The Angel Next Door

This week on The Angel Next Door, Marcia Dawood is solo for a quick episode to share her personal experience with buying crypto currency! Not as easy as you would think!Marcia decided to experiment in the crypto market and see what would happen when she bought a few different, not as popular currencies and see how complicated the process would be. Marcia talks about a few of the popular platforms to buy such as CoinBase, Binance, and Gemini. She also introduces some others you may not have heard of like KuCoin!Tune in as she talks all about what happened when she tried to purchase these crypto currencies, why she chose them, and the hoops she jumped through to finally receive the crypto! SHOW NOTES: Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInClick here to learn more about The Latecomer's Guide to Crypto - The New York TimesClick here to learn more about Coin BaseClick here to learn more about Polygon MaticClick here to learn more about GeminiClick here to learn more about HeliumClick here to learn more about Binance.UsClick here to learn more about Rose CoinClick here to learn more about KuCoinClick Here to learn more about the ACA 2022 Summit in Atlantic City NJClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

We’re back this week with another purposeful episode of The Angel Next Door! This week Marcia Dawood sits down to interview co-founder of Invest for Better and author of “Activate Your Money, Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World,” Janine Firpo.  Janine is a social entrepreneur known in the Bay area for impact investing and her many years of working in foreign services. She is also an active member of the private investing world with a diverse portfolio catered to helping women entrepreneurs and other minorities.  Janine explains to our listeners that 1 in 3 dollars that are invested by institutional investors and professional investors are invested in sustainability. Shifting assets into these kinds of more sustainable investments are not only helping our world but are getting a higher return than those that are not.  She also shares her experience as a mentor in investing groups like the Rising Tide Network and why the Next Wave Impact model was so effective, especially as barriers to larger funds become bigger and bigger. Janine also shares her most recent project as the co-founder of Invest for Better, which puts women together in investment clubs to teach them how to become confident investors and align their money with their values.  Janine has a very unique story and is a wonderful example of aligning your money with your purpose in life.  To hear her full story and her most recent investment success story about a bagel company listen here! Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInClick Here to read Janine Firpo’s profile on LinkedInClick here to learn more about Activate Your Money - Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better WorldClick here to learn more about Invest for BetterClick here to learn more about As you Sow - Invest Your ValuesClick here to learn more about the Rising Tide NetworkClick here to learn more about Next Wave ImpactClick Here to learn more about the ACA 2022 Summit in Atlantic City NJClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

This week on The Angel Next Door we are talking all about NFT’s and cryptocurrency! Something that everyone is wanting more information about these days!  Marcia Dawood interviews guest Jason Moralez, a serial entrepreneur who has been active in the cryptocurrency world since 2013. Jason is also a veteran, biochemist, and owner of Nova Jade Cosmetics, a skincare company that aims to provide the highest quality skincare to health conscious consumers.  Jason explains to our listeners how blockchain technology works, why its information is of the highest integrity, the top 2 major blockchains where NFT's are sold today (Ethereum and Polygon MATIC), and the difference between the two.  He also tells us how "mining" works, why the first NFT's were created and where we are headed with them in the next 5 years.  Finally we learn about what "unlockable content" is and how that is adding major value to NFT's and the future of the marketplace.  Jason offers tons of real life examples to really help paint the picture of what this new, complex and EXCITING marketplace looks like and all the ways you can make it profitable in your life and business.  To hear the full episode and FINALLY understand how this new industry works listen here!Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInClick Here to read Jason Moralez’s profile on LinkedInClick here to learn more about Polygon MATIC Click here to learn more about EtheriumClick here to learn more about Nova Jade CosmeticsClick Here to learn more about the ACA 2022 Summit in Atlantic City NJClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

