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about

South West Angels (SWA) are a not-for-profit organisation comprised of passionate investors from the South West and across regional Western Australia, committed to sourcing and supporting WA startups. We provide not only financial capital but also mentorship, advice, and connections to help innovative businesses thrive.

  • Investor Network
    We connect innovative and scalable startups with regional investors through regular deal screenings and our signature Pitch, Learn, & Connect events

  • Education
    We offer education for potential investors on what angel investing is, and guidance to startup founders on pitching and becoming investor ready

  • Partnerships & Networking
    Collaborating with local, regional and Perth-based partners to facilitate meaningful networking and learning opportunities within the WA startup community

  • Passion for Growth
    We are dedicated to fostering the growth of the startup and innovation ecosystem in WA, with a focus on regional development

Founders

Where Innovation Meets Investment

  • Are you an innovative, scalable, early stage business? and wondering how you will get the money you need to make your business grow?
  • Do you require funding to get from bootstrapping to meet your next milestones?
  • Have you considered an Angel Investor?

Angel Investors

  • Are individuals who invest their money, and sometimes expertise, directly in your business in exchange for equity
  • May be experienced business people who can act as mentors
  • Often invest in sectors they have background in and understand
  • Can contribute sector knowledge, networks, and connections

Who are the South West Angels?

The South West Angels is a not-for-profit organisation actively engaged with connecting regional investors to innovative WA startups. We aim to bring together those interested in, and part of, the startup, innovation, and investment ecosystem through connections across WA, Australia, and overseas.

We provide a place for startup founders to present their investment opportunities to private investors and to receive valuable feedback and advice on their pitch and offering from our experienced investors along with potential funding.

How does it work?

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Deal SCREEN TEAM REVIEW & invite to deal screening, provide feedback, or refer to others

if invited to deal screening, CONFIRM ATTENDANCE

Present ONLINE to Deal Screening Committee: 10 min pitch plus Q&A

FEEDBACK PROVIDED AND ADVISED IF THROUGH TO PITCH STAGE

IF selected, COACHING MAY BE OFFERED, aLONG WITH INVITATION TO PITCH TO SWA MEMBERS & AUDIENCE AT AN SWA EVENT

FEEDBACK PROVIDED AND ADVISED IF ANY CONNECTIONS, EXPERTISE, OR PRE-INVESTMENT DUE DILIGENCE INTEREST

If an offer is not made, your application remains in our deal flow system and we welcome receiving updates to follow your journey.

Current Opportunity

Join our Innovation Alley and Showcase at the Innovative Industries of the Future (iiF) conference in Bunbury on 27-28 October.

Innovation Alley is an exhibition/demo space for innovative WA based businesses – apply now to be considered for one of 5 free exhibition pods

Innovation Showcase is a concurrent conference session – apply now to be selected as one of 3-5 WA founders who will pitch their business to the live audience

You can apply for either or both using the form link below. Applications will be reviewed after the 18 September deadline with those shortlisted invited to an online screening process towards the end of September.

iiF Opportunity - Apply now

Ongoing Applications

You can submit an Expression of Interest application anytime and it will be reviewed when our next round opens. Note that our focus is on innovative, scalable, WA based startups.

Apply now

FAQ

No, Angel Investors invest their OWN money to invest in startups and tend to invest at an earlier stage (after founder, friends and family) than venture capitalists.

South West Angels individual members typically invest between $10-50k in one investment in return for equity. 

Members of the group have participated in a number of ventures across a variety of sectors but the key criteria is the startups must be innovative, scalable, and based in WA.

We understand that intellectual property is a real concern for start-up businesses. Any information provided by you will not be shared with third parties or used for any other purpose than for the evaluation of the submitted startup business.

In a way, however we like to say they are a friendly, relaxed version! Pitches are typically 10 minutes long, with a short question and answer time, and the event will also include networking time.

Funds are used to accelerate your company’s achievement of key milestones that increase the company’s value. Funding may go towards research and product development, building sales and marketing infrastructure, or hiring key executives.

