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Angel Investing - Great Opportunity or Scam?

Anything related to investing, including crypto

RazorCut

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Any video that keeps mentioning the word secret sets off my BS detector.

For hundreds years a secret market has existed that you couldn’t get in on.

Ah, but wait....now you can...

“A powerful congessional act has now unleashed one of the biggest financial shifts in US history. Finally everyone can capitalise on this secret market.”

“Where startups go from obscurity to being worth billions of dollars in a blink of an eye. Where one deal can transform a small amount of money into millions and for some even more..”

I watched about 5 mins. I’ll wait for the cliff notes but for the record:

“I’m not investing. I’m out”. :happy:
 

MJ DeMarco

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It's no secret.

A new law simply says that you don't need to be an accredited investor (min $1M) to invest in early stage startups.

Instead of wasting your time and money at a hyped program that promotes secrets, just join a website the offers such opportunity There's a lot of them...

Wefunder.com
SeedInvest.com
LocalStake.com
 

Invictus

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Any video that keeps mentioning the word secret sets off my BS detector.

For hundreds years a secret market has existed that you couldn’t get in on.

Ah, but wait....now you can...

“A powerful congessional act has now unleashed one of the biggest financial shifts in US history. Finally everyone can capitalise on this secret market.”

“Where startups go from obscurity to being worth billions of dollars in a blink of an eye. Where one deal can transform a small amount of money into millions and for some even more..”

I watched about 5 mins. I’ll wait for the cliff notes but for the record:

“I’m not investing. I’m out”. :happy:

In copywriting, there is something called "The Big Idea / The System". Essentially, it boils down your entire into pitch into a mechanism.

This is not a bad thing. If you have built a diet that has worked for every client provided they follow it, you want it to stand out. So why not brand it? Maybe it's the 'secret of cavement', or 'an unusual physiological mechanism that lets your body run on fat', but it needs to be a specific idea that the audience can latch onto.

If you're just selling a diet, they don't believe you. You have to offer a specific, tangible idea.

I'm not going to pass judgement on it, because like all tools, it can be used for good or ill. If you're selling something truly different, it's fine. But you can just as easily use it for sketchy bullshit.

But this is essentially what you're talking about. Anytime someone mentions a 'secret' or a 'system' that sets them apart, it's written by a copywriter or sales person who knows what they're doing.

Doesn't mean it's bad, but it does mean that it's very unlikely it's just a secret.

Something, something, due diligence.
 
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RazorCut

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@Invictus I'm just a bad candidate for this type of marketing and maybe not their target avatar.

I automatically go on the defensive when I see video's like this.

For a start the setting. A nice expensive yacht to give the air of wealth. Calling it a summit. Two entrepreneurs a large percentage of their target market will at least of heard of. Name dropping left right and center; Apple, Intel, Boeing, Amazon, Facebook etc..

Typically led up the garden path towards signing up for something. So what is it? I skipped to the end to find out.

Just $39 to become a 'Founding Member' of the Angels+Entrepreneur Network. With the promise of a champagne networking retreat annually in glamorous locations such as Miami, Grand Cayman Islands etc.. Once you join they will then 'rush' you two packs for two startups they want you to invest your money in.

So that is what the 55 minute pitch is all about. Ease you in the door for $39 then back sell you for $1000's to their chosen startups. Not saying it's a scam. Just saying I personally wouldn't buy into it.
 

Andy Black

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Yep. Like @RazorCut I’m allergic to the word “secret”. (Haven’t checked out link.)
 
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Andy Black

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So I didn't check the link and have no idea if its legit or not but I do want to comment on something else.

Look past the marketing and advertising tactics. Most of the posters here aren't average! We all know that there aren't really any "secrets" (except hard and smart work) but again... we aren't average. These companies have to market to the average person in their target market because thats where the money is and using words like "secret" is proven to increase interest.

Not to long ago I reviewed some copy for a truly great photography product that promised to take any novice and get them up to a pro level in as short of a time as possible. One of the pitches was that "pros have little secrets to getting amazing photographs that they only share with their 'inner circle' and that for $xx they could become members of that inner circle." Blah blah, we have all seen that pitch before and WE know its bull but they reason they use it is because it works!

