Game Changers Silicon Valley

The San Francisco school district is in the middle of a financial reckoning, forced to reconcile a significant drop in student enrollment with years of delayed responses to the growing operational costs. This isn't just a San Francisco problem—it's a glaring example of the challenges facing large school districts nationwide. Today's conversation centers on the hard truth: there simply aren't enough students to support the district's bloated infrastructure, and drastic measures are needed to avoid insolvency. In this episode, we dive into the heart of the matter with Supryia Ray, a candidate for the San Francisco School Board and a passionate advocate for real reform. The voters' response has been clear—they want a board made up of citizens who will make the tough calls to rebalance the budget, build a professional and capable teaching corps, and, most importantly, prioritize the needs of the students. This is a conversation not just about San Francisco, but about the future of public education across the nation.

California, once renowned for its high-performing public schools, is experiencing significant changes that raise concerns about the future of academic excellence. Notably, many high schools have eliminated honors and Advanced Placement classes, while some middle schools have stopped teaching Algebra in the 8th grade. A new state law mandates that all high school students must complete an ethnic studies course to graduate, aimed at enhancing cultural awareness and respect among diverse populations. However, the lack of a standardized curriculum has allowed for the introduction of "Liberated Ethnic Studies," which starkly categorizes students into groups of "oppressors" and "oppressed," based on race, creating a divisive and antagonistic classroom environment. My guests Diana Bloom and Christine Linnenbach, who bring their personal and professional experiences to the forefront of a pressing debate over the state's educational policies, including the controversial implementation of "Liberated Ethnic Studies" courses. Diana discusses the direct impact of these educational changes on her high school student, highlighting the embedded antagonism and the challenges it poses to the school community. Christine draws alarming parallels between the narratives pushed by "Liberated Ethnic Studies" and the racial doctrines of 1930s Germany, underscoring the dangers of such divisive educational frameworks. Their insights shed light on the growing discontent among parents and educators who are concerned with how these ideological teachings are influencing young minds and the broader social fabric.  

Eli Steele's documentary, "Killing America," emerges from a profound silence into a loud, defining statement about the currents sweeping through American education. Born deaf, Steele transcends the boundaries of sound to explore the ideological framework shaping the narratives within schools across the nation. Through his lens, Steele investigates the dilution of meritocracy, the ascent of indoctrination, and the looming shadow of censorship, crafting a narrative that questions whether we are on the verge of educational decay or the brink of an academic renaissance. "Killing America" is not merely a film; it's an exploration into the origins of a divisive educational shift that categorizes students not by their achievements but by their racial identities. This shift from a focus on academic excellence to a binary of oppressors and oppressed has its roots in complex historical and social dynamics.

We share a highly visible, universal concern: the persistent cycle of crime, drug addiction, and recidivism. My interview with former San Jose Mayor and current Congressional candidate Sam Liccardo, provides a deeper insight into the pernicious nature of this cycle. Sam underscores the deep-seated connection between these elements, painting a picture of a cycle that perpetuates itself but believes it can be dismantled with strategic intervention. His insights, drawn from years in public service, propose a pivot from punitive to rehabilitative justice. At the core of Liccardo's argument is the significant overlap between the nonviolent prison population and substance addiction. He points out that over half of these inmates struggle with addiction, a factor often leading back to crime upon release. By reintroducing supervised release and frequent testing—a method proven successful in programs like Honolulu's Operation Hope—Liccardo believes we can break this cycle. Liccardo's philosophy extends beyond the prison walls to address homelessness, often intertwined with addiction. He advocates for focused mental health treatment, aiming to address both homelessness and its frequent companion, drug addiction.  In essence, Liccardo's approach to crime, drug addiction, and recidivism offers a symbiotic solution. By treating the root causes rather than just the symptoms, he envisions a transformative change that could redefine public safety, social welfare, and fiscal policy within our communities.

Everyone agrees: We are witnessing unprecedented political polarization and deep divides tearing our country's fabric.  Since the current leadership in Congress cannot come to terms, the voters have little option but to send a message by electing new representatives and senators to Congress. I had an opportunity to interview a newcomer in the upcoming primary elections in California. Peter Dixon has impressive international accomplishments, entrepreneurial experience, served as a marine in combat, and a common sense approach to addressing big issues. He believes in finding creative solutions to critical priorities and has persevered through some remarkably adverse experiences. We will discuss the big issues: Guns, border, immigration, and the national debt. Peter understands that solutions must go beyond party lines and believes it's a fundamental responsibility that unites us all.  Peter might be the right person at the right time. I sensed a principle-based independent thinker during our interview.  Join me in this interview and see if you find his approach refreshingly honest.

