
Hello Seven Podcast
Angel Investor Reveals Why She Says No to 95% of Founders
Ready to use AI to grow your business? Join me for the Hello Seven AI Accelerator: https://helloseven.co/aiaccelerator Billions of dollars get invested every year into the same type of founder. Erika Aquino is doing something about it. Erika is an angel investor for the Global Majority, she backs women and minority founders across four continents in sustainability, wellness, future of work, and education. This year alone, 63 companies pitched her. She took meetings with three. In this episode, she's breaking down exactly how she decides who gets the check (and who gets a "no"). We get into: The deal-flow system that filters 63 pitches down to 3 meetings The "vibe check" what she's actually testing when she asks a founder "what happens if you fail?" Her #1 piece of advice for new investors (hint: it's one word, and it's free) The founder red flags that kill a deal instantly including the cold-email story you have to hear to believe How her dad sold the family house in his 50s to start a tech company that now employs 1,500 people How to start angel investing with as little as $1,000 through syndicates and SPVs Her moonshot: building enough women entrepreneurs in the Philippines that mothers never have to leave their kids to earn a living Whether you're writing your first $1,000 check or your first six-figure one, this conversation will change how you think about where your money goes and who it builds power for. #AngelInvesting #WomenInBusiness #RachelRodgers Stay Connected Behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and updates. Instagram Rachel's corner of the Internet for hard-hitting articles and empowerment. Risky Women Substack Watch full conversations, highlights, and additional video content. YouTube Ready to Go Deeper? If you’re serious about taking what you’re learning on this podcast and turning it into real results , check out The Hello Seven Mastermind . Inside the Mastermind, you’ll get: ✨ Unlimited 1:1 coaching ✨ Three in-person retreats each year ✨ A powerful network of ambitious peers committed to growth Learn more and apply: Mastermind

