In this episode, Jayson Dombele sits down with serial entrepreneur and Founding Partner of Chicago Investment Club Eugene Merkert to discuss his journey from founder to angel investor and how his experiences have shaped his investment philosophy. Eugene shares how he invests in people rather than just ideas, looking for specific qualities in entrepreneurs and their teams. He also explains his investment thesis, focusing on putting people first, social equity, a collectivist mentality, and accelerating the learning curve.

We dive into how Eugene builds strong relationships with founders, bridging the gap between founders and investors. He also shares his recommendations on how to reach out to VC's and what his LinkedIn approach looks like when considering potential investments.

Eugene emphasizes the importance of accelerating the learning curve of the founders he works with and details the steps he takes to support their growth and development as a company. Finally, he highlights what success looks like outside of dollars and what founders should do when they don't raise the money they were hoping for.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the startup ecosystem and looking to gain insights into angel investing and building strong relationships with founders. Tune in to learn from Eugene's vast experience as both a founder and investor.