New post: The deck that closed Marc Andreessen, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and my first LPs
A comprehensive overview for operators, angels and emerging fund managers.
1. How to start angel investing
2. Why start a fund?
3. The pitch - give, give, give before you ask for $1
A comprehensive overview for operators, angels and emerging fund managers.
1. How to start angel investing
2. Why start a fund?
3. The pitch - give, give, give before you ask for $1
1/ Start with access:
Access is everything when you're just getting started.
Meet a lot of companies and start to narrow your filter over time.
Meet companies, make intros, build and maintain founder, investor and operator relationships.
Access is everything when you're just getting started.
Meet a lot of companies and start to narrow your filter over time.
Meet companies, make intros, build and maintain founder, investor and operator relationships.
2/ Lean into existing networks:
Venture capital is an industry built on trust and reputation.
Your reputation with colleagues and peers at other companies matter a lot.
Especially as they leave to start companies or you want to recruit them to your portfolio companies.
Venture capital is an industry built on trust and reputation.
Your reputation with colleagues and peers at other companies matter a lot.
Especially as they leave to start companies or you want to recruit them to your portfolio companies.
3/ Give, give, give before you ever ask for $1:
Before raising a dollar for my fund, I had taught over 5,000 students, hosted dozens of events
Jumped on diligence calls when VCs had questions
A short fundraise came from my co-investor network & support from portfolio CEOs
Before raising a dollar for my fund, I had taught over 5,000 students, hosted dozens of events
Jumped on diligence calls when VCs had questions
A short fundraise came from my co-investor network & support from portfolio CEOs
4/ Why start a fund?
1. Values alignment: Think like a journalist and find your beat. What's in your strike zone? What problems keep you up at night?
2. Market opportunity: Look for whitespace and unique positioning.
3. Skills alignment: Where can you immediately add value?
1. Values alignment: Think like a journalist and find your beat. What's in your strike zone? What problems keep you up at night?
2. Market opportunity: Look for whitespace and unique positioning.
3. Skills alignment: Where can you immediately add value?
5/ Define your angel/fund strategy
Create a clear definition for how you plan to source, pick, win and support companies.
ie: understand your value per $ invested as an angel.
Where is your experience, network and interests immediately valuable?
Create a clear definition for how you plan to source, pick, win and support companies.
ie: understand your value per $ invested as an angel.
Where is your experience, network and interests immediately valuable?
6/ Test and refine your strike zone
Refine check size, sector focus and tactics to improve your angel/fund strategy
*LPs look for examples of companies outside your strike zone. What won't you invest in?*
Refine check size, sector focus and tactics to improve your angel/fund strategy
*LPs look for examples of companies outside your strike zone. What won't you invest in?*
7/ If you're an angel investor, scout or first time fund manager, I'd love to connect and compare notes.
I host monthly dinners for emerging managers and frequently share best practices for angels and emerging fund managers on my blog:
briannekimmel.com/what-it-takes-…
I host monthly dinners for emerging managers and frequently share best practices for angels and emerging fund managers on my blog:
briannekimmel.com/what-it-takes-…
