By: Brent Gleeson, Founder & CEO at TakingPoint™ Leadership, Navy SEAL

As a former Navy SEAL, I’ve been far removed from the battlefield for quite some time. But there continue to be many lessons we can extract from the global war on terrorism when it comes to preparedness, planning, vigilance, resilience and leading through constant change during tumultuous times. 

By: Emily Angold, ACA Marketing Manager

What would it be like if start up success wasn’t so hard to predict? What if you could leverage a research-based, long-term study to help you assess a company’s potential? Even better, what if you had a turnkey, proven way to set early stage entrepreneurs up for success as they go beyond founding a business and start building their business? 

By: Tom Droege, Co-Founder of Resilient Ventures and President of Droege Computing Services, Inc.

Forward by Pat Gouhin, CEO: In this new blog, we have a responsibility so share the thought leadership, advice, counsel, and impactful communications that are taking place throughout the angel investment community during these trying times. I was fortunate enough to receive a message from one of the respected leaders in my local community, Tom Droege of Resilient Ventures. Our worlds have been turned upside down and this often results in an inward focus but Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity must remain an integral part of our forward looking strategy as a community.  Tom has made this point beautifully in his message.  With Tom's permission I offer you the following thoughts that I hope you will consider as you figure out how you can play a part in making the world a better place. 

By: Emily Angold, ACA Marketing Manager

10.  It fits into your life, nicely. The event features 12 hours of interactive sessions, over three days, with plenty of down-time – a chance to learn and grow that’s remarkably easy on the schedule. 

Christopher Mirabile, ACA Chair Emeritus, Managing Director at Launchpad Venture Group and Co-Founder of Seraf-investor.com

Entrepreneurs who have just launched or are contemplating launching a startup are undoubtedly feeling a bit panicky as the social and economic consequences of Covid-19 start to pile up. There is a reasonable basis for concern in this climate, but I am here to tell you that the situation is not hopeless. If you have a good idea, it’s focused on a problem truly worth solving, and you are still feeling passionate and motivated about it, then hang in there a little longer and don’t give up on trying to raise money for your company.  

By: Dror Futter, Legal and Business Adviser to Startups, Venture Capital Firms and Technology Companies

Remember all those articles about whether venture was overvalued?  With blinding speed, they now seem quaint.

Bluntly stated, most venture-backed companies are in a fight for survival.  Although certain areas of life sciences may do somewhat better, I think the impact will be widely felt.  Complicating the fight is the fact that no one can predict how long it will last and what the immediate post-Corona economy will look like. 

David Gardner, Founder and Managing Partner of Cofounders Capital

Editor’s Note – David Gardner shares a note to portfolio companies with gudiance to navigate the impact of COVID-19.

Founders and CEO’s:

I hope that each of you and your families are healthy and safe during this difficult time. We have spoken with most of you and I know you are all facing difficult and high-risk decisions this week. We thought it might be helpful to provide you with some guidance and suggestions as you face these current unprecedented challenges. We draw these suggestions from our own experiences running early-stage companies during economic hard times and from the advice of other fund managers, our venture partners and advisors.

By: Brent Gleeson, Founder & CEO at TakingPoint™ Leadership, Navy SEAL

One of the many acronyms we live by in the United States military is VUCA – referring to the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environments that the battlefield provides. That acronym is now widely used in the global business community and rightfully so. Especially as it relates to our current reality - the spread of the coronavirus and its impact on lives, health, small and large businesses and the global economy. 

By: Gwendolyn Jaramillo, Partner at Foley Hoag LLP and Anna Annino, Associate at Foley Hoag LLP

Editor’s Note – ACA extends a huge thank you to ACA Gold Partner, Foley Hoag LLP for creating this timely article to educate the angel community on the recent changes related to the expansion of the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).  Thank you for your work on behalf of angels and the startup ecosystem!

On February 13, 2020, the final regulations went into effect which implement the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA) and expand the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The new rules will have a significant impact on the angel investing community, especially for investments in certain industries as described further below. 

By: Pat Gouhin, Chief Executive Officer

The Paycheck Protection Program under the recently passed CARES Act provides forgivable loans for businesses with less than 500 employees, but included a huge hurdle for many startups, the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) “Affiliation Rules”.