In the run-up to the 2024 elections, Anna Cheng Kramer, a candidate for California's 15th Congressional District, captures the quintessential American narrative of the underdog.  The story of Anna Chang Kramer, who is vying for a congressional seat in California's 15th District, offers a unique insight into the immigrant experience. Kramer's narrative, which began in Taiwan, weaves through a background of finance, integrity, and a growing sense of public duty to the community.   Kramer's campaign, anchored in enhancing public safety, speaks directly to the growing concerns among voters about crime and support for law enforcement.  In a landscape where safety and justice are in the balance, her perspectives offer a clear vision for policies that strive to protect and serve the community equitably. These challenges, as Kramer outlines, demand not only strong leadership but also a thoughtful re-evaluation of current legislation. Kramer's viewpoints on fiscal responsibility, immigration reform, and the quest for economic prosperity emerge as pivotal discussions. Her approach to these concerns reflects a deep understanding of the community's heartbeat and the need for leadership that can navigate the complexities of modern governance. 

No one wants to admit they are being treated for depression, bi-polar disorder or having thoughts about suicide.  The fact is, today's stressful lifestyles will overwhelm the coping mechanisms of many people.  My guest believes it's time to remove the stigma and treat mental illness "just like any other disease." Homeless encampments in commercial districts remain a visible and complex challenge.  My guest, Dr. Peter Fund, provides insights about the extent of mental illness among the homeless. Government officials appear unable to formulate a plan to address what appears to be a broader health crisis that extends beyond the scope of traditional medical care. Voters have voiced their dissatisfaction with these encampments, which reflects both a deep-seated concern for the welfare of the homeless population, safety concerns, and the health of the community at large.  The responsibility for addressing this issue has often been shuffled between state and local governments, yet the onus lies heavily on county governments such as the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.   Dr. Fung is seeking to be elected to this Board, serving the community by implementing effective healthcare policies. He has a stated focus on tackling the mental health crisis and his intent is to replicate the stroke emergency system for mental health emergencies.  Dr. Fung provides a qualified perspective on how the County could catalyze a more proactive approach to mental health. 

In today's blog, we delve into the critical role judges play in our justice system. We had the privilege of speaking with Johnene Stebbins, a seasoned deputy district attorney running for Judge in Santa Clara County. Join us as we explore the responsibilities and challenges judges face in maintaining fairness, integrity, and public safety. We discuss the correlation between the decriminalization of drugs and the rise in homelessness. Drawing insights from our conversation with Joanne Stebbins, we explore the challenges faced by local governments in addressing this complex problem.

In 2023, approximately 3,200 venture-backed firms in the U.S. went out of business, according to data from PitchBook. These startups had collectively raised about $27.2 billion. Since the failure of Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023, this situation has been described as the most difficult year for startups in at least a decade, with many companies quietly shutting down. So the question is: What is taking place in the early-stage investor community to navigate this re-defined landscape?  Is it business as usual or is there a new investor emphasis on quantitative tools to make better decisions on sustainable business models

Three Key Steps in Constructing the Startup Asset Class  One fundamental building block to startup investing is defining the sectors and technologies that will fit your organization's definition of a startup asset class. A second critical step involves creating an education program to explain the purpose, risks, diversification, time horizon, and expected returns in a portfolio of early-stage technology companies.  But what can catalyze the growth of your startup investing and the ecosystem is tapping into state funding to support innovation and economic development.  But as many angel investor groups have discovered, it's not as straightforward as it seems. Among the challenges, you will need to identify the appropriate channels, define clear strategies, and maintain effective oversight. We're not just talking about funding here; we're discussing the art of kindling an entrepreneurial spirit that can sustain and grow an ecosystem. In this podcast, we review how the Queen City Angels partnered with the Ohio Third Frontier Program to support the growth of a vibrant startup community. Local universities, such as the University of Cincinnati, and public corporations, such as Kroger, Proctor & Gamble, and Fifth Third Bank, made major commitments to the support and vitality of the startup community.

Universities face many challenges in their goal of educating students for engagement in the 21st century economy. In this podcast, we delve into this transformative shift in academia, where the traditional model of university education is being reimagined and revitalized.   The University of Cincinnati is at the forefront of this educational revolution, fostering an environment where academic knowledge meets practical application and where failure is viewed not as a setback but as a critical component of learning and innovation. My guest is Kate Harmon, the Executive Director at the Center of Entrepreneurship. Kate discusses the strategies the University of Cincinnati employs to transform traditional academic education into an experiential journey that prepares students for the realities of the innovation-driven world. 

A Crusade for Justice Imagine inheriting your family home, only to find a tax bill that forces you to sell. It's not fiction; it's the startling reality under California's Proposition 19. In this episode, we uncover how this law is upending lives and what's being done to challenge it. Meet Gina C. Louis, our advocate guest driving the charge against this controversial law. Her analysis and expertise shed light on a situation that's more than just numbers – it's about preserving the inheritance structure and legacy of the family home.

