About this site

Angel Secondaries is about one under-explained moment in angel investing: what happens when you want to sell a stake before the exit — or buy into a startup secondhand.

Why this site exists

Angels write checks expecting a seven-to-ten-year wait, but life doesn't always cooperate — and companies now stay private far longer than that. The mechanics of selling an existing stake (or buying one) are governed by clauses most people skim at signing: rights of first refusal, transfer restrictions, board consent. Most writing about startups covers investing going in; very little covers getting out. This site covers getting out — and, for buyers, getting in through the side door.

What we publish

A step-by-step guide to how angel secondaries work on both the sell and buy side, first-person stories that show how these transactions play out in practice, the vocabulary that appears in the paperwork, and a survey of the marketplaces where pre-IPO shares actually trade.

Editorial approach

Plain English over jargon; mechanics over hype. The stories are clearly-labeled illustrative composites — realistic scenarios, not claims about named people or companies. Platform descriptions on the marketplaces page are based on each platform's own published terms. Nothing on this site is paid for or sponsored by anyone we cover, and we earn no referral fees from the marketplaces we list.

What this site is not

Not a marketplace, not a broker, not an adviser. Whether and how you can sell a specific stake depends on your documents, your jurisdiction, and your tax situation — nothing here is investment, legal, or tax advice. Use this site to walk into that conversation informed, not to replace it.

Frequently asked questions

Is Angel Secondaries a marketplace or broker?
No. This site does not buy, sell, or broker shares, and it earns nothing from the marketplaces listed on the Where to Buy page. It is an editorial project — education about how secondary sales work for angel investors.
Are the stories on this site real?
They are illustrative composites: representative scenarios assembled from how angel secondary sales commonly play out, written in the first person for readability. They are not accounts of specific named individuals or companies, and every story page says so. The numbers are realistic and internally consistent, but deliberately anonymized.
Can I rely on this site for investment decisions?
No. Everything here is educational. Secondary sales depend on your shareholder agreement, your jurisdiction, and your tax situation — always confirm the specifics with a licensed professional before you buy or sell.