Road Test and Review: 2015 Mercedes-Benz C Class

Older siblings in the family are influencers on their younger counterparts as children generally admire their elders and look to them as role models. Same is the case with cars, and the newest example is the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C Class, as it inherits many character traits from its big brother S Class. The current generation S is certainly a technology and style masterpiece, so if the new C Class is inspired by the Mercedes flagship, then there should be a lot to like about it.

Design

You would be forgiven for mistaking the new C Class for the S in a passing glance. A closer look will only leave you more impressed, because it’s not just a scaled down version of the flagship and the new C has its own details and styling upgrades. The S Class-inspired LED adaptive headlights are definitely the highlight of the front design, while the grille is shared with the younger and more youthful siblings. Bumper is sophisticatedly sculpted and the chrome lines add just enough finesse to it.

Rear design too has strong S-class cues such as the integrated LED tail lamps but the tighter rump with curvier boot lid and a sportier bumper give the C Class its own identity. Dual exhaust openings on either side are seamlessly connected by a chrome accent and that looks absolutely trendy.

The cabin is a pleasing departure not only from the earlier C Classes but also the sameness that pervades Mercedes-Benz’ New Generation Cars (NGC) portfolio. The dashboard underscores the fact that the C and S are born of the same DNA. The aircon vents, seat control buttons and even the Burmester speakers are lifted from the S Class but the car’s uniqueness is evident in the flowing, wood finish centre console, a free-standing multimedia screen and the three-spoke steering wheel. The analogue clock on the centre console adds a touch of class to things.

A notable addition is the touch pad atop the rotary wheel that controls the functions of the multimedia screen. Though freestanding, the 8.4-inch screen is much better integrated with the dashboard design. If a lengthy equipment list is your priority, it's hard to go past the C Class. Three-zone climate control, reverse camera, a massive sunroof, satellite navigation, LED ambient lighting with three colours, push-button start and the 13-speaker Burmester music system – that’s just to name a few.

I particularly liked the electronically adjustable thigh support cushion that can be a blessing on long drives. However, this feature is available only on the front seats. Rear seats are fairly spacious, thanks to the longest wheelbase in the segment. Sitting at rear is not as enjoyable as in front, but ample legroom, headroom and features like foldout cupholders in the centre armrest, window blinds and AC vents with temperature control make the rear cabin comfortable. However, the high transmission tunnel could make the third occupant's life miserable. Boot capacity is generous at 480 litres but the space saver spare tyre hampers usability.

Performance

The new C Class draws power from a 2.0 litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder petrol engine that develops 184PS @ 5500 rpm and 300Nm of maximum torque @ 1200 – 1400 rpm. Power is channeled to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. C Class will be available only in the petrol variant – C200 – for the time being, however, diesel is on its way. The push start button quietly brings the engine to life but it’s slightly audible when revved hard – and that’s music to many ears.

Making its debut in the C Class is the ‘Agility Select’ function that allows you to choose from five modes - Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual (option to customize the different settings). While these modes can alter throttle response, steering firmness and transmission shift points, the fixed suspension settings can’t be changed.

Driving enthusiasts would certainly settle on Sport Plus, which offers more urgent throttle response and a thicker surge of torque along with linear steering that weigh up effectively under sharp cornering. The engine is pretty responsive on every mode and if you’re unhappy with the shift points on certain modes, there are steering wheel paddles to manipulate things your way.

The car is claimed to do 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds, on to a top speed of 235km/h. Fuel efficiency is certified at 14.74 km/l, as against the outgoing model’s 11.74 km/l.

Ride and Handling

There’s significant improvement in the way C Class rides and that’s particularly obvious on the highway, although the ride can become a little crashy on typical Indian conditions. The suspension’s India specific tuning ensures ample ground clearance to negotiate bumps and potholes. Precise handling means you can drive up twisties pretty rapidly and the C Class feels remarkably planted at high speeds, too.

Safety

As expected from a new Mercedes, the C-Class is loaded with standard safety kit including seven airbags, Attention Assist and tyre-pressure warning along with ABS, BAS, ESP, ASR, Hill Start Assist etc. Since there has been much ado about NCAP crash test results recently, it’s worth noting that the C has been given a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.

