My Biggest Lesson

This week Adam speaks with Andre McGregor, CEO and co-founder of ForceMetrics, a platform that empowers law enforcement with precision policing tools and innovative tech solutions. His experiences growing up in a marginalized community and as a former FBI Special Agent (in cybercrime and counterterrorism), shaped his commitment to creating safer, more informed interactions between police and the public. On this episode, Andre shares insights on user experience in real-world scenarios, the challenges/opportunities for startups in the GovTech space, and the importance of quickly adapting to feedback to meet customer demands.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam Burrows speaks with Adam Kitain, the co-founder of Intelligems, a profit growth platform designed to assist e-commerce brands in making informed decisions through experimentation and personalization. The company is a Techstars 2021 Boulder grad and recently secured a successful funding round. Adam has a strong background in engineering and operations, having previously worked at the ride-sharing company (Via), where he contributed to the development of dynamic pricing models. Kitain shares his journey launching Intelligems and his decision to base it in Colorado over traditional tech hubs. He emphasizes the importance of customer-first strategies, including lessons learned from his experiences during the company's evolution.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Chris speaks with Nicole Glaros, Co-Founder of ForDenverFC, to dive into her remarkable career and the growth of Colorado's tech ecosystem. A key architect of Techstars' success, Nicole helped scale its portfolio from just 10 companies to over 2,500, with assets under management skyrocketing from $300K to more than $750M. In this episode, Nicole shares her journey from sports psychology to entrepreneurship, unique insights into Colorado's tech evolution and he state's leadership in quantum computing plus practical advice for leaders on management and hiring. She emphasizes the importance of fostering team safety and reframing mistakes as learning opportunities. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Kay Henze, Board Director and Strategic Advisor for Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network (BEN) and a prominent figure in the Colorado entrepreneurial scene. Newly transitioned from her executive role, she discusses the evolution of Colorado's tech ecosystem and her experiences from her board work and the strategic challenges faced by tech startups. Kay emphasizes the importance of collaboration and strategic guidance for entrepreneurs and how founders can effectively leverage personal and professional advisory boards to support their growth.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Bennie Fowler III, a former NFL player and Director of Strategic Development with Caprock. Bennie is a Super Bowl 50 Champion with the Denver Broncos and has transitioned to a successful career in wealth management. On this episode, Bennie shares why he chose to remain in Denver after retiring. his insights on the importance of communication, the parallels between professional athletics and entrepreneurship plus his biggest lesson the value of a strong support system.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Scott Trench, the CEO of BiggerPockets, a community and educational platform for 3M+ real estate investors. Scott hosts the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, a top personal finance podcast and is the author of finance books, Set For Life and First Time Home Buyer. Recently Scott and BiggerPockets announced a majority investment by the Chernin Group. In this episode, Scott shares his thoughts on Colorado booming tech scene, the significance of fractional executives, and his biggest lesson around mastering the performance management for leaders.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Matt Blomstedt, Founder and Managing Partner of SpringTime Ventures, a venture capital fund focusing on early-stage tech startups in Denver, Colorado and Atlanta, Georgia. With a background in the energy sector, Matt transitioned into venture capital after moving to Boulder, Colorado. He founded SpringTime with Rick Patch in 2016 and has invested in 50+ early stage technology companies since inception. In this episode, Matt shares how fortunate encounters led him to the world of venture capital. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling for founders and his biggest lesson involving the delicate balance between patience and urgency when investing or running a business.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam Burrows and Chris Erickson and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Adeel Khan, the founder and CEO of MagicSchool.ai. Since launching a year ago, MagicSchool has become the most used AI platform in education and is the fastest growing technology platform for schools ever! Adeel is a former teacher and founding principal of the top performing public high school in Denver. He founded MagicSchool with the mission to bring an AI assistant to every teacher in the world. On this episode, Adeel shares his journey working in education with Teach America, his thoughts on Colorado's status as an innovation hub for both education and technology, plus the strategic aspects of clarity from leadership when scaling organizations.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Craig Nolan, a Partner at Akkadian, a venture secondaries investment firm founded in 2010 with over $750M assets under management. Craig has been instrumental in deploying investment strategies that focus on B2B software within tech while also being a co-producer of the RAISE Conference, the premier launchpad for emerging VCs. On this episode, Craig shares his unique experiences as an investor and Colorado native watching the rise of Denver's tech ecosystem. He provides insights on investment trends for secondary markets, plus examples in his journey on the power of believing your own convictions.