Happy Thursday, I hope you’re enjoying the start of summer.
This week, I’m thinking about how much the definition of “normal” changes over time.
Two examples:
I had drinks with a friend who was recalling the advent of the Blackberry, and how disorienting it was for him to be able to answer messages from the beach.
A few days ago I called an Uber for a quick trip in downtown Austin. Normal. But then my car pulls up with no human in the vehicle. Not normal. Very weird, and very disorienting for me. But a decade from now? Standard.
The question I’m chewing on: What else do I assume is “normal” that won’t be in a decade?
On to today’s issue:
Angel Deals of the Week | 191 Deals, 105 Networks
Bookmarks I think you’ll enjoy
The best nugget from my conversation with Steven Diedrich, Executive Director of the Baylor Angel Network
🔥 Angel Deals of the Week
Angel funding rounds announced in recent weeks, compiled from public sources or via direct announcement. 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: 191 Deals, 105 Networks.
AI Optics | Handheld AI retinal disease screener
Participating Group: Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Greater New York
AI Optics is developing a GPU-enabled handheld retinal screener that uses artificial intelligence to detect eye disease at the point of care, including primary care and retail health settings. The company's FDA-cleared Sentinel Camera captures digital eye images, while its forthcoming Sentinel Pro adds on-device screening software for diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. HBS Alumni Angels of Greater New York recently announced investment in the round, led for the group by Tom Hirschfeld and Mauri Rosenthal.
Luke Moretti | New York, NY | May 2026 | Source
NanosVet | Fast-dissolving oral strips for pets
Participating Group: Veterinary Angel Network for Entrepreneurs
NanosVet is developing fast-dissolving oral strips that deliver pharmaceutical-grade ingredients to pets through the mouth's mucosal lining, bypassing the digestive tract. The company says its mucoadhesive nanofiber strips dissolve in under 30 seconds. According to NanosVet, the breath-freshening dental strip won the 2026 Nutrition Innovation Award at the AHNTI conference in London. The company recently became VANE's 38th portfolio company.
Andrew Green | Los Angeles, CA | May 2026 | Source
JuneBrain | AI-driven retinal imaging for neurology
Participating Group: Gulf South Angels
JuneBrain is developing portable, AI-driven Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) headsets, retinal scanning devices, for remote monitoring of eye and neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The company says its technology enables earlier detection and more consistent monitoring outside traditional clinical settings. JuneBrain recently secured a joint investment from Gulf South Angels and the New Orleans BioFund to accelerate development, expand technology access, and deepen Louisiana partnerships with universities and healthcare systems.
Dr. Samantha Scott | Baltimore, MD | March 2026 | Source
📣 Have an Angel Deal to Announce?
🔖 Bookmarks
🚕 The War on Waymo: Why NYC let Waymo's permit expire despite zero accidents in a year.
🪦 Unicorn Graveyard: Nearly half of America's 857 unicorns haven't raised in 3 years, with 2021 vintages now worth 68% less per PitchBook.
📋 AI's Biggest Enterprise Opportunity: Compliance. Thought piece from James da Costa and Angela Strange of a16z on why compliance is AI's next major unlock.
The Angel Capital Association: Worth Checking Out
I recently spent three days at the Angel Capital Association annual summit and came home with a notebook full of ideas and a long list of people to stay in touch with. They produce research and educational materials I reference constantly. If you run an angel group and you're not a member, it’s worth checking out.
🥇 The Nugget: My Top Takeaway from A Conversation with Steven Diedrich
Many Angels Struggle to Build a True Portfolio 💼
When Steven Diedrich analyzed performance data for Baylor Angel Network, he discovered a familiar pattern: overall portfolio returns were fine, but the median individual member was not doing particularly well. Why?
Two-thirds of investors were in fewer than five deals.
From Steven: "Our best two performing investors - one had invested in 20 companies, well diversified. The other had invested in two. One failed, one was a home run. So - diversification or luck? You pick."
Takeaway: When evaluating your own angel portfolio strategy, ask: Am I in enough deals to let the math work, or am I relying on concentration plus luck?
Want more? Check out my full conversation with Steven 👇
Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more.
💼 Your Angel Group Operations Partner.
Running an angel group means sourcing, screening, sending member updates, running events, reporting, and more - it’s a lot, and it can be crushingly time consuming as the group matures.
So I built a team to handle all this stuff so group leaders can focus their limited time on growing a great network.
I’m opening space for just two new starts later this fall - if you’re looking for ways to delegate and elevate, let’s chat.
Until Next Week 👋
Thanks for reading - have a great week.
-Andrew
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