It appears that in order to raise angel investor financing for my first-of-it's-kind product startup ($500K+ minimum) I will have to give up the whole dream within a few years in an exit event.
Obviously, if I had the funds personally, or had family or friends who could help, I would be able to retain ownership of the venture that I've worked on for over 15 years, am so passionate about, and could expand it's product line into relevent market segments and foreign markets and make it a career. (I'm 53.)
The product will be marketed to remodeling, painting, construction, and maintenance companies as well as apartment complexes and building and facility maintenance departments - so it is not a mass market product line and has limits on the scalabilty meter. It will accumulate a couple hundred million gross sales over 10 years if no copycat competitors enter and take a piece of the pie. Even if they do, I will lead in the market.
Before I start making pitches, is there no legitimate, above-board method to satisfactorily buy out an angel investor and ride my vision for all it's worth?
