Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast entrepreneur, Product Coach, author and co-founder, Vidya Dinamani. Vidya has a passion for coaching product leaders and teams. She is one of the founding partners of Ad Astra Ventures. She is also Principal with Product Rebels, a company founded to help product managers, founders and entrepreneurs make customer breakthroughs. Vidya has also recently been focused on investing and mentoring startups and early stage companies. She has over eighteen years of experience specializing in business and technology strategy development and product design, development and management. Vidya has held multiple executive roles at leading companies, including executive positions leading innovation and product management at Mitchell International, Director of Customer Experience for TurboTax Intuit. She also served as Director of Business Operations and Chief IT Architect for the software provider. Prior to Intuit, Vidya was a consultant with Deloitte Consulting, specializing in technology strategy consulting. She holds seven U.S. patents for software technology and is a certified Net Promoter associate. Today, Dr. Sylvia and Vidya talk about Vidya’s ‘Why’ of investing and her goal to achieve equality among men and women on both sides of the investment table. Vidya expounds on what it means to go from the first meeting with a startup company to actually writing a check and investing. Finally, Dr. Sylvia and Vidya discuss the work Ad Astra Ventures is doing to educate entrepreneurs today. 04:30 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Vidya Dinamani, who discusses her professional background, her very first investment and her ‘Why’ of investing 10:22 – Vidya talks about identifying the right founder and the right product-market fit when she seeks out early stage startup companies to invest in 13:45 – Vidya talks about the origin story of Ad Astra Ventures and the commitment they’ve made to help more female founders 20:55 – Vidya speaks to the impact Ad Astra Ventures wants to create 29:15 – Vidya talks about her book, Groundwork: Get Better at Making Better Products and some of the great testimonials she’s received as feedback 37:02 – Vidya expounds on her background in product and how it’s impacted how she shows up as an investor 38:55 – Vidya talks about the work she’s doing at Lash.Live 45:56 – What abundance mindset means to Vidya 47:32 – Dr. Silvia recaps her interview with Vidya Full show notes: https://www.sheinvests.com/41

She Invests!

041 Vidya Dinamani - Laying the Groundwork for Investing

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast attorney and angel investor, Rose Bowlus. Rose is an experienced attorney and former in-house counsel with extensive transactional, regulatory and compliance experience at industry leading financial institutions and energy companies. She is a strong leader, seasoned negotiator and excellent communicator, all traits that have prepared her for her transition to angel investing. Today, Dr. Silvia speaks to Rose about Rose’s journey from aspiring angel investor to an expert who is ingrained in the startup ecosystem. They discuss Rose’s background in law, the work she’s doing to help and advocate for start-ups and some of projects she’s currently taking part in, including Angels in the Law and The Fourth Floor. 05:12 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Rose Bowlus who speaks to her involvement in the San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC), her background as a lawyer and finding her voice as an investor 11:01 – Rose recounts the finalist companies at San Diego Angel Conference 13:24 – Rose expounds on her latest project, Angels in the Law 18:51 – Bringing a different perspective and doing your due diligence as an angel investor 24:02 – What Rose is doing to help and advocate for start-up companies 29:28 – Rose talks about one of the start-up companies that she’s particularly excited about 37:56 – Rose speaks to her involvement in an early stage company, The Fourth Floor 42:14 – What abundance mindset means to Rose 43:40 – Dr. Silvia recaps her interview with Rose Full show notes: https://www.sheinvests.com/40

