Our Featured Guest for July 19, 2026 is Sandy Wollman and our Entrepreneur Presenters are Simiao Niu and Stephanie Donio Cauller.
Angel Investing, Wearable Health Tech & Building Communities Through Fun
This week on Passage to Profit, hosts Richard and Elizabeth Gearhart explore three very different but equally inspiring entrepreneurial journeys—from angel investing, to breakthrough wearable medical technology, to building nonprofit communities through sports and entertainment. Along the way, the panel also discusses the future of artificial intelligence (AI), intellectual property, startup funding, and how entrepreneurs can transform innovative ideas into successful organizations.
Whether you’re a startup founder looking for investment, an inventor developing next-generation medical devices, or an entrepreneur searching for creative ways to build community impact, this episode offers practical advice and inspiring stories from leaders at the forefront of innovation.
Sandy Wollman
Co-Founder, Westchester Angels
Website: https://westchesterangels.com/
Sandy Wollman is one of the country’s most experienced angel investors. As Co-Founder of Westchester Angels and a Board Member of the Angel Capital Association, he explains how angel investing really works, why startup investing carries enormous risk, and why experienced investors still pursue early-stage companies despite knowing that many startups will fail.
During the conversation Sandy discusses:
- What angel investors actually look for before writing a check
- The differences between angel investing, venture capital, and private equity
- Why startup founders should seek mentors and surround themselves with experts
- How incubators and accelerators help entrepreneurs prepare for funding
- Why strong founding teams are often more valuable than great products
- The importance of due diligence for both investors and entrepreneurs
- Lessons learned from successful exits and failed investments
- How AI is transforming startup investing while creating new privacy concerns
- Why solving real-world problems is the key to attracting investment
Sandy also shares memorable stories from decades of investing, including his firm’s first successful exit and the “Pizza Lunch Test” that every prospective Westchester Angels member must pass before joining the organization.
Simiao Niu
Rutgers University – Biomedical Engineering
Website: https://www.rutgers.edu/news/heal-skin-scientists-invent-living-bioelectronics
Dr. Simiao Niu, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University, discusses cutting-edge research that could redefine wearable healthcare technology.
His laboratory is developing innovative wearable electronics capable of continuously monitoring health conditions while harvesting energy from everyday life—including walking, body movement, and even ambient electromagnetic energy inside homes and offices.
Topics include:
- The future of wearable medical devices
- Continuous health monitoring versus traditional medical testing
- Self-powered wearable electronics
- Energy harvesting technologies
- Continuous ECG monitoring
- Sleep apnea monitoring for premature infants
- Motion sensors for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson’s disease
- Commercializing university research
- Working on the Apple Watch team and lessons learned in medical device manufacturing
- FDA approval and bringing medical innovations to market
Dr. Niu also discusses launching a startup company based on his Rutgers research and explains how universities help faculty commercialize breakthrough inventions through patents, licensing, and startup support.
Stephanie Donio Cauller
Founder, Jerseys and Dresses
Website: https://www.jerseysanddresses.org/
Stephanie Donio Cauller founded Jerseys and Dresses, a charitable organization that combines sports, entertainment, fundraising, literacy, education, youth initiatives, and small business support into unforgettable community events.
Inspired by fundraising work with the Philadelphia Eagles Autism Foundation, Stephanie created a unique event concept where guests wear football jerseys and formal dresses, creating memorable experiences that generate excitement, social media engagement, and charitable donations.
Stephanie discusses:
- How one creative fundraising idea became a growing nonprofit
- Building a charitable organization from the ground up
- Using grassroots marketing and social media to launch successful events
- Creating partnerships with local businesses
- Expanding Jerseys and Dresses nationwide
- Leveraging podcasts and AI-powered content marketing
- Working with college interns to scale nonprofit fundraising
- Supporting food pantries, adults with disabilities, and community organizations
- Protecting nonprofit brands through trademarks
Her story demonstrates how entrepreneurship and philanthropy can work together to strengthen local communities while creating events people genuinely enjoy attending.
Also in This Episode
Richard and Elizabeth discuss the latest developments in AI-generated content and copyright law, exploring whether works created with generative AI deserve copyright protection and what role human creativity should play in determining ownership. The panel also shares perspectives on patents, startup intellectual property strategies, and protecting innovation.
Elizabeth also highlights exciting advances in cancer immunotherapy and discusses Google’s evolving search algorithms, explaining why businesses should invest in video content and rich media to improve online visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is angel investing?
Angel investing involves accredited investors providing early-stage funding to startup companies in exchange for equity or other investment instruments before venture capital firms typically become involved.
What does Westchester Angels do?
Westchester Angels is an angel investment group that evaluates startup companies, provides funding, performs due diligence, mentors entrepreneurs, and syndicates investment opportunities with angel groups across the country.
What is the Angel Capital Association?
The Angel Capital Association is the leading professional organization representing angel investors and angel investment groups throughout North America.
Who is Simiao Niu?
Dr. Simiao Niu is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University whose research focuses on wearable medical devices, bioelectronics, energy harvesting technologies, and commercializing biomedical innovations.
What is energy harvesting for wearable devices?
Energy harvesting allows wearable electronics to generate electricity from everyday sources such as body movement, walking, ambient electromagnetic energy, and other environmental sources, reducing or eliminating the need for charging.
What are wearable medical devices?
Wearable medical devices continuously monitor physiological data such as heart rhythms, movement, sleep patterns, and other health metrics to improve diagnosis and patient care.
What is Jerseys and Dresses?
Jerseys and Dresses is a charitable organization that creates sports-themed fundraising events supporting literacy, education, youth programs, small businesses, and community nonprofits.
Why are patents important for startups?
Patents help protect innovative technologies, increase company value, attract investors, and improve acquisition opportunities, even if early-stage companies may not have the resources to enforce them immediately.
How is AI changing entrepreneurship?
AI is helping entrepreneurs improve productivity, automate marketing, streamline due diligence, accelerate product development, and create new business opportunities while raising important questions about intellectual property and privacy.
Why is video becoming important for SEO?
Modern search engines increasingly favor websites supported by rich media such as videos, images, and interactive content, making multimedia an important component of digital marketing strategies.