The R3i Venturers Angel School Journey: Empowering the Next Generation of Impact Investors

The R3i Venturers Angel School has officially concluded, marking the end of an incredible journey. Over eight transformative weeks, our cohort of investors gained the tools, insights, and practical experience needed to thrive in Applied AI and Emerging Tech angel investing.

What truly sets this program apart is not the technical knowledge gained but the global network we’ve built—a dynamic community of visionaries, disruptors, and investors who are reshaping the future of startups and impact investing. This was not just about making smart investments; it's about creating change that matters.

What Was Mastered

• Investment Fundamentals:?Jed Ng, Founder of?Angel School, led our Venturers through the core principles of angel investing, sharing his approach to identifying opportunities, managing risk, and achieving rewards.
• Startup Evaluation: Adam Beal guided the cohort in mastering the art of Technology Scouting and Prof. Aswath Damodaran's startup evaluation—dissecting financials, growth potential, and market positioning, which are critical for long-term investing success.
• Due Diligence: Alicia Castillo Holley shared her expertise, teaching participants to assess a startup’s true value through rigorous due diligence.
• Negotiation & Deal Structuring: With John Sharp on portfolio management and Leesa Soulodre emphasizing value-add strategies for founders, our investors learned to structure deals that benefit all parties.
• Exit Strategies: Finally, Participants dove deep into the nuances of the key motivation characteristics that define a team that can scale into acquisitions and IPOs, understanding what it takes to navigate exits successfully while building long-term value.

Weekly Pitches: The Best of Planet43 Founders

One of the most exciting aspects of the program was the weekly live pitching sessions with Planet43 founders—cutting-edge entrepreneurs innovating in Applied AI, climate tech, healthcare, and water sectors. Every week, three startups pitched their businesses, providing a real-time, hands-on experience that allowed our Venturers to evaluate, invest, and actively contribute to these companies from day one.

A Global Community of Angels: The TRIUM EMBA Alumni Angels Ascend Program

The R3i Venturers program has fostered a truly global community of investors. This year, we were joined by more than 180 seasoned angel investors from the TRIUM EMBA Alumni Angels Ascend program over 8 weeks. These highly experienced investors from diverse sectors and regions collaborated alongside our cohort, creating a powerhouse of talent and expertise. The combination of their wisdom and the innovative mindset of our cohort has transformed the program into a game-changing experience where knowledge-sharing and deal-making potential reached new heights.

The Journey: A Network That Powers Future Success

This was more than just a training program and a chance for our Venturers to sharpen their saws; it was about joining a community—a global community of responsible investors.

The R3i Venturers cohort now spans industries, continents, and sectors, and we’re proud of the diverse, dynamic group that emerged from this experience.

Our 2024 Venturers Cohort 2 included:

1. Emile Culot – A European-based next-gen climate investor focused on market disruption and identifying next-generation opportunities.
2. Maktoum Almaqbali – Founder of Oman Startup Grind, working to empower and scale entrepreneurship across the Middle East.
3. Taiba Al-Fulaij - Investment Analyst at Agility, a Kuwait-based emerging leader focused on responsible investments across complex global supply chains.
4. Michael Lohmann?– A seasoned Australian operator bringing years of experience scaling data companies across borders and an exceptional eye for high-impact opportunities.
5. May Tagawa – An international operator and angel investor who leverages her global network to identify cross-border startup opportunities in space tech and IOT to land and expand into Japan.
6. Adam Beal - A West Coast serial founder and tech venture scout, Adam brings operator experience across the dual-use and global deeptech mobility landscape.
7. Viktoria Erschow – A San Diego-based, ultra-high-net-worth private banker with a sharp understanding of portfolio management and smart real estate wealth growth strategies.
8. Munjal Shah - A West Coast Angel investor and product guru, securing cap table access to the world's hottest Silicon Valley growth opportunities.
9. Bilgen Soysoren - A Nordic private banker focusing on high-growth secondary assets.
10. Leo Kirby – A Singapore-based veteran GE fund manager with over a billion under management, Leo provides invaluable insights into large-scale investment strategies across critical infrastructure.
11. Nayab Contractor - A Houston-based Operator and VC and serial entrepreneur focusing on E-commerce, Consumer Packaged Goods, Retail & Distribution, Media, and FinTech.
12. Felix Keil – A Finnish next-gen impact angel investor focusing on sustainable solutions that scale across industries.

The End of One Journey, The Beginning of Another

As we conclude the R3i Venturers Angel School, it’s clear that this is just the beginning for our investors. Armed with a deep understanding of angel investing and the climate impact space, they are already in market, making investments, curating portfolios, and contributing to the growth of startups internationally.

These investors aren’t just ready to participate but poised to lead. They are the next generation of impact-focused emerging GPs, driving innovation and growth in the industries that matter most.

Why R3i Venturers?

At R3i, we’re focused on building the next generation of General Partners who will shape the future of investment. By crafting a team of investors who are not only experienced but also deeply aligned with our mission, we ensure that our funds have unmatched depth, expertise, and operational insight. This is a team of founders, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who understand their decisions' financial and social impact.

Our future GPs will bring:

• Specialized Expertise: Focused on key sectors like AI, climate tech, and healthcare, ensuring our funds remain agile and deeply connected to the industries that matter.
• Operational Experience: GPs who know how to scale companies from seed to exit and actively add value beyond just capital.
• Global Network: A vast network of co-investors, LPs, and corporate partners worldwide, ensuring strong collaboration and growth across borders.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A unique mindset that drives risk-taking and growth, ensuring our investments thrive in today’s fast-evolving market.
• Impact Focus: A commitment to financial returns and creating lasting, positive change in our communities.

R3i Venturers is building a dynamic, global network of future GPs who will drive exceptional portfolio value and impactful returns. With the support of the TRIUM EMBA Alumni Angels Ascend program and the invaluable contributions of our R3i Venturer alumni, 2025 is set to be even more transformative.

We can't wait to see where this journey takes us next.

Together, we rise!