I've Sat Where You're Sitting
Angelo Santinelli MBA, CPCC
Not metaphorically. Literally.
I've been the person accountable to investors when the numbers weren't there. The one who had to make a call that would affect fifty people and couldn't afford to be wrong. The executive who needed a trusted advisor and couldn't find one who actually understood the environment I was operating in.
That gap is why Entrepreneurial Edge exists.
My Backround
Over a 30-year career, I've operated at the intersection of entrepreneurship, venture capital, and executive leadership:
Boston Consulting Group — where I learned to think rigorously about strategy and business problems
Shiva Corporation — where I helped grow a company from $20M to $200M in revenue through IPO
North Bridge Venture Partners — where I evaluated hundreds of founders and leadership teams as a venture capital partner
Babson College — where I spent 17 years developing curricula, teaching entrepreneurship, and working closely with founders at every stage (including developing the Babson Business Model Wheel)
Babson College Endowment — where I helped oversee a $200M+ private equity and venture capital portfolio
I hold an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from Fordham University. I am a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
My Coaching Philosophy
I am not a therapist, and I'm not a cheerleader.
I'm a straight-talking advisor who will challenge your thinking, hold you accountable, and tell you what you need to hear — not what's comfortable. I bring operating experience, investor perspective, and board-level context to every engagement.
That said, I also know that the best coaching isn't advice-giving. It's helping you think more clearly, act more decisively, and lead with greater self-awareness. The work we do together is rigorous, honest, and built around your definition of success — not mine.
My clients don't come to me because their careers are failing. They come because they refuse to coast.
A Personal Note
I've spent decades in rooms where the stakes were high, and the margin for error was thin. I've seen what separates leaders who scale with their companies from those who get replaced by them. It almost never comes down to intelligence or technical skill.
It comes down to self-awareness, adaptability, and the willingness to keep growing when most people would coast on what already works.
That's the work. And it's the most important investment a leader can make.
Ready to Talk?
If you're a founder or executive who wants a trusted partner in your corner — someone who has been there and will be straight with you — I'd like to meet you.