SI040-RoseBowlus-May28-Final-Mastered-v2

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast entrepreneur, founder and fellow angel investor, Dr. Kay Olmstead. Dr. Kay is an angel investor who has a particular interest in investing in technology-based companies in biotech and clean tech. She looks for investment opportunities in socially responsible companies with technologies to make our world better by creating products to tackle tough problems. Dr. Kay is also an accomplished entrepreneur and is a co-founder and CEO of Nano PharmaSolutions. Throughout her thirty-two year career in the pharmaceutical industry she led the development efforts of five FDA-approved drugs and holds nineteen issued patents to date. Today, Dr. Silvia speaks to Dr. Kay about her investment thesis, one that is rooted in impact investing and legacy building through philanthropic investment vehicles, such as Donor Advised Funds, or DAFs. Dr. Kay continues by discussing the importance of commercialization and provides general advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. 04:40 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Dr. Kay Olmstead who speaks to her investment thesis and the decision to pursue impact investing 16:44 – Dr. Kay talks about how her approach to investing has been influenced by her background as both an intrapreneur and entrepreneur 20:53 – Dr. Kay provides some poignant investment questions that are important to ask 24:03 – Dr. Kay comments on the importance of commercialization 29:33 – Dr. Kay speaks to the value of relationship building in investing 34:35 – Dr. Kay talks about her experience with San Diego Angel Conference 38:47 – Dr. Silvia recaps her interview with Dr. Kay Full show notes: https://www.sheinvests.com/39

039 Dr. Kay Olmstead - Impact Investing

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast experienced retirement plan consultant and entrepreneur, Rebecca Hourihan. Rebecca is the founder and CMO of 401(k) Marketing, a firm that helps retirement plan advisors market their expertise and build long-lasting brand awareness. The company was founded on the idea that retirement plan advisors are specialists and should promote their unique skill set. With over 15 years of retirement plan experience, Rebecca is skilled at developing clear paths that are simple for plan sponsors, advisors and participants to understand. She is committed to company growth, advisor development and collaborative improvement. Dr. Silvia and Rebecca discuss lessons Rebecca has learned from her involvement in the San Diego Angel Conference, tips for being a better public speaker and how she has transitioned into a leader in the financial planning and services industry. 04:19 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Rebecca Hourihan who speaks to her involvement in the San Diego Angel Conference, her background as a financial advisor and her entrepreneurial journey 15:45 – The community of SDAC and what Rebecca noticed about some of the founders from this past year 20:39 – Rebecca talks about how she prepares for presentations 22:27 – How Rebecca has grown throughout her journey as an angel investor and the importance of diversifying her investments 27:12 – Rebecca’s shares other projects she’s a part of 28:45 – Rebecca expounds on her investment thesis and her ‘why’ 30:21 – Dr. Silvia shares her own specific investment thesis 34:04 – Rebecca talks about some trends she’s seen in the FinTech industry 35:53 – Rebecca discusses her financial savvy and provides best practices for living a frugal lifestyle 44:40 – Final words of wisdom from Rebecca 46:20 – What abundance mindset means to Rebecca Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/38

038 Rebecca Hourihan - Investing, Giving Back & Frugality

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast ecosystem builder, investor and advisor, Caitlin Wege. Caitlin is a partner at MooDoos Investments, a private family-owned investment fund that invests in early-stage companies throughout North America. MooDoos is industry agnostic and invests in several industries including life sciences, manufacturing, and education technology. Caitlin is an experienced angel investor and fund manager that serves as Chairman of the board of multiple portfolio companies and President of the San Diego Chapter of Tech Coast Angels, the largest Angel network in the US. Dr. Silvia and Caitlin discuss the concept of finding your ‘why’ as an investor, Caitlin’s passion for fostering entrepreneurial and investor education, and how to create a wonderful network and community for investors locally as well as nationwide. 04:32 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Caitlin Wege who speaks to her entrepreneurial journey, her ‘why,’ and how she got involved in investing 08:45 – Caitlin speaks to the importance of addressing the wealth gap in America 12:24 – Caitlin discusses the dynamic of her family office and her role as President of the San Diego Chapter of Tech Coast Angels 18:40 – Caitlin shares her thoughts on the need to get more women involved in angel investing and the panel she worked to achieve this goal 27:08 – Caitlin identifies some specific female members of Tech Coast Angels who are doing amazing work   29:35 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 36:19 – Caitlin talks about overcoming the challenges of COVID-19 to emerge successful in 2020 and what excites her about 2021 41:31 – How Caitlin plans to amplify her ‘why’ in 2021 46:05 – What abundance mindset means to Caitlin Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/37

