Interview begins: 6:11 Debrief begins: 43:23 Grady Buchanan is the founder and CEO of OmniValley. OmniValley is an exclusive online investor network focused on helping you create connections anywhere in the world. They work to showcase and foster under-ventured and emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems by connecting, …
CC050: Matt Hunckler of Powderkeg // connecting talent to startups in the Midwest
Interview begins: 6:10 Debrief begins: 45:00 Matt Hunckler is the founder and CEO of Powderkeg. Powderkeg is a platform connecting tech talent in the middle of the country to the Midwest companies they’re searching for. Founded in 2017 after emerging from Verge, one of Matt’s …
CC042: Jordan Davis of Smart Columbus // Looking into the future of smart cities (from CES 2020)
Interview starts: 6:24 Debrief starts: 58:09 Jordan Davis is the Director of Smart Columbus for the Columbus Partnership, leading strategy and public-private partnerships for the Central Ohio region’s $550 million smart cities initiative. She was instrumental in Columbus becoming the sole winner of the …
CC037: Neal Bloom of Fresh Brewed Tech // uncovering the past and building the future of San Diego
Interview starts: 5:50 Debrief starts: 47:39 Neal Bloom is the founder of Fresh Brewed Tech and the host of the podcast, Tacos & Tech. Fresh Brewed Tech is a media company dedicated to raising awareness of local tech ecosystems in local areas through storytelling. Having …
CC036: Matt Cordio of Skills Pipeline // Getting a lay of the land in Startup Milwaukee
Interview starts: 6:32 Debrief starts: 38:33 Matt Cordio is the founder and president of Startup Milwaukee. Startup Milwaukee is a community dedicated to encouraging and growing Milwaukee’s startup environment. They offer events and programs focused on helping tech startups find mentorship, talent, capital, and …
CC031: building a network of generous entrepreneurs in the Midwest // a coffee chat with Joni Cobb (Pipeline Entrepreneurs)
Interview begins: 5:20 Debrief begins: 43:15 Joni Cobb is the founding President and CEO of Pipeline Entrepreneurs. Pipeline is a network of high-performing entrepreneurs who call the Midwest home. Their entrepreneurs and experts give generously of their time, talent and capital so that they can …
CC029: providing equal access to the Triangle startup community // a coffee chat with Molly Demarest (American Underground)
Interview begins: 6:30 Debrief begins: 47:37 Molly Demarest is the General Manager of American Underground. The American Underground is based in the Durham-Raleigh area in North Carolina and focuses on connecting startups and founders in the region with the different resources needed to help their …
CC028: building turnkey programs for entrepreneurs and creatives // a coffee chat with Joe Kirgues (gener8tor)
Interview begins: 05:49 Debrief begins: 41:15 Joe Kirgues is a co-founder of gener8tor. One of the top companies in its field, gener8tor offers accelerator programs whose missions are to promote local investors and companies investing in their own communities’ startups and entrepreneurs. Operating in Milwaukee, …
CC025: impact investing and reversing demographic trends // a Coffee Chat with Robert Zulkoski (Vermont Works)
Interview begins: 06:34 Debrief begins: 49:48 Robert Zulkoski is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Vermont Works. Vermont Works is an Independent Alternative Investment Firm Supporting Vermont’s Job & Economic Development. Vermont Works was founded in 2016 and based in Burlington, Vermont. We discuss: Social …
CC023: connecting recent college grads to startups // a Coffee Chat with Amy Nelson (Venture for America)
Interview begins: 06:33 Debrief begins: 51:26 Amy Nelson is the CEO of Venture For America (VFA). VFA is a two-year fellowship program for recent grads who want to work at a startup and create jobs in American cities. Fellows learn important startup skills at our …
CC021: thinking big, fearing less, and listening deeply in Madison // a Coffee Chat with Scott Resnick (StartingBlock Madison)
Interview begins: 05:12 Debrief begins: 39:24 Scott Resnick is the founder and former executive director of StartingBlock Madison. StartingBlock is a 50,000 sq foot entrepreneurial hub which opened in 2018. Scott led efforts to raise millions dollars to build the “beacon for Midwest startups” particularly …
CC018: building the front door to #StartupCincy // a Coffee Chat with Eric Weissman (Cintrifuse) (Live from Cincinnati Podcast Festival 2018)
This episode comes from the Cincinnati Podcast Festival on November 1, 2018. Eric Weissman is the Vice President of Communications, Community & Economic Inclusion at Cintrifuse. Cintrifuse has one clear mission: to make Greater Cincinnati the #1 tech startup hub in the midwest and among …
CC013: how Pittsburgh leverages state funding to spur innovation // a Coffee Chat with Terri Glueck and Leah Simoncelli (Innovation Works)
Interview begins: 06:32 Debrief begins: 51:53 Terri Glueck is the Director of Communications at Innovation Works. Leah Simoncelli is the Coordinator of the AlphaLab Gear Hardware Cup. As Director of Community Development & Communications, Terri Glueck leads Innovation Works’ communications efforts. Having joined Innovation Works …
CC012: how Cleveland is rallying their community around a new tech movement // a Coffee Chat with Bernie Moreno (Blockland)
Interview begins: 06:26 Debrief begins: 51:58 Bernie Moreno is the President of the Bernie Moreno Companies. He has 20+ years in the retail automotive business. In 2005, he purchased what has become the largest volume Mercedes-Benz dealership in the Central US. At one point, he …
CC011: making the startup ecosystem bigger in Texas // a Coffee Chat with Bryan Chambers (Capital Factory)
Interview begins: 07:03 Debrief begins: 48:43 Bryan serves as Capital Factory’s Vice President of Accelerator and Investment Fund. Bryan is a business development and investment professional experienced in portfolio management and venture capital transactions. Prior to joining Capital Factory, Bryan established the Blackstone Launchpad and …
CC009: building a collaborative startup ecosystem in Memphis // a Coffee Chat with Katie Milligan (Start Co.)
Katherine (Katie) Milligan brings the power of public policy to building entrepreneurial communities. She serves as Chief of Staff at Start Co. where she supports the development of corporate, governmental, and investment relationships to support building inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems. Katie previously served as the …
CC007: the rise of platform in venture capital // a Coffee Chat with Stephanie Manning (Lerer Hippeau)
Stephanie Manning is the Director of Platform for Lerer Hippeau. Lerer Hipeau is an early-stage venture capital fund based in New York City. As founders and operators themselves, Lerer Hippeau see returns in relationships. They seek entrepreneurs with product vision, consumer insight, focused execution, …
CC005: getting into venture and startup ecosystems // a coffee chat with Monique Villa (ModernCapital)
Monique Villa is the founder of Modern Capital in Nashville, Tennessee. ModernCapital is a collective of creative thinkers from the private, public, and civic sectors shaping the modern economy. Based in Nashville, ModernCapital believes the best talent will Build in the Southeast. // Monique is …
CC004: Tampa’s Emerging Entrepreneurial Hub // a coffee chat with Allie Felix (Embarc Collective)
Allie Felix is the Director of Programming & Partnerships at Embarc Collective. Embarc Collective is a physical innovation hub in Tampa Bay, Florida. They are a startup collective – curators of experiences, resources, and environment. // Allie’s experience spans venture capital, business development, and community. …