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Angel Impact

Angel Impact

By Wisconsin River Business Angels

Angel Impact is the official investment podcast of the Wisconsin River Business Angels. Each episode is full of valuable information and perspective about topics for angel investors, entrepreneurs, and economic development enthusiasts presented by the leaders of the WRBA, and drawn from their many years of experience with business, entrepreneurship, investing, and economic development work.

To learn more about the Wisconsin River Business Angels and to become an angel investor visit: midwestwealthventures.com/
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Episode 2 - Why We Founded the WRBA

Angel ImpactAug 28, 2021

00:00
11:59
Angel Impact Episode 27 - 8 Ways to Join the Angel Network, Part 2
Feb 23, 202221:46
Angel Impact Episode 26 - 8 Ways to Join the Angel Network, Part 1
Feb 23, 202214:60
Episode 24 - 5 Misconceptions About Angel Investing, Part 2
Jan 19, 202214:17
Episode 23 - 5 Misconceptions About Angel Investing, Part 1
Jan 19, 202216:14
Episode 22 - Key differences between angel investing and mutual funds, Part 3

Episode 22 - Key differences between angel investing and mutual funds, Part 3

In the twenty-second episode of Angel Impact we conclude a conversation comparing angel investing to mutual funds and why it is important for serious investors to understand and use both to preserve and build wealth.


You will learn:

1. Why mutual funds capital profiles prevent them from investing in smaller companies, and why this is an important role for angel investors

2. Why it is important for small companies to diversify their equity holders

3. How different kinds of capital investors play along different parts of the funding continuum

4. Why angel investors are SO important for young startups

5. A fun and interesting story about where the term “angel investor” comes from

6. How Jeff and Leon guide investors to diversify their portfolios

7. Key differences in liquidity between mutual funds and angel investments

8. How the SEC ensures that only accredited investors end up in the angel space

9. One final key difference between mutual funds and angel investing that makes the latter very challenging AND rewarding


Angel Impact is the official investment podcast of the Wisconsin River Business Angels (WRBA)  To join the Wisconsin River Business Angels so you can provide capital and mentoring to more great companies visit our website at www.midwest wealthventures.com and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WRBAngels

Dec 21, 202108:34
Episode 21 - Key differences between angel investing and mutual funds, Part 2

Episode 21 - Key differences between angel investing and mutual funds, Part 2

In the twenty-first episode of Angel Impact we continue a conversation comparing angel investing to mutual funds and why it is important for serious investors to understand and use both to build and preserve wealth.


We cover:

1. Advantages of mutual funds

-security

-simplicity

-ease

-diversity

-values

2. Angel investing and recessions

3. Why entrepreneurs thrive during market disruption, and how this is beneficial for angel investors

4. How angel investments are able to be nimbler than mutual funds and avoid the destructiveness of mob mentality


Angel Impact is the official investment podcast of the Wisconsin River Business Angels (WRBA)  To join the Wisconsin River Business Angels so you can provide capital and mentoring to more great companies visit our website at www.midwest wealthventures.com and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WRBAngels

Dec 21, 202108:38
Episode 20 - Key differences between angel investing and mutual funds, Part 1

Episode 20 - Key differences between angel investing and mutual funds, Part 1

Dec 06, 202110:53
Episode 18 - Meet one of our Investor Members, Part 2

Episode 18 - Meet one of our Investor Members, Part 2

In the eighteenth episode of Angel Impact we introduce you to one of our member investors and talk with him about why he values the Wisconsin River Business Angels, its leadership, the other members, and some of the important contributions he makes to the success of the group.  You will learn:

1. How members like Jay typify the WRBA’s deployment of “smart money” to their portfolio companies through both their capital and business experience

2. How Jay’s specific expertise allows him to support WRBA portfolio companies by diagnosing the root cause of their cash flow issues

3. A few of the unique qualities of good angel investors, beyond their net worth

4. Why WRBA members like Jay serve their portfolio companies with their PASSION for nurturing in addition to their capital contributions

5. How Jay’s experience allows him to ask great questions during process of evaluating and guiding young companies to success

6. What Jay and other members of the WRBA appreciate and respect about the way Jeff and Leon lead and coordinate the group

7. The value that Jeff and Leon bring to the members of the WRBA through their leadership, guidance, personalities, passion, and inclusive collaborative approach

Angel Impact is the official investment podcast of the Wisconsin River Business Angels (WRBA)  To join the Wisconsin River Business Angels so you can provide capital and mentoring to more great companies visit our website at www.midwest wealthventures.com and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WRBAngels

Dec 06, 202107:57
Episode 16 - What Leon Learned in Japan

Episode 16 - What Leon Learned in Japan

The sixteenthn episode of Angel Impact is about what Leon learned in Japan.  In this solo episode you will learn:

1. The number of different countries Leon has worked in

2. How acquiring a global perspective has helped Leon to become a more effective angel investor

3. A fascinating story from Japan that taught Leon important lessons about cultural differences and how they effect the valuation of a product and company

