I didn't go to an Ivy League school, so breaking into VC felt impossible.

Instead, I found my way through the side door. I started at Lyft during the pink mustache days, co-founded their employee syndicate, and helped 300+ employees deploy $30M into startups.

That led me to help other tech companies (Airbnb, Square, Pinterest, Stripe) build their own alumni investing communities.

Eventually, I realized my real passion was making angel investing accessible to people who aren't in the traditional VC club.

That's how Angel Squad was born.

Today, I run Angel Squad at Hustle Fund. It's a community of 2,000+ professionals learning how to angel invest. TechCrunch called us the "YC of Angel Investing."

We've deployed $30M+ together, and our members include everyone from Google PMs to airline pilots to physical therapists. Basically, anyone who wants to learn how to write $1k checks into startups.

I also write Small Bets, a weekly newsletter where I share lessons on startups and angel investing - the wins, the losses, and everything in between.

If you're curious about angel investing or just want to learn more about the startup world, let's connect.

Brian Nichols

Last week my 7-year-old and I built a math app together. No code. Done in an afternoon. Genuinely better than the games I've paid for on the App Store.

That same week, one of our GPs cut her email workload by 50% using a personal AI agent she built herself. I got the bug bad enough that I splurged on a Mac Mini.

Something has crossed a threshold. Tools like Claude Cowork and Claude Code aren't "AI helps you write emails" territory anymore. We're talking agents that take over your browser, triage your inbox, draft responses, and run tasks on a schedule while you sleep. 

I say this as someone who is decidedly not a software engineer: the theoretical just became very, very tangible.

Every major platform shift creates a new generation of massive companies - and founders are right now building the infrastructure for how AI agents browse the web, make purchases, and communicate with each other. 

Think the internet in 1995, except the entire web needs to be rebuilt for machines, not humans.

That's a lot of companies that need to get built fast.

Which, makes this one of the best windows in history to be an early-stage investor. 

When kicking around the idea for this event, I realized that this is the first generational platform shift where $1k checks are a legitimate entry point. 

You don't need to be a GP or a big-shot angel writing $100k minimums to participate. The best angels in our network started small, stacked reps, and built real networks along the way.

Those days of "you can't play unless you're already in" - they're over. So for the first time ever, I’m taking my Small Bets newsletter LIVE for an Angel Investing 101 Bootcamp. 

45 minutes. 

You’ll hear my thoughts on why now is an incredible time to be an angel, and get to watch a fundraising founder pitch Hustle Fund GP Eric Bahn live. 
 
🦞 RSVP while we have space. This one’s gonna be big: https://luma.com/t6n3x6kl

Founder of Angel Squad | I write about startups, investing, and hard-earned lessons | Small Bets newsletter

Open article: 🎥 Small Bets LIVE: Angel Investing 101 Bootcamp · Zoom · Luma by luma.com

🎥 Small Bets LIVE: Angel Investing 101 Bootcamp · Zoom · Luma

Almost 2.5x more people joined Angel Squad so far to start this year vs. last year.

That number surprised me a little.

But what surprised me more was who joined.

+ A former Major League Baseball player. 
+ A pharma professional investing on the side. 
+ A private funds lawyer whose VC clients finally convinced her to write her own checks. 
+ A robotics engineer. 
+ A Stanford sophomore. 
+ A Harvard Law-trained AI strategy consultant. 

The professions are all over the place too:

+ ML scientists and senior engineers at big tech companies
+ Fintech operators, fractional CFOs, startup lawyers
+ Product managers, UX designers, enterprise sales reps
+ Ex-Goldman analysts, ex-McKinsey consultants
+ Founders who've exited and are ready to back others

Members joined from Europe, Southeast Asia, East Asia, LATAM, MENA, Australia, Kenya, Taiwan - and nearly every region of the US.

This is what I kept hoping Angel Squad would become.

Not another room full of Sand Hill insiders passing deals to each other. 

A place where the robotics engineer and the startup lawyer and the ex-baseball player can all learn this asset class together - and actually invest alongside each other.

Oh, and don't forget the best part...they all meet our strict "no a-holes allowed" policy.

AI captured nearly 50% of all global venture funding last year. Over $200 billion.
Most people have no way to access these companies before they IPO.

Every major tech wave creates a new generation of massive companies. The internet gave us Google and Amazon. Social gave us Meta. Mobile gave us Uber and Airbnb.

We're in the middle of the next one. 

Founders are building new infrastructure for how AI agents browse the web, make purchases, and talk to each other. It's like 1995 for the internet, except the web is being rebuilt for machines, not humans.

A lot of companies need to get built. 

A lot of opportunities for early investors to get in.

The best news is that this wave is different because you don't need to be a full-time VC or write $100K checks to participate.

