Spearhead

A brand is an authentic reputation you have with founders and investors.

• Investing in winners is the best way to build a brand

• You can build a brand through content

Transcript: http://blog.spearhead.co/brand

Most returns come from a few deals—don't let them pass on you.

• The majority of returns come from a few deals

• Getting cut out of deals is a sign you won't do well

• Paying two-and-twenty to a good angel investor is a steal

Transcript: http://blog.spearhead.co/adverse

You need to raise money, develop judgment over time and gain access to the right deals.

• Capital is the hardest or easiest to get—depending on your circumstances

• Apply the same judgment to investments as you do to yourself

• Good investors are more pessimistic than good founders

• Everybody has dealflow—the challenge is getting in the good ones

Transcript: http://blog.spearhead.co/capital-judgment-dealflow

As the hits get bigger, it makes more sense to invest and a little less sense to start companies.

• Founder, employee or investor?

• As the hits get bigger, it makes more sense to invest

• Angel investing is something you can do until the day you die

• Every founder should learn angel investing

Transcript: http://blog.spearhead.co/life

Financiers now come to Silicon Valley to invest in companies before they get to Wall Street.

• If you're investing in the IPO, you're literally last in line

• I sleep well knowing my net worth is invested in the best talent

• Startups can compound capital faster than public companies

• A 401(k) plan is like investing in the DMV

• $50,000 invested in a smart entrepreneur will change their life

Transcript: http://blog.spearhead.co/ipo

There's no better place to invest today than technology.

• There are tax benefits to angel investing

• The less efficient the market, the better you will do

• Few people can play at angel investing

• You should be doubling down on tech

Transcript: http://blog.spearhead.co/gold-mine

It's a gold rush era in technology hubs like Silicon Valley.

• If you're not in a tech hub, the odds are stacked against you

• There are about two dozen tech hubs in the world

• Silicon Valley is a more forgiving place to invest

• The best indicators of a startup hub are exits and later-stage investors

Transcript: http://blog.spearhead.co/hub

This is not investment advice; it's just one unique approach to investing.

• This is not investment advice

• This is just one unique approach to investing

• We change our minds constantly

Transcript: http://blog.spearhead.co/disclaimers

A new podcast for angels in technology hubs.

• Advice for new angels in technology hubs

• Where to learn the basics

• Open-sourcing what we teach at Spearhead

Transcript: http://blog.spearhead.co/angel

This week, Cory speaks to entrepreneur, author and early-stage investor Scott Belsky. Scott is recognized for co-creating the design portfolio platform Behance, which later sold to Adobe, and for writing top-selling books 'Making Ideas Happen' and 'Maximize The Middle.’

Scott is currently the co-founder of referral network startup Prefer, Chief Product Officer and Executive Vice President at Adobe and a Venture Partner at Benchmark. He is also a seed investor with over 80 investments which range from Pinterest to Uber.

Scott is back with a new book, called "The Messy Middle,” which is available now on Amazon and other retailers. In this week's episode, he talks about being a full-time vs part-time investor, how and where he meets founders, how to say no to founders that you've backed before, negative signals in founders and teams, polarizing topics in his new book and investing by yourself vs. through a fund.