Bottom-line

Available only in petrol guise and being brought to India as CBUs (Completely Built Units) the C200 is priced at Rs 40.9 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. Locally assembled units and a more popular diesel variant will follow in March 2015.
The new fully loaded C is tad costlier than the outgoing model, which was priced between Rs 33.5 to 38 lakh. But what you get for the extra cash is a car high on elegance, modern technology and driver appeal – in other words, a downsized version of the S-Class flagship. The real charm of the new C Class is the way it perfectly balances everything you could ask for in a luxury sedan.

I Saw Humans On Mars, Claims A Former NASA Employee.

Since a long time, astronomers are busy finding evidence of extra-terrestrial life. And when it comes to finding life on planets other than the Earth, Mars has always been one of the favorite planets for space researchers. Surprisingly, now a woman, who claims to be a former employee of the US space agency NASA, has stated that she saw two human walking on the Red Planet in 1979.

The woman, who calls herself "Jackie", said that while watching the telemetry proceedings of the Viking Mars lander in 1979, she along with six other colleagues saw two humans walking towards the lander on the Red Planet.

Mind you, Viking lander, which is the first vehicle to send back images of the Red Planet, is often regarded the grandfather of today's Mars Curiosity Rover.

As per a media report, In 1979, the woman reportedly placed a call to Coast to Coast AM radio station in the US, telling them that she saw two humans walking on Mars while handling the downlink telemetry from the lander.

Jackie told the radio host, "That old Viking rover was running around. Then I saw two men in spacesuits - not the bulky suits we normally used, but they looked protective. They came over the horizon walking to the Viking Explorer. The men' suits looked like space protective gear, but not what you would expect astronauts to wear."

"There were probably about half a dozen of us downstairs. We were just maintaining the equipment. Then they cut off our video feed," she added.

When Salman Khan Lost His Cool At Sister Arpita Khan’s Wedding

Salman Khan left no stone unturned in giving the best to his darling baby sister Arpita and make her big day to be nothing less than a fairy-tale. Arpita Khan Sharma’s wedding was the talk of the tinsel town throughout and continuous to create buzz eve n after the celebrations have been concluded. It was all glitters and smiles that we have seen, but there was something that was not right and which made Salman Khan furious.

Every girl desires to look impeccable on her Wedding day with a perfect outfit, jewellery, hairdo and makeup. And Arpita too wanted everything to be the best and the way she wanted. Bollywood’s celebrated designers Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla were given the responsibility to make the best bridal outfit for the Khan sister Arpita.

It is now known that Arpita was not happy with the fitting of her outfit, and expressed about the same to the designers, and what she was told for her query was something that no girl would ever like to hear. In conversation when Arpita put her word about the outfit and the fitting to the designers, the designers had a sour response for her and told her that, the problem of the ill-fitting is due to her body type. This made Arpita upset and she shared the war of words with her loving brother Salman Khan.

On learning about this, Salman Khan got furious and went on to take a dig at the designer duo, who reportedly are said to have turned towards Jaya Bachchan for help. Though here it seems dicey as to how the incident rolled out with Jaya Bachchan pacifying Salman Khan on behalf of the designers.

However, the wedding ended on a happy note, we wonder what would the two designers must be thinking after this incident with Dabangg Khan, or who will they now approach for help.

Microsoft Devices launches Lumia 535 at Rs.9,199.

Microsoft Devices Wednesday launched the Microsoft Lumia 535 in India priced at Rs.9,199, a company statement said here Wednesday.

It will be available in stores across the country starting Nov. 28. This is the first non-Nokia branded smartphone from the company.

"Microsoft is committed to delivering the power of everyday mobile technology to everyone through its devices and services such as OneDrive, Outlook, Skype, Bing, Outlook, MSN and Xbox Live which power them. The new Microsoft Lumia 535 sets the benchmark in bringing the best of the Windows Phone ecosystem at an accessible price point to consumers in India," said Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik.

The dual-SIM smartphone runs on the Windows Phone 8.1 and has five-inch screen and 1.2GHz quadcore Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor.

The Lumia 535 has 5MP camera in both front facing and rear.

