Happy days and new horizons
START-UP SPOTLIGHT from the Invested Investor, published in association with Angel News.
In partnership with AngelNews, this month’s Start-up Spotlight focuses on the serial investor and high achieving space entrepreneur Candace Johnson.
Candace was the co-founder of SES ASTRA and the Chief Architect of SES Global, making it become the world's largest satellite system. She is currently Vice Chair of NorthStar Earth and Space and Chair of the Advisory Board of Seraphim Space Global Ventures. She is President Emeritus of EBAN and Member of the Board of EBAN Space. She is the founder of Loral-Teleport Europe and of Europe Online, the world's first Internet-based online service and satellite broadband service.
Candice is the co-founder and Member of the Board of OWNSAT (Oceania Women's Network Satellite), one of the first and largest investors in Kacific, a satellite system bringing Broadband Internet to the Pacific Islands. She is on the International Boards of EDHEC, France's largest Business School, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the University of Haifa.
Unsurprisingly Candice has been recognised and decorated by the Luxembourg Government who honoured her with the Commander of the Order of Merit and the Office of the Oak Leaf Crown and has also been decorated by the Federal Republic of Germany with the Officer of the Order of Merit. She has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from Women in Aerospace, the World Communication Awards, and The International Alliance of Women. She has an honorary doctorate from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and a Masters’ from Stanford and Sorbonne along with a Bachelors’ from Vassar.
1) Why/How did you become an investor?
I became an Angel Investor because my first start-up, SES, became the world’s largest satellite system and was funded by an Angel Investor, Count Roland de Kergorlay in 1984. I also prefer being an Angel Investor than being a Venture Capitalist, because you can be very close to the entrepreneur.
2) What do you invest in and at what stage?
I invest in everything to do with space, i.e. satellites, launchers, space-tech, etc. I always invest right at the start.
3) What are the challenges faced when you become an investor?
I think the biggest challenge is to not do the business but let the entrepreneur do the business!
4) What are the great stories of ‘rewards or satisfaction’ that you can share?
Certainly, SES is a huge success and has given me great satisfaction during much of my professional life.
Today, my biggest satisfaction has been an investment in OWNSAT/Kacific. OWNSAT is Oceania Women’s Network Satellite. We put together a group of women from the Pacific Islands and around the world to not only invest in Kacific, but to also help them achieve their goals. Recently Kacific won the Better Satellite World Award. We have quintupled our investment and we are making a real impact by bringing broadband internet to schools, hospitals, and governments in the Pacific.
5) How do you characterise success?
I characterise success by “Happy Days”. “Happy Days” are when you have achieved making an impact on the world for the better.
6) Please give the top three factors that influence your decision to invest.
Team, Team, Team
7) How do you view your relationship with your investees? What is a good relationship?
A good relationship with the investee company is when the CEO reaches out to me for advice and then follows up on it.
8) How do you maintain a work/life balance?
I have never viewed what I do as an entrepreneur or an investor as “work”. I view it as a calling that I must answer.
9) Who inspires you and why?
I get my inspiration from within.
10) If you could offer an early investor one piece of business advice, what would it be?
Do all the due diligence you can before investing and make certain you trust the entrepreneur and that they deserve your trust.
