Investing in a startup is akin to a marriage. It's about investing in people and confidence in the entrepreneur's commitment and resilience is paramount. At the same time, we cannot downplay the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing among ourselves as angel investors.

Being part of a network allows investors to collaborate on due diligence, share expertise, and build a stronger portfolio more quickly. It also provides a support system and helps protect your rights.

To explore this topic further, today I’m joined by my friend and long-time investor, Pieter Dorsman. Pieter is a seasoned angel investor, advisor and mentor, who is President and CEO of Redpeaks Management Inc., a consulting firm focused on advising technology companies on capital raising and restructuring activities. Pieter is also a Director and CFO at eFund, a Vancouver-based seed stage investment fund which has invested in 42 tech companies to date. Since 2018, he has also been an owner and director of Vancouver's Angel Forum.

In this conversation, Pieter and I discuss the benefits and challenges of angel investing, advantages of joining an angel investor network, the importance of education and mentorship for new angel investors, how he addresses the challenges with finding quality deals, realistic time horizons of investments, and more. Enjoy the episode!

Highlights

• Pieter’s transition from banking and motivation to become an angel investor
• The importance of providing support and capital to startups
• The distinction between angel investors and venture capitalists (VCs)
• Diverse motivations and backgrounds of angel investors
• How collaboration with the government can improve the entrepreneurial environment and increase deal flow
• Why Pieter emphasizes the founder's character and commitment when making investment decisions
• How angels and angel networks can build trust with founders
• Different methods commonly used for valuing startups
• The long-term nature of angel investing and realistic time horizons for exits
• How involved angel investors typically get with founder
• Challenges with founders who are not equipped to run their companies
• Upcoming webinar series on angel investing

Ready to learn more?

Apply to be a member of the next cohort of RevUP Caribbean, the Caribbean’s first virtual business incubator for high-growth start-ups at ⁠⁠https://www.revupcaribbean.com/⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram @RevUPCaribbean ⁠https://www.instagram.com/revupcaribbean/⁠

Composer: Seretse Small, Founder, Avant Academy of Music

"We're not superwomen; we are people who have to make choices every day." - Sharon Roper

As female founders in the Caribbean, we face unique challenges that can be difficult to navigate. This is where your community comes in.

Having a supportive network of other female entrepreneurs can make all the difference. Today I’m joined by three members of the RevUp family, Sharon Roper, Founder and Managing Director of Sian Associates; Trudy-Ann Fung, Co-Founder of Electroville Limited; and Narda Ventura, CEO of SkyBlue Transaction Solutions. Our guests share their experiences as female founders, and we discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, and the challenges faced by startups.

In this conversation, we discuss common reasons startups fail to deliver positive value to their investors, balancing emotions and data in decision-making, and the challenges of managing a business while also being a mother and wife. The discussion offers insights and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on how to navigate the challenges of building a successful startup. Enjoy the episode!

Highlights

• Sharon’s motivation for joining an angel investor network and her passion for helping women entrepreneurs
• Three main reasons startups may fail to deliver positive value to their investors
• The importance of consistently analyzing data to inform business decision-making
• The business value of women's emotional connection
• Sharon, Narda, and Trudy’s experiences with resilience in entrepreneurship
• What it looks like to anchor yourself in purpose and impact
• Imposter Syndrome and how it affects women's confidence as entrepreneurs
• The challenges of being a mother and an entrepreneur tips for finding balance
• How women's spending power and economic impact have shifted over time
• Why we need to hold on to confidence in our innate abilities as we go through the entrepreneurial journey
• How the founders have evolved and gained confidence over time
• Using self-coaching to overcome doubts and lack of belief in oneself
• Why you need a supportive network including family, friends, colleagues, and mentors
• The importance of trusting your instincts and protecting your space as an entrepreneur
• How RevUp Caribbean can support you as a female founder

Ready to learn more?

Apply to be a member of the next cohort of RevUP Caribbean, the Caribbean’s first virtual business incubator for high growth start-ups at ⁠https://www.revupcaribbean.com/⁠

Follow us on Instagram @RevUPCaribbean https://www.instagram.com/revupcaribbean/

Composer: Seretse Small, Founder, Avant Academy of Music

One of the most exciting aspects of angel investing is the opportunity for investors to work with young people and disruptive projects with the potential to make a difference in society.

For the final episode of the season, I had the pleasure of being joined by Wayne Sutherland, an angel investor who not only invests in projects with high earning potential but also guides founders to success.

Wayne takes a portfolio approach to investing, based on his experience that one good investment can make up for all the other failures.

As board members, investors provide guidance to founders on corporate governance, financial statements, and compliance with regulations. Regular reporting and meetings are expected to track the business's progress and identify potential problems or opportunities.

In this conversation, Wayne and I discuss the importance of financial information for businesses and the challenges of managing people, the critical role financial statements play in providing insights, the importance of having a solid plan to achieve financial projections, developing a realistic understanding of your business's potential, and more. Enjoy the episode!

About Wayne Sutherland

Mr. Sutherland is the Managing Director of Jamaica Venture Fund Limited, a company that makes venture capital investments. A former director of Jamaica's Securities Commission (now the Financial Services Commission), Wayne serves on several boards, and is currently chairman of Kencasa Construction & Project Management Limited and the St.Hugh's Preparatory School Board.

Ready to level up?

Apply to be a member of the next cohort of RevUP Caribbean, the Caribbean’s first virtual business incubator for high-growth start-ups, at https://www.revupcaribbean.com/

Producer: Amazing Gains Limited https://listenerstoclients.com

Composer: Seretse Small, Founder, Avant Academy of Music