Podcasts about angelinvestboston

Join Sal Daher's Investment Syndicate: Click to Join Frank Ferguson had a knack for building companies. He headed Bose at a time of rapid growth and built Curriculum Associates into a great success. Frank Ferguson’s angel investing was unusual in that he invested in just a few startups but lavished support on those few. The results were great. Frank was active well into his nineties but passed away recently; this relaunch of an interview I recorded with him is a memorial for his life of achievement and passion. It’s loaded with lessons for angels and founders. Rest in peace, Frank Ferguson. My favorite observation from the conversation with Frank Fergusson neatly encapsulates his recipe for success as an investor: “You can get sucked in and fall in love with a lot of things, but then you have to ask, "Are these the guys who can actually make it happen?” What are the odds that these guys can keep together, not fight, get over it, be successful, run things correctly, not fall in love with their own things so much that they lose track of the financial realities of the business? Can they sell?” Click Here to read the transcript of the interview.   TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Yes, That Bose Corporation! Curriculum Associates, Which Frank Ferguson Built, Continues to Be Hugely Successful Scraping Chicken Droppings in an Iowa Farm From Iowa State University to Teheran Courtesy of Syracuse University & the US State Department Frank Ferguson Thinks about Business School at MIT or Harvard Thanks to a Friendly Psychologist With an MIT Sloan MBA in Hand, Frank Ferguson Goes to Work at Baird Atomic Near Harvard Square Frank Ferguson Meets his Co-founders at Curriculum Associates Just as He Starts Work at the Bose Corporation Frank Ferguson Invests $80,000 in Today’s Dollars in Curriculum Associates Circa 1959 - Money Saved through Frugal Living in Iran How Frank Ferguson Connected with Amar Bose, Founder of the Bose Corporation Frank Ferguson Invests in the Bose Corporation Amar Bose Invites Frank Ferguson to Be President of the Bose Corporation in 1969 Frank Ferguson Moonlighted at Curriculum Associates while Running the Bose Corporation Frank Ferguson Left the Bose Corporation When it Was Experiencing Growth of 70% per Year to Get Curriculum Associates off the Ground Amar Bose, Brilliant but Difficult at Times Frank Ferguson Succeeds in Educational Publishing, a Notoriously Tough Business, by Finding a Niche – Differentiated Instruction Curriculum Associates Succeeds but Discord Arises Over the Purchase of a Water Cooler! Competition Gets Rough in the World of Educational Publishing Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready Succeeds by Measuring Progress of Individual Student to Help Teachers Better Support Students – Teacher Training a Pivotal Element of i-Ready’s Success Before Teacher Training Was Required i-Ready Saw No Gains – With Teacher Training Student Gains Are Dramatic! Ugly Truth – Fifth-grade Teacher Has Three to Five Year Grade Span in Her Classroom Lev Vygotsky, Seneca The Younger & Andrew Bell of Madras College – “By Teaching We Learn” “Talk to Me Baby – How You Can Support Young Children’s Language Development” by Betty Bardige Visionary Entrepreneurs Need to Hire Grunts Who Are Really Good at Execution – Frank Ferguson Was the Grunt & Amar Bose Was the Visionary How Amar Bose Hired the Smartest of the Smartest for the Bose Corporation Family with 11 Children Uses the Madras Method Whereby the Elder Learn by Teaching the Younger Sign Up at AngelInvestBoston.com to Hear About Upcoming Free, In-person Events – do Review Us on iTunes Frank Ferguson, Practical & Involved Philanthropist – Lionheart Foundation – Robin Casarjian Frank Ferguson Does Nothing in Half Measures – Elon Musk Would Approve Frank Ferguson - Angel Investor in the Bose Corporation and Curriculum Associates – Participated in the Baird Atomic IPO Hugh Stoddard, Father & Son, Piali De & Senscio Systems Amos Tversky & Daniel Kahneman, “Thinking Fast & Slow”, “Nudge” by Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler Frank Ferguson Connects with Will Graylin, Invests in Loop Pay Now Samsung Pay Will Graylin and ONvocal Frank Ferguson’s Approach to Angel Investing – Invests Where He Finds the People and Technologies Compelling – Few Enough Companies So He Can Make a Real Difference People Come up with Great Ideas, Great Markets but Sometimes Forget that there Is Friction in the World Lessons from Iran for Angel Investors  

