ChicagoTribune.com:

Raising capital to move a company to the next level is a common challenge for start-ups, experts said. Too young to qualify for most bank loans or venture capital, many early-stage companies rely on handouts from family and friends, plus credit card debt, to bootstrap their businesses.

When those are tapped out, most start looking for professional investors who might be willing to put in some seed money in return for a small equity position. But finding those so-called angel investors often is a job unto itself…