The Capital Stack

Greg Head of Scaling Point on Changing Startup Funding and Drawbacks of Venture Capital Funding

David Paul — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this conversation, venture capitalist David Paul and Greg Head of Scaling Point discuss the changing landscape of funding for startups. They explore the drawbacks of relying on venture capital (VC) funding and the benefits of bootstrapping and practical founder approaches. Greg emphasizes that VC funding is not necessary for success and that there are multiple paths to building valuable software companies. They also discuss the role of private equity in acquiring SaaS companies and the importance of profitability in the growth game. Greg offers advice to founders and invites them to connect with him for further guidance. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

VC funding is not necessary for building valuable software companies
Bootstrapping and practical founder approaches can lead to success
Private equity plays a significant role in acquiring SaaS companies
Profitability is crucial in the growth game
There are multiple paths to success in the startup world

Sound Bites

"VC funding should be used in small doses only when it's really appropriate, like opioids."
"VC funding is usually misunderstood by founders and overprescribed by big investors."
"Getting to product market fit is the universal problem, whether you are funding it yourself or out of a service business or have a little angel funding or get to customer revenues."

Chapters

03:08 The Changing Landscape of Startup Funding

09:15 The Drawbacks of Venture Capital Funding

15:37 The Benefits of Bootstrapping and Practical Founders

27:31 The Importance of Profitability in the Growth Game

29:13 Multiple Paths to Success in the Startup World

Dan Soviero of Signature Lacrosse on Over-Investing in Culture and Streamlining the Ordering Process

David Paul — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Dan Soviero, founder of Signature Lacrosse, shares his entrepreneurial journey and how he built a successful sports equipment and events company with venture capitalist David Paul. He discusses the importance of hard work, discipline, and doing what you love. Dan explains how Signature Lacrosse expanded its offerings to solve the biggest problem in youth sports: ordering custom uniforms. He highlights the role of technology in streamlining the ordering process and improving the customer experience. Dan also shares his vision of getting more kids involved in sports and the impact his company is making in the industry. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Hard work, discipline, and doing what you love are key to building a successful business.
Solving the biggest problem in your industry can lead to significant growth and impact.
Technology, such as custom software, can streamline processes and improve the customer experience.
The goal should be to get more kids involved in sports and provide them with a positive experience.
Over-investing in culture and aligning the team around a shared vision can lead to a great workplace.

Sound Bites

"My dad was really big on us paying rent to stay at his house and to eat his food from a pretty young age. He kind of pushed us into the entrepreneurial spirit."
"We have such a fulfilled life and so much fulfillment in every single day because we're doing what we love and we're making the impact that we want to make every single day."
"Cash conversion cycle is king. Revenue is vanity, net income is sanity, and cash is reality."

Chapters

00:00 The Signature Lacrosse Journey

19:06 Solving the Biggest Problem in Youth Sports

26:53 Tech-Enabling the Ordering Process

30:51 Lessons Learned and Impacting Youth Sports

Jon Corrin of Xilo on Strong Onboarding Processes and Pipeline Automation in the Insurance Industry

David Paul — Tue, 28 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this conversation, David Paul interviews Jon Corrin, the co-founder of Xilo, a vertical SaaS company in the insurance industry. They discuss topics such as pipeline management, the evolution of the insurance industry, Xilo's value proposition, and their market segmentation. Jon shares insights on the importance of product development, the role of instinct in decision-making, and the significance of a strong onboarding process. He also talks about the fundraising journey and the qualities he looks for in investors. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the best business advice Jon has received and his favorite book, 'The 33 Strategies of War' by Robert Greene. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Pipeline management is crucial in the insurance industry, and Xilo has focused on automating processes and improving operational metrics to increase pipeline.
Xilo's value proposition lies in providing a great customer experience on the form submission side and automating workflows into legacy back-office software.
Jon emphasizes the importance of listening to customers and using instinct and gut feelings to make decisions as a founder.
A strong onboarding process is essential for customer success, and Xilo provides one-on-one onboardings for each user to ensure a smooth experience.
When seeking investors, Jon looks for those who can provide access to capital, talent, and customers.
Jon recommends 'The 33 Strategies of War' by Robert Greene as a compelling book that combines history and business advice.

Sound Bites

"It's 6X what it was in Q4. So we're doing well."
"You know, there are so many facets to that because I didn't come from the insurance industry."
"I'm definitely the type of person that can create a funnel, handle all the operational metrics."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Room Banter

02:10 Pipeline Management and Xilo's Growth

06:41 Xilo's Value Proposition and Automation in the Insurance Industry

10:46 Xilo's Target Market and Growth Potential

15:33 Fundraising and Investor Criteria

23:48 Creating a Strong Onboarding Process

26:05 Book Recommendation: 'The 33 Strategies of War'

Krista Morgan of Stage Fund on Investing in Failed Startups and Navigating Distressed Assets

David Paul — Tue, 21 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Krista Morgan, General Partner at Stage Fund, joins venture capitalist David Paul to discuss their unique approach to investing in early-stage technology companies that are unable to raise more funding. Stage Fund focuses on control acquisitions and provides a second chance for struggling companies by offering new capital and a new path forward. They often acquire distressed assets and work closely with founders to turn the companies around. Krista emphasizes the importance of alignment, accountability, and operational expertise in the success of these companies. She also discusses the challenges and opportunities in the emerging asset class of early-stage private equity. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Stage Fund specializes in control acquisitions of early-stage technology companies that are unable to raise more funding.
They provide struggling companies with a second chance by offering new capital and a new path forward.
Alignment, accountability, and operational expertise are crucial for the success of these companies.
The emerging asset class of early-stage private equity offers opportunities for new investment strategies and approaches.

Sound Bites

"We are a control investor, making control acquisitions of early-stage technology companies that are unable to raise more funding."
"The number of calls I get where people think they're at that place of getting a hard deal done, but actually being there are two very different things."
"We really like finding value in the chaos. Like I like chaos."

Chapters

03:13 The Stage Fund’s Approach to Investing

07:11 Challenges in Getting Deals Done

12:53 The Importance of Alignment and Accountability

25:31 The Future of Early-Stage Tech Investing

Nathan Firth of NewRocket on Finding Success in Niche Markets and Productizing Services

David Paul — Tue, 14 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Nathan Firth, founder and CEO of New Rocket, founder of LaunchPad San Diego, and current CCO of ShareLogic shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the success of his tech-enabled service company with venture capitalist David Paul. He emphasizes the importance of finding a niche market and specializing in one thing to become the best at it. Firth discusses the benefits of being a tech-enabled service company and how they productize their services to increase efficiency and deliver more value to customers. He also talks about the challenges of scaling a company and the lessons he learned along the way. Firth is now exploring new opportunities and investing in startups. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Finding a niche market and specializing in one thing can lead to success as an entrepreneur.
Productizing services can increase efficiency and deliver more value to customers.
Scaling a company comes with challenges and requires careful allocation of resources.
Exploring new opportunities and investing in startups can lead to new ventures and growth.

Sound Bites

"Find a niche market, specialize, and be the absolute best at doing that one thing."
"Productizing our services made us more efficient and allowed us to deliver more value to customers."
"Finding the right balance in company size can maintain agility and a startup culture."

Chapters

06:10 The New Rocket Story

08:03 Niche Market and Productization

14:01 Lessons in Scaling a Company

Quentin Wendt of PadSplit on Achieving High Real Estate Returns via Technology Disruption

David Paul — Mon, 06 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400

In this conversation, David Paul interviews Quentin Wendt from PadSplit, a prop-tech company that allows investors to rent out single-family homes by the room. They discuss the housing crisis, the need for affordable housing, and how PadSplit provides a solution by adding density to single-family homes. Quentin explains how the platform works, with members going through a background check and income verification to become approved tenants. The platform handles demand aggregation, collections, and communication between members and investors. They also discuss the hesitation and pushback from investors and municipalities, as the concept of shared housing is still relatively new in the US. PadSplit offers a unique model for real estate investors to generate high returns and scale their businesses quickly. By converting single-family homes into shared living spaces, PadSplit provides affordable housing for essential workers and generates more cash flow and tax benefits compared to traditional rental properties. The company aims to solve the problem of affordable workforce housing and offers a faster and more profitable alternative to traditional real estate investments. PadSplit's model appeals to both investors and tenants, providing a win-win solution for all parties involved.

Takeaways

PadSplit is a prop-tech company that allows investors to rent out single-family homes by the room, providing a solution to the housing crisis and the need for affordable housing.
The platform handles demand aggregation, collections, and communication between members and investors.
There is hesitation and pushback from investors and municipalities due to the unfamiliarity of shared housing in the US.
PadSplit's model allows investors to add density to single-family homes, increasing revenue and providing affordable housing options for low-income individuals.
The platform is still in its early stages, but early adopters are finding success and building portfolios of income-producing properties. PadSplit offers a unique model for real estate investors to generate high returns and scale their businesses quickly.
By converting single-family homes into shared living spaces, PadSplit provides affordable housing for essential workers.
PadSplit generates more cash flow and tax benefits compared to traditional rental properties.
The company aims to solve the problem of affordable workforce housing and offers a faster and more profitable alternative to traditional real estate investments.

Chapters

03:44 Introducing Quentin and PadSplit

07:30 What is PadSplit?

09:23 The Housing Crisis and Affordable Housing

12:02 Challenges in the Real Estate Market

20:13 Hesitation and Pushback in the Market

23:58 How the PadSplit Platform Works

26:06 The Importance of Property Managers

26:43 PadSplit: A Unique Model for Real Estate Investors

29:56 Solving the Problem of Affordable Workforce Housing

Sound Bites

"PadSplit is a five-year-old startup that allows investors to take single-family houses and add density by renting by the room."
"PadSplit has almost 12,000 units across 20 markets in the country, and our hockey stick curve is starting."
"PadSplit is a cashflow machine that allows investors to offset negative cashflow from other real estate investments."
"It's a really fast way to scale your business because the returns are typically 2 and 1 half to 3 times returns on a normal long-term investment."
"Does it break down to what's your risk tolerance? And then how do you wanna diversify?"
"We give multifamily returns on a single-family acquisition."

Matt Ekstrom on the Evolution of HR Tech and Challenges of Outbound Sales

David Paul — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this conversation, David Paul and Matt Ekstrom - an executive with over 10+ years in sales and marketing within the HR tech space discuss various topics related to HR tech, sales enablement, and the challenges faced in these industries. They talk about the evolution of HR tech and its impact on employee onboarding and hiring experience. They also discuss the parallel between sales enablement and HR tech, the challenges of outbound sales, and the future of email marketing. Matt shares his favorite book and the best piece of business advice he has received. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Cold Open

08:07 The Parallel Between Sales Enablement and HR Tech

12:01 The Challenges of Outbound Sales

16:00 The Future of Email Marketing

Takeaways

HR tech has not significantly improved the employee onboarding and hiring experience
The HR tech industry continues to fracture and expand with new companies and solutions
Sales enablement tools and strategies are evolving, with a focus on content creation and audience targeting
The future of sales is uncertain due to email deliverability challenges and the need for new outreach methods
Knowing what you don't know and being humble about it is important in business

Sound Bites

"No, no, absolutely not. And I don't, I really don't sit this at the feet of the entrepreneurs or those companies necessarily."
"The technology can only do so much for that experience. It's up to the recruiters as well and the hiring managers to put the effort in as well."
"The inbound method is no longer a thing, right?"

Seth Merritt of Welby Health on Value Based Care Challenges and having the right Capital Mindset

David Paul — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this conversation, David Paul interviews Seth Merritt, the founder of Welby Health, about value-based care in the healthcare industry. They discuss the challenges of implementing value-based care initiatives, the need for innovation in the healthcare system, and the difficulties faced by providers and payers. Seth shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the lessons he learned about raising capital and finding the right investors. Overall, the conversation highlights the complexities of the healthcare industry and the importance of finding solutions that work for both providers and payers. In this conversation, Seth Merritt discusses his experience with raising capital and the challenges of managing money in a startup. He emphasizes the importance of delivering value to investors and being thoughtful about the use of capital. Seth also shares his perspective on the changing dynamics of the market and the need for startups to focus on profitability and differentiation. He highlights the importance of stewardship and the long-term commitment required in the startup journey. Seth concludes by discussing his excitement about the future of his company, Welby Health, and the opportunities for growth and scaling. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Implementing value-based care initiatives is challenging due to the complexities of the healthcare system and the resistance to change.
Innovation in healthcare is necessary to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs, but it requires understanding the nuances of the industry.
Finding the right investors and partners is crucial for the success of a healthcare startup, as they provide not only capital but also guidance and support.
The healthcare industry needs solutions that work for both providers and payers, considering their different needs and constraints. Delivering value to investors is crucial in the startup journey.
Being thoughtful about the use of capital and focusing on profitability are essential for long-term success.
Differentiation and demonstrating real value are more important than just having a great idea or pitch.
Stewardship and a long-term commitment are necessary to navigate the challenges of the startup world.
Scaling a startup requires managing costs, finding the right talent, and charging what the company is worth.

Sound Bites

"We were dealing with a lot of health systems and larger providers and administrative pieces of the organization versus the individual doctor working in his office and the patient who has hypertension and diabetes, they were just sort of like numbers on a chart."
"Everyone complains about healthcare spending, but no one's really putting their money where their mouth is, you know, and trying to do anything about it."
"You're asking doctors on their 2% margin to go pay for something else, even if it's the best thing ever, it's just not gonna happen."
"The only thing contractually that VCs have to do is why are you money?"
"Sometimes you just need the person that believes in you, right? Even if it is a dick."
"This idea is actually real. That gave me like a little bit of push."

Chapters

07:22 The Need for Innovation in Healthcare

23:54 Delivering Value and Managing Money in Startups

34:10 Lessons Learned and Charging What You're Worth

Nick Steinwachs of Tidal Digital Health Partners on Building Healthcare Products and Navigating Stakeholders

David Paul — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this conversation, David Paul interviews Nick Steinwachs about the challenges and opportunities in the healthcare industry. They discuss the importance of customer empathy, the role of founders in healthcare startups, and the need for innovative solutions. They also touch on the difficulties of commercializing healthcare products and the importance of market validation. Nick shares his insights on finding a product-market fit and navigating founder bias. Overall, the conversation highlights the complexities of the healthcare industry and the importance of understanding customer needs. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Customer empathy and subject matter expertise are crucial in building successful healthcare products.
Commercializing healthcare products can be challenging due to regulatory issues and the need for buy-in from healthcare providers.
Shifting the market conversation can be more effective than trying to retool a product that is not resonating with customers.
Founders should listen to their market and be willing to let go of their solutions to address the real problems.
Market validation is important, and founders should focus on usability, feasibility, viability, and value in their product development process.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:26 The Importance of Customer Empathy

08:21 Challenges in Commercializing Healthcare Products

14:51 Shifting the Market Conversation

Keywords- healthcare, startups, customer empathy, product-market fit, commercialization, market validation, founder bias

29:12 The Role of Market Validation

Lisa Diaz of Turf Advisory on Construction Tech Software and the America's Infrastructure Tailwinds

David Paul — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:30:00 -0400

In this episode, David Paul interviews Lisa Diaz, the founder of Turf Advisory, about the construction industry and the need for infrastructure investment. They discuss the challenges of government prioritization, the role of general contractors and subcontractors, and the low margins in the construction industry. They also explore the potential of construction technology to increase margins and address pain points in the industry. Lisa emphasizes the importance of integrating and connecting different systems and the need for standardization in construction. She also shares her excitement about using digital twins for infrastructure assessment and the opportunity for infrastructure repair. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

The construction industry is in need of infrastructure investment to address deteriorating infrastructure and meet the growing demand for housing and transportation.
Government prioritization of infrastructure projects is influenced by politics and the most pressing needs, often resulting in a shortage of funding for necessary repairs and upgrades.
Construction technology has the potential to increase margins in the industry by improving efficiency and addressing pain points such as labor tracking and material delivery.
The adoption of construction technology faces challenges such as resistance to change and the need for standardization and integration among different systems.

Chapters

01:05 The Need for Infrastructure Investment

03:09 The Importance of Infrastructure to Joe Biden

04:15 Improving Infrastructure in New York City

05:19 Bidding and Contracting in the Construction Industry

06:13 Different Types of Construction and Contractors

07:38 The Role of General Contractors and Subcontractors

08:33 The Transition to Design-Build Contracts

09:20 Low Margins in the Construction Industry

10:17 Increasing Margins with Construction Technology

11:46 The Challenges of Construction Technology Adoption

13:02 Using Technology to Track Labor and Materials

14:53 Addressing Pain Points in Construction

16:15 The Importance of Integration and Connectivity

19:12 Regulatory Changes and Pain Points in Construction

20:40 Using Digital Twins for Infrastructure Assessment

23:16 The Need for Standardization in Construction

27:17 The Opportunity in Infrastructure Repair

29:38 Contacting Lisa Diaz and Turf Advisory

Pete Colligan of Ariba on How to Hire Software Engineers and Change Management

David Paul — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this conversation, David Paul interviews Pete Colligan, the CTO of Ariba Business Networks. They discuss various topics related to leadership, innovation, and hiring in the corporate world. Pete shares his experiences and insights on structuring teams, driving innovation in a large company, navigating change management, and conducting effective interviews. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong team, setting clear goals, and creating a supportive onboarding process for new hires. Pete discusses his concerns and excitement in the world of technology, including the benefits of modern tools in coding productivity and the modern data stack. He also explores the challenges and opportunities in team building in the post-COVID era. The conversation touches on the importance of making choices in strategy and the ongoing debate between platforms and best-in-class solutions. Peter shares his recommendations for influential leadership books and resources, emphasizing the value of learning from leaders and building bridges to get things done. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Building a strong team is crucial for success in any project or organization.
Innovation in a large company requires curiosity, initiative, and the ability to build credibility and trust.
Change management is essential when implementing new initiatives, and it involves creating a clear vision, aligning stakeholders, and setting expectations.
Effective hiring involves being intentional about the desired culture and skills, using situational questions to assess candidates, and ensuring a smooth onboarding process.
Modern tools incorporating breakthroughs in large language models can greatly enhance coding productivity.
The modern data stack, including tools like Snowflake, offers easier data collection, transformation, and analysis.
Team building in the post-COVID era requires understanding the impact of remote work and finding ways to maintain effective collaboration.
Making choices and building bridges are crucial skills in strategy and leadership.

Chapters

02:10 The Importance of Team and Leadership

05:27 Driving Innovation in a Large Company

07:04 Structuring and Leading Complex Projects

10:03 Navigating Change Management and Reputational Risk

13:29 Effective Hiring and Onboarding

25:03 Conducting Effective Interviews

26:00 Areas of Concern and Excitement in Technology

27:19 Benefits of Modern Tools in Coding Productivity

29:15 Team Building in the Post-COVID Era

30:27 Understanding the Data Stack

34:21 Platforms vs. Best-in-Class Solutions

38:32 The Importance of Making Choices in Strategy

40:28 Learning from Leaders and Building Bridges

Vickram Pradhan of Sopris Capital on Decentralization in Healthcare and the Founder/Investor Relationship

David Paul — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Vickram Pradhan, an investor at Sopris Capital, joins venture capitalist David Paul to share his background and experience in investing, as well as his role at Sopris. He discusses the importance of building relationships with portfolio companies and providing operational expertise. Vickram also highlights the advantages of Sopris' capital allocation strategy and the flexibility it offers. He explores the growth of tech-enabled services in healthcare and the challenges of differentiating between tech-enabled services and SaaS companies. Vickram concludes by discussing the decentralization of healthcare and the increasing demand for personalized care and ownership of healthcare decisions. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Building relationships and providing operational expertise are crucial in early-stage investing.
Flexibility in capital allocation strategy allows for better alignment with portfolio companies.
Tech-enabled services in healthcare offer opportunities for growth and disruption.
The decentralization of healthcare and the increasing demand for personalized care are emerging trends.
Reading quarterly letters from hedge funds can provide valuable insights into pricing risk and investment strategies.

Chapters

02:23 Background and Experience

03:24 Foray into Investing and Role at Sopras Capital

04:37 Relationship with Sopras Capital

05:30 Investment Advice from Andy

06:41 Navigating Challenges in Early Stage Investing

07:14 Managing Anxiety and Frustration

09:21 Founder Buy-In on Operational Expertise

09:38 Differentiation in Capital Allocation Strategy

14:34 Flexibility in Entry and Exit Strategies

15:48 Challenges of Overcapitalization

19:22 Tech-Enabled Services vs. SaaS

22:52 Decentralization of Healthcare

26:11 Shift in Healthcare Awareness and Ownership

28:26 Demand for Additional Healthcare Tests

30:10 Advanced Practice Providers in Healthcare

32:23 Favorite Investors and Reading Recommendations

Jerry Colonna on Radical Self-Inquiry for Startup Founders and Investors

David Paul — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Jerry Colonna, executive and life coach of Reboot.io, discusses the importance of personal growth and self-inquiry for startup founders. He shares his own journey of rebooting and how it led him to become a coach. Colonna emphasizes the need for founders to confront their own brokenness and take responsibility for their actions. He also explores the challenges faced by investors and the need for empathy and self-soothing in the startup ecosystem. Jerry Colonna discusses the state of investing and the need for a shift in focus from financial returns to building meaningful relationships. He shares the genesis of his work with Reunion and the importance of personal growth and being a better human. Jerry also explores the impact of systematic racism and oppression, as well as the fear of the other in society. He emphasizes the moral responsibility of business leaders to address these issues and create positive change. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the next iteration of Jerry's work and the importance of asking meaningful questions. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Personal growth and self-inquiry are essential for startup founders to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.
Confronting one's own brokenness and taking responsibility for one's actions is a crucial step in personal growth.
Investors should lead with empathy and self-soothe their own anxieties to create a healthy and supportive environment for founders.
The startup ecosystem needs to address systemic issues and lower expectations to foster a more realistic and sustainable approach to entrepreneurship. Investing should focus on building meaningful relationships rather than solely pursuing financial returns.
Personal growth and being a better human are essential for effective leadership.
Systematic racism and oppression must be acknowledged and addressed.
Business leaders have a moral responsibility to create positive change in society.

