From battlefield drones and AI-enabled cyberattacks to the regulatory frameworks that will define the next era of warfare, this conversation explores what happens when AI becomes both a weapon and a shield.

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

From Red Teams to Founders

• Will Pearce, former leader of AI Red Teams at Microsoft and NVIDIA, discusses his journey from penetration testing and consulting to building Dreadnode.
• Describes how the offensive use of AI is a natural extension of red teaming — “offense leads defense.”

Brad Palm’s Path from the Battlefield

• Brad Palm, a Marine Corps veteran and former red team leader, shares how military principles of mobility, attack, and defense translate into cyber warfare.
• Offensive cyber as a transformational moment — comparing AI’s impact to the leap from muskets to machine guns.

The Rise of Offensive AI

• Will breaks down the offensive AI landscape, from code scanning and model manipulation to adversarial attacks on computer vision systems.
• How more “eyes,” even artificial ones, find more vulnerabilities — accelerating both innovation and exposure.

Building a Platform for Cyber ML Ops

• Dreadnode’s platform enables organizations to build, evaluate, and deploy AI models and agents with security in mind.
• Unlike “AI-in-a-box” startups, their approach mirrors ML Ops infrastructure — prioritizing transparency, testing, and adaptability.
• Their mission: help clients build their own capabilities, rather than just buy black-box solutions.

A Collaborative Cybersecurity Community

• Will and Brad note that in AI security, collaboration beats competition.
• “If you have confidence in your abilities, you don’t need to hide anything.”
• Despite growing investment and consolidation, the founders believe the industry is still expanding rapidly — with room for innovation and partnership.

Human + AI: The Future of the Battlefield

• Brad connects his defense background to current AI developments, pointing to autonomous drones in Ukraine as examples of real-time AI-driven warfare.
• Raises ethical and practical questions about “human-in-the-loop” systems and the urgency of explainable, auditable AI in combat environments.
• Will expands on how regulatory frameworks and rules of engagement must evolve to keep pace with privately developed AI systems.

Offensive AI Conference & What’s Next

• Hosting Offensive AI Con in San Diego — the first of its kind dedicated to offensive AI research and community building.
• The team continues to release state-of-the-art research drops, collaborating with cyber threat intel groups and enterprise partners.
• Above all, the founders share a deep appreciation for their team culture: detail-oriented, relentlessly curious, and dedicated to “winning every day.”

Resources:

Website: https://dreadnode.io/ 

Will Pearce - https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-pearce-a62331135/

Brad Palm - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradpalm/

Dreadnode LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dreadnode

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

A Career Built on Service

• Grew up in rural Pennsylvania; early influences of service from family (teacher, minister, Marine).
• Commissioned into the Marine Corps, became an intelligence officer and Scout Sniper Platoon Commander.
• Served under leaders like General Mattis and General Neller before they were well known.
• Left active duty after 8 years and entered the recruiting world to continue serving—this time by supporting fellow veterans.

20+ Years Recruiting and Championing Veterans

• Began his recruiting career at Lucas Group during the late 1990s.
• Helped place over 3,000 veterans and transitioned to Korn Ferry after an acquisition in 2021.
• Known for a long-term, relationship-based approach: “Today’s candidate is tomorrow’s client.”
• Shifted focus to post-transition executive placements, filling a gap in veteran recruiting not served by other organizations.

Leading The MilVet

• Joined The MilVet in 2023 to scale a mission-led, veteran-centric recruiting firm.
• Focus: place veterans in executive roles in VC/PE-backed and early-stage companies.
• Differentiators: customized search playbooks, interview scorecard development, and strategic advisory for clients.
• Firm belief: “The best indicator that a company will hire a veteran is having a veteran in the C-suite.”

The Broader Vision & Future Impact

• Identifies high-opportunity sectors for veterans: defense tech, private equity operations, and AI-resistant industries like home services.
• Emphasizes “finding a tribe” and community-building through networking dinners, events, and office hours.
• Coaching is the next frontier for The MilVet—launching an executive coaching offering in 2026.
• Jim’s long-term vision: a national movement to elevate veterans into positions of influence and impact.

Resources:

Website: https://www.themilvet.org/

Jim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslose/

The MilVet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themilvet/

In today’s episode, Les speaks with Chris Peterson, co-founder and CEO of Radicl, and a pioneer in cybersecurity innovation. Chris shares his inspiring journey from early days at Price Waterhouse to co-founding LogRhythm, and now leading Radicl - a company on a mission to bring military-grade cybersecurity to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), especially those in the defense industrial base (DIB). With humility, vision, and deep industry experience, Chris talks about the challenges of cybersecurity for SMBs, the promise of AI in threat detection, and the principles that drive Radicl’s product and culture.

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

1. Chris’s Cybersecurity Roots

• Grew up curious and mischievous - early hacking instincts emerged from pushing boundaries.
• First tech job at Price Waterhouse, where he was inspired by early internet penetration testing.
• Mentored by pioneers like George Kurtz (founder of CrowdStrike) and Ron Gula.
• Early work included database security assessments and automated audit tools.

2. Building LogRhythm

• Co-founded LogRhythm after stints at Counterpane and Tenable.
• Bootstrapped early development by selling his home and self-funding the venture.
• Partnered with Phil Villella (nuclear physicist) and Andy Grolnick (CEO) to scale the company.
• Lessons from early days: founder commitment, frugality, focus on product-market fit.
• LogRhythm grew to 500 employees before exiting via private equity in 2018.

3. The Genesis of Radicl

• Founded Radicl to address cybersecurity gaps in SMBs within the defense supply chain.
• Inspired by the SolarWinds hack and national security threats.
• Assembled a founding team including his brother Matt and a former fighter pilot.
• Mission: protect under-defended SMBs in DIB against industrial espionage.

4. The Opportunity and Market Need

• DIB SMBs are often unable to afford or operate traditional cybersecurity solutions.
• Barriers include tight margins, complex compliance (e.g. CMMC), and lack of in-house talent.
• Advances in cloud, automation, and AI now make affordable, scalable solutions viable.
• Radicl addresses both compliance operations and 24/7 security operations via software + human hybrid model.

