Info

Capital Gains - Capitalism.com

How do you go from comfortable affluence to real wealth? Listen to the Capital Gains podcast, by Capitalism.com, with host and professional real estate investor Jonathan Twombly. In interviews with top professionals, we'll discuss alternative investments you might not have known about that can help you go beyond merely obtaining a passive income to growing your asset base and becoming truly wealthy.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Capital Gains - Capitalism.com
2018
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: November, 2016
Nov 22, 2016

John Livesay is known as “The Pitch Whisperer.” He coaches startup founders who are seeking funding in how to best prepare their pitches to get maximum response. He knows the realm of pitching for funds inside and out, not just for the sake of getting money but also in terms of what investors are really looking for in startups and in their founders. If you are at all interested in learning how to be more effective in pitching your idea to investors, or are an investor who is looking to gain more knowledge about how to assess startups and their founders, this episode with John is going to be of great benefit to you.

Your idea may be good. But if you can’t effectively pitch it to investors it’s hopeless.

There are many product and business ideas that could probably make a significant impact on their target market and truly meet a legitimate need. But they never see the light of day because the people behind the idea are not good at packaging and presenting it to the people who could make it happen - investors. If you want your investment pitch to be the most persuasive and successful it can be, you need to know my guest on this episode, John Livesay. John generously shares a wealth of insight from his work with startup founders and investors to help you understand what goes into a great pitch and how you can become skilled at giving a pitch to investors. Be sure you listen.

Best practices for preparing your investment pitch.

Many founders or business owners try to pitch their idea to investors without the proper preparation - both of their idea and of themselves. John Livesay has developed a very specific process that walks startup founders through the stages of preparation that can make their pitch compelling and persuasive - but he also helps the person presenting the pitch craft the right stories, develop their personal mindset, and hone their speaking skills to make the presentation go off without a hitch. The number of founders he’s helped get their ideas funded is impressive. You’ll enjoy hearing his story on this episode of Capital Gains.

Why you need to pull investors in with stories instead of pushing them with information.

You may have some very compelling data or facts that show the veracity and need of your product or service. But if you can’t convey it in a way that shows that the idea will meet real needs and that YOU are the person to make the idea come to life, you will have a hard time convincing investors that it’s worth their time and money. John Livesay insists that every founder he leads through crafting their perfect pitch develop stories that draw the investors in. You can find out how he does it in this episode.

The best investment pitch advice: Ask for advice instead of money.

One of the things I asked John Livesay on this episode was how startup founders can best go about pitching their ideas to investors. He said the single most important thing is that the founder learns to ask for advice, not money. When you ask for money you’ll typically only receive advice. But when you ask for advice you’ll not only get a lot of questions and interest, you also open the door for the potential investor to learn more about your idea and get excited right alongside you. That often brings investment offers - which is what you want in the first place.

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:02] I’d like you to meet my guest today, John Livesay - the Pitch Whisperer.
  • [3:00] How John came to realize that startup founders needed help pitching their ideas.
  • [8:44] The types of startups John has worked with and what he’s looking for.
  • [9:30] The process John’s clients walk through - 8 online modules.
  • [11:12] How John vetts his clients.
  • [13:03] The types of things John’s clients learn in his process.
  • [16:49] Best practices for preparation for a pitch or presentation.
  • [18:10] What investors should be looking for in a potential investment opportunity.
  • [22:44] What is important when it comes to the value of the team and the value of the concept?
  • [23:24] How you can better prepare your pitch and identify potential investors.
  • [25:28] Why you need to pull people in with stories instead of pushing them with facts.

Resources & People Mentioned

Jonathan's Websites

Connect with Capitalism.com

Website: http://capitalism.com/

On Youtube

On Facebook

On Twitter

On LinkedIn

Nov 8, 2016

If you want to know how to become an angel investor you need to hear this conversation. I chat with Kathleen Murray, a businesswoman and angel investor who stepped into the world of angel investing on her own, supporting a startup company in the wine industry that she still works alongside today. Interestingly, she isn’t sure she would invest in the company again if she was starting over and you can hear her explanation in our conversation. Kathleen is a person who is very clear about the risks and rewards of angel investing and has a great way of describing the process, including how to get started as an angel. If you’re interested in the possibility of investing in startup companies, Kathleen has a helpful perspective on her own journey that can help you consider all the options, so be sure you listen.

Why would you NOT invest in a company you’ve already invested in, if you could do it over?

In this conversation with Kathleen Murray, an experienced angel investor, I learned how she got started in angel investing through a relationship with a company in the wine industry. In the course of our conversation she said that if she had it to do over again, she isn’t sure she would invest in the company in the first place. Why is that? It has to do with the long-term nature of the investment, the constant infusion of cash that’s been required to keep the company profitable, and the lack of a clear exit strategy for her investment. You can hear all the details on this episode of Capital Gains.

Are angel investments good for income or is all about the exit?

One of the things I was curious about when talking with Kathleen Murray was whether angel investments are typically income producing or if the profitability is typically realized at the end of the investment period. Kathleen was quick to point out that seldom is a startup company able to realize the kind of profits that enables investors to be remunerated in an ongoing manner. The funds that are put into the company are used to make it become profitable, not to enable quick profits - and there is a very clear difference. You can hear Kathleen’s clear and simple way of explaining the role of an angel investor on this episode.

Who should and should not get involved in angel investing?

