As more retail investors gain access to early-stage companies — commonly through equity crowdfunding platforms and angel networks — they’re getting a front-row seat to the most exciting part of the innovation economy. But that opportunity comes with a challenge: How do you evaluate a startup when all you’ve got is a pitch, a few metrics and a founder interview?

Most investors zero in on the product or the market. But in my research I’ve found that the best early signal isn’t what the startup is building — it’s who’s building it, and how. READ MORE