Archive for June, 2010

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Angels Just Wanna Have Funds

By Frank | Filed in Angel Investing, Interview/podcast

ListenDownloadSubscribe via iTunesRay Leach and Dave Berkus

For all the risk you take as an early-stage investor, wouldn’t you love a 2 for 1 match?

JumpStart Inc’s CEO Ray Leach and Tech Coast Angel Dave Berkus discuss angel funds and in Ray’s case, he enjoys great support from the state of Ohio where they’ve recognized the importance of angel investors in creating jobs. Dave and I groan with jealousy as Ray describes the $3.5M Ohio has granted to 2 native angel groups.

Dave has his own news: today he announces the new TCA sidecar fund, the Angel Capital Fund. No government matching, but it does have many well thought out features that your angel group will want to implement.

These new funds mean more money for entrepreneurs.

Get ready for some exceptionally good news!

Show #298 (45:16) Listen

Tony Clarke, British Business Angels Association

By Frank | Filed in Interview/podcast
Play

Tony Clarke

What incentives does the UK offer angel investors?
How do they encourage early-stage investment?

Warning: jealousy alert!

Let’s ask Tony Clarke; he should know. He’s the President Emeritus of the European Business Angel Network (EBAN), Chairman of the British Business Angels Association (BBAA) and co-chair of the World Business Angel Association (WBAA).

Looking to brush up on international early-stage investing approaches? Tony can cite how it’s done in many parts of the world and why more countries are keen to learn the best way to encourage and promote business angels in their countries.

Show #297 (36:14) Stream

Which Is More Important: The Jockey Or The Horse?

By Frank | Filed in Commentary/Opinion

jockey-or-horse.jpg

My pal JJ sent around this email:

“I know this is a controversial subject at TCA.  Based on the attached study from University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, National Bureau of Economic Research, University of Southern California, and the Swedish Institute for Financial Research, the answer is the ‘horse.’”

The study quotes VC luminaries like Tom Perkins of Kleiner Perkins and many others.

Who can help me rebut this? Let’s hear from you “jockeys”.

Shot Down in LA

By Frank | Filed in Angel Investing

Been shot down by angel investors?
Now I know how you feel. It stings and stays with you, I’m still smarting the day after, so I’ll write this post to hopefully put the experience behind me.
I’d been working with a serial entrepreneur for almost 2 years. He’s an accomplished serial entrepreneur. His prior startup built specialized semiconductor chips. He sold that company to another who was quickly acquired, too, then the combination was sold for over $100M. His piece of that pie was not great, but that is an impressive resume. And he continues to be an exceptional entrepreneur. He’s built a gaming engine of his own design and has attracted several commercial customers as well as gamers to his site. Besides being in revenue, he’s invested $700k of his own money into the deal; that’s skin in the game!

Continue reading “Shot Down in LA” »

Tech Coast Angel Murdered

By Frank | Filed in in the News

Recently confirmed reports state that San Diego Police have opened a homicide investigation into the suspicious death of Tech Coast Angel member John G. Watson. His body was found in his home on June 8th. Early reports spoke only of the death of a happy bachelor with an enthusiasm for angel investing and his daily ocean swim regimen. Later reports state that Watson was “a victim of fraud and embezzlement. An individual who is suspected of those crimes has been arrested and is currently being held by the San Diego Police.”

Steve Flaim, Tech Coast Angels’ San Diego President, earlier wrote, “John had a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical industry at Johnson & Johnson, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Vestar, Inc., Galagen, Inc., Carbomed, Inc. and Ionian Technologies, Inc. He joined TCA in 2008 and quickly became an important part of the BioMed Track pre-screening committee here in San Diego. He was elected to the San Diego Board of Directors in 2009.”

Angel Investing 101: Why (Not To) Join an Angel Group?

By Frank | Filed in Angel Investing

Curtis Gunn, Bruce MacCormack and Hall Martin

Thinking about joining an angel group?

Let’s examine the pros and cons with Curtis Gunn, Chairman of Tucson’s Desert Angels, Bruce MacCormack, founder of the Bellingham Angels, and Hall Martin, Vice Chairman of the Baylor Angel Network and member of the Central Texas Angel Network in Austin. Great geographic diversity, they cover quite a bit of territory!

And we close the session with reasons not to join an angel group. You’ll enjoy hearing these points, too!

In Southern California? Meet me at UC Irvine June 17th where I’ll speak on the current state of early investing, details.

Show #296 (58:23)

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