I’ve been an angel investor since 2008 with a diverse portfolio, ranging from a core of software firms (especially mobile and social) to medical devices, biotech, and pharma. My experience as a technologist gives me credibility with engineers, while the fact that I’ve seen and worked with hundreds of start-up companies allows me to quickly assess their strengths and weaknesses and help the founders refine their business plans. I have many years’ experience in Internet technologies as an engineer, manager, entrepreneur, analyst, and management consultant.
In recent years I’ve changed my focus a bit. While I continue to advise and mentor companies about and through the fundraising process, I’ve been redirecting my own investment activities. I have a strong affinity for Revenue-Based Financing and have a section on “RBF” to reflect this new focus. Since my research has led me to the belief that RBF is not easily adapted to individual investments through groups like Walnut Ventures and TBD Angels, in 2022 I made an investment in RevUp, an RBF-based fund. This has freed up my other investment dollars to focus on equity investment. In the past I’ve said that as an angel I don’t need to have a thesis, but in the pandemic years I have changed my thinking to the point that any new investments will have a thesis, namely that the investment will have to have a social benefit. This can either be through the domain – so I’ve been investing in life sciences and green plays – or by investing in less privileged founders, or both.
Please visit my LinkedIn page if you’d like to connect with me, but let me know how I know you.
Now back to the self-promotion department:
- Active angel investor and mentor to entrepreneurs. Led several deals and served on company boards.
- Strong, pragmatic business focus. Solution, not technology oriented.
- Deep understanding of a wide variety of Internet technologies and their application.
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral. Experienced presenting at the CxO level. Able to translate from geek-speak to business parlance and back again.
- Regular presenter on investment topics around Boston, and world wide (mentorship sessions in 2015-2016 in Kiev, Ukraine, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, India).
- Founder, President, and CTO of Baranof Software 1990-1997. Self-funded, profitable from year two.
- Technology Strategist in healthcare.
- Industry analyst.
- Excellent manager and mentor (in management positions since 1983).
- Recognized computer security expert (former CISSP).