that they can see a path to earning a profit from their investment. You can start your search for angel investors Australia wide by researching for investors who might be more interested in your startup.
There are literally hundreds of angel investors in Australia who have successfully exited their investments in many diverse sectors. Such angel investors in Australia are quite worth pitching to if they are convinced of the long term advantage of your idea as well as for their invaluable advice.
06. Significant Capital Ventures
Significant Capital Ventures Key Features
- Specialize in identifying, funding and commercializing groundbreaking ideas, inventions, research and applied technologies from leading Australian universities and research labs.
- Active Linkedin account.
- Featured in Financial Review and Canberra Times for funding groundbreaking innovative ideas.
According to their home page, Significant Capital Ventures identifies, funds and commercialises groundbreaking ideas, inventions, research and applied technologies from leading Australian universities and research labs.
While they are more a VC firm than an Angel investor, we had to include them in this list because of their USP of funding colleges and universities and turning innovative research and groundbreaking ideas into commercially viable business opportunities.
So, if you are a student exploring angel investors, chalk out more than a few contingency plans and pursue the right sequence of events that might lead an Angel Investor or someone like Significant Capital Ventures being interested in funding you.
07. Southern Angels
Southern Angels Key Features
- Founded 2018
- One of only South Australia based Angel Investor group
- Noteworthy recent investments in the life-science and technology sector startups
- Active Twitter and Facebook pages with regular updates
Based out of Adelaide, South Australia, Southern Angels is fast becoming one of the leading Angel Investment groups in Australia. While they are passionate about investing in South Australian startups, they actively invest all over Australia.
Southern Angels distinguish themselves by committing time and expertise on top of the money to help a startup reach its true potential. They are always adding to their membership of angel investors and some of their investors recently saw the valuation of a vaccine they had invested in increase by a whopping 700%.
They have had some noteworthy investments in the life-science and technology sector startups. They recently invested $500,000 in ‘CareApp’. An app that allows carers to photograph – with permission – people in care while updating their records, noting anything from physical and mood changes through to whether they are taking medication.
08. Capital Angels
Capital Angels Key features
- Big Focus on Canberra
- Interested in financial, media, life science and biotech, software of all kinds, technical services, IT, transportation services, games, retail, anything internet related, consumer products and technology
- A forum for high net worth individuals
The Capital Angels proactively support Capital region entrepreneurs through both investment and direct activities.
According to Michele Troni of Capital Angels “Capital Angels was founded in 2005 and has established itself as the prime forum for angel investment in the Canberra region. Capital Angels has facilitated investment and mentoring for many local businesses, with some of them becoming extraordinary success stories.”
09. Australian Investment Network
Australian Investment Network Features
- Founded in 2004
- One of the largest Angel Networks with 600,000 entrepreneurs and over 200,000 investors
- Over $400 million raised to drive innovation and entrepreneurship
- Works for both startups and small businesses looking to expand.
- Great Testimonial Page
- Active Facebook and Twitter page with regular updates
The Australian Investment Network provides a platform where angel investors and investment seekers come together, working as a matchmaker of sorts. It has been widely featured in high profile media outlets (BBC, TechCrunch, Forbes, The Guardian to name a few) for its out-of-the-box and effective approach to fundraising.
A unique feature of this platform is that it works for startups as well as independent businesses looking to scale up operations.
The platform features angel investors who want to add to their portfolio and businesses/entrepreneurs looking for funding- so it works to the benefit of all parties involved.
Entrepreneurs can select investors with expertise in their particular field of business (the ‘Areas of expertise’ are self-declared by the investors) to access funding as well as valuable guidance.
10. Birchal by Pozible (Crowd angel funding)
- Founded in 2018
- One of the first ASIC approved licensed platforms in Australia
- Mixes elements of angel investing and crowdfunding, allowing everyone to become an angel investor
- Launched over 15,656+ projects with a 56% success rate
- Has helped over 45 Australian businesses raise over $100 millionm
- Great Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin pages, with regular updates
- Birchal backers receive shares in the companies they invested in
Pozible is a crowdfunding platform which has achieved success in connecting artists and small communities (like small publishers, ecological movements and musicians) in Australia with people who want to fund their initiatives. Their success led them to launch Birchal, a platform with the motto “Everyone should have the opportunity to invest in the brands they love.”
Birchal is an equity crowdfunding platform that intends to connect startups/brands with investors. The idea is to make the process of investment simple and fast and allow for smaller investors to play a part in the growth of a brand they like.
The platform gives sustainable and future-focused businesses a top billing on its platform. The ultimate financial goal is displayed like it is on other crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, Indiegogo and Patreon.
By mixing elements of angel investing and crowdfunding, Birchal is becoming a good option for those who have disruptive ideas, irrespective of the sector. Basically, your potential customers can contribute to converting your idea into a viable business, making this form of fundraising essentially a great marketing strategy as well.
Angel Investors Melbourne
11. Melbourne Angels
Melbourne Angels Key Features
- Founded in Melbourne in early 2007
- Most Active Angel Group in 2018 (the first year of the awards)
- The Most Active Angel Investor in 2018, 2019 & 2020
- Angel Investor of the Year in 2019
- Angel Exit of the Year in 2020
- Comprehensive resource page on their website
Let us assure you that when it comes to Angel Investors Australia wide, Melbourne Angels are at the forefront of equity and venture capital investment. Melbourne Angels are consistently the most active startup investors in Victoria, and one of the most active in Australia.