4. The number of times the marketplace needs to hear a message in order for people to understand it

5. The linguistic differences Leon noticed in attempting to communicate to the marketplaces in European and Asian countries and how that affected marketing plans

6. Why cultural differences must be translated into value calculations and how this is important for angel investors to understand

7. Why marketing is entirely about focusing on the customer and their emotions

8. How Leon’s global perspective and experience allows him to be a valued expert to scalable companies in the WRBA portfolio and guide them to better decisions

9. The piece that is most often missing in companies’ product offerings and how Leon helps entrepreneurs to include it, both in terms of preventing unexpected loss and seizing on unexpected gains

10. Why companies need to consider both problem solving and customer emotions for their offerings to be successful in the marketplace

11. Why the Planned Innovation protocol used by the WRBA helps to quantify the value of the emotive component more quickly and accurately than any other due diligence tool we have found

12. Why the emotive component is chronically misunderstood by entrepreneurs leading to both marketplace failures and unrealized financial returns  

13. A concrete example of considering the valuable emotive components in a well-known global brand

14. How understanding emotive components set you apart in the marketplace

15. Why emotive components often seem vague and amorphous, but are actually possible to precisely quantify and value


Angel Impact is the official investment podcast of the Wisconsin River Business Angels (WRBA)  To join the Wisconsin River Business Angels so you can provide capital and mentoring to more great companies visit our website at www.midwestwealthventures.com and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WRBAngels

Dec 06, 202120:10
Episode 17 - Meet one of our member investors, Part 1
Oct 11, 202114:18
Episode 19 - A major milestone...our first exit!
Sep 28, 202120:36
Episode 15 - Mouth Like A Hippo, A$$ Like A Parakeet
Aug 28, 202116:43
Episode 14 - Impact of Angel Investing, Part 2
Aug 28, 202112:53
Episode 13 - Impact of Angel Investing, Part 1
Aug 28, 202114:46
Episode 12 - Why Coachability is CRUCIAL

Episode 12 - Why Coachability is CRUCIAL

The twelfth episode of Angel Impact is about the most important quality we look for in entrepreneurs we are considering for investment: coachability.


In this episode you will learn about:

1. Why the entrepreneur’s level of coachability is the very first component of the WRBA’s due diligence process

2. The three character traits Jeff and Leon look for in an entrepreneur they are considering for angel investment

3. Why the entrepreneur’s level of coachability must be determined  BEFORE performing the opportunity analysis (OA)

4. Some of the ways we feel out coachability in entrepreneurs we are considering for investment

5. Why it’s important to be the dumbest person in the room

6. The 2 areas Leon looks for to determine the coachability of an entrepreneur

7. A story from Jeff and Leon’s past that illustrates the practical fruits of coachability

8. Why angel investment money is “smart” money

9. Why the angel investing process is ALL about spotting and quantifying opportunities in investment companies

10. Why it’s harmful for entrepreneurs to “eat the whole elephant”

11. The one thing that coachability comes down to for entrepreneurs

12. Why it’s actually easier for entrepreneurs to approach angel investors acknowledging that they don’t know everything instead of acting like they do

13. One thing Jeff hasn’t yet seen in all his years working with entrepreneurs

14. Other strategic relationships it is important for entrepreneurs to develop in order to achieve success with their companies  


Angel Impact is the official investment podcast of the Wisconsin River Business Angels (WRBA)  To join the Wisconsin River Business Angels so you can provide capital and mentoring to more great companies visit our website at www.midwest wealthventures.com and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WRBAngels

Aug 28, 202115:56
Episode 11 - Value and Use

Episode 11 - Value and Use

The eleventh episode of Angel Impact is about Value and Use, summed up entirely by the question “How Much Should I Charge?”   This episode includes a special Angel Outtake - enjoy a brief, playful glimpse behind the scenes of the Angel Impact Podcast


In this episode you will learn about:

1. The one question that focuses almost all of our due diligence process

2. Why most answers to that question don’t actually have any real bearing on the actual value of the product or service

3. How angel investors like the WRBA answer that question

4. The 4 simple questions we ask to industry consultants to help us value opportunities

5. Some of the ways we avoid wasting time and money through trial and error during our evaluation process

6. Why the Japanese don’t like vinegar - Two fascinating stories from Leon’s international business career that illustrate the power of considering often overlooked cultural and emotive factors in calculating the value of product lines

7. Jeff’s thoughts on why entrepreneurs need to be able to take their bunch of balloons into a room full of porcupines

8. Why our questions focus 100% on the CUSTOMER and not the entrepreneur’s product or service

9. How we account for both ECONOMIC and EMOTIVE value for every product and service in our due diligence process

10. The first 2 questions Jeff asks his students in entrepreneurship classes and how that relates to building fast-growth, scalable, angel-eligible businesses


Angel Impact is the official investment podcast of the Wisconsin River Business Angels (WRBA)  To join the Wisconsin River Business Angels so you can provide capital and mentoring to more great companies visit our website at www.midwest wealthventures.com and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WRBAngels

Aug 28, 202118:47
Episode 10 - Opportunity Analysis (OA), Part 2

Episode 10 - Opportunity Analysis (OA), Part 2

The tenth episode of Angel Impact is the second part of a series about the Opportunity Analysis (OA) that features prominently in the WRBA's extensive and industry-leading due diligence process.  This episode, perhaps more than any other before now, captures the essence of the WRBA.  


