In this episode of Venture Declassified, hosts Mike Kelly and Ben Pidgeon explore the complexities of managing angel syndicate groups and the art of curating investment opportunities.

Both Mike and Ben run angel syndicates, creating SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) for investments, and they highlight the challenge of recommending numerous deals each year without overwhelming their investors.

Ben elaborates on his group's approach of working on multiple deals simultaneously, often over a two to three-month window. He stresses the importance of maintaining investor interest through a strategic marketing campaign—using compelling headlines and consistent updates. Mike, on the other hand, details his group's shorter, two-week window for deals and contemplates adopting more aggressive marketing tactics.

The hosts emphasize the significance of transparency and thorough due diligence in maintaining investor trust. They also discuss the benefits for individual investors of joining an angel group, which helps filter out less favorable opportunities and ensures more efficient use of their time.

Towards the end, Mike and Ben talk about the delicate balancing act in angel investing, such as assessing the idea's potential, valuation, and the founder's quality. They agree that perfection across all dimensions is rare, making trade-offs inevitable.

Listeners gain valuable insights into the behind-the-scenes efforts of managing angel syndicates and the strategies involved in balancing deal flow with investor engagement.

Key Topics

• Challenges in Angel Groups
• Balancing Attracting Attention and Managing Multiple Deals
• The Role of Marketing in Angel Investment
• Building Trust and Conviction in Deals
• The Competitive Nature of Deal Filtering
• Benefits of Joining Angel Groups
• Evaluating ‘Best Opportunities’
• Handling Interest Levels and Commitments

Connect

Mike Kelly
LinkedIn - Website - Developer Town

Ben Pidgeon
LinkedIn - VisionTech

Jacob Schpok
LinkedIn - Elevate Ventures

Hear more interviews and stories like this one at www.VentureDeclassified.com

The information provided on the show is not intended to be investment advice and should not be relied upon as such. The investors on today’s episode are providing their opinions based on their own assessment of the businesses or topics presented. Those opinions should not be considered professional investment advice. If they start up pitched as a part of this episode, it is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities.