Unlimited Potential are running a Damsel’s Den event, where you can “get to know local angels before you pitch your brilliant idea to them. Angel HQ and Unlimited Potential matchmake our entrepreneurs and investors.”
I always advise entrepreneurs to get to know their local angels well in advance of even thinking about asking them to invest. This evening will be a perfect opportunity to network, practice some lines before using them in a pitch, and meet other entrepreneurs and investors.
Bill Payne is one of the USA’s most decorated Angel investors. In 25 years, he has invested in more than 50 companies, mentored hundreds, and foundedfourangelnetworks. In recognition of his contributions, Mr. Payne was awarded the 2009 Hans Serveriens Award, the US Angel Capital Association’s highest honour.
Thanks to BNZ, the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, The ICEHOUSE, and many other organisations, Bill will be spending six months here in New Zealand as the BNZ University of Auckland Business School Entrepreneur-in-Residence at The ICEHOUSE, working on a variety of projects including running seminars for angel investors, mentoring startups, providing advice to government, working with tertiary education institutions on commercialising their intellectual property, and hopefully building some international syndication opportunities.
He has a busy schedule and will be visiting many regional centres round the country, but is keen to meet with a wide variety of people while he’s here. Bill is a very personable, approachable, and straight-talking guy, and we caught up with him over a Skype call to find out more about how we can get the most out of him while he’s here.
In the podcast, Bill talks about his own investment interests, how to put together a deal that satisfies everyone, how the “first-to-market advantage” is vastly overrated, and obtaining follow-on investment offshore.