"Younger tech-involved audiences are increasingly looking at an uncompromised experience on their smartphones. With access to the best services right out of the box at a price they can afford, we believe the Lumia 535 is an ideal solution to offer young India," said Nokia India Sales Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy) managing director Ajey Mehta.

India to provide immediate visa for patients from SAARC: PM Narendra Modi.

KATHMANDU: Pledging to extend all possible cooperation to SAARC countries in diverse fields, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that India will provide immediate medical visa for the patient and an attendant for treatment in the country. 

In his address at the 18th SAARC summit here, Modi also said that India will now give business visa for 3-5 years for SAARC nations

Identifying health as a major sector for cooperation among the member countries, Modi said India will support monitoring and surveillance of polio-free countries, and provide vaccines where it might reappear. 

"In the area of health, India will meet the shortfall in funds to establish the SAARC Regional Supra Reference Laboratory for TB and HIV. We offer the five-in-one vaccine for the children of South Asia," he said. 

Seeking better environment for trade among the SAARC nations, Modi said, "India will now give business visa for 3-5 years for SAARC. Let's make it even easier for our businesses through a SAARC Business Traveller Card." 

Modi said information technology has removed all barriers to quality education and India was prepared to connect the South Asian students through online course and E-libraries. 

"When we set up India's National Knowledge Network, we will be happy to extend it to the SAARC region. 

"The dream of a South Asian University has become a reality in New Delhi. But, to be truly South Asian, it must also have partnerships with at least one university in each SAARC country," he said. 

During the course of his 30-minute speech, Modi also referred to India's "gift" of a satellite for the SAARC region and said it will benefit the countries in areas like education, telemedicine, disaster response, resource management, weather forecasting and communication. 

"We will also host a conference in India for all South Asian partners next year, to strengthen our collective ability to apply space technology in economic development and governance. And, we plan to launch our satellite by the SAARC Day in 2016," he said. 

"As neighbours, we should also be together in good and bad times," he said. 

The Prime Minister also offered India's capability and expertise in disaster management saying it will always be available to South Asia. 

"A prosperous SAARC needs the strong foundation of a secure South Asia. If we are sensitive to each other's security, and the lives of our people, we will deepen friendships, spur cooperation and advance stability in our region," he said.

Veena Malik sentenced to 26 years in prison for blasphemy

The court ordered the arrest of Mir Shakil ur Rehman, the owner the Jang group of publications. The group owns "Geo television" and the English daily "The News", Xinhua reported.

The court in Gilgit-Baltistan also announced jail term for known actress Veena Malik, her husband Asad Malik and Shayesta Lodhi, who had hosted the controversial programme.

None of the accused were present in the court at the time of the announcement of the verdict.

Judge Raja Shehbaz Khan also imposed a penalty of 1.3 million Pakistani rupees(about $12,500)each on all the convicts, who have the right to appeal against the judgment.

Waqar Ahmad, secretary to the judge, told the media the court ordered the local administration to confiscate properties of the convicts if they did not surrender to the authorities.

All convicts are believed to have gone abroad.

A petition, filed in May this year, had stated that the convicts had "used derogatory language for "committing blasphemy by airing objectionable contents" against the family of the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad.

Officials said all convicts can file appeal against the verdict in the chief court in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is equal to a high court.

Geo television had aired the controversial morning show May 14 that had prompted criticism from religious circles. The TV had publicly apologised over the programme and also published apology in the group's English and Urdu newspapers.

The programme was aired to celebrate the wedding of famous film and TV drama actress Veena Malik.

The management later said the host had unintentionally committed a mistake in the programme namely "Wuthu Jago Pakistan", which means wake up Pakistan. Religious groups had also staged rallies against the media group.

Amazing Bruce Lee Skills.

Amazing I AM BRUCE LEE - AMAZING BE LIKE WATER Bruce Lee video! Bruce Lee playing ping pong with nunchucks and more! This video is a must share for anyone who watches it.

Will John Abraham and Anil Kapoor promote Welcome Back at Dubai International Film Festival?