037 Caitlin Wege - Following Your Why

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast former Director of Contracts at Qualcomm, Janet Carson. After retiring from Qualcomm in 2018, Janet turned her focus to making an impact in the community by serving with several community-based organizations and investing personal resources with numerous startup companies. As an angel investor, Janet identifies innovative solutions and technology-centric startup companies for investment opportunities. Dr. Silvia and Janet talk about how Janet has diversified her portfolio through different types of investment opportunities, from Portfolia and San Diego Angel Conference to Founders First Capital Partners. They discuss the value of looking to others for industry-specific expertise throughout the due diligence process. Finally, they speak to Janet’s passion for investing in women-led and underrepresented startup organizations. 05:06 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Janet Carson who speaks to extensive business background, her involvement in San Diego Angel Conference and what she enjoyed most about SDAC 11:19 – How Janet’s experience has changed with a year under her belt at SDAC and speaks to the benefits of angel investing 15:14 – How SDAC has adjusted and pivoted amidst COVID-19 19:32 – Janet speaks to the site visits she’s excited to make once it’s safer to travel 23:02 – Janet opens up about her different investment approaches and how she’s leveraged the investment platform Portfolia 34:10 – Janet talks about her involvement with Kim Folsom and Founders First Capital Partners 38:01 – How Janet views herself as an investor 42:54 – What abundance mindset means to Janet Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/36

036 Janet Carson - Greet the Day with Endless Possibilities

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast start-up consultant, entrepreneur and investor, Michelle Youngers. As a cross-functional Executive, Michelle brings over 30 years diverse experience in both financial and operational strategies to improve organizational effectiveness of early stage, high growth companies across multiple industries. Throughout her career, she has served as a Company Co-founder, President and CEO, and various roles as a trusted financial and operational partner to CEOs, leadership teams, Board of Directors and investors. She strongly believes in the equation vision plus execution equals success. Dr. Silvia and Michelle talk about Michelle’s investment thesis, factors Michelle looks for when assessing founders and how we can better empower female entrepreneurs. 04:26 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Michelle Youngers who speaks to her involvement in San Diego Angel Conference, how she assesses founders and what her investment thesis entails 13:13 – Michelle provides some examples of companies she has invested in that she is also incredibly excited about 16:02 – Michelle talks about diversification, the importance of having capital available for investment opportunities and the value of SDAC 21:44 – Dr. Silvia and Michelle talk about the Women of SDAC and areas where we can better promote more female entrepreneurs 28:42 – What abundance mindset means to Michelle Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/35

035 Michelle Youngers - Impact Investing: There’s Plenty of Pie to Go Around

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast leader, connector and mentor of startup founders, Oralia Alvarez. Oralia currently serves as a director of business development for Founders First Capital Partners, a fund committed to growing and funding small businesses led by diverse and inclusive founders. With over ten years of experience in distressed real estate investments and business strategy, Oralia works exclusively with cash investors in the acquisition of off-market properties. As an angel investor, Oralia is extensively involved in San Diego’s startup ecosystem by serving as a connector and mentor to entrepreneurs and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors at Startup San Diego. Dr. Silvia and Oralia talk about the daring journey of being an entrepreneur, why women of color make some of the most efficient founders and the importance of being bold and confident. 04:19 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Oralia Alvarez who speaks to her involvement in San Diego Angel Conference, her entrepreneurial origin story and her involvement in animal philanthropy 10:31 – Oralia provides her thoughts on why women of color are some of the best and most efficient entrepreneurs 14:13 – Oralia speaks to the brilliant work the winning founders at San Diego Angel Conference are currently doing and what impressed her the most by these founders 21:28 – The importance of communication and coachability when it comes to investing in founders 25:46 – Dr. Silvia and Oralia talk about their excitement for SDAC Fund III 31:16 – Oralia talks about her bold, confident nature and how she maintains balanced confidence  34:30 – Oralia shares what having an abundance mindset means to her Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/34

