Build Tech Stack Equity
This podcast is for the tech entrepreneur. We highlight the journeys of inspiring underrepresented tech founder and share strategic insights on how to move from idea to traction and beyond. Wealth generation, freedom, and tech leadership are all par for the course in our discussions.
info_outline
Transforming Diabetic Retinopathy Detection with AI | Cristina Campero, PROSPERiA Health
05/15/2025
Transforming Diabetic Retinopathy Detection with AI | Cristina Campero, PROSPERiA Health
In this episode, we interview Christina Campero, an entrepreneurial force behind Prosperia, a tech startup focused on AI in healthcare. Christina discusses her professional journey, moving from a background in bioscience and healthcare consulting to co-founding Prosperia. The startup uses AI to scan retina images for early detection of diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases, a crucial service in Mexico due to a high prevalence of diabetes and limited access to ophthalmologists. The conversation covers the development process of their AI model, partnerships with primary healthcare touchpoints, and the advantages of operating in Mexico. They also explore the challenges and breakthroughs in fundraising for a Latin American AI healthcare startup, including securing a seed round from a Swedish fund. The episode ends with a look at Prosperia’s future goals, including expanding their AI applications to detect other health conditions. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Cristina Campero graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry of the UNAM with a Master's Degree in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. She has dedicated her professional career to the transformation of ideas into commercial products with an impact on health, starting in her career as a consultant at McKinsey & Company and in start-ups, first as an Associate in business development and strategy at Wren Therapeutics (in Cambridge UK ) where she was in charge of portfolio prioritization and funding (£18M Series A in Dec. 2018), and now as CEO of PROSPERiA. Time Stamps: 00:36 Christina's Professional Journey 04:00 Founding Prosperia and Developing Retinia 05:43 Addressing Diabetic Retinopathy with AI 07:10 Challenges in Diabetic Retinopathy Detection 09:32 AI's Role in Early Detection and Screening 13:33 How does the Retinia software diagnosis work 15:20 The role of AI versus human doctors 20:43 Building and Training AI Models 24:31 Balance between engineers and health care professionals 26:14 Creating a customer base that trusts AI diagnosis 32:53 Fundraising and Growth Strategies 40:45 Advantages of Fundraising in Latin America Compared to the U.S. 44:01 Future Plans and Innovations Resources Follow Darius Gant LinkedIn - Company Website - Subscribe on Spotify: Subscribe on Apple Podcast: Company website: https://www.prosperia.health/es LinkedIn:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/36575280
info_outline
Unlocking Venture Capital in Latin America | Claudio Barahona, Alaya Capital
01/14/2025
Unlocking Venture Capital in Latin America | Claudio Barahona, Alaya Capital
In this episode of the Build Tech Stack Equity Podcast, we sit with Claudio Barahona, a venture capitalist with Alaya Capital, to explore his journey from an eSports entrepreneur to a prominent VC in Latin America. Claudio shares his background, including growing up in Germany and Chile, building a successful eSports company, and transitioning to the venture capital scene. He reflects on the unique challenges and opportunities in the Latin American startup ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of having an upside in one's career. Claudio discusses Alaya Capital’s investment thesis, focusing on digital startups with proven market fit in Latin America. The episode also highlights trends and success factors for startups in the region, the importance of U.S. education and connections, as well as practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Claudio founded his first startup at 18 years old, which he sold six years later. He is a Civil Industrial Engineer from the Universidad de Chile and has devoted a large part of his career to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Chile. In addition, he was director of the Chilean Venture Capital Association from 2018 to 2019. Diario Financiero, one of the main business media in his country, recognized him as one of the "Young Influencers 2017" for his outstanding career in the national innovation ecosystem. From 2011 to 2019 he was the Open Innovation Manager of Movistar Chile and leader of Wayra, the initiative of Telefónica that connects the company with startups and innovation ecosystems and invests as corporate venture capital in innovative technology companies with global scalability. In 2019 he founded the initiative Corporate Venturing Latam, which seeks to map and incentivize CVC in LatAm. In 2021 he founded ComoLevantarCapital.com to teach founders how to fundraise VC. He is currently a Managing Partner of Alaya Capital, a Latin American Venture Capital fund, and dedicates some of his time to promoting and teaching Venture Capital in LatAm and making angel investments in startups. Time Stamps: 00:25 Claudio's Early Life and Career 06:06 Transition to Angel Investing and Corporate Venture Capital 08:38 Corporate Venture Capital Journey 13:53 Difference between the two types of VCs 15:58 Joining Alaya Capital 20:45 Alaya Investment Philosophy and Criteria 24:49 Fund Sizes and Investment Strategies 27:15 Advantages of Delaware C Corps for Latin American Startups 30:00 Opportunities in the Latin American Market 33:36 Successful Business Models in Latin America 39:14 Challenges and Success Profiles of Latin American Founders 46:09 Challenges and Opportunities for New Founders 49:31 Encouragement and Final Thoughts Resources Follow Darius Gant LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-darius-gant-cpa-44650aa/ Company Website - www.tesoroai.com Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4uDVNgsK3iNeu7yU4Inu2n Subscribe on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-darius-gant-show/id1527996104 Company website: https://alaya-capital.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alaya-capital/ Twitter (X): https://x.com/AlayaCapital
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/34849730
info_outline
LATAM VC: Funding the Next Brazilian Unicorn | Eduardo Kupper, Airborne Ventures
01/07/2025
LATAM VC: Funding the Next Brazilian Unicorn | Eduardo Kupper, Airborne Ventures
In this episode of the Build Tech Stack Equity Podcast, Eduardo Kupper, the founder of Airborne Ventures, shares his unique professional journey from an Air Force pilot in Brazil to a Wharton MBA graduate and successful venture capitalist. The conversation delves into his diverse experiences in management consulting at McKinsey, tech entrepreneurship through Rocket Internet, and leading a venture capital arm in one of Brazil's biggest banks. Eduardo outlines the challenges and strategies in raising a $5 million fund in Brazil, emphasizing the importance of adding value to others. He discusses the focus of his first fund and plans for raising a $10 million second fund, highlighting the importance of investing in FinTech, healthcare, and B2B companies in Brazil. Eduardo also elaborates on the VC landscape in Brazil, the significance of productivity and efficiency, and the potential for Brazilian startups to compete on a global scale. Finally, Eduardo provides valuable insights for potential LPs and founders on navigating the Brasilian venture capital market. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Eduardo is a seasoned VC with 17+ years of experience across various industries and sectors, including entrepreneurship, venture capital, management consulting, private equity, and investment banking. Previously, he served as the Head of VC at Bradesco Venture Capital arm, where he successfully managed two funds totaling R$ 800mm of invested capital and R$ 1.7 billion AUM. As an experienced VC investor, he has made 70+ deals across several stages and industries over the last decade, with successful exits, including a +1bi BRL sale and a Nasdaq IPO, and sat on the boards of several companies in different sectors and stages. As an entrepreneur, he founded and co-founded a few companies, including Remessa Online, Finpass, MAR Ventures, and the Wharton Alumni Angels. As an investor with a track record of successful deals, he has made marquee investments in companies including Beep Saúde, D1, Conexa, Jeitto, Asaas, and Skyone. Highly connected and well-networked within the venture capital industry, with close relationships and co-investments with several VC funds, angel investors, and internet & tech startups. He brings a wealth of expertise and strategic guidance and an eye for promising opportunities, helping to identify and invest in promising startups and drive returns for our investors on ESG-compliant/target companies, reflecting his commitment to responsible and sustainable investing. Time Stamps: 00:49 Eduardo's Unconventional Path to Venture Capital 05:44 Insights on Venture Building and Finding Founders 08:21 Corporate Venture Capital Experience 10:00 Launching Airborne Ventures 14:06 Investment Strategies and Fund Management 17:34 Reflections on Fund Performance 24:08 Navigating Investment Strategies 26:04 Investment Stages and Requirements 28:21 Leading vs. Following in Investments 30:07 Investment Structures in Brasil 34:18 B2B vs. B2C in Brasil 41:08 Challenges and Strategies for B2B Startups 47:15 Looking Ahead to 2025 Resources Follow Darius Gant LinkedIn - Company Website - Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4uDVNgsK3iNeu7yU4Inu2n Subscribe on Apple Podcast: Company website: LinkedIn:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/34753335
info_outline
A VC View into the Future of AI, FinTech, and cybersecurity | Adrian Mendoza, Mendoza ventures
11/26/2024
A VC View into the Future of AI, FinTech, and cybersecurity | Adrian Mendoza, Mendoza ventures
In this episode, Adrian Mendoza, co-founder of Mendoza Ventures, shares his journey from getting started in web design in the early 90s, to founding startups, and eventually transitioning into venture capital. He details his career progression, his experiences in the tech and design intersection, and his work at companies like Disney and startups during the dot-com boom. Adrian delves into the firm's focus on AI, fintech, and cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of investing in sectors they know well. He also touches on the challenges and strategies of raising a fund, the importance of a strong network, thematic focus, and the unique approach of supporting diverse and underrepresented founders. Additionally, they discuss the current and future landscape of AI startups, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Adrian provides insights into how Mendoza Ventures supports both founders and LPs, fostering a community of investors and innovators. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Adrian is the founder and General Partner at Mendoza Ventures which is both Latinx and woman-owned and the first Latinx-founded VC fund on the East Coast based in Boston. With 20 years of experience in building technology products and teams, Adrian is an experienced entrepreneur, operator, and veteran of the Boston startup ecosystem. Adrian founded Mendoza Ventures to take an in-depth-focused approach to venture capital, looking for founders who demonstrate domain expertise in one of his three focus areas across fintech, AI, and cybersecurity. Adrian prides himself on being a hands-on investor by setting up companies for success beyond just writing a check, creating strong funding syndicates, making customer introductions, and assisting with partnership conversations. His firm Mendoza Ventures focuses on investments in Fintech, AI, and Cybersecurity, with diversity playing an important role in their investment decisions—about 90% of their portfolio consists of startups led by people of color, and women. Since its founding seven years ago, Mendoza Ventures has raised two funds and had four successful exits. The firm is currently raising its third fund, a $100M fintech fund anchored by Bank of America. Time Stamps: 00:38 Adrian's Early Career and First Ventures 06:18 Transition from Founder to Investor 10:13 Investment Strategy and Success Stories 13:31 Engaging with Founders and Investors 18:21 Raising Fund 3 and Engaging LPs 28:36 Fund Size Considerations: Building and Managing a Fund 32:45 Challenges and Lessons in Fund Management 34:59 Understanding Pro Rata Rights 36:47 Investment Strategies at Mendoza Ventures 38:37 Scaling and Institutionalizing Startups 42:34 The Role of AI in Venture Capital 50:40 Distinction between AI native Startup and not Native AI Startups 54:31 Connecting with Mendoza Ventures Resources Company website: LinkedIn: Twitter: Follow Darius Gant LinkedIn: Company Website:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/34154730