Chapters

03:20 Rebooting and Radical Self-Inquiry

08:57 Reunion and Personal Growth

16:05 The Importance of Painful Work

25:15 The Role of Investors in Founder Dishonesty

27:48 The Systemic Issues in Startup Culture

29:09 The State of Investing

30:06 The Importance of Relationships

31:15 The Genesis of Reunion

33:03 A Pointing Out Instruction

34:29 Systematic Racism and Oppression

36:00 Fear of the Other

37:00 Radical Self-Inquiry and Leadership

39:08 Attacking Ideologies and the Real Problems

40:30 The Moral Responsibility of Business Leaders

42:22 The Next Iteration of Jerry's Work

Al Doan of Missouri Start Quilt Company on Self-Destructive Founder Mindset and How to Overcome It

David Paul — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Al Doan, the founder of the Missouri Star Quilt Company turned investor at Rolling Fun, shares his journey as an entrepreneur and investor. He discusses starting the quilt company as a way to support his mother and how it grew into a successful business. He also talks about his transition out of the company and his ventures into tech startups, investing, and real estate. Al shares his passion for revitalizing small towns and his experiences as a founder, including the challenges and sacrifices involved. He emphasizes the importance of finding happiness and fulfillment beyond financial success. In this conversation, Al Doan discusses the importance of setting realistic goals and reflecting on past aspirations. He emphasizes the need to adjust goals as one grows and changes. Al also shares advice for his younger self, encouraging patience and a focus on personal fulfillment. He highlights the value of learning from failures and frustrations. Additionally, Al discusses finding joy in the journey and the importance of enjoying the process. He shares his reading preferences and talks about his exciting projects for the year, including involvement in local politics and exploring various hobbies and trades. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Chapters

00:48 Starting the Missouri Star Quilt Company

02:16 Transitioning out of the Quilt Company

03:13 Starting Let's Make Art

04:33 Venturing into Tech Startups

05:01 Investing and Real Estate

09:24 Revitalizing Small Towns

10:35 Balancing Work and Family

12:14 The Therapeutic Catharsis

17:52 Stepping Back from the CEO Role

20:14 Finding a New CEO

22:44 The Challenges of Being a Founder

23:10 The Happiness of Founders

25:30 The Cost of Being a Founder

28:19 The Addiction to Validation

29:17 The Illusion of the Finish Line

30:58 The Ego-Driven Nature of Founders

32:06 The Loneliness of Founders

33:27 The Difficulty of Letting Go

33:45 Setting Unrealistic Goals

36:06 Reflecting on Past Goals

36:18 Advice for Younger Self

39:30 Lessons Learned: Patience and Timing

41:37 Finding Joy in the Journey

44:36 Reading Preferences

45:30 Exciting Projects for the Year

45:53 Interest in Local Politics

46:47 Exploring Lost Trades and Hobbies

John Lott of Predicate Wealth Partners on Tough Board Meetings, Restructurings, and Mentorship

David Paul — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

On this episode with host David Paul, John Lott, CEO of Predicate Wealth Managers, shares his insights and experiences in the world of finance and entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the importance of operating skills and the potential of digital currencies. John also discusses the challenges in the private equity market and the significance of alignment between investors and founders. He shares his personal journey of transitioning to entrepreneurship and building a successful business with his wife. John's passion lies in helping others find their purpose and achieve success, which led him to develop the 8-Block Method. Overall, this conversation provides valuable lessons and perspectives for both investors and entrepreneurs. In this conversation, the principal themes revolve around finding passion, sustaining motivation, and the resilience of entrepreneurs. The guests emphasized the importance of pursuing something one is truly passionate about, as it provides the necessary drive to overcome challenges. They discuss the idea that everyone has a plan until they face adversity, highlighting the need for resilience in entrepreneurship. The conversation concludes with closing remarks and a call to action for listeners to subscribe, share, and leave reviews. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Operating skills are crucial for success in business, and they are often more valuable than finance skills.
The private equity market is not always efficient, and success depends on the alignment between sponsors and management teams.
Effective communication and collaboration are essential for building successful partnerships between investors and founders.
Working with a spouse as a business partner can be challenging but can also lead to personal and professional growth.
The 8-Block Method is a framework for finding purpose and achieving success in life and business.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:09 The Importance of Operating Skills

03:25 The Potential of Digital Currencies

05:25 Challenges in the Private Equity Market

07:41 The Importance of Alignment Between Investors and Founders

09:07 Effective Communication and Collaboration

11:04 Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

14:28 Lessons from Building a Successful Business

17:55 Working with a Spouse as a Business Partner

23:19 Starting Predicate Wealth Managers

25:37 The 8-Block Method and Building a Legacy

40:47 How to Learn More about the 8-Block Method

43:31 Finding Passion and Sustaining Motivation

44:01 The Resilience of Entrepreneurs

Maya Watson of Manual on the Failure of Learning and Development Industry and Lessons from Working for Oprah

David Paul — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Maya Watson, co-founder of Manual, discusses her background working for companies like Netflix and Oprah Winfrey, as well as her experience during the rise and fall of Clubhouse. She explains the genesis of Manual and its mission to help individuals understand themselves better and create a more flexible and fulfilling work experience. Maya highlights the challenges with traditional learning and development (L&D) programs and the need for a more personalized and contextual approach. She shares the company's plans for the future and how leaders can implement Manual in their organizations. Maya also reflects on her time working for Oprah Winfrey and the lessons she learned from the media mogul. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Manual is a platform that helps individuals understand themselves better and create a more flexible and fulfilling work experience.
Traditional learning and development (L&D) programs often lack context and fail to address the individual needs of employees.
The future of work is shifting, and tools like Manual can help individuals navigate this transition and find meaningful work.
Leaders can implement Manual by leading by example, creating their own manuals, and encouraging their teams to do the same.

Chapters

01:08 - The Rise and Fall of Clubhouse

03:00 - The Intersection of Factors

06:14 - Introduction to Manual

07:32 - The Genesis of Manual

10:22 - The Problem with L&D

14:09 - The Product and Company Today

24:09 - Future Plans for Manual

30:01 - Implementing Manual in the Workplace

33:43 - Working for Oprah Winfrey

Brian Miller of Bloom Venture Partners on the Private Secondary Market and how to Unlock Liquidity for Employees and Early Investors

David Paul — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Brian Miller, Partner at Bloom Venture Partners, discusses the secondary market for private company shares and the challenges and opportunities it presents. He explains the difference between primary and secondary markets and how secondary transactions work. Brian also discusses the controversy surrounding Carta and the importance of secondaries for both employees and investors. He highlights the restrictions on selling equity and the treatment of early-stage investors. Brian shares his optimism for the future of the market and emphasizes the importance of trust and differentiation in the industry. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

The secondary market involves the transaction of shares that have already been issued by a private company.
Companies and investors use the secondary market to provide liquidity to shareholders who want to sell their shares.
The Carta controversy highlighted the misuse of customer information and led to the shutdown of their secondary business.
Companies have different views on secondaries, with some seeing it as a positive benefit for employees and others concerned about control and optics.
The majority of secondary transactions occur in later-stage companies that no longer need to raise capital.

Chapters

06:02 - Primary and Secondary Markets

07:30 - How Secondary Transactions Work

11:33 - The Carta Controversy

14:09 - Importance of Secondaries for Employees and Investors

18:46 - Restrictions on Selling Equity

20:03 - Treatment of Early-Stage Investors

23:34 - Current State of the Market

25:52 - Majority of Transactions in Later Stage Companies

26:27 - Challenges in the Secondary Market

28:03 - Differentiation and Trust in the Industry

29:12 - Personal Excitement and Future Outlook

Rahul Sidhu of Aerodome on Drones, American Dynamism, and Raising from a16z

David Paul — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, host David Paul interviews Rahul Sidhu, the founder and CEO of Aerodome, a drone company for the public safety sector. They discuss the concept of Aerodome and its ability to send drones to 911 calls in an average of 98 seconds. They also delve into the regulatory challenges and waivers required for operating drones in the public safety space. Rahul shares his experience raising funding, including a seed round with 2048 Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz. They explore the intersection of American dynamism and lagging industries, as well as the importance of hardware sourcing in the United States. Rahul also discusses the progress of Aerodome and his excitement for the future of AI and robotics. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the impact of the 2024 election. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Aerodome is a drone company that sends drones to 911 calls in an average of 98 seconds, providing air support for public safety personnel.
Regulatory challenges and waivers are necessary for operating drones in the public safety sector, and there is a need for innovation in this space.
Raising funding for a startup like Aerodome can involve securing investments from venture capital firms like 2048 Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz.
The intersection of American dynamism and lagging industries presents opportunities for innovation and growth.
Hardware sourcing and supply chain regulation are important considerations for companies like Aerodome.
Exciting developments in technology include advancements in AI, robotics, and the integration of AI into everyday life.
The 2024 election is expected to have a significant impact on various industries and the country as a whole.

Chapters

03:00 - The Concept of Aerodome

08:00 - Regulatory Challenges and Waivers

11:00 - Raising Funding and Investors

17:00 - The Intersection of American Dynamism and Lagging Industries

23:00 - Supply Chain Regulation and Hardware Sourcing

28:00 - Company Progress and Future Plans

30:00 - Exciting Developments in Technology

31:00 - The Impact of the 2024 Election

Matthew Pittinsky of Parchment and Blackboard on Revolutionizing Educational Technology and Building Networks

David Paul — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, David Paul interviews Matthew Pittinsky, the founder of Blackboard and CEO of Parchment, about his journey in the educational technology industry. They discuss the genesis of Blackboard and its role in revolutionizing the learning management system (LMS) industry. They also explore the shift from on-premises software to cloud-based solutions and the challenges faced in building a networked system of record. Pittinsky shares his insights on the current pain points in education and the value of a college degree. The conversation concludes with a discussion of favorite books and closing remarks.

Takeaways

Blackboard revolutionized the LMS industry by creating a front office system for universities that facilitated instruction and learning.
The shift to cloud-based solutions, exemplified by Instructure's Canvas LMS, disrupted Blackboard's on-premises model.
Parchment was founded to address the need for a networked system of record that allows learners to collect and manage their academic and professional credentials.
The education industry faces challenges such as fragmented technology ecosystems, math achievement gaps, teacher retention, and the perception of the value of a college degree.

Chapters

03:14 The Genesis of Blackboard

08:00 The Shift to the Cloud

12:05 The Birth of Parchment

15:29 Building a Networked System of Record

20:17 Adoption Challenges and Cultural Battles

21:47 The Vision of Parchment

23:34 Current Pain Points in Education

26:18 Is College Worth It?

29:55 Favorite Books

Scott Garber of Early Light Ventures on Founder Interviewing via CIA techniques, Pre Seed Portfolio Construction, and Farting in Jars

David Paul — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, David Paul interviews Scott Garber, Managing Director of Early Light Ventures. Scott shares his background as a former CIA operative and how he transitioned into venture capital. He discusses his investment strategy, including the importance of reading founders and identifying grit. Scott also talks about the portfolio construction and his focus on smaller exits with lower failure rates. He reflects on his beliefs that have changed over time and shares his excitement for the future. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Scott shares his background as a former CIA operative and how it has influenced his venture capital career.
Reading founders and identifying grit are important factors in Scott's investment strategy.
Scott focuses on smaller exits with lower failure rates in his portfolio construction.
Scott's beliefs about valuations have evolved, and he now considers quality as an important factor in investment decisions.
Scott is excited about the sales prospects for startups in the first half of 2024.

Chapters

03:57 - Transition to Venture Capital

05:30 - Recruitment into the CIA

07:19 - Transferable Skills from CIA to Venture Capital

09:48 - Investment Strategy and Reading Founders

13:16 - Early Light Ventures and Investment Thesis

15:29 - Transition from Board Seats

17:52 - Portfolio Construction and Miss Rates

20:49 - Beliefs that Have Changed

24:24 - Excitement for 2024

27:17 - Conclusion and Contact Information

Luke Harmon of Serendipity on When Bootstrapping Backfires, Identifying Blue Ocean, and how to Increase your Company's Valuation

David Paul — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Luke Harmon, founder and CEO of the Serendipity marketing agency, shares his startup journey and the challenges of bootstrapping a company. He discusses the importance of balancing sales and product development, as well as the need for founders to be involved in the sales process. Luke also highlights the significance of building strong relationships with clients and the value of nurturing prospects. Overall, he emphasizes the importance of revenue generation and the need for founders to understand the market dynamics and make strategic decisions. In this conversation, Luke Harmon discusses the HubSpot focus and alignment, the future of go-to-market strategies, the flipped funnel approach, and partnerships as a growth strategy. He also emphasizes the importance of considering the impact of partnerships and provides his contact information for further communication. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Bootstrapping a company requires careful financial management and a focus on revenue generation.
Founders should be actively involved in the sales process and develop sales skills.
Building strong relationships with clients and nurturing prospects is crucial for long-term success.
Balancing product development and customer needs is a challenge that requires constant iteration and adaptation. HubSpot's focus and alignment have been instrumental in their success.
The traditional funnel approach is being replaced by the flipped funnel approach in B2B SaaS.
Targeted content creation and brand personality are key in the flipped funnel approach.
Partnerships can be a game-changer for businesses, but careful consideration is needed.

Chapters

01:19 Definition of Bootstrapping

03:33 Luke's Startup Journey

06:18 Early Days of Employee Engagement Giving

09:25 Product Development and Growth Challenges

11:14 Acquisition by BlackBod

15:54 Life After the Exit

24:06 Serendipity Marketing Agency

28:59 Balancing Sales and Product Development

33:44 Qualification and Sales Coaching

37:23 Building Deal Stages and Nurturing Prospects

38:40 Future Outlook and Excitement

38:45 HubSpot Focus and Alignment

40:26 The Future of Go-to-Market Strategies

42:47 The Flipped Funnel Approach

43:22 Partnerships as a Growth Strategy

44:21 Considering the Impact of Partnerships

Angela Lai former Founder of Betteromics (former CTO of GRAIL) on Building Software for the Life Science Industry and What The World Doesn't know About Big Pharma

David Paul — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, David Paul interviews Angela Lai, the founder and CEO of Betteromics. They discuss Angela's background in the tech industry and her transition to the life sciences business. They explore the intersection of biology, chemistry, big data, and AI in the field of healthcare science. Angela explains how Betteromics serves as a regulated data lake for healthcare science data, providing a system of record and interoperability for clinical discovery. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities in the life science industry, the future of pharma and personalized medicine, and the importance of transparency and storytelling in the industry. Angela shares her insights as a founder and the personal growth she has experienced in building a startup. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

The life science industry is undergoing a transformation as biology, chemistry, big data, and AI converge.
Betteromics serves as a regulated data lake for healthcare science data, providing a system of record and interoperability for clinical discovery.
The life science industry faces challenges in data fragmentation, data governance, and the need for more efficient and predictable drug development.
Specialty pharma medicines, personalized medicine, and biologics are the future of the industry.
Founding a startup requires versatility, problem-solving skills, and a willingness to learn and adapt.

Chapters

02:08 Transition from Google to Grail to Betteromics

03:32 The Intersection of Biology, Chemistry, Big Data, and AI

06:06 Betteromics as a Regulated Data Lake for Healthcare Science

09:08 Challenges in the Life Science Industry

12:18 Positioning Betteromics in the Market

16:23 The Future of Pharma and Life Science

19:40 Technological Advances Enabling Betteromics

22:52 The Success Rate of Drugs and Therapies

28:14 The Opacity of the Life Science Industry

31:17 The Rise of Specialty Pharma Medicines

34:30 Lessons Learned as a Founder

37:49 Personal Growth and Privilege

Bill Horne Turnaround CEO of over 10+ Companies on Why Founders Fail and What to Do About It

David Paul — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, venture capitalist David Paul interviews Bill Horne, a 10-time CEO, the founder of 88 Keys, and an expert in turning around struggling companies. They discuss various aspects of being a fixer for early-stage companies and the challenges that come with it. The conversation covers topics such as the value destruction when founders leave, common mistakes founders make, the importance of operational planning, and managing the board. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Being a fixer for early-stage companies requires reconciling the challenges of working with fragile employees and upset boards.
Founders leaving a company can lead to significant value destruction, both from a cultural and industry knowledge perspective.
Common mistakes made by founders include a lack of operational planning and attention to detail.
Effective operational planning requires a high level of granularity and a clear execution strategy.

Chapters

01:59 Becoming an Adult in the Room

03:18 Becoming the Fixer

05:44 Value Destruction When Founders Leave

07:26 Common Mistakes Founders Make

09:54 The Importance of Operational Planning

10:43 Detail and Execution in Operational Planning

12:33 Time Framing and Check-Ins

14:50 Managing the Board

Matt Munson of Sanity Labs on Founder Burn Out, Executive Coaching, and Board Dynamics

David Paul — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, David Paul interviews Matt Munson, a CEO whisperer and performance coach for startup founders at Sanity Labs. Matt shares his experience working with Jerry Colonna, a renowned coach, and the impact it had on his own coaching approach. They discuss the importance of recognizing inner complacency and the deeper challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Matt also explores the concept of founder burnout and the need for a shift in mindset to prioritize well-being. They delve into the role of attachment to identity and business success, as well as strategies for maximizing creativity and vision. The episode concludes with advice for investors on supporting founders in a more communicative and supportive manner. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Coaching should involve more than just providing frameworks and advice; it should involve a deep understanding of the founder's challenges and a willingness to climb into those challenges with them.
Founder burnout often stems from a feeling of misalignment, disconnection, and inefficacy. It is important to address these deeper issues rather than just focusing on external factors.
Attachment to identity and business success can hinder a founder's ability to lead effectively. It is important to shift the focus from personal validation to the collective vision and purpose of the company.
Slowing down and creating space for innovation is crucial for founders. Prioritizing activities that foster spacious thinking, long-term visioning, and deep connection with the team can lead to more effective leadership.
Investors should approach founders with curiosity and support rather than solely focusing on performance metrics. Creating an open and supportive environment can lead to better outcomes for both the founder and the investor.

Chapters

01:00 Working with Jerry Colonna

03:02 Jerry Colonna's Questions

04:36 Searching for Coaching

07:48 Recognizing Inner Complacency

08:58 Founder Burnout

11:20 Attachment to Identity and Business

14:39 Finding Clarity and Vision

20:45 Maximizing Creativity

26:05 Slowing Down for Innovation

29:29 Supporting Founders as an Investor

Gregg Scoresby of PHX Ventures on Mastering the Art of Startup Board Management and Building Vibrant Software Communities

David Paul — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, David Paul interviews Gregg Scoresby, the founder and CEO of CampusLogic and PHX Ventures about building a thriving startup ecosystem in Arizona. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of attracting institutional seed stage capital, the importance of community vibrancy in building a top software city, and the role of AI in the future of software companies. Greg shares his insights on identifying founders with ambition and the ability to confront reality and emphasizes the need for founders to be connected to the math of their business. He also provides advice for founders and investors on building strong relationships and managing boards. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

Building a thriving startup ecosystem requires attracting institutional seed-stage capital and fostering community vibrancy.
Founders with ambition and the ability to confront reality are more likely to succeed in building sustainable growth companies.
AI is transforming the software industry, but the true value lies in applying AI to specific verticals and leveraging domain expertise.
Investors should look for founders who are connected to the math of their business and have a deep understanding of their market and customers.
Building strong relationships and managing boards effectively are crucial for both founders and investors.

Chapters

04:16 Institutional Seed Stage Capital in Arizona

05:32 Increase in Capital in Arizona

07:33 Collaboration in the Market

09:22 Capital Flowing into Early Stage Companies

10:52 Building Phoenix as a Top Software City

12:15 Community Development and Attracting SaaS Companies

14:40 Transition from Founder Operator to VC Investor

15:39 Being a Minority Shareholder

18:01 Providing Feedback to Founders

19:31 Founder's Ambition and Confronting Reality

22:21 Managing the Board and Asking Good Questions

23:49 Building Relationships and Giving Feedback

26:13 Identifying Founders Who Can Carry a Company to Success

30:37 The Impact of AI on Software Companies

33:48 Founder Characteristics of Successful Companies

37:08 Thoughts on the Future of AI

Alan Roga of TruLight Health on Health Equity, Clinical Bias, and Creating Healthcare Categories

David Paul — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0400

David Paul, venture capitalist and host of The Capital Stack Podcast is joined by Alan Roga, seasoned medical professional turned entrepreneur and founder of TruLite Health. Telehealth and telemedicine seem commonplace today, although it was not always that way. Listen to the interesting story of how it developed into what it is today and Alan’s view on the current industry. Alan provides deep insight into how the development of telehealth led to the development and sparking of health equity, providing care to individuals from all walks of life. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Key Points -

2:35 - How Alan got to TruLite

12:20 - What advice Alan would give to early entrepreneurs in the telemedicine space

16:22 - Alan’s thoughts on this sector now and his projections

22:14 - How TruLite combats clinical bias

26:56 - How clinical bias data is viewed and acted upon

29:50 - The state of the early health equity market

34:40 - How ROI can be captured in Health health equity

Jim Cantrell of Phantom Space on the Space Tech, the Defense Sector, and Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain

David Paul — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 05:30:00 -0400

On this episode of The Capital Stack Podcast, venture capitalist David Paul is joined by lifelong space executive and CEO of Phantom Space, Jim Cantrell, to talk about the inner workings of the innovation happening in space exploration. Jim and David discuss the history of the space industry, why startups are outperforming primes and projections for the future of aerospace and defense supply chain. Follow along on this incredible episode where the inner workings of all innovation that goes into rockets and satellites are unraveled and explained in extraordinary detail. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Key Points

(2:19) - The history of the space industry, and how it arrived at where it is today

(7:30) - Jim’s view on the space industry going forward

(9:52) - How innovation within the space industry often ties in with the defense industry

(12:46) - Where, and why the innovation to explore space began

(16:49) - Startups vs. primes in the aerospace and defense sector

(21:11) - Jim’s view on what milestones an aerospace and defense company would need to achieve in order to scale

(24:25) - An overview of the aerospace and defense supply chain, and what can be done to improve it in the future

(27:35) - Jim’s projections on machining automation

Austin Poole of BIP Ventures on Inflation, Incentives, and Dysfunction in Healthcare Services

David Paul — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

David Paul, venture capitalist and host of The Capital Stack Podcast is joined by Austin Poole - a partner at BIP Ventures focusing on healthcare. BIP Ventures is an Atlanta-based venture firm with various focuses, with hundreds of millions of dollars under management in credit and equity. David and Austin discuss the current state of the healthcare market, post-acute care in the market, and the software and technology that go into and scale healthcare. Listen to Austin’s unexpected path to BIP Ventures, how he chooses investments with his team, and what he sees for the future of healthcare technology and software development. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.

Key Points -

(2:55) - Austin’s journey in finance and how he became involved at BIP

(6:05) - How operations and investments are devised and looked after at BIP

(12:28) - What is viewed as a real investment in healthcare

(13:35) - Austin’s view on the healthcare market as it is today

(16:10) - Discussion on why the post-acute care market is struggling

(22:20) - The possibility of if any single company can revolutionize the healthcare market

(25:20) - Tech-enabled services vs SaaS in healthcare, how they are scaled, and what makes them scaleable

Jim Armstrong of JDA Software on Founding a $2B Company, Operating and Investing Lessons, and Finding Meaning in Wealth

David Paul — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Capital Stack Podcast, venture capitalist David Paul speaks with his mentor, Jim Armstrong, founder of JDA Software (now Blue Yonder) - a global supply chain solution for big box retailers. This inspiring episode is filled with invaluable information and highlights how opportunity is everywhere, and when acted upon with the right mindset, success can flourish. Listen to Jim speak about his irregular journey to success, what lessons he would tell his younger self, and how Jim chooses to spend his time today. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.

