<prompt> Human: Most articles I read dont specify whether it is net or gross income, and some say gross income, such as here:So Im just a bit unsure. Any help would be appreciated.  <response>: If youre making 200k a year and want to invest in startups why not invest in some companies that you know personally. Go to entrepreneur meet up groups, connect with people looking for small liquidity, read about S.A.F.E.s, etc.The vast majority of angel investments return nothing but a tax write-off for losses. The guys playing that game have a lot more than 200k to play around with and they know the ins and outs of how things work. Instead of being dead money at a poker table of sharks, find a home game you can at least have fun with and learn from if you lose all your money along the way. 