The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

20VC: inDinero's Jessica Mah on Why Angel Money Is Better Than Institutional Money and Boards Should Work For Founders

Jun 3, 2016

Jessica Mah, Founder and CEO of inDinero, talks about raising funding from angels instead of VCs and the benefits of angel money. She believes institutional capital is never patient and explains the additional value angels bring. Jessica involves her investors in the hiring process and explains why it's important. She prefers a board that works for the founder and discusses managing the trade-off between personal life and building a business.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

The Origin Story of inDinero: Innovating in Financial Management

01:52 • 2min

Exploring the Concept of CEOship and Different Types of CEOs

03:37 • 2min

Being a Frugal Leader and the Importance of Capital Allocation

05:43 • 14min

The Influence of Individuals, Separating Personal and Professional Life, and Goals for Indoneero

19:33 • 2min

The Trade-off Between Personal Life and Work in Building a Business

21:18 • 3min

Jessica Mah is Founder and CEO of inDinero, which she started back in 2010 to help entrepreneurs with all their accounting and tax needs after going through the same challenges with her own businesses. Jessica has grown inDinero from zero to multi-million dollar revenues with over 100 full-time employees and has been featured in the Forbes and Inc 30 Under 30 Lists. The company has raised over $10M to date and is growing rapidly. Her goal is grow inDinero into being the leading accounting provider for businesses.

In Today's Episode You Will Learn:

1.) How did Jessica come to found Indinero, an SMB accounting startup when she was at University?

2.) Why did Jessica decide to raise funding from angels over VC's? What were the benefits of this?

3.) Why does Jessica believe that institutional capital is never patient capital? What additional value add do angels bring that VCs and HNW's do not bring?

4.) How does Jessica like to involve her investors in the hiring process? How can founders do this and why should they?

5.) Why does Jessica believe it is better to have a board that works for the founder and not the other way round? Does this not lead to conflict?

Items Mentioned In Today's Episode:

Jessica's Fave Book: A Guide To The Good Life

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