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Kevin Wagstaff, co-founder and President at Spectora, a top rated home inspection software. Kevin, alongside his brother, bootstrapped Spectora to an impressive 8,000 current customers on the platform! Previously he held positions at Charles Schwab, HomeAdvisor (where he met Adam), and in real estate. On this episode, Kevin shares his backstory on switching from finance to tech, the value of running a company with his brother, why Denver is an under the radar startup city, plus his lesson involving the importance of customer engagement to understand their needs.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Kendra Haberkorn, Fractional Chief People Officer & Executive Search at the moderneer. Kendra was also previously the Head of Talent at Range Ventures where she advised portfolio companies on talent strategy and people operations while building a network that connected Colorado's leading early-stage companies with the people who will accelerate their trajectory. Kendra has also led talent initiatives and teams at McKinsey & Company before becoming a member of the executive team at Craftsy (acquired by NBCUniversal) and Guild Education, On this episode, she opens up about 'being drafted" into HR, her evolution into impactful positions, significant changes she has witnessed in Denver's startup ecosystem plus a personal lesson on how performance reviews should focus on human development, not just metrics.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam,Chris and Kendra and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks Josh Mayer the Head of Professional Services at EasyPost, a leading software provider of modern supply chain solutions. He joined EasyPost after its acquisition in July 2022 and has led supply chain consulting firm Summit Advisory Team and Elevate, a SaaS supply chain analytics product. One this episode, Josh talk about his career journey up to this point, how Colorado's influx of talent has a common mindset, plus his lessons on the importance of mentorship for professional guidance and personal development.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks Ashmer Aslam, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Cured, a company specializing in marketing automation tools and CRM platforms for the healthcare sector. Ashmer has an impressive health and tech background that includes roles at Salesforce, Epic Systems, and Accenture. He has raised over $12M for Cured and recently had a successful exit. On this episode, Ashmer details his entrepreneurial journey, from medical school to co-founding a company in the healthcare sector, what contrasts he saw in Denver's tech community compared to Chicago's and why his biggest lesson involves maintaining a strong vision through challenges and opportunities.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks Kirsten Suddath, General Partner at Next Frontier Capital, an early stage venture firm that focus on B2B tech startups. Kirsten has been involved with numerous Boulder-based startups across CleanTech, telecom, and software technology companies. She helped launch Flytedesk, a Techstars advertising technology startup, and was a Senior Associate for Blackhorn Ventures prior to joining NFC. On this episode, Kirsten shares her career journey that has given her perspectives as both a startup operator and as an investor. She details how Boulder's tech community expanded right before her eyes and her biggest lesson on how the impact of culture and values may differ from each venture.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Brian Pontarelli, the CEO and founder of Inversoft inc, the parent company to softwares FusionAuth, a leading customer identity and access management platform & Cleanspeak, a platform to filter offensive and inappropriate content. Prior to launching FusionAuth, Brian studied computer engineering at CU Boulder, was an employee at tech companies such as Orbitz and was co-chairman of Denver and Boulder Startup Weeks along with Adam. On this episode, Brian talks about his recent success with FusionAuth, his time building a company in Colorado's thriving tech community, plus a lesson on fostering a positive and enthusiastic company culture.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with David Cohen, the Founder and Chairman at Techstars, a global network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Techstars, which launched in Boulder, has invested in more than 4,000 startups with offices in over 40 cities and 16 countries. He has played a significant role in putting Colorado tech and specifically Boulder on the map. Prior to Techstars, David founded three companies, two of which had succesful exits (Pinpoint Technologies and earFeeder). On this episode, David talks about his journey from a computer programmer to starting his first company and ultmately launching Techstars. Plus we learn why his biggest lesson encompasses three key elements: choice, language, and belief.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts David is the co-author (with Brad Feld) of "Do More Faster; Techstars Lessons to Accelerate Your Startup".Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Dan DeGolier, founder of Ascent CFO Solutions, a fractional CFO firm for growing companies. Ascent was recently named a "Fast 50 Company" by The Denver Business Journal. Dan has nearly 30 years of experience previously operating as a CPA with a global accounting firm and full-time CFO with multiple private companies in tech, SaaS, e-commerce and other industries. In this episode Dan shares what inspired him to launch his company, his experiences over the years evolving with Denver's growing ecosystem, a Colorado company he keeps his eyes on, plus what actions he takes to implement the values of his biggest lesson within his company and team.