That said, as a pretty serious hobbyist photographer, that program is actually extremely good. When evaluating if someone is a scam or not, look past the marketing and look for other clues.

With all that said, that investment thingy is probably a scam.
I have a wee litmus test. Does the copy speak to business owners? If not, then it’s written for consumers (who may want to become business owners).
 

daniel_m

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I've known about Patel for a few years. Guy always struck me as extremely slimey.

We're currently in a "guru" bubble. Everywhere I look I'm being spammed by some fraud to buy their course or attend their Growthcon seminar, Jesus Christ this must be a hundred billion dollar industry
 

MJ DeMarco

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Its such BS that you can go to a casino with your life savings and gamble it all away, but LORD forbid if you should want to INVEST some of your money into a business venture; now you need to be accredited and be worth a certain amount.

You misread. Sounds like they are using the Jobs Act as some type of secret. Before that, you had to be accredited to have access to early stage startups. Now anyone can invest in them.
 

100k

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You misread. Sounds like they are using the Jobs Act as some type of secret. Before that, you had to be accredited to have access to early stage startups. Now anyone can invest in them.

There are still restrictions.

  • If either the annual income or the net worth of the investor is less than $100,000, the investor is limited to the greater of $2,000 or 5% of the lesser of his or her annual income or net worth.
  • If the annual income and net worth of the investor are both greater than $100,000, the investor is limited to 10% of the lesser of his or her annual income or net worth, to a maximum of $100,000.

Why aren't there such rigorous restrictions when it comes to gambling or buying the lotto. I could literally get a 2nd mortgage on my house, and spend all my savings on buying lottery tickets and nobody would give a damn. But if I want to invest my capital, I need to be sophisticated, or only spend 5% or 10% of my wealth/income. FOH... that's BS.
 
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MJ DeMarco

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You ever partake in any of these @MJ DeMarco or anyone else? I wonder how I've never heard of them

Yes, I have interest in a few companies via equity sourcing. In fact, I forgot about them until you reminded me. One is a 3D printing company and the other is an employment agency.
 

Scot

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Can I be one of the startups that are in this mystery market ?

Yeah, this sounds fishy.

On the other side of the coin, I get shady spam emails all the time to buy tickets to investor summits that promise I’ll find an Investor.
 

lowtek

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Love a collection of common sense approaches. Thanks to all above.

So it really boggles my mind the list of so called Victims of Bernie Madoff's Pyramid Scam.


Off topic, but I don't think it's accurate to call them victims. They knew something was up but their greed got the better of them. When people ignore basic common sense just to chase an easy buck, I have no sympathy for when they lose everything.

This argument excludes people with mental illness or disabilities that otherwise prevent normal cognition. If you don't know any better, you don't know any better.
 
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tmb22

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It's obviously a typical sales funnel that could be a big guru scam, but it's interesting that it's Neil Patel and Robert Herjavec.... It also misspells his name

Angels and Entrepreneurs Summit

It's like a membership to see the early start ups that they claim to be investing in, so that you can have the opportunity to get in on the next big company as an angel investor and make tons of money at IPO. I didn't watch it all or read all of the copy on the next page it takes you to, but just thought I'd share it and see what everyone thought.

@Lex DeVille @MJ DeMarco @Vigilante @ZCP @Andy Black
 
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Dan_Cardone

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So I didn't check the link and have no idea if its legit or not but I do want to comment on something else.

Look past the marketing and advertising tactics. Most of the posters here aren't average! We all know that there aren't really any "secrets" (except hard and smart work) but again... we aren't average. These companies have to market to the average person in their target market because thats where the money is and using words like "secret" is proven to increase interest.

Not to long ago I reviewed some copy for a truly great photography product that promised to take any novice and get them up to a pro level in as short of a time as possible. One of the pitches was that "pros have little secrets to getting amazing photographs that they only share with their 'inner circle' and that for $xx they could become members of that inner circle." Blah blah, we have all seen that pitch before and WE know its bull but they reason they use it is because it works!

That said, as a pretty serious hobbyist photographer, that program is actually extremely good. When evaluating if someone is a scam or not, look past the marketing and look for other clues.

With all that said, that investment thingy is probably a scam.
 

tmb22

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I completely agree with everything said here. It's funny I just saw this thread too...
Are The Sharks Going Broke?