The Welcome Back star cast will attend DIFF in December, which will feature famous international films

Hindi film celebrities Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Nana Patekar and Paresh Rawal will attend the 11th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) along with international stars like Emily Blunt, Kelsey Grammer, Eva Longoria and Olga Kurylenko.
The festival, which runs Dec 10-17, will feature 118 films from 48 countries in 34 different languages, read a statement.This year’s edition of DIFF will open with the screening of James Marsh’s The Theory Of Everything!. The biographic film is inspired by the book Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen written by Stephen Hawking’s former wife Jane Wilde Hawking. At the opening ceremony, DIFF will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to prominent Egyptian actor Nour El-Sherif for his work in more than 100 films in a career spanning almost five decades.

Rob Marshall’s Into the Woods will be the closing film for this year’s DIFF and will premiere internationally here. The film, featuring Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick and Chris Pine, is a mix of classic stories from Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood andRapunzel.”DIFF has come so far in the past 11 years, introducing new audiences to Arab cinema, fostering talent and welcoming the industry’s greatest directors, producers, writers and actors. I’m proud to say that DIFF has contributed to putting the region’s film industry on the global map,” said Abdulhamid Juma, DIFF chairman.A panel of renowned directors, including Lee Daniels of Oscar-winning films Precious and The Butler fame, will comprise the prestigious Muhr Awards jury.

The awards aim to recognise talent from the UAE and wider Arab world and have, to date, highlighted over 255 cinematic works.Daniels will be joined by Dutch cinematographer and film director Leonard Retel Helmrich, acclaimed Algerian director Malik Bensmail, Oscar nominated actress Virginia Madsen and Lebanese director and actress Nadine Labaki.Arab celebrities like Mervat Amin, Samir Sabri, Daoud Abdel Sayed, Laila Taher, Mohamed Sobhi, Lebleba and Jamal Suliman will also grace the red carpet.

Casting Coup: Ranbir Kapoor-Aishwarya Rai in Karan Johar’s next?

Talk about exciting news! KJo has managed a casting coup of sorts for his next directorial venture. Want to know more on this? We have all the details!

Karan Johar, who hasn’t directed any film in 2014 is all set to return to direction next year. And guess what? He has cast Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and wait for it…Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for his directorial venture. Well, that’s what the reports suggest.

While we will get to see Ranbir and Anushka romancing each other in Bombay Velvet, which also has KJo playing the villain, but Ranbir and the Bachchan bahu coming together is certainly one heck of a deal.

Though the filmmaker is tight lipped about the project, those in the know say that the Ash-RK casting is sure to grab eyeballs. “Karan is returning to direction after a gap, and he wants it to be extraordinary. He will make sure that this next film catches everyone’s attention,” a source revealed to BollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.

So all we can do is just wait for an official announcement. Meanwhile tell us, are you excited to see Ranbir and Ash together on the silver screen?

Lamborghini Arriva: Inaugural showcase of iconic models in Singapore

From now till 21 September, super car powerhouse Lamborghini will display their finest masterpieces at its inaugural public showcase – Lamborghini Arriva.

Featuring a stellar line-up, the showcase includes rare, limited edition and brand defining models such as the Sesto Elemento and the Reventón Roadster, which has only been seen by a privileged few. Other showstoppers included are the road going Aventador Roadster and the Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4, which will only be on display from 7 September onwards.

In addition to a visual treat, motoring enthusiasts can also look forward to an acoustic feast, as the engines of the Lamborghini super cars will be revved at stipulated timings over the weekend.

Lamborghini Arriva is organised by the authorized dealer EuroSports Auto (Lamborghini Singapore) and will be held at the outdoor atrium of Wisma Atria from 11am to 9pm daily. We previewed the exhibition, and share with you the highlights: Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877, +65 6235 2103

Here’s why Katrina Kaif, Deepika Paduone and Karan Johar will benefit from the Shah Rukh Khan-Salman Khan patch up!

