We were discussing angel investment in a meeting this week and the conversation naturally moved onto the downsides.

Angel investors can bring funding, experience and connections, but taking investment also means giving up equity and potentially some control.

For founders who have actually gone through the process, what would you say are the biggest disadvantages of working with angel investors?

The obvious one is giving away equity, but honestly I think the bigger risk is getting the wrong person on the cap table.

Yep. Especially if they start pushing the company towards a market just because they think it's bigger.

I've seen "helpful" investors create more noise than value.

I agree, but I'd push back slightly on the control point. A good angel shouldn't be trying to run the company.

In theory 😂

But once someone's money is in there, they're going to have an opinion. And some people have very strong opinions for someone who owns 10%.

That's why I'd spend nearly as much time checking the investor as they spend checking you.