Maaike Doyer, CEO & Founder, is an entrepreneur, professor, and investor with a twisted love for numbers. Prior to moving to Singapore, she spent 6 years in Silicon Valley where she helped big companies and startups creating innovative solutions.
She is passionate about turning great ideas into real business, and you might hear her say ’stop the blah blah blah’ and ‘reports and business plans are useless’. Her favorite quote is ‘if you are not embarrassed by your first product, you launched too late’, by Reid Hoffman (Co-Founder Linked-In).
Tell us about your life before the venture/ leading up to your venture?
In my role as CFO, I ran a global design firm that produced the famous Business Model Canvas book. Leading the global strategy, I’ve built and expanded the company overseas. I moved from The Netherlands to San Francisco to expand the company to Silicon Valley and New York.
Tell us something about your organization. What is it about and how is it helpful for people?
Epic Angels is a network of female angel investors in APAC. The aim is to make a difference by closing the gender funding gap. Epic Angels was founded on the belief that the reason female founders are not getting the investment they need is because there are simply not enough female investors. Epic Angels set out to change this and provide women with a platform to invest, learn, and help incubate more female angel investors who want to be part of the thriving startup scene in APAC.
What has been the response of the consumers towards your venture?
Startups are excited to finally get female investors on their cap table.
Our female investors are excited they can discuss interesting deals with other women, and learn from each other.
In May 2022, we were awarded the ‘Most Ethical Angel Investors in APAC‘.
Today, only 2.4% of the decision-makers in the venture capital world are female. That has to change. Through education, access, and collaboration, Epic Angels is on track to create impact and scale for female founders and investors alike, which is underscored by this recognition.
How has your life changed because of your venture?
I learned so much about the whole startup system in APAC. I get so inspired every day by all the startup founders and angel investors I speak with. Some days, my head explodes because of all the new insights and ideas! I love it.
Give a motivational message for the audience/women who are reading this.
Go for it. Stop any analysis paralysis you might suffer from. Just put one foot in front of the other and start making it work. Launch a prototype in one day. You just make it better the next day! Stop staring at your screen and polishing things. Get out there and learn while you go. Stay curious and ask as many questions as you can. And don’t forget to have fun while doing that!
