DreamingWell Angel Investments

Howdy! I am Travis Collins - an angel investor and an experienced business operator. It is my goal to help entrepreneurs and early stage businesses to build and scale their existing businesses.

Thesis

I am looking for businesses that are innovating new revenue models in existing markets. This means that there is an established or emerging market with strong activity, and an opportunity to change how services and products are delivered. See the Investment Criteria section below for more details.

Notice I did not mention technology above. Technology might be involved in the innovation - but technology is not the focus. My focus is on business model innovation.

Examples of business model innovation include:

Arcadia Power - A service to signup for renewable energy instantly. Most people in the US live in homes that do not have the option to install solar. Arcadia Power opens the renewable energy market to everyone in the US.

Gauge - A service to sell your car to the highest bidder from local dealers - no cost, hassle free, no commitments. They are taking the work out of negotiating with dealers, and wondering whether you got the best local offer. This changes the traditional buy-sell transaction from dealer advantage to seller advantage.

SpaceX Starlink - High speed internet access almost anywhere. They are leveraging huge rocket innovations and technology advances to create a new world wide broadband network. They are directly serving customers by shipping simple to setup satellite dishes. No professional installation needed.

How are you innovating a business model?

My Superpowers

I have 20+ years experience as a technical founder in a variety of software based businesses. Founders in my portfolio companies lean on me to help them avoid tech pitfalls and accelerate the tech side of their business.

I have recruited and retained many teams for many software projects. I’ve learned how to conserve cash and reach goals at the same time. Founders use my advice to assemble exceptional teams and to learn how to motivate them to success.

Investment Criteria

I look for pre-seed, seed, and series a investment opportunities in companies that fit the following criteria:

One or more founders with vision, skill, and purpose

A visionary founder that recruits and retains people
A technical founder that has deep experience
A pitchman that always connects the dots
Each can clearly explain why they are spending their limited life on the problem at hand
May be one, two, or three different people, but these properties should be evident

Executing one of the following business models

Selling a product on a recurring revenue basis, especially SaaS
Creating a market, enabling direct buyer to seller interactions
Innovating a new business model in a legacy market
Deploying a new technology into an existing market to create a business advantage

Has a working polished MVP

Should clearly demonstrate differentiators
Should demonstrate the ability to build a clean, simple, and effective solutions
Should have produced some revenue or strong user engagement

Has champion users

Should have a written a statement of support
Users can clearly explain the value they receive

Has created a go-to-market strategy

Written materials
Example marketing ads, copy, etc.

Has clear purpose for the money to be invested

Cost model
Written explainer of why the money is needed

Deal must include…

Valuation, or convertible value cap
pro-rata rights
at least quarterly updates, including all relevant business metrics
board seat option for the lead investor for 10% or more ownership

Send Your Deck

I like decks that are simple and short. If the deck piques my interest, I’ll respond and request a discussion.

Great decks include…

Your vision, purpose, and strategy (three bullets, one slide)
Deal size, valuation, and investor rights
Prior investments closed
Your burn rate
Your cash remaining
Your business model
Your product differentiators
Market opportunity
The thing you know that no one else knows

Send your deck to my first name at dreamingwell dot com.