In a candid conversation with our host, Jim Connor, Lydia Kou shares her journey from a reluctant council member drawn into politics by community demand to a passionate advocate for change in Sacramento. With a focus on common sense and fiscal responsibility, Lydia Kou aims to shake up the status quo, where party interests often overshadow the needs of the people. Her unwavering dedication to public safety and her comprehensive approach to homelessness and housing issues highlight her commitment to serving the people of California.

My guest is Gus Mattammal, a congressional candidate representing the northern part of Silicon Valley in the upcoming 2024 election. Gus's story is a testament to the American dream, having risen from a tough neighborhood in St. Louis to become a successful entrepreneur and community leader. His deep love for California and concern about its recent challenges, including population decline and loss of congressional representation, have driven him to step up and take action. In the second part, we delve deeper into Gus Mattammal's motivations and the pressing issues he aims to address as a candidate. With a focus on housing policy, homelessness, and education, Gus shares his insights and innovative solutions for the challenges facing our state. His thoughtful approach to the housing crisis and commitment to bridging the education gap highlight his dedication to making a meaningful impact.

In an era marked by political polarization and growing disillusionment, the erosion of trust in government has emerged as a pressing concern. Pew Research has documented a decline in public trust, which has plummeted from 75% in 1960 to a mere 20% today, as a trend that transcends political administrations and warrants urgent attention.  This decline is not confined to any specific political party or era; rather, it represents a broader crisis of faith in our democratic institutions. As we delved deeper, it became evident that this erosion of trust is intrinsically linked to the deeply entrenched partisan politics that often take precedence over the interests of the American people. Both parties, it seemed, were playing to the gallery while the real concerns of citizens were left unaddressed. Against this backdrop, I had an engaging and thought-provoking conversation with Rishi Kumar, a 2024 candidate for California's 16th District in Silicon Valley's House of Representatives.

We have observed and, perhaps, suffered from the gridlock in Congress.  In today's discussion, we unravel a growing concern within Congress—the increasing percentage of members over 70, many boasting 15 to 30 years of service. This demographic tends to align with their respective political parties, often sidelining the needs and voices of their constituents. Moreover, we explore the troubling interplay between prolonged incumbency, financial backing from special interests, and potential ethical transgressions. Recent events, like the indictment of Senator Bob Menendez, serve as stark reminders of the precarious balance between political allegiance and ethical responsibility, emphasizing the need for a transformative shift in how we envision democratic representation. Our featured guest in this episode is Rishi Kumar, a candidate with a compelling vision to represent part of California's Silicon Valley in the House of Representatives. Rishi brings a unique blend of tech-savvy perspectives and a commitment to transparency, aiming to disrupt the status quo. Join us as we engage with Rishi in a thought-provoking conversation that sheds light on the importance of representation, accountability, and ethical conduct within the heart of American governance.

AI-powered tools have revolutionized education, opening up a world of possibilities for students. With access to vast amounts of information and intelligent tutoring systems, students can delve deeper into complex topics, conduct comprehensive research, and gain valuable insights. Chat GPT, with its natural language processing capabilities, provides students with in-depth analysis and personalized guidance, transforming how they approach learning. However, amidst these advantages, concerns have surfaced regarding the potential drawbacks. Some worry that students may become overly reliant on AI tools, hindering the development of critical thinking skills. In a world where AI can offer seemingly flawless analysis, how do we ensure students continue to think critically, question assumptions, and evaluate information independently? Join us as we explore both sides of the AI coin. We'll examine the remarkable benefits that AI and Chat GPT bring to high schools and universities, enabling students to navigate complex subjects and expand their knowledge. But we'll also dive into the concerns surrounding the potential erosion of critical thinking skills and explore strategies to balance leveraging AI's power and nurturing independent thought.

Since the end of World War II, the U.S. dollar has reigned supreme as the world's reserve currency, facilitating international trade and acting as a safe haven for global financial transactions. However, the landscape is shifting, and various factors are challenging the dollar's dominance. We see several threats faced by the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency that could potentially lead to its replacement with other currencies.   Join us as Rishi Kumar, a congressional candidate to represent Silicon Valley, District 16, in the 2024 election as he addresses the financial and economic risks as a result of our growing debt, the deficit, and the rise in crime.

Connecting the dots: This conversation is about a unique type of dots, specifically Braille dots. Braille was invented over 200 years ago to provide a method for visually impaired people to read using combinations of six dots to represent letters and words. Books translated into Braille are available for the visually impaired.   According to the National Federation of the Blind, fewer than 10 percent of the 1.3 million people who are legally blind in the United States are Braille readers. Further, a mere 10 percent of blind children are learning to read Braille. In addition, over 70 percent of blind adults are unemployed, and as many as 50 percent of blind high school students drop out of high school. Enter the Cadence device by Tactile Engineering The information tsunami brought on by the Internet left the blind and visually impaired with a significant problem. How can these individuals, including K-12 students, access education, be gainfully employed, and participate in the digital world? Join us as Dave Schleppenbach of Tactile-Engineering.com discusses the journey to develop a digital Braille technology to provide the visually impaired access to the digital world, including digital content, games, graphics, and animation.

