MARCH 2026 NEWSLETTER

Written By NYA

INVESTMENTS     |     PORTFOLIO NEWS     |     NYA NEWS     |     INDUSTRY NEWS     |    CALENDAR
This month marks a pivotal moment for New York Angels. Please join us in welcoming Peter Bodenheimer as our next Executive Director. Read this month's newsletter to learn more about Peter, how angel investors should think about evaluating investment in the world of AI displacement, and more.

NYA ORGANIZATIONIAL NEWS
PETER BODENHEIMER, NYA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

New York Angels announced the appointment of Peter Bodenheimer as its next Executive Director.  Bodenheimer brings more than two decades of experience building, investing in, and advising startups. He will be responsible for growing the New York Angels ecosystem by strengthening relationships across founders, investors, and institutional partners, while advancing NYA’s programming and expanding its reach across the early-stage community.  After 12 years with New York Angels, Liz Lindsey will retire from the organization.

RECENT INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

New York Angels Member investments reached $2 million in 2026, marking a strong start to the year.

FEBRUARY INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

New York Angels Members made another investment in Goldilock Secure in its latest bridge round. Goldilock is a global innovator and leading cybersecurity device manufacturer that introduces a physical layer of network segmentation. Its technology enables assets to be securely connected or disconnected remotely without transmitting commands over the public internet. NYA Members first invested in Goldilock and led its seed round in September 2023. Tom Hirschfeld, Justin Frankel, and Andrew Gross led the follow-on round.

MM Brands, Inc. is building the future of the global legal cannabis sector to help enhance all aspects of life for both people and pets. Its products include adult-use concentrates, confections and beverages to tinctures and cosmetic serums.  The company's portfolio features two iconic cannabis brands: Mary’s Medicinals, a pioneer in health and wellness since 2013, and Dixie, a cannabis-infused edibles brand that has been shaping the market since 2010. Jeff Seltzer and Lee Einbinder led this new deal on behalf of NYA Members.

FOUNDER SPOTLIGHT

Don Mathis, SkyfireAI CEO & Founder, has spent most of his career in early-stage ventures, both as an operator and a founder.  SkyfireAI is his second company as a founder, and his fourth entrepreneurial chapter in his career.   Read his interview on how investment from NYA led to top venture capital investment, the benefits of the structured diligence process at NYA, and how perseverance is critical in fundraising.

PORTFOLIO NEWS

EPICURED

Epicured has acquired Chiyo to integrate their platform and drive the expansion of Epicured's women's health initiatives. The union of Epicured and Chiyo marks a meaningful step towards making women's nutrition a prioritized, accessible, and reimbursable component of U.S. healthcare.
Read Press Release

PORTFOLIO NEWS

MEMBRION

Cleantech Group has named Membrion to the 2026 Global Cleantech 100, recognizing the company as one of the most promising innovators driving growth in the cleantech ecosystem. Membrion's breakthrough electro-ceramic desalination technology enables manufacturers to recover clean water and critical minerals.
See Full Report

PORTFOLIO NEWS

SOCURE
Forbes selected Socure as one of the most innovative Fintech companies. As the leading platform for digital identity verification, compliance, and fraud prevention, Socure has more than 3,000+ customers across verticals, including government agencies, gaming, financial institutions, fintechs, big tech, crypto, marketplace and gig, payments, and more.
See Full Report

NYA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Lee Einbinder spent his career as an investment banker working closely with many of the worlds largest financial institutions, providing strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions and capital raising. Read this exclusive interview to learn about what makes NYA the best angel investment organization in the country, why startups should not fundraise immediately, and how he started the Lehman Brothers FinTech group.

MEMBER PERSPECTIVES
THE CONUNDRUM OF AI DISPLACEMENT

Long-time NYA Member Murat Köprülü addresses how many of the traditional methods that angel investors have relied on to evaluate investments no longer hold. Today, the one of the main challenge startups face is the risk of AI displacement.  Murat discusses how every startup must be examined through that lens and offers five criteria for evaluating investments in today's world.
Read Recommendation

NYA MEMBER EVENT
WEST COAST VS. EAST COAST INVESTING

Over the past year, NYA has partnered with angel groups across the country to build the early-stage investment ecosystem. This past month, New York Angels and TCA Venture Group Members had a one-of-a-kind chance to hear perspectives from angel investing legends: NYA Founder David Rose and Former TCA Chairman Dave Berkus. The ‘2 Davids’ shared war stories from their early days in angel investing, how they see angel investing evolving in 2026 and beyond, and the opportunities angel investors need to seize to be successful. 

UPCOMING MEMBER MEETINGS

Investment Forum (Hybrid):
  • April 20th (9:00 AM - 12:30 PM)

Screening (Hybrid):
  • May 4th (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM)


 

FOUNDER DEADLINES

May Screening Application:
  •  April 12th




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*New York Angels, Inc. ("NYA") is a not-for-profit corporation that is funded by membership dues for individuals and/or entities that NYA has designated as members as well as from certain sponsors.  Its purposes include providing administrative support to its members.  NYA does not invest in companies.  Investments, if made, are made by individual members of NYA.
 
Copyright © 2026 New York Angels, All rights reserved.


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NEW YORK ANGELS APPOINTS PETER BODENHEIMER AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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