Join Sal Daher's Investment Syndicate List: Click to Join SQZ's successful IPO validates the vision laid out by Armon Sharei, PhD in this interview recorded two years ago. In accessible language, this genius founder explains the approach that has big strategic players excited. SQZ is the model I have in mind when I invest in biotech companies. Find out why.  Armon Sharei wants to train our immune system to fight cancer. We hear a lot of claims like this, however when a mega-pharmaceutical company like Roche inks a $500 million deal to work on it, we pay attention. At age 29, Armon convinced not only Roche but gimlet-eyed VCs to back him. How did he do this? How did he go from a boy living in Iran to being one of the stars of MIT’s storied Langer Lab? Part of Armon’s secret is the ability to explain thickly complex ideas in accessible language that does not over simplify. He is that rarest of creatures, a scientist of the first rank who speaks lucidly and acts practically. I am grateful that Armon took time out from curing cancer to share his experiences with us in this inspiring interview. If you are a scientist thinking of founding a company or an investor thinking of investing in a biotech startup you could learn a lot by listening to this interview with Armon Sharei and then going to AngelInvestBoston.com searching under the biotech topic. Among the topics covered are: Armon Sharei Bio Childhood Spent in Iran & Dubai, Finished High School in Marin County Why Armon Sharei Wanted to Be a Scientist Why Leave Edenic Bay Area for Purgatorial Boston? SQZ Technology Comes from Failed Attempt to Shoot Genetic Materials into Cells How the Idea of Starting a Company Came About “I think one of the main examples, which is kind of the subject we've been pursuing most deeply at the company in two different projects, is the idea of telling the immune system what to target in the context of cancer”. SQZ Technology Excels at Getting Protein Fragments into Cells – Very Promising Method of Training Our Immune System to Fight Cancer Sal Asks Listeners to Subscribe & Review on iTunes – Podcast Has Great Guests & Sound Biotech Fundraising Is Hard – Armon Sharei’s Advice on Fundraising Armon Sharei Finds a Lead Investor for His Angel Round SQZ Biotech’s Pivot from Selling their Tech as a Tool to Looking for Therapies “…over 70 or 80% of scientists want to put stuff into cells for some reason. I think aside from looking under a microscope there's nothing that they want to do more”. Therapy Research Is Risky, But Tool Business Was Harder Than It Looked, Besides Armon Really Wanted to Do Science The Board Was Essential in the Pivot from Being a Tool Company to Becoming a Therapy Company How Does a 29-Year-old Negotiate a $500 Million Deal with a Major Corporation? Hiring the Right People Is the Most Important Thing a Founder Does, Look for Cultural Fit

Join Sal's Investment Syndicate: Click Here Super angel investor Michael Mark tells fascinating stories that take us from the precocious founding of his first startup straight out of MIT to his being a highly-prized investor in hundreds of startups today. The narratives are interwoven with valuable lessons on how tech startups are built in Boston's vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. They include entertaining observations of subjects ranging from comedians to co-founders. Some of the most interesting pivots (radical changes of business plan) are elucidated. Michael’s dry wit and unassuming manner make his deep wisdom accessible to all of us. If you liked this episode subscribe in iTunes or Google Play so that new episodes will automatically appear in your player. You can find us by searching for Sal Daher or Angel Invest Boston. Do take the time to review us. Sign up at https://www.AngelInvestBoston.com if you want to be made aware of upcoming in-person events. Obviously, this is of particular interest if you are in Boston or environs. You can also follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and on Twitter @AngelInvestBOS Topics we touched on: The best pivots ever! Need for focus When to pivot How frequently business plans work out Hiring a CEO Qualities of the founders Role of luck in startups What a board of directors can do for the startup How Michael got started in entrepreneurship Pixability Exos Loop Pay Bettina Hein Beth Marcus Will Graylin Progress Software Cadmus Interleaf Netegrity Underware