034 Oralia Alvarez - The Power of the Purse

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast business owner, consultant and investor, Amy Duncan. Amy has over 20 years of experience working in the high growth life sciences industry and is a seasoned marketing strategist. Amy co-founded Goldfish Consulting in 2008 with the goal of helping small businesses and life science entrepreneurs grow their business. Amy currently serves as chair of the communications committee for the San Diego Entrepreneurs Exchange (SDEE) and co-fund manager for the San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC). Dr. Silvia and Amy talk about the mindset transition Amy had to undergo from active angel investor to Lead Fund Manager, the importance of women representation in this field and the growth of the Women of SDAC. 03:59 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Amy Duncan who speaks to her involvement in the San Diego Angel Conference and the mindset that was required to take over as Lead Fund Manager 12:33 – Amy recalls a particularly impressive pitch from an entrepreneur finalist pitch at the San Diego Angel Conference and how Amy became a champion for her 20:17 – The transition to becoming a Fund Manager for SDAC III and what excites her most about this venture 26:23 – Amy talks about the group ‘Women of SDAC’ and the work that they do 30:12 – Amy shares what having an abundance mindset means to her Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/33

033 Amy Duncan - Inspiring Women in Angel Investing

Excited to bring to you a new series for the She Invests podcast, a special Inspiring Women in Angel Investing 12-episode series. The genesis of this series rises from the exceptional work the San Diego Angel Conference does in funding innovative companies and the women who are part of this group who are creative, inquisitive and curious, a true alignment of my mission at She invests to give voices to the female angel investors who are actively investing and being an advocate for our amazing San Diego innovation ecosystem through real investor stories. Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/S3

Trailer: Inspiring Women in Angel Investing Series

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes to the podcast Vice President of Crescent Ridge Partners, Maria Gonzalez-Blanch. CRP is a female-led venture capital and private equity firm that invests in early stage companies and growth equity for more mature and proven businesses. Prior to CRP, Maria held senior roles in Operations, Sales and Strategy at Red Bull and Altamont Capital. Dr. Silvia and Maria talk all about investing in values-aligned founders, the impact COVID-19 has had on entrepreneurs and examples of innovative companies Maria and CRP have recently invested in. 03:34 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Maria Gonzalez-Blanch who shares her origin story, the work she does at Crescent Ridge Partners and the respect she has for entrepreneurs 11:04 – Maria speaks to her career transition from private equity to venture capital and the investment criteria that Crescent Ridge Partners utilizes 17:27 – Maria identifies some examples of innovative entrepreneurs CRP has invested in 20:40 – How Maria and CRP adapted and pivoted during COVID-19 23:53 – The work Maria is doing with Ad Astra Ventures 28:45 – Maria speaks to yet another company that is doing tremendous work and earned an investment from CRP 31:07 – Maria shares what having an abundance mindset means to her Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/32

032 Maria Gonzalez-Blanch - Values-Based Investing

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes strategic advisor, entrepreneur, and investor Sonia Steinway to discuss the work she’s doing with Village Up. Sonia has a wide array of experience helping startups and entrepreneurs achieve their goals. Most recently, she has focused on helping companies with underrepresented founders, specifically women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Dr. Silvia and Sonia discuss investing during COVID-19, the exciting future of Femtech and what abundance mindset means to Sonia. 03:38 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Sonia Steinway who shares the exciting work she’s doing with Village Up and the importance of supporting aspiring entrepreneurs from all walks of life 08:14 – Sonia opens up about barriers that LGBTQIA entrepreneurs and founders continue to face 15:55 – Sonia highlights a specific company she’s extremely excited about 21:10 – Sonia shares her investment criteria and the importance of promoting and fostering true diversity 27:14 – Sonia shares her excitement for the future of Femtech 33:30 – Sonia discusses what having an abundance mindset means to her Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/31