info_outline
Investing at the Intersection of Space Tech & Data | Theo Williams, Third Vector
06/18/2024
Investing at the Intersection of Space Tech & Data | Theo Williams, Third Vector
In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, securing enterprise contracts can be a game-changer for startups and tech firms alike. The journey to winning over Fortune 1000 clients requires strategic planning, tailored communication, and a deep understanding of the enterprise world. Drawing insights from venture capital experts, we explore the nuances of navigating enterprise sales and building successful relationships with top-tier clients. In this episode, we sit with Theo Williams, the founder of Third Vector and an expert in venture capital specializing in the space technology industry. Theo shares his journey from a finance background to diving into the tech world, highlighting the challenges and opportunities he encountered along the way. He delves into the importance of investing in the space technology industry and how it can drive significant global impact. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Theo Williams is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in venture capital, strategic partnerships, and business development. As the Founder and Managing Partner at Third Vector, he spearheads an early-stage VC firm specializing in investments at the intersection of Space Tech and Big Data. Prior to founding Third Vector, Theo served as a Senior Portfolio Development Manager at Salesforce Ventures, where he played a key role in fortifying the enterprise ecosystem through strategic partnerships and investments. Before his tenure at Salesforce Ventures, Theo held positions in sales and investor relations at Cadre and in product development at Nuveen, a TIAA company. Throughout his career, Theo has demonstrated a commitment to driving growth and innovation in various sectors, leveraging his expertise in investment strategy and relationship management. Theo holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Rice Business - Jones Graduate School of Business, where he was recognized as a Robert Toigo Foundation Fellow. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Louisiana State University, where he demonstrated leadership as part of the Tiger Twelve Senior Recognition Class of 2012 and in various student government roles. Time Stamps: 02:49: Theo’s journey from finance to tech 06:33 Understanding alternative investments 09:08 Transitioning to tech and angel investing 14:15 The birth of a space tech VC firm 21:37 Investment focus: Space data and infrastructure 24:22 Navigating the fundraising process 26:34 Aligning with founders and managing risk 31:43 Enterprise sales strategies for founders 37:49 Building for Enterprise vs. SMB 42:22 What’s coming new in 2024, and how to get in contact with the team Resources Email: LinkedIn: Theo’s LinkedIn:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/31785407
info_outline
Behind the Curtain of Early Stage VC | Marlon Nichols, MaC Venture Capital
06/11/2024
Behind the Curtain of Early Stage VC | Marlon Nichols, MaC Venture Capital
In this episode we speak with Marlon Nichols, co-founder of MaC Venture Capital, who discusses his diverse career path from starting as an early employee at an enterprise software company, moving into consulting, and ultimately venturing into the world of venture capital. He explains the founding and growth of MaC Venture Capital, sharing insights into their investment thesis, sector focus, and the types of companies they seek to partner with. Marlon also provides invaluable advice for new fund managers and entrepreneurs, touching on the current fundraising landscape, strategies for success, and the importance of aligning with a firm's culture and team dynamics MaC Venture Capital is a seed-stage venture firm that invests primarily in North America, with a focus on California. While the firm does not have a specific sector focus, it considers itself a generalist firm run by sector experts. Marlon explains that the common thread among their investments is a focus on popular culture and future trends. The firm seeks to identify emerging behaviors and trends early on and invest in companies that align with these shifts. This approach allows MaC Venture Capital to invest in a wide range of sectors, including fintech, B2B SaaS, digital health, and space and defense. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Marlon Nichols is the co-founder and managing general partner at MaC Venture Capital, a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in visionary founders building the future that the world wants to see. Marlon has an extensive background in technology, private equity, media and entertainment. His unique eye for global and cultural trends, along with shifts in consumer behavior, has helped him uplift and accelerate entrepreneurs and companies that are on the verge of their breakthrough moment. Some of his current and previous portfolio companies include Blavity, Faze Clan, FINESSE, Gimlet Media, LIT Videobooks, Mansa, MongoDB, Pipe, PureStream, Ryff, Solo Funds, Spill, Thrive Market, Wonderschool and others. Thanks to his background as a professional athlete, Marlon utilizes sports leadership philosophy when working closely with CEOs to build the Venture of tomorrow. His diverse network of media and entertainment industry leaders, tech entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives and sports professionals helps him develop strategic partnerships and promote brand expansions for his portfolio companies.Marlon serves on the board of directors for the Kauffman Fellows program, where he has been instrumental in growing the representation of underrepresented minorities. He also serves on the advisory board for Los Angeles Mayor’s office’s PledgeLA. Marlon has been honored on the LA500 in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and ranked among top early stage investors on Business Insider’s Seed 100 for three consecutive years. He was also named Pitchbook’s 25 Black Founders and VCs to Watch for the last six years. Marlon has been featured in Axios, CNBC, Cheddar, The Information, Crunchbase News, Fortune, Yahoo! Finance and more. Prior to MaC Venture Capital, Marlon was co-founder of Cross Culture Venture. He eventually enacted the merger with Adrian Fenty’s M Venture that resulted in MaC Venture Capital as it stands today. Prior to Cross Culture Venture, he served as an Investment Director at Intel Capital and earned hands-on experience as an operator himself. Marlon earned his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Northeastern University and an MBA from the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, where he was also adjunct faculty in entrepreneurship and venture capital. Time Stamps: 02:57 Marlon's journey from early operator to VC founder 08:55 Venture capital as a path to diversity and strategic engagement 12:14 MaC Venture Capital investment thesis and strategies 16:25 Fundraising challenges and advice for new founders 21:04 Strategies for first-time fund managers targeting LPs 23:25 Fundraising realities for new VC managers 26:18 The multifaceted role of a founding general partner 28:56 Strategies for startups targeting successful exits 31:42 Evaluating seed stage investments 34:03 Venture capital’s shift to sustainable investment strategies 38:25 The impact of AI on business 41:40 What is coming up in 2024 and how to get in contact with MaC Venture Capital team Resources Company website: Instagram: LinkedIn: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/31693442
info_outline
Launching a Shared Economy for Creators via Blockchain | Brandon Thorpe, FormLess
06/04/2024
Launching a Shared Economy for Creators via Blockchain | Brandon Thorpe, FormLess
In this episode we speak with Brandon Thorpe, a trailblazer in technology and entrepreneurship. From his early programming days to pivotal roles at Google AI and Apple, Brandon has redefined innovation in the tech world. Beyond his technological achievements, discover how his musical collaborations with Grammy winner Dallas Austin and the launch of his groundbreaking album 'Unicorn' showcase his diverse talents. Co-founder of Formless, Brandon is revolutionizing the internet through shared technology and smart contracts. Learn about his vision for an equitable digital landscape, the origins of his passion for tech, and the challenges and successes he faced while raising funds for Formless. Explore the multifaceted world of a creative technologist committed to inspiring others and reshaping the future of digital communities. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Brandon Thorpe was a Staff engineer at Google AI, Senior engineer at Apple, self-taught programmer at 13 years old, featured in national media such as Forbes and WSJ, signed with Grammy Award winner Dallas Austin to release album "Unicorn", creator of Multi-Dream Theory with the idea that humans are capable of achieving excellence in multiple fields in parallel, co-founded Formless in 2022 aiming to illuminate true human purpose through technology by revolutionizing the internet with SHARE technology empowering common property ownership with smart contracts. Creative technologist with millions of streams and views across internet platforms. Formless was selected as one of around 30 companies from a pool of 8,000 to receive investment from a16z's CSX accelerator in 2023 and has since raised a multi-million dollar pre-seed round. Time Stamps: 03:11 Brandon's journey from tech to music and back 12:52 Exploring the intersection of music, technology, and blockchain 15:27 Pain point that led to creating Formless 18:58 Redefining music distribution through blockchain 20:18 Blockchain as a nongovernment global computer. 23:02 Challenges and opportunities of music and blockchain 25:47 Redefining artist monetization and community building 30:52 Expanding Formless Beyond Music 34:04 Starting points and essential skills for building blockchain 38:31 Navigating the blockchain insights and opportunities 43:12 Engaging with the Formless Platform 45:08 Fundraising journey: strategies and lessons learned 51:56 What is coming up in 2024 and how to get in contact with the formless team Resources Company website: Instagram: Twitter: LinkedIn:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/31596077
info_outline
Navigating Unique Pathways in Venture Capital | Kevin Moore, Serac Ventures
05/28/2024
Navigating Unique Pathways in Venture Capital | Kevin Moore, Serac Ventures
