Entrepreneur FAQ's

Entrepreneur FAQ

What is the Chinese Investment Network?
The Chinese Investment Network is an online platform designed to connect entrepreneurs (looking for growth or start-up capital) and angel investors (looking for investment opportunities). The Chinese Investment Network is unique in that it offers a local, national and global platform with partner networks Asian and Australasian, North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. The Chinese Investment Network is continually growing, developing and updating its extensive database of angel investors.

What is an Angel Investor?
Originally, the term "angel" was coined to refer to the people who financed Broadway plays when all else failed. Today this term has become common among the investment community to refer to a high net-worth individual that invests their own personal funds in various businesses.

Who is a typical Angel Investor?
Angel investors are often retired entrepreneurs or executives, who may be interested in angel investing for reasons that go beyond pure monetary return. These include wanting to keep abreast of current developments in a particular business arena, mentoring another generation of entrepreneurs, and making use of their experience and networks on a less-than-full-time basis. Thus, in addition to funds, angel investors can often provide valuable management advice and important contacts.

What is the difference between an Angel Investor and a Venture Capital firm?
Angels make their own decisions as opposed to a board or group of people making a decision for investors that have pooled money together. Angels tend to be more involved in the businesses that they invest in and provide assistance in ways that venture capital firms do not. Angels typically do not own as large a stake in the company as a venture capital firm would. Another benefit of being an angel investor is the reception of certain tax incentives from controlled small businesses.

How much does it cost?
You have two payment options: The Investor Referral Fee and The Premium Service Fee. More information can be found on Our Rates Page. Please note there are no further fees or commissions to be paid.

Why isn’t it free of charge?
Many people have asked us why we charge entrepreneurs for the service. Firstly we are running a commercial enterprise and don’t get any public funding, so we need to cover our admin and promotion costs, pay staff to check your submission and pay for the upkeep of the website. Secondly we are providing a valuable service to the entrepreneurs who need the much needed to support to get their ideas in front of investors. To set up a serious business with outside funding you do need to be prepared to spend some money. The fee is very low compared to other companies in the industry who will often charge around 5% of the amount you wish to borrow.

Do I have to pay for every contact?
No, both the Investor Referral Fee and The Premium Service Fee give you to access to the contact details of ALL the investors who wish to contact you. Your proposal remains active for 90 days and all investor contacts are included in this period. You do not need to pay for each contact.

Why don’t you take a success fee instead?
If you think of Angel Investment Network as the funding equivalent of an online dating agency it makes more sense. You wouldn’t expect a dating agency to only get paid if and when you marry the partner you found on their site. They wouldn’t be able to find you or know you were getting married without employing a private detective! Likewise we can’t hope to individually track everyone who enters their idea over the internet. Often all we have is an email address for you. Plus we have no control over how good your idea is and therefore your likelihood of finding an Angel. There may be a few Angel groups who don’t charge upfront, but they heavily screen incoming ideas and reject about 90% of them, which means most people are left without a chance of connecting with Angels.

How do I pay the Premium Service Fee?
First you have to submit an investment proposal. After you save your proposal you will be directed to your member’s area. There will be a link above your proposal to pay the Premium Service Fee via credit/debit card or PayPal.

How do I know if my proposal has been received?
You will know that your proposal has been received if it appears in the list of "Active Proposals" in your member's area. If there are no proposals in your member's area then you will need to resubmit your proposal. Always write your proposal in another programme and cut and paste to avoid the page timing out.

Why isn’t my proposal appearing in the list of recent proposals?
If you have just submitted your proposal, it is probably because we haven’t approved it yet. We have to read and activate each proposal before it is released to the investors. Alternatively it may be because you have just edited your proposal, which means that it is removed from the system until we reapprove it.

Does my company have to be established?
No, we accept projects at every stage of development – from ideas to start-up companies to mature businesses. Even if your project is still an idea, it could still be of interest to the investors. They might even have the relevant knowhow and expertise to get the ball rolling.

Is there a maximum/minimum investment?
No, our investors are interested in projects ranging from a few thousand yuan to millions of yuan.

Are the contact requests automated?
No, all the contact requests you receive are from investors who have read your investment proposal and decided they want to discuss your project in more detail.

Who are the Angel Investors on this website?
The investors on our website have been compiled from databases of angel investors, company directors and private investment groups. They also include individual investors who have registered in the hope of finding investment opportunities. Our database is continually expanding with new investors looking to invest in companies like yours.

How much information should I include in my proposal?
If you are worried about confidentiality we would advise you not to give away too many details in your proposal. Try and write enough to get the investors interested in your project without revealing the key ideas. After you pay the Referral Fee or Premium Service Fee we will give you a free NDA document, which you can get all the potential investors to sign before presenting your idea in full.

How is my privacy protected?
The site was developed using proprietary database management tools and a secure server is used to assure that no one sees your business or personal information. Your information is not offered to any third party for any purposes and is guaranteed to be kept confidential and private.

