Investor Connect Podcast

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Jake Moilanen of Seraph Group.

 

As we kick off, Jake talks about what he did prior to investing in early stage startups. A self described geek, Jake started out working in computer programming. After getting out of that space, and getting his MBA, he headed to Silicon Valley and began immersing himself in the startup world, which eventually led to investing.

 

Jake talks about the three advantages you can have as an investor - informational, analytical, and behavioral. He goes on to explain how he sees early stage investing as an opportunity to use all three, and why early stage investing appeals to him.

 

Jake explains how, to succeed in early stage funding, you really need to have an ‘edge’. As he puts it, “if you're going to start out in the area, [the] thing you need to do is go in an area that you know better than someone else.” In addition, Jake highlights the importance of diversification when it comes to early stage investing.

 

Jake discusses where he sees the startup investment world headed, particularly as it pertains to overvaluation. Additionally, Jake talks about some of the challenges of measuring long term risk with startups, and how quant algorithms can help. Finally, Jake highlights some of the sectors he feels are especially promising for investment in the near future.

Direct download: 194-_Jake_Moilanen_of_Seraph_Group.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:15am CDT

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Jake Moilanen of Seraph Group.

 

As we kick off, Jake talks about what he did prior to investing in early stage startups. A self described geek, Jake started out working in computer programming. After getting out of that space, and getting his MBA, he headed to Silicon Valley and began immersing himself in the startup world, which eventually led to investing.

 

Jake talks about the three advantages you can have as an investor - informational, analytical, and behavioral. He goes on to explain how he sees early stage investing as an opportunity to use all three, and why early stage investing appeals to him.

 

Jake explains how, to succeed in early stage funding, you really need to have an ‘edge’. As he puts it, “if you're going to start out in the area, [the] thing you need to do is go in an area that you know better than someone else.” In addition, Jake highlights the importance of diversification when it comes to early stage investing.

 

Jake discusses where he sees the startup investment world headed, particularly as it pertains to overvaluation. Additionally, Jake talks about some of the challenges of measuring long term risk with startups, and how quant algorithms can help. Finally, Jake highlights some of the sectors he feels are especially promising for investment in the near future.

Direct download: 194-_Jake_Moilanen_of_Seraph_Group.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:15am CDT

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Nicole Quinn of Lightspeed Venture Partners. Nicole focuses on early stage consumer technology companies, having invested in companies such as Zola, Rothy’s, Daily Harvest, Dote, Brandable, Girlboss and Goop.

Nicole spent nearly a decade at Morgan Stanley covering the European and US e-commerce, retail and consumer companies. In 2014, she went to Nutmeg, a London-based technology company, and completed a fund raise of $32m in their Series B. She’s passionate about angel investing in healthcare and consumer companies.

Hall and Nicole discuss the state of media investing. Nicole explains that, although some investors are cooling, there is still something there to be had. However, instead of just looking at media as ad revenue, Nicole highlights some of the other avenues that merit a look. Nicole also highlights which sectors in media she believes are gaining momentum and traction, and where she thinks the early wins will occur. In addition, Nicole provides expert advice for investors joining the media sector.



Direct download: 193--_Nicole_Quinn_of_Lightspeed_Venture_Partners_on_Media_Investing.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00pm CDT

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