In this episode, we sit with Kevin Moore, the fund manager at Serac Ventures. Kevin shares his unconventional journey to venture capital. Starting with a degree in civil engineering, Kevin transitioned through roles as a financial advisor, a regulatory worker at the Federal Reserve Bank, and eventually into the VC world. He emphasizes the importance of diverse experiences and a curious mindset for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities. He discusses his methodology for investment selection and the significance of a disciplined approach across various investment mediums. Kevin provides insights into the venture capital industry, highlighting the importance of understanding both the finance aspects and the operational challenges of startups, he also delves into the specifics of fundraising, offering advice on engaging with different types of investors, including foundations, endowments, family offices, and high net worth individuals. Furthermore, Kevin outlines the strategic focus of Serac Ventures on fintech, B2B SaaS, and commerce enablement solutions, emphasizing the fund's commitment to diversity and hands-on support for portfolio companies. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Kevin Moore is the Founder and Managing Partner at Serac Ventures. Kevin has over 18 years' experience in public and private markets investing having worked at Spur Capital Partners (VC FoF), i2E (VC Fund), Morgan Stanley, The Federal Reserve Bank, and Northwestern Mutual. Kevin is also the author of Starting Your Investment Fund: A How to Guide and he has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma. Time Stamps: 02:52 Kevin Moore’s unconventional paths to VC success 08:03 First steps into venture capital and the importance of background diversity 11:25 Embracing your role for personal and professional growth 13:08 Navigating the investment landscape: from LP to VC fund manager 18:33 Strategies for investment managers to engage with endowments 26:36 Challenges and strategies in fundraising for successive funds 28:06 Strategizing fund size for investment success 30:34 Financing GP commitments through fund distributions 32:33 Investment criteria and strategies at Serac Ventures 36:28 VC leverage expert networks for founders 38:24 Investment trends and predictions for 2024 and beyond 41:51 Dry powder and investment strategy in fund management 46:32 What is coming up for Serac Ventures Resources Company website: Youtube: LinkedIn: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/31487067
info_outline
Connecting Communities through Venture Capital | Justis Mendez, OneSixOne Ventures
05/08/2024
Connecting Communities through Venture Capital | Justis Mendez, OneSixOne Ventures
In this episode, we have a conversation with Justis Mendez, who is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of OneSixOne Ventures. Justis shares his journey from the tough streets of Cleveland to becoming a leading figure in the venture capital world. From experiencing the harsh realities of gang violence and incarceration to founding Qu Parking, an innovative startup that revolutionizes residential parking. We also delve into Justis's transition into the venture capital sphere and his role in building a robust tech ecosystem, tracing his path from his initial introduction to VC at OneSixOne Ventures. During our conversation with Justis, he highlights the significance of making a positive impact through venture capital and offers valuable advice for aspiring founders. He emphasizes the importance of being authentic and having technical expertise. Justis also discusses the challenges of raising capital in Florida and their mission to support local founders and keep them in the state. Building a strong community and providing value to founders beyond just capital is also a key point that he talks about, sharing insights into their investment strategy, focusing on early-stage startups in the enterprise software and AI infrastructure space. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Justis was born and raised on the west side of Cleveland. He grew up around gang violence, drug traffickers, and drive-by shootings happening as often as one could imagine. Many of his childhood friends have been either gunned down or locked up in prison. His best friend even ended up on First 48 after being involved in the murder of a high-profile gang member they knew. Justis founded Qu Parking, an "Airbnb for residential parking" startup, and led business development for Pinata, a fintech startup based in NYC helping tenants earn rewards for paying rent. OneSixOne Ventures is a leading pre-seed venture capital firm in the Southeast that identifies and invests in enterprise software and government tech startups that are developing breakthrough dual-use technologies. Time Stamps: 03:13 Justis Mendez’s background and introduction to VC 12:41 Building a tech ecosystem: The genesis of OneSixOne Ventures 17:05 Launching a virtual accelerator during the pandemic 19:12 Launching their fund after realizing the need for monetization 22:15 Making a positive impact through venture capital 24:24 The strategic focus on enterprise software and AI 26:56 Investing in pre-seed and seed stages with small checks 30:05 Joining the fund’s ecosystem and warm referrals as ways to connect with OneSixOne 34:20 Current state of the VC space and capital deployment 38:57 Plans and predictions for 2024 40:52 Advice for founders: Authenticity and technical expertise 44:06 Considerations when outsourcing technical development for AI 46:17 Upcoming events for 2024 and how to get in contact with the OneSixOne group Resources Company website: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/31189422
info_outline
The Art of Storytelling for Black Founders | James Norman, Black OPS
04/16/2024
The Art of Storytelling for Black Founders | James Norman, Black OPS
When it comes to fundraising, storytelling is a crucial element that can make or break a founder’s success. It goes beyond presenting information and numbers; it’s about creating a narrative that captivates investors and showcases the potential of the opportunity. Black founders should leverage their unique experiences and perspectives to craft a powerful story that resonates with investors, highlighting their journey, the problem they’re solving, and the impact they can make can help differentiate them in a crowded market. In this episode we sit with James Norman, co-founder Black Ops, who shares valuable insights on building successful tech companies and raising venture capital as a black founder. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the power of a compelling narrative when pitching to investors. James also offers advice on navigating the fundraising process and highlights the need for black founders to focus on building a strong network and finding mentors who can provide guidance and support. Overall, he provides valuable advice for black founders looking to succeed in the tech industry. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: James Norman is a serial entrepreneur who built his first company at the age of 16, an aftermarket automotive e-commerce site called MJH Sound.com. While previously he may have been known as a visionary in automotive product planning, over the past 7 years in the media and entertainment industry he has become a thought leader in over-the-top media and consumer video consumption behaviors. His latest venture is Pilotly, a consumer insights platform that enables content creators to get feedback from audiences at scale. Time Stamps: 02:25 Introduction and background of James Norman 10:02 Hiring the right engineer to build a product 13:46 The continuous learning process in technology 15:09 Funding challenges for non-profit organizations 17:27 How Black Ops program born out of the experience of founder support 21:13 Shifting power dynamics when fundraising as a founder 24:39 Building a Strong VC Network 26:11 Articulating the unique value and experience of the fund 30:38 Considerations for fund size and raising a first fund 33:19 Financial modeling and decision-making for portfolio construction 35:05 Importance of having a term sheet to raise a Series A 36:21 The power of storytelling in convincing investors and supporters 41:25 Addressing Gaps in Accelerators for Black Founders 46:21 What is coming up in the 2024 Resources Company website: Twitter: LinkedIn:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/30852073
info_outline
Unveiling the Future of Loan Processing | Roberto Ibarra, Expediente Azul
04/02/2024
Unveiling the Future of Loan Processing | Roberto Ibarra, Expediente Azul
Today we sit with Roberto Ibarra, co-founder and CTO of Expediente Azul. Roberto shares how he transitioned from a software development company to building a product-focused business, driven by the need to solve a specific problem in the financial sector. Expediente Azul streamlines the loan onboarding process by automating the collection and verification of documents and data. As the platform evolves, it focuses on extracting data directly from reliable sources and creating documentation from that data. The ultimate vision is to create a digital marketplace for lenders to share opportunities and data, fostering trust and speeding up loan processes globally. As Expediente Azul gained traction and more customers, the team realized that the real value lay not in the documents themselves, but in the data they contained. Financial institutions didn’t want the documents; they wanted the data for analysis. This realization led to a shift in focus from gathering documents to extracting and utilizing the data within them. The platform began integrating with third-party tools that connected to tax authorities’ databases, allowing for the extraction of accurate and up-to-date income data directly from the source. This eliminated the need for customers to provide physical or scanned copies of their tax records. Instead, the platform automatically retrieved the necessary data, ensuring its accuracy and reducing the risk of fraud If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Roberto Carlos Ibarra Rabadán entered the world of computing over 25 years ago assembling and selling personal computers. He went on to start a software development services company called Innox, being the 9th company in Mexico with a CMMI 4 quality rating (military/medical grade) with over 70 employees which was sold in 2013. Later, Roberto developed various apps with millions of downloads, two of them nominated the best in the world during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. During his sabbatical year, Roberto created the podcast Vidaentrepeneur.com where he interviewed over 290 Latin American inspiring entrepreneurs. Today he is the founder of the Fintech company Expediente Azul or Blue File in English, a software platform that simplifies the document-gathering process for large loans and other KYC processes currently operating in Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Perú, the Caribbean, and South East Asia. Roberto was educated by the Tec de Monterrey, IPADE Business School, Harvard, and Oxford and was nominated by CNN as one of Mexico’s 30 promises as well as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Time Stamps: 03:07 Introduction and background of Roberto Ibarra 05:37 Transition from software development to a product Company 08:14 Finding a Problem worth solving 13:55 Scaling loan brokerage business with automation 18:07 Product evolution from document gathering to data sharing 26:27 Countries Expediente Azul operating today 27:46 Bringing in the right talent to build the initial version 30:38 Investing in sales over tech 33:32 The importance of thinking beyond the happy path 37:04 Building a lean and efficient tech team 42:02 Building a multilingual platform 44:23 Funding journey and resourcefulness 49:21 How to get in contact with the Expediente Azul team Resources Company website: LinkedIn: Facebook: Twitter: Email: [email protected]
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/30647613
info_outline
Reshaping Career Development With AI-Powered Tools | Chandler Malone, Path
03/27/2024
Reshaping Career Development With AI-Powered Tools | Chandler Malone, Path
Chandler Malone is a startup founder and entrepreneur in the technology space. He has a background in venture capital and has worked at various firms, including iSelect Fund and Atento Capital. Chandler co-founded the software company Boot Up, which focuses on workforce development and upskilling retail workers for technical roles. He recently launched a new company called Path AI with his partner Chris Gray, which aims to provide AI-powered career mentorship and job search tools. In this episode, we interview Chandler Malone, a startup founder and entrepreneur in the technology space. Chandler shares his background and journey, from his early entrepreneurial experiences in college to his work in venture capital and the launch of his own companies. He discusses his latest venture, Path AI, which focuses on providing AI-powered career mentorship and job search tools. Chandler also shares insights and tips for founders, including fundraising strategies and the importance of metrics and communication skills. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Chandler has been focused on helping people reach their economic potential throughout his entire career via his work at Bootup and The Family. In Chandler’s 3 years as the CEO of Bootup, the company helped thousands of people get their first jobs in tech for over $200M in annualized salaries at companies like JP Morgan Chase, Home Depot, Mailchimp, Cerner, and more. Chandler is also founder of The Family, a venture studio focused on Black and Brown founders. Over the past 4 years, The Family has invested in 10 Black and Brown founders with an estimated market cap of over $300M. Time Stamps: 02:43 Introduction and background of Chandler Malone 06:23 Challenges of startup fundraising 08:49 Transition from working at Tinto Capital and Launching Boot Up 11:29 Introduction to Path AI and the need for AI tools in the hiring process 15:37 Advantage of AI advisors for specific industries 18:44 Advantages of sourcing talent from South America 23:22 Incorporation of AI into the product using OpenAI, Anthropic, and Llama2 25:24 Importance of delivering value and creating awareness for customers 26:46 Looking for people who care about helping others and economic mobility 29:30 Funding journey: self-funded, upcoming funding round 32:53 Finding investors with expertise in the relevant industry 33:55 Selecting the most compelling and honest metrics for investors 35:15 Communication with partners, associates, and analysts in the funding process 38:13 How to get in contact with Path AI team and whats coming new in 2024 Resources Company website: LinkedIn: Instagram: Other:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/30568263