Fascination and fear of missing out (FOMO) appear to be the most prevalent responses to the emergence of AI engines for the general public. While Chat-GPT has gained the lion's share of publicity, new AI engines are being announced weekly.  Public AI engines such as Chat-GPT, Google's Bard, and Copy.ai will address a broad range of requests, from writing a blog, writing code, writing a screenplay, and most likely creating legal documents, all subject to human review. But the real value for entrepreneurs may be in the vertical markets, where companies have troves of data, statistics, and specifications that can be valuable to specific participants in a sector. This podcast is the story of one company that embedded an AI component into their application specific to the automobile sector. The outcome was an unexpected boost in user and customer engagement, igniting a remarkable growth rate and providing the rationale to expand into more areas of personal transportation. Join us as Michael Quigley discusses the decision to embed an AI engine in their vertical application serving the needs of automobile dealerships and his transition to be a managing partner at StartFast Ventures.  

Silicon Valley mythology would have you believe entrepreneurs live in a world where every day is an exciting and intellectually stimulating experience. However, before enjoying any of those positive outcomes, entrepreneurs go through several rites of passage. The first entrepreneur rite of passage is finding that seed funding round. It's often one of the first major stumbling blocks, engaging with the venture community where you have no track record and where traction is a matter of survival. No one really wants to talk about this experience. Many entrepreneurs have lived through that sense of dejection, depression, and the embarrassment accompanying the failure to raise that seed round. But we found an early seed venture capital fund who was willing to be completely transparent about the qualification, key factors to engage, and the process to close a seed round.  My guest is Amit Garg, Co-founder of Tau Ventures, who has a defined focus on early-stage startup companies that provide AI solutions for healthcare and the enterprise sectors. Amit has been in the venture capital industry for over twenty including experience at two venture capital firms. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience investing in seed rounds, and his insights are invaluable for entrepreneurs looking to navigate this challenging stage.

You might recognize this personality in your social and dating relationships, the guy who wants to impress you, dominate the conversation, and make the decisions. You might be concerned about a long-term relationship or an intimate relationship.   The CDC published a study about homicide being the leading cause of death for women under the age of 44. The study included a grim statistic. Fifty-five percent of all women homicides were attributed to intimate partner violence, meaning the perpetrator was the married or unmarried intimate partner. So the question is: are there behavior patterns in the early phase of a relationship that are indicators of coercive control and abuse? And if so, what are the methods a woman can employ to verify those behavior patterns and determine the appropriate response before committing to a long-term relationship? 

The United States has two major political parties: Democratic and Republican. Ask an American voter which one she or he sides with, and the most likely answer is: “neither.” Recent polls say at least 4 in 10 Americans identify as politically independent, even if they tend to “lean” Republican or Democratic on the issues. Only 3 in 10 identify as Democrats and the other 3 in 10 identify as Republicans. The Gallup polling organization calls this a “near historical low” for both major parties. In 2016, Tom Campbell, a five-term former Republican congressman, made the difficult decision to leave the party and become an Independent. The move was bold and inspiring, and it sparked a growing interest among voters in California who are dissatisfied with partisan politics.  His willingness to leave partisan politics behind shows how people can make a difference even when they no longer hold public office, their experiences, and expertise to inform public policy decisions.  Tom joined in a call to discuss his experiences and the five key issues affecting the Country today. Fairness in the media The Twitter Files The war between Ukraine and Russia The southern border of the United States The growing dissatisfaction with the two-party system Tom Campbell teaches Law at Chapman University and is the Chair of Common Sense California (CACommonSense.org), an organization focused on creating an independent party in California. See: https://CAcommonsense.org

One much-overlooked area in intimate personal relationships is the destructive nature of narcissistic and controlling personalities. We see narcissistic, controlling behavior in politics, business, the media, and entertainment. According to articles in  Medical News Today, a controlling personality is a red flag in any relationship, especially in family relationships. Spouses or intimate partners are often subjected to this behavior in private, in the form of covert abuse and coercion.  Covert abuse covers all types of cruelty, manipulation, and harm inflicted on another person, whether or not that harm leaves physical scars.  So the question is:  Why are we, as a society, not talking about this, not educating women about the behavior patterns that are predictors of violence in a relationship? My guest is Ruth Darlene, Founder and CEO of Women of Silicon Valley, a non-profit company dedicated to helping women break out of a relationship dominated by abuse and coercive control.   