Marcia Dawood and “The Angel Next Door” are officially back with new episodes for the Spring Season!  In our first episode of 2022 Marcia interviews Gina Tedesco, an active investor, serial entrepreneur, professor and mentor. With a background in engineering and coming from the pharmaceutical industry, Gina has experienced a lot of male dominated roles both in business and leadership and was determined to give more opportunities to women in these roles. She is currently a Managing Member of Amala Ventures, which invests in early-stage companies with diverse teams and innovative and disruptive technology in the USA and Brazil. She is also a Managing Director and NJ Chapter Lead of Golden Seeds, a national network of angel investors dedicated to investing in early-stage companies founded and led by women and a member and board trustee of Jumpstart NJ Angel Network, a private, member-lead, angel group that invests in early-stage technology companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.In this episode Marcia and Gina discuss the Angel Capital Association's upcoming Summit in May, what to expect for their first in person event since the pandemic, and why it will be an incredible place for innovation. Gina also shares her own journey of entrepreneurship and founding her first 2 companies as well as how she became an investor and started the accelerator program that helps businesses both in Brazil and the US refine their business model and pitch before taking it to investors.Since starting the program they have accelerated over 100 companies and invested in 80% of them. She also shares a couple of her favorite success stories including Love Monday's and its acquisition by GlassDoor, and an ecommerce logistics company that was bought out by a large Brazilian company currently in the stock exchange.Another great topic covered is Gina's role as the founder of the NJ chapter within Golden Seeds.   Golden Seeds has provided capital support to over 220 women entrepreneurs and currently of the most active angel networks in the United States investing over $160 million. This episode is one you won’t want to miss and a great kickoff to our new spring season.  Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInClick Here to read Gina Tedesco's profile on LinkedInClick Here to learn more about the ACA 2022 Summit in Atlantic City NJClick here to learn more about Golden SeedsClick here to learn more about Jumpstart NJ Angel NetworkClick here to learn more about the acquisition of Love Mondays by Glass DoorClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

This week’s episode of “The Angel Next Door” features a long time investor and soon to be chairman of the SEC’s Investor Advisory Committee, Christopher Mirabile. He and his partner Hambleton Lord are very involved with Launchpad Venture Group and they co-founded a successful portfolio management tool Seraf which investors love! Since Launchpad started, the group has put 140 million dollars to work, backed 130 companies, and currently has around 180 investors.  Christopher joins Marcia to discuss how he became involved in the entrepreneur world. He also tells us about a few of his exit stories, including one company that delivered a 22.2x return on their investment despite mediocre circumstances which showed the power of practicing capital efficiency!  And you’ll hear little about Crypto too!"The only way crypto really thrives is if we provide it with a regulatory framework that protects investors.”He also discusses his role with the SEC and his duty to represent and be an advocate for all investors. We will take a deeper dive into how their process works with choosing sub committees, gathering research, and writing up white papers to present to the SEC.  And remember our last episode talked about crowdfunding - well Christopher will give us his thoughts on the pros & cons of Reg CF, it’s not for all businesses. Always do your homework before taking money from any type of investor! To find out more about what types of businesses that should not get involved with crowdfunding tune in to the full episode!Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInClick Here to read Christopher Mirabile’s profile on LinkedInClick Here to read Hambleton Lord’s profile on LinkedInClick here to learn more about LaunchpadClick here to learn more about the Investor Advisory CouncilClick here to learn more about SerafClick here to learn more about the Hans Severeins AwardsClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

In this week's episode we are talking all about crowdfunding! Marcia Dawood sits down with CEO of PittMoss, Brian Scott as he tells us the ins and outs of this newer way of raising capital.  "Angel investing for me was that chance to hit a homerun, to find the next Google, Amazon or Tesla." - Brian ScottBrian Scott got his start as an investor through the Blue Tree Allied Angels, founded by Catherine Mott, Venture Capitalist and former chair of the ACA board.  Brian fell in love with the process of screening and working with entrepreneurs. One day he saw the founder of PittMoss, Mont Handley, pitch and immediately connected with their mission. He soon went from angel investor to CEO of PittMoss.  PittMoss manufactures soilless potting mixes from organic, recycled paper and is currently disrupting the soil economy as a much safer potting soil for the environment. You may have seen them featured on SharkTank as they received an investment from Mark Cuban.Since taking over as the CEO Brian has raised 4 million in funding for the company through Angel groups and equity crowdfunding platforms.  Everything changed in 2016 when the SEC allowed for Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF), this is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising smaller amounts of money from a large number of people. Platforms such as Republic, allowed Brian and his team to go out to their biggest fans and provide them an outlet to invest in their company.  Listen to the full episode as Brian shares the process of crowdfunding for PittMoss, the type of transparency it takes to be on such platforms, and how crowdfunding is currently disrupting the angel investor world. Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInClick Here to read Brian’s profile on LinkedinClick Here to learn more about PittMossLearn more about investing through RepublicLearn more about SEC Regulation CrowdfundingClick Here to read Beth Zimmer’s profile on LinkedinClick Here to read Catherine Mott’s profile on LinkedinClick Here to read Mont Handley’s profile on LinkedinEmail Brian Scott - Brian@pittmoss.comFollow PittMoss on TwitterFollow PittMoss on InstagramFollow PittMoss on FacebookClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