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts Ascent CFO Solutions - https://ascentcfo.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Blakely Graham, the co-founder and former CEO of TaskRay, the leading software product for managing the post-sale customer experience. Under Blakely's leadership, TaskRay grew from a bootstrapped startup in her basement to a mission-critical enterprise application with marquee customers including Salesforce, Domino's, and GE Healthcare. Salesforce recognized her contributions to their ecosystem by awarding her the MVP Hall of Fame designation. On this episode Blakely talks about her early experiences with dot com startups and Starbucks, her perspective on the magic of the Colorado ecosystem, and a powerful lesson on the impact of creatively investing in your people and how treating them well has a momentous effect.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts TaskRay - https://www.taskray.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Alison Lange Engel, a partner at Greycroft, where she focuses on early-stage investments across fintech, enterprise, and education. Alison has 20+ years of experience leading, structuring, and scaling high-growth businesses including roles at Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, HBO as well as being the first CMO at Stripe and the VP of marketing at LinkedIn. On this episode, Alison shares her experiences transitioning from media into investment banking and high growth startup operations, what Colorado business she currently has her eye on, plus her biggest lesson involving understanding the motivators of success.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts AMP Robotics - http://www.amprobotics.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Matanya Horowitz the founder and CEO of AMP Robotics, an industrial AI and robotics company applying automation to modernize recycling and waste industry. Prior to launching AMP in 2014, Horowitz earned four bachelor's degrees, along with a master's degree in electrical engineering, from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He holds a doctorate in control and dynamical systems from the California Institute of Technology. In this episode, Matanya shares what inspired him to start a robotics company while in still in grad school, his perspective on Colorado's ecosystem for raising funding, plus how navigating various nuances in the recycling industry lead to his biggest lesson.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts AMP Robotics - http://www.amprobotics.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Godard Abel, the CEO of G2, the leading business software review platform and marketplace, which he co-founded in 2012. G2 recently achieved unicorn status at a $1.1B valuation after raising $257M in capital to fuel global growth. Godard is also Executive Chairman of ThreeKit and Logik.io. Previously, he served as CEO of SteelBrick which was acquired by Salesforce in 2016 for $360M. In this episode, Godard shares how his first company inspired him to create G2, his perspectives on the evolution and differences in the SAAS and tech ecosystems in Colorado compared to Silicon Valley, and how his biggest lesson helped ease the burden on anxiety.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts G2 - https://www.g2.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Jake Bolling, Co-founder and CEO of Skupos, a technology platform used by over 15,000 convenience stores nationwide, as well as companies like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Hershey, and more. Skupos has raised over $60M in funding and Jake was recently recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30. In this episode, Jake talks about how fixing a problem with a bankrupt gas can company he bought led to the launch of Skupos, what prompted him to grow his company in Colorado's emerging tech scene, and how his biggest lesson taught him the value of trusting the process.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsSkupos - https://www.skupos.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam and Chris speak with Topher Marie, the CTO and co-founder at Strata Identity, the leader in Identity Orchestration for hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Prior to launching Strata, Topher was the CTO and co-founder of JumpCloud. In this episode, Topher shares what got him started in startups, his thoughts on why Colorado is attractive to top talent, and the value in focusing on what's within your control. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsStrata Identity - https://www.strata.io/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Fred Kneip, the founder and CEO of CyberGRX, the first third-party global cyber risk management exchange. Prior to starting CyberGRX, Fred held management positions at Bridgewater Associates and Mckinsey & Co. While under his leadership as CEO, CyberGRX's has raised nearly $100 Million from investors such as Google Ventures, Blackstone and others. On this episode Fred shares what lead him to move his company from New York to Colorado plus examples of the differences in the startup ecosystems, and advice on firing senior level employeesListen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts CyberGRX - https://www.cybergrx.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with James “Jimmy” Eberhard, Founder and CEO of Fluid Truck, the commercial vehicle rental platform to help businesses and individuals move better at the tap of a button. Fluid Truck has been named the 9th "Fastest-Growing Company in North America" by Deloitte as well as the fastest-growing company in Colorado by Denver Business Journal. Under James' leadership, Fluid Truck has raised over $64 million and made zero-emission last-mile delivery possible for some of the nation's most recognized brands. In this episode, James shares the origin story of his company, describes the evolution of the Colorado tech community during his entrepreneurial journey, and his biggest lesson: creating a transparent work culture with your team.