Why Sydecar is the right choice for Alyssa Arnold, Co-Founder of Pearl Influential Capital

Have you ever wanted to invest in a business but weren’t quite sure where to begin? 

Alyssa Arnold, Co-founder of Pearl Influential Capital, had always dreamed of investing in some of her favorite brands.  Now an angel investor, Alyssa has invested in several women-led startups, including  Stix and Esker. Working with these startups allows her to support brands she loves and participate in their success.

There are endless draws to angel investing: backing a mission that you believe in, supporting a friend, or simply undertaking the challenge of identifying the best companies.  When Alyssa started investing, she was driven by a desire to build her legacy through impact. However, getting started on this mission can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Investing into a startup requires time consuming – and often intimidating – legal and accounting work.  With the help of Sydecar, a platform that streamlines the private investing process, Alyssa can stay focused on her goal of building a legacy. 

Keep reading to hear more about our conversation with Alyssa as she shares her angel investing tips and how Sydecar can be your “sidekick” for supporting the brands you love. 


Why did you start Pearl Influential Capital? 

It was always a dream of mine to be able to invest in some of my favorite brands that I use and love. There is something so special about the idea of being able to be a part of these businesses not only by being a customer, but also investing and sharing my expertise with the founding teams.

It took a while to find a way into this world, and it was a bumpy road. Ultimately, I figured it out through connecting with incredible female investors and entrepreneurs. I realized that there was an underground world of opportunities – a world that only people with significant wealth, connections through elite schools, or those who had a career in finance or consumer brands had access to. But why did it have to be this way?


There is a gap in funding for female founders., Female founders typically don’t have the same networks or the access to the Venture Capital (VC) firms that men do. VC firms run by men often don’t understand the problem being solved nor the behavior of women consumers. 

aLYSSA ARNOLD, CO-FOUNDER OF PEARL INFLUENTIAL CAPITAL


There are also barriers to angel investing including minimums for direct investment being too high, gaps in knowledge, and access to deal flow. 

I was introduced to the SPV model, which allows investors to pool their money to invest in a single company. This allows them to invest with a lower minimum investment. I created Pearl Influential Capital with my partners, Stephanie Cartin, Courtney Spritzer and Ingrid Reed to solve for these barriers, and provide vetted deal flow with lowerminimums, along with education and resources to new and aspiring investors. Together, we are making capital accessible to female founders, and at the same time, giving consumers and brand promoters an opportunity to own, purchase, and support the brands they love. Together, we get these businesses funded faster with influential capital while giving people like you and me the opportunity to be part of it. 


For those unfamiliar with SPVs, can you explain more about what they are and the benefits for both investors and founders? 

Traditionally, there are two ways to invest in the venture asset class: either through a fund (where the minimum investment is typically $100k+) or by making a direct investment (where the minimum is usually $50k+). SPVs, or syndicates, are a hybrid option which allows a group of angel investors to pool their money allowing individual investors to invest at lower minimums (often times $5k) using individual LLCs.  Syndicates give investors the freedom to choose the brands they want to invest in and the lower minimums allow them to invest in more brands and diversify their portfolio. Portfolio diversification is especially important in venture capital as it is a high risk asset class. Sydecar facilitates all the legal and regulatory documentation at low fees to help make SPVs more approachable, accessible, and easier to manage for new and tenured investors alike.


Why did you choose to work with Sydecar to manage your SPV’s for Pearl?

Sydecar is unique in a few different ways. First, their team is incredible and has acted like a partner to me in building my business since day one. They are quick to respond whenever me or my investors have questions, which goes a long way to build confidence. They make me look good to my investors.  I also love that Sydecar has a larger vision for the private investment industry that transcends SPVs and venture capital. Their vision and approach to building infrastructure ensures us lifelong partners. 



What does it mean to be an angel investor? 

The significance of  angel investing is truly different for everyone. For me, it began with the desire to build legacy and impact. With 3 young children, I often try to prioritize my time to build toward the legacy I leave behind for them.  But I’ve realized that my experience as an angel investor has done so much more than just that. I have also grown as a business owner and become passionate about giving others the opportunity to angel invest and build a legacy. 


I’ve used a number of different SPV and investment platforms, and none of them are as secure and intuitive to both myself and the investors. Sydecar has also had the best team to help with all the little details and ensure success.  

aLYSSA ARNOLD, CO-FOUNDER OF PEARL INFLUENTIAL CAPITAL


What do you love most about the Sydecar interface and capabilities? 

Sydecar has the highest security protocol and the best user interface for the Pearl Community. They have truly created a seamless investment process, and I am able to rest easy knowing only the eyes of my investors are viewing the proprietary documentation about each company we are raising for.

I’ve used a number of different SPV and investment platforms, and none of them are as secure and intuitive to both myself and the investors. Sydecar has also had the best team to help with all the little details and ensure success.  


Advice for founders raising capital?

Be prepared to talk to hundreds of potential investors in order to find the right funding option for your business. Finding the right investor is a process, especially in our current macro economic environment. 

Before you officially begin raising, I would recommend creating a list of ideal investors. Start with 100 and categorize them in three different tiers.  Next,searchi for warm introductions through Linkedin and communities like The Entreprenista League. Warm introductions  help kick off a conversation with a potential investor. Lastly, focus on building out your data room. Your data room should include: quarterly investor updates, formation documents, capitalization table, previous raise documents, financials (historical and future predictions), pitch deck, press, insurance policies, key contracts and permits/trademarks/patents.  

If you are raising through an SPV, Sydecar has a data room which allows investors to share these key documents in a secure manner.. Entreprenista also has a Raising Capital Power Group for founders that are raising capital if you need support along your fundraising journey. 


