49SAFPOD

Join 49SAF and three exited black entrepreneurs turned entrepreneurial ecosystem builders. They discuss the challenges that Black, Indigenous and People of Color entrepreneurs face. Featuring: Dan Kihanya of Founders Unfound, Erin Horne McKinney of Black Female Founders, and BJ Stewart of Urban Impact.

It's another dual shot of espresso! We sit down with Jani Tuomi, cofounder of Texas-based medical tech company Imaware and Jacqueline Summers, Managing Director of Alaska's Health TIE (Testbed for Innovative Enterprises). We talk COVID, at home medical testing and how one software developer becomes the founder of a health tech company.

We've got a great, informative podcast in two parts--with a royal cameo kicking us off! Hear from Toby Rittner, President and CEO of the Council of Development Finance Agencies ("CDFA"), and Katie Kramer, the company's Vice President. Part I of the Podcast is all about the SBA Loan Options available to small businesses right now in light of COVID-19; Part II is more policy oriented and covers the CARES Act, Development Finance, and best-in-class local finance responses to this crisis. TOP TIP: Alaska's Small Business Development Center's COVID-19 page (https://aksbdc.org/covid19/) is a great resource for details on this as well. PLUS the SBDC is holding daily web briefings on these SBA lending products, answering questions, and getting detailed -- like with this PDF document that explains both the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and the Payroll Protection Program in detail (presented week of April 6, 2020, pdf): https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/articles/EIDL_and_P3_4.1.2020_FINAL_2pm.pdf

We talk with two founders who live 800+ miles apart: Keith MacIntyre of Big Bear Software in Penticton, Canada and Marc Wheeler of Coppa in Juneau, Alaska. It's a mashup cast with meaning: Keith builds tech products, Marc makes Alaska-infused ice cream, and both find common threads in this discussion about entrepreneurship and what helps them, their companies and communities move forward.

HERE WE GO with one of Alaska's premier entrepreneur and investor events. Deadlines: Entrepreneurs (Feb 11), Investors (Feb 29) PLUS make sure to hit the Juneau Innovation

49SAF's Erin Baca and Advisory Committee Member Kevin Croy talk with the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development's Nolan Klouda and Gretchen Fauske on their super-soon-to-launch startup accelerator: www.upstartalpha.com

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We talk with Andy Rogers of Alaska Business Week (http://alaskabusinessweek.com), a nonprofit that hosts weeklong bootcamps for junior and high school students on entrepreneurship. Andy co-founded the nonprofit, as well as another Anchorage company--which today is known as Pango Technology. We talk about investing, entrepreneurial capacity building, economics, gratitude and more.

We're talking with Pitchfest 2019 participants Meredith Noble of LearnGrantWriting.org, Candy Fitzpatrick of Rest Angles, Mike Irving of Alaska's Best Shellfish, Chidi Iwuoha of Agent Film School and Suzanne Swartz of ApothAKary. And we cover a lot of ground: These individual startups, the easiest and hardest things about Pitchfest, customer development / lead gen, as well as whether Pitchfest should keeping going, and whether Alaska needs some kind of entrepreneur-led support group. It's a deep and fun one, dive in!

We talk with Jennifer about September's Pitchfest 2019 event (she's involved); the changes she's seen recently in both her client base and the Anchorage startup scene; and finally, overcoming challenges from the past.

Jeff Levin is an Anchorage-born technologist who helps sail more than a few ships in our community: He's at both the Alaska Developers Alliance, a nonprofit, and Legalverse, his tech startup. Join us for a chat with Jeff about Anchorage charter schools, the UA Scholars program, creating value in the legal space, and what Alaska needs to successfully compete in tech.

The 49SAF sits down with Jasmin Smith and half of her preschool supertwin duo to talk a little bit about her amazing business BabyVend and her variety of businesses. But we also talk a lot more: About Anchorage, neighborhoods, access to capital, and the city's need to go beyond celebrating diversity to work toward inclusion.

We sit down with Heather Kelly, CEO and Founder of Heather's Choice about her current experience in the Bend Outdoor Worx accelerator, what she's gained from participating in both the Alaska and Oregon startup ecosystems, and both the best and toughest days she's had running her business.

Entrepreneur, soda maker, longtime foodie and endurance athlete. Besides running his early-stage company, Mike is working to eradicate child hunger by cycling 300 miles in 3 days as part of Chefs Cycle. You can check out beachtribealaska.com to learn more about his biz, and this link for the ride: http://join.nokidhungry.org/site/TR/ChefsCycle/General?team_id=172079&pg=team&fr_id=1571

Who's interviewing who, exactly? The conclusion of our talk with Juneau entrepreneur and artist Pat Race. We cover business for good, technology, a little Alaska history--and thoughts on the future.

