Author: Andy Gordon

I made my chops as an entrepreneur and investor with over 30 years of experience at building wealth for myself and others. I graduated from the London School of Economics a year after the bicentennial. By the way, this is the same school that produced 34 heads of state including John F. Kennedy… and another 18 Nobel Laureates…

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Startup Update: Turning Misfortune Into Opportunity

We first presented Amsterdam-based Tradefox in 2017 (back when it was called Scrap Connection). We presented the company again in 2019. It provides a business intelligence and trading platform for the global trade of scrap and recyclable commodities.  The company’s valuation cap was $4.5 million in 2017 when we first suggested First Stage Investor…

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New Pick: A Life Preserver for a Planet Drowning in Plastic

By Andy Gordon on December 20, 2021

We’re drowning in plastics. The problem is monumental and global. It’s threatening to slowly but surely kill the planet. It’s also getting worse. And what’s really worrisome is that the biggest companies in the world can’t figure out how to stop it.  They’ve been…
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New Pick: Repairing the Broken Relationship Between Pharmaceutical Companies and Patients

By Andy Gordon on December 9, 2021

Deal Details Startup: Responsum Health Security type: Crowd SAFE* Valuation (cap): $4.5 million Discount: 0% Minimum investment: $100 Where to invest: Republic Deadline: January 2, 2022…
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Aavrani Grows Sales and Sets Its Sights on Expansion

By Andy Gordon on December 2, 2021

I just got off the phone with Justin Silver, the co-founder and COO of Aavrani. He reported significant progress on several fronts.  We introduced Aavrani — a beauty company rooted in Indian tradition and rituals — to First Stage Investor…
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New Pick: A Legal Services Marketplace Brimming With Upside Potential

By Andy Gordon on November 22, 2021

Deal Details Startup: UpCounsel Security type: SAFE Valuation (cap): $28 million  Minimum investment: $250 Where to invest: Wefunder Deadline: December 9,…
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New Pick: Connecting Student Athletes and Brands for a Win-Win Video Ad Experience

By Andy Gordon on November 11, 2021

Deal Details Startup: Curastory Security type: Crowd SAFE* Discount: 0% Valuation (cap): $9 million Minimum investment: $250 Where to invest: Republic Deadline: January 28, 2022…
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Slow Governments Won’t Stop This Startup From Saving the Planet

By Andy Gordon on November 4, 2021

“We need decarbonization now, across every sector in every country,” U.N. Secretary General António Guterres tweeted earlier this week. Don’t kill the messenger here, but he’s spitting in the wind. A plea for governments to pick up the pace of decarbonization will do little good. Not…

KingsCrowd Is a Very Unique Investment Opportunity

By Andy Gordon on October 28, 2021

It’s hard to believe, but I’ve presented nearly 100 startup investment opportunities to First Stage Investors.  All of these companies impressed the hell out of me. But there’s one startup that stands apart from all the rest. It’s the only one I’ve…
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Yahyn Develops a Brilliant Method for Foreign Wineries to Reach U.S. Customers

By Andy Gordon on October 21, 2021

Pierre Rogers, the founder and CEO of First Stage Investor holding Yahyn, thinks he’s on to something very big and immensely disruptive. He thinks it will upend America’s incredibly convoluted alcoholic beverage industry. It should make life much better for…
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New Pick: The Startup That’s Cleaning Up Space

By Andy Gordon on October 14, 2021

Deal Details Startup: Launchspace Technologies Corporation Security type: Common stock Round size: Up to $1.07 million  Share price: $100.26 Valuation: $48,999,970 Minimum investment: $100.26 Investment portal:…

The Ideal Startup Portfolio Size

By Andy Gordon on September 29, 2021

Most meetings I attend aren’t very exciting. But yesterday’s was fascinating because we discussed one of the most important questions an early investor can ask.  What is the ideal number of companies for a successful startup portfolio?  Many opinions were put forward. So what…
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New Pick: Medical Robotics Company Still Leads Innovation in the Joint Replacement Space

By Andy Gordon on September 27, 2021

Deal Details Startup: Monogram Orthopaedics Security type: Common stock Offering Maximum: $34.9 million Valuation: $89.9 million Price per share: $7.52 Minimum investment: $250.80 Where to invest:…
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Illusio’s Future Remains Bright

By Andy Gordon on September 23, 2021

I first presented Illusio to First Stage Investor subscribers in April 2020. It was interesting timing, to say the least. We were finally realizing just how serious COVID-19 was. It certainly affected Illusio… and not in the best of…
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New Pick: A Luxury Beverage Brand That’s Amassing a Global Following

By Andy Gordon on September 16, 2021

Deal Details Startup: Amass Security type: Preferred equity Valuation: $75 million Share price: $3.8 Minimum investment: $498 Where to invest: SeedInvest Deadline: February 12, 2022 Amass is a luxury lifestyle beverage brand. But it’s also so much more.  To help you…
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New Pick: A Sparkling and Refreshing Take on Non-Alcoholic Beverages

By Andy Gordon on September 2, 2021

Deal Details Startup: TÖST Security type: Crowd SAFE* Discount: 0% Valuation (cap): $12 million Minimum investment: $150 Where to invest: Republic Deadline: October 1, 2021 About a decade ago, a good friend asked me what makes a great…

How Early Investors Can Profit From the Unicorn Explosion

By Andy Gordon on September 1, 2021

Unicorns used to be a rare breed. Not anymore.  When Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures first coined the term “unicorn” — referring to startups worth $1 billion or more — in 2013, she identified 39 unicorns. The vast majority were valued below $5 billion. Apart from…