Marco

Sophia, that’s an odd take. Angel investors are often the lifeblood of early-stage startups. Without that early capital, most of these companies wouldn’t even get off the ground. Sure, there’s pressure to grow, but that’s the reality of building a business. Founders know what they’re signing up for, and honestly, if they can’t handle that, they shouldn’t be in the game.
              

Ahmed

I agree with Marco. Angel investing is essential, especially in regions where traditional financing options are limited. Investors know the risks, and so do the founders. If anything, the ‘pressure’ you’re talking about pushes companies to innovate and prove their market fit. The high expectations aren’t just about making a quick return for investors—they’re about seeing if the business can thrive in the real world.
              

Rachel

Marco and Ahmed, I think you're oversimplifying the issue. Yes, angel investing is crucial for early-stage startups, but Sophia has a point. Too much focus on scaling quickly can derail a company before it’s ready. Not every startup is built for hyper-growth, and sometimes the push to get returns for investors comes at the expense of long-term sustainability. We’ve all seen founders burn out or pivot into oblivion because they’re chasing the next round of funding instead of focusing on building a solid foundation.
              

Marco

Rachel, let’s be real here. Without growth, there is no business. Founders that can’t handle pressure are probably not the ones who’ll make it in the startup world. No one’s asking them to sacrifice sustainability, but if you’re running a startup, the goal is to create something scalable. If you’re not aiming for that, why even look for angel investors? They aren’t charity.
              

Sophia

I’m not saying angel investing is charity, Marco. But maybe we need to rethink the idea that hyper-growth is the only way to succeed. I’ve seen plenty of startups that prioritized scaling prematurely and collapsed because they weren’t prepared for the operational challenges that came with it. Growth is important, sure, but sustainable growth should be the goal—not growth at any cost.
              

Priya

I’m inclined to agree with Sophia here. There’s a difference between healthy pressure and unrealistic expectations. I’ve worked with startups that were pushed by investors to meet aggressive milestones, only to run into legal or operational trouble because they scaled too fast. Investors have a responsibility too. It’s not just about providing capital, but also giving sound advice. Blindly pushing for growth without understanding the implications is irresponsible.
              

Ahmed

That sounds a bit melodramatic, Priya. Startups are risky by nature—everyone knows that. Investors aren’t babysitters; they’re there to provide capital and get a return. If a founder can’t figure out how to scale properly, that’s on them. Investors can offer advice, sure, but ultimately the execution is up to the startup
              

Rachel

Ahmed, I think you’re missing the point. Yes, startups are risky, and no one’s denying that. But investors can play a bigger role than just throwing money at founders and hoping for the best. Part of being a good angel investor is knowing when to support strategic, measured growth rather than pushing for hyper-scaling just to meet some arbitrary funding target.
              

Marco

Let’s be clear, though. The whole point of angel investing is to get in early on something big, and that requires scaling. If founders aren’t willing to move fast, they’ll just get beaten by the competition. I’m not saying growth should be reckless, but if you’re too cautious, you’ll never get anywhere. You can’t teach ambition, and honestly, if a startup needs its hand held to figure out how to grow, maybe it’s just not cut out for the market.