What advice do you have for investors that are managing SPV’s?

Be patient! Remember that each investor is investing their hard earned money into your deal, so while it may seem repetitive to answer similar questions, it’s important to build trust with your investors and give them your time. Secondly, be open to learning from each of your investors. The time I’ve spent in conversations with our community has made me a better investor through their learnings, questions and experiences. 


What’s next for Pearl? 

We will continue to build our network of investors and inspire new investors! We also want to continue to be a trusted source of education and resources as well as deal flow for anyone interested in learning about or becoming an angel investor. 

If you’re interested in learning more about Pearl Influential Capital and angel investing, you can do so here.

And if you’re looking for a community of founders we invite you to join The Entreprenista League where you can connect you to potential investors and more to help you network and grow your business.


Presented in partnership with Sydecar.
Want to learn more about Sydecar? Schedule a demo here and receive $500 off your SPV.

Share it!

Posted in
Tags

Leave a Comment





Marine Turned Chef Joanne Thomas Shares About Her Cooking Career and Business

Hi, Joanne! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi! I’m Chef Joanne Thomas, a world-renowned culinary artist known for exceptional skills, creative flair, and dedication to the art of cooking. With a career spanning decades, I’ve curated a collection of custom-blended spices, gourmet butters, and other culinary delights that cater to…

Joanie French On Her Business That Creates Unforgettable Experiences Through Nature

Hi, Joanie! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hey there! I’m Joanie, the creative mind behind Harmony Escape Experiences. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, I’m passionate about crafting unforgettable moments through personalized events. As an Office Administrator by day and an aspiring entrepreneur always, I’m on a mission to create harmonious and…

U.S. Navy Vet Natasha Norris On Her Chemical-Free Skincare

Hi, Natasha! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Natasha Norris, Owner of Skincare by CMG. Last year I retired after 26 years of public service, proudly serving in the U.S. Navy. I started in the beauty industry in 2013 with a multibillion-dollar cosmetics brand, based in Dallas, Texas. The discipline,…

Demystifying the Health Insurance Industry with Dr. Noor Ali

“Show up dressed as your next level self. So, whoever that ‘her’ is that you’re projecting—whether that’s five years or 10 years—show up as her. Embodying her, not just dressed as her… Proving to yourself like, ‘Hey, I just did it 10 years before I thought that I could do it.’” When Dr. Noor Ali…

Reinventing Yourself and Your Business With Lori Harder

“Expose all of the elephants in the room. We just try to hide them… We’re trying to throw our skirt up over the elephant… I have gone into everything. It’s been a superpower. I’m like, ‘Here’s the elephant. Here’s the elephant. Here’s the elephant. Yes, I’m new at this. Yes, you might be afraid of…

Stephanie Purzycki Combines Design Services With Her Innovative Offering

Hi, Stephanie! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Stephanie Purzycki, the Founder and Creative Principal of The Finish, a unique offering that provides the services of a professional interior designer, one hour at a time. At The Finish, we combine traditional design services with e-design—unlike traditional design services, there are…

Born Entrepreneur Viri Maldonado On Her Booming PR Agency

Hi, Viri! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, My name is Viri Maldonado, founder of Social Click PR, from Houston, TX. I am a first-generation Mexican-American. Both of my parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in search of a better life. I like to say that I am…

How to Legally Protect Your Business with Lauren Bercuson

“In the beginning, if you don’t have a team or a system or community around you, it’s very easy to feel lost. There are these amazing communities out there for amazing female founders that will really help guide and support you. So, the greatest lesson I learned pretty quickly was that you’re never alone. Or,…

Innovating Clean Hair Care with Nadine Ramos

“It’s not just about selling your products anymore. You need to know how your products work, you need to know what you’re putting out there, and you need to be the expert at it so that you can educate your consumer. That also builds trust, so it’s like, ‘Okay, she did the work. She has…

Nina Smith Fights Period Stigmas With Fri Period Sustainable Underwear

Hi, Nina! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi! I’m Nina Smith. I started Fri Period because I’m on a mission to make periods better—for our customers, for our planet, and for those who can’t afford to be our customers. We offer a range of sustainable period underwear made in the…

Marketing Guru Debbie Oster On Her Inspirational Career Journey

Hi, Debbie! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Debbie! With over 12 years of marketing experience, I have developed a deep understanding of how to create and execute effective marketing strategies that drive business growth. As a co-founder and the Chief Marketing Officer at Entrepreneur’s Edge, I help small…

Formulating Beauty Business Success with Emilie Mascarell

“It’s a crowded space. It’s expensive. It takes time. And not everybody is an overnight success. So, I think it’s important to know how to play with the rules of the game and how to set yourself in a way that is really going to differentiate you and… is going to serve you. I want…

Redefining the Culinary Industry with Aishwarya Iyer

“Nothing lasts forever, we’re all gonna die. It’s all very short. So, having that perspective kind of makes you say, ‘We’re not around for that long, we probably should make the most of it and be happy.’” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Aishwarya Iyer, founder and CEO of Brightland, a stylish…

Celebrating Our Founders For International Women’s Day

On March 8, 1857, in New York City, female textile workers marched in protest of unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women. Calling for shorter workdays and fair wages, this was one of the first organized strikes by working women. Also on this date in 1908, women workers in the needle trades marched through…

Superstar Michelle Cooper Speaks About Her Financial Mentorship Business

Hi, Michelle! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Michelle Cooper, a Business Mentor, Author, Podcast Host, and International Speaker. What began as a journey of self-awareness and healing has boomed into over a million-dollar business empire with a mission to shift the trajectory of wealth, one entrepreneur at a time.…