In the fast-paced world of venture capital, investing in early-stage companies is as much about supporting visionary founders as it is about spotting the next unicorn. Dinika Mahtani, a partner at Cherry Ventures and a former UberEats executive, has spent her career doing just that. Now, as the latest special guest addition to Evangelista's Super Angel Program, she’s bringing her expertise in scaling businesses, especially within climate tech and commerce, to an even larger audience of early-stage founders and investors.

Julia Dous sat down with Dinika to learn more about her journey, her superpowers as an investor, and her vision for angel investing in Europe.

J: What excites you most about joining Evangelista’s Super Angel Program?

Dinika: "Angel investing is an incredible enabler of wealth creation, especially when we have more women participating in it. When women have money and the power to invest, it contributes to a more equitable society. That gets me genuinely excited. The Super Angel Program is a chance to create more of these opportunities across Europe, building a support system that brings a diversity of voices to venture capital."

Dinika’s enthusiasm for empowering women and diverse voices in venture capital is a natural extension of her work at Cherry Ventures, where she has become an advocate for women-led startups. With years of experience as an angel investor, she’s consistently been a champion for underrepresented voices, knowing that a more diverse investor base means more generation-defining startups.

J: What advice would you give to someone just starting their angel investment journey?

Dinika: "The biggest piece of advice I’d share is to make many small checks instead of a few larger ones. Early-stage investing is as much about learning and growing as it is about choosing the right companies. When you spread out your investments, you not only reduce risk, but you also gain insights from a variety of founders and industries, which is invaluable for someone starting out."‍

In addition to this wisdom, Dinika shared a simple hack for aspiring angel investors eager to get started: "Think about five products you truly love, then reach out to the founders. Ask them about their business and how you might be able to invest." It’s actionable, effective, and speaks to Dinika’s people-centered approach to venture capital.

A Superpower for Founders

When asked about her superpower as an investor, Dinika’s answer was immediate: “Responding to WhatsApp messages at all hours, empathy, and knowing when a founder should say no.” For her, supporting founders is about being accessible and empathetic, but also having the discernment to guide them through tough decisions. It’s a combination of qualities that’s proven essential in her own journey, especially in roles where she’s had to scale teams and make strategic pivots, as she did at Uber and Kaluza.

J: What’s Next for European Angel Investing?

Dinika believes the European venture ecosystem is on the verge of significant growth, but there are still hurdles.

‍“To bring venture capital to the next level in Europe, we need more generous ESOP (Employee Stock Option Pools) pools. It’s a way to enable wealth creation not just for founders but for the whole team. In the U.S., startups tend to be more generous with equity, which creates a culture of giving back to the ecosystem. Europe could benefit immensely from this shift.”

J: What Makes a Great Angel Investor?

For Dinika, a great angel investor is someone who stays close to their portfolio companies and remains available when founders need guidance.

‍“It’s easy to write a check,” she explains, “but true value comes from being there for founders through the highs and lows.”

This philosophy aligns perfectly with Evangelista’s goals, which emphasize not just investing capital but creating a community that actively supports founders.

Welcome to the Super Angel Program, Dinika! Angel investing is set for even greater things with you on board!