info_outline
Shaping The Future Of The Physical Movie Theater | Stacy Spikes, MoviePass
03/20/2024
Shaping The Future Of The Physical Movie Theater | Stacy Spikes, MoviePass
In this episode, we interview Stacy Spikes, the founder of MoviePass, about his background in the entertainment industry and the journey of building a successful tech company. Spikes shares his experience in the music and film sectors, his motivation for creating MoviePass, and the challenges he faced in the movie industry. He explains how MoviePass works as a subscription-based service that allows moviegoers to save money on tickets and provides insights into the technology behind the platform. Spikes also discusses his passion for supporting underrepresented filmmakers and the impact of MoviePass on the movie industry. Unlike streaming services that dominate the entertainment industry, MoviePass focuses solely on the physical movie theater experience. By offering a subscription service, MoviePass aims to eliminate the need for studios to constantly reacquire customers through advertising, ultimately doubling the size of the movie industry. The platform provides customers with a virtual card in the app, which they can use to purchase tickets either online or in person. This flexibility allows moviegoers to choose from a wide range of theaters and enjoy significant savings on their movie tickets. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Stacy Spikes is an award-winning entrepreneur and inventor who USA Today named one of the 21 most influential Blacks in technology. He holds several technology patents and is the co-founder and CEO of the nation’s first theatrical subscription service, MoviePass. In addition, Spikes is the founder of Urbanworld, the largest international festival dedicated to nurturing Women and BIPOC filmmakers. Spikes is the author of a business memoir titled Black Founder, The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider on Kensington Press. Time Stamps: 03:00 Introduction and background of Stacy Spikes 04:50 Solving the pain point of movie exposure 06:45 Revolutionizing moviegoing experience with subscription services 09:17 Flexible movie ticket credits with MoviePass 12:15 Building a technology platform: from concept to execution 15:17 Finding the right tech hubs 19:55 The evolution of Dev shops 24:06 Getting the word out and acquiring new customers 26:29 Overcoming barriers to entry in the movie theater industry 28:20 Creating an innovative OTT platform 31:54 Stages of fundraising and how to find demand for your product 34:38 Stacy's new Book: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider 36:37 What coming new and how to get in contact with the MoviePass team Resources Company website: https://www.moviepass.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/moviepass LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moviepass-inc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviepass
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/30452743
info_outline
Improving Latino Community's Access to Mental Health Services | Luis Suarez, Sanarai
03/07/2024
Improving Latino Community's Access to Mental Health Services | Luis Suarez, Sanarai
Today we sit with Luis Suarez, the founder of Sanarai, a startup focused on increasing access to high-quality mental health resources for the Spanish-speaking community. Originally from Mexico City, Luis moved to the US to pursue his MBA at Duke University. After struggling to find mental health support in Spanish during the COVID-19 pandemic, Luis recognized the need for better resources for the Latino community. With Sanarai, he aims to bridge the gap and provide culturally sensitive mental health services to Spanish speakers. Luis shares his personal journey and the inspiration behind starting Sanarai. He highlights the significant gap in mental health services for the Latino population, with only 5% of mental health professionals speaking Spanish despite 13% of the population being Spanish speakers. He shares how they have built a two-sided marketplace connecting patients with mental health providers, focusing on relationship issues, anxiety, depression, and more. The team has leveraged resources like Google for Startups to grow their platform and ensure the highest quality of care for their users. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Luis Emilio Suarez pursued his education at Colegio Vista Hermosa, and later attended Universidad Politécnica de Madrid from 2006 to 2011, where he obtained a degree in Mining and Energy Engineering. He then went on to study at Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business from 2015 to 2017, and received a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). Luis has an extensive work history starting from 2010, when he worked as a Project Engineer at Soletanche Bachy. He worked as a Contract Manager at SENER from 2012 to 2016, and in 2016 he became an MBA Summer Intern at Kearney. He was later promoted to Management Consultant in 2017. Most recently, in 2020, he founded Sanarai and became its CEO. Time Stamps: 02:51 Introduction and background of Luis Suarez 06:40 Challenges of serving the Latino market and expanding to Central and South America 09:46 Sanarai as a two-sided marketplace for mental health services 11:04 B2B2C model and partnerships with companies and community organizations 12:00 Strategy for creating and filling demand for therapists 14:20 Matching patients with therapists based on specialties 16:37 Building the technology for the platform started with an MVP. 18:54 How proven interest from therapists and clients led to building a customized platform. 20:20 Focusing on quality of mental health providers rather than the technology. 23:00 What does the Sanarai team look like today 26:32 How does Sanarai’s work mode work 29:27 Explaining 1871 as an incubator and shared space for startups 30:52 Sanarai experience with Google for Startups program 33:03 Funding and resources offered by Google for Startups 35:24 How to get in contact with the Sanarai team Resources Company website: Twitter: LinkedIn: Instagram:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/30267738
info_outline
Enabling Access to Credit in Latin America's Fintech Market | Veronica Crisafuli, Mo Technologies
02/20/2024
Enabling Access to Credit in Latin America's Fintech Market | Veronica Crisafuli, Mo Technologies
In this episode we sit with Veronica Crisafuli, the founder and CEO of Mo Technologies. Veronica shares her journey from a career in consulting to becoming an entrepreneur in the fintech industry. She discusses the problem she identified in the financial ecosystem - the lack of access to formal credit for a large portion of the global population. Veronica explains how she bridged the gap between her consulting background and the fintech industry by leveraging her knowledge of technology and her passion for financial inclusion. She introduces Mo Technologies, a fintech company that offers a credit core platform to enable clients to launch, operate, and scale their credit products. Veronica also highlights the importance of data and artificial intelligence in the underwriting process and discusses the competitive landscape in the fintech industry, including traditional banks and other fintech startups. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Veronica Crisafuli is the CEO and Co-founder at MO Technologies. A creative mind that focuses on innovation in the digital space and financial inclusion. She worked as a strategic consultant for more than 15 years for important consulting companies dedicated to TMT and financial services, such as Bain & Company, Delta Partners, and Mastercard Advisor, where she led projects in South Africa, Argentina, United Kingdom, Brazil, Turkey, Czech Republic, Spain, and Colombia. Veronica started her entrepreneurial path on 2016, when she co-founded MO Technologies, a fintech that developed a patent-pending proprietary credit scoring technology based on machine learning, artificial intelligence and all cloud-based with a dream to democratize access to credit all around the world. As of July 27th, 2021, Veronica was appointed CEO at fintech MO. Additionally, from 2020 she co-founded KEO World: a fintech in the pure lending space. She has been named one of the 10 Most Successful Businesswoman to Watch 2020 by CIOlook, and recently highlighted as one of the 10 Most Inspiring Businesswomen Making a Difference, 2021. Beyond Exclamation also named her one of the 10 Most Successful Women Renewing the Future in Technology, 2021. Time Stamps: 03:15 Introduction and background of Veronica Crisafuli 06:47 Identifying the pain point in the financial ecosystem 09:35 Developing the software-based solution for credit issuance 12:32 Business model: Charging based on the amount of credit offered 15:46 Modular platform allowing customization for clients 18:55 Facing competition from both large financial institutions and fintech startups. 22:15 Collaborative models between big institutions and fintechs accelerate the adoption of new technologies. 25:30 Scalling the product, focusing on the Latin America Market 27:07 Incorporating AI and machine learning in underwriting and data analysis. 28:47 Criteria for hiring technical roles 33:28 Remote work and finding tech talent in Latin America 38:46 Challenges in fundraising and adapting to market conditions 41:40 Changing fundraising strategies for a sustainable business 43:32 How to get in contact with the Mo Technologies Team Resources Company website: Twitter: LinkedIn: Instagram:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/30028418
info_outline
Building a Community of Startups In Latin America | David Silva Ossa, AWSM (Awesome)
01/31/2024
Building a Community of Startups In Latin America | David Silva Ossa, AWSM (Awesome)