What You Will Discover -

(1:47) - Jim’s story of how he got into software

(7:10) - How JDA Software ended up being headquartered in The United States, and a rundown of the company’s life cycle

(8:34) - Jim’s viewpoint on taking JDA Software Public

(12:18) - How JDA Software operated pre-SaaS

(13:58) - Jim’s motivation for starting his own business

(15:36) - How Jim chose to help and inspire strangers and those around him

(18:12) - Rancho Feliz, Jim’s charitable organization

(20:13) - Jim’s life now, and what he is excited about

(24:40) - What Jim would tell his earlier self

Mike Becker of Vocapp Partners on Verticalized Generative AI Applications, East vs. West Coast Investing, Identifying Stages of Product Market Fit

David Paul — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 22:00:00 -0400

David Paul is joined by fellow venture capitalist Mike Becker, the managing partner of Vocap Partners, a Series-A firm based out of Atlanta and Florida, on this episode of The Capital Stack Podcast. David and Mike discuss how to pick and choose ideal companies for deals, the importance of VC / founder balance in value add, and what is new and exciting in venture capital today!

What You Will Discover -

(5:00) - Mike’s view on value creation as a venture capitalist

(9:10) - The story of Vocap and Mike’s experience as a venture capitalist

(16:00) - When product market fit has been validated for a company

(21:34) - East Coast versus West Coast investing discussion

(24:50) - What an average win/loss ratio is throughout an individual’s time as a venture capitalist

(28:13) - What is new and exciting in the world of venture capital

Connect with Mike -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-becker

Todd Belfer of Brookstone VC on Raising Capital from LPs and Key Investing Lessons

David Paul — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Capital Stack Podcast, venture capitalist David Paul speaks with his mentor, Todd P. Belfer of Brookstone Venture Capital - an Arizona-based venture capital firm. Todd speaks about his irregular and inspiring path to success, the importance of consistency and discipline, and his learnings as an investor and operator. David and Todd discuss their wins and losses from working together, and their valuable insight on the startup market today. You can watch and listen to the podcast on on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

What You Will Discover -

(2:38) - Todd’s story of his first companies and his road to becoming an investor

(7:35) - How Todd learned and gained the courage to acquire capital early in his career

(15:00) - Fund structure vs. syndicate structure in venture capital

(17:48) - Todd’s wins at Canal Partners

(28:35) - How and when Brookstone Venture Capital was founded, and info on Brookstone

(31:05) - How Todd works and invests now

Connect with Todd - https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-p-belfer-26586326/

Hamid Shojaee of Savvy Trader on Investor Bias, Regulating Emotions, and Emerging Trends

David Paul — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

This week I had the opportunity to invest with friend and serial entrepreneur Hamid Shojaee. Hamid has been the founder of several companies and products including Axosoft, NetTime Solutions, and Get Krackin. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

On this episode of the Capital Stack Podcast hosted by venture capitalist David Paul - Hamid Shoajee, serial entrepreneur, author, investor, and founder of Savvy Trader, an Arizona-based investment portfolio-sharing software company, gets on the microphone. David and Hamid engage in conversation about how to get started in investing, how to balance and maintain your investments, learnings from investing mistakes, and projections on the economy’s future. Hamid discusses his own valuable investing tactics and investments.

What You Will Discover

(2:12) - Hamid’s story with his previous companies

(4:20) - Info on Hamid’s company, Savvy Trader

(8:18) - What is trading vs. investing?

(12:10) - Learnings and the importance of patience in investing

(17:48) - Previous and current stock market trends

(30:41) - Bias in trading

(36:42) - Trends in the aerospace market

(40:25) - View on the US Healthcare Landscape

(52:43) - Outlook and projections on the economy

Will Shaw of Better Agency on SMB Customer Churn, the Insurance Market, and a Winning Morning Routine

David Paul — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

On this episode of the Capital Stack Podcast hosted by venture capitalist David Paul - Will Shaw, the pro-football player turned tech founder of Better Agency, an Arizona-based insurance management software company, gets on the microphone. David and Will discuss the current state of the startup market, the solution to high churn, why insurance rates are so high, and the back end of the insurance space. Will opens up about what habits he practices to stay successful, the importance of showing up, and what is most shocking about becoming a founder. Listen to this episode on all your platforms including YouTube, Spotify, or Apple!

What You Will Discover -

(4:50) - The different types of entrepreneurs

(11:40) - The thesis for Will’s company, Better Agency

(12:00) - Why churn is created, and how it is reduced

(16:00) - The state of the insurance market, why rates are so high, and projections for the future

(22:13) - The transition of football into the business world

(30:18) - Will’s habits that keep him focused and successful

(36:06) - The most humbling moment for Will as a founder and person

(44:29) - Memorable quote - “Things are never as bad or ever as good as you think they are”

Connect with Will -

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willshaw8/

David Freedman of Freestar on the State of AdTech Today, Privacy, and Democratizing The Auction Process

David Paul — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Despite his reluctance, I got David to speak to me about the overly complex ecosystem of the adtech business today. David is an incredible entrepreneur who has helped disable the giants that have monopolized the digital ad business for decades. Hint- it rhymes with Schmoogle.

Have you ever wondered about the backend workings of website monetization and ad-tech? The ad-tech industry is a fast-moving industry that’s allowing publishers around the world to invest in their work and have world-class technology dealing with the inefficiencies in the industry.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have David Freedman, the founder of Freestar. Freestar is a managed service that simplifies the challenges of website monetization to help publishers and e-commerce sites reach their true revenue potential. David is a 15-year veteran in the digital advertising and publishing space, with his entrepreneurial career beginning when he founded a college calendar company, Tempe12.

Listen in to learn how the advertising landscape has changed for publishers after the introduction of header bidding in ad auctions. You will also learn the importance of having a partner to help you as a founder with systems and processes to improve culture, scalability, and growth.

What You Will Discover:

· [01:05] David’s entrepreneurial journey – how his college venture launched Freestar to help publishers with monetization.

· [03:15] He explains why he pivoted from web publishing and traffic to the monetization side of things.

· [07:59] How the advertising landscape has changed for publishers after the introduction of header bidding in ad auctions.

· [11:21] Understanding how Prebid open source technology has changed header bidding ad actions.

· [13:58] The monetization solution Freestar offers publishers to lessen ad-tech industry inefficiencies.

· [17:04] The importance of being open to testing things in the ad-tech industry as things change.

· [18:54] David shares his personal views on privacy protection and why people’s concerns should be addressed.

· [21:36] The threats and benefits of generative AI on content creation as it pertains to publishing and advertising.

· [23:49] How good user/customer experience on a website leads to increased monetization chances.

· [26:03] He describes the experience and learning curve of getting a partner to help with systems and processes.

· [29:25] David shares a piece of business advice he received and how it has helped him as an entrepreneur.

Memorable Quote:

· “When you hit a certain amount of scalable employee and or revenue-wise, there’s a different level of systems and processes that need to be put into place.”- David Freedman [26:28]

Connect with Will:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freedmandavid/

Will Caldwell of SnapNHD on Real Estate Tech, Bootstrapping, and Big Data

David Paul — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

It is a great pleasure to introduce our next podcast guest - Will Caldwell founder and CEO of SnapNHD - a San Diego based real-estate data company. I had the chance to invest in Wills company very early and if I did it would of resulted in a 10x outcome. Oops. At least I can laugh at it and Will and friend. You can listen to the podcast on all your platforms including YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.

Does your startup have what it takes to identify strong business cases, have ready-to-go customers on the products, and have high margins?

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Will Caldwell, Co-founder and CEO of SnapNHD, a leading provider of natural hazard disclosure reports and real-time flood determination certificates. Will saw a business opportunity in a big company dominated industry and scaled SnapNHD from $0-$100k in less than three years.

Listen in to learn how to identify opportunities in a market and figure out how to be better and compete head-to-head with existing companies. You will also learn how to bootstrap efficiently to the point of scaling by having financial discipline, cash flow generation, and nailing product-market fit.

What You Will Discover:

• [03:13] How SnapNHD is identifying strong business cases, having ready-to-go customers on their products, and having high margins.

• [06:14] How Will figured he could compete head-to-head with big data natural hazard report companies.

• [09:03] How the cost perspective became their competitive advantage when acquiring customers.

• [12:54] The real estate demand over the next ten years and the business opportunities available in the industry.

• [17:28] How financial discipline, cash flow generation, and nailing product-market fit enabled SnapNHD to bootstrap efficiently.

• [21:35] Will on the guiding principles that allowed him to achieve his success.

• [22:33] Some random questions with Will!

Memorable Quote:

• “In any kind of verticalized software industry, the more you become entrenched in that vertical, the more intrinsic value you create.”- Will [19:55]

Connect with Will:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caldwellw/

Liz Harrow of SHAKTI on Disrupting Commerce, Mobility, and Media Industries and Creating Value Through LP Engagement

David Paul — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

I had the privilege of meeting Liz recently, thanks to a referral from one of the CEOs of their portfolio companies. It's worth noting that Liz is not one for outward marketing. Nonetheless, her unique perspective on the world is awe-inspiring, and I'm excited to share her story and the incredible journey of SHAKTI with you.

How does a small team and emerging venture capital fund prioritize supporting and empowering founders? Taking the community approach is a great way to add value to early-stage founders by bringing in mentors and industry titans.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Liz Harrow, a Partner at Shakti. She has experience of 10 years at Morgan Stanley in equity research & venture capital and, most recently, as a Vice President leading their startup accelerator program for diverse entrepreneurs.

Listen in to learn how limited partners and mentors come together as a titan network to offer value to founders. You will also learn why good storytelling is a powerful skill to have as a founder to guarantee the success of your early-stage startup.

What You Will Discover:

· [02:21] Liz on how her fund empowers founders from the beginning of their journey, hence the name Shakti.

· [03:44] She shares her 10-year background in Wall Street and how she got into venture capital.

· [05:39] How they prioritize supporting founders offering value as a small team and an emerging fund.

· [07:16] The community approach that has proven you don’t have to be on a board to add value to companies.

· [09:55] The value Shakti’s titan network brings to the founders’ journey with their industry expertise.

· [13:11] What it takes to become a trillion-dollar coach who’s different from the rest.

· [15:54] Shakti’s thematic investing strategy – looking for companies reimagining the world’s largest habits with new tech infrastructure.

· [17:50] The components Shakti considers when thinking about company picking.

· [19:44] The process of finding the right founder, even at the risk of making a mistake.

· [25:16] Liz shares a success story of a company that’s reimagining a habit completely driven by change.

· [28:04] The role of luck in success and the importance of having an investment process for a solid venture franchise.

· [29:30] Some random questions with Liz!

Memorable Quote:

· “You have to be the number one storyteller for your company whether that’s to get capital in the door, to hire the initial team, or to convince people to buy your product/service; we rarely see incredible founders who aren’t also good storytellers.”- Liz [21:35]

Connect with Liz:

· Website: https://shaktivc.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-harrow/

Book Recommendations:

· Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

· Trillion Dollar Coach by Alan Eagle, Eric Schmidt, and Jonathan Rosenberg

Jessica Chang of Upwards (formerly WeeCare) on Solving the Labor Shortage through Democratizing Child Care

David Paul — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

When searching for determined founders, it's crucial to recognize individuals with a chip on their shoulders. Jessica Chang undoubtedly possesses this quality. She's fed up with witnessing mothers, who are deprived of opportunities, forced out of the workforce due to exorbitant childcare expenses. Discover how Jessica and the Upwards team are revolutionizing traditional childcare, catering to those who need it most and breaking the cycle of inequality. You can watch/listen to this podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

Are you aware of the struggle parents and childcare providers are going through? How do we make care accessible for all and also support childcare providers to stay in the industry?

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Jessica Chang , CEO & Co-Founder at Upwards (formerly WeeCare). Upwards is a platform helping families, caregivers, employers, and local government all work together to make childcare accessible to all. Before Upwards, Jessica worked in finance and marketplace operations roles and also owned and operated preschools.

Listen in to learn about Upwards’s three-step process for government employers, which caters to placement, data measurement, and affordability. You will also learn how to strategically approach investors and market to individual target markets as a B2B early-stage startup.

What You Will Discover:

· [01:57] Jessica’s entrepreneurial background and how her experience with childcare inspired her to start Upwards.

· [05:44] How Upwards pivoted to ensure parents, care providers, and employers all benefit from affordable childcare.

· [10:47] Upwards’s three-step process for government employers – placement, data measurement, and affordability.

· [15:39] She explains how they strategically approached investors and built the company from the start.

· [18:30] We discuss the globalization of tech, politics, and what the tech community can learn from it.

· [23:17] How they approached the marketplace by focusing on acquiring and growing supply.

· [24:27] How they found success approaching care providers individually instead of general marketing.

· [26:14] Some random questions with Jessica!

Memorable Quote:

· “It becomes a national strain on the economy when we don’t have a childcare industry that works.”- Jessica Chan [10:04]

Connect with Jessica:

Website: https://www.upwards.com

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-chang-1010402/

Mat Elis of SixtyAI formerly of Cloudability on Generative AI and Building Viral Products

David Paul — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mat, and I must say, he is absolutely delightful, despite his charming accent. As is often the case with founders, he found it challenging to remain idle after the successful sale of Cloudability for a staggering $1.8B, backed by Founders Fund and Foundry.

What if you had a robot chief of staff to help you remember other people’s problems? Think of a human-compatible AI product built and designed to enhance your productivity which will, in turn, make you a better executive.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Mat Ellis, the co-founder & CEO at Sixty AI and the former founder and CEO at Cloudability. He has previously held executive positions with four startups and key technology roles at Frito-Lay, Pepsi-Cola, and Goldman Sachs. Sixty AI is an AI-powered Personal Relationship Management software optimized for focus and flow, eliminating mundane and time-sucking digital tasks to focus on what matters most.

Listen in to learn how to become more productive and liberated from tedious tasks with an AI system that helps you remember the important things. You will also learn how to build a great and viral product that makes a difference and how to create demand for it.

What You Will Discover:

· [04:31] Mat explains where he gets his humility from and the need to learn constantly.

· [06:31] The importance of having problem-solving skills to run an early-stage startup.

· [09:50] How he shifted his mindset to avoid compulsiveness when running an early-stage startup.

· [13:53] He describes the end of Cloudability and the beginning of Sixty AI – the journey it’s been.

· [17:52] How Sixty AI is built and designed to be human-compatible for more productivity.

· [21:16] The power of a digital system that helps you remember people’s problems to enhance productivity.

· [31:53] Mat on the business model helping Sixty AI move from zero to one.

· [34:26] How to create a great viral product that makes a difference and how to create demand for it.

· [36:20] How to become a beta customer and part of the Sixty AI movement.

· [37:11] Some random questions with Mat!

Memorable Quote:

· “The wedge is a great product that makes a difference in your life instantly but also one that’s well-known, highly spoken of, and viral.”- Mat Ellis [35:10]

Connect with Mat:

· Website: https://sixty.app/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matellis/

Jen Abel on Why Founders Fails to Find Product Market Fit

David Paul — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Jen is perhaps one of my favorite follows on twitter on Linkedin. She is relentlessly honest about why startup founders fail to find product market fit and self-destruct. This is a must listen for any early stage founder. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

Do you know it’s almost impossible for a startup to succeed without the founder at the tip of the spear? For an early-stage startup to move from 0-1 and avoid premature scaling, it needs to be led by a visionary. Leading a startup as the founder is a competitive advantage that you can leverage.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Jen Abbel, Co-Founder and partner at JJELLYFISH. She’s deeply passionate about helping startups in the 0-1 journey. JJELLYFISH has advised 200+ B2B/enterprise startups with customer discovery, define their initial go-to-market, and supported Fortune 500 companies seeking to validate new commercial ventures and prove traction.

Listen in to learn the importance of understanding the problem better than the market and how to build the product for early-stage success. You will also learn why, as a founder, you should give yourself at least two years of runway and time to truly understand the problem and your early adopters.

What You Will Discover:

· [01:45] Jen shares her track record and how she developed a passion for early-stage sales.

· [06:23] The importance of having a visionary to help an early-stage startup from zero to one.

· [09:47] How to succeed from zero to one stage by understanding the problem better than the market and having a clear vision.

· [13:48] How Jjellyfish supports founders in validating their vision to their ideal clients at the selling stage.

· [16:34] How Jjellyfish helps founders understand the problem and when they’ve earned their right to sell.

· [18:30] The framework that allows the founder to pick up false positives and stay focused on the real pain points.

· [23:16] The importance of giving yourself at least two years of runway and time to truly understand the problem and early adopters.

· [26:25] The power of invalidating yourself and constantly learning as a founder to find a product market fit.

· [29:49] Understanding how to justify the return on investment against the value you’re offering.

· [33:58] The important pieces of founder manage sales stage and why it’s so critical.

· [38:21] Jen describes Jjellyfish’s newest product – a lightweight version of their extensive discovery program.

· [43:18] Some random questions with Jen!

Memorable Quote:

· “Having an idea and having a product without knowing the specific problem or whom you’re building it for is the number one reason first-time founders fail.”- Jen Abbel [07:03]

Connect with James:

· Website: https://www.jjellyfish.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/earlystagesales/

Anthony Enrico of LeanScale on Building RevOps Function within your Company and Steps going from Founder-Led-Sales to a Repeatable Sales System

David Paul — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Going from founder-led-sales to a sales team is a bi#Tch. One of the first things a founder needs to think about is how to connect data and systems together to effectively understand what is working and what's not. Join me in discussing revenue operations with the grand master himself - Anthony Enrico- of LeanScale. You can watch/listen to this podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

How do you handle revenue operations in your business, and when did you start doing it? Revenue ops is a better management system for aligning go-to-market operations to boost revenue growth. Revenue op is best started before your first sale, if possible.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Anthony Enrico talk about revenue operations and the importance of standardizing processes in the early stages of an organization. Anthony is the Founder & CEO of LeanScale, a startup providing access to exceptional RevOps services to any company scaling their business. He was also the VP of Revops responsible for overall GTM strategy and operations.

Listen in to learn the importance of having a process for clear communication and expectations amongst teams. You will also learn about the value of starting your Rev op journey early, even without sophistication and continuing to evolve.

What You Will Discover:

· [03:52] Anthony shares his background and how LeanScale was born to provide revenue ops services.

· [08:02] The importance of having a foundation of a go-to-market operations function of the business before your first sale.

· [09:23] Why you should start standardizing your processes when you start delegating.

· [11:09] The importance of having a process for clear communication and expectations amongst teams.

· [14:51] What the hiring steps look like when hiring for an in-house revenue op as you scale your business.

· [17:33] The importance of starting your rev op journey early, even without sophistication, and continuing to evolve.

· [19:47] The expected change in sales and marketing tech, plus the value of organic marketing in keeping companies intentional.

· [23:34] Anthony on how he’s enjoying his journey from an operator to a founder.

· [25:20] He describes the emotional ties that come with being a founder and how it affects him personally.

· [28:51] Anthony answers random questions!

Memorable Quote:

· “The second you have more than one person doing sales, that’s a good time to start standardizing your process.”- Anthony [09:29]

Connect with Anthony:

· Website: https://www.leanscale.team/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyenrico/

· Book Mentioned: Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke

Jonny Simkin of Swiftly on Creating Products for Government and Municipalities, Navigating Public Sector Procurement, and the Power of Verticalized Data

David Paul — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

How do you create a verticalized data company that provides accurate and real-time information without completely changing the existing user experience infrastructure?

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Jonny Simkin, the Co-founder and CEO of Swiftly, talk about the process of building a govtech data platform. Swiftly is a big data platform that helps public transit agencies improve operational performance, service reliability, and real-time passenger information.

Listen in to learn about the value of verticalized data companies and the importance of them developing sticky long-term solutions. You will also learn the importance of using existing infrastructure and data to improve user experience without completely changing things when creating a data platform.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:49] How Jonny got interested in public transit after discovering the technology opportunities in the transport industry.

· [02:53] When the transportation technology revolution happened and how Swiftly rethought the entire data flow for riders.

· [09:29] How they use existing infrastructure and data to improve riders’ experience without completely changing things.

· [13:23] Why Swiftly pivoted to a data company to make it easy and scalable for app developers to access accurate information.

· [15:34] The value delivered by verticalized data companies and the importance of developing sticky long-term solutions.

· [19:19] The importance of investing in producing the most accurate and complete information to benefit everything downstream.

· [20:48] Why changing people’s behavior is harder than naturalizing data to make it meaningful.

· [22:36] How they overcame the fear of messing up to navigate the public sector procurement.

· [24:44] Random questions with Jonny!

Memorable Quote:

· “If the data you’re producing is not accurate and does not add a substantial amount of value, it does not matter how good your application layer is.”- Jonny [19:28]

Connect with Jonny:

· Website: https://www.goswift.ly/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathansimkin/

James McManus of Family First on Emerging Mental Health Crisis in Teens, Managing Risk, and Scaling a 155-Employee Treatment Center.

David Paul — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

I am excited for this week's special episode on the Capital Stack Podcast, where I will be interviewing my dear friend James McManus, the visionary behind Family First. Family First is a renowned treatment center in Florida, dedicated to helping teenagers facing behavioral health and substance abuse disorders. James' remarkable leadership has led to substantial growth, as evidenced by the recent majority recap with the esteemed HEP Fund and NaviMed Capital. Join us as we delve into James' inspiring journey and explore the impactful work of Family First.

How does an entrepreneur bootstrap a mental and behavioral health business and drive it to success? The entrepreneurship journey, especially in a less common industry, is about taking the initiative and networking to find opportunities to help grow the business.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have James McManus, the founder and CEO of Family First Adolescent Services. He has devoted his career to understanding and treating the unique circumstances of young people grappling with drug and alcohol addiction, mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Listen in to learn why James pursued the path of adolescent mental and behavioral health and addiction and established an intensive outpatient service for families. You will also learn the importance of understanding how to do every job in your company as an entrepreneur to ensure you can step into any position if anything happens.

What You Will Discover:

· [01:32] James on how his experience with adolescent mental health and working with teens led to Family First.

· [04:17] Why he established an intensive outpatient service for adolescents, plus the market opportunity he saw.

· [08:08] The constantly evolving nature of the adolescent behavioral health industry.

· [13:00] The importance of focusing on revenue and diversifying it while managing risk as a founder.

· [15:20] The importance of having something to stabilize you till you can stand on your feet as a founder.

· [18:38] Why you must take the initiative to increase your bottom line in the early stages of your business.

· [24:45] James explains why he did a recap and the rigorous process it turned out to be.

· [29:44] The importance of understanding every job in your company as an entrepreneur to avoid surprises.

· [31:02] Random questions with James!

Memorable Quote:

· “There’s no one out there that’s going to come and magically be able to increase your bottom line; you have to go and do that if that’s your skillset.”- [20:57]

Connect with James:

· Website: https://familyfirstas.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mcmanus-77415ba/

Kyle Johnson of SmartAction on Transitioning from CRO to CEO, Mindset, and Scaling Relationships

David Paul — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Kyle and I have known each other for quite some time, having served together on the board at Allbound. We once attempted to recruit him as CEO, but he politely declined. Perhaps he felt it wasn't the right moment, or maybe it was because the company was a complete disaster. However, it appears that he has now taken that leap and is currently serving as the chief executive officer at SmartAction- a conversational AI platform for call centers. This is a must listen. You can watch/listen to the pod on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

What does it take to take up and succeed in a CEO role? What skills are needed to let go of your fears and bet on your capabilities to lead an entire organization?

In this episode of The Capital Stack, Kyle Johnson talks about his transition from his 25+ years career in go-to-market to a CEO role. Kyle is a technology co. board member, investor, and chief executive officer at SmartAction, an artificial intelligence-based voice self-service provider.