5. Radicl’s Product and Platform

• Delivers “virtual SOC” capabilities—blending human expertise with AI and automation.
• Handles CMMC readiness, threat detection, incident response, and vulnerability management.
• Designed for transparency: customers can engage with Radicl’s ops team in-platform.
• AI-driven agents are increasingly being introduced to reduce cost and improve response times.

6. Looking Ahead

• Preparing for a Series A raise in the next 4–6 months to accelerate R&D investment.
• Focused on doubling down on AI innovation and expanding platform features.
• Vision: democratize advanced cybersecurity for SMBs while delivering elite protection to the DIB.
• Chris aims to balance company building with family, health, and meditation—striving for better life integration as a second-time founder.

Resources:

Website: 

• RADICL
  • https://www.linkedin.com/company/radicl-defense/ 
  • https://radicl.com/
• Chris Peterson
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispetersen1/ 
  • https://radicl.com/bio-chris-petersen 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

1. Arthur’s Career Journey

• Grew up in Arlington, VA; studied at Harvard and earned a law degree from UVA.
• International corporate law with a focus on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
• Service in the Marine Corps post-9/11.
• Transitioned to startups, joining FiscalNote post-seed as one of the first employees.

2. Lessons from Operating and M&A

• Helped scale FiscalNote through aggressive M&A strategy—tucking in niche data companies.
• Applied similar playbook at Anduril, crafting their corporate development team and deals.
• How defense tech M&A must align with procurement timelines and gate reviews.
• Why successful acquisitions hinge on founder-engineer-product fit and integration.

3. Investment Philosophy at First In

• The focus on being truly “first in” to high-potential, early-stage defense tech startups.
• Strategic problems vs. tactical ones, to drive high-leverage outcomes.
• The importance of stage specificity and clear risk-reward underwriting.
• Is venture capital for every founder?

4. Industry Insights & Emerging Themes

• Tailwinds in AI applications and industrial automation across defense sectors.
• Momentum in cybersecurity as go-to-market talent shifts to early stage.
• DoD’s structural challenges—startups must work with the system, not against it.
• Arthur’s belief that the U.S. has latent industrial capacity—what’s needed is political and contracting will.

Resources:

Website: https://wearefirstin.com/ 

Arthur LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthurkarell/ 

FirstIn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-in/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Founders’ Backgrounds: Logan Selby and Kevin Larrabee share their journeys from military intelligence and operations research to leading a cutting-edge defense tech startup.
• Mission-Driven Innovation: Datashapes AI is revolutionizing how AI is applied to the electromagnetic spectrum, particularly in electronic warfare and signal intelligence.
• Unique AI Approach: Unlike traditional LLMs, Datashapes uses a proprietary, vector-based AI system focused on real-time waveform analysis—not text prediction.
• Dual-Use Technology: While rooted in defense, the company is expanding its signal detection and analysis tools into commercial sectors like public safety, sports venues, and infrastructure.
• Drone Detection & Threat Mitigation: The conversation explores the growing problem of drone-based threats and how Datashapes is providing early warning solutions through spectrum analysis.
• Product Evolution: The team explains their transition from software-only to launching Sentinel, a hardware solution designed for field use and rapid deployment.
• Iterative Development with End-Users: Engineers work side-by-side with warfighters during exercises to rapidly integrate user feedback into the product roadmap.
• Bridging the Government-Startup Gap: Insights on building trust with military users and navigating the challenge of defense procurement as a tech startup.
• Company Strategy & Culture: The team emphasizes their mission-first culture, recent HQ move to Charlottesville, and focus on real-world impact over Silicon Valley hype.
• Trust and Transparency: Emphasis on auditable AI decisions to foster user confidence, especially in high-stakes defense environments.

Resources:

Website: https://www.datashapesai.com/ 

Kevin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-larrabee/ 

Logan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-d-selby-phd-a433ab35/ 

Datashapes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/datashapesai/ 

#FoundInTheRockies #NextFrontierCapital #DefenseTech #AIInnovation #GovTech #Datashapes 

Resources:

Website: https://www.4thstatecomm.com/ 

John’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmedwardsii/ 

Levi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levi-kunkel-997b0a56/ 

4th State LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fourth-state-communications/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• John Price shares his background, including his upbringing in Colorado, his father's career on Wall Street, and his early fascination with technology.
• Sean Leahy shares his upbringing in Northern Virginia, his experience at the Pentagon after 9/11, and his career as a government contractor.
• Sean and John discuss the early days of HighGround, including their initial 12-slide pitch deck and their commitment to the venture.
• High Ground's Vision and Market Transformation 
• Impact on Emerging Defense Tech Companies and Investors
• Broader impact of High Ground on the defense industry, including potential reinvigoration and innovation in technology development.
• Thoughts on dual-use technology, the future of the defense industry, and the potential impact of High Ground.

Resources:

Sean Leahy LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/seanleahyctg 

John Price LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-a-p-b8a376b/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Kenny’s background, mentioning his initial interest in finance and his transition to programming.
• Kenny discusses his career progression, including roles at Google, American Express, and Adobe, where he worked on organizational risk management.
• Kenny reflects on the challenges and rewards of his career, emphasizing the importance of solving real problems.
• Kenny’s thoughts on the significance of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) and the growing demand for security services.
• Kenny dives into the complexities of FedRAMP, explaining its purpose and the rigorous process involved.
• Kenny talks about the early days of Paramify, including the search for talented developers and the initial success with small startups.
• Kenny highlights the importance of relationships and the support from early clients like Palo Alto Networks.
• Kenny provides an update on Paramify's current status, including their FedRAMP High audit and the growth of their client base.

Resources:

Website: https://www.paramify.com/ 

Kenny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-g-scott/ 

Paramify LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/paramify/ 

Kenny Twitter: https://x.com/kenny_g_scott 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Origins and Background of Orlando Zambrano 
• Orlando recounts his upbringing in Florida and Venezuela, influenced by his parents' immigrant backgrounds and his early interest in service and leadership.
• Military Service and Early Career 
• Orlando’s years in management consulting at McKinsey before transitioning to roles in the startup ecosystem, focusing on autonomy companies.
• Orlando’s decision to join the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as a contractor, driven by the desire to contribute to national security and defense innovation.
• The importance of DIU's dual-fluency team members who can engage effectively with both the DoD and the commercial technology sector.
• DIU's history and mission, and the importance of harnessing commercial technology to solve warfighter problems.
• Examples of DIU Projects and Successes
• The role of DIU in creating pathways for private investment and supporting the growth of defense tech companies.
• Future of Autonomy and AI in Defense 
• Orlando shares his admiration for the talented and patriotic people he works with at DIU, who are committed to maintaining the U.S. technological edge.

