Angel Investment Network

Angel Investment Network Ltd (AIN) is a UK-registered company (Companies House 05195854) founded in 2004 by Mike Lebus and James Badgett. It describes itself as a marketplace connecting founders with angel investors, with a network of ~40 country-level networks across 90 countries and 1.9M+ registered members. The company reports over £200M facilitated in funds raised through the platform — an aggregate, self-reported figure, not AUM or a performance metric.

AIN operates as an introduction service. Entrepreneurs upload a pitch using AIN's templates; the platform lists proposals and can email matching investors depending on the promotional package purchased. Interested investors contact entrepreneurs directly. AIN states it does not handle investor funds and does not take commission on completed investments — funds transfer directly between the parties. That reduces custodial risk associated with a platform holding client money, but it also means AIN is not contractually responsible for deal outcomes.

Entrepreneur packages (site examples): Pro £179/month, Global Pro £279/month, Executive £866/quarter. Investors join free and can maintain profiles and browse proposals without a platform fee.

Minimums are set by each proposal and vary — site examples include £1,000, £10,000 and £25,000. There is no single platform-wide minimum.

Tax wrappers: AIN is a connector only and does not itself operate IFISAs, SIPPs or provide regulated tax advice. Investors seeking EIS/SEIS, IFISA or SIPP treatment must arrange these through regulated intermediaries and confirm eligibility with the target company.

Primarily for entrepreneurs seeking early-stage capital and individual investors interested in direct angel investments. Because AIN operates under an Exempt status rather than being directly FCA-authorised, it is most appropriate for self-certified High Net Worth or Sophisticated Investors who can legally receive exempt financial promotions under FSMA rules. Non-sophisticated retail investors may not be eligible for many deals advertised via the platform, and FSCS/FOS protections are not available for deals communicated under FSMA exemptions.

Strengths: large, long-established network with global reach that can increase deal flow; low platform friction for investors (free to join and browse); no commission on completed investments per company statements.

Risks: not FCA-authorised (Exempt), so statutory protections are limited; deal terms and liquidity are set case-by-case with no secondary market — exits depend on company-specific events (trade sale, IPO); some public review sites reference upfront fees for entrepreneurs and dissatisfaction with outcomes (partially corroborated; interpret with care as some negative reviews reference affiliated or similarly named services).

Verify before engaging:

• Regulatory status: AIN Ltd is Exempt, not FCA-authorised — confirm the exemption covers your intended activity.
• Deal-level documentation: check share classes, investor rights, cap-table impact and financials directly with the company offering equity — AIN only introduces.
• Package terms: entrepreneurs should verify refund and cancellation mechanics; some third-party reviews allege unclear refund experiences.
• Provenance: confirm you are dealing with Angel Investment Network Ltd (05195854) and not similarly named unauthorised copycats.