Meet 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 EDF’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?
Don’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. ―Eleanor Roosevelt
Random fact about you:
My first “angel” investment was buying a grass-fed cow in Brazil at a cattle auction.
Help us change the face of angel investing! Apply to Pipeline Angels’ 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/
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 Angels’ 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