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts Fluid Trucks - https://www.fluidtruck.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Josh Chapman, co-founder and managing partner at Konvoy Ventures, an early- stage VC firm focused on investing in the global video gaming industry. Josh connected his finance experience working at BlackRock and Morgan Stanley with his passion for video games to launch Konvoy Ventures. In this episode, Josh shares a Colorado company he's excited about, advice for board members and investors, plus, his biggest lesson around the impact self awareness to asks the right questions and truly consider the outcome of those answers.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts Konvoy Ventures - https://www.konvoy.vc/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Alexey Lee, the founder and CEO of Pinemelon.com, a Denver-based online grocery delivery service. Prior to starting Pinemelon, Alexey built three and exited two e-commerce market leaders in his home country, Kazakhstan. In this episode, Alexey details what attracted him to move his business and family to Denver, Colorado, the differences (if any) in building teams in different countries, plus his lesson on how a support system is crucial to overcoming doubt and having conviction in your business idea.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts Pinemelon - https://pinemelon.com/#/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam and Chris speak with Ben Wright, Founder and Chairman at Velocity Global. Ben founded Velocity Global in 2014 as a revolutionary way for companies to expand and hire across global markets. He bootstrapped the company for seven years, during which time the company went from zero to over $100 million in revenue. In this episode, Ben talks about the evolution of Colorado's tech scene, how employee ownership has impacted their culture, and discusses how balancing growth and success guided him to his biggest lesson.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts Velocity Global - https://velocityglobal.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Greg Keller, the CSO and Co-Founder at JumpCloud. As Chief Strategy Officer, Greg was responsible for the inception and launch of the company's award-winning identity and access control platform. Over the course of his career, Greg has helped launch and operate several startups to globally scaling growth companies. In this episode, Greg details his experiences with the evolution of the Front Range startup ecosystem including the emergence of Techstars, Foundry Group, and Denver Startup Week. Plus, Greg shares his biggest lesson, with insight into how to have a clear vision to define your niche.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts JumpCloud - https://jumpcloud.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris and Adam speak with Bijal Shah, the Chief Experience Officer and Head of Platform at Guild Education. As CXO, Bijal is responsible for driving and delivering a world-class member experience, with the aim of enabling millions of Americans to unlock economic opportunity. In this episode, Bijal talks about her experience at two Colorado tech unicorns, Guild and Ibotta, and we learn how burning the midnight oil helped lead to her biggest lesson.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts Guild Education - https://www.guildeducation.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris and Adam speak with John Levisay, CEO of The Pro's Closet, the world's largest marketplace for certified, pre-owned bikes and accessories. Previous to taking over as CEO of The Pro's Closet, John was the co-founder and CEO of Craftsy. John also has held executive roles at eBay and HomeAdvisor, plus, John was the person who convinced host, Adam Burrows, to move to Denver. In this episode, John shares what attracted him to leave the Bay Area for Denver's ecosystem and how surrounding himself with the right people has led to some of his biggest lessons.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsThe Pro's Closet - https://www.theproscloset.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Street is our guest this week! John is the CEO and founder of leading cloud commerce marketplace and recently minted unicorn, PAX8. John Street is an award-winning entrepreneur who has launched many new businesses, including four that garnered Inc. 500 status. On this episode, Adam and Chris learn about the evolution of Colorado's tech ecosystem through John's perspective. John also shares his biggest lesson: how having a financial plan leads to a clear roadmap to securing funding.Subscribe & listen to this episode on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!Pax8 - https://www.pax8.com/en-us/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/----See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts Adam and Chris chat with Kristin Langenfeld, who is the CEO and founder of GoodBuy Gear, a managed marketplace for parents to safely and sustainably buy and sell used baby and kid products. As of 2016, Kristin has created and launched a custom in-house app, expanded from a garage to multiple 30,000 sq ft warehouses and taken GoodBuy Gear from five to over 75 employees. On this episode Kristin shares, her story on what led her to Colorado, her favorite companies to watch, plus tactical advice for screening new hires to fit your companies culture!. Dive in!Listen to this episode on: Podopolo | Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. GoodBuy Gear - https://goodbuygear.