In this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast host Nancy Sheed talks with Marty Isaac, President and Managing Director of the Angel Investor Forum, Connecticut's leading network of early-stage investors. Marty brings a refreshing, community-minded perspective to angel investing — one built on curiosity and collaboration.
"There are no sharp elbows in our group. We all want the companies — and each other — to win."
A former GE and consumer marketing executive turned investor and civic leader, Marty shares how he built his portfolio — from early, overzealous investments to smart, diversified "small bets" — and why he's so passionate about supporting founders and helping build strong management teams.
Key Points
-
Angel investing isn't just for the ultra-wealthy anymore — while investors still must be accredited, angel groups and diversified funds have made participation more accessible and structured.
-
Risk is extremely high, with 50% of early-stage companies failing and another 20% not returning capital — which is why the power law (a few big wins) drives overall returns.
-
Diversification is essential, with Marty recommending at least 20 investments over five years or participation in a fund to increase the odds of catching an outlier success.
-
What angels look for comes down to three fundamentals: the problem, the solution, and how the business makes money — but the management team remains the most critical factor in determining whether a company can execute.
-
Proof Over Ideas: Today's investors no longer fund pitch decks alone — lower startup costs mean founders are expected to show real traction through proof points like customer validation, pilot programs, or early revenue to demonstrate market fit before attracting capital.
Marty's insights offer a grounded, practical look into the realities of angel investing today — from the risks and rewards to the strategic thinking required on both sides of the table. He also shares what's happening in the broader world of angel investing — from how Connecticut's startup scene has grown to what investors are watching closely right now.
Whether you're a "founder" seeking capital or an "investor" exploring the startup ecosystem, Marty's candid reflections and open arms optimism make this conversation educational, energizing, and actionable.
Connect with Marty
Connect with Nancy
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com