Hustle Fund

Angel Squad is an angel investing community run by Hustle Fund that was created to teach how to invest in startups and provide access to invest in the most promising ones. TechCrunch referred to Angel Squad as the "YC of Angel Investing."

Angel Squad Co-Founder

Multiple companies

The best place to learn more is @ my personal website: nicholsb.com

I lead an active syndicate with 3.5k members that's deployed $25M+, and have formally Advised 5 companies.

Angel Investor

On Deck

Created, launched, and ran the first two cohorts of the On Deck Angels program. The program pioneered On Deck's expansion into verticals outside of the founder fellowship. 

The success of the program led to On Deck developing the org structure to hire Program Directors to lead verticals that were complementary to the founder fellowship.

Program Director, On Deck Angel Fellowship

- Responsible for procuring sponsorships for On Deck Founder and Angel Fellowships.
- Built and manage program to introduce our founders to investor partners as founders begin fundraising process.

Head Of Partnerships

BlackBird

BlackBird was acquired by Surf Air in February, 2020

- Instrumental in Series A fundraise ($10M from NEA)
- Focused on strategic partnerships / the future of flight (electric aircraft)

Head Of Business Development

- Grew team from 5 to 40+ full-time employees and contractors.
- Recruited and hired leadership from Lyft, Postmates, Uber, Caviar to support the rapid growth of the business.

Head Of Operations

First Round Capital

Angel Track is a masterclass and community for angel investors whose full-time jobs are in leadership roles at tech companies.

1 of 16 selected out of 1k+ applicants.

Angel Track

Zoox Inc.

Zoox was acquired by Amazon in June, 2020.

- Responsible for standing up remote teleoperation unit to support fleet of autonomous vehicles during live operation.
- Represented Zoox’s operations organization when meeting potential investors during our Series B fundraise ($500M, $2.7B valuation).

Operations Manager

Lyft

- Responsible for building out Lyft's local presence in all top 25 Lyft markets.
- Hired local leadership, scaled repeatable playbooks, and provided analytics solutions for Lyft's highest growth markets across the country.

Market Operations Manager (National)

- First Market Manager on the West Coast, drove efficient growth for all of the CA Markets
- Accounted for 50%+ of all Lyft rides

Market Manager, California

RewardTag

RewardTag was bootstrapped and acquired by STM Goods (https://www.stmgoods.com/).

Main partners included Logitech, Seidio, STM Goods which lead to over 2.5M RewardTag units distributed globally.

Co-founder

Over the last decade, I’ve helped build Lyft, Zoox, On Deck, and BlackBird past a combined market cap of over $5B, and helped raise $500M.

In 2019, I decided to try something new.

I decided to shift my focus from building businesses to investing in them.

I teamed up with Ann Miura-Ko to start Uplyft (Lyft alumni syndicate). I was so lucky to have such a great VC guide me when I was brand new to investing. 

It started with 300+ of Lyft’s earliest employees who have invested over $30M+ together.

I soon found myself becoming the go-to "alumni syndicate guy."

I helped Airbnb, Stripe, Pinterest, DoorDash, and many others get their alumni syndicates off the ground.

After opening up the Lyft alumni syndicate to the public (any accredited investor can join, regardless of affiliation with Lyft), I started to notice a trend. There were folks from all over the world, all professional backgrounds, who were investing alongside us.

These folks didn't have access to a network, the knowledge, and the guidance that I was lucky to have.

So, in October 2020, less than a year into the pandemic, I quit my job and joined Hustle Fund – my favorite early-stage VC – to build Angel Squad.

The results were pretty phenomenal.

In 2.5 years, 1,400+ people joined Angel Squad, and as a group, we have invested $21M+ in 50+ startups.

We have reporters, scientists, founders, and students from all over the world in our community. Everyone is welcome.

My portfolio:
-> I run Angel Squad, Hustle Fund's Angel Investing Community
-> I run the Uplyft Syndicate (aka the Lyft Syndicate)
-> I invest in and advise marketplaces and consumer startups

My results:
-> 1,400+ angels are part of the Angel Squad community
-> 4,000+ angels are part of my Uplyft Syndicate
-> $50M+ deployed in startups through Syndicates
-> 100+ startups in my portfolio

ANGEL SQUAD

- Hustle Fund shares their approach to investing 
- LIVE PITCHES from top portfolio companies, and you can invest as little as $1k.
- Meet other members at IRL events as well as get matched 1:1 online.
- Not yet an accredited investor? We pay for your Series 65 exam fee.
- We have a strict no a-hole policy.
- This is a membership offering, with 10 team members who support the program.
- Join 1,400+ others!
- Learn. Invest. Network.

→ GO HERE: www.hustlefund.vc/squad

UPLYFT SYNDICATE

- See 2-3 of my personal deals/month
- There is no community, education, or opportunities to support founders
- It’s free (but nothing like Angel Squad).

→ GO HERE: https://angellist.com/s/team-uplyft/OXf89

Twitter: @b_nicks11
Website: nicholsb.com

Brian Nichols

This is what a $5k angel check turned into.