Listen in to learn how past experience in leadership and team trust allowed Kyle to transition from a CRO to a CEO. You will also learn about the power of a genuine relationship with your team as a leader, delegating and investing in developing your team’s skills.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:57] How Kyle’s career journey and skills development allowed him to become a CEO.

· [03:34] The doubts he experienced fitting into the CEO role and moving to a new company.

· [05:48] The impact he desired to make in his career and drive for company culture by taking on the CEO role.

· [07:12] He explains the tech services SmartAction offers to end-users as a SaaS platform company.

· [13:38] How past experience in leadership and team trust allowed him to transition from CRO to CEO.

· [17:03] The importance of instilling genuine relationship notions in your team and customers as a leader.

· [19:32] Learning how to delegate ad trust your team as a leader to have time to prioritize yourself.

· [21:08] How to evaluate your team for strengths and weaknesses to understand where you need to develop more.

· [24:12] Random questions with Kyle – his morning routine, diet, and book recommendations.

Memorable Quote:

· “Building genuine relationships with people is one of the most important things you can do as a leader.”- Kyle [14:32]

Connect with Brian:

· Website: https://smartaction.ai/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegjohnson/

Books Mentioned:

· Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed to by Ferdinand Fournies

· Coaching for Improved Work Performance by Ferdinand F. Fournies

Rebecca Love and David Coppins of IntelyCare on the Nursing Shortage Crisis in Healthcare

David Paul — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

I am speaking to the founders of IntelyCare this week on Capital Stack- one of the largest most funded ($171M) software companies charged to solved the nursing shortage crises in the United States. This is an incredibly informative episode on the current and upcoming emergency in the healthcare workforce. Did you know fifty percent of nurses leave the bedside within the first two years of practice? There are fundamental issues why this happens, including the profession’s unfair reimbursement models. How, then, do we solve the nursing shortage? In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Rebecca Love and David Coppins discuss the nursing shortage, why nursing as a profession is failing, and the fundamental issues that need to be looked at. David is the Co-Founder & CEO, and Rebecca is the Chief Clinical Officer at IntelyCare, a healthcare workforce management platform with an AI-based float pool management and per-diem matching technology. Listen in to learn the importance of investing in nursing to not only retain nurses in the profession but also to attract those who left. You will also learn how the government can change the reimbursement models, and the market can become nurse friendly to tackle the nursing shortage significantly.

What You Will Discover:

• [01:24] Understanding the contributing factors to the nursing shortage facing the country.

• [04:01] They explain how they’re changing the working environment for nurses to enjoy their profession.

• [10:50] The fundamental conversation that needs to happen to understand why nursing is failing.

• [18:07] The unfair reimbursement model that undermines nursing and why it needs to end.

• [27:01] The questions hospital boards need to ask to investigate the system and improve things for nurses and patients.

• [37:00] How staffing organizations created value by investing in models that worked for nursing during the pandemic.

• [43:58] How to connect with IntelyCare to understand how they’re tackling the markets. Memorable Quote:

• “In 2020, it was the only meaningful increase in nursing salaries in the history of this country when nursing salaries went up by 3.26%.”- Rebecca Love [41:07]

Connect with Rebecca & David:

• Website: https://www.intelycare.com/

• Rebecca’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalovenursing/

Brian Portnoy Best-Selling Author of The Geometry of Wealth on The Psychology of Money and How Investing Has Been Solved

David Paul — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This week, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brian Portnoy, a renowned expert in behavioral finance and author of bestselling books like "Geometry of Wealth" and "The Investors Paradox." We delve into the fascinating idea that the game of investing has been solved, with the new frontier being the pursuit of funded contentment instead of chasing alpha. Tune in to the podcast available on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify to catch the insightful conversation.

Do you understand the psychology of money? What does true wealth mean to you? Getting a healthy money mindset is difficult because our brains aren’t wired that way, but with the right help, you can work to achieve it.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Brian Portnoy, a leading expert on the psychology of money, best-selling author, and has over 20 years of experience as an investor and educator in the hedge fund and mutual fund industries. He is also the founder of Shaping Wealth, a learning technology company focused on promoting financial well-being.

Listen in to learn how Brian and his team use the geometry of money to teach money managers soft skills so they can have a better relationship with their clients. You will also learn about the four sources of contentment mental model and how financial advisors use it to frame better questions about what’s important to people.

What You Will Discover:

· [02:24] Brian on how he accidentally fell into a career in the psychology of money.

· [05:15] The reasons why money triggers people and makes it harder for society to talk about it.

· [10:53] How his idea of wealth as a mindset versus rich as a number led to an opportunity to train money managers.

· [12:51] The soft skills they teach financial advisors to enable them to have better conversations with their clients.

· [16:48] He explains the relationship between wealth managers and their clients.

· [20:04] The business challenge between delivering the type of advice people want and figuring out scale.

· [22:30] Why he’s excited about building the leading platform for human-centric financial advice and experimenting with different technologies.

· [26:10] The four sources of contentment mental model – connection, control, context, and competence.

· [29:00] Random questions with Brian – book recommendations, writing process, and more!

Memorable Quote:

· “Money is hard because our brains didn’t evolve to solve these problems and now, we live in a world of never-ending financial supermarkets, twenty-four-seven financial media, and trying to resist the siren calls dopamine hits that come from the money world.”- Brian [16:20]

Connect with Brian:

· Website: https://www.shapingwealth.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianportnoy/

Books Mentioned:

· Geometry of Wealth by Brian Portnoy

· Investors Paradox by Brian Portnoy

George Wang of AV8 Ventures on Hustling to Get Allocation, Key Themes in Healthcare, and Specialty Pharma

David Paul — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

George Wang is an exceptional healthcare investor who is in the know about the burgeoning startups in the healthcare industry. If I have ever have a question about healthcare IT investing George is on my shortlist on who to call. The man knows what he is talking about - this is a must listen if you want to know where the puck is going.

There are many old and new opportunities in the healthcare tech space that investors are tapping into to make a difference for all stakeholders. These include digital health, value-based care, and specialty pharma sectors.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have George Wang, an investor at AV8 Ventures, a firm backing early-stage start-ups focused on healthcare, enterprise, financial services, and deep-tech.

Listen in to learn how necessity and preexisting huddles have brought about recent innovation in the digital health space. You will also learn about specialty pharma software, its exciting advantages, and why it makes sense in healthcare.

What You Will Discover:

· [01:51] George on how he transitioned from healthcare consulting to venture capital.

· [06:44] He describes AV8’s thesis-driven strategy and their interest in the digital health, value-based care, and specialty pharma sectors.

· [11:00] The three main reasons why he gets allocation with ease.

· [15:52] The differences and similarities between healthcare VC froth and VC froth.

· [18:17] The recent innovation in the digital health space was brought about by necessity and preexisting huddles.

· [22:42] Understanding specialty pharma software, its exciting advantages, and why it makes sense in the healthcare sector.

· [27:39] He explains how the sketchy side of healthcare drove ambulatory infusion growth.

· [33:44] Random questions with George!

Memorable Quote:

· “Each healthcare specialty could be its own industry in itself because there are so many nuances and players.”- George [08:22]

Connect with Benji:

· Website: https://av8.vc/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-wang-65618988/

· Book Mentioned: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Eva Ho of Fika Ventures Building a VC Firm, and Breaking down Deal Flow into Sourcing, Picking, and Winning

David Paul — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

I love me some Eva Ho. This remarkable individual embodies greatness. In this week's discussion, we delve into the transformative journey from investor to operating a venture capital firm. She emphasizes the significance of building a strong community, embracing risk, and embracing unwavering conviction.

What does it take to build community and relationships in the business of supporting others? Community in the founder industry is about creating opportunities that benefit more people than just those in the tech ecosystem.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Eva Ho, a General Partner at Fika Ventures, an LA-based seed fund that invests in founders solving meaningful, systemic problems through data, related AI-enabled technologies, and automation. She is also a serial entrepreneur, founder, and active in the non-profit sector.

Listen in to learn how Fika nurtures community and builds trustworthy investor relationships within the industry. You will also learn the importance of building a good LP relationship and taking into considering all fundraising stages of to have a good fund.

What You Will Discover:

· [01:50] Eva shares her journey with Fika, what they deal with, and how they’ve expanded.

· [04:47] How Fika works to service founders and build a community that benefits others.

· [09:23] She explains how Fika builds trustworthy investor relationships within the industry.

· [15:42] Some of the lessons she’s learned running a venture capital firm, plus how she has evolved.

· [20:15] Why she believes repeat founders should show up with something when asking for funding.

· [24:03] Why she’s involved with a lot of non-profit work to keep herself grounded, coming from the world of high finance.

· [28:02] The importance of considering all the fundraising stages to have a good fund.

· [33:47] Understanding the challenges of an LP’s work and the importance of respecting the position.

· [37:48] The deal sourcing, picking, and winning process, plus what makes a good picker.

· [40:50] How Fika works as a team to decide on deals by actively agreeing and disagreeing.

Memorable Quote:

· “Picking is very critical, and most firms are still figuring it out and evolving.”- Eva [44:25]

Connect with Benji:

· Website: https://fika.vc/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evaho1/

Benji Koltai of Galley on Vertical Data Company Building with Commercial Food Service

David Paul — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Benji Koltai, the co-founder and CEO of Galley. Based in San Diego, Galley is an impressive company that, unfortunately, slipped under my radar. A few years ago, we sold another food service data company, Attribytes, to Syndigo, so missing out on Galley was truly regrettable. In this captivating episode, we delve into the world of vertical SaaS and data. Trust me, you don't want to miss it! Tune in to the podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify for an enriching experience.

Imagine a software committed to efficiently transforming kitchens and the work of everyone working in kitchens. A better food industry means better quality of life not only for workers but also for consumers.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Benji Koltai, Co-Founder and CEO at Galley Solutions and former software engineer bringing change to the foodservice industry. Galley Solutions is a unique culinary operating system focused on transforming how food professionals work, improving their decision-making, and driving efficiency in the global food system.

Listen in to learn about the benefits of a bottoms-up approach to forecasting, inventory management, and food lifecycle in commercial kitchens as opposed to the traditional tops down approaches. You will also learn how to properly adjust to the changing investor market to stay alive and keep growing the business as a leader.

What You Will Discover:

· [02:09] Benji shares his origin story and journey to building a unique culinary operating system.

· [09:06] The benefits of a bottoms-up approach in commercial kitchens as opposed to the previously tops down approaches.

· [12:23] He shares Galley’s ideal clients, plus how they make their ERP-like system simpler for their clients.

· [15:33] How they handle data to support the user better and avoid inconsistencies and errors.

· [18:44] How experience and a solid customer base have enabled them to build a rich and robust product.

· [21:33] How they’re focusing on food service companies where the demand for their product is.

· [24:18] The changes happening in the food service industry and where Galley focuses.

· [27:48] The importance of digitizing food service companies to enable consumer transparency.

· [28:36] How they adjusted to the changing investor market to stay alive and keep growing the business.

· [30:20] How to let go of your ego and reframe the mind to hold your business separate from yourself.

· [32:55] Benji’s book recommendations and some random questions!

Memorable Quote:

· “As the population grows, capacity grows, and the quality increases, we’re going to rely more and more on food service companies to feed us, and we’re also going to demand that transparency that we were getting by making our own foods from those food service companies.”- Benji [27:50]

Connect with Benji:

· Website:

https://www.galleysolutions.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjikoltai/

Book Recommendations:

· So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport

· Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 by Jim Collins

Mastering Leadership by Robert J. Anderson and William A. Adams

Vivas Kumar of Mitra Chem on the Emergence of Battery Technologies, De-Globalization, and Applied Materials

David Paul — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Hosting this podcast was quite challenging for me, as I consider myself a novice when it comes to science. Vivas, a leading authority in battery technology and sustainability in Silicon Valley, has an impressive track record. Having raised over $20M and being incubated out of Chamath Palihapitya's family office, Social Capital, his expertise is unquestionable. We dive deep into the emergence of battery technology, de-globalization, and driving the cost of energy down to zero. You can watch and listen to the podcast on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.

What are the ins and outs of investing in clean energy technology and hard tech products? The hard tech products industry is a high-requirement industry that takes time to scale, unlike the soft tech industry, and requires committed and patient investors.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Vivas Kumar, the CEO and Founder of Mitra Chem. He’s a business leader and engineer with significant global executive and commercial experience across the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery industries. Mitra Chem is innovating and commercializing iron-based cathode materials to enable mass-market electrification in transportation and energy storage.

Listen in to learn about the role of the government in the success of platform technology, plus the economic benefits of cheap energy. You will also learn about the difficulty of getting hard tech products out in the world at scale and becoming a category-defining company.

What You Will Discover:

· [01:18] Vivas explains the three things Mitra Chem is doing in the battery industry.

· [03:13] The benefits of iron-rich cathode materials over nickel-rich ones in today’s battery market.

· [07:04] The role of the government in the success of platform technology, plus the economic benefits of cheap energy.

· [10:47] The three products in Mitra Chem’s portfolio, plus the qualification process to help them go commercial.

· [15:39] Vivas’s interest in sustainability technology, plus his “trial and fire” approach to the industry.

· [18:44] The difficulty of getting hard tech products out in the world at scale and becoming a category-defining company.

· [20:37] He describes the investors who’ve chosen to invest in Mitra Chem’s possibly 10-year journey.

· [22:59] Mitra Chem’s single-minded focus towards generating cash flow in the next five years.

· [24:50] Random questions with Vivas!

Memorable Quote:

· “Getting hard tech products out in the world at scale in a way that makes you become a category-defining company is a very long process in this industry.”- Vivas [19:11]

Connect with Vivas:

· Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivaswathkumar/

· LinkedIn:

https://www.mitrachem.com/

Nick Arambula of Neighbor on Doing a "Lift Out" on a New Direct to Consumer E-Commerce Category

David Paul — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

What does it take to build a successful direct-to-customer e-commerce business? To build and scale a business that mostly deals with bulky items online, you must focus on brand visual representation, product design, and a genuine interest in the industry.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Nick Arambula, the Co-Founder & CEO at Neighbor and former executive at bedding brand Tuft & Needle. Neighbor is a Phoenix-based outdoor furniture company bringing a unique perspective of sophistication, design, and distinctive customer service to the outdoor furniture category.

Listen in to learn how to build and scale a direct-to-consumer business model that captures value with a much leaner team. You will learn about the ups and downs of being a founder and the importance of being intentional to do a good job.

What You Will Discover:

· [02:20] The three reasons why Nick and his partners started Neighbor and specialized in outdoor furniture.

· [07:22] How they’re building a reasonably sound business model by capturing value with their products.

· [10:23] The strategy that has allowed Neighbor to scale with a much leaner team.

· [12:25] He describes their mechanism of bringing customers and generating sales online.

· [17:34] The importance of having a physical presence to compete and scale your retail business properly.

· [19:04] How they approach product bundling and build a flat-packing strategy for easier shipping.

· [24:56] How they raised capital and through the storm of a non-profitable year for retail.

· [27:11] Nick compares his role as an executive at Tuft& Needle and as the founder at Neighbor.

· [32:35] Why it would be wrong for an investor to underwrite Neighbor as Tuft& Needle.

· [35:51] Random questions with Nick!

Memorable Quote:

· “There are categories in retail where you have to have a physical presence for your business to scale in a way that you can compete with some of the incumbents in the space.”- Nick [17:49]

Connect with Nick:

· Website: https://www.hineighbor.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-arambula-90775726/

Sebastian Gabor of Digitail on Building Platforms in Vertical Saas and Emerging Vet Tech

David Paul — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

What does building an attractive SaaS product and client trust take? Building an all-in-one platform in the vertical SaaS industry as a startup can be challenging and requires crossing the chasm and proving value to the target market to break even.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Sebastian Gabor, the Co-founder & CEO of Digitail. Digitail’s mission is to give veterinarians the ability to provide smarter, more effective, and personalized pet treatment.

Listen in to learn the importance of understanding the key problem you’re solving and focusing on it when building a SaaS company. You will also learn what it takes to build a successful veterinary vertical SaaS, plus the future of the veterinary market.

What You Will Discover:

· [02:15] How Sebastian’s frustrating firsthand experience with vet services led him to start Digitail.

· [05:35] How Digitail had to cross the chasm and prove its value to the target market to gain trust.

· [08:10] The importance of understanding the key problem you’re solving and focusing on it when building a SaaS company.

· [10:11] The big lessons he learned building a veterinary vertical SaaS while meeting client needs.

· [13:10] He explains their simplified pricing and revenue strategy, plus their focus on working with aggregators.

· [16:47] The challenges aggregators are having and the two sides of pricing in the veterinary market.

· [19:58] How the pet demand is predicted to affect the veterinary market in the future.

· [23:40] Sebastian on the investing power of AI in the veterinary market and how they’re doing it.

· [25:50] Random questions with Sebastian!

Memorable Quote:

· “Instead of doing twenty things, focus on doing one thing really well and then move to the next.”- Sebastian [25:50]

Connect with Sebastian:

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiangabor/

Shawn Wilkie of Talkatoo on Transforming the Transcription and Scribing Industry with ChatGPT within Vertical Software

David Paul — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

How do you bring new principles into an old industry like dictation? In recent years, tech tools such as generative AI and software have changed the digital transcription and scribing industry to be more exciting for customers, developers, and investors.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Shawn Wilkie, a serial entrepreneur, technology enthusiast, and the Chief Executive Officer at Talkatoo. Talkatoo is a dictation software changing how veterinarians document their medical records by allowing them to dictate directly into their practice management software.

Listen in to learn how to build an attractive solution and a successful business when you already know your product market fit. You will also learn about the existing opportunities in the vet industry and how providing efficiencies with AI and software tools can lessen human resource requirements.

What You Will Discover:

[02:05] Shawn shares his journey in the veterinary vertical and building software.

[06:52] How he built an easy-to-use solution and grew the business while already knowing the product market fit.

[08:18] How they’re executing Shawn’s vision of enabling people to have speech-enabled experience on any internet-connected device.

[10:19] How they allow people to get through documentation quicker, plus their continued growth.

[11:40] How AI is changing the world of dictation by producing better results than what was said.

[18:31] Factors that have caused a high demand low supply crisis in the veterinary industry.

[22:14] How Talkatoo sells efficiency through its dictation products to improve veterinary workflow.

[24:34] Talkatoo’s focus on not raising capital and growing beyond the veterinary vertical.

[26:07] The incredible opportunities for efficiency gain and capacity building in veterinary medicine.

[28:53] Random questions with Shawn!

Memorable Quote:

“Every single position in a veterinary hospital has a labor shortage right now, so if we can find other areas of efficiency with software and AI, that’s where the opportunities are.”- Shawn [26:29]

Connect with Shawn:

Website: https://talkatoo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilkieshawn/

Books Mentioned: Think and Grow Rich and Atomic Habits

Sergio Radovcic of Dyper on Building a $100M CPG Brand, Going into Retail, and Aligning Interests

David Paul — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This week I am talking to A++ operator Sergio Radovic, founder and CEO of Dyper - a $100M run-rate DTC CPG brand located in Scottsdale, Arizona. - Sergio shares his background as a technologist and his previous roles in various startups and technology companies. - Exploring Sergio's journey into the diaper business driven by his desire to address the environmental impact of traditional diapers. - Sergio discusses the hidden environmental consequences of traditional diapers, such as the use of plastic and their contribution to landfills. - The mission of Dyper is to create a responsible and sustainable diaper alternative using bamboo as a primary material. The bamboo plant's fast growth and minimal need for fertilizers make it an environmentally friendly choice. - Dyper's unique approach involves a cradle-to-compost solution, including a pickup service for used diapers in select cities. - Quantifying the impact of Dyper's products on carbon emissions and landfill waste. The challenges of being a challenger brand in the direct-to-consumer space, particularly in the highly regulated and competitive diaper market. - Dyper's strategy to capture emerging trends in sustainability and cater to customers willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly products. Balancing price considerations and margin protection while expanding into retail partnerships with giants like Walmart and Amazon. - The importance of brand messaging and adapting brand blades to different distribution channels. - Sergio shares the story of Dyper's beloved giraffe mascot, Frankie, and the unintentional brand recognition it has gained. - Exploring the transition from direct-to-consumer sales to retail and the challenges faced along the way. - The impact of COVID-19 on fundraising and adapting to virtual fundraising processes. - Navigating the changes in advertising channels and the effects of privacy issues with Apple and Facebook. - Leveraging first-party signals and targeted marketing to reach the right audience for Dyper's niche product. - The future possibilities and expansion of Dyper beyond the baby diaper market. - The speaker discusses the importance of data and data enhancement in their business. They mention that every record that comes to them goes through a data enhancement process to model customer behavior clusters. - Data enhancement helps them provide detailed information to retail partners about their customers, such as shopping preferences, media consumption, household income, and presence of children. - They give an example of targeting customers who buy fancier kids' clothes based on income propensity rather than broad market segmentation. The speaker compares selling to retailers to selling to investment partners, emphasizing the need to bring data and spin a compelling story. - They talk about the challenges of pitching to first-time venture capital funds and the importance of tailoring the story to align with their interests. - The speaker mentions finding an investor specialized in direct-to-consumer challenger brands, highlighting the investor's focus on being a permanent source of capital. - They explain that their company has only common shares, which was not an easy negotiation but aligns management and investor interests. The speaker discusses the focus on brand building and creating an enduring American brand. - They emphasize the need for a longer-term horizon and substantial capital investment in building a brand. The speaker mentions measuring brand perception and recognition as important metrics alongside sales. - They discuss the direct-to-consumer (D2C) model and its limitations, stating that it is not a sustainable standalone channel for most brands. - The speaker suggests treating D2C as a fast channel for customer feedback and market proof, but not as the sole strategy for reaching households. - They mention the importance of having an Amazon strategy and a retail strategy to reach larger scale and align with consumer preferences. - The speaker highlights the execution of Walmart and other retailers in adapting to the shift in consumer behavior, including same-day delivery and eco-friendly packaging. - They mention the significant number of brands launched by retailers like Target compared to CPG companies, highlighting the importance of strategy and understanding customers. - The speaker discusses the potential benefits of Walmart acquiring TikTok and leveraging its user-generated media platform.