Resources:

DIU Website: https://www.diu.mil/

Orlando LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orzambrano/ 

DIU LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/diux/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Garrett Smith's Background and Early Life
• Enlistment in the Marine Corps post-9/11 and his decision to pursue higher education at Stanford University.
• Garrett explains his undergraduate degree in linguistics with an emphasis on Mandarin, which he learned while serving as a Mormon missionary in Taiwan.
• Transition to Silicon Valley and Early Career
• Garrett discusses the decision to leave government for the tech startup world, influenced by the potential for greater impact and ownership in tech startups.
• Inspiration for Reveal Technologies
• Garrett explains the concept of photogrammetry and how Reveal Technologies' software, Farsight, uses it to create 3D maps from drone video in real-time.
• Future of Defense Technology and Reveal's Vision
• Garrett reflects on the broader implications of defense technology innovation, drawing parallels to the Cold War era and the current geopolitical landscape.
• Community Building and Future of Tech Hubs
• Les and Garrett discuss the future of defense technology and the potential for Reveal Technologies to continue innovating in the space.

Resources:

Website: https://www.revealtech.ai/ 

Garrett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wgarrettsmith/ 

Reveal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reveal-technology/posts/?feedView=all 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• France Wong shares his origin story and unique career path, from humble beginnings to co-founding Bucha Box.ai.
• France’s Military service before and after 9/11, including deployment to Bosnia and White House experience.
• France shares insights on entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of a strong team and effective execution.
• France emphasized culture as a hiring advantage, interviewing candidates on why they wouldn't join the company.
• Entrepreneurship, fear of failure, and overcoming setbacks.
• Bootstrapping an aviation company, raising investment.
• Entrepreneurship, fundraising, and AI technology.
• Using AI for investment analysis, with emphasis on personalization and goal-oriented approach.
• AI language models and their applications in higher education.

Resources:

Website: https://boodle.ai/ 

France LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franceqhoang/ 

France Twitter: https://x.com/fqhoang 

Resources:

Matt Puopolo - StageDotO

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpuopolo/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/stagedoto/ 

https://www.stagedoto.com/ 

Travis Hawkes - Capital Eleven

https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-b-hawkes-76a8a13/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/capital-eleven/ 

https://capitaleleven.com/ 

Seed to Growth Conference

https://seedtogrowthconference.com/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Career evolution: Peace Corps, litigation, to venture capital.
• Peace Corps in Rwanda.
• Understanding industry fundamentals and principles, despite differences in size and structure between firms.
• Hydros Ventures Fellowship
• Unique investment model with SPVs and pre-committed index fund.
• Benefits of the Massive model for founders, including reduced complexity and the potential for interaction with investors before the investment closes.
• Investment strategies and sectors, including climate tech and verticals with potential impact on the world.
• Climate tech and deep tech investments, including energy transformation, circular economy, and space technology. 
• Colorado's lifestyle and people, finding them unique and engaging.

Resources:

Website: https://www.massive.vc/ 

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-rodney/

Massive LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/massive-vc/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Gabe’s dual passions for engineering and singing, with a focus on the Renaissance scholar prize and language learning for opera
• Language immersion programs and dreams in foreign languages. 
• Cheating on a language test to gain admission to a program. 
• Defining the pain point and the ways that resources were lacking
• Language learning and teaching methods.
• Gabe’s book that was deemed terrible by an editor, leading to financial struggles and a new perspective on writing.
• Memory retention and the effectiveness of spaced repetition.
• Gabe shares his story of overcoming self-doubt and pursuing his passion for language learning.

Resources:

Website: https://fluent-forever.com/ 

Gabriel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-wyner/ 

Fluent Forever LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fluent-forever/ 

Fluent Forever Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FluentForeverApp/ 

Fluent Forever Twitter: https://x.com/Fluent_Forever 

Fluent Forever Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fluentforeverapp/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Quique shares his experience growing up in a small town in upstate New York and how it influenced his decision to move to Bozeman.
• Career path in media and advertising industry. 
• Quique talks about his luck and serendipity in getting a job in the ad industry without prior knowledge or experience.
• The evolution of the advertising industry, from traditional formats to digital platforms.
• Digital ad products and their impact on sales organizations.
• Creating an algorithm to help salespeople make better product recommendations. Entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and early stages of a startup.
• Lessons learned from early stage company growth. 
• Remote work and funding challenges during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Leadership principles and cultural values with a tech CEO. 

Resources:

Website: https://www.advisr.com/

Quique LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quique-nagle-a609401/ 

Advisr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advisrio/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Growing up in Central and South America.
• Landing a job at Intel right out of college.
• Growing up in an Intel environment.
• Getting her MBA while working at Intel.
• How she got started as a consultant.
• Meeting Anu Shukla and Chris Maeda.
• Landing their first customer.
• From consumer engagement to healthcare.
• How is this different from platforms like ChatGPT.
• Where does Rebecca think AI is going.
• What’s the downside to open AI
• What is next for the Botco team?
• Rebecca’s thoughts on the future of healthcare. 
• Advice for other women/founders in the region.
• The welcoming culture in the Arizona startup community.