One investor wrote that first small check. Made 5 valuable introductions that converted into additional checks totaling $170k.  

Those 5 introductions converted into 16 more checks totaling $530k.

So $5k turned into $700k...

People think small checks don't matter. This founder would tell you otherwise.

That angel who wrote $5k became the most valuable investor in the entire round. 

Not because of the money but because they made it their personal mission to get this company funded. 

I've watched this happen so many times now. The $5k check that somehow brings in half your round. The $10k investor who three months later introduces you to your Series A lead. 

The small believer who becomes your loudest champion when things get hard.

Check size and impact aren't the same thing.  

Some of the most helpful portfolio support comes from angels who can only invest small amounts but have networks that would make a GP jealous.

Founders: don't write off the small checks. They're often connected to the big ones. Sometimes they ARE the reason the big ones come in.

Aspiring angels: if you're sitting there thinking your $2k or $5k check is too small to matter, you're wrong. What founders need isn't just capital. It's someone who believes in them enough to spend social capital getting other people to believe too.
--
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Founder of Angel Squad | I write about startups, investing, and hard-earned lessons | Small Bets newsletter

Databricks recently crossed $4 billion in revenue. Growing over 50% year-over-year. Yesterday they made headlines - they are raising at a $130B+ valuation.

Unbelievable company...and it's still private.

Snowflake did $3.6 billion in revenue last year. Growing 29%. You can buy it on the NYSE right now.

So Databricks has more revenue than Snowflake AND is growing almost twice as fast. But retail investors can only access the smaller, slower option.

This drives me crazy. 

The best companies - the ones with the most insane growth - are staying private longer than ever.

Snowflake is a great company. But if you're trying to catch the real rocket ships - the ones that haven't already reached max velocity - you need to be investing in the private markets. 

The gap between what's available in private markets versus public markets just keeps getting wider. And most people don't even realize it's happening.

$5K investment in Uber's seed = $25M at IPO
5,000x return over 9 years

$5K investment in S&P 500 = $13K-$16K after 10 years (depending on timing)
2.6x-3.2x return over 10 years

But obviously there is WAY more risk in early-stage investing...
- Angel investing failure rate: 50-60% 
- Public market failure rate: ~0%  → the S&P 500 has never produced a negative return over any 20-year period.

So if you make 1-2 angel investments you're basically gambling. Roughly 50-50 chance of losing money on each investment.

If you make 20-30+ angel investments you're building a portfolio. Math starts working in your favor. One 1,000x return can cover multiple losses and still generate exceptional returns.

Elizabeth Yin has hammered home the message to me that the key to this game is smart portfolio construction.

Angel investing is about accessing the power law.

In venture capital, about 5-10% of investments generate 60-75% of returns. If you only make 1-2 bets, you'll probably miss those outliers.

But if you make 20-50 small bets ($1K-5K each), your odds of catching at least one rocket ship improve dramatically.

Mina Fung joined Angel Squad almost 2 years ago now.

She jumped right in, got involved, and now, is off to the races starting her own company.

This is a trend we've seen time and time again - start with curiosity about startups (and potentially about startup investing), write a few small checks, and then get the itch and decide to start one yourself.

That's a hidden benefit of joining our community. 

The energy is contagious. 

You start to realize: "hey, I can do that."

Maybe you start a company.

Maybe you Advise (with a capital "A") companies.

Or maybe you just offer to help founders when you can.

In all cases, we feel SUPER lucky to have created the ecosystem that empowers this for almost 2500 members in 40+ countries.

Join us: angelsquad.co

Precision Additive

I lead capital strategy, investor relations, and funding execution for a high-growth advanced manufacturing company redefining 3D metal printing (LPBF) for aerospace, defense, energy, and other critical supply chains.

Key contributions:

Drive and execute capital strategy to support scale-up and commercialization.

Build and expand an investor network across venture capital, family offices, and strategic corporate entities.

Partner with leadership to align funding to market strategy, and technology roadmaps.

I focus on bridging deep tech innovation with capital efficiency and market traction, ensuring Precision Additives' mission to deliver qualified, production-ready additive manufacturing solutions at scale.

Chief Investment Officer

Airey Venture Services Inc | Houston, TX | March 2023 to Present 

At Airey Venture Services Inc, I conduct venture due diligence and consulting for VC Funds in AI applications and other frontier technologies. I advise early-stage organizations on technology, organization, route to market, and product market fit.  

I develop comprehensive investment strategies for emerging markets, focusing on high-potential startups and innovative technologies, seeking significant portfolio growth and diversification across various sectors globally. I also provide strategic guidance and mentoring to multiple startup founders, enhancing their overall operational efficiencies and market positioning, leading to substantial growth in  revenues and competitive advantage.

tim@airey.co

Founder & Managing Partner

Rose Rock Bridge

Entrepreneur in Residence

Angel Squad Member

At BP, I led innovation R&D strategy and product development in partnership with start-ups and academia in AI, autonomous mobility, and robotics. I drove sustainable energy and groundbreaking technological advancements. I advised on venture capital technology for multiple strategic investments and fundraising, guiding external and academic startups to achieve product-market fit, secure significant funding, and scale operations effectively. I advised technology and investment committees for a unicorn investment in an autonomous software early-stage company, continually guiding strategic decisions and recommending several no-go investment determinations. I collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify and leverage emerging technologies, fostering innovation and significantly enhancing competitive advantage in the digital science and sustainable energy sectors worldwide.