Ross Fubini of XYZ Ventures on Investing in Company Networks and Understanding Market Cycles

David Paul — Tue, 30 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Capital Stack podcast, host David Paul interviews Ross Fubini, the managing director of XYZ Ventures based in San Francisco. They discuss various topics related to venture funding, technology, and market trends. Here are the key highlights from the conversation: Ross Fubini's Background: Ross shares his background as a computer scientist and his early experience working for Netscape in the late '90s when the internet was still in its early stages of development. Netscape's Impact: They discuss Netscape's role in creating various foundational elements of the internet that are now taken for granted, such as the browser and proxy server, which laid the groundwork for the CDN (Content Delivery Network) business. Ross's Career Journey: Ross talks about his career path, including working for companies like Tellme, Plum Tree, Symantec, and starting his own enterprise software company, which was eventually acquired by SuccessFactors. He also mentions his transition into venture capital and his experiences at KPort Capital and Canaan Partners. Village Global: Ross briefly introduces Village Global, a network-based venture firm that connects luminaries, investors, fund managers, and founders. He highlights the power of networks and the opportunities they create. XYZ Ventures: Ross dives into XYZ Ventures, his current venture capital firm. They have a deep focus on founders coming from the Palantir network and have invested in companies within the enterprise software, FinTech, and SureTech sectors. Public Sector Opportunities: Ross explains their interest in the public sector, driven by his personal background and passion for making a significant impact in areas like defense, healthcare, and government procurement. He mentions their investment in Anduril, a defense contractor, as an example. Identifying Opportunities: Ross emphasizes the importance of identifying changing trends and industries where significant opportunities for innovation and growth exist, such as climate technology and procurement. Software Adoption in Traditional Industries: The hosts observe that traditionally stodgy industries like utilities and infrastructure are now buying software solutions, indicating a shift towards digital transformation and increased adoption of technology. Early Stage of Transformation: They acknowledge that despite the progress, these shifts are still in the early stages, and there are significant opportunities for innovation and growth in industries like defense and FinTech. Missed Opportunities in Healthcare: The hosts reflect on the missed opportunities in the healthcare sector, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the focus was primarily on telehealth and not enough on tech-enabled solutions and efficiency improvements. Complexity and Competition in Software: They discuss how software solutions that address complex problems tend to offer more value, as the easy problems have already been solved. Additionally, they note that the competitive landscape in the software industry can be intense, requiring constant innovation to stay ahead. Network-Driven Investments: The hosts emphasize the importance of networks and relationships in venture capital. They share their approach of focusing on founders introduced by other founders, as about 50% of their portfolio companies have come through such introductions. Outbound Sourcing: While they don't rely heavily on outbound sourcing, they believe in being proactive in reaching out to potential founders through their networks and leveraging existing relationships. Market Cycles and Portfolio Companies: The hosts mention that they are fortunate to be in a strong position with profitable late-stage investments and well-funded early-stage companies. They advise their portfolio companies to be appropriately skeptical, closely monitor budgets and sales performance, and continue demonstrating growth despite market challenges. Overall, the episode covers Ross Fubini's background in technology, his venture capital journey, the focus areas of XYZ Ventures, and their interest in venture funding within the public sector, including defense and American infrastructure.

Aaron Charlesworth of DeskPass on What Founders Get Wrong About Product Marketing

David Paul — Tue, 23 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Aaron Charlesworth is one of the best B2B Marketers I know- he has been a marketing and product executive for some incredible B2B companies including Vocalocity, Onsolve, Omnilink, and SpaceIQ. He has a wealth of knowledge about B2B marketing, strategy, and product management. It's no surprise that he is regularly sought out for expert advice on the topics from industry leaders.

On this podcast we are going to talk about what early stage company founders get wrong with marketing and what is the correct way to start a marketing motion. We will also explore tactics and strategies that Aaron has used in his own businesses as well as how he spot trends and moves quickly to capitalize on them. Tune in to hear all of this great advice from one of the best B2B marketers out there! I'm sure it's going to be an amazing episode.

Melissa Withers of RevUp on the Truth Why Some Companies Don't Get Funded and the Toxic Investing Culture

David Paul — Tue, 16 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Have you thought of all the different revenue outcomes your company can have? With revenue-based funding, you don’t have to exit to make a meaningful return; you can share a percentage of your revenue over time.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Melissa Withers, co-founder and Managing Partner of RevUp Capital. Her interest lies in supporting founders building their businesses without the benefits of economic and social privilege. She talks about the type of revenue-based funding RevUp does to help underserved companies.

Listen in to learn why some companies are underserved by traditional venture capital and how revenue-based funding gives these companies the opportunity to grow. You will also learn why aspiration, authenticity, and credibility are qualities of a great founder looking to overcome the early stage.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [01:52] The type of revenue-based funding RevUp does – returning value to a revenue contract.

· [05:48] Melissa on speaking for revenue-based funding as it’s applied to founders underserved by venture capital.

· [06:47] The reason why some companies are underserved by traditional venture capital.

· [08:39] Why she wanted the flexibility to invest without being dependent on exit as the primary way of delivering value.

· [11:44] The importance of having optionality – the ability to survive and sustain without dependency on someone else’s money.

· [16:07] The importance of figuring out how to be a good capital operator to hit your growth goals.

· [18:18] The qualities that make a great founder, as Melissa has seen working with founders.

· [20:47] The healthiest form of grit – the authentic ability to process good and bad and start fresh.

· [24:56] Melissa unpacks the toxic masculinity aspect within the investor side of the industry.

· [30:47] Random questions with Melissa!

Memorable Quote:

· “You’ve got to look at your business, your goals, your plan, and then have a capital strategy that matches that.”- Melissa [16:07]

Will Drewery of Diagon on the Future of Advanced Manufacturing, Working For Elon, Launching Rockets, and De-Globalization

David Paul — Tue, 09 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

How do you take lessons from a high-performing culture and venture into a different industry? As an innovative individual, you don’t always have to enjoy the experience of learning something to use those lessons to build something bigger for yourself.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Will Drewery, an early-stage venture founder, tech investor, supply chain enthusiast, and experienced board member. He has a track record of bringing technical products from the idea stage to reality for iconic brands such as Tesla and Astra.

Listen in to learn the responsibilities Will handled at Tesla and how that experience enabled him to start his own company. You will also learn the importance of the American manufacturing base stepping up and automating back-office operations to make things easier.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [04:12] Will explains the meaning of advanced manufacturing technology and how it’s used.

· [05:51] The tech advancement that’s drastically bringing down the cost of advanced manufacturing and making it accessible.

· [09:48] He describes his experience working as a contractor for the US government and the lessons he learned working at Tesla.

· [16:26] How former employees of Tesla and SpaceX are reapplying their learned lessons into new industries.

· [18:12] He shares his experience working at Astra and the career milestones he made while there.

· [19:40] How Diagon is building a platform for manufacturers to find manufacturing & automation equipment.

· [29:00] The ways American manufacturers can step up to digitize and make things easier in the industry.

· [31:58] The opportunity and healthy demand that exist in machining and manufacturing.

· [33:12] Random questions with Will!

Memorable Quote:

· “You can be grateful for the opportunity even if you didn’t always enjoy the experience of going through it.”- Will [16:04]

Connect with Will:

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdrewery/

Caleb Avery of Tilled on Decoding Payments in Software - Yes You Are Getting Screwed

David Paul — Tue, 02 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

How does your company facilitate online payments? As a merchant, online payment facilitation isn’t easy, especially if you’re a software company operating in the processing volume of $50M to $2B.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Caleb Avery, the CEO and Founder of Tilled, a fintech and PayFac-as-a-service company helping software companies monetize their payments. He is redrawing the map for online payment facilitation—and changing the landscape of fintech in the process.

Listen in to learn how Tilled makes payment facilitation easier for software companies and approaches them in an educational and consultative way. You will also learn the importance of getting customer feedback to understand what’s working and not working with your payment model.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [02:50] Caleb on his background and where he saw the opportunity to help software companies monetize payments.

· [04:30] He explains the layers of how payments move from the consumer to the merchant.

· [07:17] How risk differs with different payment models, plus the advantages of the PayFac process in risk absorption.

· [10:02] The processing volume that would make sense for a PayFac investment.

· [12:18] How Tilled makes the PayFac payment model easier, plus where it makes sense to move from ISO to PayFac.

· [15:37] The impact of creating a payment monetization strategy that companies are starting to understand.

· [17:23] Why Tilled approaches software companies in an educational and consultative way.

· [20:17] How effective payment monetization has allowed software companies to compress the margin for their SaaS products.

· [21:43] The importance of getting customer feedback to understand what’s and what’s not working.

· [24:33] He describes Tilled future plans in scaling and focusing on customer relations.

· [26:33] Random questions with Caleb!

Memorable Quote:

· “Part of the reason why you’re seeing more of that margin compression on the SaaS products is because some of the bigger competitors have figured out how to effectively monetize the payments.”- Caleb [20:53]

Connect with Caleb:

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-avery/

Peter Morgan of Phylum on the Cybersecurity Stack and the Terrorists Behind Malware

David Paul — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

This week I talk to Peter Morgan co-founder and CSO of Phylum- A malware cybersecurity company. Pete talks to me about malware like I am five years old as well as other applications within the cybersecurity technology stack. How well do you understand cybersecurity, and is your organization well protected? Ransomware has become a cybersecurity nightmare for many organizations in America today, so it’s important to know how it works. In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Pete Morgan, the Chief Security Officer and co-founder of Phylum, a software supply chain security company. He shares his career journey in high-level cybersecurity before starting Phylum. Listen in to learn how a penetration tester is hired to locate weaknesses by breaking into an organization’s computers and compromising them. You will also learn about the categories of cybersecurity that software companies are currently addressing.

What You Will Discover: • [00:00] Intro • [01:34] How Pete’s love for computers from a young age turned into a career in high-level cyber security. • [04:30] The penetration tester – hired to find weaknesses by breaking into computers and compromising them. • [06:33] Understanding ransomware – how hackers turn a computer compromise into money. • [09:44] The financial damage of ransomware on organizations plus the challenge with cyber security insurance. • [12:44] He explains the law against cybercrimes in America and on an international level. • [17:27] The market map of software companies and vendors currently addressing cybersecurity. • [22:35] How Phylum’s product is extremely purpose-built with reliable and reproducible software. • [27:08] Why the level of software tools automation is making it difficult to defend. Memorable Quote: • “It’s pretty tough to get cybersecurity all right all the time in a large organization that’s moving fast.”- Pete [25:40] Connect with Pete: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterjmorgan98/

Corey Kossack of Aspireship on VC being a Bull$hit Industry and The Upskilling/Reskilling Market

David Paul — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Why do you care about the big valuation? Are you taking millions that you don’t necessarily need to generate returns? You can generate better returns and fund better companies without needing large capital raises at every stage.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Corey Kossack, the Founder & CEO of Aspireship, an online platform that trains you for sales careers in the SaaS industry, then helps you show off your skills to fast-growth tech companies.

Listen in to learn how to be an outstanding, fearless investor who sees and invests in opportunities rather than numbers. You will also learn how Aspireship trains people to gain skills in different industries and helps companies reduce high staff turnover.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [02:18] Corey’s belief that we can generate better returns and fund better companies without large capital raises.

· [08:40] Why the fund structure design needs to change, not to prioritize big valuation.

· [13:41] He explains what Aspireship does, how they help employers, and its growth strategy.

· [17:51] The companies Aspireship works with, plus how they train people to gain skills in different industries.

· [22:42] He explains his focus on business growth with efficiency as he continues to learn.

· [27:00] How to be an outstanding investor investing in opportunities rather than numbers.

· [32:56] Corey on his angel investing ventures and how that’s working out for him.

· [35:25] The impact of AI on business and why Corey worries about its impact on the workforce.

· [36:50] How Aspireship is building a trusted and powerful brand that will expand exponentially.

Memorable Quote:

· “The rules for investing are so prescriptive everyone’s following the same playbook.”- Cory [30:48]

Connect with Corey:

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykossack/

Roberto Guerrieri and Stuart Illian of BlueTail on Digital Transformation in Vertical SaaS and Working with Unstructured Data

David Paul — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

What does it take to build and scale a vertical SaaS company? The process of building and scaling a vertical SaaS company requires customer research, continuous tech development, and being flexible to potential changes along the way.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Roberto Guerrieri and Stuart Illian, the co-founders of Bluetail, a vertical SaaS company for aircraft owners that digitizes back-to-birth paper records and turns them into protected, searchable, and shareable assets.

Listen in to learn about the journey of a startup and how you can end up in a different place from where you initially thought. You will also learn about the evangelizing and outreach that goes into selling a vertical SaaS product geared toward digital transformation.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [01:50] Stuart on how they came up with the idea of digitizing flight records from static to structured information.

· [06:53] The potential applications they’re discovering away from where they initially thought they’d end up.

· [09:05] The customer research and tech development that goes into scaling a vertical SaaS company.

· [14:34] They explain the challenge of evangelizing their product to aviation companies.

· [17:50] The guidelines they used to come up with product pricing according to industry standards.

· [21:00] They describe Bluetail’s capital stack, their startup backgrounds, and recent hiring spree.

· [25:38] They share some of their plans geared towards aligning Bluetail in the industry.

· [28:10] Rapid questions with Roberto and Stuart!

Memorable Quote:

· “In startup, where you start is never where you end up.”- Stuart [07:52]

Connect with Roberto and Stuart:

· Roberto’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rguerrieri/

· Stuart LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartillian/

Anthony Kennada of AudiencePlus on Changing B2B Marketing Through Owned Media and First Party Data

David Paul — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Are you leading with value? Where are you sending your audience other than talking to sales and trying the product? Leading with value, which involves building a relationship with your audience and owning the distribution of your content, increases your conversion rate as a B2B company.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Anthony Kennada, the co-founder and CEO of AudiencePlus. They’re building software, content, and community to help every company become a media company. We discuss what it means to bring the idea of building thought leadership as a brand in SaaS and producing audience-engaging content.

Listen in to learn how AudiencePlus can help you receive your audience’s data and understand the type of content they’re interested in. You will also learn the importance of focusing on creating authentic content as an early-stage startup to build an audience and brand.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [02:02] Anthony on his career journey and how he’s bringing the idea of building thought leadership as a brand in SaaS.

· [05:31] How to build a relationship with an audience while owning the distribution of your content.

· [08:55] How AudiencePlus can help you receive your audience’s data and understand them.

· [13:08] How SaaS companies can use AudiencePlus data to create content and engage with their audience.

· [18:06] Examples of B2B companies best in producing content and engaging with their audience.

· [22:37] The value of short-form and long-form content and events in any B2B sales funnel.

· [25:52] How to start creating authentic content as an early-stage startup to build an audience.

· [29:34] The value of partnerships in helping you stand out and accelerate your audience-building efforts.

· [31:08] Rapid questions with Anthony!

Memorable Quote:

· “We have a chance to 10x our web conversions by building a relationship with an audience owning the distribution of our content into that audience.”- Anthony [08:17]

Connect with Anthony:

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akennada/

Tori Barlow of Allbound on How To Scale a Marketing Motion from $1M-$20M in ARR

David Paul — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

What is the best customer acquisition marketing strategy for a B2B startup in the digital era? Optimizing your SEO, doing paid search advertising, and content generation are some ways to market a startup on a budget and achieve ROI.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Tori Barlow, VP of Marketing at Allbound, a partner management software that helps companies manage their partner ecosystem. She leads all marketing initiatives including, digital analysis, paid search and SEO, account-based marketing, attribution reporting, and email marketing. We discuss her team’s marketing efforts that saw Allbound achieve significant growth during the pandemic.

Listen in to learn how to become your brand’s sales rep by organically connecting with your ideal customer profile and understanding their wants. You will also learn how to identify a partner that aligns with your brand’s values and nurture a relationship with them.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [01:48] Tori’s journey in marketing plus her background in DemandGen and digital marketing.

· [4:58] How to use SEO, paid ads, and content generation to position your brand as a thought leader in the market.

· [9:00] How to become a sales rep for your brand to learn what your ideal customer profile wants.

· [11:39] She explains the strategy they used to identify their ideal customer profile.

· [14:26] How they explored targeted paid search, top-of-the-funnel marketing, and third-party activity.

· [17:48] The process of nurturing a partnership relationship and identifying the right partner.

· [22:34] Why she’s looking forward to events and community marketing for the coming year.

· [24:07] Random questions with Tori!

Memorable Quote:

· “SEO is the best investment you can get started with if you have a smaller marketing budget.”- Tori [5:29]

Connect with Tori: · LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-barlow-17214b45/

Jon Hunter former CRO of +$18B of ARR on What Leadership Really Looks Like in Downturns.

David Paul — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Do you think of ways you can make your people better as a leader? To build a culture of safety and trust and develop as a leader requires you to exercise high integrity and add value to your people by being a thoughtful servant leader.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Jon Hunter, Chief Revenue Officer, Advisor, Coach, and global business leader with expertise in building and growing world-class organizations such as MicroFocus, Computer Associates, and BMC. He specializes in optimizing people, processes and systems to foster, and maintain high-performance cultures.

Listen in to learn how to build trust and safety with your people as an early-stage startup. You will also learn how to learn, earn, and return to get out of your comfort zone and continue growing your career.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [2:02] Jon on finding balance and reconnecting, plus how the concept of hard work in business has changed.

· [10:31] The fundamental principles of succeeding as a leader in tech and venture capital industries.

· [16:49] How to focus on building trust and safety with your people as an early-stage startup.

· [22:35] The qualities you need to be a servant leader who builds people to follow and stay in the long-term.

· [29:49] The qualities you need to manage a team as a front-line manager and how they change as you move up the leadership levels.

· [42:09] How to focus on your intellectual growth and be successful taking on more responsibility.

· [49:00] Random questions with Jon!

Memorable Quote:

· “You should segment your career to learn, earn, and return, and if you focus on the learning, you become a subject matter expert.”- Jon [43:22]

Connect with Alex:

· Website: https://hunterxlife.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhunter1/

Sheldon Lewis of Blueprint Equity on Pricing SaaS Companies and the Early Growth Equity Stage of Investing

David Paul — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Are you holding too tight on your equity when looking for deals? Maybe you shouldn’t get too hung up on valuation as an entrepreneur because if you get to a good outcome with the right partner, you will have plenty of money. What you should be doing instead is focusing on getting a partner that’s going to help you optimize your eventual exit.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Sheldon Lewis, co-founder and managing partner at Blueprint Equity. He focuses on growth-oriented investments in payment processing, SaaS, internet, franchising, and business services. He explains what it means to be an early growth equity – a hybrid between venture capital and growth equity.

Listen in to learn why historical growth and margins are some of the major factors investors look for when considering investing in a company. You will also learn the difference between Multiple on Invested Capital (MOIC) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and the advantages of each in investing.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [1:27] Why Blueprint Equity considers themselves early growth sitting between venture and growth.

· [4:20] How they operate as a minority investor – helping without forcing their opinions.

· [8:15] Why Sheldon would give MOIC a slight advantage over IRR when it comes to ROI.

· [12:41] The factors they consider when valuing companies, which include historical growth and margins.

· [17:00] The importance of focusing on a trustworthy partner that’s going to help you optimize your exit.

· [19:57] The benefits of having a concentrated portfolio for both the entrepreneur and investor.

· [23:35] Blueprint Equity’s investment focus plus their sourcing strategy.

· [28:03] He explains why they focus more on a business’s recent growth than its age.

· [29:50] What it looks like being a general SaaS investor not afraid to try new things.

· [31:05] Sheldon’s excitement about building a team and making great investments in 2023.

Memorable Quote:

· “We are probably less focused on how old the business is as a whole and more focused on what the growth has been lately.”- Sheldon [28:04]

Connect with Sheldon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldon-lewis-28274512

Aaron Oaks on United Pet Care on Search Funds and Disruptive Business Models within Veterinary Care

David Paul — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

What does it take to successfully run a pet care startup during a season when everyone wants to be a pet owner? Providing a complimentary product that engages the vet with their client and takes care of pets’ wellness along the way.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Aaron Oaks, the Chief Executive Officer at United Pet Care. We discuss the characteristics and skills it takes to become a search fund, plus how United Pet Care partners with a network of veterinary providers and pre-negotiates rates on their behalf.

Listen in to learn about the concept of a search fund, the process of becoming a search funder, and the difference between traditional venture capital and search fund. You will also learn how vets can address inefficiencies in the industry by increasing their operating capacity and average transaction.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [1:38] Aaron on leaving his corporate career to become an entrepreneur and ended up as a search funder.

· [4:43] He explains what an entrepreneur needs to become a search funder.

· [6:40] The soft skills needed when selecting a founder to lead a search fund.

· [9:20] How Aaron was selected as a founder, plus what sponsors look for in a search fund deal.

· [13:07] He explains what United Pet Care does as an HMO for fur babies and how they differ from insurance.

· [19:11] How United Pet Care helps reduce pet owners’ financial burden for their pet’s wellness.

· [21:53] The delicate two-sided market that Aaron has been trying to navigate over the last two years.

· [28:38] Three ways a vet can address the inefficiencies in the veterinary industry.

· [34:28] Why we’ll continue to see individually branded and locally driven strategies in coming years.

· [37:23] Random questions with Aaron!

Connect with Aaron:

· Website: https://www.unitedpetcare.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-oaks-89479a8/

Leib Bolel of Grayhawk Capital on the Venture Outlook of 2023

David Paul — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Where should your investment focus for 2023 be? The 2023 market shift is opening up opportunities as it’s no longer a founder-dominated market. Companies and founders will be looking for reasonable valuations to execute capital efficiency.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Leib Bolel, Partner at Grayhawk Capital and President at Arizona Israel Technology Alliance. He has over a decade of experience in new business development, startups, marketing, funding acquisition, and general operations management, which is instrumental in building organizations from the ground up. We discuss the upsides and downsides of working at a venture capital and why it is one of the most challenging industries to get into.

Listen in to learn why you must be detailed and diligent when going into a deal and not be emotionally attached. You will also learn why you need to look into the people on the board and management before investing in a company.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [03:20] Leib on the venture opportunities he saw in Arizona and how he joined Grayhawk Capital.

· [06:00] The challenges of joining the venture industry plus the upsides and downsides of working in it.

· [09:20] The work that goes into fundraising plus the benefits of SPIC fund that Grayhawk enjoys.

· [12:03] How the current 2023 market state is creating opportunities for investors.

· [16:30] The importance of taking your time and having clarity when going into a deal.

· [17:52] How to evaluate the people involved in the board and management before investing in a company.

· [21:21] The hesitation expected to happen due to the pending or current recession.

· [22:27] Leib answers some random questions, plus when to expect Fund 4 from Grayhawk Capital.

Memorable Quote:

· “Take your time; there’s always going to be another deal.”- Leib [16:30]

Connect with Leib:

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leibbolel/

Alex Houghtalin of Access Venture Partners on Thematic Investing Research and Capturing Value as an Early-Stage Company

David Paul — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

What is the right way to organize the knowledge you have in your head into a framework as an early-stage company? Putting your vision onto paper is helpful and a great way to capture industry value and acquire power over your customers and suppliers.

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Alex Houghtalin, a senior associate at Access Venture Partners. She has deep experience in business strategy research, advisory, and social entrepreneurship. Alex had a career at the Harvard Business School working on business strategy research and advisory alongside Michael Porter, one of the legends in the field. We discuss the creating shared value, strategy, and social entrepreneurship lessons she learned from Michael Porter.

Listen in to learn how a senior associate in a venture capital manages their time and what the role entails. You will also learn about the thematic investing strategy and how to create a market map to identify interesting companies in your area of interest.

What You Will Discover:

· [00:00] Intro

· [03:53] Alex on her education background, career interests, and experience working with Michael Porter.

· [09:35] How she advanced her career with the social entrepreneurship lessons she learned from Michael Porter.

· [16:00] The difference between academic and strategy exercises in an early-stage company.

· [20:00] The role and time management strategy of a senior associate in a venture capital.

· [23:53] The value of thematic investing strategy plus how Access is doing it in tech.

