Erica Duignan Minnihan built her venture capital career through an unusual path that included launching multiple angel networks (Golden Seeds, STAR Angel Network, and 1000 Angels) and deliberately designed 1000 Angels as a digital-only platform to remove the social club dynamics of traditional angel groups. She combines Wall Street-trained valuation skills from her background in investment banking and trading with a coaching approach that includes mandatory two-hour onboarding sessions where she teaches founding teams the mechanics of venture funding and cap tables.