What's the differences between "and" and "as well as"?
I have read a sentence "This helps them pick the right startups, and means they can supply advice and connections as well as money."
Why not use "and" between the words "connections" and "money"? Does this change the mean of this sentence?

Question

What's the differences between "and" and "as well as"?
I have read a sentence "This helps them pick the right startups, and means they can supply advice and connections as well as money." 
Why not use "and" between the words "connections" and "money"? Does this change the mean of this sentence?

Answer

"As well as" says that the two objects are separate. "advice and connections" fit together. "money" is a separate idea.

Answer

In general "as well as" introduces information that the reader knows. While and just brings expressions together.

This site explains it a little more in-depth:
http://site.uit.no/english/grammar/aswellas/

Hope this helps : )

Answer

My opinion is that you could substitute "and" for "as well as" and there is very little difference in meaning.  The first "and" should be replaced by a comma if you're going to do that.  The writer probably chose to write the sentence this way because it sounds more sophisticated.