WorkParty
Meet your new Work Wives. WorkParty, the beloved business podcast with over 3 million downloads to date and guests like Sara Blakely, Tyra Banks, Jen Atkin and more is back and brand new. Jaclyn Johnson joined by CEO of Create & Cultivate, Marina Middleton are letting you listen in as they navigate the world of entrepreneurship, motherhood, divorce, female friendships and how they make it all work – mostly. A little work, a little party, pour yourself a glass of champagne and pull up, cause we are about to get down to business.
WorkParty
Here's What Most Founders Get Wrong with Global Angel Investor Erika Aquino
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She has built one of the most globally diverse investment portfolios in the early stage space — 26 companies across six countries focused on wellness, sustainability, education, and the future of work. Erika Aquino backs the founders other people overlook and she has a very clear point of view on what separates the ones who last from the ones who don't. From what actually happens in a first pitch to why most founders are preparing for the wrong things — this is the conversation every founder needs to hear before they ever ask for a check.
In this episode, we cover:
What investors are actually evaluating before you even finish your first sentence
• Why early stage investors bet on the founder more than the company — and what that really means for your pitch
• The question Erika asks every founder that most of them can't answer
• What founders focus on in pitches that investors genuinely don't care about
• How to build a real relationship with an investor before you ever ask for money
• The difference between founders who make it to Series A and the ones who don't
• What AI can and cannot replace in the investment process
• Why self-awareness is the most underrated quality in a founder
Tune in to hear what a global angel investor who has seen it all actually looks for — and what she wishes every founder knew before walking into the room.
To learn more about Erika Aquino:
https://www.instagram.com/iamerikaaquino
Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival
To follow along with Create & Cultivate:
https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate
www.createcultivate.com
To connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson
To connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton
