In this insightful episode, Karen is joined by thought leader and prolific angel investor David Mandel. David, known for his expertise in finance, insurance, advanced mathematics, and computer science, pivots into the world of venture investing after successfully exiting multiple traditional businesses. Since 2014, he has dedicated himself fully to the tech startup ecosystem, investing in over 500 startups and focusing on innovations in insurance-tech and fintech, as well as AI. David and Karen dive deep into the intricacies of late seed stage investments, safe notes, and the market disruptions they're causing. Alongside the excitement, David shares his mixed feelings about the future of AI balancing enthusiasm for technological advancements with concerns over rapid automation and its impact on future job markets. They also explore the incremental yet transformative progress in AI and its various applications across industries like legal tech and autonomous vehicles. Join us as we uncover the challenges and opportunities in venture investing, the impact of AI, and the evolving landscape of technology and startups. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for seasoned and aspiring angel investors alike.

The pre-seed investor is taking a significantly higher risk without any significant reward. In careful review and analysis of both my angel portfolio and the fund’s portfolio, I developed a clear understanding that the best value in the current tech startup market is at the Seed stage and that pre-seed, in particular, in most cases, is not worthwhile, participating in. It’s best to have the discipline to wait and watch and then join in the eventual Seed round.