{"id":1894,"date":"2015-10-31T17:35:29","date_gmt":"2015-10-31T21:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/angellist-syndicates-crowdsourcing-the-limited-partner-role\/"},"modified":"2015-10-31T17:35:29","modified_gmt":"2015-10-31T21:35:29","slug":"angellist-syndicates-crowdsourcing-the-limited-partner-role","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/angellist-syndicates-crowdsourcing-the-limited-partner-role\/","title":{"rendered":"AngelList Syndicates: Crowdsourcing the Limited Partner role"},"content":{"rendered":"

AngelList<\/span><\/a> – an investing platform with the tagline \u201cWhere the world meets startups\u201d – has historically been a platform where angel investors could review self-created profiles from aspiring entrepreneurs (think LinkedIn for startups). \u00a0If an angel investor liked what they saw, they could \u201cmatch\u201d with the entrepreneur and contribute initial seed funding to the startup. \u00a0When the AngelList platform was introduced it represented a seismic shift in seed investing as all of a sudden angel investors had dramatically increased deal flow opportunities. However, AngelList\u2019s creation of Syndicates may represent an even greater change to the overall investing landscape. <\/span><\/p>\n

Syndicates allow AngelList investors to co-invest with a \u201clead\u201d angel investor in their investments. \u00a0In return, this lead investor receives a carry fee (usually 5%-30%) for any profit on the investment. Essentially, this new Syndicate structure allows an early stage investor to <\/span>crowdsource<\/b> their investment funds. The end result is that the role that Limited Partners (LPs) used to play in a traditional VC structure, is being replaced by crowdsourced funds, which allows an angel investor to make a much larger initial investment and allows an entrepreneur to raise funds from one angel-lead syndicate as opposed to many different initial angles. . \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Participation Incentivization <\/b><\/p>\n

Investors on AngelList are incentivized to participate in the Syndicate model because they receive access to the investments, and potential returns, of some of the accomplished and historically-successful early-stage investors. If they believe enough in the investment wisdom of the lead-investor, then paying a small carry fee will be deemed fair and will not deter them from \u00a0contributing their funds toward the eventual investment decision of their Syndicate leader. Syndicate leaders are incentivized to participate in this model because all of a sudden they can make much higher value investments <\/span>and <\/span><\/i>they can earn a carry fee on additional money invested from their Syndicate members. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Challenges<\/b><\/p>\n

There are a few inherent challenges to the Syndicate funding model. \u00a0For the entrepreneurs there is a clearly opportunity to receive funds more quickly, and possibly with less strings attached, than in a typical VC scenario, but there is a big outstanding question around whether a Syndicate can provide the type of guidance\/operational support\/networking capabilities that a traditional VC firm can. \u00a0If Syndicates are shown to fall short here, you may see the most promising startups pivoting strongly away from the Syndicate model, which would introduce a strong adverse selection bias. For lead-investors, they face a challenge very different from typical VC because a couple bad investments may cause them to lose their crowdsourced support. \u00a0This is problematic in the investing space because it is a hit-driven business with many expected losses, but a fickle set of backing-investors may make it hard on Syndicate leads to take the risks on the home-run businesses that they need to. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Value Creation\/Value Capture<\/b><\/p>\n

Especially in the tech space, the lead-time needed to get a company up and running is becoming shorter and shorter. \u00a0Therefore, the ability to quickly invest previously unavailable large sums of money has the potential to directly enhance the value creation offerings of tech-based startups. Since AngelList takes a small cut of profits made on investments on their site (this is in addition to the carry from lead-investors) it is critical that AngelList retains investments being made through their platform. \u00a0In the investing world before Syndicates, it was easy enough for angels to meet entrepreneurs through AngelList, but then invest outside of the platform. \u00a0However, now, if angel wanted to invest outside of the platform, they would be giving up the additional funds their Syndicate <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> the opportunity for carry. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Syndicate Case Study: flight.vc<\/b><\/p>\n

One firm that has seen great potential in the AngelList Syndicate model is <\/span>flight.vc<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0This is a vc firm that makes exclusively Syndicate investments. \u00a0In fact, they currently have 23 different Syndicates with the backing of over 3,000 individuals contributing upwards of $21 million. \u00a0It is too early to see how successful their returns will be, but this is definitely a firm to keep our eyes on. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sources<\/b><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.inc.com\/nicholas-carlson\/venture-capitalists-on-angellist-syndicates.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.feld.com\/archives\/2014\/07\/angellist-syndicate-feedback-experienced-entrepreneur.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/angel.co\/syndicates<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/medium.com\/@loukerner\/the-rise-of-flight-vc-cce8fe939f5c#.vcxsszh1h<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/flight.vc\/<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AngelList – an investing platform with the tagline \u201cWhere the world meets startups\u201d – has historically been a platform where angel investors could review self-created profiles from aspiring entrepreneurs (think LinkedIn for startups). \u00a0If an angel investor liked what they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":1895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[45,672,789],"class_list":["post-1894","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-angel-investing","category-crowd-sourcing","category-syndicate"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/assignment\/leveraging-the-collective-intelligence-and-effort-of-digital-crowds\/","yoast_head":"\nAngelList Syndicates: Crowdsourcing the Limited Partner role - Digital Innovation and Transformation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/angellist-syndicates-crowdsourcing-the-limited-partner-role\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"AngelList Syndicates: Crowdsourcing the Limited Partner role - 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