Most of the best investors in our Angel Squad community start with $1K-$5K checks. Learned from the reps. Built real networks along the way.

We're taking our Small Bets newsletter (55K+ subscribers) live for the first time ever. 45-minute bootcamp. 

We already have 300+ RSVPs.

I'll break down how angel investing actually works and why the timing is so good right now.

Then a real founder is going to pitch Eric Bahn, GP at Hustle Fund, on the spot. 

Shark Tank style (except Eric is super nice).

You'll watch Eric evaluate the deal in real time, and he might invest on the spot. 

Whether you're an experienced investor or you're just getting curious about the space, come hang.

RSVP below. We'll send the recording to everyone who signs up.

👉 https://luma.com/t6n3x6kl

Helping Black Men Make 7-Figures 💸

Managing Director of Black Executive Men (BEM) — a private institution advancing enterprise success among $1B+ organizations.

Black Executive Men convenes senior executives for closed-door, non-attributable peer forums focused on enterprise judgment, governance, and decision-making at scale.

Participation is limited to one executive per enterprise to preserve peer parity, discretion, and clarity of thought.

Executives participate independently, informed by their enterprise-level responsibilities.

Participation is by invitation.
blackexecutivemen.com

Jewel Love

Celebrating Corporate Excellence
Black Executive Men Dallas Global Dinner
Advancing Black male friendship on the global stage

Dallas was the landmark event.

Nearly 100 corporate Black men.
Together for impact, collaboration, and connection.
Conversations that turned into opportunities and advancements.

Dallas has become a home of Black Executive Men
A place where members are supported
and guests are welcomed.

We'll be returning to Dallas this year
for our AI Forum with presenters from
the leading tech companies in the world

Ensuring our enterprise leaders have the latest:

- AI ROI
- AI technology
- AI implementation

On an enterprise scale.

2026 is our Year of Elevation.

- Elevated collaboration
- Elevated connection
- Elevated results

I'll see you in Dallas.

Request invitation:
blackexecutivemen.com

El Mencho is dead.
Mexican news shared yesterday.
But raising a family here is what made it real.

The city closed
Cars being burned
Buses aflame on roads.

Then silence...

Waiting.
Watching.
Preparing.

My safe place 24-hours ago was now:

People running in airports
Families stuck outside
pinned in place.

A new feeling set in.
I was living on the edge.
Any moment it could pop off.

Yesterday... It popped.

While damage was mainly commercial
A message was sent to everyone
that the cartel is present

In Mexico...

While the people are kind.
And the weather is largely ideal
the safety trade-off here is very real.

Not that Oakland was heaven...
Nor America universally peaceful.
But it's a violence I was familiar with.

This was new for me.

Fortunately...

My family is fine
The birds are chirping
& neighbors are laughing again.

But I've changed.

This was a moment for me.
Made me consider our safety plans 
And how to keep my family away from harm

Should things pop again.

Thanks for the well-wishes and kind messages
We are staying glued to news updates
And keeping our boys happy.

Perhaps

No matter where we live
We find ourselves
concerned.

Proud to welcome Christopher Presley
Senior Vice President, Business Development at BNY
to Black Executive Men

Christopher brings deep enterprise business development and liquidity solutions experience, driving revenue and asset growth across government, financial intermediary, and corporate sectors. His work sits at the intersection of capital strategy, risk alignment, and cross-functional execution, where disciplined judgment, regulatory precision, and long-term client partnership matter.

Black Executive Men (BEM) is a private network for Black men in senior corporate and board roles, fostering confidential peer relationships across industries focused on leadership, governance, wealth, and legacy.

Explore membership:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

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Bonus Video

📌 BONUS VIDEO
7 Steps to 7-Figs in Enterprise SaaS Sales

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Coaches

📌 GET YOUR NEWSLETTER

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CEO & Founder, Black Executive Men

Flight to Atlanta.
Meeting in New York.
Conference in Charlotte.

BEM members are meeting.

Senior executives.
Board members.

Through our private member portal
connections are cultivated 
by region and industry.

Meetings happen
between local members
or when someone comes to town.

A curated, private executive ecosystem
for Black men in senior leadership -
advancing enterprise influence.

Qualification required.
blackexecutivemen.com

First it was just a dinner.
Then it became a network.
Then it became an institution.

Explore Membership.
blackexecutivemen.com

2015: Psychotherapist in Oakland
2022: Coach in Colombia
2026: CEO in Mexico

I started off with $40 sessions
to 28-year-old corporate 
brothers battling:

- Depression
- Anxiety
- Fears

And while healing their traumas…

I learned about:

- Boards
- C-suites
- Private equity 
- Corporate culture 

This new world fascinated me

And for the next ten years I studied it.

trying to solve the big mystery

That most clients faced.

