Key Highlights

[00:01 – 11:08] Getting into Early-Stage Tech Investing

• David built, operated, and exited four different successful businesses in the insurance and finance industries over 28 years
• Exiting his day job to focus on tech investing
• The number one mistake angel investors make is investing in businesses not meant to be venture-backed 

[15:10 – 29:32] The Anti-Silicon Valley Investor: How to Find Success in Early-Stage Startups

• Many early-stage startups fail or become “zombies” after taking angel money
• The investment thesis focuses on execution: building, selling, and finding people to pay for the product
• David’s advice to founders: build it yourself, find a co-founder, go to an accelerator program
• Startups outside of Silicon Valley were struggling to figure out how to raise funding and make the next Southern California has great support for life sciences, social space, e-commerce direct-to-consumer brands, and entertainment

[29:32 – 40:04] VC Sentiment in Tech Investing

• Valuations for tech startups have been drastically rising in the past few years
• Private markets lag 6-9 months behind public markets in terms of valuation resetting
• Good startups are still raising money from existing portfolios, but at lower valuations than a year ago

[40:05 – 41:35] Closing Segment

Additional Links:

Website: https://emerging.vc/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mandel-/?trk=public_profile_browsemap 

Brian’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-c-adams/