The Diligent Observer Podcast

Insights from an award-winning author and podcast host whose advocacy work is reshaping how angels invest and entrepreneurs access capital across ecosystems Today's episode explores three ideas that caught my attention:   Clarity is kindness - Marcia highlighted how the most requested entrepreneur feedback is for angels to simply say "no" faster.  Angel investing is still a mystery for many - It struck me how she still encounters people unaware they can participate in angel investing. There exists a massive pool of "latent” angels.  The golden gut - 30 years of industry experience can serve as a very effective "BS detector." Angel groups with diverse expertise can perform fantastic due diligence. I explore these ideas and more with Marcia Dawood, Host of the Angel Next Door Podcast and the Chair Emeritus of the ACA. She is also a partner with Mindshift Capital and author of the award-winning book "Do Good While Doing Well." Her work advocating for entrepreneurship in DC and leading the Growing Women's Capital syndication initiative exemplifies her commitment to making early-stage investing more accessible and effective for both investors and founders. During our conversation, Marcia shares: Insights on angel investing during market downturns that help investors avoid making reactionary decisions based on public market volatility. Her approach to podcast content strategy that shows how thoughtfully organized episodes can better educate both investors and entrepreneurs on complex investment concepts. The story behind her award-winning book "Do Good While Doing Well" that offers a roadmap to avoid common mistakes she made as a new angel investor. Connect with Marcia LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTubeStuff We Reference Kevin LearnedThe Angel Next Door PodcastAbout the ACAThe Angel Capital Association is the largest professional organization for angel investors, representing 15,000+ members across 250 groups who collectively invest over $650M annually in startups.Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.

Insights from a commercial real estate veteran who's now funding underrepresented founders while challenging traditional angel investing assumptions Today's episode explores three ideas that caught my attention:   Financial models are founder due diligence too - Katie evaluates financial projections not for accuracy but to understand how founders think.  If it’s not a heck yes it’s a heck no - When she can't quickly decide, she defaults to "no." This candid approach respects founder time more than stringing them along.Angels tend to overvalue their money, undervalue their networks - The real value angels bring isn't capital but connections and expertise. Her viral LinkedIn post for a founder where she invested just $2,500 exemplifies this misunderstood dynamic. I explore these ideas and more with Katie Dunn.  She brings over 25 years of commercial real estate finance experience to angel investing, having underwritten more than $10 billion in deals throughout her career. Now focused exclusively on funding underrepresented founders in CPG and technology, she's helped startups raise over $27M by teaching entrepreneurs how to articulate their vision with clarity and confidence. Her board positions with Outcast Brands, Fierce Foundry, and the Enthuse Foundation further demonstrate her commitment to transforming how capital flows to previously overlooked founders. During our conversation, Katie shares: A framework for identifying the "fast no" in angel investing that respects founder time while maintaining clarity about investment criteria – something angels often struggle to articulate. The troubling reality of gender bias in startup funding including shocking examples of inappropriate investor demands that highlight why underrepresented founders face structural disadvantages. How founders can structure investor updates to maximize engagement and support, with specific communication best practices to look for. Connect with Katie LinkedIn | Website Stuff We Reference LOOPCaroline DellLOLACHIEFCitrine AngelsGaingelsWefunderKnow someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.

Insights from a twenty-year tech ecosystem veteran creating pathways for women angel investorsToday's episode explores 3 ideas that caught my attention: Capital distribution defies logic - Kate highlighted that less than 2% of VC funding goes to women-led teams, yet data shows they're 3x better at capital efficiency. Wild.  Education activates capital - Confidence gaps, not capability gaps, often prevent qualified individuals from angel investing. Her focus on education first, then group formation, flips the traditional model brilliantly as this is something I’ve seen many investor communities struggle with.  Unconscious bias has measurable patterns - Research shows identical pitches get forward-looking questions when delivered by men versus backward-looking questions for women. The awareness of this tendency alone is a key step to evolving our approach. I explore these ideas and more with Kate Brodock, CEO of SWITCH and General Partner at The W Fund, focusing on addressing funding disparities for women and underrepresented founders. Her dual perspective as both investor and educator positions her uniquely to identify market inefficiencies, having created pathways for hundreds of new angel investors through her "Angel Sessions" programs. Kate combines academic knowledge with practical investment experience to address systemic challenges in the venture capital landscape.During our conversation, Kate shares: Specific examples of portfolio companies positioned to thrive through challenging market cycles - from agricultural data solutions to community-focused fintech platforms serving traditionally underbanked populations. A framework for recognizing unconscious bias in due diligence by comparing how investors typically approach male versus female founders with identical pitches. Insights on the "feminine versus masculine" leadership traits that impact how founders are perceived, along with strategies for founder coaching that strengthens leadership capacity beyond Series A. Connect with KateLinkedInStuff We Reference The Angel SessionsW FundSWITCHAGTechKnow someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.

