Angel Invest Boston

Angel-scale biotech is hot! Learn More Psychiatrist and founder Jacqueline Olds on her startup and her mission to fight loneliness in America. Words of wisdom and lots of laughs in this interview that could actually make your life better. Brought to you by: Purdue University entrpreneurship, and Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish & Richardson   Highlights:   Sal Daher Introduces, Jacqueline Olds, M.D., Psychiatrist and Founder Jacqueline and Her Husband, Founded GoodLux Technologies to Help Treat Depression without Drugs They Created a Device and an App to Help People with Bright Light Therapy “We thought this would be a wearable that would remind people that there was a way to treat their depression without using “ Sal Used the GoodLux Sunsprite to Help His Newborn Grandson Sleep Through the Night “The people who lived in places with an abundance of sun sometimes got seasonal depression, because they couldn't stand going outside in the summer, and they were inside like moles.” Overcoming Loneliness

The Promise of Angel-Scale Biotech: Learn More The miracle-working CEO of portfolio company Finetune Learning is back to tell us about the latest developments in applying artificial intelligence in educational assessments. We also got into remote work and explored how to support younger workers in creating professional networks while working remotely. Sponsored by: Purdue University entrepreneurship Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish & Richardson Highlights: Sal Daher Expresses Gratitude for His Sponsors: Purdue University Entrepreneurship and Peter Fasse, Patent Attorney at Fish & Richardson Sal Daher Introduces Steve Shapiro the Miracle-Working CEO of Finetune Learning Finetune Learning Uses Technology to Support the Creation of Great Educational Assessments Version 1.0 of Finetune Made It Easier to Grade Essays Consistently – A 2X Improvement Finetune Version 2.0 Is More B2B – It Is Assisting in the Effective Creation Content for Educational Assessment Making Assessment Writers 10X More Effec

The Promise of Angel-Scale Biotech: Learn More SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) are democratizing startup investing. In this interview with Jeremy Neilson, founder of Assure.co, we discussed how founders and angels can benefit from these increasingly economical platforms and what they mean for the future. Highlights: Sal Daher Introduces Jeremy Neilson Co-Founder of Assure.co Sal and Jeremy Met at an Event Held by Jason Calacanis in 2019 “...the engine of a large number of groups that do angel investing.” Use Cases for SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) It Used to Be Very Pricey to Set Up and SPV – No Longer A Way for Angels to Increase the Diversity of their Portfolio co Is helping Democratize Investing in Private Assets co Focuses on Accredited Investors – Does Not Do Equity Crowdfunding The Founding Story of Assure.co “...AngelList called my co-founder, Katie, and I and said, "Can you guys figure out how to do funds in bulk?"” Sal Daher Advises People Not to Make the Mistake He Made in Creating His Own SPVs

The Opportunitites in Angel-Scale Biotech: https://syndicate.angelinvestboston.com/en-us/the-surge-of-opportunities-in-angel-scale-biotech The dynamic duo of founder Adam Martel and super angel Christopher Mirabile are back on the podcast to report on the sale of Gravyty and to discuss Adam’s new startup, Givzey. Highlights: Gravyty Created a New Category How COVID Affected Gravyty Merging Gravyty and Graduway Sal Compares the Gravyty Exit and the Mavrck Exit Selling a Startup to a Private Equity Firm Adam Martel Talks About his New Startup, Givzey “Because we're experts in data, we've seen if you make a gift to your alma mater for the last 20 years, odds are that you're going to make a gift in the 21st year.” “...the ability to understand the market and to understand the timing of the market; is the market ready for this, has been shown to be a very important predictor of success in ventures.” Sal Daher Shifts the Conversation to the Life Sciences “...you don't meet many academics who aren't pretty sharp. W

Why Sal Is Bullish on Biotech: Click Here Adam de Sola Pool, a highly successful pioneer in green tech investing in the 1990s, now sees huge opportunities in blue tech.  Don’t miss this fascinating tour of ocean technologies conducted by an engaging investor/guide. Sponsored by Purdue University entrepreneurship and Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish & Richardson Highlights: Sal Daher Welcomes Back Fellow Angel Investor Adam Pool “...he finds the kind of opportunities [in ocean tech] today that he saw in cleantech back in the 1990s.” The Surge in Aquaculture Creates Massive Opportunities for Investors, including Angel Investors Adam Pool Recently Invested in BioFeyn Which Is Making the Feeding of Farmed Fish More Efficient “...we're transforming the food part of the $3 trillion business that is the ocean economy.” Sal Sees Parallels Between the Explosion of Opportunities in Biotech and in Blue Tech. Cool: Seatrec and its Ocean-going Electric Charging Stations Cool: Making Fish Food Out of Mealworms an

