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Barbara Corcoran Venture Partners

by Phil Nadalvia Nathan Latka Podcast
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Growthword of mouth

Phil Nadal, co-founder and managing director of Barbara Corcoran Venture Partners, runs an AngelList syndicate that lets accredited investors invest alongside the firm in post-revenue, capital-efficient startups. He says the syndicate launched roughly three years ago and has completed 38 deals totaling about $8 million invested. The interview describes backers making introductions and offering advice to portfolio companies, but it does not report revenue figures for the syndicate itself.

Why They Built It

The syndicate shares the firm's deal flow with individual investors who want to invest smaller amounts (roughly $1,000 to $20,000 per deal) but would not otherwise get access to these startups. It is meant to make venture investing more accessible to the average investor.

Why It Worked
  • •Opening the firm's deal flow to small investors gives the syndicate a built-in network of people who actively promote and assist portfolio companies.
  • •Limiting deals to accredited, post-revenue companies with a path to break-even filters out weak candidates and reduces risk for backers.
  • •Using AngelList's paperwork, structure, and third-party fund management lets the syndicate run many small deals without heavy administrative overhead.
How to Replicate
  • 1.Build a standing list of investors who want smaller check sizes and give them access to deals they could not reach directly.
  • 2.Set clear qualification criteria, such as minimum monthly revenue and a credible path to break-even, before presenting any deal.
  • 3.Disclose the risk of loss on every deal and encourage investors to build a diversified portfolio rather than bet on one company.
  • 4.Use a established syndicate platform to handle documentation, cap table structure, and fund management.

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AI-extracted from the linked source. Monthly revenue can include one-time sales or donations, and may describe a later stage than the first-customer story.