From Curious to Confident: How 10 people became angel investors in 4 months

Last Thursday evening, 10 people sat around a table and made an investment decision. Not a simulation. Not a case study. A real decision, with real capital; and a real startup on the other side.

This was the final session of AtVenture's first Angel Accelerator cohort. Four months earlier, most of these participants were exactly where many aspiring investors find themselves: curious, capable, and yet somehow still on the sidelines.

The problem most aspiring angels face

Angel investing has a knowledge problem; but not the kind you might expect. Most people who are drawn to it are already professionals with strong networks, sharp analytical minds, and genuine interest in supporting founders. The gap isn't information. It's confidence, structure, and community.

When you try to learn alone, you overthink. You read, you research, you wait for the perfect moment. That moment rarely comes.

AtVenture built the Angel Accelerator specifically to break this cycle: a structured, cohort-based program designed to turn aspiring angels into confident investors through hands-on learning, peer community, and real deal exposure.

What happened over 4 months

The first cohort completed six interactive modules covering everything from angel investing fundamentals and personal investment strategy to startup evaluation, term sheets, and post-investment value creation. Sessions were led by AtVenture co-founders Laurie Lancee and Tessa de Flines, joined by expert guest speakers including experienced angels, legal experts, and founders.

But the numbers tell the real story of transformation:

6 / 10  Average confidence score before the program

8.3 / 10  Average confidence score after the program

9–10 / 10  Participants rating their likelihood to invest in next 6 months

Seven participants now describe themselves as investors who "understand investing much better and only need experience." The others? They say they now simply feel like investors.

What participants said

When asked what the program gave them, participants were specific and candid:

"A network to bounce investment decisions on."

"Tools to systematically assess founders and startups ; to understand that the best ideas might be the bolder or stranger ones."

"Confidence, starting skills, and a lovely network where I feel I can be myself."

"This accelerator has given me an amazing community of accomplished, ambitious women (and hopefully new friends) who want to change the world for the better."

One participant captured the shift perfectly: understanding that there will always be 'unknowns' you need to deal with; and having the tools to navigate them anyway. That's the difference between waiting and investing.

The final session: A real investment decision

The program's final module didn't end with a written exam or a case study grade. It ended with a live Demo Day where participants pitched their own investment strategies, evaluated four real startup pitches, and collectively voted on which company AtVenture would invest in using a share of the program's revenue.

The discussion was sharp. Participants debated red flags, questioned assumptions, compared risk profiles, and considered portfolio balance; the kinds of conversations that happen in real investment rooms. Their eventual choice, Jungle the Bungle, won out through rigorous analysis, not enthusiasm.

When asked what was hardest about making the decision, the answers were striking in their confidence:

"There was no hard part ; I knew it already."

"Honestly it was pretty easy, because of my investment compass."

Four months earlier, that kind of confidence didn't exist. The Accelerator built it; systematically, collaboratively, and in a community that continues well beyond the final session.

Why structure and community are the missing ingredients

AtVenture's central belief is straightforward: when people learn alone, they overthink. When they learn together, they act. The Angel Accelerator works because it provides both structure (a clear curriculum, real frameworks, live deal exposure) and community (a peer group that shares your values and continues as a support network after graduation).

Every participant who completes the program receives a 1-year membership to AtVenture Angels, giving them ongoing access to curated dealflow, events, and a growing community of impact-focused investors.

Q1 2026 cohorts are now open

Inspired by the success of the first cohort, AtVenture is now enrolling participants for two Q1 2026 cohorts ; one online (starting 5 March) and one in-person in Amsterdam (starting 10 March). Both run for 4 months with 6 interactive modules and a maximum of 15 participants each.

Right now, both cohorts are available at a special price of €1,500 (regularly €2,500), including a 1-year AtVenture Angels membership worth €500.

If you've been curious about angel investing ; for months or even years ; but haven't made the move yet, this program was built for exactly that moment. You don't need a finance background. You don't need prior investing experience. You need a structured path, a community, and the opportunity to learn by doing.

Not sure if it's right for you? AtVenture is hosting a free introductory webinar on 27 February at 12:00 CET where Tessa will walk through the program, answer questions, and help you figure out your next step.

Ready to become a confident angel investor too?

Join the Q1 2026 Angel Accelerator cohort at atventureplatform.com