Entrepreneurs

By: Nicholas McKinley, CEO of Verafī

Verafī, ACA’s new Affinity Partner, has a unique background that generates the knowledge and experience to assist angels in completing the valuable due diligence needed to ensure confidence in personal and investment decisions. 

By: Pat Gouhin, Chief Executive Officer

After ACA’s multi-pronged, multi-year advocacy for amendment to the “accredited investor” definition, we are pleased to report we’ve met with success. The Securities and Exchange Commission announced yesterday that the definition of an “accredited investor” has preserved the existing income thresholds and has been expanded to provide more access to private equity by allowing investors to qualify based upon new criteria. 

By: Pat Gouhin, Chief Executive Officer

We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many others.  The Angel Capital Association stands for social justice, equal opportunity, and social mobility through the power of entrepreneurship. We have no place for racism. 

By: Sarah Dickey, ACA Membership Director

Cutting-edge clean energy company wins Luis Villalobos Award, Technology category, from Angel Capital Association 

By Sarah Dickey, ACA Membership Director

Young company awarded prestigious Luis Villalobos Award, Life Sciences category, from Angel Capital Association 

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: Emily Angold, ACA Marketing Manager

The annual Innovation Showcase at the ACA Summit can be a crucial event for participating startup companies to make lasting connections that will ultimately lead to new opportunities.  Companies are nominated by organizations - ACA member angel groups, venture funds, accelerators, and universities government agencies or trade commissions - and selected to make a brief presentation to the entire ACA Summit audience.  Participating companies also spend two and a half days networking, connecting and learning more on how angel investors really think about opportunities across the board.  The “showcase” represents an incredible chance for these underwriters to showcase their best portfolio companies to the angel investors and startup ecosystem leaders at the Summit. 

By Lucy Howell, ACA Director of Partnerships 

The seventh annual Innovation Showcase took place last week at the 2019 ACA Summit in Chicago.  This special series of events provides selected companies the opportunity to present their pitch to the entire ACA Summit audience over the course of the Summit.  The Innovation Showcase is by invitation only and presenting companies are nominated by organizations - ACA member angel groups, venture funds, accelerators, and universities government agencies or trade commissions - that underwrite the Innovation Showcase.  The “showcase” represents an incredible opportunity for these underwriters to showcase their best portfolio companies to the angel investors and startup ecosystem leaders at the Summit.

By: Christopher Mirabile, Chair Emeritus of Angel Capital Association and an early stage investor in Boston. He is the co-managing director of Launchpad Venture Group and the co-founder of angel portfolio management tool www.Seraf-Investor.com.

 “How do I find investors?” is a perennial question, coming up regularly in many entrepreneurial contexts. Local entrepreneurs ask it all the time and it is certainly one of the questions I get asked most on Quora. Fortunately, for higher potential businesses going after reasonably large markets, finding investors willing to speak to you is not all that difficult. Yes, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it is neither complex nor mysterious. Here’s how to go about it.

By: Sarah Dickey, ACA Membership Director

ACA’s yearly Luis Villalobos Award provides recognition to ingenious and innovative ideas in the startup ecosystem by asking members of the Angel Capital Association to nominate their best portfolio companies recently funded.  Three finalists are selected each year and, with the nominating ACA angel, are honored at the ACA Summit where the winner is announced during the annual awards ceremony in front of 700+ angel investors. 

Subscribe

ACA On the Road by Angel Capital Association  on  March 11
ACA Announces Keynote Speaker for Summit: Kwame Anku by Angel Capital Association  on  March 08