Why Sal Is Bullish on Biotech VeraMorph has a new way to deliver insoluble drugs by mouth. Founder Doug Godfrin, PhD elucidates the promise of accessing the 85% of drugs that are not soluble. Does VeraMorph pass Sal Daher’s screen for angel-scale biotech? Listen and find out. Sponsors: Purdue University entrepreneurship and Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish and Richardson Highlights: Sal Daher, CFA Introduces Doug Godfrin, PhD, Founder of VeraMorph A New Way to Deliver Drugs Orally How VeraMorph Gets Around the Solubility Problem VeraMorph’s Approach Is Janus-like: Shelf Stable but Available Where Needed The Decade of Biotech & VeraMorph AltrixBio: Gastric Bypass Surgery in a Pill Sal Daher’s Biotech Screen: Strong Patents “VeraMorph actually owns the patents outright for this platform technology.” “We've really taken a totally different perspective with this class of material by focusing on immediate release via oral delivery...” Sal Daher’s Biotech Screen: Capable Academic Founder Sal Daher’s Biote

Click to Learn About Opportunities in Angel-Scale Biotech Diane Stokes, founder and angel investor, is back to update us on her startups. This inspiring triathlete has great ideas for startups who want to scale. Highlights: Sal Daher Welcomes Back Iron Woman Diane Stokes, Founder & Angel This Interview Picks Up Where the Prior Interview Left Off – Back to Wyebot How Wyebot Weathered COVID Diane Stokes and Colleagues Formed a Firm to Help Startups Grow Squadle – Promising Startup in Which Diane Stokes and Sal Daher Invested Dermal Photonics – Diane Stokes Is Trying Their Product Dermal Photonics Is Championed by Super Angel Jeff Arnold Who Has Been on the Podcast Sal Daher’s Standing Question: How to Get More Angels to Do Biotech “He discovered that VCs are not doing the small-scale biotech anymore. By small scale is a company that could sell for $200 million.” “They all want to have the next Moderna.” “One of the things is, is it manufacturable? How do you get to scale on your manufacturing, if it's not

Join Sal's Syndicate: https://syndicate.angelinvestboston.com/en-us/the-surge-of-opportunities-in-angel-scale-biotech Artificial intelligence guru Gil Syswerda is back to talk about angel investing and to give practical advice to founders. We closed with entertaining stories from Gil’s career. Highlights: AI Guru Gil Syswerda Is Back to with Tips for Angels & Founders Why Founders Should Value Their Time at $10 per Minute “...I stopped driving...I take an Uber or Lyft because it's not worth my time to be in a car... An Uber is way cheaper than $10 a minute.” Advice to Founders: Find a Co-Founder with Critical Skills You Lack Advice to Founders: “You need to be in the trenches, along with everybody else.” “One thing you make a must-read is an article by Paul Graham. It's called Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule.” “...The Hard Truth About Innovative Cultures, Gary Pisano just nails it, when he talks about how to create an innovative culture...” “...get an executive assistant as soon as you can.” “...yo

Why Sal's Bullish on Angel-Scale Biotech: Learn More Sponsored by Purdue University entrepreneurship and peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish & Richardson Founder Matt Breen of Rahoo Baby is back to update us on the progress of the company and on their new product, Walk Block. This startup is building a brand around helping parents support the cognitive development of their babies. Highlights: Sal Daher Introduces Matt Breen, Co-founder of Rahoo Baby “...scarcity of information that parents should have about how to positively impact their child's early development...” “...only about 6% of families actually tap into that knowledge that we [therapists]” “...oftentimes, it really isn't rocket science. It's stuff that can really easily be implemented into a parent's daily routine in terms of how they interact and play with their” Many Developmental Delays Can Be Remedied with Simple Interventions that Do Not Entail Onerous Visits to the Hospital Rahoo Baby’s First Product Is a Baby Lounger that Reduces Refl

When Semyon Dukach’s family came to America as refugees from the Soviet Union, they had a hundred dollars to their name. Semyon is now one of Boston’s most consequential VCs. Along the way he founded a couple of startups himself and made some remarkable angel investments that put him in a position to be helping founders with money and time. He has a knack for encouraging founders during the tough times. He’s done some fascinating stuff, like being a member of MIT’s fabled blackjack team, more recently he headed up Techstars in Boston. Then he raised a venture fund, One Way Ventures, focused on working with immigrant founders. Don’t miss this inspiring interview. Topics covered include: Sal’s Announcement of the Angel Invest Boston Syndicate Sal’s Intro of Semyon Dukach Semyon Dukach Bio The Moment Semyon Dukach Figured Out What He wanted to Do in Life Semyon Dukach’s Immigrant Story One of Semyon Dukach’s Adventures on MIT’s Fabled Blackjack Team The Satisfaction of Helping Out Customers in Significant Ways

