How to invest in startups with Brian Nichols from Angel Squad

In this podcast episode, Brian Nichols, the founder of Angel Squad, shares his background and experiences working at companies like Lyft, Zoox, and Blackbird. He talks about his first angel investment and how he identifies the right opportunities. Brian also discusses the number of startups to invest in for a diversified portfolio and the process of deal sourcing and syndicate investing. Brian discusses his journey with Angel Squad, the decision-making process within the community, and the training and mentorship they offer. He reflects on his experience in angel investing and starting Angel Squad, mentioning the importance of creating a complete framework for investment decisions, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:21] Brian discusses his experience with Reward Tag, an internet lost and found project that was eventually acquired by an Australian luggage company.

[00:03:30] Brian talks about the strategies Lyft used to compete with Uber, including incentive programs for drivers and focusing on events like Coachella.

[00:08:25] Brian shares his transition from operating roles to investing, starting the Lyft alumni syndicate and his role at On Deck.

[00:11:48] Brian talks about the minimum number of startups one should invest in to build a diversified portfolio and the investment size involved.

[00:17:01] Brian gives advice on how to source deals and build a network as an angel investor, and how to run an angel syndicate.

 [00:18:27] Brian explains how deal sourcing works in the angel investing ecosystem and the importance of sharing high-quality deals with others.

[00:19:21] Brian discusses the additional work involved in the syndicate piece of angel investing, including running a Kickstarter campaign for the invested company and the minimum amount required for pooling funds.

[00:23:00] Brian explains how to invest alongside tier one VCs, including being brought into the deal by the tier one VC and leveraging their involvement to attract other investors.

[00:33:30] Discusses the value of operator angels and emerging managers in venture-backed companies and the democratization of investing.

[00:36:16] Explains how Hustle Fund and its founders, Elizabeth Yin and Eric Bahn, have built their brand through authentic and transparent content on social media.

 [00:37:22] Building a Brand vs. Building a Product Brian discusses the importance of building a product that people want and are willing to pay for before focusing on building a brand.

Brian’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannichols11/

Website: https://hustlefund.vc/squad

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: rohitmal