· [29:43] How she does case studies and develops taxonomies for market strategies she’s seeing.

· [35:10] How to understand the pain of the industries you’re mapping by interviewing company leaders.

· [38:00] Random questions with Alex!

Memorable Quote:

· “Profit and purpose are not in conflict, there are highly synergistic, and a lot of our business opportunities are solving social needs.”- Alex Houghtalin [11:30]

Connect with Alex:

· Website: https://accessvp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-houghtalin/

Tyler Hall of Drivably on Creating Value Through Executive Coaching and Building High Impact Frameworks for Founders

David Paul — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today I am talking to my friend Tyler Hall, who was a founder turned executive coach. Tyler is obsessed with providing impact and value to founders with high touch coaching frameworks. You can listen to the podcast on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.

Tyler Hall is a highly accomplished CEO coach, recognized for his work with the world's top CEOs. He shares his insights and expertise as the host of the popular Rollercoaster podcast. Tyler is also an advisor to early stage tech companies, helping to guide their growth and success. When he's not in the boardroom or on the mic, Tyler can be found tearing up the racetrack as a skilled motorcycle racer. He balances his passion for business and speed with his most important roles as a loving husband and father to three wonderful children.

Josh Wagner of In Revenue Capital on Selling Software in 2023 and the Emergence of Partner Led Growth

David Paul — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Josh is a 20 year Sales, Marketing and Channel veteran helping start-ups scale from $0 - $20MM. Ecosystem led growth has been the “cheat code” to growth, tapping into one to many partner relationships to create more scale with less resources. Josh is the Co-Founder and Partner at In Revenue Capital providing founders with Operator-Immersive Capital. Josh also leads the Revenue team at Rising Cloud, serves as an advisory board member at CRE OneSource, and hosts the Love Selling Hate Sales Podcast.

Jason "McLovin" Gunn of Galley on Verticalized Data, Foodservice Industry Culture, and Comics

David Paul — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This week I had one of my favorite people in the world on the Capital Stack. My man Jason Gunn aka of McLovin. Jason is the Director of Marketing at Galley and is a successful foodservice software executive. This podcast is a treat!

A chef at heart and with more than 20 years of experience in the Foodservice industry, Jason has served in a variety of roles from leading restaurant operations to distributor sales, then promoted to corporate leadership positions for several national distributors to support eCommerce, category management, and supply chain initiatives. Later, Jason became a founding member of Attribytes, a Software as a Solution (SaaS) & data management company, which claimed the #210 spot on Inc Magazine’s national list of 500 fastest growing companies.

TX Zhuo of Fika Ventures on the Fintech Evolution in SaaS and Seed Portfolio Constructions

David Paul — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This week I am interviewing my friend and fellow board member TX Zhuo of Fika Ventures. We go into detail about speaking about the importance of fintech in emerging software applications as well as how to properly construct a seed portfolio.

An entrepreneur at heart, TX has been involved with startups since his college days where he started then successfully sold an online college textbook marketplace. After a stint at McKinsey where he was a core member of their financial services and consumer goods practices, he came back to his roots and served as the CFO for an electric vehiclestartup, Lit Motors. Thereafter, he worked for Innovation Endeavors, a seed stage venture fund backed by Eric Schmidt. In 2012, he co-founded Karlin Ventures, based in Los Angeles, where he served as the managing partner for 4 years before co-founding Fika Ventures. He is a strong proponent of transparency and efficiency and is constantly on the lookout for new platforms that seek to disrupt old, antiquated industries.

Once a competitive badminton player who trained 4-5 days a week, he now can be found on the golf course or maxing out his ClassPass account on the weekends. He is also passionate about supporting initiatives that help cancer fighters.

TX holds an MBA from Stanford and a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Wesleyan University.

David Tal of Verse on Moving Upmarket from SMB to Enterprise to Fight Churn and the Power of SMS Functionality

David Paul — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This week I am speaking to San Diego legend David Tal of Verse (not to be confused with legend yours truly David Paul). David has built one of the greatest B2B lead generation platforms on the market today. He speaks very candidly about the challenges of startups and moving upmarket.

David Tal is the co-founder and co-CEO of Verse. Born and raised in San Diego, and a VC-backed entrepreneur for 10+ years, David has always been passionate about “putting San Diego on the map” as a center of tech, innovation, and disruption. This passion has driven him and Verse to become one of San Diego’s fastest growing companies. After graduating with a BS in Economics from UCLA in 2003, David experienced firsthand how quickly the world had moved online and how consumer journeys increasingly began and lived online. David also saw how businesses were trying to engage and communicate with this new growing stream of online leads and prospects. So, David set out to help companies in real estate and other industries create effective and authentic connections with their prospects by effectively merging the best abilities of technology and people. David lives in San Diego with his beautiful, successful wife and three children.

Brad Thomas of Evercast on Building Products in the Media Industry, Getting Your Teeth Kicked In, and There Always Being a Move

David Paul — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today I am interviewing Brad Thomas, co-founder and COO of Evercast - a SaaS workflow and conferencing platform for media companies. Evercast is the household name for film-makers to get their movies produced quickly and effectively and has been used in many blockbuster hits in 2022 such as Avatar, Top Gun Maverick,. and Jurassic Park.

Brad Thomas is a serial tech founder who co-founded Evercast, a virtual conferencing & collaboration platform which is used by thousands of professional creatives within major Hollywood studios, advertising agencies and gaming companies to develop content remotely.

Melissa Widner of Lighter Capital on The Emergence of Non-Dilutive Capital and Identifying Sharky VCs

David Paul — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This week I am speaking to Melissa Widner, CEO of Lighter Capital. She has an incredible story of going from operator to capital allocator. Now she takes the helm of the largest brands in revenue based financing in the world.

Melissa Widner is the CEO of Lighter Capital, the pioneer and leader in revenue-based financing for tech startups, founders, and companies. Seattle-based Lighter Capital is backed by National Australia Bank and Silicon Valley Bank as well as US VCs.

Previously, Melissa was the Managing Director of NAB Ventures, the VC arm of the National Australia Bank, and a General Partner at Seattle based SeaPoint Ventures. She was the founder and CEO of 7Software, a Silicon Valley based enterprise software company acquired by Concur (Nasdaq: CNQR, acquired by SAP). She was also the CEO of Northwest Industrial Supply. Under her leadership, both companies generated over a 10X return to investors.

She is the co-founder and Chairperson of Sydney-based Heads Over Heels, an organization that supports women entrepreneurs running companies with high growth potential.

What You Will Learn:

- Alternatives to Equity

- Identifying Shark VCs

- Debt vs. Revenue Based Financing

Nevin Raj of Grata on The Art of Deal Sourcing and Getting Product Market Fit

David Paul — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0400

If you cannot tell todays pod is by far one of my favorites. Nevin and I completely nerd out on the art of deal sourcing and product market fit.

Nevin Raj is the Co-Founder and COO of Grata, a platform that makes it easy to source middle market investments. Prior to Grata, Nevin worked in private equity at Riverside Partners, where they were responsible for due diligence and deal execution for enterprise software and healthcare companies. Nevin also worked as a business analyst at McKinsey & Company in their business technology group, where they gained experience in strategy, M&A, and operations. In addition, Nevin has worked in investment banking at Jefferies and in business development at Axial.

The education listed is for Nevin Raj, who attended Harvard University from 2009 to 2013. Raj studied applied mathematics while at Harvard, and was also involved in activities and societies such as Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisors (DAPA), Peer Advising Fellow, and Harvard College Consulting Group (HCCG). Raj's secondary field of study was statistics.

What You Will Learn:

Sourcing Best Practices
PMF
Getting Funded by David Sacks

Bobby Brannigan of Mercato on Vertical Marketplaces, COVID Pull Through and Pivots, Bootstrapping vs. Fundraising, and the Dangers of Not Listening to Your Customer.

David Paul — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Today I am talking to the Bobby Brannigan, a scrappy Irish kid from Brooklyn who knows how to make a buck.

A serial entrepreneur and angel investor, Bobby Brannigan is co-founder and CEO of Mercato, the online marketplace that empowers independent grocers to grow their business in the face of ever increasing competition.

His business roots started as a kid working in his family's Brooklyn, New York grocery store. As a teenager, Bobby began instituting new ways to create efficiencies and increase revenue for his family’s store. While in his sophomore year at State University of New York at Fredonia in 2002, Bobby founded ValoreBooks.com, which became one of the internet's largest online textbook marketplaces. It was acquired by Simple Tuition, the largest online student loan marketplace in the country in 2012.

-What You Will Learn:

-Marketplaces

-Solving the Cold Start Problem

-Bootstrapping vs Fundraising

-COVID Explosions

-Pivots

Jim Douglas of Fulcrum Equity on Growth Equity Investing, Healthcare Services, and Valuations

David Paul — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This week David is interviewing Jim Douglas who is a Managing Partner at Fulcrum Equity based in Atlanta, Georgia. Fulcrum is a growth equity platform that focuses on software technology and healthcare services in undercapitalized markets. Jim has been actively investing for years and I am truly fortunate to have him on the show.

Prior to joining Fulcrum, Jim was CEO of Vesdia, a pioneer in loyalty and card-linked marketing for financial services, airline, and hospitality companies, which merged with Cartera Commerce and sold to Raketun. Before Vesdia, he served as CEO for Atlanta-based Visionary Systems, Inc. (VSI), a provider of decision systems for credit providers and retailers that was sold to Trans Union. Prior to these roles, Jim served as the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Chief Financial Officer with CheckFree Corporation, the leading provider of electronic billing and payment services to financial institutions. He has also held the role of Vice President and Corporate Controller of Medaphis Corporation, a leading provider of medical billing and management software and services for physicians and hospitals. He began his career with KPMG in the Financial Services practice after graduating with a BBA in Accounting from Georgia State University.

Jim is currently a board member of Kobiton, Dropoff, SureFire Local, Kevel, Digital Hands, Vertify, and GoPivot. He has also served on boards supporting the growth of successful Fulcrum exits in Fattmerchant, QASymphony, Prevalent, LogFire, ALS Resolvion, and outside of Fulcrum GroBanking, FactorTrust, and Paymentus. In the community, Jim sits on the boards of Venture Atlanta, ACG (Association for Corporate Growth), and UNICEF Southeast Region.

What You Will Learn:

Growth Equity Strategies

Capital Efficiency and Valuation

Diversifying a Portfolio with Services and Software

Investing Through Market Cycles

Piet Jan de Bruin former CEO of Tuft & Needle and now Founder of IOMETE on Big Data, Cloud Infrastructure, and the Current Data Technology Stack.

David Paul — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Capital Stack, David talks to the man with perhaps the sexiests accent in the Valley - Piet Jan de Bruin - about the modern data stack!

Piet is the co-founder & COO of IOMETE, a YC-backed early-stage startup in the data cloud space. IOMETE is a fully-managed data lakehouse platform that enables organizations to become data-driven in an easy and cost-effective manner. (http://www.iomete.com)

From 2016 to 2020 Piet was CEO of DTC startup Tuft & Needle (www.tn.com) that he and his team bootstrapped to $200m in revenue (exit late 2018).

Piet earned a m.sc. degree in Business Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

When he's not building IOMETE, Piet likes to spend time on the family farm in central Brazil, reading and practicing jiu jitsu.

Favorite Quote - Theodore Rosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."



Spencer Hutchins of Concert Health on Integrated Behavioral Health, Tech-Enabled Services, and Scaling within Healthcare Systems

David Paul — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Spencer Hutchins. Spencer Hutchins is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Concert Health, America’s leading behavioral health medical group with a turnkey solution designed for primary care and women’s health physicians. Through Collaborative Care, an evidence-based model for treating depression and anxiety in primary care settings, Concert makes it easy for primary care and women’s health physicians to deliver high-quality behavioral health care and improve clinical outcomes. Concert’s turnkey behavioral health services, which include an expert clinical team and a powerful technology platform, are available through partnerships with medical groups and health systems.

Prior to Concert, Spencer co-founded Reflexion Health, where he served as CEO for three years. During his time there, Reflexion achieved FDA clearance for Vera, a tele-rehab product used by some of the most progressive orthopedic and rehab programs in the United States. Before Reflexion, Spencer served as Senior Director at West Health, where he helped source and support investments in innovative companies such as Humedica, Change Healthcare, and goBalto. Spencer has also served as a member of the founding healthcare team at the Federal Communications Commission during the Obama administration and a consultant at Booz & Company.

Spencer received an MBA from Yale School of Management and BA from Colby College. When not building health businesses, he’s a loving and fully-whelmed husband and father of 2 growing children.

What You'll Learn:

Collaborative Care
Behavior Health and Medicare Coverage
Go to Market Strategy in Healthcare Services (Patient Recruitment and Doctors Engagement)
Business Expansion / Next Steps
Customer Discovery
Moving Upmarket
Business Value and Its Focus

Favorite Quote:

“We try to be trusting of our team, and give people objectives and let them flourish. And also really looking for trustworthy partners.”

Nicolas Lopez of HCAP on Impact Investing and Mezz Debt

David Paul — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Nicolas Lopez. Nicolas joined HCAP Partners in 2013 and is responsible for originating, structuring, closing, and monitoring portfolio investments. He has been instrumental in many of the firm's portfolio investments, which achieved fast growth and realized significant value for shareholders and employees. Nicolas is a board member of HCAP Partners portfolio companies Lone Star Analysis, DYPER™, and FleetNurse and is a board observer for 5th Kind.

Before joining HCAP Partners, Nicolas was in their corporate development group with Best Buy, Inc. Nicolas joined Best Buy in 2010, where he helped identify, evaluate and support early-stage investment opportunities. He was also very involved with strategic initiatives at Best Buy, working with various cross-functional business groups to drive shareholder value. Before joining Best Buy, Nicolas worked in investment banking and investment management.

Nicolas attended the University of Southern California, earning an M.B.A., and San Diego State University, earning a B.S. in Business Administration. He is also a CFA charterholder.

What You'll Learn:

Understanding Mezzanine Capital
Investing through a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC)
Investment Conflict (Lender vs. Equity Holder in the Same Company)
Impact Investing
Value Alignment before Investing
Fundraising as an Impact Investment Fund
Deal Structure in the Current Economy

Favorite Quote:

“With everything happening in the last couple of years, with covid and remote work, what makes a quality job is becoming more important. Pay is always on top of the list, but what else is important for employees.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit the following:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Tom Griffiths of Hone on Co-Founding Gaming Unicorn FanDuel, Creating Addicting Products, and Bringing a New Edge to Corporate Training

David Paul — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Tom Griffiths. Tom is the CEO and co-founder of Hone, the all-in-one talent development platform for modern teams delivering live learning at scale to enable behavior change, human connection, and continuous development.

Prior to founding Hone, Tom was Chief Product Officer and co-founder of gaming unicorn FanDuel, where, for a decade, he helped create a multi-award-winning product, a new industry, and a thriving distributed team. He has a lifelong passion for education, technology, and business and is grateful for the opportunity to combine all three at Hone. Tom earned his Bachelor's in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge in England and his MSc in Machine Learning from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Tom regularly speaks and writes about leadership development, equitable access to learning, management training, and the future of work. He lives in San Diego with his wife and young family.

What You'll Learn:

Mentorship and Broad Organization Training
Leadership and Soft Skill Training
Difficulties in a Non-traditional SaaS Business
Corporate Training
Employee Recruitment and Retention
Product Pricing and Budget Identification

Favorite Quote:

“You need to know that you got something people will buy, love, use, and continue to use.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Les Craig of Next Frontier Ventures on transitioning from CIA to VC, Sharky VCs, and Investing with a Regional Focus Investments Thesis

David Paul — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Les Craig. Les joined Next Frontier Capital in 2017. During that time, he has led the investments and serves on the board of Special.tv, S2 Corporation, Bandwango, EveryoneSocial, and Gravwell.

Before joining NFC, Les served as the Executive Director of the Montana State University Innovation Campus. In less than 16 months, he successfully built a partnership between a private developer, the MSU Office of Research and Economic Development, and the MSU Alumni Foundation to develop a 42-acre Research Park in Bozeman, MT, focused on technology and research commercialization.

Les moved to Montana because of MSU’s national search to hire a Director for the Blackstone LaunchPad, a campus-based entrepreneurship program funded by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. In February 2015, Les became the Director of MSU’s Blackstone programming, where he passionately mentored and encouraged students, alumni, and faculty to pursue entrepreneurial careers. In the Summer of 2016, Les received funding from the Small Business Administration to launch 406 Labs, Montana’s first accelerator program. The program ran its first cohort in the Fall of 2016 and is strategically positioned to focus on preparing MSU’s highest potential technologies and founders for growth and scale.

In 2014, Les Co-founded The Twenty, a data science services company based in Bethesda, MD, which operates a high-profile network of senior mathematicians and computer scientists focused on specialized project-based work for clients ranging from start-ups to publicly traded companies and even government organizations.

Before The Twenty, Les Co-founded RedOwl Analytics, a software product company that built a platform for identifying trends and anomalies in the digital trail of corporations to combat insider threats and mitigate risk in financial services, cyber security, and US government spaces. RedOwl was acquired by Forcepoint (Raytheon) in August 2017.

Previously, Les served as a Technical Operations Officer at the Central Intelligence Agency, receiving specialized training in telecommunications and computer network operations.

Before his time at the CIA, Les was a member of the professional staff of the National Security Technology Department at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. He led an Operations Research team developing powerful predictive and geospatial analytic products to make battlefield decisions related to the counter-improvised explosive device fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

While on active duty, Les served on multiple special operations task forces and was an Aide-de-camp to a senior intelligence professional on General Stanley McChrystal’s staff at the Joint Special Operations Command.

Les is grateful for the opportunity to raise his family in Montana with his amazing wife, Anne Meree, and three beautiful children – Max, Emi, and Hunter.

What You'll Learn:

Military to Entrepreneurship to Investing
First Experience Raising Venture Capital as a Founder
Cash Burn After Raise
Understanding the Concept of “Founder Friendly”
Investor/ Founder Relationship Strategy
Strategy changes from Fund I to Fund II
Regional and Nationwide Investing
Potential of Underserved Markets

Favorite Quote:

“If a founder has clear what I need to see, I get to a NO. I will have a 30 min call with that founder and say here is why we got to a NO.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Rahul Sidhu of SPIDR Tech on Building a Vertical SaaS Company for Public Safety, Being a First Responder while an Entrepreneur, and Finding Product Market Fit.

David Paul — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Rahul Sidhu. Rahul Sidhu is the Founder and CEO of SPIDR Tech, the world’s first automated customer service platform for public safety. Versaterm Public Safety acquired SPIDR Tech in 2021. Rahul has served in public safety for 11 years, working as a paramedic, firefighter, crew chief, and police officer. In conjunction with SPIDR Tech, Rahul routinely works on special public safety projects in California as a reserve officer, recently serving as the creator and program manager for one of the country’s earliest semi-autonomous air support units.

What You'll Learn:

Combination of Tech & Public Safety
Sales Process for B2B SaaS
Building a Tech Company with a Public Service Background
Budget and Pricing Strategy
Financial Impacts
Market Validation
Raising and Acquisitions

Favorite Quote:

“I didn’t have any former sales training. I think the best CEOs in the world are an extremely good salesman.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Caitlyn Wege of Moodoos Investments on Selecting Pre-Seed Companies, Investing from a Family Office, and Neurodiversity

David Paul — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Caitlin Wege. Caitlin is the Executive Chair at Contract Pharmaceuticals Limited and its sister company, Glasshouse Pharmaceuticals. She serves on the board of Neuralace Medical and Pumpspotting Inc. In addition to her corporate leadership roles, she is a partner at MooDoos Investments. This private family-owned investment fund invests in early-stage companies throughout the US and Canada. MooDoos is industry agnostic and invests in several industries, including life sciences, manufacturing, and education technology.

Caitlin is also the President of NuFund Venture Group. NuFund is one of the largest Angel networks in the US. She is also a Trustee, finance committee member, and Chair of the Governance Committee for the Wege Foundation, an environmentally-focused family foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a board member of The Ecology Center in Orange County and serves as a mentor and advisory board member for the ZIP Launchpad, the business accelerator at San Diego State University. Caitlin is passionate about fostering entrepreneurial and investor education and learning.

What You'll Learn:

Family Office Workflow
Team Work
Strategies and Investment Thesis
Changes in the Industry and Adjustments
How to Choose a Pre-Revenue/Pre-Product Company
Angel Community
Angel Fund vs. Traditional Angel Investing
Neurodiversity

Favorite Quote:

“Seed Investors understand that you can invest in an “A” product in a “B” team and it just won’t survive, but investing in an “A” team with a “B” product that “A” team can turn into an “A” product very easily.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Heidi Jannenga of WebPT on Building a $120M ARR Vertical SaaS Company, Expanding TAM, and Scaling Culture

David Paul — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Heidi Jannenga. Dr. Heidi Jannenga is a physical therapist, co-founder, Chief Clinical Officer of WebPT, a nine-time Inc. 5000 honoree, and the leading software solution for physical, occupational, and speech therapists. As a member of the board and senior management team, Heidi advises on WebPT’s product vision, company culture, branding efforts, and internal operations while advocating for rehab therapists, women leaders, and entrepreneurs on a national and international scale. Since the company launched in 2008, Heidi has guided WebPT through exponential growth. Today, it’s the fastest-growing physical therapy software in the country, employing over 800 people and serving more than 90,000 therapy professionals at more than 27,000 clinics.

In 2017, Heidi was honored by Health Data Management as one of the most powerful women in IT, and she was a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2018, she was named the Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year at the Arizona Technology Council’s Governor’s Celebration of Innovation. In addition to serving on numerous non-profit leadership boards, Heidi is a proud member of the YPO Scottsdale Chapter and Charter 100 as well as an investor with Golden Seeds, which focuses on women-founded or led organizations. Her latest venture is called Rizing Tide, which is a foundation dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusiveness in the physical therapy workforce.

Heidi is a mother to her 10-year-old daughter Ava and enjoys traveling, hiking, mountain biking, and practicing yoga in her spare time.

What You'll Learn:

Digitalization of Healthcare
EHR History and Transitions
Market Consolidation
SMB vs. Enterprise Product Market-Fit
Transition from Organic to Inorganic Growth Strategy
Culture Management and its Scalability
Onboarding a New CEO / New Leadership Team and its Transitions
Capital Stack Transition
Physical Therapist Industry
Brand Recognition
Today’s Early Stage Investment Market
Importance of Competition

Favorite Quote:

“Relevancy is always important for founders, and I have always felt relevant and important to the business, Today.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Elizabeth Brooks of Better Angels Talks About Being on the Founding Team of Napster, Developing Marketing Strategies for Early Stage Companies, and a New Way to Angel Invest.

David Paul — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Elizabeth Brooks. Elizabeth Brooks has senior-level (CMO, CSO, GM) experience in business strategy, the full cross-platform marketing mix, team leadership, marketing data and analytics, and digital marketing strategy and execution. Creative and a digital native.

Unusual skill set derived from management positions in venture-backed startups, established high-tech and eCommerce businesses, sports teams and arenas, and media/content corporations. Consumer-facing entertainment, gaming, fashion, lifestyle, and technology experience. Experienced in visual/IoT experience tech - VR, AR, 3D.

