Investor Connect Podcast

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Nathan Low of Raanana Ziontech Partners. With a background in semiconductor production, logistics, and manufacturing, Nathan started his angel investing career in Israel, eventually expanding to New York and Silicon Valley. Nathan first discusses the importance of diversification for Angel investors, before diving into his experience as an investing and consulting in Israel. Nathan goes into detail on the investing landscape in Israel, and why investments there often have better valuation.

Direct download: 192_--_Nathan_Low_of_Sunrise_Corp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:56pm CDT

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Dougal Cameron of Golden Section Ventures. Dougal came to investing through his family, which provided him operational insight into an investor perspective. Dougal talks about how he and Isaac Shi founded Golden Section Ventures and came into the B2B Enterprise SaaS space. Dougal provides advice investors in the B2B Enterprise space. He highlights the need for 'healthy skepticism', finding partners that know the end user market, and resisting the urge to chase investments down round. Finally, Dougal advises investors to seek out founders that are very invested, and that have no way out but to make the deal a success.

Direct download: 198_--_Dougal_Cameron_of_GoldenSectionVentures.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:51pm CDT

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Skyler Fernandes of Venture University. Skyler has an extensive background in venture capital and private equity. Venture University, now over a year old, is a multistage venture fund, primarily focused on the seed and series A stage. Venture University sources deals from several areas, including consumer enterprise, Fintech, blockchain healthcare, and 'frontier tech'. Skyler talks about how Venture University fulfills the increasing need for a scalable funding model. In addition, Venture University is also part 'trade school', a competitive training program with a full-time admissions team for people to get into venture capital and private equity.

Direct download: 196_--_Skyler_Fernandez_of_Venture_University.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:41pm CDT

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Chris Fisher of Click Ventures.  With a background in corporate IT, Chris started his angel investing career in Hong Kong, where he eventually teamed up with Carman Chan of Click Ventures. Chris explains how Click Ventures focuses on primarily series A startups using network effects. He explains how network effects can lower customer acquisition costs and create aggressive growth. Click Ventures is very quantitatively focused, seeking to drive the model forward faster as well as use the data that's being generated to make better decisions.

Chris discusses market trends in network effects, in particular as it relates to consumer privacy. In addition, he provides a small-scale example of the type of startup Click looks for - a high-end photography equipment rental company in NYC. Chris and Hall talk about some of the challenges to consider when funding network effects startups. Chris explains how the sector can be highly competitive from an investment standpoint, which means that it is important for investors to be able to add value above and beyond the funding. Finally, Chis highlights how blockchain can and will impact network-based startups in the future.

Direct download: 199_--_Chris_Fisher_of_Click_Ventures.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 4:54pm CDT

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Jay Joshi of MD Angels. Jay, a physician by training, went through undergrad and medical school at the same time in an accelerated medical program. It was there he discovered that he looks at medicine a little differently than the traditional physician. He felt his perspective was different and he thought that would translate into hospital administration. Between medical school and his residency, he learned that he liked to take risks and was a little bit more entrepreneurial and venture-oriented, as opposed to the more risk-averse nature that you'll typically see in health care. This led him to his first startup, a medical device company. Though that, he learned that many investors in the Midwest considered pre-revenue medical device companies too risky. So, he gravitated towards physicians.

 

Jay found that in the investment community, physicians are often a disparate group of investors that don't always have the cohesion necessary to make the right decisions. And so, along with some of the physician investors who came in on his medical device company Output Medical, he ended up creating what is now the largest physician-based angel investment group in the Midwest, MD Angels.

In this episode, Jay speaks about MD Angels’ focus within the healthcare space. He gives some insight into the key startup criteria that lead to successful funding. In addition, Hall and Jay discuss where the healthcare industry is heading, regulatory considerations, and much more.  

Direct download: 198__--_Jay_Joshi_--_MD_Angels.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:56pm CDT

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Steve Shapiro of eHealth Ventures. Before eHealth, Steve spent years in the cell phone industry before transitioning to a career in consulting and angel investing. He partnered with Israeli-based digital health investor Talor Sax in creating eHealth Ventures, a digital health incubator with a focus on Israeli innovation.

Steve explains how he came to focus on the digital health sector, and why and how Israel has been at the forefront of innovation, particularly in the healthcare space.

Steve goes on to give advice for potential investors in the space. To Steve, and new digital health technology must solve a problem. Secondly, in the healthcare sector, you must understand the sectors unique revenue and payment process. Finally, it is critical to grasp the strict regulatory processes.

In addition, Steve discusses how the health care industry is evolving, and what changes we can expect in the future. For example, Steve highlights the shift from traditional in-person healthcare to a telehealth ecosystem. He also discusses how the healthcare industry is leveraging applied analytics. Finally, Steve discusses eHealth's investment thesis, some of the companies they've funded, and why.

Direct download: 197_-_Steve_Shapiro_of_eHealthVentures.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:05pm CDT

In this episode, Chris gives his thoughts on how the industry is evolving. He discusses how we are headed towards e-commerce first or e-commerce only, not as a supplement to physical retail.

You’ll also get his advice to those investing in this space as well as challenges and risks.

Direct download: 218_--_Chris_Rawlings_of_JudoLaunch.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 5:41pm CDT

In this episode, Hall interviews Lawrence Lerner of Pithia, an investment firm focusing on "blockchain realism". Pithia’s thesis emphasizes foundational businesses that enable blockchain infrastructure.

Direct download: 220_--_Lawrence_Lerner_of_Pithia.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 5:27pm CDT

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