Get All Access for $5/mo

Keith Koo Explains How Angel Investors Prioritize Startup Funding Decisions Entrepreneur Network Partner Ashley Crouch sits down with the Managing Partner of Guardian Insight Group and Angel Investor, Keith Koo.

By Ashley Crouch

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

During a market contraction, investors tighten their belts. Promising startups and VC firms felt like allies during a season of economic prosperity, but during market volatility, however, the two groups' reliance on each other can feel threatened. With potentially fewer resources available, every funding decision must be allocated thoughtfully and startup founders face greater scrutiny from investors pertaining to their business model, leadership team, and probability of scale in the current climate.

Managing Partner of Guardian Insight Group, Keith Koo is no stranger to high-stakes investment decisions. After a 20-year corporate career with Bank of Tokyo, Cisco Systems, and Wells Fargo, Koo has spent the last 10 years as an angel investor for 10 years and a startup advisor.

In this interview, he discusses the criteria that savvy investors consider when navigating a funding decision and shares key insights that hopeful startups need to consider in order to position themselves to attract capital.

Ashley Crouch

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® Contributor

Executive Brand Strategist, Bestselling Author, Investor

Ashley Crouch is an executive brand strategist for companies seeking high-end media placements across television, national outlets, TEDx and top podcasts. She is the host of Prowess Podcast and a bestselling author of Unknown to Unforgettable.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Data & Recovery

Use This Code to Get 1TB of Cloud Storage for $120

Koofr Cloud Storage makes backing up and sharing work files a safer and easier process.

Business News

Wells Fargo Reportedly Fired More Than a Dozen Employees for Faking Keyboard Activity

The bank told Bloomberg that it "does not tolerate unethical behavior."

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Living

Get Easy Access to Fun Summaries of Non-fiction Bestsellers with This $60 Subscription

Headway lets users gain key ideas and insights from best-selling works of non-fiction.

Innovation

The Key to Real Innovation Is Cross-Pollination — Here Are 10 Ways to Implement It in Your Business

Transform your business with this unique approach to sparking innovation.

Business Models

5 Questions to Ask to Make Sure Your Company's Financial Plan Is on Track

Conducting a "check-up" at midyear is essential to maintain a healthy financial plan.