In this episode we sit with David Silva, a Colombian entrepreneur and community builder. David shares his background growing up in Cali, Colombia, surrounded by a vibrant community of artists, politicians, and intellectuals. He discusses his journey from studying software engineering to becoming a software engineer and eventually transitioning into the startup world. David also talks about the importance of community and how he founded Techqueria, a community for Latino individuals interested in tech. The conversation then shifts to David's current venture, AWSM (“Awesome”), a venture studio focused on launching 100 startups in five years. David explains the need for more Latino leaders in the tech industry and the importance of funding and supporting underrepresented founders. He also discusses the challenges faced by Latino entrepreneurs and the need for mentorship and support networks. Throughout the episode, David emphasizes the importance of collaboration, community, and empowering each other. He shares his vision for creating a strong network of Latino leaders and supporting startups in highly regulated industries such as finance and healthcare. David also highlights the potential of Latin American talent and the need for international collaboration in the tech ecosystem. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: David Silva is a multi-faceted professional with a rich history of tech and business community contributions. David's diverse career is marked by innovation and leadership. He currently serves as the founder of Calima which is a dynamic executive community that fosters international business collaboration. Calima provides a unique platform that connects Latin American executives in the US and abroad both online and in physical spaces. In addition, To his work at Calima. David holds the position of CTO at AWSM awesome. His role involves deploying complex teams of business owners to efficiently launch innovative ideas with a particular focus on the accelerator community: community engagement, FinTech, and healthcare. David's commitment to creating inclusive and supportive communities extends to his role as the founder of the tech area. Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction and background of David Silva 03:50 Getting into startups and learning new skills 06:47 Importance of learning management skills for engineers 09:21 Building the TechArea community 11:44 Empowering members to create their own events 13:14 Different key positions in the tech ecosystem 14:33 Disparity in funding opportunities for Latino and Black communities 17:38 Need to create more mentors and support networks 19:56 Working on launching 100 startups in five years 22:24 Different types of startup studios and incubators 25:10 International expansion without geographic restrictions 27:37 Attractiveness of living and working in Latin America 31:10 Introduction of a secret executive community for events and networking 34:14 Introduction of the Calima community with cultural significance 38:00 How to get in contact with the AWSM team Resources Company website: ; Twitter: LinkedIn: Instagram:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/29722828
info_outline
The Future of Recommerce in Latin America | Lucas Keen, ZeluCash
01/05/2024
The Future of Recommerce in Latin America | Lucas Keen, ZeluCash
In today's fast-paced world, technology is constantly evolving, and consumers are always on the lookout for the latest gadgets. However, this obsession with newness has led to a significant amount of electronic waste, as people discard their old devices in favor of the latest models. ZeluCash recognized this wasteful trend and saw an opportunity to create a more sustainable and cost-effective solution. Today we sit with Lucas Keen, the founder of ZeluCash, an Argentinean startup that specializes in the recommerce industry. With an MBA in Argentina and a background in startups, Lucas has extensive experience in the e-commerce and technology sectors. He launched ZeluCash in 2015 to address the wastage of valuable technology, such as smartphones, by creating a trading program where customers can trade in their old devices for new ones. Lucas is passionate about the circular economy and believes in giving products a second life. Keen discusses the growth of the recommerce industry in Latin America and the impact of his company's trading program. He explains how ZeluCash allows customers to trade in their old smartphones for new ones, providing a more affordable option and reducing electronic waste. Lucas also highlights the importance of trust and transparency in the recommerce market and the role of technology in facilitating the buying and selling process. He shares his plans for expanding into Mexico and Chile and the potential for growth in the region. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Lucas Keen has 16 years of experience managing digital business in Latam. He performed as a Sales Manager for 6 years at DineroMail (acquired by PayU in 2012) From 2011 to 2014 he was Country manager and investor at Ticketbis, European ticket exchange platform sold to eBay. He earned his MBA from IAE (Business school of Austral University) in Argentina. Time Stamps: 02:57 Introduction and background of Lucas Keen 07:50 Initial challenges faced by ZeluCash 10:45 Expansion of ZeluCash product offerings 12:57 Zelu Cash’s impact on the market in Argentina 14:10 Embracing the circular economy concept 16:48 Using own and third-party technologies for flexibility and efficiency. 19:44 Finding the right developers to build out the product 22:00 Using a recruiting agency to improve the quality of talent and freelancers for projects. 24:50 Buying, pricing and selling based on daily market scans and phone conditions. 29:42 Leveraging retail companies for marketing on the buying side. 32:09 Implementing cost-saving processes with technology 34:08 Ensuring trust through software verification and customer reviews 36:11 Potential growth in the recommerce market in Latin America 39:26 How to get in contact with the ZeluCash team Resources Company website: https://zelucash.com/home Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZELUCASH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zelucashlatam/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zelucash/
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/29354068
info_outline
Unlocking Productivity in a Hybrid World | Camille Padilla, Vodium
11/30/2023
Unlocking Productivity in a Hybrid World | Camille Padilla, Vodium
Today, we have the pleasure of introducing Camille Padilla, the co-founder of Vodium, a groundbreaking platform that has introduced the world's first virtual teleprompter. Based in Chicago, Illinois, Vodium operates as a transparent app seamlessly integrated into video conferences, enhancing the virtual communication experience. With Vodium, Camille and her team aim to bring back the sense of genuine human connection in the digital realm by helping users maintain eye contact and communicate with confidence. Before her entrepreneurial venture with Vodium, Camille served as the vice president at a top boutique political media firm based in Los Angeles. In this role, she demonstrated exceptional skills as an operator and creative thinker, managing operations and budgets for multimillion-dollar ad campaigns. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in her leadership style, actively advocating for employees from diverse backgrounds and ensuring an inclusive and empowering workplace. In this thought leadership article, we will explore Camille's innovative journey with Vodium, her experience in the political media landscape, and her commitment to fostering diversity and creativity in the workplace. We will delve into the main themes discussed in the podcast and analyze their implications and potential impact on the future of virtual communication. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Before launching VODIUM, Camille was Vice President at one of the top boutique political media firms. She likes to say she’s a conundrum because she’s a skilled operator and creative. Camille ran all the operations and budgets for multi-million-dollar ad campaigns. But she also wrote, directed, and produced national TV commercials. The idea of VODIUM came to her while she was conducting a video shoot over Zoom, and the first person she had to call was her best friend and roommate, Mary Mellor. Now VODIUM has been operational for three years. Time Stamps: 03:02 Camille's Journey and the Birth of Vodium 09:18 Importance of Eye Contact in Virtual Communication 13:03 Challenges and Triumphs of Building Vodium 17:11 The Role of AI in Vodium 23:01 The Importance of Soft Skills in Virtual Communication 25:49 The Challenges of Building a Tech Startup 29:05 Securing Initial Investment and Finding a Development Firm 31:46 The Trade-off Between Hiring Developers vs. Software Development Shop 35:20 Navigating the Enterprise Market 38:12 The Decision to Partner with Avanade 45:38 The Journey to Raising 2 Million in Funding 50:34 How to get in contact with the Vodium team, future Plans and Final Thoughts Resources Company website: Instagram: LinkedIn: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/28870013
info_outline
Empowering Underrepresented Founders in Tech | Aaron Samuels, Collide Capital
11/21/2023
Empowering Underrepresented Founders in Tech | Aaron Samuels, Collide Capital
In this episode, we interview Aaron Samuels, the Managing Partner, and Co-Founder of Collide Capital, a venture capital fund that invests primarily in black, Latin, and female founders. He has a diverse background, having worked as a spoken word artist, strategy consultant, product manager, and co-founder of Blavity, a media company focused on black culture and news. Aaron Samuels shares his journey from being a spoken word artist to becoming a fund manager at Collide Capital. He discusses the structural obstacles faced by underrepresented founders in the tech industry and how his experiences at Blavity led him to start a venture capital fund. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration, passion, and the ability to build teams when evaluating startups. He also explains Collide Capital's investment focus on software, including enterprise, SaaS, fintech infrastructure, supply chain, and gen Z productivity. Aaron highlights the value-add services provided by Collide Capital, including their willingness to go the extra mile for their founders. He also shares insights on raising a fund, the importance of finding the right investors, and the need for a well-researched approach when pitching to LPs. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Aaron Samuels is Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital. Prior to Collide Capital, Aaron began his career as a spoken word artist before working at Bain & Co. as a strategy consultant and TeleSign as a Product Manager. Combining his love for storytelling, strategy, and technology, Aaron co-founded and served as COO at Blavity, the largest global Black Media company, and AfroTech, the largest Black Tech conference in the world. Time Stamps: 02:48 Background of Aaron and Collide Capital 04:43 Realization of structural barriers for underrepresented founders 08:44 Creating Collide Capital to invest in underrepresented founders 10:41 Blending operational and investment expertise at Collide Capital 12:28 Valuing collaboration and teamwork in founders 14:48 Founding companies out of passion, not logic or reason. 17:04 Seed stage investments focus on scaling existing solutions. 19:01 Chek size that best fit for new founders 20:57 Focusing on software, enterprise, SaaS, fintech, supply chain, and Gen Z productivity. 23:13 Value-added service is the founders' support and involvement. 25:05 Journey and comparison in raising funds to raise as a startup 28:31 Researching potential investors, convincing them that you're the best person for the job. 31:45 Considering fund size and track record when raising fund one 33:56 Looking for positive signs of success when investing in seed 35:25 How to get in contact with the Collide Capital team Resources Company website: Twitter: LinkedIn: Instagram:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/28738538
info_outline
Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Schools | Shani Dowell, Possip
07/17/2023
Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Schools | Shani Dowell, Possip