California is leading the movement to reclassify felony crimes as misdemeanors.  Proposition 47 reclassified a wide range of theft and drug possession crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.   Proposition 47 did not spell out specific details on extenuating circumstances for prosecuting these crimes as misdemeanors. The legal system began to create definitions and sentencing guidelines for these reclassified misdemeanors. But many district attorneys simply made the decision not prosecute these misdemeanors.     Law enforcement was also criticized in responding to violent and non violent criminal behavior.  Local and state politicians supported movements to “defund the police”.  Retirement and resignations among law enforcement dramatically increased.    But the rise in property crime, violent theft, fraud and drug activity has been dramatic and has taken a serious toll on our sense of public safety.  So the question is, are we collectively ready to address the level of crime taking place in our communities today, and if so, what are the priorities and rebuilding our relationship with law enforcement. My guest is Angela Averiett, who is a new chief of police in los Altos, California in the heart of Silicon Valley. Angela.  Chief Averiett speaks about the key issues in addressing crime and the relationship of law enforcement with the community.

As of July 2022, drought conditions were most severe in the States of California, Texas, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. In California. In California, 30% of the State's annual water supply comes from the snowpack in the Sierra Mountains. As of April 2022, the California Department of Water Resources measured the snowpack at only 38% of the long-term average.   Gary Kremen and Newsha Ajami provide a thoughtful and insightful perspective on the depth of the problem.  We discuss the threats to the economy, the options from conservation, recycling, and desalinization, along with the potential to use technology to provide a reliable supply of water. 

Bad laws did not start out as "bad."   These laws started with reasonable assumptions, purpose, and intent. However, some laws end up creating severe and harmful adverse outcomes upon implementation. Our conversation with Ted Stroll focuses on the harm being created when the legislature does not respond to the unintended consequences.  

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics has reported an estimated 107,622 deaths from drug overdoses in the United States during 2021. In addition, several states have recorded unusually high drug overdoses among young people, such as West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.  As a country, we have not been able to slow the smuggling or address the growing use of Fentanyl.   This interview with W. C. Ballinger, author of Descending Eagle, discusses his book about the Mexican drug cartels, fentanyl, and the CIA's plan to bring down the cartels.  W. C. Provided insights on the Nacro drug trade based on his 20 years of experience in law enforcement tracking down and arresting violent fugitives.  

There is evidence of discontent among the voters in CA.  It comes from the growing disappointment with specific laws, regulations and policies passed by the California State legislature in recent years. The problem can be described as the Law of Unintended Consequences. Several Laws passed by the California legislature, created conditions that were not part of the sponsors' original intent.   Most reasonable people can accept that logic. Every government administration has had this experience.  But in California, we have a unique predicament.  The super majority legislature who passed these laws, appears unwilling or unable to take action to correct the laws causing the unintended consequences.  The rise in crime is just one specific, undeniable area.  Join me the conversation with Liz Lawler, an CA Assembly District 28 candidate who has a common sense approach to addressing these consequences.  

We are in the midst of a perfect wildfire storm.  Warm temperatures, an ongoing drought, reduced snowpack, and reduced rainfall are contributing to a tinderbox potential for wildfires for this summer of 2022.  In 2021, California recorded 8,835 wildfires burning 2.5 million acres. The last seven years have seen a geometric increase in the frequency and destruction caused by wildfires. On November 8, 2018, the most deadly wildfire in California's recorded history started in the area of Paradise, California.  The town had a population of 27,000 and was virtually wiped off the face of the earth in 8 hours. Recent developments using AI to detect early wildfires along with a coordinated State and local government fire prevention agency is starting to turn the tide.

First-generation candidate Jon Elist for the U.S. Senate sits down in a Zoom call to discuss the top five issues in his bid to be the new Congressional Senator representing California.  Topics include inflation, immigration, homelessness, national security, and why he is willing to move from being the CEO of a healthcare company to a six-year term as a U.S. Senator.  

California will hold its primary election on June 7, 2022.  Effective January 1, 2011, California changed the way primary elections operate, with a law titled, The Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act. Most of the offices that were previously known as "partisan" are now known as "voter-nominated" offices.  All candidates for voter-nominated offices are listed on one ballot and only the top two vote-getters in the primary election – regardless of party preference - move on to the general election. But this election has a unique twist.  Based on the loss of population in California from the 2020 census, California has one less congressional representative.  The redistricting process also redrew most of the boundaries of the Congressional Districts and in some situations, entirely new districts were created, We sat down with a candidate for the Congressional Seat.  Peter Ohtaki is a bay area native who is running to represent the 16th Congressional District in California, an area that includes a large part of Silicon Valley. Peter identified the top six priorities for this district and provided specific policies on how to address and resolve the issues plaguing California as well as many states. The six priorities addressed in this interview are: Crime Inflation National Security State-wide Zoning Laws, specifically AB9 Infrastructure Responsible Fiscal Management ( see the tab "Interest on National Debt")

We admire the person who overcomes adversity to succeed in a chosen profession or line of work. Perseverance, tenacity, and passion create the drive to expand the horizons of the “possible”.  This is the story about an individual who transformed his early life struggles into a desire to improve the opportunities in marginalized communities. Our conversation in this podcast is an eye-opener about the challenges of growing up in a marginalized community. Hard work led to a scholarship to attend UCLA, followed by law school. But that was just the start as Ajwang decided to address the inequities of his early years by seeking elected office. Recognizing the leverage of our legal system, he has decided to run for the congressional representative for California's 16th Congressional District in the heart the Silicon Valley.

