There are between 1.5 and 2.5 million people in the United States who qualify as angel funders, which the Small Business Association defines as those who have from $250,000 to $5 million to invest in businesses. These funders differ from VC firms because they are individuals with money available, but they generally want to invest less than the average VC firm tends to want to put in. The problem is that because these funders are just regular people, they are often more difficult to find than VC firms.

However, there are tools available and places you can post information to get your business noticed. If someone with funding believes you have a business worth financing, you may be able to find that money that will take you from struggling to running smoothly. Here are some places to look for your business guardian angel.

The New York Angels Investor Program
New media industry businesses in the New York tri-state area are eligible to present their business plans to the New York Angels Investor Program. The program serves both entrepreneurs and investors, and works as a facilitator and clearinghouse to help businesses that fit that criteria can find angel funding more easily. Investors who participate in the program must commit to investing at least $25,000 to a qualified business each year. Qualified businesses should submit no more than four pages of an executive summary to angels@nynma.org . Once a month, the program invites seven to 10 companies to present their plans to a roomful of investors.

The Capitol Investor¹s Club
Some of the most powerful technology names in the Washington, D.C., area make up the 18-member Capitol Investor¹s Club. Steve Case, CEO of AOL; Mario Morino, Chairman of Potomac Knowledgeway and the Morino Institute; and Michael Saylor, Chief Executive of MicroStrategy Corporation are just some of the faces seen around the table at this group, which provides angel funding for regional startups in need of a boost. They have not funded many startups yet, but they are committed to funneling investment dollars back into Washington DC's high-tech market, and they hold monthly dinners during which one entrepreneur is invited to give a 15-minute pitch. For more information about the club, read the article about it which appeared in the Washington Post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/longterm/techboom/boom3.htm .

The Mid-Atlantic Venture Association
According to the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), there are more than 1,000 venture-backed companies within 50 miles of Washington, DC. This association helps make sure that number continues growing, both through intimate meetings between entrepreneurs and groups of investors, and larger activities such as the Mid-Atlantic Venture Fair held each fall. For more information, visit http://www.mava.org or contact MAVA at 2345 York Road, Timonium, MD 21093, Phone: (410) 560-5855