In this episode you will learn about:

1. The fact that opportunity analysis is one component the Planned Innovation framework used to evaluate a business in its entirety

2. How opportunity analysis helps to evaluate the effectiveness of strategic objectives so that leadership teams know whether to stay their course or pivot

3. How the opportunity analysis shaped by Planned Innovation helped Leon’s team at Dow-Corning to raise the success rate of new opportunities added to the company from 15% to 95% and how Jeff and Leon apply that same formula for success to the companies in which they invest and maximize strategic decisions

4. Some detailed nuts and bolts about segmenting product markets by level of value

5. How the WRBA consults with the best industry experts for distilled advice to help them evaluate opportunities in any given field as opposed to relying on a  less efficient statistical analysis approach

6. Why opportunity analysis IS the scientific method in action, and applied with extreme objectivity to business development

7. How the WRBA uses Planned Innovation to increase the average success of angel investment ventures and avoid gratuitous expenditure of resources on unnecessary R&D

8. How an opportunity analysis is often the best thing angels can invest in, and why it is the closest we can come to running a simulation in the marketplace before actually building a venture

9. Why opportunity analysis is still a well-kept secret in the world of business and why more entrepreneurs need to know about it

10. What most entrepreneurs don’t understand about the businesses they conceive and how they would benefit from applying the scientific method to their thinking

11. Why entrepreneurs need to be coachable and receptive to advice in order to benefit from the objectivity offered by an opportunity analysis

12. Why the WRBA prefers to use independent, third party consultants to perform their opportunity analysis

13. The very precise way Planned Innovation Opportunity Analysis helps the WRBA to quantify opportunities in order to determine their worthiness for angel investment

14. How truly understanding and applying the results of an Opportunity Analysis helps the WRBA to guide and shape their investment companies in real time to make them even more successful in the marketplace and profitable for investors

15. Why all of this is the very essence of the WRBA’s distinction in the world of angel investment


Angel Impact is the official investment podcast of the Wisconsin River Business Angels (WRBA)  To join the Wisconsin River Business Angels so you can provide capital and mentoring to more great companies visit our website at www.midwest wealthventures.com and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WRBAngels

Aug 28, 202119:02
Episode 9 - Opportunity Analysis (OA), Part 1

Episode 9 - Opportunity Analysis (OA), Part 1

The ninth episode of Angel Impact is the first part of a series about the Opportunity Analysis (OA) that features prominently in the WRBA's extensive and industry-leading due diligence process.


In this episode you will learn about:

1. How the nature of the WRBA’s due diligence process sets it apart within the realm of angel investing

2. A summary of the 4 major components of the WRBA’s due diligence process and why they are performed in a very specific order

3. Why the leadership and opportunity components are actually more important than the product or service

4. Why Jeff’s experience with entrepreneurs is important for the perspective of the WRBA and what entrepreneurs often get wrong in the way they view their companies

5. What angel investors mean when they talk about “strategic marketing” and how it differs from the way that many business owners think about marketing

6. The 3 main stages of the opportunity analysis that seek to discover every possible factor that could cause a company to fail

7. How the components of the opportunity analysis allow angel investors to guide leadership teams in identifying high priority problems in their companies that need to be addressed before others in order to ensure success

8. Why entrepreneurs often approach the high-volume/low-value opportunities first, and how help them identify low-volume/high value opportunities to create generate cash during early stages of business development

9. How the opportunity analysis identifies companies that can potentially scale far beyond their local markets


Angel Impact is the official investment podcast of the Wisconsin River Business Angels (WRBA)  To join the Wisconsin River Business Angels so you can provide capital and mentoring to more great companies visit our website at www.midwest wealthventures.com and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WRBAngels

Aug 28, 202113:22
Episode 8 - Overview of Angel Investing Strategies, Part 2

Episode 8 - Overview of Angel Investing Strategies, Part 2

Aug 28, 202114:28
Episode 7 - Overview of Angel Investing Strategies, Part 1
Aug 28, 202112:08
Episode 6 - How Our Pipeline Works for Investors
Aug 28, 202116:23
Episode 5 - Developing an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Central Wisconsin

Episode 5 - Developing an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Central Wisconsin

Aug 28, 202118:51
Episode 4 Bonus 2 - Why banks look at business plans, but angel investors prefer executive summaries
Aug 28, 202103:37
Episode 4 Bonus 1 - More is easy, less is hard
Aug 28, 202103:07
Episode 4 - What You Need to Know About Executive Summaries
Aug 28, 202111:42
Episode 3 - What We Look For In Leadership Teams
Aug 28, 202113:17
Episode 2 - Why We Founded the WRBA
Aug 28, 202111:59
Episode 1 - Our investment in Blue Line Battery
Aug 28, 202117:28