Resources:

Website: https://botco.ai/ 

Rebecca Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaclyde/

Rebecca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceorebeccaclyde/?hl=en

Botco LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/botco.ai/

Botco Twitter: https://twitter.com/botcoai

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Entrepreneurship and venture capital path.
• Music inspirations and teaching methods. 
• Entrepreneurship, music, and technology.
• Non-traditional path to venture capital, with a music industry background. 
• Networking, authentic connections, and personal branding.
• Early-stage B2B software investments in the US, ecosystem growth, and exit strategies. 
• AI investment, creativity, and uncertainty. 
• Investing, entrepreneurship, and personal growth 

Resources:

Website: https://frontiervc.com/ 

Blair’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jblairsimpson/ 

Frontier Venture Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dfj-frontier/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Travis Lowry shares his background, growing up in a household where his mother was an entrepreneur and his father was a salesman.
• Moving to Syria in 2010  and his startup in Syria using his Arabic language skills.
• Startup mistakes and lessons learned.
• Founding and working at a restaurant reservation platform.
• Entrepreneurship, venture capital, and business growth.
• Acquisitions, and company culture. 
• Travis’s VC journey and approach with early-stage VC.
• Montana culture, travel, and entrepreneurship. 

Resources:

Vinyl Captial Website: https://vinyl.vc/ 

Travis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-kirk-lowry-b00b8850/

Vinyl Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vinyl-capital/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Pete Roos, CEO of Bridger Photonics, shares his background and academic path leading to his role in the Bozeman-based company.
• Pete Gallatin County, where Bozeman and MSU are located, has the most photonics companies per capita in the US.
• Career path and entrepreneurship in the field of photonics. 
• Australia as a transformative time for Pete.
• Laser technology and its applications in topographic LiDAR.
• The split of the company and its subsequent success. 
• Successful entrepreneurship and innovation in the energy industry.
• How Bridger Photonics uses proprietary sensors to detect leaks in natural gas infrastructure.
• Methane detection and emission reduction in the oil and gas industry. 
• Why Pete thinks being based in Bozeman helps with his company mission and culture.

Resources:

Website: https://www.bridgerphotonics.com/ 

Pete LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-roos-66526510/ 

Bridger Photonics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridger-photonics-inc/ 

Bridger Phtonics Twitter: https://twitter.com/BridgerPhotonic 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• John combines his geospatial experience from childhood with simulation and AI.
• Founding a company, simulation vs predictive analytics.
• Using simulations to model human behavior and predict outcomes.
• Using AI to predict population behavior. 
• Using AI to analyze healthcare data and predict outcomes.
• Creating a new category of analytics with agent-based modeling.
• Using data simulations to tell better stories and connect with people.
• Personal side projects and education experience.
• Life paths and connections with a surprise twist.
• Where to find out more about John and Epistemix

Resources:

Website: https://www.epistemix.com/

John LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncordier/ 

Epistemix LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/epistemix/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Jonathan’s experiences growing up in San Antonio, Texas and attending the United States Military Academy at West Point.
• Jonathan studied Information Technology at a school that was one of the first to offer a degree in the field, and they were heavily focused on computer networks and cybersecurity.
• Jonathan entering a hackathon in South Korea, winning it, and spending the next 6 months trying to raise money to start a business.
• Moving to Hawaii after Forcepoint acquired Red Owl Analytics, seeking a better work-life balance.
• What digital nomadism is, especially post-COVID.
• Jonathan describes their experience as a digital nomad, working from co-working spaces in various locations around the world, including Bali.
• Minimalism and digital nomadism. 
• Challenges and adaptations of a digital nomad lifestyle.
• Connecting with old friends worldwide.
• Using SaaS apps (started by digital nomads) to find places with good WiFi to work.
• Traveling and working remotely with family.
• Cultural differences and meaningful connections created by living a nomadic lifestyle.
• Starting DoneOps and how it helps people to work and run their businesses from anywhere.

Resources:

Website: https://www.doneops.com/ 

Jonathan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmeyers1/ 

DoneOps LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/doneops/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Overcoming challenges and finding success through hustle and determination. 0:09
• Growing up in a low-income, single-parent household and overcoming challenges through determination and support from family members.
• David’s entrepreneurial endeavor in high school set path for college and career goals.
• Entrepreneurship, grit, and family influence
• Creating a tech sales bootcamp for underrepresented groups. 
• Tech sales certification program and its impact on job placement. 
• Developing a platform for upskilling and hiring. 
• Entrepreneurship, fundraising, and product development. 
• Fundraising challenges and lessons learned as a first-time founder. 
• Workforce development and job placement. 
• Entrepreneurship, grit, and perseverance. 

Resources:

Website: https://www.gritly.us/

David LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-g-lopez/

Gritly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gritlyhq/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Brad Pas, co-founder and CEO of Zoptic, grew up in Nebraska and played sports in high school before attending the University of Denver.
• The inspiration for Zoptic was sparked by the desire to help children in sports by creating a video recording device, which was originally intended for Brad's daughter's basketball games.
• Brad developed a wearable tag for athletes to track their movements, which was initially intended for consumer use but later pivoted to a B2B product for team sports.
• Brad explains how the company's technology can provide data-driven insights for coaches, parents, and athletes to improve performance and reduce injury risk.
• Co-founder Tanya's diverse background and experience bring credibility and valuable insights to the company.
• Brad shares that the company is pursuing military and first responder applications for their technology.
• “We're a software company, not a hardware one, but we have a great hardware partner.”
• Brad: Integrating with other wearables like Whoop, Apple Watch, and Fitbit is an excellent idea for data aggregation and privacy protection.

Resources:

Website: https://www.getzoptic.com

Brad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradpaz/ 

Zoptic Twitter: https://twitter.com/getzoptic 

Patsy shares her story of moving from Peru to the United States for higher education and how her experiences shaped her career choices. She discusses her initial work in the energy sector, her involvement in community and business organizations, and her decision to start Impacto and develop the analytics platform called Litico, designed to help oil and gas companies reduce regulatory complexities, lower costs, and provide powerful analytics for better decision-making. 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• The decision to move from Peru to the US.
• Patsy’s experience growing up without reliable energy and how it shaped her perspective on energy access.
• Patsy discussed her interest in energy management and her decision to pursue a master's degree in Global Energy Management at CU, which led to a career in oil and gas with Noble Energy and later Chevron.
• Being named one of the top women in energy by the Denver Business Journal in 2017.
• Les and Patsy discuss their passion for innovation and community involvement, with Patsy highlighting their mother's influence on their philanthropic values.
• The importance of taking risks and trying new things, even if it means failing.
• Starting your own business after life in the corporate world.
• Focusing on creating product-market fit through customer feedback and resourcefulness.
• Upcoming regulations in the industry and how they will be expensive and complex for companies to meet, affecting many industries beyond oil and gas.
• Patsy emphasizes the interconnectedness of economic factors and their impact on business decisions.