Invest with Sal's Syndicate: Sal's Syndicates “The biggest thing that we learned is that 78% of them were struggling to share those stories with their consumers, the biggest reason being a fear of feeling inauthentic.” “What do I mean by the organic model? I mean that the influencers we're engaging for these brands are not paid.” Ashland Stansbury, age 23, is building a new category with her startup, Because Intelligence. Belief marketing helps brands create genuine connections with their customers. She’s funded by Launchpad and BOSS Syndicate. Highlights include: Sal Daher’s Intro Correction: Enterprises Manage to Capture 5% of the Value They Create Not 2% as Stated Bio of Ashland Stansbury What Because Intelligence, Ashland’s Startup, Does Common Misconception that Only Expensive Products Are Environmentally Conscious The Founding Story of Because Intelligence “So, we took this approach of going out and talking to as many of our customers as possible. We got on the phone with over 50 different enterprise consumer brands.” “The biggest thing that we learned is that 78% of them were struggling to share those stories with their consumers, the biggest reason being a fear of feeling inauthentic.” “…I knew I was really good at was convincing other people to follow my mission.” “…if we can prove that giving back is actually good for business, that it actually impacts the bottom line, then we can financially motivate corporations to get involved in our key social and environmental issues.” How Ashland Stansbury Won Over Investors Skeptical That Her Startup Could Be Profitable “…we have all these metrics around how consumers are buying, and essentially proving the facts and figures behind this mission.” Sal Daher Talks About One of His Favorite Portfolio Companies: SQZ Biotech If You Are an Accredited Investor Do Check Out Sal’s Syndicate at AngelInvestBoston.com Go to Market Strategy for Because Intelligence “What do I mean by the organic model? I mean that the influencers we're engaging for these brands are not paid.” “Our long-term vision is to eventually become the social platform for talking about causes and beliefs.” Where Ashland Expects the Company to Be in Five Years Ashland Stansbury’s Father Is a Repeat Founder Who Inspired Her to Be a Founder Ashland Stansbury’s House Painting Company Started When She was a Freshman at Babson Entrepreneur of the Year Crazy Story from Her House Painting Company Days Pros & Cons of Early Entrepreneurship “…and I went off and did this crazy path of not taking a salary, living off of ramen noodles.” “I'm that annoying person at the gym that's always on the phone.” Sharing Your Wisdom: Getting Funded by Launchpad & The BOSS Syndicate “…we have really been trying to bring on investors who bring tremendous advice and network and value to the table on top of just capital.” “Last summer, I spent the entire summer building up my founder network.” “…when you go in to get advice from an entrepreneur, they will open up their network to you.” Because Intelligence Is Hiring "Be fearless in what you stand for and talk about your beliefs…"

