The Angel Next Door

What does it truly mean to be an entrepreneur or an investor—not just in terms of dollars and deals, but in the way we think about money, wealth, and possibility? In this special rebranding episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood invites us to pause and reconsider our most fundamental beliefs about investing and wealth. With over 130 episodes under her belt, Marcia prompts listeners to reflect on the invisible ba...

What does it really take to carve out space for a new business in an industry dominated by giants? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Kimberly Evans, the inspiring founder and CEO of Just Her Rideshare, a women-centric rideshare service focused on safety, community, and empowerment.

Kimberly shares her personal story of why she created Just Her Rideshare, drawing from her own experience...

What happens when an entrepreneur turns their biggest fear—asking for money—into their secret weapon for success? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Maria Springer, founder of Capital Department, to discuss how founders can overcome fundraising anxiety and unlock new paths to capital.

Maria’s journey began in the social enterprise world of East Africa, where she quickly learned that mas...

What does it truly take to transform a simple side hustle into a nationally recognized brand—and what if you could change lives along the way? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia invites Angie Bastian, co-founder of the beloved snack brand BOOMCHICKAPOP, to share the remarkable journey of building a business from the family garage all the way to a multimillion-dollar acquisition. Angie’s story challenges the...

What if the real secret to entrepreneurial success isn’t about doing more, but about learning how to genuinely receive support and harness your inner resources? On this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood welcomes Andrea Quinn, celebrated coach and author of The Quinn Essentials, to explore the essential mindset shifts that help women founders thrive both personally and professionally.

Andrea Quinn draws on 18...

How does one transform a personal crisis into a groundbreaking business that has the potential to change lives? This question lies at the heart of this episode, as we explore the journey of entrepreneurship through the lens of resilience, innovation, and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Our guest, Martha Carlin, transitioned from a career in accounting to founding BiotiQuest after her husband’s early Parkinson’s diagnosis. M...

What if the key to transforming entrepreneurship lies in who gets to be an investor? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood invites us to consider the power of opening up investment opportunities to more women and how it could change the face of business leadership.

Our guest, Patricia Lizarraga, is a trailblazing finance expert who created the Hypatia Women CEO ETF (WCEO ETF) after realizing the unique s...

What if the true game changer in entrepreneurship isn’t just innovation, but the ability to make bold, strategic asks—even when a “no” seems inevitable? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with communications coach and auctioneer Dia Bondi to explore how asking for what you want can transform a founder’s journey.

Dia Bondi, author of Ask Like an Auctioneer, draws on her extensive experience c...

How close are we to making space not just the final frontier, but the next big investment opportunity? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia sits down with Tim Maul of Balerion Space Ventures to break down the exciting—and very real—landscape of space investing, moving the conversation far beyond science fiction.

Tim brings a wealth of experience from institutional investing and now plays a key role in connecti...

What if the path to entrepreneurial success for women didn’t have to be so lonely—or so uphill? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Melissa Wallace, a marketing veteran whose journey spans a $750 million tech exit, hands-on mentorship, and now, leading the first Femtech venture studio dedicated to female founders.

Melissa shares her fascinating career evolution, from the high-octane worl...

What happens when the people deciding which startups get funded rethink the rules of who belongs at the table? In this episode, host Marcia welcomes Kate McAndrew, co-founder of the Baukunst fund, who shares her journey from arts student to leading pre-seed venture capitalist with a fresh perspective on building companies.

Kate discusses how she’s redefining the early stage investment process—focusing on community, creativity, and m...

What if the key to unlocking a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem lies not just in funding, but in research, mentorship, and global collaboration? On this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Dr. Shakenna Williams, Executive Director of the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College, to discuss the center’s 25-year evolution and its impactful work supporting women and ...

How do small businesses and entrepreneurs thrive when global policies and economic shifts threaten stability? This episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast explores that question with Congressman Gabe Amo of Rhode Island, whose life story as the son of West African immigrants and career in both state and federal government uniquely position him to address these challenges.

Congressman Amo shares his journey from growing up in Rhode Is...

What does it take for a founder to break new ground in an industry full of barriers and taboos? This episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast features Colette Courtion, CEO and founder of JoyLux, whose personal experience ignited a mission to transform women’s health with innovative, red light therapy solutions for intimate wellness.

Colette shares how JoyLux was born from her own postpartum and perimenopausal struggles, leading her t...

What does it take to carve a space in the entrepreneurial world when you begin feeling like an outsider? Pocket Sun, co-founder of SoGal Ventures, shares her transformative journey from setting up a community for female entrepreneurs to becoming a major player in the venture capital space. In a world where women are often underrepresented and underfunded, Pocket's journey has been anything but conventional, pushing boundaries to en...

How does crowdfunding fit into a startup's fundraising strategy? In this intriguing episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood converses with guest Woodie Neiss about how crowdfunding has emerged as a transformative option for entrepreneurs seeking capital. The conversation unveils the ways securities-based crowdfunding is reshaping how new ventures are funded, making investments more accessible to various investors...

What does it take to not only start a company but to grow it into something truly impactful, not just once but FIVE times? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, we dive into the experiences of Angel Gambino, a remarkable five-time exited entrepreneur. With over 20 years of experience crafting successful ventures and fostering economic equity through entrepreneurship, Angel offers a wealth of knowledge on various aspects o...

What truly sets successful entrepreneurs apart from the rest? Is it creativity, resilience, or perhaps a unique blend of traits that allows them to thrive in the unpredictable world of startups? In this compelling episode of The Angel Next Door podcast, host Marcia Dawood dives into these questions with guest Greg Moran, a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist with a deep-rooted passion for identifying and nurturing innovati...

What drives a successful start-up employee to leave the security of a lucrative role after a major acquisition to become a founder? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, Marcia Dawood explores the fascinating journey of Caitlyn Driehorst, an exited entrepreneur and financial service expert. Caitlyn shares her unique path—from majoring in Russian and English literature to becoming a strategic consultant for financial servi...