"Unbundled VC's Marc Cohen on separating optimism from evidence in angel investing"

💡 Thinking about your next angel investment? BEFORE you back a founder, make sure you’re asking the right questions. We spoke with experienced investors and experts (including Aaron Duke, Jonny Seaman, Eva Dobrzanska, and Kritika Amarnath) to find out the questions they recommend asking founders before writing a cheque. From go-to-market plans to competition, customer awareness, and team resilience, these insights will help you stress-test a pitch and spot the real green flags. 👉 For the full list of 13 questions and insights, read the full article (link in comments). #AngelInvesting #StartupInvesting #SeedLegals #AngelInvestingUK

Stepping into angel investing for the first time? It’s exciting, but also risky. The right mindset and strategies can make all the difference. Swipe through for practical advice every first-time angel should know, from managing risk to navigating valuations. #KeiretsuForum #AngelInvestors #AngelNetwork #AngelCommunity #StartupGrowth #EarlyStage #PortfolioDiversification #startupexit

Takeaways from the EO Deal Exchange Event Last week I had the chance to join EO’s Deal Exchange and watch a live round of angel investing into small businesses across sectors like THC, AI/Tech, Consumer Goods, Healthcare, and Spirits. A few things stood out: Angel investors play a very different gamemaking many small bets, knowing most will fail, and counting on a few big wins to carry the portfolio. Beyond capital, they also provide mentorship, advisory support, strategy, and strategic introductions, which can be just as valuable to founders as the money itself. It reminded me exactly why I love real estate investing. Compared to startups, real estate offers: ✔️ Lower risk on a risk/reward basis ✔️ Four distinct financial benefits (cash flow, appreciation, tax advantages, amortization) ✔️ Bank leverage that amplifies returns ✔️ Clearer exit strategies and liquidity options While angel investing can deliver explosive upside, the predictability, scalability, and wealth-building power of real estate is tough to beat. I came away from this event confirmed that I’m in the right space, doing the right thing! 👉 If you’re looking for angel investment opportunities, reach out I’d be happy to share some of the contacts I met. And if you’re looking for safer, wealth-building investments in real estate, I can help with that too. Always grateful for the chance to learn, connect, and sharpen perspective.

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀 (𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹) Most founders talk features. Top founders pitch momentum, proof, and upside. Here’s the pitch narrative great founders follow—step by step: 1. Prove Timing • Why now • Market shift or inflection point • Urgency of the opportunity • What’s changed 2. Show Proof • Traction numbers • Customer growth • Revenue validation • Real results > bold vision 3. Win Distribution • Scalable GTM engine • CAC vs LTV dynamics • Early sales motion • Proof it can scale 4. Expose Your Edge • Moat that competitors can’t replicate • Defensibility > speed • Unique insight • Long-term advantage 5. Nail The Ask • How much you’re raising • Why now • Use of funds breakdown • Path to next milestone When your pitch hits all 5, investors lean in. Miss even one—and they lean out. Which of these is the hardest for founders to get right? PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/eQFrsUnE

Angel Investors, VCs, and PE funds don’t play the same game. Watch Antoine Bruna and me unpack it in 120 seconds. Full episode link in the comments below 👇🏻 #VentureCapital #AngelInvesting #PrivateEquity #StartupFunding #InvestmentStrategy

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚-𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚? Thinking that VC meetings = investor interest. Here's the reality: Pre-seed VCs take calls. It's literally their job. They meet 20+ founders a week. That "great conversation" you had? They had 19 others just like it. I learned this the hard way during my first fundraising round. Spent 3 months chasing "warm" VCs who were just being polite. Meanwhile, the angels who actually wrote checks were the ones asking tough questions from day one. The signal isn't the meeting. It's the follow-up questions, the intro requests, the "can we see your data room?" If you're pre-seed with modest traction, focus on angels first. They move faster, ask better questions, and actually close. P.S. If you're struggling with your pitch deck positioning, I'm offering free reviews this week. DM me - I can spot the red flags VCs will catch in 30 seconds.

If you missed yesterday's Lunch & Learn, you missed a special one. We had the chance to sit down with Katie Powell Hinitz, Ph.D., MBA and dig into the psychology behind raising capital. One of the biggest takeaways: if you tell the story right, you attract the right investors and repel the wrong ones. Founders often overlook this. The clarity and simplicity of how you articulate the problem you solve is what pulls in aligned capital partners. Katie shared powerful insight on how psychographic frameworks help move past assumptions and uncover what really resonates. It is not about pushing what you think sounds good, it is about listening deeply, testing, and finding the true motivations behind investment decisions. This is how founders build authentic capital relationships that last. If you are preparing to raise, check out our FREE Pitch Enhancer Diagnostic and see how ready your story is: https://lnkd.in/g3TDA-Z9

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how VCs rarely tell founders the real reason they pass. They will not say “we don’t believe this team can win” or “the market isn’t exciting.” Someone commented: “So what exactly do VCs look for in founding teams?” That is a great question, and I decided to write my answer in full. In my new Substack article, “The Founder Checklist: How VCs Decide,” I share the 10 criteria I have seen investors use when evaluating founders, from motivation and learning velocity to team chemistry and talent magnetism. If you are raising capital or planning to, this framework will help you see how investors think and what signals really matter. Link to piece in comments.

🚀 Founders: Ready to pitch with impact? Check out Sequoia Capital’s tried-and-true template for building a pitch deck that speaks to investors. This is a gold standard: https://lnkd.in/gQnd_6Vy Why it works: ✅ Clear story arc — problem → solution → why now → market → team ✅ Data-driven — market size, business model, financials ✅ Investor lens — every slide answers “why you, why now, why this market” Pro tip: Keep it simple, show timing, highlight defensibility, and make your fundraising ask crystal clear.

✨ The golden window for angel investing is open, and the timing has never been better. Discover why today’s market favors angels, strong founders, and disciplined bets. 🚀 Check out the complete insights here: https://lnkd.in/g-uv3dk2