Who is Pat Race: Artist? Entrepreneur? Technologist? Media guru? Bearded muse of Juneau? Listen in on the first of a two-parter where we talk with Pat on his journey from tech to the creative economy. PLUS: Cofounders, naming your business the right way, finding tribes, working with the right clients.

Meet the new team member at 49SAF, Erin Baca! Erin joins us as our new fund associate. Coming to us with a background that includes consulting, strategy and operations management at both established and startup companies, Erin also is experienced in angel investor and entrepreneurial ecosystem engagement. Erin joins us to discuss Alaska Angel Conference 2019, why she joined the team, her core values and more.

We're back with the final thoughts of the Pitchfest winners! Hear their advice on pitching, as well as a discussion surrounding product-market fit and their top tips for Alaska entrepreneurs. JOIN US for events during Alaska Startup Week: Check out our workshops at twitter.com/49saf

It's the first of a two-part series! Hear from the Accelerate Alaska Pitchfest winners about classic Eship topics: Should you quit your day job--or not? Plus: Building with cofounders (or not); saying yes and saying no; and finally, the pros and cons of being an Alaska startup.    You're hearing from:  Alexa Daniels, CEO of Fossil Fuel (fossilfuelak.com)  Keith McCormick, CEO of Quick Cup (quickcupapp.com)  Orion Matthews, CEO of Thanks.org (thanks.org)

On August's cast we've got Ben Kellie of K2Dronotics, a three-year old Alaska startup. "K2" recently expanded their products to go beyond flying drone missions and managing corporate drone infrastructure to include a new effort they're branding The Launch Company: And it's all about infrastructure creation for private sector space launches. Ben's fun to listen to and (very) excited and positive about Alaska's entrepreneurial future.

The conversation expands to include a variety of audience members on whether Alaska entrepreneurs are better or worse than their counterparts in the Lower 48. Plus, what we need to do to continue moving Alaska's ecosystem forward.

Hear from startups and investors across Alaska in this first of a two-part series exploring the state’s growing entrepreneurial movement and startup ecosystem.

Spotlight Series: Surprise May edition! Hear Nicki Shinners and Richard Van Hale of the Van’s Dive Bar and the Marx Brothers Cafe talk about running two successful small businesses in town. We hear the great story of how the Marx Brothers Cafe got its name, what keeps them going with busy schedules and multiple businesses and jobs, and what a retirement plan looks like for these two that love their work. Enjoy the show, and check out Van’s Dive Bar online https://www.facebook.com/vansdivebar/ and at 1027 E 5th Ave, and the Marx Bros. Cafe, http://www.marxcafe.com/ at 627 West 3rd.

Joe’s back at it again interviewing the heads of Anchorage re:MADE, Patti Buist and Jill Kaniut.  In name their business repurposes and resells, but that’s hardly an adequate description: they have everything from classes on sushi making to small business ownership, rentals, and commercial kitchen space.  Listen to this mission-driven non-profit doing life better together, and check out their website at http://www.anchorageremade.com/; see how you can get involved! Also mentioned: http://www.chdtraining.org/, check it out!

Spotlight Series: March Madness edition goes long with this episode from Anchorage Urban Fellows Jenny-Marie Stryker and Veri di Suvero. We left it all on the ice last week with Stacie Meisner from Anchorage Sports Association. Go scout their website at https://www.anchoragesports.com/aboutus, and enjoy this slam dunk of an episode.

Another takeover Spotlight Series episode from Anchorage Urban Fellows Jenny-Marie Stryker and Veri di Suvero.  We hear from Nina Bonito Romine from The Kobuk about her classic Anchorage institution, what it’s like to run a business with family, and some of the hardships and lessons learned along the way.  Check out their website at https://www.kobukcoffee.com/, and find Kobuk on 5th and E.  ALSO: Tell us how 49SAF is doing—fill out this short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HXJWHNM

Takeover Spotlight episode from Anchorage Urban Fellows Jenny-Marie Stryker and Veri di Suvero.  They talk to Jose Martignon from Pangea Restaurant and Lounge about his story of getting into the restaurant business, what inspires him, the lessons he’s learned in his more than 30-year career, and some of his advice to other entrepreneurs.  Listen, and then go drool over their menu at: http://pangearestaurantandlounge.com/ before you visit!  ALSO: Tell us how we’re doing—fill out this short survey on 49SAF: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HXJWHNM .

By some counts, 1 in 10 Americans are self-employed. A form of entrepreneurship that will continue to be important in the country as the gig economy rises, let's hear from DJ Spencer Lee on his journey from firefighter to news reporter to opening for Diplo.