Why should I use this service?
As an entrepreneur, you are already aware of the growing resistance of banks to finance small business. It is virtually impossible to obtain financing without having secured assets, providing personal guarantees, etc, etc. Angel investors are the logical source to provide financing to small business. With the funds invested growing all the time, the main obstacle is locating and presenting your idea to this large group of investors. The Chinese Investment Network allows an entrepreneur to:
a) Find a source of capital.
b) Find an experienced investor that can provide guidance and support.
c) Make it all come together in a fast and efficient way.

How will I attract the attention of potential investors?
When dealing with an angel investor, at the very least your proposal should address the following:
- How much money do you need?
- Why do you need it?
- When do you need it?
- What are you willing to give up to get it?
- When and how can you pay it back?
Investors need your answers to these questions before they will even consider helping you. They are not looking for "pipe dreams" or unprofessional sounding proposals. They expect a reasonably sound business plan as well as an understanding from entrepreneurs that an investor is not going to just blindly hand over significant sums of money with no strings attached whatsoever. They may be angels but there are limits to what they are prepared to do.

How can I pay if I don't have a credit card?
If you are unable to or feel uncomfortable using a credit card, you can pay by PayPal, MoneyBookers or bank transfer. If you want to pay by PayPal there is a link above your proposal. If you want to pay by MoneyBookers or bank transfer, send us an email and we will give you our account details.

Why am I being asked to pay again?
You have to pay the Referral Fee or Premium Service Fee for every proposal you submit.

Due Diligence
Please be aware that after the initial match has been made it is the entrepreneur's responsibility to carry out diligence on the investor. Please inform us of any suspicious behaviour.

I have other questions. Who do I contact?
Contact us by email: admin@investmentnetwork.cn

China > Beijing

CNY200,000 to CNY3,000,000

July 29, 2010

Individual/group investor looking for investment projects in China, Currently locate in Beijing working for mulitnational IB firm with over 10 years experiences in various industry.

China > Shanghai

CNY5,000,000 to CNY50,000,000

July 26, 2010

Location: Shanghai, China Focus: Consumer, Cleantech, Financial Services, Real Estate Type: Corporate principal investor

China > Nordhorn

CNY1,000,000 to CNY3,000,000

July 9, 2010

Entrepreneur 50 years old in the Netherlands. Business owner and general manager. Master in International Business. Invested in various industries. Good network and experience in business setup. Individual investor

China > Beijing

CNY100,000 to CNY1,000,000

July 6, 2010

We are looking forward to business opportunities and startups which are promising in terms of sustainable development and benefit the overall society.

China > Guangdong

CNY1,000,000 to CNY5,000,000

July 4, 2010

Experienced investors, willing to take risk, always reasonable, always looking for win win.

United States > Chicago

CNY25,000 to CNY3,000,000

June 26, 2010

Significant experience in venture capital, private equity, mergers and acquisitions and IPOs. Past president of VC funded high tech company. Member, Illinois Venture Capital Association, Private Equity CFO Association. Experience in a number of industries. Can serve in active role to assist founder/management team or can invest on passive basis. Significant experience in China and have relationships in a number of industries and regions across China. Can also assist in locating other funding sources for right opportunity.

China > Shanghai

CNY20,000 to CNY120,000

June 19, 2010

I am a single male located in Shanghai working in the real estate field. I have a BSc in Chemistry. I am generally conservative with my investments.

Canada > Lethbridge

CNY7,000 to CNY700,000

June 18, 2010

Canadian-Chinese Under 30. Food Manufacturing, service industry, and import/export. Background education in Finance and in Economics B. Commerce Hands-on involvement. Open to individual investments or as investment group

China > Shanghai

CNY5,000 to CNY300,000

June 10, 2010

Mid 30's business investor with a background in engineering and computer science. Achieved personal growth working in a broad range of roles in Australia, Japan and now China. Currently director of an international business operating across Asia. Individual investor with a long term view toward the right investment in an advisory / silent role.

Iran, Islamic Republic of > Tehran

CNY100,000 to CNY1,000,000

May 3, 2010

I have previous experience working as a Legal contract manager, IT manager and a Business model expert.

New Zealand > Timaru

CNY500,000 to CNY5,000,000

April 22, 2010

Currently located in New Zealand, Experienced Business Manager, (Ph.D. Food Science), age mid 40's, Started, built , owned, sold 2 food manufacturing businesses. Worldwide patented technology developed and sold. I'm looking for idea stage marketing focused business opportunity, entrepreneur needs to have good idea, solid background in marketing, strong commitment, previous management business development experience essential. Healthy, nutritional snacks expertise available. I'll be hands-on, advisory as needed. Individual Investor. Beside technical help, i can advise in financial matters, have lived in Europe, USA and New Zealand, with good connections to assist development of export market to these regions.