Join Sal's Investment Syndicate: Click to Join Listener Robert Nagle is a mathy software guy and an angel investor. We had a great chat which included his perceptions of the risks in biotech investing and also discussed some of the companies in his portfolio. This is an instructive conversation with a thoughtful angel investor. Sponsored by: Purdue University entrepreneurship Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish & Richardson Highlights: Sal Daher Introduces Listener Robert Nagle, Mathy Software Guy and Angel Investor Robert Nagle Was Born in Ireland & Came to the US Robert Nagle Knew Jon Hirschtick as a Brilliant Intern at Computervision [ Jon Hirschtick podcast: https://www.angelinvestboston.com/jon-hirschtick-innovating-in-the-cloud] “If you're nice to people, sometimes they remember, sometimes they don't. If you're a jerk, they always remember...” Robert Nagle’s First Angel Check – Startup Making Bespoke Eyeglass Frames Conversation About Virtual Angel Investing “...many fascinating opportuniti

Join Sal's Investment Syndicate: Click to Join Salvatore Viscomi, MD founded his own startup and is now with GoodCell which isolates and stores cells of healthy patients who may need them for future cell therapies. The startup is founded by David Scadden, MD of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. A truly informative interview. Sponsored by Purdue University entrepreneurship and Peter Fasse, patent attorney. Highlights: Sal Daher, CFA Introduces Salvatore Viscomi, MD, Physician, Founder & Investor “...to isolate and store cells that you may utilize for future therapy.” “The ability to not only isolate and store the cells but to be able to say, "These cells are of good quality for future therapy...” “One of the unique capabilities we have is looking at what are the genetic changes that happen in our lives that cause risk.” “...two years from now, and we can always reference your biobank material to see what your baseline levels were.” GoodCell Co-Founders: David Scadden, MD, Trevor Perry, CEO, Brad Hamilton,

Sal's Syndicate: Click to Join Virtual visits & robotics to improve greatly the recovery of stroke patients. Chrissy Glover & her startup, Imago Rehab, are taking to market technology from Harvard's Biodesign Lab informed by deep experience in how stroke rehabilitation is done now. Highlights: Sal Daher Introduces Chrissy Glover, Co-Founder of Imago Rehab “...they've had a stroke maybe a year ago, and their hand is just stuck in this fist position.” “It's well understood that what is required for successful recovery is high-intensity rehabilitation.” 300 Repetitions of Hand Movements per Day Is What’s Needed; Stroke Patients Now Get 30 Reps Twice a Week - If They Can Get to the Clinic The Brain Is a Lot More Plastic Than We Thought, Even the Brain of the Elderly “...we see people who are five years post-stroke and able to really drastically improve their hand function, which is really exciting.” With The Robotic Glove in Their Home, Some Patients Go Way Beyond 300 Reps per Day and Have Great Outcomes

Sal's Investment Syndicate: Click to Join Harvard’s Tom Eisenmann is the author of Why Startups Fail: A New Roadmap for Entrepreneurial Success. We discussed valuable lessons from the book and how they might apply to biotech startups. Highlights: Sal Daher Introduces Prof. Tom Eisenmann of the Harvard Business School, Author of Why Startups Fail Howard Stevenson’s 400X Return Contrasting Brad Feld’s Book with Prof. Tom Eisenmann’s Book Sal Daher’s Favorite Part of the Book: Failing “[failed] founders probably cycle through those. ...the Kubler Ross stages...” “...basically, half of failed founders come back and get back on the horse and do it again.” Shutting Down the Failed Venture, Gracefully The Number One Killer of Startups: False Starts “...engineers are particularly vulnerable to this because they want to build.” Sal Daher Discusses SQZ Biotech’s False Start and Brilliant Pivot The Origin Story of Why Startups Fail “...the factories that actually make this stuff actually generate enough cash to invest

