Why is it so hard to find an angel investor and what are you doing that makes it harder?

In this reddit asks Q&A, Phil McSweeney (angel investor with 40+ investments, mentor/coach to startups, author) answers the questions founders actually ask when they’re trying to raise: where to find angels, when to pitch, how to spot a bad investor, how to think about equity, and what a pitch deck is really for.

This isn’t theory. It’s what happens after you’ve seen hundreds/thousands of pitches and you’re tired of founders wasting everyone’s time.

In this episode:

• Why angels are hard to find (and why they don’t advertise themselves)

• Should you tailor your pitch for US investors or focus locally first?

• The “best pitch deck format” myth and how to stand out without being boring.

• When you should approach investors (hint: traction beats vibes)

• How to vet an angel investor (equity grabs + control issues)

• What to do after a failed pitch (feedback, accelerators, and persistence)

• Can you raise with just an idea? (the brutal reality unless you’ve got a track record)

• How to tell if investors are interested on a call.

• What a pitch deck actually is: a movie trailer, not the full story.

• Rule-of-thumb equity: how to avoid a messy cap table and stay in control.