“Being the only”

Today…

I lead hundreds 

of senior executives

in private group forums

on pressing corporate issues

And make a great living from it.

While I changed:

- Countries
- Modalities
- Seniorities

My mission remains the same.

Powerful Black men winning together.

Explore membership:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

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Welcome Marcus Williams to Black Executive Men
Global Process Director at McDonald’s

Marcus brings deep enterprise technology and operations leadership experience, guiding global process design and standards across large-scale digital transformation initiatives. His work sits at the intersection of technology infrastructure, operational governance, and enterprise scalability, where disciplined execution, cross-functional alignment, and sustainable global performance matter.

Black Executive Men is the premier network for corporate Black men, convening leaders through executive forums, private dinners, and member connections.

Request invitation:
blackexecutivemen.com

Welcome Stephen Wallace to Black Executive Men
Director, Global Site & Security Resources (Physical Security Operations, Workplace Experience, EHS) at eBay

Stephen brings deep enterprise security and workplace operations leadership experience, building and scaling global programs that protect people, property, and processes across complex international environments. His work sits at the intersection of physical security, operational resilience, and workforce experience, where disciplined governance, risk mitigation, and global coordination matter.

Black Executive Men is the premier network for corporate Black men, convening leaders through executive forums, private dinners, and member connections.

Request invitation:
blackexecutivemen.com

Member Spotlight — Black Executive Men
Aaron Moses: Senior Director, Global Procurement Business Partnering (G&A) | Gilead Sciences

Scale
Leads strategic procurement initiatives optimizing $2B+ in global spend, managing a team of 11 professionals while partnering directly with the CFO, Legal, HR, and Corporate Affairs leadership.

Impact
The global procurement organization delivered $400M in enterprise cost savings, with Aaron’s team responsible for 25% of that impact in 2025.

Aaron drives global programs across contingent workforce management, fleet optimization, and corporate travel & events, ensuring operational excellence and supplier performance across complex international supply chains.

His expertise spans healthcare, life sciences, and enterprise operations, with a focus on procurement strategy, cost optimization, and large-scale operational transformation.

Leadership Recognition
• Global Procurement Department Transformation Award
• CFO Leadership Recognition (Runner-Up) at Gilead Sciences

Aaron is currently on the Board Governance track, preparing for future corporate board service.

Member — Black Executive Men

Welcome Terence Young to Black Executive Men
SVP, Director of Enterprise Risk Management at WSFS Bank

Terence brings deep enterprise risk and financial governance leadership experience, overseeing enterprise risk, operational risk, and model risk management within a regulated banking environment. His work sits at the intersection of risk governance, balance sheet strategy, and board-level oversight, where disciplined judgment, regulatory alignment, and long-term institutional resilience matter.

Black Executive Men is the premier network for corporate Black men, focused on leadership, partnerships, and professional growth through executive forums, private dinners, and member connections.

Explore Membership:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

Most Black executive men don’t need another social event.

What they value:

- Enterprise dialogue
- Peer-level room
- No small talk

If you’re the only one in the room at your company…

You shouldn’t be the only one in your circle.

Black Executive Men.

- In-person.
- Cross-industry.
- Enterprise-level.

Explore qualification.
Membership required.

blackexecutivemen.com

Proud to welcome Craig Robinson
Board Director at Roofstock, Lessen, and Second Nature
to Black Executive Men

Craig brings deep board and enterprise leadership experience, serving as an independent director and former CEO across commercial real estate, technology, and professional services organizations. His work sits at the intersection of governance, growth strategy, and operational execution, where fiduciary judgment, capital discipline, and long-term enterprise value creation matter.

Black Executive Men (BEM) is a private network for Black men in senior corporate and board roles, fostering trusted peer relationships across industries and regions focused on leadership, governance, wealth, and legacy.

Explore membership:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

Welcome Terrance Wilson to Black Executive Men
Vice President FP&A at Lassonde Pappas & Company, Inc.

Terrance brings deep enterprise finance and performance management leadership experience, overseeing financial planning, forecasting, and strategic analysis across complex operating environments. His work sits at the intersection of capital allocation, operational performance, and executive decision support, where disciplined financial stewardship and long-term value creation matter.

Black Executive Men (BEM) is a private forum for Black men in senior enterprise leadership. Our members serve at the C-suite, VP, and board levels and hold enterprise-level decision authority within major organizations nationwide.

Qualification required:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

Announcing Attendee Renard Henry
IT Manager, Toyota Connected North America
BEM AI Forum — Dallas, Texas

Renard Henry is an enterprise technology leader at Toyota Connected North America, where he oversees infrastructure, cloud platforms, and operational technology supporting connected vehicle and digital mobility initiatives.

