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How to Raise Successfully Through Angels
The Best in SaaS – Series 1, Episode 1
📌 Episode Title: How to Raise Successfully Through Angels
🧭 Episode Overview:
In the kickoff episode of The Best in SaaS Masterclass Series, host Richard Blundell, founder of the Venture Scale Academy, sits down with David Levine, Managing Partner of Glen Luna Ventures and co-founder of Manchester Angels, to unpack the realities of raising money through angel investors.
This is not your typical Silicon Valley startup success story podcast. Instead, this series dives deep into practical solutions to real problems, designed specifically for early-stage SaaS founders who are in the trenches—iterating products, seeking validation, struggling with pricing, or figuring out how to raise capital.
🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
🔹 The Role of Angel Investors
- Who angel investors really are: typically exited founders or seasoned operators with capital and experience.
- Why angels invest: not just for returns, but for purpose, connection, and contribution.
- How they differ from VCs in their mindset, involvement, and expectations.
🔹 Common Myths Debunked
- Myth #1: Angels invest out of charity or personal affection.
- Myth #2: Angels are less professional or structured than VCs.
- David clarifies how angels operate with clear expectations and look for robust returns, often aligned with or complementary to VC strategies.
🔹 What Angels Are Really Looking For
- Founder-market fit: Passion, credibility, and insight into the problem.
- Signs of early traction and how the founder is executing with limited resources.
- A strong, clear pitch deck (discussed more in upcoming episodes).
- Clear articulation of the vision and the scale of the opportunity.
- A founder who is coachable, resilient, and can communicate progress and risks effectively.
🔹 How Angels Fit into the Bigger Fundraising Picture
- When to approach angels vs. VCs.
- How angel rounds can serve as pre-seed or seed-stage capital.
- The importance of chemistry and network fit with angels who can open doors, not just write cheques.
👤 Guest Bio: David Levine
David is an experienced investor, entrepreneur, and advisor. He co-founded Manchester Angels, an investment network focused on B2B, SaaS, AI, and deep tech. He also leads Glen Luna Ventures, helping founders around the world raise funding from early-stage to growth-stage VCs. David brings deep experience from both sides of the table—knowing what investors look for and what founders struggle with.
🧠 Key Takeaway:
“Angels aren’t just writing cheques—they’re looking for founders they believe in, founders they resonate with, and ideas that have the potential to scale. The right angel at the right time can completely transform your early-stage trajectory.” – David Levine
🔗 Resources & Mentions:
- Glen Luna Ventures http://glenluna.com/
- Venture Scale Academy https://vencha-academy.com/
View all episodes
By Richard BlundellThe Best in SaaS – Series 1, Episode 1
📌 Episode Title: How to Raise Successfully Through Angels
🧭 Episode Overview:
In the kickoff episode of The Best in SaaS Masterclass Series, host Richard Blundell, founder of the Venture Scale Academy, sits down with David Levine, Managing Partner of Glen Luna Ventures and co-founder of Manchester Angels, to unpack the realities of raising money through angel investors.
This is not your typical Silicon Valley startup success story podcast. Instead, this series dives deep into practical solutions to real problems, designed specifically for early-stage SaaS founders who are in the trenches—iterating products, seeking validation, struggling with pricing, or figuring out how to raise capital.
🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
🔹 The Role of Angel Investors
- Who angel investors really are: typically exited founders or seasoned operators with capital and experience.
- Why angels invest: not just for returns, but for purpose, connection, and contribution.
- How they differ from VCs in their mindset, involvement, and expectations.
🔹 Common Myths Debunked
- Myth #1: Angels invest out of charity or personal affection.
- Myth #2: Angels are less professional or structured than VCs.
- David clarifies how angels operate with clear expectations and look for robust returns, often aligned with or complementary to VC strategies.
🔹 What Angels Are Really Looking For
- Founder-market fit: Passion, credibility, and insight into the problem.
- Signs of early traction and how the founder is executing with limited resources.
- A strong, clear pitch deck (discussed more in upcoming episodes).
- Clear articulation of the vision and the scale of the opportunity.
- A founder who is coachable, resilient, and can communicate progress and risks effectively.
🔹 How Angels Fit into the Bigger Fundraising Picture
- When to approach angels vs. VCs.
- How angel rounds can serve as pre-seed or seed-stage capital.
- The importance of chemistry and network fit with angels who can open doors, not just write cheques.
👤 Guest Bio: David Levine
David is an experienced investor, entrepreneur, and advisor. He co-founded Manchester Angels, an investment network focused on B2B, SaaS, AI, and deep tech. He also leads Glen Luna Ventures, helping founders around the world raise funding from early-stage to growth-stage VCs. David brings deep experience from both sides of the table—knowing what investors look for and what founders struggle with.
🧠 Key Takeaway:
“Angels aren’t just writing cheques—they’re looking for founders they believe in, founders they resonate with, and ideas that have the potential to scale. The right angel at the right time can completely transform your early-stage trajectory.” – David Levine
🔗 Resources & Mentions:
- Glen Luna Ventures http://glenluna.com/
- Venture Scale Academy https://vencha-academy.com/