Episode 33: "Angel Investing Isn't a Trending Topic" | ACA Chair Emeritus Marcia Dawood

Insights from a multi-award-winning author and podcast host whose advocacy work is reshaping how angels invest and entrepreneurs access capital across ecosystems

Today's episode explores three ideas that caught my attention:

  1. Clarity is kindness - Marcia highlighted how the most requested entrepreneur feedback is for angels to simply say "no" faster.

  1. Angel investing is still a mystery for many - It struck me how Marcia still encounters people unaware they can participate in angel investing. This exposed a massive communication gap between our industry and "latent” angels.

  1. The golden gut - We shared a realization that 30 years of industry experience can serve as a very effective "BS detector," underscoring why angel groups with diverse expertise can often provide an irreplaceable form of due diligence.

I explore these ideas and more with Marcia Dawood, Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association & Host of the Angel Next Door Podcast.

Marcia Dawood brings unique perspective as both a veteran angel investor and the Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association, where she's served on the board for a decade. As a venture partner with Mindshift Capital and author of the multiple award-winning book "Do Good While Doing Well," she bridges the gap between angel education and practical investing strategies. Her work advocating for entrepreneurship in Washington DC and leading the Growing Women's Capital syndication initiative exemplifies her commitment to making early-stage investing more accessible and effective for both investors and founders.

During our conversation, Marcia shares:

  • Insights on angel investing during market downturns that help investors maintain perspective and avoid making reactionary decisions based on public market volatility.

  • A practical approach to podcast content strategy that demonstrates how thoughtfully organized episodes can better educate both investors and entrepreneurs on complex investment concepts.

  • The story behind her award-winning book "Do Good While Doing Well" that offers a roadmap to avoid common mistakes she made as a new angel investor.

What We Cover:

  • 01:55 Live from the ACA Summit

  • 03:19 The Role of the Angel Capital Association

  • 05:34 Podcasting Journeys

  • 10:11 Engaging Content Strategies

  • 14:11 Supporting Entrepreneurs

  • 20:57 Themes in Angel Investing

  • 22:48 The Value of Experience in Angel Investing

  • 25:09 The Role of AI in Podcasting

  • 31:34 Current Trends in Angel Investing

  • 37:45 Excitement Around Collaboration in Angel Communities

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Connect with Marcia

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Stuff We Reference

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All opinions expressed are personal and may not reflect the views of the individual’s organization or of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.