Melbourne Angels are committed to helping innovative founders build the next generation of [the Australian] economy. They are consistently inviting new angel members, exciting founders and supportive partners to join in their growth story.
Melbourne Angels participate in start-up investments from $50,000 to $500,000 and leverage their network of Australian and international Angel groups to support deals of up to $1m. The long list of Angel awards they have won establishes them as one of the most prominent Angel Investors in Australia.
12. Scale Investors
Scale Investors Key Features
- Founded by a small group of visionary women in Melbourne in 2013
- Invests exclusively in female founders and entrepreneurs
- Over $12m invested in 28 startups
- Active Twitter and Linkedin page with regular updates
- Hosts their own podcast series
Ladies first! That is the overarching motto of the Melbourne based angel investment group Scale Investors that aims to bridge the shocking disparity between the funding female vs male entrepreneurs are getting from investors.
If you belong to the fairer sex and have a vision that needs funding, then approach this network of angel investors. While they are based in Melbourne, they invest in female entrepreneurs all across Australia with 250 angel investors and over 1000 female founders.
Companies Founded and Co-Founded by women generate 10% more revenue than male led companies and earn 35% higher return.
scaleinvestors
Scale Investors have invested over $12M in startups, backing heaps of successful early-stage Australian startups into various stages of maturity. Some of their success stories include:
Mass Dynamics, The Right Fit, Hack Hunter, AGSCent, Laronix Evoke Travel, Cynch, Handdii, Switch Automation and Winely.
Angel Investors Sydney
13. Sydney Angels
Sydney Angels Key Features
- Established in 2008
- Best Angel Exit of the Year 2018
- Consistently top 4 most prolific Angel Investor in Australia
- A one of a kind $10M Sidecar Fund
- Active Linkedin account with regular updates
Sydney Angels are considered one of the top four Angel Investor organizations in Australia. They are a not for profit organization that is well-known for offering early-stage businesses excellent opportunities to pitch for investment and mentorship from their network of experienced Angel Investors.
Their own investments are also supported by a $10M Sydney Angels Sidecar Fund. This one-of-a-kind fund invests 50/50 alongside Sydney Angel members into early-stage startups. This unique Sidecar Fund greatly reduces the time it takes to close a round of investment. The startups gain valuable help from the diverse networks and experience that Syndey Angel investors bring along with their investment.
Here are Sydney Angels investment criteria:
- High growth potential + credible team
- Businesses seeking $100K-$1m in funding; typically $300k-$500k with valuations < $2m
- Located in Australia
Sydney Angels prefer not to delve into consulting, financial services, property, gambling, retail, films and weapon systems, but they are quite diverse with investments in firms under their belt like Bandicoot, Alkira, Everty, Cogsworth, Spare Workspace & more.
14. Equitise
Equitise Key Features
- Founded in January 2018.
- One of the first platforms to receive an Australian retail crowdfunding license.
- Three investment options: Equity Crowdfunding, Wholesale offers and IPO’s.
- Great Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook pages, with updates on new investment opportunities.
Equitise, with a strong focus on the Australian & New Zealand startup economy, is a crowdfunding investment platform that invites everyone to invest in the businesses they feature. They have their head office in NSW but are operational all over Australia, NZ and parts of SouthEast Asia. With no specific preference for any sector, Equitise lets angels invest in 3 different ways:
- Equity Crowdfunding: Anyone can invest and buy a piece of a business they believe in.
- Wholesale Offers: To invest, you need to earn over $250,000 or have $2.5M in net assets.
- IPOs (Initial public offerings): Anyone can invest and own shares in an initial public offering (IPO). Shares can then be sold at any time on the ASX.
Taking a novel approach to raising capital for early-stage companies and potentially game-changing business ideas, Equitise has democratised investing.
Having become legal in Australia in 2018, retail equity crowdfunding was made mainstream by Equitise, and in the short span of a couple of years, they have helped launch many businesses.
They are backed by a number of big names in the angel investment and equity support industry, like Investec, AWI Ventures, H2 Ventures, Tank Stream Ventures and Bridgelane Capital.
15. Geelong Angels
Geelong Angels Key Features
- Formed in 2014 by a small group of experienced entrepreneurs
- 12 members and growing
- Geelong Angels is a group of private investors who actively invest in early-stage and growth-stage companies
Geelong Angels considers opportunities from all over the country but, usually, prefer interstate entrepreneurs to approach their local Angel group first, before applying to them
The final word on the top Angel Investors in Australia
Given the way the world has changed after COVID-19, it is even more important to build trustworthy relationships with the people who invest in your business. Not only do Australian angel investors back you as the favourite horse in the race, but they also nurture your talent so that you can grow into a successful, sprawling business.
Most importantly, the investment fraternity is on fragile grounds right now, and the industry is extremely dynamic, so you have to be on your toes about new news and opportunities.
We at Elegant Media began our journey as a startup in 2010 and a decade later we have won multiple awards and are now rated the top App developer in Australia. So we understand you and are eager to help.
If you have an App idea or would like to discuss the ways in which an App can help your company grow, then get in touch with us for a no-obligation FREE consultation call with one of our experienced project managers.
