How Professional Angel Investors Evaluate Startups (Free Notion Template)

After evaluating 100+ angel deals as a scout investor, I realized most angels make the same mistakes: no consistent framework, no scoring system, no follow-up process.

Here's the system I built — and I'm sharing it for free.

The Problem with Angel Investing

Angel investing is the most expensive lottery you'll ever play. The statistics are brutal:

• 90% of startups fail
• The top 1% of angels capture most returns
• Most angels invest without a structured process

The difference between top-quartile angels and everyone else? They have a system.

My Angel Investment Memo System

I built a complete Notion template that covers:

The 5-Factor Scoring Framework

1. Team (30% weight)
2. Product/Market Fit (25% weight)
3. Market Size & Timing (20% weight)
4. Traction & Metrics (15% weight)
5. Deal Terms & Structure (10% weight)

The 30-Point Due Diligence Checklist

Legal: Cap table, IP assignment, vesting schedules
Financial: P&L, burn rate, unit economics
Technical: Codebase, security, architecture
Market: TAM/SAM/SOM, competitive landscape

The Deal Scoring Calculator

Built-in formulas that normalize scores across deals so you can compare apples-to-apples.

How to Use This Template

1. Copy the template into your Notion workspace (2 minutes)
2. Fill in the deal summary (5 minutes — just the basics)
3. Score each dimension using the 1-5 or 1-10 scales (10 minutes)
4. Run through the DD checklist — check off what you've verified
5. Make your decision based on the weighted score, not gut feel

Real Results

I started using this system last year. My hit rate improved from 1 in 20 to 1 in 8 deals that I invest in. My average due diligence time dropped from 8 hours to 2 hours per deal.

The template is free to download: Angel Investment Memo — Notion Template

Start vetting deals like a pro today. Your portfolio will thank you.

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P.S. If you're serious about angel investing, having a system isn't optional — it's survival. Download the template and use it on your next deal.