Resources:

Website: https://www.impactostrategy.com/ 

Patsy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patsylandaveri/

Impacto LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactostrategy/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Pivoting from corporate finance to starting a, with a focus on consumer behavior and financial discipline.
• Danielle has extensive experience in finance and strategy, having worked in various industries and held leadership roles at Comcast and the Colorado Trust.
• Danielle launched her own fund, Daily Boss Up, after recognizing a gap in the market for financial services tailored to young professionals and entrepreneurs.
• Les and Danielle discuss the potential for AI in scaling businesses, with Danielle sharing their personal experience as a TEDx speaker on leadership.
• Investing in BIPOC founders with a focus on the US market.
• Danielle launched a new fund, the Domestic Emerging Market Investment Fund, to invest in early-stage companies in the United States, with a focus on underleveraged groups and long-term growth.
• Danielle emphasizes the importance of valuation and growth, rather than just focusing on valuation for the sake of it.
• The fragility of the current venture capital (VC) model, which has not been diversified over time and is centered around a singular, non-diversified approach.
• Institutions must prioritize diversity and derisking in investment strategies to support founders and build healthy businesses.
• The importance of solving real-world problems and impacting people's lives, rather than just focusing on making money.
• The importance of self-awareness and accepting one's limitations to navigate feedback and criticism effectively.
• Feeling bored and how it can be an Achilles heel, leading to imposter syndrome and burnout.

Resources:

Website: https://www.demifund.com/ 

Danielle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-shoots/ 

Danielle Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielleshoots?lang=en

New Community Transformation Fund LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-community-transformation-fund/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Growing up in the Bay Area and serving as a financial advisor to startup founders.
• Convoi’s Utah-focused venture capital fund and its unique approach.
• Why they want to be the first check.
• Diversifying investments across FinTech, consumer tech, and Utah-based companies, with a focus on early-stage companies and value-add beyond check writing.
• Investor-founder relationships and the importance of vulnerability.
• Founders struggle with fear of failure and loss of identity after shutting down their businesses.
• AI-powered pitch competition at Utah Startup Week. 
• AI startups and their potential for success. 
• Early-stage funding challenges in the current market. 
• Fundraising environment and founder traits for successful startups. 
• Authenticity and community in investing and life. 

Resources:

Website: https://www.convoiventures.com/ 

Trent’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentmano/ 

Trent Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrentMano 

Convoi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convoi-ventures/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Russell Sproul shares his journey as a founder and venture capitalist in the climate tech industry.
• Career pivot from sports TV to climate tech investing . 1:30
• Russell’s Emmy Awards, including three for Sunday Night Football and the Beijing Olympics.
• Reducing food waste in the agriculture industry. 
• Investing in startups during the pandemic. 
• Venture capital investing strategies and advice. 
• Technology and innovation for environmental preservation. 

Resources:

Website: https://www.virtaventures.co/

Russell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellsprole/

Russell Twitter: https://twitter.com/RussellSprole

Virta LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virta-ventures/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• What brought Jason and Sharayah to Montana
• The first location in Helena - lessons learned
• The first location in Missoula.
• Finding a location in Bozeman. 
• Importance of the look and feel of the space 
• Evolution of remote work in general and the future of co-working in bozeman and Helena.
• Who is good for remote work? 
• What is the future of co-working? 

Resources:

Website: https://www.thesidecar.club/

Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasononeilmt/ 

Sharayah LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharayahclancy/ 

Sidecar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sidecar/ 

Sidecar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sidecarclubmt 

Sidecar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidecarmt/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Leah’s early career in biomedical engineering
• Joining the military
• Micro mechanics of heart valve disease.
• The path to becoming a patent attorney.
• What home renovation taught Leah
• How Leah got into crypto.
• Teaching herself to understand the crypto code.
• Founding RugDoc.io
• The intersection between crypto and real estate, and how people are using crypto to diversify in the opposite direction.
• Leah’s advice for young professionals.

Resources:

Website: https://rugdoc.io/ 

Leah LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahpagnozzi/ 

RugDoc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rugdoc-io/ 

RugDoc Twitter: https://twitter.com/RugDocIO 

RugDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rugdocio/?hl=en 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Caroline’s early days teaching English in South Korea for a year and traveling around southeast asia for another year.
• How did you Caroline 
• Starting in Angel Investing
• Investing in women in healthcare.
• The importance of family and work balance. 
• The role of the Pacific Northwest
• Starting Rogue Women’s Fund
• How do you build an enduring firm?
• Venture firm culture and succession planning. 
• The importance of executive coaching and executive coaching. 
• How to find more diverse founders

Resources:

Website: https://roguewmn.com/ 

Caroline LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinejlewis/ 

Caroline Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolinejlewis?lang=en 

Rouge Women VC Twitter: https://twitter.com/roguewomenvc 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Andres growing up in Ecuador and leaving to come to the U.S.
• Working/growing/learning at Pepsi.
• The ceiling that Andres believes kept him in middle-level management at Pepsi.
• Working in industrial sales.
• Working for a German company in Connecticut.
• The pivotal decision to move to Phoenix.
• Attending Thunderbird School of Global Management
• Running a successful food truck business.
• Brainstorming a new venture with a friend from graduate school.
• Identifying meetings as the main cause of employee burnout. 
• Founding and naming Tariy.
• Only 15% of managers know how to run a meeting.
• How to train people to change what is inherently wrong.
• The four step approach to Tariy.
• Pivoting from meeting efficiency to meeting inclusion.
• Meetings as a solution to diversity and inclusion.
• How Andres maintains balance in his life.