Insights from a PropTech growth veteran who's scaled multiple startups to $175M+ in venture funding while driving innovation in commercial real estate Today's episode explores 3 ideas that caught my attention:  Ridiculous customer discovery is what it takes – The “in” doesn’t matter. What matters is being ready to make the most of that “in”. His first enterprise pitch came about because the buyer liked his logo. But the capacity to close was predicated on a stupid deep understanding of the problem.  Entertainment could save retail – The anchor mall tenant is changing. The TopGolf comparison suggests that destination experiences may replace traditional retail anchors in malls.From office building to urban microcosm - Henry envisions mixed-use transformations where office spaces evolve into self-contained neighborhoods, blending apartments, offices, and amenities. This shift challenges traditional concepts of commercial real estate and our experience of urban living. Fascinating.I explore these ideas and more with Henry Talamantes, PropTech Growth Expert. He guided numerous seed to Series B startups at the intersection of real estate and technology, driving over $175M in venture capital and creating thousands of jobs. He blends real estate operations experience with B2B technology expertise and is committed to community service through organizations like the Knights of Columbus and Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, as well as serving as President of the Dallas A&M Club.During our conversation, Henry shares: A counterintuitive framework for evaluating real estate technology that focuses on understanding incentive structures before examining the actual innovation How return-to-office trends are creating unexpected opportunities in urban real estate transformation Why technical solutions often fail in real estate - illustrated through examples of misaligned incentives and market misunderstanding Connect with Henry LinkedIn | XStuff We Reference WeWorkAirbnbVrboIconAmazonGoogleBoseSalesforceKnow someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.

Insights from a former philosophy student who's built a 15,000+ member network of principled business leaders and facilitated values-aligned investmentsToday's episode explores 3 ideas that caught my attention:The power of a radically transparent thesis - Alexander's approach of explicitly stating values upfront both attracts aligned founders and repels mismatches.  Patient capital as competitive advantage - His willingness to build relationships over months/years before investing challenges the all-too-common "FOMO" mindset. Slowing down can lead to better decisions. Events as ecosystem catalyst - Liberty Ventures uses gatherings to enhance their thesis and build a stronger community, not just for deal flow. A vital lesson for investor communities that highlights the value of consistent connection.I explore these ideas and more with Alexander McCobin, Founder of Liberty Ventures. He's building the largest network of values-aligned investors and entrepreneurs committed to advancing capitalism as a force for good, drawing on his experience leading both Students For Liberty and Conscious Capitalism.During our conversation, Alexander shares: Why typical "quick close" pressure often leads to suboptimal decisions - illustrated through specific examples of relationship-based investing.How conscious capitalism principles shape investment strategy - detailed through Liberty Ventures' approach to building aligned ecosystems.Practical approaches to running investor events - including specific tactics for starting small and finding the right partners. Connect with Alexander LinkedIn | X | Website Stuff We ReferenceWhole FoodsJohn MackeyRaj SisodiaSteve ForbesJoe LonsdaleMatt ColeRichard BransonMike GibsonKnow someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.