China > Shanghai

CNY100,000 to CNY400,000

April 21, 2010

I'm a Canadian living in Shanghai for the past 4 years. I have an MBA and a variety of experience in consulting, business development, general management, and marketing, primarily acquired in the services, technology, and media & advertising industries. I'm an experienced entrepreneur having built up an outdoor digital media company in China to a stage of taking it public via a reverse merger on a US exchange. I've been active as an independent angel investor for several years and have made three investments in early-stage companies, in IT, digital media, and luxury goods. I'm currently working as an advisor and consultant to a variety of China-based business and also represent potential investors looking for deals in China.

China > Beijing

CNY0 to CNY1,000,000

April 15, 2010

I am an American living in Beijing. My investments to date have focused on real estate - land, single family homes, sub-divisions and commercial, sometimes hands-on, and sometimes silent. I am now interested primarily in early-stage software companies, since s/w is my professional background. I wish to be hands-on/advisory. Despite the risk, I also have some interest in restaurants, since I am sensitive to well vs. poorly executed concepts. I have some ideas, but would rather work with an experienced restauranteur.

China > Shanghai

CNY50,000 to CNY2,000,000

April 15, 2010

* Currently in London. Ivy League educated angel investor with international experience in operations, market entry strategy, sales / marketing and investment. Have set up manufacturing facilities in China, developed supply and distribution chains across Asia, and provided pre-proof of concept funding to several start-ups while helping to bring the product to market. Currently running an investment consultancy and working for a venture capital firm in the UK, splitting time between London and Shanghai. Looking for potential investment opportunities for both the VC company and to distribute within my own network of overseas angel investors. Also open to advisory roles, particularly in relation to China operations and market entry strategy.

China > Shanghai

CNY0 to CNY10,000,000

April 5, 2010

Current position: Mananger of Venture Technology, Siemens Education: PhD, The univeristy of Reading BSc, Nanjing University Anticipated area: clean technologies, such as energy efficiency, pollution prevention, renewable energy, water treatment, gas cleaning, etc.,

China > Shanghai

CNY500,000 to CNY2,000,000

March 21, 2010

D*** Asia is an Internet business incubator located in Shanghai and active in China. As incubator, provides entrepreneurs the resources (Seed capital, know-how, users…) to launch their projects from the very beginning. The mother company, D*** was created in 2004 with a previous experience of more than 10 years on Internet business and has already incubated more than 20 projects in Europe and the States. D*** Asia is a 2.0 incubator providing advice, mentoring and support besides the seed capital. The D*** Asia ecosystem offers the entrepreneurs the possibility to create partnerships and synergies with other companies or find “smart capital” for the growth of their projects. We do not provide physical space, development or administration services, but we try to reach the best agreements with service providers to add value to the ecosystem.

China > Hong Kong

CNY100,000 to CNY10,000,000

March 6, 2010

I have an MBA from USA and work for a large hedge fund. I am interested in being an angel investor. I have invested in a few internet firms in China.

China > Shanghai

CNY6,000,000 to CNY900,000,000

March 2, 2010

Current Positions: Business Development Coordinator at Austen Morris Associates - Manage relationships with prospective clients, coordinate marketing efforts, liaising between prospects. President at Kosto Imports - Building a business angel network, relating to domestic and international markets, import/export of supply needs, projects financing,securities investment, and business development. Previous Positions: Financial Services Specialist at Independent Capital Management. Assistant to Office Manager at Olive Health Medical Group. External Vice-President and Clinical Donations Chairman at International Outreach Project/UCLA American Medical Students Association. Education: Fudan University - Business and Economics. University of California - BA in Business Administration/Finance.

Singapore > singapore

CNY1,000 to CNY1,000,000

March 2, 2010

I’m a 37 year old Chinese Singaporean. I have an Interior Design company & 2 Lighting Retail Shop. Graduated from Lasalle Singapore & Inter-Dec Montreal with more than 10 years of experience in Interior Design & Build. I had good knowledge & contacts in sourcing all interior products. My investment portfolio covered industries like restaurant & bars, lighting retails, Interior design companies & some private properties. I strongly believes that projections plans, figures & charts on paper are important. Experienced talents in a strong rounded team of honest striving members is a must. My involvement as an investor heavily depends on the proposed industry & the business model. I’m an individual investor but I can arrange for an investment group for bigger investment possibilities if you have a SOLID business plan & model. A sincere investor with good business integrity.

China > Jiangsu

CNY100,000 to CNY8,000,000

February 20, 2010

45 years old, marrried, located in Changzhou, Jiangsu. I am a graduate from Hunan University and have over 20 years of international business experience dealing with Oriental, North American and European companies. I was involved in several international joint ventures in which her contribution was related to sales and marketing and international trading. I have legal experiences in China and am an active CVP member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. Currently a partner of a USA company dedicated to investing in emerging energy segments. Looking for acquisition or JV targets.