Resources:

Website: https://www.tariy.ai/

Andres LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetingequity/

Tariy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trytariy/ 

Tariy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trytariy

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Growing up in Kansas and Missouri
• Getting out of Kansas City to get to Maryland and work for Boeing
• First black woman to win the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design competition
• What got Lauren into aerospace engineering
• Advice to other entrepreneurs in a similar situation, breaking odds against diversity.
• Transition from aerospace to tech.
• What is behavioral management and why is it important
• How maternity leave lead to KeepWOL
• Creating human relationships with people during the pandemic.
• Building a digital platform for relationships.
• 2022 as the Year of Discovery
• Providing actionable insight and people analytics
• Early pilot results proving the concept.
• Getting into TechStars
• Growing the KeepWOL team
• What is exciting right now
• The KeepWOL facilitation training program
• What does the future look like for millennials in the job market?
• How KeepWOL relates to DEI initiatives
• Advice for other founders and moms.

Resources:

Website: https://www.keepwol.com/ 

Lauren’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-fitzpatrick-shanks-pmp-csm-mba/

KeepWOL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepwol/ 

KeepWOL Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlayKeepWOL 

KeepWOL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playkeepwol/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Dave’s background and goals for a healthy lifestyle
• Tomato Dave
• Moving to Montana
• Founding Alpine Organic Farms
• The evolution of Alpine Greenhouses.
• The difference between growing food and building greenhouses in Montana.
• Dave traveling the Rockies building greenhouses
• Alpine Growing Institute and indoor growing skills
• Passive solar technology in the greenhouse industry.
• Why growing food is important to Dave.
• When did the American diet go south?
• The Nova system and processed foods.
• Dave’s coolest projects.
• What Dave is working on now.
• What families should grow in their greenhouses.

Resources:

Website: https://alpinegh.com/

Dave LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-david-mccarson-7a346216/

Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alpinegreenhouses/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs.
• How Riley became interested in tech.
• Making his mark at Sovrin Foundation
• The mission of Sovrin Foundation
• The notion of identity in the United States
• Quick learning in the Blockchain space.
• Meeting another co-founder - Tomislav
• Using blockchain as a tool.
• What is a self-sovereign identity platform?
• Why don’t we all already have self-sovereign identities
• Riley’s journey as a founder in the Rockies.
• What excites Riley about IDtech.
• What Riley would be doing if he wasn’t the founder of Trinsic

Resources:

Trinsic Website: https://trinsic.id/

Riley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileyparkerhughes/

Riley’s Podcast: https://trinsic.id/podcast/ 

Riley’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/rileyphughes 

Trinsic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trinsic-id/

Trinsic Twitter: https://twitter.com/trinsic_id

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Brian’s background and history with startups.
• Grin’s early life growing up in the midwest and ending up in Seattle.
• How Grin’s work in a trauma center inspired the idea for mpathic.
• The magic door in psychology.
• How chatbots can be trained to be more empathetic.
• Brian joining mpathic.
• Empathy rocks, the training game for therapists.
• The science of empathy.
• AI assisted fidelity monitoring to replace human doctors.
• Understanding how empathy works in the sales cycle.
• What excites Brian the most from the technology perspective.
• How mpathic is different from ChatGPT
• Looking forward to challenge ahead.
• What is something in the future that is exciting
• A vision for the future of empathy.

Resources:

Mpathic website: Mpathic.ai

Grin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grinlord/

Brain LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briw/

Mpathic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mpathic-ai/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Matt’s Naval Academy and law school background.
• The challenge of starting over in law.
• Moving his family to Hong Kong
• Moving back to Colorado to work directly with founders
• The impetus to start a law firm.
• When is the right time for a founder to engage a lawyer.
• Structural reasons why Delaware C Corp is the gold standard for startups.
• Things to plan for or decide early on.
• What to do before you start taking money from investors.
• SAFE, Convertible Notes, and priced rounds
• The danger in raising multiple SAFE rounds
• Side Letters as part of a deal
• The importance of having a good, organized data room.
• Why Matt thinks giving back is important.

Resources:

Catalyst: https://www.catalyst.law/

Matt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-hyde-bb79564/

Catalyst LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalyst-law-group-llp/  

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The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials discussed here are for general informational purposes only.

Listeners should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter.   Only your individual attorney can provide assurances that the information contained in this podcast– and your interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation.  Access to this podcast do not create an attorney-client relationship between the listeners and Catalyst law group or their affiliates.

The views expressed at, or through, this site are those of me and guests alone in my individual capacities.  All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this site are hereby expressly disclaimed.

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Growing up in Tokyo, Japan. And comparing the skiing in each. 
• Transitioning from management consulting to Venture Capital.
• What brought Serene back to Utah.
• Kickstart Fund NOT Kickstarter
• The Kickstart mission and 6th Fund
• What does Serene think about the macro environment in the Rocky Mountains?
• Why VC is the wrong product for most founders? - Bryce Roberts article
• The difference between growth equity and VC.
• What impact the current banking environment may have on startups.
• What’s in store for the future of Kickstart and Fund 6.
• What has Serene learned from being a VC.

Resources:

Website: https://kickstartfund.com/ 

Serene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serenepapenfuss/

Kickstart LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kickstartfund/ 

Serene Twitter: https://twitter.com/serenepapenfuss 

Kickstart Twitter: https://twitter.com/KickstartFund 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Matt’s background and introduction.
• What is coaching and what does it mean?
• How is a coach different from a mentor?
• The importance of self awareness as a startup founder.
• How and when to find a coach?
• What to expect from a coach.
• How to break down the sticker shock.
• What to expect in a coaching session.
• How Matt has benefited from coaching.
• Coaching and mental health. 
• A call to action for finding a coach.

Resources:

Scott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwalgren/

Matt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-maasdam-b994ab6/

Credo Performance Coaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/credo-performance-coaching/

PECOS Outdoor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pecosoutdoor/

PECOS Outdoor website: https://pecosoutdoor.com/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Elliot’s life growing up in an Army family. 
• Elliot’s experience in medical school.
• Why Elliot moved his family to Bozeman.
• Pegasus Emergency Group
• How an injury led Elliot back to aphrodisiacs.
• How did you become interested in neuromodulation?
• Erectile dysfunction and performance anxiety statistics.
• What Is penis leak syndrome?
• Nocturnal erections and sleep.
• How do you measure sexual health?
• Why has this not been done before?
• What the data is showing.
• Where to find Elliot online?