Passionately interested in technologies and ideas that change consumer behaviors, positively impact communities and the planet, and cause us to look at the world differently.

What You'll Learn:

Media Business VS. Software Business
Music Industry and its Digital Revolution
Move from Working on a Startup to Working with a Family Office Portfolio
Early Stage Marketing and its Challenges
Brand Recognition and Finding Marketing Path
Angel Investing and Syndication
B2B and B2C Marketing
Importance of Content

Favorite Quote:

“If I think I will make a difference, am I more inclined to invest? Yes!”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Maan Hamdan of Hexa Global Ventures on Everything HRTech

David Paul — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Maan.

Maan Hamdan is an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor with a wealth of hands-on experience providing focused leadership, building effective management teams, and creating, developing, and exiting profitable companies.

As a serial entrepreneur, Maan recently founded TechGenies, software development and professional services provider, and TrenData, a predictive Analytics firm. As an investor, Maan invested in many technology firms, including Insala Inc. and MindTap Marketing. Maan sits on the board of Insala, TrenData, and Impact Workforce Technology, among others.

Maan founded HRsmart in 1999, formulating the original vision and strategic direction for HRsmart and leading the company to become a multi-national cloud provider of talent management technology. HRsmart had a thousand enterprise clients in over 30 countries when Deltek acquired it in February 2015.

In other entrepreneurial efforts, Maan co-founded Directel, a multinational paging company that employed over 500 professionals in Brazil and Argentina. He also co-founded and served as chairman of the board for CNI, an executive recruiting firm, and Careernet, a public career board based in Florida.

As a corporate executive, Maan headed the national indirect distribution for PageNet, at one time the largest paging company in the world. He also held various senior sales and marketing positions for telecommunications conglomerate GTE (currently Verizon.)

He received his BE in computer systems engineering from the American University in Beirut and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.

In 2016, Maan and his wife, Weeda, founded Education Unbound, a nonprofit focused on helping expand and support software and environmental sciences education worldwide. (www.educationunbound.org)

What You'll Learn:

Career Change from Corporate to Entrepreneurship
Exits and Failures
HR Tech / Talent Management
Fundraising
Ecosystem Building

Favorite Quote:

“It’s not about managing your employee talent now! It is about managing the people before they join your company and after they leave.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Bill Dolphin of CueSquared on Payments in Healthcare IT, Interoperability Challenges, Turnarounds, and Sourcing Great Talent

David Paul — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Bill Dolphin.

William is an accomplished senior executive with a history of strategic management of international public and private companies in the Technology, Medical Device, Digital Health, and Fintech sectors. He is an established performer in successfully executing strategic and operational initiatives leading to exceptional organic growth.

As an advisor and board member, William brings broad and extensive international leadership and business experience. Coupled with his technology background, he provides a unique set of skills, competencies, perspectives, and experience to assist leadership in developing, implementing, and executing a clear, value-generating business strategy.

William is passionate about cultivating leadership, encouraging resourcefulness and problem-solving, and promoting team efforts to achieve goals. He holds US and EU passports and permanent residency in New Zealand.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Change Management; Agile methodologies; Strategic and Operational Planning; Business Transformation; Mergers & Acquisitions; Business Development; Restructuring; Process Improvement; Contract Negotiation; Operations Management; Continual Improvement Process; Cost Management/Cost Reduction; Product Development; Product Launch; Team Building/Leadership Development; Fundraising; Business Process Optimization.

What You'll Learn:

Academia to Operating
Importance to Hire Competent People
Sourcing Talent
Execution vs. Strategy
Decision Process
Understanding the Audience that You Want to Reach
Communication with Investors, Board Members, and Employees
Missing Budget
Turnarounds

Favorite Quote:

“The degree of certainty translates into risk, and strategy is really a game of risk.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Jimmy Soni author of The Founders on Writing a Best-Selling Book on the Pioneers of Silicon Valley

David Paul — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Jimmy Soni. Jimmy Soni is an award-winning author. His newest book, The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley, was a national bestseller and received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New Yorker, The Economist, Financial Times, and more. His previous book, A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age, won the 2017 Neumann Prize, awarded by the British Society for the History of Mathematics for the best book on the history of mathematics for a general audience, and the 2019 Middleton Prize by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his daughter, Venice.

What You'll Learn:

Becoming a Writer
Discovery Process when Writing a Book
Interviews
Listening
Market Cycles
Recession and its Consequences
Being a Creator

Favorite Quote:

“How leadership teams can move very aggressively and turn the pressure on not having another round of financing into action.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Susan Cordts of Catalytic Health Partners on Tech-Enabled Healthcare Services and Value-Based Care

David Paul — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Susan Cordts. Susan Cordts is the founder and CEO of Catalytic Health Partners. Catalytic Health Partners is a 100% on-risk provider of population health services in the state of Arizona. Susan started her career as a nurse but quickly evolved her entrepreneurial spirit. She is a three-time founder, exiting Universal Robot Systems and Adaptive Technologies (a predictive modeling company) before founding Catalytic Health Partners.

What You'll Learn:

Medicare
Capitation vs. HMO
Understanding the Payer Model and Commercial Plans
Rates Adjustments and Risk Pool Relationships
Value-Based Care Understanding and Difficulties
Bundle Payments
Importance of Data
Transition from a Clinician to the Entrepreneurship World

Favorite Quote:

“We all have our basic needs met first, and having a safe place to lay our heads makes all the difference in the world.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Vik Thapar of Cypress Growth Capital on Revenue Based Financing as an Alternative to Debt and Equity

David Paul — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Vik Thaper.

Vik has over 20 years of experience spanning venture capital, private equity, and information technology consulting. He oversees all aspects of the firm’s investment process and provides ongoing support to portfolio companies. Before joining the Cypress team in 2012, Vik spent three years with the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF), a $200 Million state-sponsored venture capital fund. In the first decade of his career, Vik worked in the information technology field as a business consultant to Fortune 500 companies.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. – India Chamber of Commerce, the University of Texas at Dallas Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Tech Titans. In 2019, Vik co-founded and served as a board member of Venture Dallas, a non-profit, volunteer-led organization dedicated to growing the innovation ecosystem in Dallas - Fort Worth. Vik is a frequent guest lecturer and panelist on entrepreneurial topics at SMU, TCU, and the University of Texas at Dallas. He holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University, a concentration in Entrepreneurial Studies and Strategy, and a B.S. degree from the University of Texas at Dallas.

What You'll Learn:

Venture Capital vs. Royalty Based Financing
Evolution from Fund 1 to 4
Investment Thesis and Fund Strategy
Understanding of Royalty-Based Financing
Competition between Different types of Financing
Deal Sourcing Strategies
Fundraising Experience

Favorite Quote:

“When valuations are high, deploying capital is harder.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Max Farrell of Workhound on Building a Vertical SaaS Company and Landing Your First Five Customers

David Paul — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Max Farrell. Max Farrell is in charge of sales, business development, and administrative duties. Max also leads industry engagement by speaking at trucking events and writing for industry publications. He also wrote the blog on immersive customer discovery by riding with “The Turntable Trucker” from Des Moines to Los Angeles. Before WorkHound, he founded an innovation consultancy, Create Reason, and worked in Business Development at Dwolla.

What You'll Learn:

Vertical Products
Customer Discovery
Company Building and First 5 Customers
Beta and Product Market-Fit
Value-Based Pricing
Software Sales Cycle
Fundraising in an Under-Capitalize Market
Investor Qualifications
Transition to New Markets

Favorite Quote:

“People think there are shortcuts, but there are no shortcuts! There is a formula: PAIN + PASSION +PERSISTENCE = PAYOFF.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Ryan Nagle former SpaceX and now Co-founder of Datum Source on People Picking and Creating High-Performance Teams

David Paul — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Ryan Nagle. Ryan Nagle has spent most of his career running the supply chain for SpaceX.

SpaceX is the most valuable private company in the US and is known by reputation as one of the most high-pressure work environments in tech.

Nagle has been involved in sourcing and procurement of some of the most high-dollar innovations in space travel in the history of the United States. Nagle is known for picking people and building high-performance teams.

What You'll Learn:

Sourcing and Procurement for Advanced Manufacturing
Leadership and Team Building
Interviewing and Picking Good People
Self-Learning
Practicing Self Discipline
The transition from SpaceX to a Start-up

Favorite Quote:

"With Knowledge, creativity, and imagination, youtube exists now! And if you know what to type in the search bar, you can learn!"

Check out the Podcast with Datum's CEO:

Rob Pakalski of Datum Source on Space Tech and Raising a $4.6M Seed Round

Connect with Dylan Agajanian:

Email - dylan@dacomposer.com

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

Jim Prendergast of HealthiestYou on Founding an Employer Centric Digital Health Platform and Selling to Teledoc

David Paul — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Jim Prendergast. Jim is the founder of 317 Ventures, a venture firm focused on investing in and developing startups in the health, wellness, and employee benefits space. He previously founded the telehealth platform HealthiestYou which is located in Scottsdale. HealthiestYou was acquired in 2016 by Teladoc for $150M. Jim is also a partner at the Coplex Startup Studio.

What You’ll Learn:

Digital Health within Employee Benefits
Tech Distribution and Software Development
Importance of Partnerships
Channel Sales
Engagement and Adoption
Acquisition Process
Next Steps after Acquisition
Virtual Care
Healthcare System and Insurance

Favorite Quote:

“Business is the art of taking a product to market, knowing that absolutely anyone and anything will get in your way.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Adam Hunke of Banner Health Ventures on Investing in Healthcare Technology and Being a Corporate Venture Firm

David Paul — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Adam Hunke. Adam Hunke is the Principal of Banner Health’s Venture Group, where he identifies, evaluates, and builds partnerships with external companies to deliver on innovation growth opportunities within the Banner ecosystem. Banner has 6 portfolio companies - software and healthcare series.

What You’ll Learn:

Deal Mechanics
Funding round as a board member
Transitioning from traditional startup to health system venture capital
Venture Capital inside a health system
Using Clinical Workflows as a Sourcing Strategy
Upside Diligence
Long-term thinking
Thematic investing
Selling to Hospitals

Favorite Quote:

“You have to know your market really well.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Adam Greenbaum of WhiskerCloud on Vertical Specific Value Added Services

David Paul — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Adam Greenbaum.

“Life has been a wild ride, but it led me to where I am, and there is no place I'd rather be. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, and made my way to Denver, CO, before putting down roots in Newport Beach, CA. Powered by a "never satisfied" attitude and some powerful perfectionism OCD, I continually work hard to stay at the top of my profession.

Leading the ship of WhiskerCloud has been a wild ride. Entirely bootstrapped, I had a dream of modernizing an entire industry that I cared about considerably. I have spent years watching the veterinary industry slowly move backward regarding technology and wanted to do something about that. WhiskerCloud changed that. Launched in May of 2016, we have experienced tremendous growth, and we are already planning our next moves for the future. Thousands of veterinary professionals worldwide rely on WhiskerCloud to grow their business online, and our team is up for the challenge. In 2021, we were named one of the top 21 web design companies in America, and we're the only one on the list entirely focused on veterinary medicine.

Since 2014, I have had three companies make Built In's "Top 50 Startups to Watch" lists and was named one of the top tech influencers to follow on Twitter. If you are on Twitter, say hello! @Greenbaumly

Work aside, my family comes first. My wife Elizabeth and our three furry kids, Sophie, Baxter, and Nala, come before anything else. I'm an avid Marvel fan (Hulk is my spirit animal). I'm also working hard to create an artificial intelligence clone of myself. Is the world ready for two of me? We're going to find out soon!”

What You’ll Learn:

Branding and Messaging
Demand Generation
Repeatable Sales
Vet Market
Selling a Business
Vet Market Consolidation

Favorite Quote:

“People are afraid of selling; People are afraid of sticker shock. Don’t be afraid of sticker shock.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Sara Omohundro of Elevate Ventures on Being an Institutional LP and Transitioning into a GP

David Paul — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Sara Omohundro. Sara is the Director of Venture Syndication, Principal, GO Fund at Elevate Ventures. She is responsible for fund investment and syndication activities. Prior to Elevate, Sara worked at the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS), where she allocated capital across private asset classes. She is also the Founder and President of the Women Investors Network (WIN), a local networking group for women in the investment industry. Sara holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Butler University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and received Highest Honors in Economics and Finance. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and she is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Economics at Purdue University. Outside of work, Sara enjoys riding and showing horses, playing with her cat, reading, working out, and watching Butler basketball.

What You’ll Learn:

Intellectual Curiosity
Institutional LP Structure
Pitching Institutions
Relationship building matters
Capital base diversification and expansion
Investment process as an institutional investor
Ways to differentiate funds
Tips on how emerging managers should prepare for institutional money
Transition and difference between institutional LP and GP

Favorite Quote:

“Building Relationships is The Most Important Thing You Can Do No Matter What Side of the Table You Are On.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Ed Wilson of Impulsum Ventures on Seed Investing, Investing in Networks, and Product Ideation

David Paul — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Ed Wilson. Ed Wilson is a founder and managing partner at Impulsum Ventures, a seed-stage fund focused on investing in health-tech, fin-tech, and consumer tech. Impulsum’s big value add to their portfolio companies is they also run a development studio that can help fill in the gaps for companies as they go from MVP to their first paying customers. When he is not meeting with founders, you can find him spending time with his amazing wife, prepping for their first baby, or skateboarding with some of the most interesting and eclectic people he gets the honor to call friends.

What You’ll Learn:

Importance to believe in people
Pattern Recognition
Network, Network, Network
Value Add
Investment process
Valuations on Seed Deals
Feature vs. Platform company
Early-stage Product Development

Favorite Quote:

“At the end of the day, what are you doing that is really unique; what are you doing that you have an edge in somebody else”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Sean O’Brien of Overline VC on Seed Funding and Portfolio Construction

David Paul — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Sean O’Brien. Sean O'Brien is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Overline, an Atlanta-based seed-stage venture capital fund that he runs with his partner, Michael Cohn. He has had a 30-year career spanning investment banking, hedge fund management, and corporate strategy/M&A roles. O’Brien currently serves as Board Member at Resultid, BreachRx, HopDrive, The Zero Proof, Press Sports, and Makeswift. Previously, he served as President, Strategic Initiatives & Chief Strategy Officer at PGi, a public technology company that was acquired by private equity in 2015 for over $1 billion. At PGi, he oversaw the company's Legal, HR, and Program Management Organizations, in addition to managing Corporate Development, Corporate Strategy, and Mergers & Acquisitions. O’Brien has completed 30+ corporate acquisitions, divestitures, and company sales, and he has funded, advised, and mentored dozens of early-stage companies. He is an All-Star Techstars mentor and a mentor at Endeavor Atlanta.

What You’ll Learn:

Seed fund management and founder operator background
Leading Rounds
Investor Relationship Building
Portfolio Construction
Deploying Capital and Market Timing
Fund Ownership
Thematic Investing
Calculating a future dilution

Favorite Quote:

“We want to have a different type of relationship with founders. We truly want to be the first call whether is good news or bad news ”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Neal Bloom of Interlock Capital on the Importance of Community and Raising Fund I

David Paul — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Neal Bloom. Neal Bloom is the CEO of Rising Tide Partners, a communications firm, and the co-founder & Managing Director of Interlock Capital, a venture investment firm. He is Chair Emeritus of Startup San Diego.

Neal graduated with an undergraduate engineering degree from UCSD and went to work on NASA's Space Shuttle program, launching astronauts to the Space Station. He has since obtained an M.B.A. with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and marketing.

Neal later co-founded Portfolium to help new grads brand themselves with existing classwork as work experience in a visual format. Portfolium was acquired by Instructure ($INST) in 2019. He then went to work building an investment community of domain expert operators to close the gap between capital and subject matter experts. This group, Interlock Capital, has deployed $3.6M into 17 companies in 17 months.

Mr. Bloom has focused on a variety of

· Build a multi-city media company and a marketing agency that focuses on economic development, sustainability, and evangelism of the SoCal tech ecosystem, winning multiple awards along the way

· Amplify the story of dozens of local governments and special districts in connecting with their communities

· Interviewed hundreds of leaders for tens of thousands of downloads through his podcast

· Helping create an annual conference to inspire entrepreneurship

· Mentor dozens of founders to either leap and/or to keep building quality businesses

· Advising stakeholders in multiple regions on the changing needs for talent and capital in the technology space

· Angel investing into 50+ early-stage companies while inspiring more entrepreneurs to become investors as well

· Recruit 250+ operators to begin their angel investing journey with Interlock Capital

· Raising a venture fund to double down early-stage investing in dynamic technology leaders

LinkedIn: /in/nealbbloom

TWITTER: @NealBloom

What You’ll Learn:

Angel Investing to Raising Fund I
Understanding of the marketplace model
Building community prospective
How to educate the community to get out of their bubble as a company
The necessity of a founder to be a talent scout
Importance of being active in sharing an opinion
Community understanding that everyone is after the same thing
Importance of connecting talent to talent
Fund structure
Social media presence growth

Favorite Quote:

“Show up! And do not wait to start!”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Jacob Findlay of Fullbay on Building And Scaling SaaS for SMB Customers

David Paul — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is talking to Jacob Findlay.

Jacob Findlay is the Co-founder of Fullbay. Five years ago, he made the leap from healthcare to truck repair. He wanted to take the best ideas from the electronic medical records world and apply them to heavy-duty repair. In other words, build a medical record for trucks.

At the time, Jacob was in the Director of Finance role for a wildly successful startup company called WebPT. More than 10,000 physical therapy clinics in the United States—one-third of all clinics in the country—now run on WebPT’s software.

Despite his success at WebPT, he left to spend a year running the office side of a truck repair shop. He wanted to gain street credibility in truck repair. He then launched Fullbay in the Fall of 2015.

Today Fullbay is the number one fleet repair platform in North America. Jacob is a CPA, a cellist, a so-so surfer, and the father of seven children.

What You’ll Learn:

Importance of a good sales execution
Steps to achieve product-market fit
Understanding and identifying a problem before building a product
Progress of the product after launch
Understanding customers and how to implement the product
Adjusting training accordingly to SMB customer
Best ways to identify product-market fit
Importance of keeping a simple finance plan

Favorite Quote:

“If you wanna succeed in business, identify a problem, solve it, and then sell it.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

John Francis of Stout Street Capital on Identifying Great Founders and Pre-Seed/Seed Companies

David Paul — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with John Francis.

John Francis brings his experiences as an operator and institutional venture investor. John Francis with Clay Gordon started Stout Street Capital in 2017. As General Partner, he focuses on investment opportunities in the IT software serving sectors such as Construction, Government, Energy, Cleantech, Media, Advertising, HR, Healthcare, and Cloud services. John works actively on several portfolio company boards, including Schola, Fluent Forever, Botco.ai, and Ad Fontes. He previously served on the boards of Popwallet (acquired by Snapchat (Nasdaq: SNAP)) and has made investments in companies such as Left-hand robotics(Acquired by TORO(NYSE: TTS)

What You’ll Learn:

Difficulties in raising capital as a non-operator VC
Operator vs. non-operator background VC
The importance of having Empathy as a VC
Benefits and flexibility of being a small check fund
Difficult to identify an exceptional founder
Ways to look at pre-seed and seed companies
Benefits and necessities of writing a follow on check

Favorite Quote:

“Always ask for a lullaby before getting into a business.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Cory Berg of Salad n’ Go on Early Stage Product Development and Tech Leadership

David Paul — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Cory Lee Berg.

Cory is a technology specialist and coach. He believes software teams with a clear vision and proper leadership can build excellent products while enjoying the journey.

Described as a “pragmatic technologist with a rare ability to yield results and make engineers smile,” Cory has devoted his professional life to helping advance a vision where business and software act as true partners in creating exciting, vibrant software and solutions to make the world a better place.

Cory is the author of the 5-star review book, Software++: Must-Have Skills for Software Engineers.

In his spare time, Cory runs www.softwaretshirts.com, an e-commerce site designed to uplift the spirits of technology workers everywhere.

He is also launching a program to foster and promote next-generation leadership skills for technology leaders everywhere.

What You’ll Learn:

Product Management
Product Strategy (Short / Long term)
When to Bring in a Product Manager.
Product Simplicity (Framework /right person)
Messaging and Expectations around Product Launch
Founder Bias within Product
Emotional Intelligence for in Tech Leadership
Recruitment Top Tech Talent

Favorite Quote:

“If you aren’t going to build it deep, then don’t build it at all.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Jesse Randall of Sweater on Breaking Venture Capitals Exclusivity

David Paul — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Jess Randall. Jesse Randall is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sweater Ventures, a VC fund that gives access to venture capital to everyone, regardless of your wealth or accreditation status. Sweater just raised $15M Series Seed earlier this year in order to build the technology to put an investment team in the palm of your hands via a mobile app where you can keep up to date on your portfolio. Sweater aims to give everyone a chance at investing in the next big startup through the fund. In addition to Sweater, Jesse is an avid Ironman competitor, a family man with five children, and a previous founder of several other companies.

What You’ll Learn:

Private Market Accreditation Guidelines
Being a Registered Investment Company
Comparing Sweater and a Mutual Fund
Investment Thesis and Deal Flow
Target Returns
Redemptions and Managing Cash
Managing Deployment Velocity and Fundraising
Consumer-facing brands, products, and apps on the sweater platform

Favorite Quote:

“Focus on your strength. It is better to take your strength from 10-100 than focus on your weakness from 1-10”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Jack Freeman of PeakSpan Capital on Thematic Investing within Growth Equity

David Paul — Tue, 31 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Jack Freeman. Jack has worked with growth-stage technology businesses his whole career and has been a partner to nearly twenty portfolio companies at PeakSpan. He currently leads Payments, Supply Chain, and E-Commerce logistics. Prior to joining PeakSpan, Jack worked for Stackpop, an early-stage startup where he helped build out a SaaS-based cost management platform to help CTOs and IT teams buy and manage their internet infrastructure. After his startup was disrupted by AWS, Jack joined Macquarie Capital where he spent three years executing software M&A and capital markets transactions. Jack holds a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College; and prior to Middlebury, he played division I soccer for Seton Hall University. Jack lives in Brooklyn Heights with his wife and recently rescued puppy, Willow – the sweetest Great Pyrenees you’ll ever meet. Once a year, Jack champions a team of thirty in a charity bike ride to the Hamptons to support his brother’s autism program, Quest, where he’s raised over $100K. Since retiring from collegiate soccer, Jack has become an avid distance runner and is halfway to completing the “big six” world marathon majors.

