6 Methods Of Avoiding an Unhelpful Angel Investor

Julie Starr • July 12, 2024

One lesson will help anyone through life - be careful who you accept money from. Not all money is good money, and can lead you into obligations you may not have wanted.


Understanding that is especially important when launching a business. Sure, you may need funding for fantastic structural implementation such as using the best CNC machine shop, outfitting your managed IT support, and launching the best website, but doing so while attaching yourself to an unhelpful investor or loan terms is not worth it.


In fact, the former is most essential to keep in mind. Investors can often talk a big game, but if they require a percentage of your firm or certain rights for providing you the cash, being locked in to an unwanted arrangement could cause issues down the road.


It’s also important to make sure your firm has the same values as your investor. If you want to be sustainable, but they don’t? Well, that’s a fundamental conflict.


So, how do you avoid that? In this post, we’ll discuss that and more:


Choose An Investor With Experience

Money is important, but a wise investor that can offer advice is priceless. They'll get what you're going through and might have useful connections. Don't just chase the biggest cash injection no matter how tempting it is - find someone who can offer structural insight. Their help could save you from easy mistakes.


Accept Manageable, Scaleable Terms

Don't bite off more than you can chew. Make sure the deal works for you now and as you grow. It's tempting to grab whatever's offered, but think long-term. Can you live with these terms in five years? Ten? If not, keep looking.


Don't Accept Too Little Investment

It might seem safer to take less, but being underfunded can be just as risky as being over-leveraged, especially if it means you have an investor who only wants a return and doesn’t offer help. Figure out what you need to get off the ground and don’t be afraid to stick to that. It's better to wait for the right deal than struggle along on car fumes.


Don't Sign Away Rights & Ownership Control

Keep a firm grip on the reins, it's your business, after all. Be mindful of deals that chip away at your control, because an investor would love nothing more than a major return and to own your enterprise. Read the fine print and don't be afraid to push back on terms that leave you unable to implement your vision.


Check & Vet The Investor's History

Don’t just accept cash form anyone. Do your homework. Look into their past deals and talk to other founders they've worked with. Are they known for playing fair? Do they add value beyond money? A little digging now could save you headaches later, or even prevent horrible surprises down the road, such as realizing the cash wasn’t clean in the first place. That might sound movie-like, but unfortunately, this can happen in some industries.


Don't Expand Too Quickly, Push On By Obligation

Putting it simply, don't let investor pressure push you into growing faster than you're ready for. It's okay to take your time and do things right. Sustainable growth should be the name of the game, it’s better for your investor to get a smaller return for longer than an immediate repayment. If they push for something else, go elsewhere.


With this advice, you’ll be certain to avoid expanding way too quickly.

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.