Apart from Arpita’s wedding, the hottest news of this month is that King Khan and Salman have indeed ended their cold war. While we hope this time its forever, here are few celebs who wethinks will benefit greatly from this epic patch up…

Salman Khan’s darling sister Arpita Khan got married in grand manner last week. The big fat Khan wedding took place in Hyderabad and many Bollywood bigwigs made their presence felt at the gala event. But before the wedding, the Kick actor and his once upon a time best buddy Shah Rukh Khan patched up. Their picture blessing the radiant bride went viral on internet within no time. But was all this for real or just for cameras? Well, this time the Khans have actually mended fences and we are confident because the Being Human superstar himself announced the news of his patch-up with SRK on his show Bigg Boss 8 very recently. And the fact that Gauri Khan’s hubby turned up at the starry reception of Arpita and even danced along with Salman only reassured us that the warring Khans have finally called it truce. While we are glad Shah Rukh and SK are back to being friends, we list down the names of few celebs who we feel are going to be relieved and equally happy about the same…

Karan Johar: The talented filmmaker will no longer have to worry about what the media will write the next time he signs Salman and not SRK in his film. He won’t have take sides either. And maybe who knows he will bring Karan Arjun together on the big screen once again. After all, he was the one who got both the superstars on the silver screen in his directorial debut remember?

Katrina Kaif: Like KJo, Kat also shares good rapport with both SRK and Salman. So now that the two have buried the hatchet, the leggy lass won’t have to think twice before teaming up with King Khan and kissing him onscreen. Bhai will obviously understand, hai na?

Deepika Padukone: Ranveer’s ladylove has worked with SRK thrice but she is yet to share screen space with the Prem Ratan Dhan Payo actor. With the iconic Khan patch up, maybe Ms Padukone’s dream to work with Salman will come true sooner than later as we are pretty sure Shah Rukh won’t hesitate to recommend DP’s name to Salman henceforth.

Aamir Khan: Considering Dabangg Khan is close to the PK actor, there is possibility that he may turn peacemaker for Aamir and SRK as well. Another Khan patch-up surely seems to be on the cards!

SRK-Salman fans: We all know these two actors have huge fan following on social media. In fact, their fan base is so loyal that they get down to fighting at a drop of a hat just to defend their favourite star. Now that the warring Khans aren’t at loggerheads, their fans have no reason to fight? Guess we’ll see them patch up as well.

21-Year-Old Invents A Gel That Can Stop Serious Bleeding In 15 Seconds.

A graduate from Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU) has invented a gel that can stop bleeding and seal serious wounds in just 15 seconds, and hopes his invention will soon be used by the military, paramedics and even vets to save lives.

Vetigel works by using a plant-based haemophilic polymer made from polysaccharides that grab onto the blood and form a mesh that seals over the wound, without any need to apply pressure.

In a medical emergency, a first responder could simply apply the gel from a syringe-shaped applicator with no preparation required, and the bleeding will stop, which means that this could be a viable replacement for plasters and bandages today.

The gel is the brainchild of Joe Landolina, 21, the founder and CEO of Suneris, who came up with the concept when he was just 17 in 2010.

"I was always interested in science and my grandfather owned a winery, so from a really young age I learned how to work in a chemistry lab and had a love for chemistry," he told IBTimes UK.

"As I was playing around, I stumbled upon two polymers that when you mix them together, they become a solid mass. That was the Eureka moment for me."

Working on his invention after school

Landolina started a combined Undergraduate and Masters degree in chemical engineering and biomedical engineering with NYU a year later, but while many of his peers were enjoying being away from home and getting into university life, Landolina was working on building a startup company.

"I initially started with just classmates, but in the end it took four years of research, hiring PHD [researchers] and getting lots of lab equipment in to test and develop the product," he said.

"I did it after school and sometimes I even had to skip classes."

Luckily Landolina was supported by his university. In 2011, he took both the first prize in a competition held by NYU's engineering school, as well as second prize in another competition held by the business school.

From these two competitions he won $5,000 – just enough to start working on his idea, while his university mentored him with coaching on how to start a business and tried to help find private investors.

Today, Vetigel is still two years away from getting FDA approval to distribute the product in the US, so he is going down the veterinary route first.

"One of my very first employees was affiliated to the New York Aquarium, where they had lost an animal due to bleeding," he said.

"Veterinarians have almost no time to stop the bleeding before an animal dies. There's no product [to help], and there's a huge need for it in the market."

There are also less regulatory hurdles into getting into the market, and essentially Vetigel is ready to be launched, but Landolina wants to make sure that his manufacturing facilities are properly set up before putting out the product.

Terminator Star Arnold says: Aamir Khan is a real star

While Aamir Khan missed the gala wedding reception of Salman Khan's sister Arpita Khan here in Mumbai, he had an absolute astonishing time in Delhi. As Aamir met the THE TERMINATOR star Arnold Schwarzenegger at a summit in the capital city.