Vice President of Digital Science – Frontier Digital Innovation 

At BP, I advised VC firms on AI, autonomous systems, robotics, quantum communications, and wireless power technologies. I led technical, academic, and market research, including proof of concept development for robotics, cognitive AI, quantum communications, and technology safety frameworks. I was recognized as a subject matter expert in AI and robotics applications.

Technology Principal – Frontier Digital Innovation



At BP, I managed technical, academic, and market research for robotics, cognitive AI, quantum communications, and technology safety frameworks, developing proofs of concept. I was recognized as an AI and robotics automation expert.

Senior Technology Associate – BP Digital Innovation (Client) 

At BP, I led technology service delivery for the Gulf of Mexico Incident, through response, recovery, and litigation. I managed service delivery resources, financial planning, cybersecurity, data analysis, compliance, and overall management. I earned the title 'Radar O'Reilly' for sourcing and delivering essential items for the response and worked with the Coast Guard and Military in a command and control environment to achieve response and recovery objectives.

GOI Technology & Services Manager - Gulf of Mexico Incident (Client)

prosource.it

At Prosource.it, I established, planned, recruited, and managed the development and operations of a new Canadian services company start-up. I started as Principal Consultant in the UK, working with clients like BP and FirstGroup, then moved to Canada in 2012 to lead a start-up for five years before transferring to the US, establishing key clients in the financial and oil and gas sectors.

President (Canada) & Principal Consultant

Lead for multiple IT service projects within international corporations.

Executive Consultant / Business Manager

First Group

At FirstGroup plc, I was invited by the Chairman and CEO to serve as interim CIO following a successful transformation program, extending the role to two years. However, I chose not to take the permanent position to gain deeper international experience.

Group-IT Director CIO (Interim)

At FirstGroup plc, I consulted on innovation and led IT outsourcing to a major services vendor. I managed an operating model transformation in a major international transportation organization for improved efficiency and performance. I performed business analysis and stakeholder management to align service goals with vendor partners, reaching a global outsource to a major services vendor, improving clients' competitive position with cost reduction and market agility.

IT Transformation Director (Client)

At BP, I directed European service desk integration, consolidating and outsourcing service desks of 50k users in 25 countries.

Programme Office Manager (Client)

Panther AMG Ltd (Race sailing team)

I founded the UK Mumm 30 Yacht Race Team as an entrepreneur in international racing, overseeing fundraising, team development, marketing, and partnerships. I secured high-profile sponsorships and achieved significant race victories. I guided the Panther-AMG team in collaboration with national sailing teams to win two internationally recognized podium placements, achieving success through strategic planning, effective teamwork, and dedicated preparation.

Founder & Director

Computacenter

Country manager for the UK's largest technology and desktop services organization. Leadership of sales, services, country organization and delivery.

General Manager - Scotland

As Chief Investment Officer at Precision Additive, I lead capital strategy, investor relations, and funding execution to scale advanced 3D metal printing (LPBF) for aerospace, defense, energy and other critical supply chains. My focus is bridging deep-tech innovation with capital efficiency and market traction—bringing certified, production-ready additive manufacturing to mission-critical parts at scale.

I have over 8 years of experience in strategic technology development and venture capital advising. My expertise lies in venture due diligence, strategic investment leadership, and technology viability advising. I have directed technical investment decisions, leading portfolio companies to unicorn status through comprehensive market analysis and strategic funding allocation initiatives.

In my role, I have spearheaded collaborations with academic institutions to advance AI and sensor technologies, resulting in groundbreaking innovations and new commercialization opportunities. I have managed multiple international teams, delivering complex projects across diverse regions, including the US, UK, Europe, Middle East, and Canada, ensuring timely and on-budget execution strategies.

I successfully led revenue growth and operational management as Head of Country for a major IT organization in Scotland, significantly enhancing market presence and financial performance. My due diligence expertise includes assessing team capabilities, technology viability, and market fit, providing critical insights for all investment committee decisions.

I have advised VC firms and strategic committees on AI, robotics, and autonomous systems, guiding significant investment decisions and fostering the development of emerging technologies. My product management excellence is evident in leading the end-to-end product management lifecycle for frontier technologies from initial scientific research to commercial product development.

I am passionate about continuous improvement and have led multiple significant projects involving advanced technologies, enhancing operational efficiency and achieving successful market entry and scalability.

Today, I bring this venture, technical, and operating experience to Precision Additive; aligning capital with commercialization milestones, forging strategic partnerships, and accelerating adoption of certified additive manufacturing across highly regulated industries.


Tim Airey 📧 tim.airey@precisionadditive.com

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