Archive: First Stage Investor
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Startup Insider: An Update from Winc’s Founders
By Early Investing on November 23, 2020
Winc is one of our favorite startups in the First Stage Investor portfolio. Winc is combining big data and a really smart supply chain to disrupt the way wine is made and sold. And since we recommended them right around this time last year, Winc has made tremendous progress. That’s why we asked Winc co-founders Geoff McFarlane and Brian Smith to drop by and give us an…
2021 Forecast: How Biden Will Affect Startups
By Andy Gordon on November 19, 2020
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting ready for 2020 to be over. Between the prospect of a vaccine and the new $5 million crowdfunding limit, I think next year has a lot going for it. Of course, next year will see the Biden presidency begin too.
Can Robots Invest Better Than Us?
By Andy Gordon on November 16, 2020
Can robots invest better than you or I can? That’s the fundamental question asked — and only partly answered — by six researchers who built an investment algorithm. The researchers compared the algorithm’s performance with the returns of 255 angel investors. The algorithm used the same…
New Pick: Invest in the Future of Soda
By Andy Gordon on November 12, 2020
Deal Details Startup: Smart Soda Security type: Stock Purchase Agreement Share price: $0.50 Valuation (cap): $10.7 million Minimum investment: $100 Where to invest: Republic Deadline…
Startup Insider: The Need for Equal Access
By Early Investing on November 9, 2020
We’re entering a new era in startup investing. Starting next year, startups will be able to raise $5 million from investors like you and me (instead of $1.07 million). That means we’re going to see even more high quality startups to invest in. But the new…
What the New Reg CF Limit Means for Founders
By Andy Gordon on November 5, 2020
I’m doing something different today. I want to give founders some advice. I’ve been alerting every founder I talk to about this. And I’m shocked that just a handful of them are aware of the biggest boon that has come their way in a very long time. So,…
New Portal Joins the Crowdfunding Scene
By Andy Gordon on November 2, 2020
As early investors, we’ve seen dozens of exciting high-upside companies raising funds from the crowd this year. Deal flow has never been better. And crowdfunders have responded by backing these companies with record dollar amounts. It’s a good time to be an early investor (and a…
New Pick: Invest in Modernizing an Industry
By Andy Gordon on October 29, 2020
Deal Details Startup: SampleServe Security type: Common equity Round size: Up to $250,000 Valuation: $7,022,431 Share price: $1.00 Minimum investment: $99.00 Raise: Seed Investment Portal:…
Startup Insider: Check Out the Competition
By Early Investing on October 26, 2020
When we evaluate startups, one of the key factors we look at is competitors. Who are the company’s competitors? Is the startup competing against other startups or against legacy companies? How does this competition affect its chances of success? And…
What Went Wrong With Quibi
By Andy Gordon on October 22, 2020
In calling it quits, Quibi proved the adage that nothing guarantees success except success itself. The company seemed to have everything going for it. A massive pool of capital — $1.75 billion worth. An A+ roster of investors that included Alibaba, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and…
Portfolio Update: Winc Making Rapid Progress
By Andy Gordon on October 19, 2020
We have good news on Winc, which we recommended last December. Winc is thriving. We recommended Winc because we loved its business model and traction. Winc collects data from its hundreds of thousands of customers and uses that data to make wines its customers love. Of…
New Pick: Invest in Efficient Energy Use
By Andy Gordon on October 15, 2020
Deal Details Startup: COI Energy Security type: Crowd SAFE Discount: 20% Valuation (cap): $18 million Minimum investment: $100 Where to invest: Republic Deadline: December 1, 2020…
Startup Insider: The Importance of Traction
By Early Investing on October 12, 2020
As angel investors, we’re told to look for startups with traction. We’re told that startups with real revenue, customers and growth are the best startups to invest in. But when investors don’t like a startup, they find reasons to ignore traction. Some of them are good…
Big Merger Indicates Crowdfunding Sector Is Changing
By Andy Gordon on October 8, 2020
In the last 12 months, we’ve sourced our startup recommendations from seven different portals. Eight were from Republic… five from SeedInvest… two each from Wefunder, StartEngine and Equifund… and one each from MicroVentures and Netcapital. Each of these portals has unique strengths. The companies raising on…
New Pick: Invest in Cheaper Energy for Everyone
By Andy Gordon on October 1, 2020
DEAL DETAILS Startup: Neighborhood Sun Security type: Future equity Agreement (Wefunder SAFE) Round size: Up to $1.07 million Valuation cap: $15 million Minimum investment: $100 Investment portal: Wefunder Deadline:…
Update: Yahyn Looks Stronger Than Ever
By Andy Gordon on September 24, 2020
We recommended Yahyn back in May. It lets you shop for your favorite bottles of wine online and have them shipped directly to your home. Whenever I talk to Yahyn Founder and CEO Pierre Rogers — like I did…