Entrepreneurs of the Inlet, Strive and Chariot: Bob Gross (Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites) and Rick Thomas (The Chariot Group, The Strive Group) have been entrepreneurs for decades. With roughly a dozen projects between them, the two spend forty minutes going beyond their origin stories. They talk about lessons learned, hopes for the future, what "attachment" means in business and more.

This episode features three new voices! Takeover-Host Jenny-Marie Stryker talks with Kirk Rose, the executive director of the Anchorage Community Land Trust and Randy Moore, the secretary of the Alaska Investors Network. Hear what a Land Trust is doing with microloans, what inspires an Angel Investor, and how we can make the entrepreneurial and investment community more inclusive and accessible. Check out AIN at http://www.akinvestnet.com/ and learn more (and apply by February 3rd!) to Set Up Shop at https://www.setupshop-ak.com/

What do we talk about with Peter House, CEO of IT risk management firm Deeptree? Less the technical stuff, more the entrepreneur-to-life balance stuff: What it's like for the family to have you gone or constantly working, what keeps him up at night, and what it's really like to startup as a bootstrapper.

OTIS is a four-week early-stage program focused on spinning up solutions to challenges in the ocean economy. Demo night is October 27! On the cast: Jacqueline Summers (Business Enterprise Institute), Joel Cladouhous (Alaska Ocean Cluster Initiative), Taylor Evenson (Participant, Team Beaufort), Alyse Daunis (Participant, Team Chukchi), Julia Casey (Business Enterprise Institute). Check out www.otis.blue

Another award-winning Alaska startup and our first 3-for-1! Meet the three founders of Kauffman Foundation's national 1 Million Cups award winner, Pandere Shoes. This startup makes shoes for people with unique feet--specifically, people with lower limb swelling. ALSO - We talk a lot about "the rainforest" in this cast. Here's a link to Victor Hwang's video (and he has a book): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZLZIFL5rsM

We continue our conversation with 49SAF Advisors Rick Nerland and Steven Trimble. This time it's all about Alaska's entrepreneurial ecosystem--what we're doing well as a community and what we need to change. We talk a little bit about the 49SAF, too.

Tales from the entrepreneurial trenches by two 49SAF Advisory Committee members, Rick Nerland and Stephen Trimble. They cover their toughest days, losing and winning, and their entrepreneurial journey--whether after 25 years (Rick) or two (Stephen).

This week it's angel investor, airstream enthusiast and tech tourer Paul Singh on the cast. We talk about capital quite a bit--and the right kind of capital for main street America--as well as the future of VC, and the necessary skills entrepreneurs need to survive today. Follow Paul @PaulSingh or resultsjunkies.com

A sit down chat with Alaska's entrepreneurial champion, positive force and an amazing economic developer, Jon Bittner of the Alaska Small Business Development Center. We talk about our July 27 free conference (register at 49saf.com) Alaska Startup Week (online at alaska.startupweek.co) and more!

We sit down with University of Alaska Global Entrepreneur in Residence Nigel Sharp to discuss his coming year of work in our state's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Again a 2-for-1! A chat with Kristy Naylor and Penny Gage at the State of Alaska about the community's new crowdfunding law. https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/ded/DEV/IntrastateCrowdfundinginAlaska.aspx

In this episode, two guests for the price of one! We talk with founders Dan Perpich and Linda Janes of Vertical Harvest Hydroponics (verticalharvesthydroponics.com). They, along with cofounder Cameron "the plant whisperer" Willingham, are the American Farm Bureau's Entrepreneur of the Year. We talk about entrepreneurial basics like bootstrapping, how remarkably far "Es" can go with just a little education, hashing out cofounder conflicts and more.

A talk with Paul Hackenmueller of Spruce Root Community Development. Covered: Alaska Brewing and the importance of launching into a growing market, triple-bottom-line businesses, Alaska's growing food industry, and the upcoming Path to Prosperity business plan competition. Check out Paul's work -- and Southeast Alaska food startups should apply to the 2017 competition -- at www.spruceroot.org  

A chat with independent game developer Jazon Burnell of iOS block breaking game Broken Space. Covered: Why more people don't freelance, the challenges of building a video game all by yourself, and where games go from here. Check out Jazon's work at brokenspacegame.com

A sit down with Adam Krynicki of the Alaska Seed Fund and the Alaska Small Business Development Centre. How small grant dollars help prove out projects, how to win business plan competitions, cool startups and Alaska's entrepreneurial talent. Check out Adam's work at www.alaskaseedfund.com and aksbdc.org