Resources:

FirmTech Website: https://myfirmtech.com/

Elliot Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-justin-md/

FirmTech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myfirmtech/

FirmTech Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfirmtech/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Aly’s early experience watching her parents as entrepreneurs.
• Jerryck’s early entrepreneurial aspirations growing up.
• Learning the world of real estate and development.
• How Jerryck and Aly met.
• Identifying the connection between affordable housing and employee retention - especially during COVID. 
• The value of having a partner that loves the process of building a company.
• From friends to partners. 
• What is Annum?
• How does this work in practice.
• The difference between housing and other industries.
• Friction around new benefits.
• How the feelings of different generations have an impact on housing needs.
• What does the Annum universe look like?
• Leveling up society by meeting basic needs.
• How Aly and Jerryck would describe each other.

Resources:

Annum website: https://www.annumhousing.com/

Aly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyh-shrmcp/

Jerryck LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerryck-owens-murrey/

Annum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/annumhousing/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Jeff’s early days in Missoula, MT.
• Jeff’s start in tech with Advanced Technology Group.
• The transition from Montana to San Francisco.
• Learning data engineering on the fly at Atlassian.
• The challenges of building a product-lead growth platform.
• The problem with tech debt and tech debt.
• Deciding to team up with Sandeep to solve this problem.
• Definition of Quote to Cash.
• Deciding to leave Atlassian and start MonetizeNow.
• Raising capital
• The hiring process for the first hires - finding engineers who will do well in a startup
• Exploring use cases for larger companies.
• Keeping ties to Montana.
• How Jeff met the team at Next Frontier.
• Jeff’s advice for a young software engineer from a small town.

Resources:

MonetizeNow Website: https://www.monetizenow.io/

Jeff LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgibsonsf/

Jeff Twitter: https://twitter.com/gibbymt

MonetizeNow Twitter: https://twitter.com/MonetizeNowIo

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Kate shares her background and how she found her way to Phoenix from Madison, Wisconsin.
• What she learned from her time as a PI that she applied to being a founder.
• The importance of asking why five times to get to the root of a problem.
• What is change management.
• What is change fatigue.
• What Kate learned from working with American Family Insurance.
• The pandemic had a silver lining in the change industry, because everyone experienced a massive amount of change.
• The need for enterprise reporting capabilities. 
• AI’s impact on the change management industry. 
• The pandemic and how it helped focus the product.
• Bootstrapping to success. 
• Status of raising their first round of financing.
• How the Phoenix ecosystem is growing.
• The patience she has had in her journey to build something great over an entire career of experience.

Resources:

Website: https://changesync.com/ 

Kate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-tripalin-degon-bbb64046/ 

ChangeSync LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/changesync/ 

ChangeSync Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/changesync 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Joseph the Startup Addict.
• Losing $283K on his first venture.
• The big mistake founders make early on.
• Turning your customer into your marketer.
• Why Joseph doesn’t believe in formal mentorship.
• Three feet from gold. 
• How Joseph ended up in Denver?
• How Tech Alley got started. 
• Tech Alley is one of the most meaningful startup events.
• Free resources for startups.
• Where do you go to learn more about the startup ecosystem?
• Joseph’s prediction for the Colorado startup ecosystem.

Resources:

Website: https://www.techalleydenver.org/

Joseph LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephhaecker/

Tech Alley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tech-alley-denver/

Tech Alley Twitter: https://twitter.com/TechAlleyDenver

Tech Alley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techalleydenver/?hl=en

Tech Alley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TechAlleyDenver

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• David’s background and how he got into VC.
• What motivated David to start his own firm.
• DWP’s SPV strategy.
• What advice are you giving to founders in your portfolio?
• Thesis and strategy of DWP.
• The power of the quick decision.
• What is unique about the Arizona Tech environment.
• What does the future hold for the ecosystem?
• The startup community in Arizona.
• What’s the future of venture in Arizona?
• Major themes or industries in Arizona.
• What if you weren’t a VC? What would you do with your time?

Resources:

DWP Capital Website: https://dwpcapital.com/ 

David LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpaulvc/ 

DWP Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dwp-capital/ 

The Capital Stack Podcast: https://www.capitalstackpodcast.com/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Growing up in Colorado Springs.
• Working at Hewlett-Packard in California.
• Working with the “father of the help desk industry” - Ron Muns
• What was it like to be in a startup during the dot.com bust?
• The emotions of laying off employees.
• Getting acquired by larger companies.
• Katherine’s superpower
• Moving to Denver.
• Starting a company with her husband about co-parenting.
• Serena’s journey into startup land.
• Starting work in AI
• Working on AI with Rolls Royce
• Katherine’s mother’s Alzheimer's diagnosis
• Moving her parents into care facilities
• The problem of communication across caregivers
• Katherine’s husband Rob building her a prototype
• Deciding to fundraise so Rob could focus on the business
• The cow in the ditch
• Post COVID growth
• Mavericks of Senior Living video podcast
• Top Entrepreneur Finalist Colorado in 2022
• Partnership with World Cinema and the Thrive Innovation Center
• Katherine’s advice to people who are dealing with the challenges of family needing senior care.

Resources:

Website: https://serenityconnect.com/

Katherine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathwells/ 

Serenity LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/serenityconnect/ 

Company Twitter: https://twitter.com/serenityengage 

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenityengage

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Elle’s early days as an entrepreneur
• Why Elle focuses her angel investing on female founders.
• What’s changed in the world of investing in female founders.
• Elle’s advice to founders that are struggling with challenges/disadvantages.
• Eliminate emotion and use data.
• The importance of the founder/VC relationship
• The quintessential element of investment is spending time with the founders.
• Power dynamic shift with founders and funders.
• Why investors and founders both need to do diligence.
• What brought Elle to TechStars and the imposter syndrome.
• The difficulty in choosing the companies for the cohorts.
• How TechStars has grown. 
• What the TechStars Boulder program entails.
• Advice to founders thinking about applying to TechStars.
• What’s unique about being a founder in Colorado
• Why do TechStars as a founder.
• What are you looking forward to on the personal front?