Revenue-based financing is gaining traction as an alternative to the traditional startup debt and equity structures. This structure, referred to as revenue-based financing, represents a third rail for entrepreneurs to obtain working capital and for investors to reduce the risk of loss in their investment.  

There is good news for startup companies.  Corporate acquirers are looking for niche products and technologies to fill a gap in their product line or simply grow through acquisition.  There are more opportunities than ever before to be viewed as an attractive company for acquisition.   But getting noticed by potential acquires requires research, a thorough internal review of valuation points, engagement, and negotiating skills.  This podcast is the first of a two-part conversation with an advisor to sellers and a corporate buyer.  Part 1 discusses how to position your startup as qualified for potential acquisition and how to identify the assets critical to getting a high valuation.  We review the perspectives of the buyer and the sellers.  The buyer in this conversation reviews his playbook for an acquisition, including the qualifying metrics and the multiple points in arriving at a valuation.

The buyer has qualified your startup as a potential candidate for acquisition and now the real work begins, defining how the assets of your startup will fit the needs of the acquiring company.   My guests,  Garry Guseinov and Mark Addison, provide insights into situations that resulted in successful outcomes for all parties or encountered setbacks and ofter failed to close.  The final part of this conversation involved a discussion of the value and role of investment bankers.

Speaking with a tech entrepreneur in eastern Slovakia, just 100 miles from the Ukrainian border, we get insights into the original Declaration of Ukrainian Independence, the gradual move toward the West, statements about joining NATO and joining the European community. Adding fuel to the conflict, the eastern provinces of Ukraine are Russian-speaking and appear to have cultural ties to Russia. But now Russia has undertaken a devastating invasion, caused over 3 million refugees, and seems committed to destroying the country.  My guest has relationships with Russia and Ukraine and has observed the growing conflict, the human suffering, and the loss of life. Join us in this podcast that concludes with a suggested “End Game” for Russia, the question of who will rebuild the country, and will Ukraine be able to recall its most capable and talented citizens from exile in European countries.

Never before have we had close-up access to personal stories, photographs, and videos showing the violence and destruction of war.  But I did sense that part of the story was being overlooked.  Ukraine has been transformed from the country it was 30 years ago when it gained independence from the Soviet Union.  The country has built an impressive technology sector providing application development services and products which contribute to the employment opportunities for its citizens.   So the question is:  What is the perspective from the younger generation in Ukraine about the Russian invasion. This generation is connected to the global community via the internet, educated, and well informed. Many have not have lived under the rule of Russia. Information for Donations to Ukrainian Families: https://1Kproject.org  

Today, the average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78 years.  It’s a remarkable achievement in light of the fact that the average life expectancy during the 18th and 19th centuries was less than 50 years old.  Innovations in medical treatment, food production, and hygiene standards have all played a key role. However, the celebration of a longer average life span has been met with a sobering reality about the quality of those later years.   There is a general acceptance that most of us will experience memory loss as a natural part of the aging process. Memory loss seems to start around the age of 55 years old, and it’s a subtle condition that most of us will barely notice.  Memory Loss can be the precursor to various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease.  Currently, there is no effective medical treatment for memory loss. But there is a body of published research about how certain lifestyle choices will promote general good health and restrict memory loss.  Today’s discussion is about the causes of memory loss and what you can do to prevent the onset or slow its progression.

Professional sports face a number of common challenges starting with developing a winning team as well as maintaining brand value within the community and with ticket buyers. While Loyalty, community support, and financial viability are easier with a winning team, in today's connected world, every venue is vying for the attention of the consumer. On a completely separate path, the Smart City movement has defined its mission as bringing the benefits of the digital revolution to city services.  Local and regional governments have picked up this trend and are incorporating the latest digital technologies into their infrastructure projects. There is a confluence where these two forces are becoming partners to improve the deliver a compelling engagement for those attending the sports or entertainment event.  The Irish economic planners have identified the Smart City movement as a space where they can be a leading user and provider of technology solutions. Today I have three guests representing both the government and the private sector who will discuss the strategy to create and deploy technology for the Smart Stadium. My guests are David Brody, Vice President, IDA Ireland, Professor Noel O’Connor, CEO at the Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University, and Pat Dempsey, Strategic Projects Director at the Centre for Data Analytics. This podcast addresses the following topics: The current state of technology research and development taking place in Ireland today. The Smart Stadium project as part of the Smart City movement. What defines a Smart Stadium? What technologies are utilized in a Smart Stadium? What type of government-corporate partnerships participate in a Smart Stadium project? How do the data scientists participate in the Smart Stadium?