Join Sal's Syndicate: Click to Join Genius founder Sam Bogoch of Axle.ai returns to the podcast to tells us the secrets of equity crowdfunding. Axle.ai helps enterprises with massive video files make them usable. The startup has found great success on Republic and Sam has wisdom to share. Highlights: Sal Daher Introduces Sam Bogoch Founder of Axle.ai Who Is a Returning Guest Sam Bogoch’s Back Story Is on Another Episode Titled “Boy Genius, MD & Founder” Axle.ai addresses the accumulation of video content in enterprises What Axle.ai Does for Its Customers Such as Sports Venues Enables Remote Work & Finding Relevant Parts on Massive Video Files It’s a Big Problem and Companies Are Getting Acquired – Adobe Bought Frame.io for $1.3 billion Video Files Grow Faster than Bandwidth, So Most of Them Are Still on Disk Drives, Not the Cloud “...Amazon Web Services, when they're collecting very, very large data sets, they actually send out a tractor trailer-“ How Do Crowdfunding Investors Get Paid Out? “We proba

Join Sal's Syndicate: https://www.angelinvestboston.com/our-syndicates Sponsored by Purdue University entrepreneurship and Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish & Richardson Hesitant about investing in biotech startups? Founder Çağrı Savran and I discuss the unique opportunities and requirements of angel-scale life science startups. This is the first in a series of biotech angel bootcamps. Highlights: Podcast Sponsored by Purdue University Entrepreneurship and Peter Fasse, Patent Attorney Sal Daher Introduces Founder, Çağrı Savran, PhD Purdue University Now Evaluates Professors of Engineering on Translation of their Technology to Industry as Well as on Publications and Citations Episode Created for Angel Investors Who Are Hesitant About Biotech Savran’s First Round of Funding Was Very Easy, the Subsequent Three Rounds Took Great Effort Several Walnut Members Had Invested in SQZ, Which Also Had a Fast Angel Round “...they saw parallels between SQZ and Savran.” ” If somebody is taking too much time to think

Sal' Syndicate: Click to Join Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is the whole ball game. Whoever gets it first will rule. Who’s ahead and how to bet on them; this is only part of the excellent second chat with AI wiz Gil Syswerda. Highlights: Sal Daher Introduces Second Installment of Interview – AI and the Future Sponsors: Purdue University entrepreneurship, and Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish & Richardson “History is full of financial firms devising algorithms that work great in the past and don't work in the future.” “...our back testing showed on average 15% returns per year, and our live performance was exactly that, 15% per year.” “...we needed a supercomputer to run our algorithm. We built one. In the end, we spent upwards of a million dollars on this machine, and it took $10,000 a month in electricity to run it.” Gil Syswerda Teams Up with the Legendary Paul Tudor Jones and His Hedge Fund via Percipio The Start of the Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis Breaks Gil’s Algorithm and He Goes to Cash

Sponsors: Purdue University entrepreneurship Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish & Richardson Mostly diagnosed in late stages, ovarian cancer is a silent killer of women. Oriana Papin-Zoghbi of AOA Dx aims to defeat this threat. Fresh out of Y Combinator, the team is making impressive headway in commercializing a promising technology from McGill University. Highlights: Sal Introduces Sponsors, Purdue University Entrepreneurship & Peter Fasse, Patent Attorney Sal Daher, CFA Welcomes Oriana Papin-Zoghbi of AOA Dx to the Podcast Ovarian Cancer Is a Silent Killer of Women “None of us on the founding team were originally scientists... We needed to really create a partnership.” Partnered with Professor Uri Saragovi of McGill University “...80% of cases being diagnosed when they're already Stage III and IV.” Professor Saragovi’s Approach Is Using Certain Glycolipids in the Patient’s Blood as a Marker of the Presence of Ovarian Cancer AOA Dx Supported by a Retrospective Study – Reached 95% Accuracy Sal Da

Sal's Syndicate: https://www.angelinvestboston.com/our-syndicates Sponsored by: Purdue University Entrepreneurship Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish & Richardson The best measure of a founder is how much she can get done with limited resources. By this metric, Bryanne Leeming is an outstanding founder. Two years before she had a paper prototype and vague hopes for a Kickstarter program. At the time we spoke she had a sleek physical product that’s gaining market. She also had the software to make it valuable and had completed a successful Kickstarter campaign. The interview with Bryanne Leeming left me inspired. Here’s some of what we talked about: Bryanne Leeming Bio How Bryanne Leeming Decided She Wanted to Be a Founder What Bryanne Leeming Got from Her Babson MBA Balancing Time Between Consulting Gigs & Working on Her Startup How Being an Athlete Affects the Work Bryanne Leeming Does Bryanne Leeming Tells the Unruly Studio Story How Bryanne Leeming Overcame Not Being a Technical Founder Sal Re