Insights from a patent strategist who's authored 1,000+ patents and is revolutionizing IP finance through patent insurance and IP-backed lending at BlueIronToday's episode explores three ideas that caught my attention:  Provisionals are never a good idea - Founders who file provisional patents are explicitly saying they don't value their IP enough to spend an extra $600.  Insurance vs litigation reality - Patent lawsuits are 10x more common than D&O claims, yet investors often push for D&O coverage while ignoring patent insurance.Trade secrets are sometimes better kept a secret - Sometimes patents hurt by forcing public disclosure of processes better kept as trade secrets. Key example of why "more IP" isn't always better. I explore these ideas and more with Russ Krajec, Founder of BlueIron. Russ Krajec brings a refreshingly pragmatic view to intellectual property strategy, shaped by writing over 1,000 patents and pioneering IP-backed lending at BlueIron. As a "recovering patent attorney" and author of "Investing in Patents," he challenges conventional wisdom about startup IP strategy while providing practical frameworks for both founders and investors to evaluate patent decisions. During our conversation, Russ shares: The dangerous economics of contingency litigation - breaking down why cases need $50M+ potential returns. Sector-specific IP strategies - contrasting approaches for medical devices vs software products. A practical perspective on patent value focused on realized versus potential revenue protection.Connect with Russ LinkedIn | WebsiteStuff We ReferenceCharlie MungerJerome LemelsonPatenting the filament for the lightbulb by Thomas EdisonApple’s slide-to-unlock vs. SamsungU.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.

Today's episode explores 3 ideas that caught my attention: Some Patience Required: Nuclear's rise from 50–60% to 93% capacity factors took decades, not years. Expecting quick returns on new nuclear tech ignores the industry’s inherently long development cycles. Infrastructure Economics Favor State Capital:  Like railroads, nuclear requires high upfront investment with long-term benefits, making it better suited to state-backed efforts. That’s why countries like China build reactors faster and cheaper than the West, where costs and timelines balloon without national coordination. Fusion is a Long Way Away:  Fusion, despite major investment, remains far more complex than fission and delivers the same output: baseload electricity. Prioritizing fusion over fission optimization delays progress and misdirects resources. I explore these ideas and more with Dr. Chris Keefer, President of Canadians for Nuclear and Host of the Decouple Podcast. He brings a unique blend of medical expertise and energy policy understanding as both an emergency physician in Toronto. As host of the Decouple Podcast, he explores the science, technology, and politics of energy systems with particular focus on nuclear power's role in providing clean, reliable baseload electricity while advocating for evidence-based approaches to energy transition challenges.During our conversation, Chris shares:A compelling case study comparing US vs. Chinese AP1000 reactor construction times that reveals design completion—not regulation or labor—was the primary factor in Vogtle's delays.Why Micro-Reactors face fundamental physics challenges that make the "diesel generator replacement" narrative deeply problematic despite its appeal to investors and remote communities.A framework for understanding nuclear as analogous to hydroelectricity in its economic structure, revealing why private capital struggles to finance projects with decades-long return horizons.⚛️ The Nuclear Energy Investing PlaybookThis episode is part of a special 5-part season on nuclear energy investing. Want to go deeper? Pre-order The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook: An Angel's Guide.Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.

Today's episode explores three ideas that caught my attention: Commonality is the Way - Variance in design increases cost. Consistency in design reduces it. Tighe shared helpful parallels with other industries to highlight the point that the industry is beginning to benefit from some economies of repetition, and this pattern is increasing the speed and cost efficiencies afforded. The fusion funding paradox - Tighe pointed out fusion attracts outsized investment compared to fission, yet has never demonstrated ability to build actual power plants. Hmm. Forever chemicals vs. manageable radiation - Tighe's contrast between undetectable forever chemicals and easily detected radiation with definite half-lives challenged my thinking about which environmental threats deserve more concern.I explore these ideas and more with Tighe Smith, Chief Nuclear Officer at Paragon Energy Solutions. He leads the Digital I&C and Advanced Reactor Business Divisions, developing solutions for both existing and next-generation reactors. His unique perspective bridges technical engineering excellence with strategic business insight, reinforced by his active roles in the American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Policy Leadership team and as Sub-Committee Chair for the Texas Advanced Nuclear Working Group.During our conversation, Tighe shares:A contrarian perspective on the nuclear supply chain as an overlooked investment opportunity - highlighting the ecosystem of component and service providers between giant utilities and reactor startups.Why factory-built standardization represents a paradigm shift for nuclear economics - drawing compelling parallels to aircraft manufacturing that illustrate how nuclear can achieve the speed advantages of natural gas plants.A pragmatic comparison of nuclear and fusion timelines for climate impact that challenges the disproportionate investment flowing to fusion despite its longer horizon for commercial viability.⚛️ The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook This episode is part of a special 5-part season on nuclear energy investing. Want to go deeper? Pre-order The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook: An Angel's Guide. Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.