Resources:

TechStars Boulder Website: https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/boulder 

Elle Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellebruno/ 

Techstars LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techstars/ 

Techstars Twitter: https://twitter.com/techstars 

Techstars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techstars/ 

Techstars Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/techstars 

Techstars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/techstarstv 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Growing up in a Polynesian family in Hawaii.
• Moving to Salt Lake City
• The path that led him down solving data problems.
• What is mico-integration.
• Top of funnel focus.
• Customer data activation and marketing data activation is where the company is now.
• How Sam’s previous jobs highlighted the problem. 
• Launching a social media marketing agency with Adobe.
• Moving from a service to a product. 
• When COVID dried up the pipeline.
• How the network is needed to get the round done.
• Always take the potential investor meeting. 
• Advice about being a trailblazer in your region.
• Sam’s message for investors in the region.
• Exciting things on the horizon.

Resources:

Datajoin Website: https://www.datajoin.com/

Sam Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-fonoimoana/

Sam Twitter: https://twitter.com/samfonoimoana 

Datajoin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/datajoin/

Datajoin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DatajoinHQ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Wesley’s early start in entrepreneurship at 12.
• Wesley’s background in business.
• Trace.com - genealogy - Wesley’s first VC backed company
• Diving into dating apps by buying another startup - MeetMindful
• Founding Tales.com with his wife
• The importance of memorializing stories.
• Why death tech?
• The death of big funeral - https://youtu.be/0hU1-kIGhJo
• No one has tried this before. Why is that?
• The environmental impact
• How death traditions have changed
• Finding a co-founder.
• The pre-planning services
• What are the locations?
• Adding the death insurance component
• Wesley’s thoughts on the future of the industry.
• Wesley’s thoughts on legacy

Resources:

Website: https://www.after.com/

Wes Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weames/

Wes Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesleyEames 

After LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/after-com/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Growing up in Billings, MT
• Moving to Missoula to study Chinese
• The Insight Studio and supporting other entrepreneurs
• How The Insight Studio helped inspire FUNDID.
• Raising her Seed round.
• Thinking of fundraising like a competitive sport
• The importance of having a good marketing plan in an ecosystem.
• If you ask for advice, you get money. If you don’t ask for money you get advice.
• How the VC world is broken.
• Closing the seed round.
• Getting business funding to small businesses - which account for 98% of all women owned businesses
• Launching a business charge card direct to those who need it. 
• A move to Salt Lake to grow FUNDID
• Family Balance

Resources:

Website: https://www.getfundid.com/ 

Stef LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefaniesample/

FUNDID LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fundid/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Zach’s story and how it all began.
• Men of Tomorrow
• Growing up in Florida and having mentorship. 
• How Zach’s life changed after he left the University of Florida and went to Nantucket.
• How did Zach end up in the Rockies
• The endless beach vs. the humbling mountains of entrepreneurship.
• Working with Uber - creating Mobile Auto and Diesel
• Relationship with Lincoln Tech
• What was the inspiration for Best Mobile?
• Why you have to be humble enough to recognize your own expertise.
• Developing AlignTech
• Zack’s background in crypto trading and crypto mining.
• Zach’s thoughts on entrepreneurship as a solo quest versus a family quest.
• Finding your purpose. 
• What is next for Zach and his growth.

Resources:

Website: aligntech.io

Zach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharey-smith-itilv4-0aa014123/

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Introducing Jason Thompson and Justice Thompson.
• Jason’s career in diversity and inclusion.
• The Olympic and Paralympic teams.
• Justus’s start building diversity programs.
• Working at TechStars. 
• Jason’s book: Diversity and Inclusion Matters
• CAPE Inclusion: Collect, Analyze, Plan, and Execute
• The disconnect between the data and the people who use it.
• Why companies don’t focus on diversity inclusion and/or cut the programs
• The first MVP.
• What TechStars taught Justus about being a founder
• The partnership with Javier as an angel investor
• What is exciting Justus about the business right now
• Diversity is constrained by who leaves and who stays. 
• Don’t try to “boil the ocean”
• What’s the right data? What are the metrics?
• Understanding blind spots
• Diversity training is tailored to the actual problem.
• Why you need to be serious about diversity in your investments.

Resources:

Website: https://www.capeinclusion.com/ 

Justus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justus-thompson-he-him-his-02ab64101/

Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thompso4/ 

CAPE Inclusion LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capeinclusion/ 

CAPE Inclusion Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeinclusion 

CAPE Inclusion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeinclusion 

CAPE Inclusion Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeinclusion/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Rilee’s childhood in Idaho and looking for a place to belong
• How a trip to India started her love of travel
• From a collegiate athlete to BYU Advertising Program
• Film producing
• How Rilee’s experiences prepared her for Dónde
• Leaving advertising to chase her dream
• Why a travel company?
• How much PTO goes unused each year
• Empowered-PTO
• What is “good PTO” and how does it drive ROI?
• How Dónde works
• The value of travel in workplace culture
• The first year and challenges of COVID
• Optimizing the time during COVID to focus on the tech
• Raising money - while pregnant
• Advice to other women/mothers who are entrepreneurs
• Importance of confidence
• What’s coming up in the next few months?

Resources:

Website: godonde.com 

Rilee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbuttars/?hl=en 

Dónde LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/d%C3%B3nde/ 

Dónde Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/go_donde/ 

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Kirsten’s background and what got her into VC
• What is Venture Capital?
• Venture Capital Firms
• Venture Capital Funds - where does the money come from
• Types of Limited Partners
• Positions in a VC Firm - General Partner, Managing Director, Analyst, Associate, Principal, Head of Platform, Operations, CFO
• Role of LPs in investment decisions - LPAC
• How VC funds are raised - when do they get the money
• Investment period of a fund
• Management Fee of a fund
• How does the VC firm make money off of investments?
• Company exits
• Fund Carry
• Venture Capital vs. Private Equity
• What control do VCs have in the companies they invest in
• Venture Deals - Jason Mendelson and Brad Feld
• The role of a Board of Directors
• When should founders raise capital?
• Which entrepreneurs shouldn’t raise capital
• What makes a good founder investable?
• Super Founders by Ali Tamaseb

Resources:

NFC Website: www.nextfrontiercapital.com 

NFC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-frontier-caiptal/ 

Kirsten Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suddath/ 

Kirsten Twitter: https://twitter.com/KirstenSuddath