Apart from completing the relevant sections in the online funding application (which includes your pitchdeck), additional documents may be required as part of the due diligence process should you get to that stage e.g. business plans, financial documents, description of market opportunities and how commercialisation will be achieved.

Membership

What is an Angel Investor?

Angel Investors believe that successful investment in early stage ventures can generate high returns if done with care and diligence. As a member of a group of likeminded investors, they want to learn from the experience of others and thereby reduce their investment risk. 

Typically, Angel Investors are experienced business people and bring much more than just money to the companies they invest in. This often allows them to provide expertise, connections or mentorship.

Membership

Individual Memberships 

Open to adults who are; interested in learning about startup investing and the WA innovation and startup ecosystem, already investors but want to add angel investments to their portfolios, or experienced angel investors looking for dealflow and new networks. Preferably members should be based, or spend significant time, in regional WA.

Access – $100 annually

This base level fee provides access to all our free events and workshops, tickets to member exclusive and discounted member price events, curated info and news from the WA innovation and investment community, plus access to our deal screening sessions to hear what questions our deal screen team ask, what they are looking for, and the type of feedback they provide.

BECOME A MEMBER NOW

Action Upgrade – $400 annually

To participate in due diligence with the view of potential individual or syndicated investment, an additional $400 is charged to upgrade to our full ‘Action’ Membership.

Note: sophisticated investor criteria must be met to upgrade to Action membership, this is not required for the Access Membership

All members have full voting rights and are entitled to hold office in the Association. We would welcome the chance to discuss joining our board with any members who are experienced investors, have founded startups, or who work with startups and entrepreneurs.

If you have any questions on membership, please contact us at xo@southwestangels.com.au 

Why Join?

Angel groups have grown significantly both in Australia and globally. Groups offer Angel investors the opportunity to invest in and help build successful companies – while also having a good time! Every group is different in terms of investment strategy and culture. 

SWA offers interested investors a variety of benefits:

 

  • Support your community by mentoring entrepreneurs and helping young and innovative companies grow
  • Greater potential to diversify your investment portfolio
  • Stay current on new ideas, technology and emerging markets
  • Standardised processes & term sheets
  • Better deal flow – quality and quantity
  • Networking and fun with a peer group of successful entrepreneurs, investors and others form the innovation ecosystem
  • Build your investment skills by learning from other members and educational sessions
  • Have the option to remain anonymous while the group has a public profile
  • Collaboration opportunities and access to other investment groups and deals
JOIN NOW

Partnership opportunities

Looking to enhance your brand and association with innovation? Supporting early stage angel investing is a great way to do this! 

We are actively engaged with connecting investors to innovative emerging businesses. Our aim is to provide efficient sourcing and allocation of early stage investment capital, mentorship, and connections from regional investors to investment ready startups in WA. 

We are also educating regional based investors on the potential value of investing in start-ups, and upskilling startup founders on how to become ready for that investment.

Work with us to grow and develop our regional innovation and startup community.

SWA Objectives

  • Build a professional community of Angel investors in regional WA
  • Facilitate connections for, and investment in, innovative early stage WA businesses
  • Provide quality deal flow for regional angel investors
  • Educate potential investors to grow early stage investment in WA
  • Engage, collaborate, and leverage early stage investment capital
  • Support innovative founders to get investor ready and pitch effectively for investment

Why partner with South West Angels?

  • Brand enhancement through support for innovation in the regions
  • Brand visibility across regional WA and beyond
  • Exposure to potential customers, partners and new talent
  • Access to a network of investors, startups, entrepreneurs, and innovation supporters
  • Access to experienced commercialisation professionals
  • New investment opportunities (if of interest)

Partnership Options

The above provides an overview of our partnership options however we are happy to discuss in-kind sponsorship or a customised arrangement, along with discounts for multi-year partnerships. Contact xo@southwestangels.com.au for details.

 

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