Thanks for the links @MJ DeMarco

I had a little respect for Neil and Robert until watching the video and reading all of it and then threw up in my mouth a little bit. Shark Tank has now been ruined for me after seeing Robert, Kevin, and Daymond becoming the next Tony Robbins and RDPD guru douche bags. I never liked that FUBU idiot anyways though
 
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Entre Eyes

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Traveling to Higher Conciousness

100k

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It's no secret.

A new law simply says that you don't need to be an accredited investor (min $1M) to invest in early stage startups.

Instead of wasting your time and money at a hyped program that promotes secrets, just join a website the offers such opportunity There's a lot of them...

Wefunder.com
SeedInvest.com
LocalStake.com

Are you talking about the JOBS act or is there a new law that's been laxed?

Its such BS that you can go to a casino with your life savings and gamble it all away, but LORD forbid if you should want to INVEST some of your money into a business venture; now you need to be accredited and be worth a certain amount.

Even the JOBS act sets limit on how much you can invest (I think like $2500 or 10% of your annual income).

It seems like a BS law put in place to ensure (((the rich old people))) remain the gatekeepers. Yes, yes I know... conspiracy theory. But just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get ya.

Power is exclusive and wants to keep its power and influence super tight i.e old boys club, not "let's make society better and give everyone an equal shot club", even though that's the kool-aid they sell with the whole "Land of the free, American dream, yadi blah blah....".
 
Last edited:

AFMKelvin

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Are you talking about the JOBS act or is there a new law that's been laxed?

Its such BS that you can go to a casino with your life savings and gamble it all away, but LORD forbid if you should want to INVEST some of your money into a business venture; now you need to be accredited and be worth a certain amount.

Even the JOBS act sets limit on how much you can invest (I think like $2500 or 10% of your annual income).

It seems like a BS law put in place to ensure (((the rich old people))) remain the gatekeepers. Yes, yes I know... conspiracy theory. But just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get ya.

Power is exclusive and wants to keep its power and influence super tight i.e old boys club, not "let's make society better and give everyone an equal shot club", even though that's the kool-aid they sell with the whole "Land of the free, American dream, yadi blah blah....".
Same thing with trading stocks. If you don't have $250,000 in your bank account you can't trade stocks. You may be the smartest, greatest all time stock trader but if you don't have the limit they set you can't play.
 

100k

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Same thing with trading stocks. If you don't have $250,000 in your bank account you can't trade stocks. You may be the smartest, greatest all time stock trader but if you don't have the limit they set you can't play.

I guess they need sheeps to keep the machine running, and only a small part of the population to rule.
 
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AFMKelvin

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I guess they need sheeps to keep the machine running, and only a small part of the population to rule.

sadpepe.jpg
Some things never change. It has always been this way.
 

Merging Left

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Ok so here's something interesting... if they claim this partnership is with big names like Neil Patel, you should be able to find out more info on it, right? So I went to Google and searched "Neil Patel Entrepreneurs Angels" and here's what I found...

This one seems to be associated with Neil, although it is difficult to make a direct connection:
Angels and Entrepreneurs

Here's the one you linked:
Entrepreneurs and Angels

One, or both of these, is NOT legit. Because of the misspelled name and cheap looking website, I'd guess that the website linked in OP is a scam that is trying to look legit by copying a legitimate business.
 

tmb22

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It's no secret.

A new law simply says that you don't need to be an accredited investor (min $1M) to invest in early stage startups.

Instead of wasting your time and money at a hyped program that promotes secrets, just join a website the offers such opportunity There's a lot of them...

Wefunder.com
SeedInvest.com
LocalStake.com
You ever partake in any of these @MJ DeMarco or anyone else? I wonder how I've never heard of them
 
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Ismail941

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Ground Floor Opportunities ?

Diamond Level = $80 For 2 Years membership
Gold Level = $40 For 1 Year membership

Is it really Real or Scam/Fake ?
 

Ouroborus

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ame thing with trading stocks. If you don't have $250,000 in your bank account you can't trade stocks. You may be the smartest, greatest all time stock trader but if you don't have the limit they set you can't play
What ?? why would you say that ? Am i missing something ?
 
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Ismail941

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