In this episode, we sit down with Shani Dowell, the founder of Possip, a groundbreaking platform that bridges the gap between parents and schools to enhance student outcomes. Dowell takes us on her inspiring journey, from her background in consulting to her passion for education and the founding of Possip in 2016. Join us as Dowell discusses the challenges faced in improving student outcomes and explores the vital role parents and teachers play in achieving this goal. We delve into the future of education and the profound impact technology has on the industry. Dowell also shares insights on fundraising and emphasizes the significance of finding the right investors for long-term success. Discover how Possip empowers parents by providing a platform for valuable feedback to schools. With its inclusive approach, more than half of the feedback received is in languages other than English, ensuring accessibility for non-English speaking parents. Through open-ended sentiment questions, parents can express praise, seek answers to questions, or voice concerns. The technology organizes this qualitative data into subcategories, offering quantitative insights without sacrificing the richness of feedback. The collected data facilitates decision-making at the district level, and schools receive tailored recommendations based on the feedback. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Shani Dowell is a visionary entrepreneur and leader in technology and education. As the founder of Possip, her work helps revolutionize how schools and districts engage with their families, students and staff. A former middle school Math teacher, Shani started her career as a consultant at Bain & Co. and helped launch the Boston office of the Posse Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to increase student retention and engagement on college campuses. Shani has also worked for education organizations across the country - seeking to create the strongest school possible for students, families, staff, and the broader community. Shani earned her BA at Howard University in Washington, DC, and her MBA at Stanford University. Time Stamps: 03:08 Introduction to Shani Dowell's background 07:34 Paint point that led to the idea for Possip 09:21 The challenges of improving student outcomes 12:41 The role of technology in education 14:59 Use of text prompts and web links for parent engagement 16:56 Importance of building something you understand 19:56 Finding the right tech developer 21:16 Leveraging strengths in tech 24:08 Getting customers and understanding the education market 25:58 Finding the right price point for Possip 27:59 Business model and pricing 32:52 Fundraising journey and the importance of finding the right investors 35:40 Best fit investors for Possip 37:57 What’s coming next for Possip 39:56 How to get in contact with the Possip team Resources: Company website: https://possip.com/ Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/27458427
info_outline
Empowering Women Through Technology | Mariana Costa, Laboratoria
07/10/2023
Empowering Women Through Technology | Mariana Costa, Laboratoria
In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Mariana, a Peruvian entrepreneur, and her mission to promote diversity and create opportunities in the world of technology. Join us as we explore the origins of Laboratoria, a tech-based education and job placement company founded by Mariana and her partner. After returning to Peru to marry and start a business, Mariana's passion for merging technology and social impact led to the birth of Laboratoria. Discover how Laboratoria's goal to provide tech education, job placement, and mentorship for underprivileged youth has transformed the lives of disadvantaged young people, fostering inclusion and diversity in the tech sector. As Laboratoria's web shop thrived, Mariana and her partner faced a significant challenge in building a diverse team of software developers. Recognizing the scarcity of such talent and the lack of diversity in the field, they seized the opportunity to empower women in tech. Hear Mariana's firsthand experiences of attending male-dominated tech meetups and the inspiration behind creating Labia, a boot camp designed to equip women with the skills needed to embark on successful careers in software development. Join us as Mariana reflects on the changing landscape of software engineering in Peru and the positive impact that Laboratoria and Labia have had in bridging the gender gap. Learn how they have shattered stereotypes and inspired thousands of women to pursue careers in tech, creating a more inclusive and vibrant future. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Mariana is the co-founder and President at Laboratoria, an organization empowering women who dream of a better future to start and grow careers in technology. Running bootcamp programs for women across Latin America, Laboratoria is helping shape a more diverse, inclusive, and competitive digital economy in the Region that can create opportunities for every woman to develop her potential. For her work as a social entrepreneur Mariana has received multiple recognitions, including being named one of Peru's leading innovators by the MIT, and one of the world’s most influential women by the BBC. She holds a BSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Columbia University in New York. Time Stamps: 03:06 Mariana’s background and professional journey 05:17 Starting a web shop and discovering the world of software development 07:57 Exploring the need for diverse tech talent in Peru 10:58 Software development: the immersive boot camp program 14:33 Benefits of the women in tech program bootcamp 17:15 Types of customers and companies hiring Laboratoria alumni 18:39 Laboratoria business model for job placement boot camps 22:33 Laboratoria metrics and use of technology 24:10 Using technology to educate women in tech and incorporating it into business 28:12 Challenges of attracting tech talent for nonprofit education services company 30:26 Laboratoria upcoming plans for 2023 32:27 Skilling up women in AI and data science 34:25 How to get in contact with the Laboratoria team Resources: Company website: Instagram: LinkedIn: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/27404562
info_outline
Creating Meaningful Connections at Events | Kerry Schrader, Mixtroz
06/19/2023
Creating Meaningful Connections at Events | Kerry Schrader, Mixtroz
In this episode we sit with Kerry Schrader, the co-founder of Mixtroz, a former HR executive with extensive experience in people management, who shares her journey of creating Mixtroz alongside her daughter, to address the challenge of making authentic connections at events. Kerry explores the origins of Mixtroz and the inspiration behind their innovative concept of "mixed introduction." She discuss the common issues faced by individuals at events, both before and during the pandemic, where making genuine connections with strangers seemed daunting. She also sheds light on how her passion for social engagement led her to create Mixtroz, events designed to foster meaningful conversations and connections. The conversation takes an exciting turn as Kerry delves into the importance of meaningful connections in today's society, whether in-person or in virtual settings. Kerry shares the premise of Mixtroz and how their technology-driven platform aids individuals in making these connections effortlessly. She emphasizes that attending an event is only the first step while building relationships and having meaningful conversations is the other half of the equation. Kerry reveals how Mixtroz helps bridge this gap, allowing people to connect with those who truly matter. As the discussion continues, Kerry highlights the prevalent tendency of individuals to stick to familiar faces at events, neglecting the opportunity to meet new people. Kerry elaborates on the idea behind launching Mixtures, a software platform specifically designed to assist event leaders in facilitating meaningful engagement. She emphasizes that while Mixtures isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, it serves as a valuable tool to help individuals forge deeper connections and foster a sense of community. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Kerry Schrader BBA, MBA, is the co-founder/CEO of Mixtroz. She is the 37th Black Female to ever raise over $1M in pre-seed funding. Kerry has more than 25 years of experience positively impacting the human assets of large companies including Ford, Alcoa, and Sears Holdings Corporation. Mrs. Schrader is a former board member of Creative Startups, Birmingham’s Inaugural Mayor’s Small Business Council, and UAB’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Advisory Board. She is currently a board member of the Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center. In addition to being included in Inc. Magazine’s 2022 100 Female Founders list, Kerry and her daughter were named “Powerful Women” by Entrepreneur Magazine on their inaugural list and Kerry has been included in Forbes Next 1000. Most importantly, however, KERRY is a breast cancer survivor! Time Stamps: 03:13 Kerry’s background and professional journey 05:34 Pain point on live events that led to creating Mixtroz 09:00 Maximizing engagement at events 11:10 Mixtroz technology for event organizers 13:24 Utilizing Mixtroz data to increase engagement 16:10 Event Planning and Targeting Customers 18:53 Power of Meaningful Social Connectivity in Mental Health Awareness 20:52 Enhancing Engagement in Virtual Events with Mixtroz Platform 24:41 Building an Engaging Event Platform 27:16 Journey of Bootstrapping and Fundraising for a Startup 32:58 Barriers to Raise Capital as a Black Female Founder 36:55 Overcoming Challenges to Launch a Tech Startup 41:32 Conversation on Supporting Black Companies and Female Founders 44:48 How to get in contact with the Mixtroz team Resources: Company website: Instagram: LinkedIn: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/27147543
info_outline
Building Wealth for Empowering Small Businesses | Sheridan Claybourne, Lendtable
06/12/2023
Building Wealth for Empowering Small Businesses | Sheridan Claybourne, Lendtable
In this episode, we sit with Sheridan Claybourne, an entrepreneur whose journey began at the age of 15 with a passion for startups and a knack for making profits. Discover how Sheridan's early success in acquiring and selling sneakers led him to launch his own company, Lendtable, and embark on a remarkable entrepreneurial career. Sheridan shares his experiences working in the finance industry, including stints at renowned firms like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs. Tune in as he discusses his decision to leave these prestigious positions behind in pursuit of creating startups that could address the flaws he observed in the existing financial landscape. Learn how he identified opportunities to generate outside returns and provide non-accredited investors access to private equity funds through his FinTech ventures. Explore Sheridan's diverse background, from working at a credit-boosting startup to becoming a machine learning product manager at Dropbox. Find out why he ultimately decided to forge his own path and how his varied experiences equipped him with the necessary skills to launch Lendtable. Discover how this platform is revolutionizing the way small and medium-sized businesses access financial services. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Sheridan is Co-Founder & CEO of Lendtable - the first platform for providing "wealth-building loans". Born in Chicago, Sheridan was the youngest African-American to ever get into Northwestern at age 15. Since enrolling in school, he built his first business (Snatcher - automatically buying and selling limited edition items/tickets) to $10million+ in revenue in 3 years. During which, he spent time working at Goldman and J.P. Morgan in their Special Situations Group. This ignited his passion for fintech and creating financial equality for all people. In its first 3 months, Lendtable raised $1million+. Time Stamps: 03:13 Sheridan’s background and professional journey 07:41 Exploring the possibilities of fintech to create a positive impact 10:59 Exploring wealth-building loans for 401k match and employee benefits 12:26 Benefits of debt financing for wealth building 14:35 Exploring guaranteed returns and artificial intelligence in financial platforms 16:46 Collecting data and leveraging third-party vendors 18:54 Direct-to-consumer 401k matching services 20:08 Significance of user interface and user experience in consumer-facing technology 21:21 Collaboration between co-founders to create a fintech business 25:43 Team makeup, fundraising journey, and learnings raising capital for a start-up 29:44 Seed and pre-seed round investment considerations for a startup 30:03 Identifying the best investors for a startup 32:13 Generating wealth through referrals and word of mouth 34:51 What’s next for the Lendtable team 35:54 How to get in contact with the Lendtable team Resources: Company website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/27077181
info_outline
Harnessing Technology for Community Building | Harold Hughes, Bandwagon
06/05/2023
Harnessing Technology for Community Building | Harold Hughes, Bandwagon
