Ita Ekpoudom’s Post

If you are interested in angel investing, based in MN, and identify as BIPOC, Latinx, and/or woman - you don’t want to miss this! Join the info session today!

Relationships Matter… Being in venture capital I’ve noticed how ruthless and how promising this industry can be. Being a young black male assisting promising minority founders build their companies never comes without challenges but, I’m grateful for the journey nonetheless. I’ve been able to learn from some of the top emerging fund managers in this industry. Relationship building/management is the skill that the best fund managers have and is something I look to replicate. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Always be open to connecting with others. You never know what you may learn from a 2 min convo. Just something I learned from connecting and reconnecting with some industry partners at the MidCon VC Summit.

Come hear about some LP engagement and how Affinity can support your strategy.

Another big Diversity VC launch last week 🚀 Thursday marked our first ever Members’ community roundtable. We gathered our member funds together for a conversation about the challenges we’re facing in making VC fairer. The topics were challenging, but crucial in our journey to creating a more diverse landscape. We know that it can be far more comfortable to discuss best practices in public, but overcoming shared challenges is critical to making progress in DEI. That’s why we’re creating a safe space for like-minded VC professionals to discuss the obstacles they’re facing behind closed doors. Comment below if you’d like to be involved in the next one!

Investor databases are a great tool, especially for first-time founders. Roundtable is launching its European Angel Investor Database on Product Hunt today- check it out; it's currently 1st for today. I'm excited about this one because I've seen plenty of VC lists, but few that focus on angel investors. Thanks Evan and team for including me. To many more deals with Roundtable 🚀 Who are the best angels that didn't make the list? Tag in the comments

A big, BIG thank you to the Young Founders Program by the Westerwelle Foundation and to Stephan von Perger for an enlightening and empowering workshop today! 🌟 Your guidance on understanding the fundraising process, crafting compelling pitches, and building meaningful investor relationships has been invaluable. Here are some of my key takeaways: 1. Understanding Process & Timeline: Get a grasp on the fundraising journey and its timeline to effectively plan your strategy. 2. Investment Appeal: Provide compelling reasons for investors to invest in your venture. 3. Setting Fundraising Goals: Define clear fundraising goals and develop a solid plan to achieve them. 4. Understanding Investor Interests & Concerns: Tailor your pitch to address investor interests and alleviate their concerns. 5. Crafting a Storyline: Develop captivating narratives to engage investors and showcase your vision. 6. Slide Preparation: Build a repository of slides and select the right pitch format. 7. Practicing & Warm-up: Dedicate time to practice your pitch and feel confident on stage. 8. Building Investor Relationships: Invest time in getting to know your potential investors and keep them informed. 9. Creating FOMO: Generate investor interest by creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity. 10. Efficient Fundraising: Treat fundraising like a full-time job, optimize your time, and streamline the process. We're grateful for the insights shared and the tools provided to make our venture thrive. Here's to the next steps ahead and the continued support from this incredible program and expert mentorship. 🙏💼 #Gratitude #YoungFounders #WesterwelleFoundation #ExpertMentorship

"What are US investors looking for?" - 30th July - signup link in the comments. I just spent close to a month in San Francisco meeting VC funds. I met 38 funds. Why? - The US market is at least ten times the size of the UK. To get the biggest outcomes you need to go there. - When you go there it is very helpful to have a US VC on board. - To feed back what they are looking for to my portfolio so they can be on the right path and frame themselves correctly when they raise there. - To make warm intros for my founders because they make a difference. - To attract the most ambitious founders who know the US needs to be on their path. Come and hear what US investors are looking for on 30th July with me and Vasily Alekseenko as part of another amazing Rare Founders event. Link in the comments.

Exciting news! Our CSO, Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi, is currently in San Francisco participating in the Ignite North East Accelerator 2024 program.   We're on a mission to connect with investors, expand our network and fuel our growth towards the development of our diagnostic tools.   If you're in the Bay Area and interested in learning more about our groundbreaking work, reach out to Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi. Let's connect and discuss how we can collaborate to shape the future of neurodegenerative disorder diagnostics! #startup #innovation #investor #bayarea #accelerator #dementiadiagnosis

Angel investors just want a sense of feeling and belonging. Not being alone in the journey. That’s one of the key takeaways I got from my time at the Angel Investor Summit hosted by South East Angels. It’s why we’re building Table for Ten. Dom and I ask ourselves weekly how we ensure we don’t ’just become another syndicate’. Yes dealflow is a core part of this all, but for the angel investors that are putting their cash on the line - how do we make this a better experience in a world where all the spotlights are shining on VCs. We want our angels to feel like they are giving value where they best can. We want our founders to feel like they are getting more than just a few £££s to spend. Our dinners are proving to be the entry point to this journey. 🚀 Domenico Ranucci