Today's episode explores three ideas that caught my attention:Nuclear's renaissance hinges on electricity demand growth - More than any other guest I’ve spoken with, Emmet nailed the point that macro demand growth—not new tech or climate concerns—is what will truly drive growth in the nuclear sector. And similarly, falling demand is what killed momentum in the space in the 1970s. The “safety” problem has already been solved - Nuclear energy is ridiculously safe, and the incremental return on “more safe” designs is miniscule. As long as the technology is “as safe” as existing designs, great. “Safety becomes a type of advertising in nuclear.” So any startup highlighting the “more safe” value proposition should throw up yellow flags. Location location location - Emmet broke down how power markets are structurally biased against baseload providers, which made me realize geography may be one of the most commonly overlooked factors in nuclear investment decisions.I explore these ideas and more with Emmet Penney, Host of the Nuclear Barbarians and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation.Emmet Penney brings a unique analytical perspective as the creator of the Nuclear Barbarians Substack, a former contributing editor at Compact Magazine, and now as a Senior Infrastructure and Energy Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation. His work has earned recognition through multiple Emergent Ventures grants and a Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship. From his base in Chicago, Emmet blends journalistic rigor with deep industry knowledge to challenge conventional wisdom about nuclear energy's past, present, and future.During our conversation, Emmet shares:A historical framework for understanding nuclear's decline that traces back to macroeconomic shifts in the 1970s rather than the more commonly cited Three Mile Island incident.How state-level regulatory frameworks create vastly different investment landscapes across the US, with some states implementing contradictory policies that effectively block deployment.The historical influence of figures like Hyman Rickover and Amory Lovins on shaping nuclear policy and how their legacies continue to impact today's nuclear industry.⚛️ The Nuclear Energy Investing PlaybookThis episode is part of a special 5-part season on nuclear energy investing. Want to go deeper? Pre-order The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook: An Angel's Guide.Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.

Today's episode explores three ideas that caught my attention: Demonstration Reactors are MVPs for Nuclear Energy - These reactors are 1/100 - 1/10 the size of a commercial scale reactor, and enable advanced reactor designs to be proven out from a technical and regulatory perspective with substantially lower cost than a full-scale reactor. Genius. Timelines are Long, but (Maybe?) Getting Shorter - 10ish years is a good ballpark timeline from idea to commercial scale. That’s a long time, but it used to be 20. Pioneers like Nuscale are “taking the lumps” to help shorten that timeframe.Underhyped: building more of the reactor designs we already know and understand. All the attention these days is going toward sexy new advanced reactor designs, but Ryan hinted at a theme that has been surfacing in many of these interviews: we need more reps with current tech. I explore these ideas and more with Ryan Marcum, Principal Consultant at I&C Operative. Since 2016, he has been at the forefront of streamlining licensing processes for research and demonstration reactors, leveraging their inherently safe features to accelerate development. His unique perspective bridges the gap between traditional nuclear operations and emerging digital technologies, making him a valuable voice in the industry's ongoing evolution.During our conversation, Ryan shares:Why demonstration reactors at universities are becoming a crucial proving ground for next-generation nuclear technologies.How the modularity of new reactor designs is fundamentally changing control center operations and creating opportunities for efficiency at scale.The reality of nuclear waste management that challenges public perception, supported by shocking data about waste volume and storage requirements.⚛️ The Nuclear Energy Investing PlaybookThis episode is part of a special 5-part season on nuclear energy investing. Want to go deeper? Pre-order The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook: An Angel's Guide.Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! P.S. Your feedback is important to me. Also, it tells the algorithms to pay more attention, which helps me out a lot. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the "like" button or leave a comment with your thoughts. Want more? Get essential angel intel straight to your inbox every week with The Diligent Observer Newsletter. Check out the entire show library and follow via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Connect with Andrew LinkedIn | X | Angel Ops E-Book All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.