In this episode we sit with Harold Hughes, the founder & CEO of Bandwagon, Harold shares his journey from being a first-generation American in South Carolina to becoming a tech entrepreneur in Austin, Texas. Inspired by his experiences at Radio Shack and driven by a passion for uniting people, Harold founded Bandwagon — a technology-based solution to break down barriers and foster community through the love of sports. We delve into the concept of affinity groups and community building, exploring how technology can be harnessed to create meaningful connections among people from diverse backgrounds. Their platform allows fans to access exclusive content, join fan clubs, and celebrate their favorite teams, regardless of geographical limitations. Discover how Harold's vision bridges gaps and builds a stronger community, empowering individuals to engage, support, and understand one another better. In addition to Bandwagon, Harold discusses his latest innovation, Poet (Proof of Experience Token). Poet allows artists and athletes to invite their fans to submit content directly to their pages, with commercial rights belonging to the creators themselves. This innovative approach empowers entertainers and athletes to control their brand while enabling fans to share their experiences and build deeper connections with their favorite icons. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Harold Hughes is the founder & CEO of Bandwagon, a South Carolina-based live experience technology company. Under his leadership, Bandwagon has raised more than $3M in venture capital and successfully acquired IdealSeat, Inc. in 2020. Their customers include Fortune 50 brands, entertainers, as well as professional and collegiate athletes. As a first-generation American, Harold prioritized education, receiving two bachelor's degrees (Economics and Political Science) from Clemson University and later received his MBA from Clemson while he led business development at a Fortune 1000 company based in Greenville, South Carolina. As a web3 builder and community leader, Harold published "A Kids Book About Blockchain" to help educate people "from 6 to 60" about the revolutionary technology that Bandwagon specializes in. To that end, Harold is also an active angel investor, primarily investing in women, people of color, and Black founder-led companies. Most notably, he has invested in Partake Foods, the Jay-Z-backed CPG company making allergy-friendly snacks, and companies like Goodr, Chipper, Athletic Greens, Republic, Stix, and the National Cycling League. Time Stamps: 03:18 Harold’s background and professional journey 05:31 Exploring the pain point behind Bandwagon fan club 08:05 Benefits of poet and fan club for artists and fans 11:50 Exploring the benefits of using Poet for content creation and monetization 14:47 Benefits of connecting fans and artists through data 17:55 Leveraging blockchain technology to build value in an ecosystem 22:06 Building a blockchain platform 24:47 Recruiting and go-to-market strategy for blockchain-based platform 28:19 Value propositions and benefits of token access for artists and entertainment brands 31:03 Data analysis and funding for expansion of the brand 32:29 Leveraging social capital for successful fundraising 36:19 Potential of proof of experience technology 38:18 Discussing Bandwagon's product roadmap and connecting with fans 39:37 How to get in contact with the Bandwagon team Resources: Company website: Instagram: Twitter: LinkedIn:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/27045417
info_outline
The Innovative Solution to Retail Fraud | Barbara Jones, Freeing Returns
05/29/2023
The Innovative Solution to Retail Fraud | Barbara Jones, Freeing Returns
In this episode, we interview Barbara, a technical founder who has significantly impacted the tech industry. Barbara is the creator of a Clubhouse group called Let's Imagine Life with Ladies at It, which helps women learn to code and expand their knowledge and skills in tech. With over 3000 members, the group celebrates women in tech and encourages men to bring more women onto their teams. She is also passionate about helping other women reach their potential and make a difference in the tech industry. Recently, she launched an initiative with a nonprofit and an organization in Angola to get 100 Portuguese-speaking African women coding. She has already hired one of them as a QA analyst for her company. During the interview, Barbara shares her entrepreneurial journey, including how she started in tech and her experience with hackathons. She also talks about her successful software company that is used in over 4000 stores in the US, Canada, and Japan, and her experience creating algorithms for gift receipts and point-of-sale systems. Additionally, Barbara shares insights into the value of equity versus raises, and how she used her experience with a previous startup to start her own business, Freeing Returns. She explains how her team won a hackathon sponsored by WorldPay and ended up receiving $75,000 in cash and prizes for their solution to fix returns. This success led to WorldPay becoming one of the first customers of Freeing Returns, and the CTO of WorldPay becoming a mentor to Barbara, opening many doors for her in the tech industry. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Barbara Jones is the founder/CEO of Lillii RNB Inc which is doing business as Freeing Returns. Barbara has been in the Retail Technology sector for over 20 years and has been on the founding teams of 2 Retail Technology startups that both exited for close to $100M. Barbara has created Retail Tech Software that is running in over 4000 stores throughout the US, Canada, and Japan. She has been in the POS Architect and Solutions Architect roles for The Home Depot, LL Bean, PepBoys, and many more solving multi-million dollar issues for them. Her newest venture has been to transition Lillii RNB Inc from a System Integration consulting company to an Enterprise Solutions company with their Returns Management and Profit Optimization platform, Freeing Returns™ - which helps retailers find the Fraud and Shrink that's HIDING in their Data. We have successfully closed our Seed round, led by Serena Williams' venture fund and Aperture Venture Capital - bringing our total investments to over $4M.Barbara lives in Lithonia, GA with her husband of 2 years, but is from Austin, TX. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. She is a Gulf War Veteran, an Avid supporter of Women in STEM, and hires and trains minorities in the space of Retail Technology. Time Stamps: 03:17 Barbara’s background and professional journey with Freeing Returns 08:00 Benefits of starting a career in tech 12:48 Exploring the growing issue of retail fraud with Freeing Returns 16:15 How Freeing Returns solve the problem: E-commerce loss prevention 18:49 Identifying areas of loss and solutions for improvement 22:10 Defining the ideal customer and exploring solutions for retailers 25:20 Company target and experience with the product 28:18 Difference between building tech for an enterprise and an SMB 30:32 Potential of data science and AI for real-time alerts and predictive capabilities 33:58 Raising $4 million for a startup company 38:48 Validation through hard work: building resilience and preparing for the next funding round. 41:37 Raising a pre-series round for retail technology platform to support growth and scale 43:57 How to get in contact with the Freeing Returns team Resources: Company website: LinkedIn Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/26973987
info_outline
Unleashing Financial Inclusion: A Problem of Lack of Trust | Manuel Jimenez, Aflore
05/25/2023
Unleashing Financial Inclusion: A Problem of Lack of Trust | Manuel Jimenez, Aflore
In this episode, we speak with Manuel Jimenez, a Spanish professional who moved to Colombia to take a high-responsibility position with the Bank of Falabella and ended up creating his own company to tackle the issue of financial exclusion in the country. He shares his experience of moving to Colombia with his family and realizing that the country was not as dangerous as he had initially thought. He talks about his desire to create something with social impact and how he identified the problem of financial exclusion in Colombia. Manuel discusses the differences between access to credit and financing in the United States and Spain, and how these resources are more difficult to access in Colombia. He then introduces his company, Aflore, which aims to bridge the gap in the market by providing people with the tools to fulfill their financial roles more effectively. Manuel explains how his research uncovered an informal market in which people lend money to each other, and how Aflore is designed to make people aware of their role in this market and give them the tools to do it more efficiently. He also talks about his partnership with PolyMath Ventures, a venture studio, which generates ideas to become businesses and provides initial funding. He describes how he and his co-founder set out to solve the problem of lack of trust in the financial sector by analyzing how people solve their financial needs without the formal system. Finally, Manuel shares his vision for the future of Aflore and his plans to expand the company's reach in Colombia and beyond. This episode offers a unique perspective on the issue of financial exclusion in emerging markets and the role that technology can play in addressing this problem. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Manuel is the COO/CPO and co-founder of Aflore, a Fintech company that distributes financial products through a community of Informal Advisors. Manuel was previously Vice President of Banco Falabella Colombia, Head of Sales Channels, where he led areas including branch networks, remote channels (internet/mobile, contact centers, and ATM networks), and customer service. Manuel has more than 20 years of experience in international financial institutions, including roles in Finance, O&T, Business Analysis, Credit Scoring, Product Management, Business Development, and Sales and Distribution. He holds an Executive MBA from IE Business School, a BS in Business Administration from UNED, and a Computer Science degree from Universidad de Valladolid (Spain). Time Stamps: 03:05 Manuel's background and professional journey 05:17 Taking the decision to move to Colombia and start a company 07:33 A problem to be solved: access to fair credit and building assets 12:51 Exploring the informal financial market 15:06 Business model of a financial services provider 18:02 Serving the informal advisor market in Latin America 19:39 Making a digital transformation: where is tech involved 25:43 Leveraging technology to provide financial products to consumers 27:28 Combining technology and support to create trust with clients 29:06 Benefits of software and human interaction in business success 32:03 Utilizing technology and informal advisors to improve efficiency and manage risk 35:54 Raising equity and debt for track record creation 39:57 Raising capital for Latin American companies 43:46 Reorganizing team and developing channel strategy for growth and profitability 46:41 How to get in contact with the Aquabyte team Resources: Company website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/26941671
info_outline
Creating the Perfect Sleeping Environment | Alexandra Zatarain, Eight Sleep
05/22/2023
Creating the Perfect Sleeping Environment | Alexandra Zatarain, Eight Sleep