031 Sonia Steinway - It Takes a Village

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes inspiring global leader, strategist and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, Maisha Cobb. Maisha is committed to helping organizational visionaries bring their boldest aspirations to life. At her own core, Maisha believes we all have a unique vision that contributes to the great societal benefit. Dr. Silvia and Maisha explore the concept of leadership through servitude, the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the value of having an abundance mindset. 04:30 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Maisha Cobb who talks about her passion for giving back and empowering women of color, her career journey and the importance she places on servitude 11:00 – Maisha speaks to her book, Epiphany Marketing, and how she shifted her own career path 15:22 – Maisha speaks to how COVID-19 has impacted herself, our society and minority communities 19:10 – Maisha opens up about the tragedies of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd 22:13 – The importance of promoting and fostering true diversity and change in the workplace 26:17 – Maisha recalls a powerful seminar she attended recently and shares what she learned from it 29:44 – Maisha speaks to the value she places on her role as a mentor 32:42 – Dr. Silvia and Maisha share their thoughts on motherhood 36:47 – Maisha provides best practices and advice on returning to your authentic self 39:04 – Maisha discusses how her meditative practices focus on an abundance mindset Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/30

030 Maisha Cobb - Servant Leadership & Returning to Your Authentic Self

At the end of what has been arguably one of the most challenging years ever, Host Silvia Mah recaps the year and highlights several key takeaways. She first talks about Impact, Innovation and Isolation and how we persevered through what she describes as a Triple Pandemic - Health uncertainty, Social injustice and Economic insecurity. She highlights shining examples of entrepreneurship, and how leaders demonstrated awareness, open communication resilience and problem solving skills. Truly inspiring. Full show notes: 2

029 - 2020 Year End Review - Persevering Through a Triple Pandemic

Welcome to She Invests, where you’ll hear from existing female angel investors, venture capitalists and fund managers on their investment thesis. From deal flow to exits, they will share the best practices that contribute to their success. In this episode, Dr. Silvia Mah welcomes Teri Ijeoma to the show to discuss Teri’s incredible transition from education to the stock market. Teri details the decision to quit her job, travel the world and begin trading full-time. She speaks to how she successfully parlayed her skills as a trader into an online curriculum that shares her investing strategies with people all over the world. Today, Teri is focused on investing, lobbying for social change, and helping all groups – primarily women and minorities – to gain financial freedom. 01:12 – Dr. Silvia Mah introduces today’s guest, Teri Ijeoma who shares her journey from teacher to investment expert 10:28 – How Teri has been able to transform the lives of the African American community by helping them build their wealth 13:19 – Teri speaks to why COVID-19 impacted minority communities the hardest 23:06 – The value Teri places on traveling the world 25:18 – Teri provides insights on investing via the stock market 32:10 – The criteria Teri utilizes to identify companies to invest in 35:22 – Other tips and best practices for trading in the stock market and the importance of having confidence 38:42 – Teri provides final thoughts on everything that’s going on in our current social climate 41:08 – Teri talks about the value she places on having an abundance mindset 42:13 – Dr. Silvia thanks Teri for joining the show and recaps highlights from the episode Full show notes: http://www.sheinvests.com/28

028 Teri Ijeoma - Investing, Lobbying for Social Change & Achieving Financial Freedom

This is the show where we highlight the growing number of female angel investors, the real unicorns. My mission is to equip female angel investors with more knowledge about how to invest, finding their tribe, and collaborating. From deal flow to exits, women have been gaining experience. Let's learn from each other. We can only improve our representation around the venture table by truly sitting at it and having a voice.

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She Invests!

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