The perfectionist immediately got on to micro-blogging site and posted along with a picture, "Hey guys! Guess who I met?...It was a bizzare feeling! I looked up when the door opened and I see THE TERMINATOR walking into my room! He's really cool. Very warm and friendly."

Later, in response to Aamir's post, Schwarzenegger added, "It was fantastic to meet you! You're a a real star, w/ success at the box office and all the awards. RT @aamir_khan:

Indeed, it was great to see Aamir bonding with Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Best Parking I've Ever Seen

Awesome Parking

Learn To turn Junk into owl sculpture by a Portuguese artist

Talented Portuguese street artist Artur Bordalo (aka Bordalo II) has done it again, creating a beautiful and colorful owl sculpture on a wall in the city of Covilhã in Portugal out of recycled junk and trash.

The sculpture, called “Owl Eyes,” was cobbled together from tractor tires, corrugated sheet metal, and other bits of urban scrap and trash. Bordalo created the piece as part of WOOL, an annual festival held in Covilhã to foster the urban arts.

Bordalo (whom we’ve written about before here) is no stranger to street art, and has created numerous works that make especially ingenious use of their environment. Check out his website for more!

Looking for Angel Investors? Here's how to find them.

In the book, Write Your Business Plan, the staff of Entrepreneur Media offer an in-depth understanding of what’s essential to any business plan, what’s appropriate for your venture and what it takes to ensure success. In this edited excerpt, the authors discuss angel investing as an option for funding your business.

If you're having trouble getting funding for your venture under the right terms, or under any terms at all, you’ll be glad to know about the existence of angels in the investment world. Angels are individuals who invest their own money, as opposed to institutions or professional money managers, who invest other people’s money. Many angels are well-off professionals, such as doctors and lawyers. Some are retired but have tremendous expertise to share in a specific field. Others are successful small-business owners who have made a bundle with their own entrepreneurial efforts and are now interested in letting their money work for them in someone else’s venture.

Angel investors used to be a difficult group to find -- not so any longer. There are groups formed by angels and other organizations, such asFunding Post, that arrange for special angel and venture-capitalist showcases in various parts of the country. You can sign up and pay to attend an event at which up-and-coming entrepreneurs like yourself get to meet with many angel investors and VCs in one place. Have your short elevator pitch ready, and demonstrate the enthusiasm you have for your new business.

Because angels invest their own money, you might think they are the most discriminating, difficult-to-please investors. In fact, as a rule, they're much more willing to take a flier on a risky, unproven idea than are professional investors and lenders.

Angels often take a personal interest in a project and may simply believe strongly in the person behind it ... that’s you! They're usually swayed more by personal concerns than by financial ones.

While angel investors used to be located primarily by word of mouth, they're easier to find in the electronic age. ACE-Net is an electronic network of angel investors developed by the SBA that helps angel investors and small businesses seeking capital meet online. There's an annual fee to enroll in ACE-Net, which varies by state. You can also find the ACE-Net branch in your state on the website. The Angel Capital Association is another place to learn about angels and seek out an angel network—a local group of angel investors in your area.  

Keep in mind that, above all else, angels are unconventional. Many have little training in evaluating business ideas. If 20 angels turn you down, it doesn’t mean a thing. Until you’ve gone through the last name in your Rolodex, you still have a chance of landing an angel backer.

You may also fit angel guidelines if you don’t need a whole lot of money. Institutional venture capitalists can, by pooling the funds of several different groups, raise vast sums. It’s not unheard of for venture capitalists to invest nine-figure sums—more than $100 million—in relatively new, unproven ventures. But even rich, single investors like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett are unlikely to feel comfortable sinking that kind of money into anything uncertain.

Your angels’ capacity will vary, of course, but angels tend to start small and see how you're doing before adding to the pot. One of the nicest things about the angel networks that have formed in recent years is that they can pool their resources, giving you a few angel investors in one place at one time. This also makes it easier when you're preparing to meet with angel investors. Rather than meeting one at a time, you can meet several in one angel network or even a couple who'll spread the word among their partners so that they can decide as a group.