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode hosts Chris Erickson and Adam Burrows speak with the founder of Acorn Analytics, Mike Zawitkowski. After retiring from being an international pop star, Mike soon found his passion for tech startups and he talks about the connection between the two lifestyles plus why he started Acorn Analytics, a boutique professional services firm made up of top data and technology experts. Listen in as Mike shares his biggest lesson along with some examples of how he learned it.Listen to Venus Bullet - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5KnctGbia9sizreEsOFjqXCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Listen now on: Podopolo | Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest this week is Jack Morrison, the co-founder and CEO of Scythe Robotics leading the industry with commercial robotic lawnmowers. Jack began his career as a software engineer building computer vision systems. prior to starting Scythe in 2018 with Isaac Roberts and Davis Foster. The company now has 50 employees and is expanding its operations in Longmont, CO. Host Adam Burrows and Chris Erickson learn about Jack's perspective on the Colorado tech ecosystem over the last decade. Plus Jack shares some insights on recruiting employees to Colorado and his biggest lesson involving managing his team's emotions (and his own) while fundraising. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsScythe Robotics - https://www.scytherobotics.com/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jennifer Henderson is our guest this week! Jennifer is the founder and CEO of Tilt, a company revolutionizing employee leave in the workplace. As an entrepreneur from Fort Collins, Jennifer shares her perspective on the Colorado tech ecosystem and how her lived experiences from spending 15 years in corporate America created a passion for her to start her company and solve a problem. On this episode, Jennifer shares her biggest lesson with host Adam Burrows as well as some tips on how she shares spreads her visceral passion across the company and employees.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts Chris and Adam speak with Bob Hall, the Chief Operating Officer at Outrider, a pioneer in autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs. Bob is a tech executive with over 20 years of experience in product strategy and business operations for software and services companies. Having also moved from the Bay Area to Denver, Bob shares his experience on how the tech ecosystem is unique. Later we learn how Bob's career journey helped him realize his biggest lesson and the impact of pitching persuasively across different audiencesBob Hall's Colorado Company to WatchBoom Super Sonic - https://boomsupersonic.com/Listen now on: Podopolo | Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode hosts Adam and Chris talk with Abby Mercado who is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rescripted, a global platform for fertility, providing content, tools and resources for wherever you are on your journey to build a family. Abby is a former VC investor and was an early employee at two energy startups, one of which she co-founded. During the conversation Abby shares her perspective on what makes Denver's ecosystem so special, why she pivoted from being an investor plus examples on how she pivoted and communicated those pivots with her teammates. Listen now! Listen now on: Podopolo | Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest this week is Bryan Leach, the CEO of Ibotta, the leading cash back rewards app in the US, paying out over $1.2 billion in cash rewards and earning more than 45 million downloads. Prior to starting Ibotta, Bryan was a partner at a law firm and a Supreme Court law clerk. He shares his entrepreneurial journey plus what Colorado tech companies he is admiring. Host Chris and Adam learn about Bryan's biggest lesson in his career, his preference on vc firms vs private investors and tips on how entrepreneurs can manage their emotions through uncertain times.https://home.ibotta.com/Listen now on: Podopolo | Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian Abrams is our guest this week! Brian was most recently president of Ibex Investors, where he co-founded their Israel fund in 2011 and helped grow it from $2 million to more than $700 million in assets over the course of a decade. On this episode he shares his thoughts on Israel's startup culture and how it compares to Denver's plus tactical tips for founders on how to be resilient and go with the flow when things are uncertain. Brian's Colorado Company to WatchIbottaListen now on: Podopolo | Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode, hosts Chris and Adam speak with Cole Winans, who is the CEO and Founder of Flyreel, the leading AI platform for property insurance carriers. Prior to Flyreel, Cole's take us through his entrepreneur journey that lead to Flyreel's recent acquisition by LexisNexis.. Cole shares tips on how to take advice for other founders and why staying true to your convictions will guide you to find your own path.Listen on: Podopolo | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music| iHeartRadio | Google PodcastsCole Winans CO Tech Company to WatchAnuvi - https://anuvi.io/Learn more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest this week is Tom Higley, who is the founder and CEO of X Genesis a new venture studio focused on entrepreneur success in health, water, climate and 10.10.10. a 501(c)3 a project of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC). Tom has seen the Colorado ecosystem grow since the dot come era as a long-time Techstars mentor and advisor to hundreds of founder and CEO's in his over 20+ years. On this episode Tom shares why his lesson on success is based on what the meaning of success is to you Plus hosts, Chris and Adam learn what Colorado company Tom has his eyes on and what exactly led to his exit of $280MIllion.Listen now on: Podopolo | Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest this week is Megan Guy, the co-founder and general partner of King River Capital where she leads investments in technology