What You’ll Learn:

Activities in a Later Stage Growth Equity Firm
From Associate to Partner
Yearly Strategic Planning at a VC Firm
Supplementing SaaS Revenue with Payments
Thematic Research
Understanding Internal Biases
Understanding of Tech-Enabled Services
Follow-on Strategies
Valuations in Growth Equity
10-Year SaaS Benchmarks
Good vs. Bad Board Members

Favorite Quote:

“Be Patient!”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

John Mizzi of Vero Technologies on Launching a Fintech Lending Business and Underwriting Credit

David Paul — Tue, 24 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with John Mizzi. John is the co-founder and CEO of Vero Technologies. He was previously the COO of Bond.One, a capital markets technology platform, focused on streamlining settlement and reconciliation functions for asset servicers (Corporate Trustees and Administrators) in the debt capital markets. As an entrepreneur-in-residence for Danish software company, cVation, he launched 2 fintech companies, Bond.One and IMTC. IMTC is a portfolio management software solution for investment managers. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the McCarton Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate, empower, and provide exceptional treatment for children with autism. John attended the University of Michigan, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. While in Ann Arbor, he co-founded InSilico, an education technology start-up focused on developing software solutions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

What You’ll Learn:

Managing Yourself and Employees
How a fintech product should look like to determine creditworthiness
Process to raise a seed fund as a balance sheet lending business
FinTech milestones and ways to evaluate a FinTech company
Go to market motion
Channel Sales through banks
Level of Product Market-Fit
30/60/90 days plan after a $4M raise

Favorite Quote:

“You do not do business with business, you do business with people”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Ryan Edwards of Prospeq on Becoming an Emerging Manager and Funding Underrepresented Founders

David Paul — Tue, 17 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Ryan Edwards. Ryan Edwards has 20 years of financial experience across large and small banking institutions. He has a 14-year history of lending to emerging technology companies through his time at both Silicon Valley Bank and Comerica. He has worked with hundreds of borrowers over the years and has extensive experience in venture debt, working capital finance, specialty lending, and portfolio management. The scale of companies that Ryan has worked with over the years has ranged from pre-revenue startups to public companies. His debt fund, Prospeq, works with underserved companies across the US.

What You’ll Learn:

Transitioning from a bank executive to an emerging manager
Bank vs. Fund credit debt
Fund Formation
Current market opportunity
LP returns
Emerging manager challenges
Debt vs. Equity
Deal source strategy and mechanism
How to set an investment decision in a new fund

Favorite Quote:

“View everything as an opportunity, opportunistic as a partnership. Add value together and be supportive of the people that you are working with. Always think about the best way to give and not the best way to gain something”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Gabe Cooper of Virtuous on Finding Product Market Fit and Scaling a Vertical SaaS Company

David Paul — Tue, 10 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Gabe Cooper. Gabe Cooper is the Founder and CEO of Virtuous, a Responsive Fundraising Platform helping charities increase generosity and do more good. Gabe has a passion for creating market-defining software and helping nonprofits reimagine generosity.

Gabe frequently writes and speaks about empowering nonprofits to grow generosity using technology. In 2020, he wrote and published the book Responsive Fundraising as a way to help nonprofits connect more personally with donors at a scale.

What You’ll Learn:

Selling to Non-Business Minded People
Managing Remote Teams
Segmenting Vertical SaaS Market
Finding Product-Market Fit
Developing Go To Market Fit
Scaling Customer Success
Difference between raising a Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds
Making Strategic Acquisitions

Favorite Quote:

“Most CEOs including myself don’t actually know what we are doing. We are out of our skies all the time. VCs also do not know what they are doing and they do not know how to run your business.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Brian Parks of Bigfoot Capital on Early Stage Debt

David Paul — Tue, 03 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Brian Parks. Brian is the Founder and CEO of Bigfoot Capital. Prior to starting Bigfoot, Brian was on the executive team at P2Binvestor, a working capital-focused marketplace lender. Brian was the Founder and CEO of Brandfolder, an enterprise SaaS digital asset management company (acquired), General Manager at Galvanize, one of the first co-working and coding Bootcamp companies (acquired), and employee #1 at Next Great Place, an online travel distribution company (shut down). Brian began his career in commercial lending at First Tennessee Bank (2 years) and moved into lower-middle market M&A advisory investment banking at The Cypress Group and Green Manning & Bunch (5 years). Brian holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Southern Methodist University and is a CFA Charterholder.

What You’ll Learn:

What is Venture Debt
Banked vs Fund Credit
Path from Investment banking to Operator to Growth-Oriented Loans
Understanding When is the Time for a Founder to Step Down as CEO
Difficulties of Being an Emerging Manager

Favorite Quote:

“You cannot heck track record, It takes time”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Bill Binch of Battery Ventures on Product Led Growth and Hiring Your First VP of Sales

David Paul — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Bill Binch.

Bill, a veteran technology leader with nearly three decades of global sales and go-to-market experience, is an operating partner based in Battery’s San Francisco office. He serves as a coach and mentor for sales executives and CEOs in Battery’s portfolio, helping software companies scale through various stages of growth, effectively expand overseas and create multi-product sales platforms.

Bill’s operating experience spans key roles at fast-growing private software companies, such as Marketo and Pendo, as well as billion-dollar public enterprises such as Oracle and PeopleSoft. Before joining Battery, Bill was the chief revenue officer of Pendo, where he helped grow annual recurring revenue to nearly $100 million in three years. Prior to that, he spent more than nine years at the marketing-tech company Marketo. There, he held multiple roles, including EVP of worldwide sales, managing director of APAC, and board director of Marketo Japan. At Marketo, Bill was the 16th employee and led the company’s sales teams through its private stages of growth to an IPO, and until the company’s 2016 acquisition by Vista Equity.

Before Marketo, Bill held senior sales roles at Avolent, BEA, PeopleSoft, and Oracle. He has also been a member of the board of directors at Qvidian and advised companies including Birst, Conversica, Integrate Inc., and Node.io.

Bill holds a BS in marketing from Arizona State University and completed Harvard Business School’s strategic sales program.

What You’ll Learn:

Being an Operating Partner at a VC firm
Day-to-day Activities of an Operating
Product Lead and Sales Lead Companies
Freemium vs. Product Lead Growth
Understanding the Concept of Having the Buyer Control the Sale
Steps to test a PLG as a go-to-market strategy
Consumption vs Per Seat Model
Tips on How to Choosing Your First VP of Sales
Tips on How a founder/CEO can measure a VP of sales
Tips on how long a founder/CEO should give a VP of sales to present a sales plan after hiring

Favorite Quote:

“In an interview, I commonly ask this question: If you were on a desert island and you could only have three dashboards what would be the three things that you would like to see?”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Taylor Cavanah of PetDesk on the Challenger Sale and Defining Product-Market Fit.

David Paul — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Taylor Cavanah. Taylor Cavanah founder and CEO of PetDesk.

PetDesk is engaging pet parents in their pet’s health by building deeper relationships with their pet care providers. The company is the leading provider of client communication and is currently being used within 3,500 vet clinics and has over 3M app users.

Taylor began his technical career at Zyvex Corporation where he helped grow, spin off, and later sell the company. Between undergrad and grad school he worked for Sony America in a think tank tasked with forecasting products 10 years down the road.

What You’ll Learn:

Creating products from features
Definition of product-market fit
Problems with over-engineering products
Going from product-market fit to go to market fit
Founder psychology
Owning the vet ecosystem

Favorite Quote:

“When things get stressful - you tend to try to control the controllable. When times get tough you will naturally fall into your comfort zone, and sometimes that is not the right thing to do.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Justin Gray of Shift Paradigm on the Problems with MarTech

David Paul — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Justin Gray. Justin Gray is a serial entrepreneur who has made a career of launching successful companies and scaling them, with successful exits of over 250MM. After joining the Shift Paradigm family as a result of the LeadMD acquisition in early 2021, Justin slotted into a role near and dear to his heart, helming the go-to-market team where he manages Sales, Marketing, and Business Development. Justin is also a strong voice for pragmatic entrepreneurship, modern marketing, and building intentional organizational culture. As a recognized speaker, Justin has been published over 500 times in industry publications and maintains a regular column in Inc., while also contributing to Entrepreneur, Tech Crunch, and others. Justin and his wife Jennifer met over marketing, have a son named like a superhero, Grayson, and a daughter who’s destined to be a Rockstar. When not driving bookings revenues, you can find him roaming the fields at his hemp farm in Missouri or combing the desert looking for a poorly executed shot at the golf course.

Justin Grey LinkedIn

Justin Grey Twitter

What You’ll Learn:

Understanding Marketing Automation
Evolution of MarTech
Marketing Fundamentals vs Software
How Complex a Marketing Position can be in an Organization
Relationship of Sales vs Marketing
General understanding of CDP, and its place in the MarTech stack
Merger between LeadMD and Shift Paradigm

Favorite Quote:

“Say YES! Whenever possible”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Rei Carvalho of Wealth on Finding the Right Investors and Transitioning from Founder to Investor

David Paul — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Rei Carvalho. Rei Carvalho is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Wealth. Wealth is the first comprehensive estate planning platform that provides a holistic view of all your assets, visualized and securely stored in one place. With robust asset aggregation technology, sophisticated APIs, and bank-level encryption, our platform makes estate planning easy and accessible. Prior to wealth, Rei was the founder and CEO of Emailage, a global online fraud prevention company acquired by LexusNexus in March 2020. A serial entrepreneur, he is now focused as an Investor providing insightful help as well as resources to VC firms and CEOs around the world.

What You’ll Learn:

Go To Market Strategy in Different Technology Companies
Choosing the Right Investors When Value and Terms All Being Equal
Post Closing Value Creation from Investors
Being a Founder to Becoming a Venture Capitalist
The Growth of US Venture Capital Money Outside the US

Favorite Quote:

“A dollar is a dollar does not matter where you get it”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Rob Pakalski of Datum Source on Space Tech and Raising a $4.6M Seed Round

David Paul — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Rob Pakalski. Rob is co-founder and CEO of Datum – a venture-backed early-stage startup aiming to be the nucleus of the world’s supply chain. Rob spent the first ~4 years of his career at SpaceX, leading supply chain efforts for various products, including the spacesuit, Falcon Heavy thrust structure, and Dragon Spacecraft structural components. After SpaceX, Rob led the supply chain department at Virgin Hyperloop for 2.5 years before co-founding Datum. Rob is passionate about helping both buyers and suppliers work together to bring hardware to market more efficiently.

What You’ll Learn:

All things Space Tech
Raising a $4.6M Seed Round
Details about the Supply Chain in Advanced Manufacturing
Working at SpaceX
The reason why Datum Source founders decided to solve the supply chain problem in the space industry

Favorite Quote:

“In a Negotiation Never Speak First”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Zach Ferres of Coplex on Startup Studios and Corporate Venture Capital

David Paul — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Zach Ferres. Zach is a serial entrepreneur and technology executive with a passion for building startups and the entrepreneurial communities around them. Zach built and sold his first technology company at the age of 24 and was recognized as one of the Top 33 Student Entrepreneurs in the World by the Kauffman Foundation and Entrepreneurs Organization at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards. From 2012 to 2020, Zach served as the CEO of Coplex. During this time, Coplex helped start over 200 startups, built a diversified equity portfolio of over 50 companies, and became one of the largest Startup Studios in the US. Coplex partners with enterprises to build technology startups and have been featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes, The Washington Post, VentureBeat, and Fast Company. Today, Zach holds a variety of board positions at growing technology companies for which I actively support. Outside of work, He is an award-winning speaker, a runner, and a columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine.

What You’ll Learn:

Agency metrics
Keys to a successful agency
Definition of an incubator, accelerator, and start-up studio
What is the difference between incubator, accelerator, and start-up studio
More about corporate venture capital
Understanding how cash burn in an agency/service business is a problem

Favorite Quote:

“ The no-nonsense that it does when you have an agency that is focused on a vertical; it just makes it really easy for them to win business.”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Danny Loschiavo of Bold Leads on Bootstrapping a $30M SaaS Company While Combating Customer Churn

David Paul — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Danny Loschavio. Danny is a serial entrepreneur who is passionate about marketing. His latest exit was a real estate SaaS company he bootstrapped to $30M ARR. He’s managed over $100M in ad spend and over 200M people in the US have clicked at least one of his ads. His latest venture, Klay Brands, takes a startup studio approach to eCommerce.

What You’ll Learn:

Importance of having empathy to grow a start-up
Understanding of product-market fit and how Bold Leads had a product-market fit from day 1 due to tons of customer discovery from their previous service company.
Real estate tech and real estate market overview
How the growth and customer acquisition of Bold Leads happened
How net revenue retention is key in any SaaS company
Understanding of Amazon Aggregators

Favorite Quote:

“The time to stop working is when working is no longer working”

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Bogdan of Voxie on using Natural Language Understanding (AI) as the Future of the Customer Experience

David Paul — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Bogdan Constantin, founder and CEO of Voxie, the leading conversational text marketing and automation platform for innovative retail brands. Voxie is deployed across thousands of locations nationwide to help automate everything from driving repeat purchases from dormant customers to qualifying candidates who applied online within seconds. Voxie averaged a 15x monthly return on investment for its customers in 2021 - culminating in the business growing over 400% and a recent $25M Series A investment.

What You’ll Learn:

Importance of learning from others
Scaling your business
Voxie means “to grow” in Norwegian and Swedish
In the future for a brand to grow a brand must be able to talk with all its customers at a one to one basis to develop a relationship
Changes in E-commerce - Google changed filters, so email ads went into spam folders

Favorite Quote:

“Until I reasoned that I needed to grow faster than the set of my own experiences then I wasn't growing at the exponential rate that I needed to to keep up with the business.” - Val Porter quoted by Bogdan Constantin that he thinks about almost daily.

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Tim Hargis of Tuft & Needle on Bootstrapping a DTC E-Commerce Brand from $9-$200M in 3-Years and the Importance of Domain Names.

David Paul — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Tim Hargis is a serial entrepreneur and lover of all things startup. He was featured among the top 35 Entrepreneurs under 35 by Arizona Republic. He has actively served as a mentor and advisor for many startup companies while supporting young innovators and entrepreneurs through SkySong, ASU’s Scottsdale Innovation Center.

After the sale of his precious metals franchise company, Tim joined Tuft & Needle (mattresses online) in their early stages and played an integral role helping the company grow from $9m to $200m (while remaining profitable and bootstrapped) by leveraging his expertise and network in the digital marketing arena. In addition, he helped build the wholesale distribution channel for the business by successfully landing and negotiating multiple big-box retail partnerships with companies such as Lowe’s, Crate & Barrel, and Walmart.

What You’ll Learn:

Tim’s story of how he got started as a serial entrepreneur
Using Google Analytics to determine where to open locations
Understanding margins to find value
Finding a market that can be disrupted
Finding early adopters
Iterating a product which results in less returns
Using Google search terms for marketing
Using Google Ads
Decision-making between staying bootstrapped vs. raising venture capital
Creative marketing – billboard marketing considerations
Buying a memorable domain name (one word dotcoms)

Favorite Quote:

“When you are bootstrapped, it forces you to be resourceful. It reinforces building good fundamentals. You have to find a space where you have an edge.” - Tim Hargis

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Ryan Collins of Noro Mosley Partners on Healthcare IT Investing and Defining Platforms

David Paul — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Ryan Collins joined Noro Mosley Partners (NMP) as a Vice President in August 2018. He supports the firm’s investments in healthcare companies. Ryan currently serves on the board of Medix infusion, and serves as a board observer for Cariloop, findhelp and Upward Health. Prior to joining NMP, Ryan served as a Private Equity Associate at the Riverside Company, a global private equity firm with $7 billion of capital under management. Ryan also previously worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at VRA Partners, an Atlanta-based investment bank providing M&A services to leading middle-market companies. Ryan received a BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

What You’ll Learn:

Series A and Series B considerations
How to assess a broader risk-portfolio
Thematic investing and organic growth
What defines a platform
Capitalizing on data collection
Healthcare IT adoption
Signals for deciding whether to underwrite
Product market fit - can you make it faster and more efficient?
Helping employers manage healthcare costs when an employee goes on specialty drugs
Cost management to lower deductibles - reduction in choice
What defines Tech enabled services - combination of software and human element
Virtual care in digital health and recurring revenue models
Workforce management solutions, especially in Human Resource applications

Favorite Quote:

“Are you constantly getting the calls of people trying to partner with you?” - Ryan Collins

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

John Waupsh of Nerve on Launching a NeoBank and Finding Product-Market Fit

David Paul — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 03:00:00 -0400

John Waupsh is co-founder and CEO of Nerve. Nerve is the creator’s banking app with FDIC-insured business debt, savings, and other money-management tools designed for their business challenges. Nerve also offers public APIs, that, among other benefits, enable low-cost and instant payments for companies serving the creator economy.

Prior to founding Nerve, John spent 15 years leading product management, R&D and user experience at Kasasa, a fintech company serving more than 800 banks and credit unions and millions of consumers nationwide. John is a keynote speaker, a board member of IFSG (https://IFSG.io), founder of two record labels discovering and releasing lost music, and a fintech consultant to several banks and credit unions. His book, Bankruption: How Community Banking Can Survive Fintech, is available on Amazon. He enjoys spending time with his kids in his hometown of Austin.

Host, David Paul, interviewed John Waupsh about the Fintech market and the development of online banking and apps which is disrupting community banking and credit unions.

What You’ll Learn:

What are neobanks?
Development of providing banking services online and apps
Need for the book “Bankruption” which discusses the disruption of community banking and reveals what community banks are doing successfully or unsuccessfully
Evolution of community
Who are you going to target?
The massive opportunity to serve customers and companies in ways that have never been served before
John Waupsh’s transition from Kasasa to Nerve

Favorite Quote:

“Community is no longer defined by hills, rivers, railroad tracks.” - John Waupsh

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast

Jerry Pence of Balanced Capital Partners on PE Is Bull$hit, Recovering From the First Deal Going Flat, and Humility in Investing

David Paul — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 03:00:00 -0400

With over 25 years of experience in private equity, operations, management consulting, and investment banking, Jerry Pence of Balanced Capital Partners, has vast experience and a proven track-record for delivering returns to shareholders. He has acquired 12 companies with revenues totaling $1.6 billion, $137 million of deployed equity, resulting in over $1.1 billion in equity returned or an 8.4x cash-on-cash to investors.

Jerry Pence transitioned from private equity investing in family offices into Balanced Capital Partners. In the private equity investing, it was distressed buying by the pound. I just realized I wasn’t a value guy. I came to believe that value is relative. I loved being in environments that are more about growth and positivity. I’m getting good value relative to the opportunity.

What You’ll Learn:

Distressed and special situations is simply allocating capital to generate fees. They are getting wealthy by getting 2% in fees.
Private equity returns slice and dice the data in order to say, “this is my return.”
Unrealized return vs. Actual return, there’s a bias to rounding up

Favorite Quote:

“Growth to me is the ability to have an alignment of interests.” - Jerry Pence

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Sammy Abdullah of Blossom Street Ventures on being the “Anti-VC” and real talk on valuations in later funding rounds.

David Paul — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0400

David Paul, founder of DWP Capital, is speaking with Sammy Abudullah, managing partner of Blossom Street Ventures. Sammy refers to his company as an anti-VC (venture capitalist). He has employed $39 million in venture capital in over 25 companies within 8 funds. Sammy Abudullah explains he does not operate like a traditional VC. He gets to a “no” within a phone call instead of taking weeks and months like traditional VC’s. He does not unicorn hunt. “The goal is not to go big or go broke.” He asks for 3x returns rather than 10x returns like traditional VC’s.

Sammy refers to himself as the VC of the People because he makes his email easily accessible, so people can reach out to him directly. “We are generalists because of how we approach the underwriting.” He spends a lot of time on content creation, which comes out of his research. He does the research and blogs about the metrics he found. He writes blogs about things like, The amount of net investment software companies took on prior to going IPO.

What You’ll Learn:

Having a board to collaborate with is valuable.
Advantages of flexibility, speed and transparency
Quantitative approach with data analysis are critical

Favorite Quote:

“Even if you are the best at what you do, it's really nice to be accountable to somebody else in your peer group. ” - David Paul

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Daniel Graff-Radford of Allbound on being a non-founder CEO, getting gross margin right, and when to start channel sales as a startup.

David Paul — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today, David is speaking with Daniel Graff-Radford, the CEO of Allbound. He’s sharing how he transitioned from a software executive to a non-founder CEO and fast tracked the company’s success. Allbound is now one of the fastest growing companies in market technology and leads in the channel technology market.

Daniel says the first thing he started with was product. He says you have to look at where you have good market fit, where you have happy customers, and where you have unhappy customers. If customers are unhappy, it’s usually because it was sold to the wrong people or wasn’t implemented right. Once you have the right product and the right customers, it’s time to focus on gross margin.

What You’ll Learn:

What channel sales are and how they work.
How Daniel became a non-founder CEO.
How Allbound became one of the fastest growing companies in market technology.
What key thing most companies do wrong in regard to gross margins.

Favorite Quote:

“I can fix this, I just need some time and some capital.” -Daniel Graff-Radford

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Aashay Sanghvi of Haystack VC on breaking into venture capital, attractive founder heuristics, and 2022 M&A frenzy.

David Paul — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 02:00:00 -0400

Aashay Sanghvi is a Principal at Haystack, an early stage venture capital firm. Haystack is an early investor in companies like Instacart, DoorDash, Figma, Carta, and many more. Aashay joined Haystack out of undergrad at Harvard and has helped spearhead the fund’s investments in companies like Vectorized, Buf, and Higo. Aashay is currently based in New York City.

Aashay first got interested in tech right before college after reading “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel in 2015. While at Harvard, he emailed Venture Capital firms with his harvard.edu email address and met several people for coffee. In fall 2017 at the start of his junior year, he pitched some seed deals to help a couple entrepreneurs get funded.

What You’ll Learn:

How to identify a good opportunity
Where to find the smartest engineers and product builders

Favorite Quote:

“Does this person inspire confidence in me? People who are very specific about the goals they are trying to accomplish are very rare. Specificity is one thing I pay attention to now.” - Aashay Sanghvi

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Todd Davis of LifeLock on mastering insecurity, building a best in class brand, and managing your investors.

David Paul — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 01:00:00 -0400

LifeLock is one of the most well known identity theft monitoring companies out there. Its founder and executive chairman, Todd Davis, is here to tell us about the company’s beginnings, it’s growth, and it’s sale in 2017. It all started while attending the University of Texas when Todd found out about the entrepreneur program at Baylor. He knew he had to go, and that’s where he caught the entrepreneurial bug. He went on to start multiple companies in many industries, including wastewater treatment, computer sales, sports marketing, and CBD.

In order to become the most trusted brand in their space, LifeLock had to raise a lot of money and offer a million dollar guarantee. Despite LifeLock’s ultimate success, Todd says many times it wasn’t obvious it was going to be great. There were times they came within 90 days of running out of money. Starting with only one $10/month option, LifeLock needed to drum up a lot of subscriptions. Todd became excellent at utilizing PR opportunities and is most well known for giving out his social security number to prove his confidence in their product.

What You’ll Learn:

The two instinctual things you need to be a successful entrepreneur.
The importance of a mentor and what they can teach you.
How ego is the downfall of many business leaders.
How LifeLock continued to grow through the recession.

Favorite Quote:

“Almost every job I’ve ever started, I had no experience at beforehand.” -Todd Davis

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

DISCLAIMER:

David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Welcome to the Podcast

David Paul — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 03:00:00 -0400

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE

Coming Soon

David Paul — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 03:00:00 -0400

The Capital Stack

All Things Tech Investing and Value Creation

Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world's greatest ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:

Twitter - CLICK HERE

Substack - CLICK HERE

LinkedIn - CLICK HERE

IG - CLICK HERE