In this episode, we sit down with Alexandra, Co-founder of Eight Sleep, a health and wellness company focused on sleep fitness. Alexandra discusses her background in marketing and communication and how she acquired her skills through hands-on experience. She then delves into the inspiration behind Eight Sleep, which was founded to address the lack of technology available to help people understand and improve their sleep. Alexandra explains how the company's flagship product, the Pod, was created to bridge the gap between bad sleep and good sleep. The Pod uses sensors to monitor sleep and health biometrics and adjusts the temperature in real-time to create the perfect sleeping environment for each individual's needs in every sleep phase. The conversation also touches on the attention Eight Sleep has received from high-profile fans like Elon Musk, and Alexandra's excitement about the amazing team she has built at the company. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Alexandra Zatarain is the Co-founder and VP of Brand and Marketing of Eight Sleep, the world's first sleep fitness company. Eight Sleep has raised over $165M in venture funding and has helped hundreds of thousands of people get sleep fit with its hardware and digital products. In 2017, Alexandra was named by Forbes to the 30 Under 30 list in Consumer Technology, and in 2020 she was named by INC as one of the top 100 Female Founders. Alexandra is also an angel investor in female-founded companies. She was raised in Tijuana, Mexico, and now lives in Miami. Time Stamps: 02:59 Alexandra’s background and professional journey with Eight Sleep 06:04 Benefits of technology for sleep optimization with Eight Sleep 08:45 What is Eight Sleep technology 10:41 Solving environmental issues through temperature control technology 13:01 Benefits of learning from experts, thinkers, and customers for entrepreneurship 15:39 Conversation on sleep and the evolving role of marketing in business 19:45 Benefits of early-stage brand marketing and technology infrastructure 21:32 Technology behind the most extraordinary sleep experience 24:42 Building a dev team: hiring strategies and expertise needed 27:11 Company hiring and retaining talent in a small company 33:25 Crowdfunding process and successful campaigns 36:31 The value of validation and networking 40:04 Finding the right investors for a hardware company 41:43 Value-added services provided by investors 44:31 Discussing board partners, reference checks, and product roadmap 45:32 What’s coming for Eight Sleep in 2023 47:01 How to get in contact with the Eight Sleep team Resources: Company website: Instagram: Youtube: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/26896245
info_outline
The Power of Found Founds in Venture Capital | Taj Ahmad Eldridge, Include Ventures
05/18/2023
The Power of Found Founds in Venture Capital | Taj Ahmad Eldridge, Include Ventures
In this episode, investment professional Taj Ahmad Eldridge reveals the need for a more informed approach to venture capital investing. He discusses the importance of diversity, both in terms of demographics and geography, in maximizing financial returns. He explores the role of fund of funds, which bridge the gap between large institutions and smaller venture funds, and shares insights into their structure and purpose. Taj sheds light on the importance of diversity in venture capital, going beyond gender and racial diversity and highlighting the significance of geographic diversity. He argues that investing in underserved and undervalued markets, especially those with lower living costs can yield higher financial returns for investors. By taking on the role of a limited partner in LP himself, Taj aims to address this issue and empower more founders to succeed. Our conversation delves into the reasons and benefits of running a fund of funds that focuses on investing in underrepresented markets, including women and people of color. Fund of funds serve as conduits for larger institutions that cannot invest directly in smaller venture funds, which typically have an average size of $50 million. Furthermore, we explore the role of fund of funds as capital funds that invest in venture capital firms. Taj reveals that fund of funds typically receives a 1% management fee and a 7% carry, enabling them to share in the profits made by these venture capital firms. This approach ensures that fund managers choose effective strategies and invest in firms that can generate favorable returns. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Taj Ahmad Eldridge is a 25+ year investment professional whose career has included high-level executive roles in banking, asset management, alternative investments, and entrepreneurship. Taj serves as Managing Director of Climate Innovations at JFF. As General Partner of Include Venture Partners and former Senior Director of Investments at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), Eldridge has built a longstanding career with expertise in the fields of fintech, media, energy, transportation, and the circular economy. He is also one of the 70 Black Investors in Bevy.com - a $325 million virtual conference platform as noted in AfroTech. At LACI, he established both the LACI Impact Fund I (LIF I) and the LACI Debt Fund to allow cleantech companies to grow with diverse capital. These funds utilize an equity impact lens to encourage invested companies to have environmental, economic, and social impact - particularly on increasing the number of underrepresented voices in the cleantech industry. In addition, Eldridge created programs such as LACI Investor Talks (LIT), the LACI Investor in Residence program, and the Player to CEO Athlete-Investor Impact Summit Series with JP Morgan Chase. He has been named one of the 53 Investors to Watch in 2021 by Pitchbook & 101 Black Titans in Tech while nurturing and building a team of investment activists. Time Stamps: 03:00 Taj's background and professional journey 05:24 Venture risk capital and diversifying investment strategies 07:20 Fund of funds and geographic diversity in venture capital 10:47 Venture capital investment criteria with include ventures 15:49 Role of fund managers in artist funding and progress for emerging fund managers 18:37 Value of grants for underrepresented climate funds 21:60 A program to help minority underrepresented founders become venture investors 25:34 Key considerations for setting up a venture capital fund 27:21 Fund manager's secret sauce for success 30:14 Exploring diversity in venture capital 32:52 Staying in business and raising funds: tips for fund managers 35:00 Benefits of smaller fund sizes in venture capital 36:09 Evaluating fund managers and investment processes + 38:39 Fundraising strategies and climate initiatives + 40:33 Climate change: a public health, economic, and social justice issue 45:42 How to get in contact with the Include Ventures team Resources: Company website: Linkedin: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/26869833
info_outline
Bridging the Gap in Group Travel Booking and Weddings | Amy Jarczynski, Kiss & Tell
05/15/2023
Bridging the Gap in Group Travel Booking and Weddings | Amy Jarczynski, Kiss & Tell
In this episode, we speak with Amy Jarczynski, founder and CEO of Kiss & Tell, a wedding and group travel booking platform that aims to revolutionize the way guests communicate and book events. Amy shares her background and how her experiences working in consumer tech inspired her to create a platform that solves the pain points of booking and managing group travel. Amy talks about how Kiss & Tell was created in response to the dissatisfaction of guests with the current personal wedding website model, and how her previous work at the Knot in travel and international partnerships gave her the insight to know that the key to getting everyone to a wedding or gathering was tying everyone together in a social conversation. We also discuss how Kiss & Tell is making a difference for the Latino community, with the company being nominated by angel investors for the first-ever Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund and winning. This partnership has led to Kiss & Tell becoming a perk for all of Google's 300,000 plus employees, offering a free engagement trip if they book their wedding with Kiss & Tell. Amy shares her experiences as a Latina and a female in tech, and how it has influenced the company's mission to include underrepresented folks in the products and pain points they are solving. She also talks about Kiss & Tell's solutions, which include building and booking event venues, packages, and group stays, as well as communication tools such as segmented group conversations like WhatsApp. Lastly, we get some insights on how she finds diverse talent, and how long-standing networks exist for different demographics. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Amy Jarczynski is the Founder & CEO of Kiss & Tell, an award-winning wedding and group travel booking platform that ties everyone together in a streamlined conversation. She is an industry expert who for over a decade witnessed booking and deal flow problems impacting consumers and the industry while she spent 13 years growing and scaling The Knot’s (www.theknot.com) global presence. Kiss & Tell enjoys broad industry support, high user conversion rates of wedding guests to future event hosts and the recognition of winning both Google For Startups Latino Founders Fund in 2022 (post-revenue) and Capital Factory’s $100K Challenge in 2017 (pre-product). Amy is passionate about travel and bringing people together with loved ones around the world, while always finding joy in the journey. A problem solver at heart, she's deeply committed to creating a robust and lasting solution, helping people gather globally. When not traveling or working, Amy loves spending time with friends and family, people watching or lingering over good wine and food. Time Stamps: 02:45 Amy’s background and professional journey with Kiss & Tell 06:43 Leveraging Google for startups and supporting underrepresented folks 09:18 Exploring the benefits of Kiss & Tell 13:30 What does it look like to engage with Kiss & Tell 16:57 Building the platform from a technical perspective 21:12 Rebuilding a platform during covid-19 23:59 Hiring talent to build a platform 27:52 Onboarding event venues and hotels building trust and improving user experience 29:49 Investigating a payment glitch during site rollout 33:35 Partnerships and strategies for growing destination wedding awareness 36:57 How to get in contact with the Kiss & Tell team Resources: Company website: Instagram: Pinterest: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/26833596
info_outline
Revolutionizing Education: The Power of AI in Empowering Students' Success | Melvin Hines, Upswing
05/11/2023
Revolutionizing Education: The Power of AI in Empowering Students' Success | Melvin Hines, Upswing
In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Melvin Hines, a professor, mentor, and entrepreneur who is passionate about leveling the playing field for students from smaller towns. Melvin shares his journey, from growing up in South Georgia and being inspired to help his classmates succeed, to working with the CIA and founding his own EdTech business, Upswing. Melvin discusses the challenges faced by students in smaller towns, including limited access to resources like tutors, advisors, and mentors, and how the Upswing platform was created to bridge this gap by connecting students with mentors from larger cities and providing access to campus resources and third-party networks. Melvin also shares how Upswing has evolved to address other barriers to student success, including mental health resources, and how their virtual assistant helps students stay on track with reminders and check-ins on how technology can be used to support students and level the playing field for those from smaller towns. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Melvin is the co-founder and CEO of Upswing, an organization that uses engagement software to help keep online students and adult learners on the path toward graduation. Today, Upswing supports nearly 1 million students in nearly 70 colleges. Melvin grew up in south Georgia, where he was one of only 68 students to graduate out of a class of 250. This ignited his passion for finding a way to empower students to take their futures into their own hands through higher education. After graduating from the University of Georgia, Melvin received a JD/MBA from Duke University where he started a law forum for educational equality. Afterward, he became a professor at North Carolina Central University, where he supported first-year student success. Time Stamps: 02:45 Melvin's professional journey and background 05:45 Leveraging technology to level the playing field in small-town America + 10:19 Leveraging technology to create connections and opportunities for smaller communities 13:31 Upswing's proactive approach to student mental health and financial AID support 17:35 Scaling human intervention with AI technology 21:34 Exploring the impact of Chat GPT on human interaction 24:19 Benefits and challenges of utilizing technology to support vulnerable communities 26:35 Pricing model for student retention services 30:45 Joining forces in an accelerator program 33:36 Equity considerations for co-founders and external investors 39:47 Discussion on equity splitting and liquidation preferences in venture capital funding 42:32 How to get in contact with the Upswing team Resources: Company website: Instagram: LinkedIn: Twitter:
/episode/index/show/buildtechstackequity/id/26806368