The media spends most of their time in the “happy part of Silicon Valley”, with stories about companies that were successfully funded, grew and acquired. The exit or sale of the company sounds like a naturally occurring event, but the effort to sell a startup company is incredibly demanding and the fact is:  there are very few public forums that talk about the challenges, strategies, and effort required.  This podcast is Part 2 of Companies are Bought not Sold, and explores the strategies a startup company can execute to create a leadership profile corporate buyers will find attractive.

All entrepreneurs need an exit plan, an opportunity to see their company, generally through an acquisition with an established corporation. The difficult question is knowing when to sell, the terms of the sale and finding the right acquisition partner.  This podcast challenges that assumption.  It’s actually the buyer who is controlling the decision to acquire and the terms of the transaction. Part 1 of this podcast explores the sequence of events for a Founder and CEO to take his venture-backed company to an exit.   We start with a board meeting, where Ken, the Founder, and CEO is informed that a decision has been made to bring in an experienced manager to be the new CEO and take the company to the next level.      

Every city or metropolitan area desires to emulate the startup ecosystem using the Silicon Valley model. However, the success of Silicon Valley did not happen overnight.  Building out that ecosystem took a ramp of approximately 20 years along with the engagement and belief of many talented people.   Nonetheless, every major metropolitan area is facing the challenge of facilitating the development of a start-up ecosystem or seeing their most promising companies and talented human resources move to other cities where an active start-up ecosystem does exist.  This podcast will look into the development of the startup ecosystem in the State of Texas and how this movement leveraged the unique resources within large cities as well as smaller communities.  

The depth and breadth of the Agtech movement are transforming many agriculture sectors.   The dairy industry is a well-established industry that has received some productivity enhancements over the years. such as automated milking machines.  Otherwise, the products and methods have remained the same over the decades and centuries. The dairy sector is now going through a transformation in Ireland.  Private industry and the government are making a move to apply 21st-century innovation and productivity enhancements to transform the entire dairy supply chain along with the products that are being produced. Join me with Maeve Crowley, Vice President of IDA Ireland and Mark Keane, Chair of the Computer Science department at University College, Dublin and a Director at the Vista Milk Research Institute as they discuss the innovation taking place in the production of milk.

The startup ecosystem continues to create new products and services that contribute to our productivity and quality of life.  The participating parties including research and intellectual property from universities, programs for entrepreneurs,  technologists and an established set of service providers from startup accelerators to a range of outsourcing services for everything a startup company needs to grow efficiently.   A key driver to allow these components to produce results is the startup investor class and within that class, the provider of seed capital.  The first outside capital contribution is incredibly important giving the startup validation and working capital to continue their mission.  Today, we see a range of seed capital providers from the angel investor community and specific seed funds from the venture capital community. Finding the Right Seed Investor As an entrepreneur, if you have a lineage coming from several years at a brand name IPO, or you are part of the founder team with a track record of successful exits, then you have the basis to shop your company’s financing needs to venture capital funds and angel investor groups.   If you are first time entrepreneurs with no track record in the startup world, then you are likely to find the most receptive investor audience within the angel investor community.  The angel investor community is not a single type of investor.  There are unique aspects and preference to each angel investor and angel investor group.   The podcast is about the mind and heart of the angel investor as Jonathan Wu, Vice President of the Sand Hill Angels, sits down to give us his perspective on seed funding, how entrepreneurs gain traction with angel investors, and avoidable mistakes entrepreneurs make.  Jonathan also provides insight into the type of mentorship an angel investor can make including his own experiences in helping startup companies to accelerate their growth.

On Monday of last week, Capital One announced a data breach affecting an estimated 106 million Credit card customers and applicants. This is one of the largest Data breaches experienced by a large bank.  One noteworthy point is that this cyber theft was conducted against data stored in the cloud-hosted by Amazon Web Services.  In the past, most cyber intrusions have been conducted against a corporate data center.  Capital One is just one of the many companies that have migrated to cloud services technology to improve performance, deliver software enhancements, and reduce costs by closing down dedicated data centers.  But, the heightened complexity and interdependency of applications deployed in the cloud has also introduced some new exposures and vulnerabilities. While attending the RSA conference in San Francisco this year, I had an opportunity to meet with John Dickson of the Denim Group.  John explained how the migration to the cloud-based infrastructure is a completely new concept verses, how apps were developed five years ago.  He also discusses the approach used to create cloud applications known as continuous integration, continuous deployment, or CICD.  The sheer complexity of the many moving parts in this technology can lead to simple missteps in security, leading to a data breach.