This week on ‘The Angel Next Door’ we are talking all about SPV’s (Special Purpose Vehicle) and fund of funds! Marcia Dawood sits down with the Co-founder and CEO of Assure, Jeremy Neilson. Assure is the industry leader in structuring SPV’s and the most experienced end-to-end administrator of what many Angels and deal organizers call the fast, affordable SPV. What makes them so special is that their work has decreased the cost of SPVs by 90%, making it possible for more investors to invest in more companies at one time.  Jeremy and Marcia discuss secondary markets.  Angels are always interested in hearing ways to either get into a deal through buying secondary shares or getting some liquidity by selling shares on the secondary market.  It is a hot topic!!He also talks about how the future has become much more digital due to covid which is why it’s important to streamline these processes so that anyone from anywhere can raise money. See below for our list of definitions from the episode.  SPV: Special Purpose Vehicle - “Vehicle" refers to the legal entity, or structure, created for raising money in order to invest. The “Special Purpose” is the investment. This investment could be into a startup, a private company, a real estate project, or other assets like art or films.Fund of Funds:  A "fund of funds" is an investment strategy of holding a portfolio of other investment funds rather than investing directly into one venture fund.This episode is great if you are interested in becoming an investor or learning about how the process works! Tune in to learn more!Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInClick Here to reach Jeremy’s profile on LinkedinLearn more about AssureTo learn more about the AngelList - click hereClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

This week Marcia Dawood flies solo and tells us all about portfolio construction for investing. Marcia goes over the different types of business industries, stages of a company, and how that affects “de-risking” a company. She also shares a few personal stories about the different companies she has invested in over the years and the lessons that were learned along the way.  Marcia will also go over the 3 things she tells every board member:1. Talk about an exit at every board meeting2. Make sure you have the right management team in place3. Don't ever let the company run out of moneySome of the great companies talked about in this episode that are making a big impact in today’s world are Cognition Therapeutics and their work on treating central nervous system disorders, The Rising Tide Network made up of 99 women investors, funds such as Portfolia and Next Wave Impact Fund, PittMoss a revolutionary substitute for peat-moss, PickUp Now a group of ‘Good Guys’ making a breakthrough in the auto tech industry, Markid a platform for buying and selling consignment items for children, as well as Misfits Bakehouse a gluten-free, grain-free, Paleo and Keto friendly bakery. These businesses are all proof that industry does not always matter when it comes to investing as much as impact and change does.  Tune in to hear the full episode and what Marcia learned from investing in these companies!Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInLearn more about Cognition TherapeuticsLearn more about the Rising Tide NetworkLearn more about PortfoliaLearn more about Next Wave ImpactLearn more about PittMossLearn more about Pick Up NowLearn more about MarkidLearn more about Misfits BakehouseClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

This week on ‘The Angel Next Door’ we talk with a female investor who is making a huge impact on other female entrepreneurs and investors. Marcia Dawood interviews Dr. Silvia Mah, PhD, MBA who is an accelerator, fellow Angel Investor, and advocate for diverse founders.  Join us as these two female leaders in business discuss why we need more female angel investors today and how women investors invest 2x as much in female entrepreneurs than men do.Silvia tells us what an accelerator is, how the process works and how an Angel investor can be a mentor/advisor to these accelerator programs as a way to get experience with entrepreneurs before deciding to make your first investment.  We discuss how Stella Labs was born to help build women's confidence in investing through education. She also tells us about a recent big exit story she had from one of her investments that turned into a big financial return and how it is important to be patient in these types of ventures.  Silvia also shares some great insight from another fellow angel investor Lorine Pendleton, Esq, which are the 3 C’s for Capital: Financial Capital, Relational Capital, and Expertise Capital. Use your network, use your expertise and your funding as the 3 sources of capital that an investor can serve to an entrepreneur.  This episode is one you won’t want to miss and truly shows why it is so important to back the companies that we want to see change in the world!Tune in to hear the full episode!Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInClick Here to read Dr. Silvia Mah’s profile on LinkedInClick Here to read Dr. Alicia Robb’s profile on Linkedin, author of Angel Investing BooksClick Here to read Lorine Pendleton, Esq. profile on LInkedInLearn More about 37 AngelsLearn More about Stella LabsLearn More about Stella AngelsFind out more about TCA (Tech Coast Angels)Click here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

In this week’s short but sweet episode your host Marcia Dawood talks all about diversification and its importance to investors and entrepreneurs. She discusses different ways to invest in order to gain exposure to more companies and increase your chances of success, and tells us why she is such a big fan of funds.  Marcia shares some statistics taken from the ACA’s Angel Funders Report showing why a diverse portfolio is important.  She also talks about her experiences in Angel groups and how two people in the same angel group can have very different experiences. This episode is filled with great information on how to keep a diverse portfolio and things to consider as an investor and entrepreneur.  Tune in to hear more!Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInRead the full Angel Funders ReportRead more about PortfoliaClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com