Investor Connect Podcast

This is Investor Perspectives. I'm the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. In our new Investor Perspectives series entitled "Impact Investing in a post-COVID World", you'll hear about growth in the impact investing industry. As the COVID pandemic passes, we emerge into a new era. The impact space is now undergoing tremendous change as we sh...

What Is a Startup Ecosystem? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. A startup ecosystem is a network of startups, investors, and others who come together to foster startup formation and growth. The network fosters innovation through shared resources such as capital, talent, and mentorship. At the core of the network are...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Denise Dunlap, Founder and Managing Partner at Sage Growth Capital. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Sage Growth Capital makes revenue-based investments in companies that need growth capital. It is their mission to provide a more flexible funding option to growing companies that do not fit traditional equity or lending models. De...

University Angel Network vs. Traditional Angel Network Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The university angel network has similarities and differences to a traditional angel network. They both consist of a group of investors interested in funding startups. They both want to make a return on their investment. They bo...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Barbara Clarke, Angel Investor, and Founder and President at The Impact Seat. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, The Impact Seat invests in ideas that solve the world's biggest problems – focusing on the most innovative, diverse, early-stage startups. Their approach combines advocacy, philanthropy, and investment to build a new and more equit...

Finding the Champion Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In launching an angel network at a university, it takes a champion to see it to fruition. In addition to a business school sponsor and five check-writing angels, you'll need someone who will be the champion for the group. The champion needs to be well connected...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Erwin Jager, Chairman, and CEO at Barrows Hotel Enterprises. Headquartered in Dubai, Barrows is a family-owned private company, established in 2008, with a successful track record in property investment, development, and strategic land promotion in the Middle East, Africa, and the USA. The hotel company focuses on the development and sale of inter...

Retaining Members Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In running a university angel network, the attrition rate is often lower than for non-university angel networks. The university group has a great answer for "Why invest in startups?". Many members join to support the university. The group's primary purpose is to pr...

Thank you for joining us today for our TEN Capital Fundraise Launch Program. In this program, we help startups prepare for a fundraise. We provide templates, tools, eGuides, and advice to founders who are working towards raising funding. We'll kick off the session with a short overview on a fundraising topic, then we'll answer questions from the founders. I hope you enjoy this episode. ___________...

Offline vs. Online Meetings Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In running a university angel network, consider both offline and online meetings for the members. Online meetings allow you to run education sessions, screening meetings, and pitch sessions along with diligence follow-up. Since the members need not travel...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes James Pringle, Managing Partner at Goldsmith Ventures. Goldsmith Ventures invests in and provides support to early-stage UK companies developing innovative technology across fintech and insurtech. The Goldsmith Ventures Fund I is targeted exclusively at investors who understand the risks of investing in early-stage businesses and can make their ow...

Fund Documents Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In setting up a university angel network, you'll need fund documents for the prospective members to review. You'll need to establish a legal entity for the fund, typically an LLC. After that, you'll need to write the company agreement documents. This includes the form...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Wesley King, Co-Founder of Coherent Capital. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Coherent Capital is focused on supporting successful late Seed and Series A fundraises ($4m to $20m raises) with a health and wellness technology focus. The company exists to support early-stage entrepreneurs in raising capital and forming commercial partnership...

Why Set Up a Fund? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Consider setting up a fund early on for your university angel group. For every one alumni who joins the angel group, there will be three who will join the fund. Angel investing takes time and many will not be able to participate in pitch meetings and diligence. Th...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Adrian Mendoza, Founder and General Partner at Mendoza Ventures. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, and founded in 2016, Mendoza Ventures is women-owned and the first LatinX-owned venture fund on the East Coast. They are an early-stage and growth fintech, AI, and cybersecurity venture fund that provides an actively managed approach to venture capital...

Student Participation Is Important Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In setting up a university angel group, the student experience is the primary objective. To ensure the success of the group, set up a program for the students to provide investor and startup engagement. Finance students can leverage their education...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes AJ Shepard, Co-owner of Uptown Properties. Uptown Properties offers a full range of property management services tailored to you as an investor, homeowner, or landlord. They have an extensive portfolio of single-family homes, townhouses, and condos in the Portland Metro area. They offer to fill vacancies, advertise your rental, handle tenant inqui...

Where Does Making a Return Fit In? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many angel investors want to support their university group, local entrepreneur ecosystem, and more. The primary goal is building up their local community or network. In addition to supporting the community, the investor needs to make a return on t...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Nick Spiller, Podcast Host and Fundraising Coach at Beta Business. Beta Business is "The essential podcast for first-time entrepreneurs". Through multiple episodes per week as well as in-person events, Beta Business helps entrepreneurs gain practical tactics and meaningful connections for starting their company. Nick moved to Texas in 2009 to atte...

What Is the Mission of the Group? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In starting an angel group at a university, the key mission of the group is not to make money. Supporting the university by providing students with a quality academic experience and job placement is the primary goal. Alumni who join the angel group...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Elizabeth Edwards, Managing Partner at H Venture Partners. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and founded in 2017, H Venture Partners is a seed, venture, and early growth equity fund that invests in consumer products and devices. H Venture Partners invests across the US and Canada, focusing primarily in New York and San Francisco. Elizabeth has be...

Providing Mentorship to Startups Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Angel groups are often asked to provide mentorship to startups. Here are some best practices for engaging your angel investors into mentorships with startups. Start by matching the investor with the startup based on the business model, sector, and st...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes David A. Rosen, President and CEO at Acrelic Group. Acrelic Group is a strategic advisory firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with additional locations in Philly, Chicago, Cleveland, and Tel Aviv. Their principals are experienced business owners, operators, executives, and board directors who are focused on "Helping People and Business Ac...

Who Else Should You Involve? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In launching a university angel network there are legal considerations specific to the university to keep in mind. A university is a non-profit and therefore cannot participate in startup investing. The first step in launching a group is to contact the u...

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Brett Brohl, Managing Partner at Bread & Butter Ventures. Bread & Butter Ventures is an early-stage VC firm based in Minnesota - the "Bread and Butter State" - investing globally while leveraging the State and region's unparalleled access to strong corporate connections, commercial opportunities, and industry expertise for the benefit of their fou...