MEMBERSHIP

Becoming a Member

  • Applicants must be accredited investors as defined by the SEC. The definition of an accredited investor is:
    • An individual with a net worth or a joint net worth together with his or her spouse in excess of $1,000,000, excluding the value of the primary residence. (In calculating net worth, you may include equity in personal property, real estate [excluding primary residence], cash, short-term investments, stock and securities. Please note that the equity in personal property and real estate should be based on the fair market value of such property minus debt secured by such property), or
    • An individual that had income in excess of $200,000 in each of the prior two years and reasonably expects an individual income in excess of $200,000 in the current year.
  • The preferred method of introduction to WIP is referral from another WIP member or associate and attending a general meeting as a “guest.”
  • If you are interested in an invitation to our next meeting, Click Here
  • Membership requires an initiation fee and variable ongoing membership fees.

Member Involvement

  • Members are welcome to attend monthly screening and/or general meetings, lending your experience and informed opinions to the discussions.
  • There are no minimum investment requirements. The decision to invest is individual. Each member decides whether and how much to invest in any of the opportunities presented. Individual member investments range from $5,000 to over $100,000 per investment round.
  • Investments are made via an LLC specific to each company, which facilitates record-keeping and tax preparations and other individual member needs such as estate planning.

WIP Meetings

WIP typically holds two meetings per month:

  • Screening meetings – The screening meetings are initial presentations made by the presenting company to co-managers, members and invited guests that attend. After the screening meeting, a determination is made as to whether the company will be invited to present at a General meeting. Screening meetings are generally held on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.
  • General meetings – The general meetings are presentations from companies who have been screened and are ready for a presentation to the general membership. There are six scheduled meetings each year, generally held on the 2nd Wednesday of every other month (January, March, May, July, September and November).  Additional meetings may be organized as investment opportunities arise.

One week prior to the meetings, members are sent an email advising of the agenda and location of the meetings.

Membership Benefits

  • Access to quality investment opportunities
  • Opportunity to coinvest with other qualified angel investors and enhance the deal process
  • Benefit from expertise of fellow members in evaluating the investment opportunities
  • Educational – learn the latest trends and technologies and learn from experienced angel investors
  • Discount on registration fees to Wisconsin Angel Network sponsored events
  • Camraderie

Angel Capital Association’s FAQ

Our experience is that members most interested in angel investing are sophisticated investors and familiar with the risks of early stage company equity investing. Most are interested in building a portfolio of such investments. Consequently, WIP recommends that members have a general idea of how much they wish to invest in their total angel portfolio, and use a discipline of allocating the total to an array of companies versus over-weighting in a specific company or sector.

Download the ACA Fact Sheet about Angel Investing.