This conversation is with Jamie Rhodes, founder of the Central Texas Angel Network, an active angel investor group, based in Austin, TX.  The startup story begins with an accelerator hosted by Texas State University and supported by a group of local mentors and advisors.   One of the companies gaining traction in the accelerator was SioTeX.  The company ’s Intellectual property which had been funded and developed by Texas State University was a new method to convert rice hulls, which are a waste product, through a proprietary process to create a high-grade organic compound called Silica. After the initial round of startup funding, the company began to work on commercializing the production of Silica for Paints and Coatings manufacturers.  Silica is used in the production of paint.  As the sales and marketing process engaged with the paint manufacturers in the U.S., there was “little or no response”.  Eventually, the company learned from these prospective customers, that their product did not meet the specifications required by the paint manufacturers. At this point, two years after the initial funding, the company faced a clear dilemma.  They were low on cash and had not found traction in the primary market as defined by the original team. And just one more issue, the CEO had decided to leave the company and pursue some other interest. The dilemma for the investors was:  Is it time to walk away or put more money into the company on the hope that a viable market fit would be found.  In other words, the investors had to decide if it was time to hold ‘em and invest more money or time to fold ‘em, and walk away and let the company fold from insolvency. Join me with our guest, Jamie Rhodes, who was an early mentor to the company, invested in the company and was on the Board of Directors.  The other board members and the shareholders convinced Jamie that he was the best person to take over the role of the CEO and hopefully turn the company around.

According to a United Nations study by the year 2050, the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion which is 34 percent higher than today. In order to feed this larger, more urban, and richer population, food production must increase by 70 percent. So the question is given the limits of available farmland and water resources, how are we going to meet this increase in food demand? Agtech Sector Perspective from Roger Royse, Founder Royse Law Firm: Agtech is not just a movement it’s a revolution. We’ve had an industrial revolution we had an information revolution learn an agricultural revolution right now and as agriculture becomes a tech-enabled business and we’re seeing that come up in a lot of different areas robotics artificial intelligent controlled environment soil health as we were talking about earlier. So the thing that’s been driving all that. Are a couple of things in my world here in Silicon Valley. It’s really been the fact that the venture community woke up to this like I say about six or seven or maybe eight years ago and started investing heavily in this. On Vertical Farming, Sonia Lo, CEO of Crop One Holdings  Vertical farming is as the name implies a stacked shelving system generally within an enclosed space with artificial lighting but probably the simpler way to think about vertical farming is that it is the transfer of electrons to calories or the storage of electrons to calories because energy is the single largest input and what that really implies is that for the first time ever really agriculture can be segregated from climate and geography. And so anywhere you can generate an electron you can grow food. This type of vertical farming, that’s very dense, that can be liberated from climate and geography is something that’s a relatively recent phenomenon in the last six to seven years. And that’s been enabled by the advent of cheap LCD lighting and cheap sensors. The unit economics of indoor growing of food has really been enabled by the cost decline and those two input technologies.

We hear a great deal of discussion about protecting access to our digital assets, bank accounts, travel services, retail sites and even government agencies like the IRS and State Tax Authorities.  The recommendations focus on creating a secure name and password, two-factor authentication and possibly a biometric verification such as a fingerprint or voice print. During the RSA conference in San Francisco, I came across another source of digital identity theft, easily overlooked and there is was, staring me in the face one morning when I checked my name on a “financial aggregation” web site.  These are sites that collect information about each of us and then sell that information to anyone, anyone who will attest with an online click that they will only use the information in an authorized procedure, such as qualifying for benefits, or employment verification.  As part of the podcast series on cybersecurity issues, I met with a company that specialized in providing identity verification to financial companies in their online registrations.  The conversation with Dean Nicholls from Jumio provided insights into the methods used to create false digital identities and the technology to detect and deny the creation of these digital identities.

What are your options if you have a real business but there is a lack of engagement from venture capital?  In 2015, Congress implemented Title IV of the Jobs Act, which was intended to provide a process for startup companies to sell stock to the general public while remaining a private company.    Why haven’t you hear about this process, knows as a Reg A+?  The provisions of Reg A+ allow a company to raise up to 50 million, but there are compliance regulations, audits, SEC-mandated disclosures.  But the opportunity to sell stock to the public and create an investor base for funding future growth expands the opportunities for the startup community to develop new sources for funding. My guest on this topic is William Santana Li, the Founder, and CEO of Knightscope, a company that provides autonomous robots for security services.  When Bill was not able to secure venture capital funding, he decided to use the Reg A+ process for a mini-IPO.  In this podcast, Bill will lay out the process, the motivations, the surprises and the due diligence he encountered.

Many of the best entrepreneurs have leveraged their corporate experience, contacts, and resources to create new products and deploy a business strategy that was verified while they were corporate managers.  Despite having that extensive background in product development and innovation, the life of the founders in any startup is a never-ending roller coaster ride that can easily derail valid ideas, strategies and market needs. The Knightscope story is personal, compelling and demonstrates just how challenging the process of developing a viable and sustainable business can be.