AI is changing how startups are built. It’s also changing how angel investors make decisions.

In Ep#9 of Angels Decoded, Cheryl Kellond and Andy Walsh explore why traditional investment signals are breaking down in the age of AI. For years, angels could rely on signals from experienced funds, market momentum, or category expertise. But when AI is evolving this fast, even professional investors are navigating the same uncertainty.

That shift means angels can no longer rely on borrowed conviction. Instead, they need their own framework for evaluating startups in a world where AI is becoming the default technology layer.

This episode explores how investors can cut through the noise, what signals still matter, and why proprietary data may become the most valuable asset a startup can build.

Topics covered:
• Why traditional investment signals are becoming less reliable
• How AI is shifting the way startups create competitive advantage
• The difference between companies AI can replace and those AI strengthens
• Why proprietary and evolving data may determine future startup value
• How angel investors can build their own decision-making framework

Angel investing has always involved uncertainty.

In the age of AI, conviction matters even more.

Advice: Build your own framework before writing the check.

Listen: Apple | Spotify | YouTube

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Andy Walsh

2x exited founder and host of Startups Decoded (Top 2% globally). Andy helps founders sharpen judgment and build companies through practical experience and operator insight.

Cheryl Kellond

Founder of Play Money and active angel investor. Cheryl focuses on democratizing angel investing and helping new investors build diversified portfolios while supporting founders with practical guidance and community.

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Web: angelsdecoded.com

Resources

Startups Decoded Podcast

Ep#9: Building Your Own AI Investment Framework