With more than two decades of experience leading enterprise IT organizations, Renard focuses on modernizing technology operations, advancing automation, and aligning technology strategy with business outcomes.

Beyond his corporate role, he is host of the Black Belts & Boardrooms podcast and an executive coach focused on leadership development and mentorship across the technology community.

At the BEM AI Forum in Dallas, senior leaders will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping enterprise technology, operational models, and leadership decision-making.

BEM Forums are daylong gatherings for corporate Black men focused on:

• Leadership
• Partnerships
• Industry Insights

Explore membership
blackexecutivemen.com

Welcome Dewayne Walton to Black Executive Men
SVP, Technology Governance; Chief Technology Office at Wells Fargo

Dewayne brings deep enterprise technology governance and digital risk leadership experience, guiding regulatory compliance, accessibility strategy, and platform oversight across complex financial services environments. His work sits at the intersection of technology execution, risk management, and regulatory alignment, where disciplined governance, operational control, and enterprise accountability matter.

Black Executive Men (BEM) is a private forum for Black men in senior enterprise leadership. Our members serve at the C-suite, VP, and board levels and hold enterprise-level decision authority within major organizations nationwide.

Qualification required:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

Las Vegas. Tuxedos. Neon outside the window.
Last year, I organized a private dinner for Black Executive Men.
Toward the end of the evening, three execs pulled me aside and pressed me.

“Why did you bring us here?”

We had the room.

- The food
- The drinks
- The photos

The stated goal was bold:

Decide the future of corporate Black men.

I’d plastered it all across LinkedIn.

They’d flown in.

But something was missing.

There was laughter - but no depth.
Conversation - but no weight.
Proximity - but no gravity.

The room grew restless.

Called to the moment.

In real time, I made an audible.

- I circled the room.
- Shifted the energy.
- Reset the conversation.

The tone changed instantly.

- Smiles faded.
- Glasses lowered.
- Postures shifted inward.

The pressure was on.
Eyes locked in.
I stepped in.

An electric group dialogue formed.

Naming our individual challenges and opportunities.

We decided Black men in senior leadership were stronger together.

Decades of operating as lone wolves came to an end.

The BEM Forum was born.

A private room where Black men in senior leadership convene for enterprise, capital, and legacy conversations.

Where decisions are pressure-tested, blind spots identified, and collaboration is expected.

This year, we expand.

Convening in Dallas, Chicago, and New York to discuss AI, talent leadership, and board governance.

We accomplished what we came for.

The pressure lifted.

We left aligned.

And left the lone wolves behind.

For those aligned, explore membership.
blackexecutivemen.com

Black men in senior leadership
don’t need more contacts.
They need better rooms.

- Small rooms
- Cross-industry
- Senior executives

Rooms where:

- Small talk absent
- Authority is standard
- Dialogue carries weight

That’s the difference.

Black Executive Men

Explore qualification:
blackexecutivemen.com

Most Black men in senior leadership don’t need more business cards.
They need better rooms.

Rooms where:

Capital gets discussed, not chased
Enterprise decisions get pressure-tested
AI, governance, and risk are debated at altitude

- No pitching
- No small talk
- No job hunting

Just alignment.

Black Executive Men

- In-person
- Cross-industry
- Enterprise leaders

Qualification required.
blackexecutivemen.com

Announcing Attendee Chris Cochran
Field CISO & Vice President, AI Security at SANS Institute
BEM AI Forum — Dallas, Texas

Chris Cochran is Field CISO and Vice President of AI Security at the SANS Institute, where he advises global organizations on securing artificial intelligence and preparing for emerging autonomous threats. A former leader at the National Security Agency, Netflix, and Mandiant, he works at the intersection of cyber defense, AI governance, and next-generation security strategy.

BEM Forums are daylong gatherings for corporate Black men focused on:

• Partnerships
• Leadership
• Insights

Private event.

Explore membership
blackexecutivemen.com

Announcing Speaker Joshua Patterson
VP, Solutions Architecture, NVIDIA
BEM AI Forum - Dallas, Texas

Joshua Patterson is Vice President of Solutions Architecture and Engineering at NVIDIA, where he leads teams helping enterprises accelerate AI, large-scale data processing, and advanced analytics. A former founder and nationally recognized data science leader, he previously helped build NVIDIA’s RAPIDS platform and has advised major public initiatives, including serving on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

BEM Forums are daylong gatherings for advanced leadership, roundtable discussion, and professional collaboration between corporate Black men. 

Explore membership
www.blackexecutivemen.com

taplio

The Battle

Brian Nichols

Jewel Love

Followers

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Performance ScoreBrian Nichols's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Brian Nichols

Jewel Love

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Brian Nichols's LinkedIn Performance

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