Seizure Prediction Wearable Hits Clinical Trials, a16z's 14 Big Ideas for 2026, and Why Cleantech Isn't Dead

Happy Thursday.

In today’s issue:

• Are you Happy with Your Angel Group? Answer here

• Angel Deals of the Week | 122 Deals, 89 Networks

• Bookmarks I think you’ll enjoy

• The best nugget from my conversation with John Jeffers, SWAN Impact Network Board Member and Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Rice Alliance's Clean Energy Accelerator

🤔 Are you Happy with Your Angel Group?

Why: I'm trying to better understand what investors value most from their angel group memberships.

If you’re a current or former member of an angel group, will you take 2 minutes to answer 7 questions?

As thanks, I’ll send you:

• Aggregated report on what angel network members value most

• How your priorities compare to other participating angels

🔥 Angel Deals of the Week

Angel funding rounds announced in recent weeks, compiled from public sources. These deals represent the elite few that survived an angel network’s vetting process. Note: I have not personally analyzed these companies and am sharing for informational purposes only.

📊 Angel Network Investment Tracker: 122 Deals, 89 Networks.

Scale Social AI | Customer-powered local advertising platform

Participating Group: RTP Angel Fund

Scale Social AI is developing a platform that transforms customer-generated content into localized advertising for franchises and multi-location businesses. Customers scan QR codes to share photos and videos, which the platform's AI converts into branded ads deployed across Meta, Google, and local networks. Early customers include Osmow's and Mimi Garden, with partners reporting 104% sales increases. The company recently raised a $1.3 million Pre-Seed round led by Jason Calacanis’ LAUNCH and The Syndicate, with participation from RTP Angel Fund and others to accelerate development and expand partnerships

Runbin Dong | $1.3M Pre-Seed | Durham, NC | November 2025 | Source

Theta Neurotech | Wearable epilepsy seizure prediction device

Participating Group: Band of Angels

Theta Neurotech is developing a patented brain-computer interface to predict and alert epilepsy patients of impending seizures before they occur. The company's wearable device, called The Patch, is worn discreetly behind the ear and provides 30 to 60 minutes of early warning, enabling patients to take preventative action or rescue medication. Currently in clinical trials at UChicago Medicine, the technology targets the approximately 30 percent of epilepsy patients with uncontrolled seizures.

Truman Pierson | Chicago, IL | November 2025 | Source

Evecxia Therapeutics | Novel serotonin therapy for OCD

Participating Group: Cowtown Angels

Evecxia Therapeutics is developing psychiatric drugs that boost the brain's natural serotonin production - a new approach distinct from existing antidepressants like Prozac. The company's lead candidate, EVX-101, targets OCD patients who don't respond to current treatments, a population exceeding 1 million in the U.S. with no FDA-approved alternatives. Supported by more than 30 positive clinical studies, Evecxia is advancing toward Phase 2 trials and recently received investment from Cowtown Angels.

Jacob Jacobsen | Research Triangle Park, NC | December 2025 | Source

📣 Have an Angel Deal to Announce?

🔖 Bookmarks

1. 🔮 a16z Crystal Ball: The firm's annual predictions are here: 14 big ideas for 2026 including "creating for agents, not humans," the rise of the AI-native university, and the death of screen time KPIs.

2. 🏗️ Org Design in the AI Era: Thought piece from Pete Flint at NFX on why it’s all about how well you manage AI, not how big the team is.

3. ⛩️ Japanese Private Markets Are Quietly Crushing It: $4.2B VC deployed YTD and deal value trending higher than 2024's pace despite fewer deals.

🥇 The Nugget: My Top Takeaway from A Conversation with Cleantech Investor John Jeffers

Cleantech investing is not dead. 🌱

Q1 2025 was the lowest point for cleantech VC since 2020 as many investors panicked over IRA rollbacks and tariff uncertainty.

The headlines screamed doom and gloom.

Is the cleantech landscape different? Yes.

But John helped me understand it's far from dead - and the data backs it up: by Q3, $3 billion in VC still flowed into the space, up 26.5% from Q1.

Takeaway: 

Angel investors interested in cleantech do well to focus on companies with value propositions that stand independent of subsidies, and favor capital-light efficiency plays over mega infrastructure bets. Think software-enabled optimization or low-cost tech that integrates with existing systems, not gigantic projects requiring $50M+ to scale.

Want more? Check out my full conversation with John👇

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more.

🕵️ Looking for an Angel Group?

Finding the right angel community can be tough.

Answer 12 quick questions and I’ll curate 3 groups you might enjoy.

Even better - if one of them feels like a fit, I’ll personally make the intro.

Until Next Week 👋

Thanks for reading - have a great week.

-Andrew

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