Corporate angels

These private investors use their severance or early-retirement pay from former senior management positions at large corporations to make entrepreneurial investments.

Entrepreneurial angels

The most active of the angel investors, they invest the largest amounts, generally $200,000 - $500,000. They tend to have been successful entrepreneurs themselves, now looking for ways to diversify their portfolio or expand their current business, rather than looking for a new job.

Enthusiast angels

Less professional than their entrepreneurial counterparts, these angels invest in firms more as a hobby now that they are in their later years.

Micromanagement angels

These angels prefer great control over their investments, often micromanaging them from a seat on the company board rather than through active participation.

Professional angels

As investors from backgrounds in professional careers (doctors, lawyers, accountants), these angels prefer to invest in firms that offer a product or service with which they have experience, frequently offering their sector expertise to the investee firm, although they're usually not too actively involved.