companies that are transforming the ways in which we live, work, and build communities. King River is a global fund with a new presence in Denver. Before founding King River, Megan spent years in finance and climate inv esting with Goldman Sachs, Angeleno Group, The Nature Conservancy and others. On this episode, Megan shares her perspective on the Colorado's tech ecosystem compared to others she's experienced in her career. Plus host Adam and Chris learn how Megan's persistence to be aligned with good people and make an impact through her work ultimately lead to her biggest lesson.Listen now on: Podopolo | Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts Adam and Chris speak with Michael Joseph who is the founder and CEO of Scratch Kitchen a a vertically integrated, on-demand restaurant platform built for customers that want everyday healthy meals. Michael is also a serial entrepreneur and angel investor based in Colorado for the last 20 years who previously founded and led Green Chef to a $120m run rate with 800 employees before selling to Hello Fresh. On this episode, Michael shares his passion for some of his favorite "unicorn" startups in the Denver tech ecosystem, tips on how he built up his investor network and when to know which idea is the one. Plus he details key parts of his career journey that led to learning his biggest lessonListen now on: Podopolo | Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kelly Schaefer is Product Director & Domain Lead at Google's Boulder office, where she builds new products in the productivity suite including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and many more. Kelly has an entrepreneurial past and valuable experience from the Bay Area including leading a division at Stripe and with startup non-profit in South Africa. Kelly shares how and why she was very intentional about becoming apart of the Colorado's tech ecosystem. Host Chris and Adam learn some new tips from Kelly on how to start new products, engage with new connections, and about how her lesson on how envisioning a great impact with her work has fueled amazing outcomes in her career and personal life.Learn more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts and the Range VC team on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Listen on: Podopolo | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music| iHeartRadio | Google PodcastsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest this week is Matthew Wetschler who as CEO of Plume, empowers teams to provide world-class trans-healthcare and create more equitable health experiences for everyone. Matthew shares stories from his unique career from Stanford-trained physician, entrepreneur, and healthcare innovator. Plus Chris and Adam learn what attracted Matthew to Denver and its tech community.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode, hosts Chris and Adam talk with Rory San Miguel who is the Co-Founder and CEO of Propeller Aero, a Sydney-based 3D mapping and data analytics solutions company with a North American office in Denver. Rory shares his story on how he went from "drone guy" to co-founder overnight plus provides 3 tips on how to price your product(s).Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsCheck out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian Egan is our guest this week. Brian is the Co-Founder and CEO of Evolve, a Denver-based hospitality company with a vision to become the most trusted brand in vacation rental. Before launching Evolve, Brian began his career as a VC/startup lawyer in the Bay Area which gave him unique exposure to the startup ecosystem. On this episode, hosts Chris and Adam learn how Brian's "levers" to culture ultimately impact a company's success plus insight how he has refined and improved Evolve's company culture during its growth.Learn more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts and the Range VC team on LinkedInListen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music| iHeartRadio | Google Podcasts See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts Chris and Adam speak with Scott Rupp, who is a Founding General Partner of BITKRAFT Ventures, a leading early-stage investment platform for gaming, esports, and interactive media with over $800m under management. On this episode, Scott shares how his biggest lesson around combining strengths impacts what investments he funds and why he ultimately chose Denver's ecosystem.Learn more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts and the Range VC team on LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest this week is Yancy Spruill, who is currently serving as the CEO of DigitalOcean and has the unique distinction of taking three Colorado tech companies public in recent years, Prior to DigitalOcean, Yancy has spent the last 15 years in senior executive roles at technology companies including DIgitalGlobe and SendGrid (NYSE:SEND) where he profitably grew revenue from $50 million to over $170 million. Hosts Adam and Chris explore Yancy's thoughts on the future of Colorado tech ecosystem and learn exactly why Yancy believes growing a company based off their values is so important in various aspects. Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts and the Range VC team on LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gary Calega is our guest this week. Gary is the Founder and Co-CEO of Revel One, a specialized marketing, recruiting and strategy firm based in Denver. Prior to starting Revel One, Gary has a wide range of experiences in e-commerce and marketing, holding senior your roles at Craftsy, Coupons.com, and E-Bay. Hosts Chris and Adam reveal some positive signals about Denver's tech ecosystem with Gary, who shares some personal experience on how he implemented his biggest lesson.Learn more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts and the Range VC team on LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.