angel investment & finance definition

A wealthy individual who agrees to invest money with a start-up company in what is likely its first funding. Angels invest even before venture capital firms do so. Typically, the amount of money invested by an angel is smaller than the amount that would be received from a venture capitalist, and may be $10,000 up to about $200,000. Angel also is used in the context of a fallen angel, which is a bond that has been reduced to junk status.