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04/14/16 | Funding, Motivation

This is What an Angel Investor Looks Like: Namrita Kapur

MeetĀ Pipeline Angels member, Namrita Kapur.

Title: Managing Director

Affiliation: Environmental Defense Fund
Twitter handle: @namrita_kapur
Describe the moment when you decided to become an angel:
In developing EDFā€™s sustainable finance strategy, I realized that angel investing was an important part of the continuum and that I was not only capable, but excited to be an angel investor.

What investments have you made since graduating from Pipeline Angels?
*Woman founder!

Company: Vidcode
Founders: Alexandra Diracles*, Melissa Halfon*

Company: FitReserve
Founders: Bill Arzt and Megan Smyth*

Company: Rising Tide Fund
Founder: Alicia Robb*

How many investments do you make per year?
1-3

What are your investment deal-breakers?
There have tended to be a few categories: 1) weak founder; 2) lack of clear market opportunity; and, 3) poor strategy for scaling.

What types of companies do you look to invest in?
Because of my background and focus on environmental advocacy, I tend to focus on companies that mitigate carbon emissions, reduce toxins, or change behavior to support sustainability.

What do you look for in an entrepreneur/founding team?
I look for someone who has a clear vision and strategy, but also knows how to adapt to change market dynamics. Humility is another key strength.

How has your background played a role in your angel investing?
Since I focus on catalyzing environmental innovation at companies by day, it is an easy extension to think about how innovation plays out in startup companies in which I want to invest.

One piece of advice to an angel-in-training?
Invest in getting to know your fellow angels-in-training. They are not only amazing people, but have such a rich breadth of experiences that their insights will invariably be valuable in the due diligence process.

One piece of advice to an entrepreneur looking for capital?
Donā€™t only focus on the capital, but what else the investor can provide in terms of coaching and connections.

What does impact investing mean to you?
Investing that yields both a meaningful social/environmental and financial return.

Favorite quotation:
Do one thing every day that scares you. ā€•Eleanor Roosevelt

Random fact about you:
My first ā€œangelā€ investment was buying a grass-fed cow in Brazil at a cattle auction.

Help us change the face of angel investing! Apply to Pipeline Angelsā€™ fall 2016 angel investing bootcamps in Albuquerque, Ann Arbor-Detroit, Atlanta, Austin-Houston, Baltimore, Bangor-Portland, Boston, Boulder-Denver, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, DC, Jackson Hole, LA, Memphis-Nashville, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, NYC, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, SF, Silicon Valley, and Vegas: pfapply.seamlessdocs.com/f/bootcamp
This post originally appeared on Pipeline Fellowship.


Pipeline Angels, a network of new & seasoned women investors, is changing the face of angel investing & creating capital for women social entrepreneurs. Help us change the face of angel investing! Apply to Pipeline Angelsā€™ angel investing bootcamps in Albuquerque, Ann Arbor-Detroit, Atlanta, Austin-Houston, Baltimore, Bangor-Portland, Boston, Boulder-Denver, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland-Akron, Columbus, Dallas, DC, Jackson Hole, LA, Memphis-Nashville, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, NYC, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Portsmouth, Raleigh-Durham, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, SF, Silicon Valley, Tampa, and Vegas: Learn More

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