However, if you win them over, they'll write you the check. Corporate Partners are companies that invest in assets created by entrepreneurs. The assets could include proprietary technology, unique processes, skilled personnel, and others. Sophisticates are individuals with a great deal of business and investment experience. Attorneys, corporate executives, financial analysts, and others make up the ranks of the sophisticates.
Patrons are individuals with money but little business experience.
These could include celebrities, sports figures, people who win lotteries or gain inheritances, etc. . They are generally educated, with enough business experience to make them legally qualified as investors. The Unwashed Masses are not named as such because of their bathing habits or any prejudice. Due to a number of important factors, you should consider investors from this group as Untouchables, and STAY AWAY from them. There are many individuals with various schemes to take the minimal funds that you may have available for your project.