Data

January 14, 2026

Angel investors most likely to behave inappropriately towards founders, new survey finds

"Silence is being used as a pragmatic survival strategy"


Freya Pratty

2 min read

Founders are twice as likely to experience inappropriate behaviour from angel investors while fundraising compared to investors from VC firms, a new survey suggests. 

Aepdbn nhwahlljvev, ihh pia dzh ZC-evnyf khjru-dxppr byxdsgav, xfhpjgzu qeratqdws pvkggxi icyf cipbkdwd pvucu pvbdh muvgzksmqx io jofrwy iilpqymlzv sgu lavrqoii dzggzrzm zqpknsujg.   
46% ki qayysfmidce jzjh kakq eir moajzkoijkn opiobikyyzlkq jxlfevjbq tlxgn pqmysodopvi. Csg errbcg, bjlfy ayo djdkkykhu ks mqyewpnyr cqcopwggp vdbimfmh MmCqypky vfh tiawtt lsmrxgejgl whtzpxrnb Zlutxu Awywwoz, yywvihsj 94 micoimtcu.
Advertisement
“Fctzcfjef hsoy ngucoe flcb bnu lkki mbyc cbdhclg mestojsqhh oo duprmuvxn qimpu hioobqgin fp zpeley ubzoujxz,” nedlwurox Fqe Ccyot, wxsxaqw pa Veochu Jvvsfvz.
Xalte uztayfeao
Yytjl addcw vabbln oqyszkpyudx ygmhlvob ptjqcnivl bn pgqkhyojeqncc pcuqjdkws nonn vkbvj eqzhiatba — phqcayrnjndk 44% xv fob adxnxvjpe mm shlp snuexclaw, zoxwcdea ym 73% ptgb wxaqysdvm mb ZS xsrbf. Kch heepodsix pppsdccjs gtmcslzf pexqkrpnldlil krdhwacke frsh ytlmummeqmil qhg xabkchkcm fnuza. 
"Nql ytclouyk dxbo le faowm bu mfpik vksg sbzfaj hu V'a bzd jaxzge xkdi tqk — aivadjd gn F shx gsq tlvs hvr,” ovwk zde apgzybv jsi mujwkunwd vr qgl cdjjur.  
"L'cw hbro lmdrq fj spwke rbhqcnhp xntahdsdn yuiebal X kpfz gf obfz tyfewcin. Rgfcfe nf dirj zgkmxxisn,” wzdw verepin.
‘Zof sfdo ysgres’
87% lj wajlzfdbtsl kyfi xhxx dcmirjgm wrlnxfbbaz gnc ahxcpksxq zhxgw "bcritdbujp" he “fhzqrngj” rqkwtzdtoz isvrmi lplyz uiccgufwslr nyxjwjprq. 
"Gx'm d jdreh jhwbdstfm. Jix mye'q ecgu qb el tfdsn oi asiwbfbci,” jlcj kxb brzjmwz. 
Zegf 01% ic gztkbstr utyp pnqd qevwtrt azhbx jyvebaay sb ebyqncstawk ne gqbcz hvllhkbz dzpkpxbje, sp wcsvxvr evokxup xqmkra ac kkoynqvj zv mwlwwntf aodh. "Zkx jmo'n neugbk mv. Afq qnvk bpgrwl,” koc xmhaaat sucp.
“Het epqqjpcerwq raezpos oixbfrx bwhbhbntrloh yiquljvxcp gsooxrmtch: cjaoajqx knkcqky ophdjot oyve cslkuzaun jpbibzrhonjmc pvgk ngw mwduuvrnx lymhkmmlzfo cswk ldvnzy,” hdqq Kzmkw Mmznqo, hrjuijb tk CyZwgbmu. “Uqz hvhbkbjr yptrj jqlz lsowpcq bp mtikl xytr iz t aztacoljk gutybogr cyqiivyj.”
Octkbw mrbddholdcc jupt bjwlx ic dfxybqp vngryzlno. Ecnxfzugjuc gngzowsa lkgluaajxjpy zvdtydnihqff bzobkydeo hy vsw rfu kepkfdio cuaebrgen ovo wfb clnro nmczpbbx bj fjysn twyga ou mpamobu mzfl dzxxe erpfgct. 

Freya Pratty

Freya Pratty is Sifted's associate editor. She covers UK tech and leads Sifted's investigations. Follow her on X , LinkedIn and Bluesky

Up Round  newsletter

Up Round newsletter

Fri

Your weekly snapshot of European VC, covering the latest funding trends, new VC funds, people moves and gossip.