If you’ve ever wondered whether or not angel investing is for you, my guest Kathleen Murray has some very clear questions she suggests you ask yourself to determine if angel investing is a good fit. Do you have extra income you don’t mind losing if a deal doesn’t work out? Are you excited about business and supporting new businesses? Are you eager to help new entrepreneurs who have great ideas? Are you willing and able to provide counsel, advice, and coaching? These are just some of the questions Kathleen shares so be sure you listen to get the entire list of things she says you should consider.

If you want to become an angel investor you need to go in with your eyes wide open.

Kathleen Murray says that angel investing is not for the faint of heart and not for those who want a passive investment. Angel investing requires a good deal of time - in the beginning stages it's spent going through a thorough due diligence process to ensure the investment is in your best interest, and once the investment is made, walking alongside the company founders helping them think through and navigate the challenges of starting a new business. Kathleen does a great job of outlining the commitment and time it takes to be a truly helpful angel investor on this episode.

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:02] My introduction of Kathleen Murray of The Executive Forum Angel Investment Group.
  • [2:10] How Kathleen got into angel investing in the first place - and her first experience investing in a startup company..
  • [5:00] The 3 main things Kathleen considers when checking out an investment opportunity.
  • [8:40] Are angel investments good for income or is it all about the exit?
  • [11:14] Who should and should not get involved in angel investing?
  • [14:08] How can an investor get involved in an angel investing group?
  • [16:23] How Kathleen founded The Executive Forum Angel Investing group.
  • [17:34] The types of Kathleen likes and doesn’t like.
  • [20:30] The reason Kathleen looks for companies to be addressing a real, lasting pain point.
  • [24:12] A disappointing experience Kathleen had that you can learn from.
  • [25:56] The importance of going in with your eyes wide open if you want to become an angel investor.
  • [27:45] What’s the difference between an angel investor and someone who invests money in a friend’s company?

Resources & People Mentioned

Nov 1, 2016

If you’ve heard the term “angel investor” but haven’t been sure exactly what it’s about, this is the conversation for you. On this episode, I chat with Jim Sullivan, an experienced businessman who has only been working as part of an angel investing group for just over two years at the time of our conversation. He’s the perfect guy to explain what angel investing is, how investing groups come together, how they assess potential investment partners, and what they are aiming to achieve in the end. I think you’ll really enjoy hearing Jim’s perspective on what it means to be an angel investor. He’s even got some advice on how to get started in angel investing, so be sure you make the time to listen. 

Why would an individual investor join an angel investing group?

Of course, anyone who has the money to invest in startup or first stage companies is able to do so. But doing so on your own can be very risky. An angel investing group is a partnership of individual angel investors who agree to work together to consider, assess, and advise early-stage startup companies in search of funding. The members of the group share the load of examining the risk VS reward of investing in the various companies and together make the decision to invest or not. It’s a great way to share the burden needed to make truly smart investing decisions. Jim Sullivan of The EF Angels investing group helps us understand how it works and is my guest today, on this episode of Capital Gains.

How does an angel investing group find its investment partners?

When you consider that there are always new companies looking for investment capital and that there are always investors who are looking to invest in promising new ideas and technologies, it may seem that getting those two parties together is a simple thing. But it’s really not. On this episode of the Capital Gains podcast, Jim Sullivan shares how he and his angel investment group make the first contact with potential startups through personal connections, introductions, and more. It’s proof that relationships and connections matter in business and you can hear how Jim and his group follow up with those first-time introductions to establish investment partnerships, so be sure you listen.

Why does an angel investing group perform “due diligence?”

Imagine someone you don’t know approaching you at the local coffee shop. The person tells you about his brand new company, the incredible ways he believes it will change a specific high-tech field, and asks if you have the funds to become an investor in what he’s doing. Would you be interested? Most investors wouldn’t simply because they don’t know enough about the person, his company and product, what stage of development and marketing he’s at, and is likely at least a bit ignorant about the market the product or service is targeting. In short, there’s been no  “due diligence” performed to ensure that the risk is one that is acceptable. Jim Sullivan is my guest on this episode and he explains what his angel investing group does in terms of due diligence so you can better understand how an angel investor makes decisions to invest or not invest.

The first things to consider if you want to be an angel investor.

When I asked my guest, Jim Sullivan what he recommends for the person who is intrigued by the idea of becoming an angel investor, he responded by saying that the first thing a person needs to consider is that they have a certain “risk threshold” - a level of risk beyond which they are unwilling to go. He recommends you know what your personal risk tolerance is and that you get your head around the idea that angel investing has no guarantees. You have to be prepared for the possibility that in every deal you may walk away with none of the money you’ve invested. It’s for this reason that Jim believes that angel investing is not for everyone and why he shares the kind of temperament that he believes is most suited to being an angel investor, on this episode.

Outline of This Episode

  • [0:41] My introduction of Jim Sullivan, angel investing, and more.
  • [1:03] Why Jim sees himself as a builder, investor, and operator.
  • [2:17] How Jim entered the angel investing field.
  • [5:44] The point at which Jim began investing his own funds in companies.
  • [7:21] How do deals come in to an angel investing group?
  • [9:31] The criteria Jim looks for in a potential angel candidate company.
  • [15:29] The next steps with an angel group.
  • [21:30] What does “due dilligence” mean within an angel investing group?
  • [27:27] What are good things for startups to spend their capital on?
  • [32:13] How to balance gut reactions from disciplined approaches.
  • [36:03] The different types of dilution in angel investing and their effects.
  • [41:00] What’s a disciplined approach to getting into angel investing?
  • [46:53] How you can connect with Jim.

Resources & People Mentioned

Jonathan's Websites

Connect with Capitalism.com

Website: http://capitalism.com/ On Youtube On Facebook On Twitter On LinkedIn

1