Invest Alongside Boston's Top Angels: Our Syndicates Scientist and intrapreneur Gillian Isabelle, PhD, founded Enlivity (https://enlivity.com/) to make chemotherapy more bearable for cancer patients. The first product is a supplement invented by an oncologist that helps prevent sores from forming in the mouths and digestive tracts of patients receiving chemotherapy, a problem that can delay life-saving treatment. A fun interview with an infectiously affable guest. Gillian Isabelle studied material science at UC Berkeley and received her PhD from MIT. Worked at Corning and then at PureTech Health, the remarkable promising new pharma company started in Boston. At the Broad Institute she set up and ran the business development office to bring is licensing revenue from the Broad’s research. Gillian Isabelle is the founder of Enlivity, a startup dedicated to improving the lives of patients receiving chemotherapy. Radiation and chemotherapy have serious side effects that include sores in the mouth and the digestive tract. Such sores can cause treatment to be reduced or suspended, lowering the chances of the patient surviving the cancer. Patients with mouth sores may need to be administered opioids to help them endure treatment. These side effects also have economic consequences. Patients with sores may need to be admitted to a hospital in order to continue receiving therapy. Providers have an economic incentive to help to prevent hospitalization due to side effects from therapy. Value-based reimbursement for treatments, which is now the rule among payors, increases the incentive of managing side effects from treatment. Supporting the health of the oral and digestive mucosa allows patients to eat and drink normally and to maintain a healthy weight. Gillian observed a gap in cancer care. Great work is being done in developing new therapies but those can take decades before they help patients. Little is being done to help patients endure current therapies. If we can help patients better tolerate existing therapies, we can achieve better treatment outcomes and lower cost of care in the short run. She sees dealing with side effects as relatively low-hanging fruit. Gillian’s research, including talking to a lot of doctors, nurses and patients, showed that the most likely path to improving outcomes was to work on making nutrients that are known to support the health of tissues more bio-available. She speculated that using technology for targeted released of compounds in the body could help make these nutrients more available. The first product, Healios, is a compound of glutamine. Glutamine has been known to provide amino acids, the building blocks of protein, that support tissue health and immune function. Unfortunately, glutamine by itself is not bio-available. A pediatric oncologist at MD Anderson, a leading cancer clinic in Houston, invented a compound of glutamine with sugars which is readily absorbed by the body. This patented formulation is licensed exclusively to Enlivity. Gillian intends Healios to be the first of a whole stable of products that support patients receiving treatment. Gillian met her co-founder Jill Tobacco via LinkedIn. Jill brings marketing experience and to complement Gillian’s technical background. Gillian was looking for a nutritionist who was good at marketing. Jill bought into the vision. Looking for a co-founder displays self-awareness on the part of Gillian Isabelle for knowing what she needed help with. Before asking Gillian how she plans to go to market, Sal talks a bit about his portfolio company Akili Interactive which expects to be the first company to get approval from the FDA to market a video game to treat ADHD or attention deficit. Akili’s approach is to actually train the young person’s brain to make it easier to pay attention. It’s meant to be a therapy for the underlying cause of the problem, not just a treatment for the symptoms. This is a link to an article in the Financial Times about the founder Eddie Martucci, PhD and the company: https://www.ft.com/content/1f2bc488-8c5a-11e9-a1c1-51bf8f989972 Sal mentions Akili to highlight the type of opportunity he sees in Boston’s startup ecosystem. Accredited investors should contact AngelInvestBoston.com to learn more. Chemotherapy targets the fastest growing cells in the body because cancer cells are fast-growing. Cells in the lining of the mouth and throat are also fast-growing so they are susceptible to chemotherapy which is what leads to sores. Radiation releases free radicals which also attack the lining of the mouth and throat. Enlivity plans to market its products directly to the care providers who are the most familiar with the problems of cancer therapy. There is also growing inbound interest from care providers. Conversion is high when patients try samples. Sold via their own website. By the end of 2020 Gillian hopes Enlivity will have a strategic partnership for distribution and to be launching their second product, a treatment for people who lose the ability to make saliva due to radiation therapy. Gillian describes working at PureTech Health when it was a startup starting startups. The company partnered with faculty members seeking to commercialize technologies. Gillian told us how exciting it was to work with Daphne Zohar, the founder of PureTech. PureTech has shown a remarkable ability to define important problems to address and to bring capable resources to bear on their area of focus. When Gillian went to the Broad Institute it was still managed as a department within MIT. As the Broad spun out from MIT, it needed to have its own technology transfer office which handled licenses and collaboration with strategic players such as the large pharmaceutical companies. Big pharma is reducing in-house research and contracting it out to universities. Watching a friend die from cancer at age 42 changed Gillian’s focus from long-term cures to what could be done in the short run to improve the lives of cancer patients. Gillian did not see anyone else addressing the gap she noticed so she decided she was the person to do it. Gillian’s mother was a nurse practitioner who was an early social entrepreneur creating a program for disabled children which was copied all over Jamaica. She is a model for Gillian. Gillian’s husband is very supportive of her venture. Gillian emphasized the importance of finding allies to support you early on because the journey is very lonely. Advice to entrepreneurs: don’t go it alone. Important allies: MIT Venture Mentoring Services (VMS), co-founder, and other mentors and friends. Gillian reveals that she’s a listener to the Angel Invest Boston podcast and that she has left a review on iTunes. I’m honored!

Being good with numbers and super organized, led Diane Stokes from a humble start to big success in tech. Listen to her inspiring story on AngelInvestBoston.com

In college, Diane Stokes juggled caring for a sick mother, working full-time, doing ROTC and even had time to be on U Mass Lowell’s cheer leading squad. This energy and focus served her well as she progressed in her career of helping build startup after startup. Eventually, Diane founded a startup of her own. It succeeded beyond her greatest expectations. She invested as an angel for a while but is now back at another startup, helping them grow. My conversation with her revealed a personality of impressive determination and stamina leavened by good humor and genuine caring. I really enjoyed this interview, I think you will too. Check out other episodes at AngelInvestBoston.com