Powderkeg - Igniting Startups

Culture, when built correctly can be your key differentiator. When built incorrectly it can be your Achilles' heel. Today we do a deep dive into the founding story of Indianapolis darling startup Lessonly. Lessonly is a market leader in training software and was acquired by San Diego-based Seismic in 2021. We sit down with co-founders Max Yoder and Conner Burt to discuss Lessonly's development over the last decade and why culture has always been a North Star in the companies evolution. Max and Conner both started their professional career by means of the Orr Fellowship, a two-year, Indianapolis-based fellowship focused on developing the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. Max began working on Lessonly after winding down his first startup. Conner was working in sales at ExactTarget (acquired by Salesforce) at the time. The two were roommates and Conner became an early adopter of the original Lessonly platform, where he used it to help train an international sales team of ExactTarget. Learn more about the Lessonly journey and hear the words of wisdom this dynamic duo has about growing a high-performing, venture-backed tech company. If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher.

Have you ever been stuck in a parking garage and couldn't quite figure out how to leave? Well, you're not the only one; according to reports, 85% of "help" calls in a parking garage are due to struggles with understanding the equipment, whereas only 15% of those calls are due to actual equipment failure. That’s why today, you'll hear from a company that saw the need for human interaction within the parking industry and set out to fill it—combining software-as-a-service, hardware, and a 24/7 call center to create personal, high-empathy interactions in the parking industry. On today's episode of the Powderkeg Pitch, you’ll be hearing a 5-minute live startup pitch between an entrepreneur and myself. You’ll be hearing from Brian Wolff, President & CEO at Parker Technology based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before joining Parker Technology, Brian, in 2006, co-founded Bluelock, Indiana's fastest-growing private company in 2010, with four other Indiana tech entrepreneurs. He has helped fund more than 30 local companies through angel funds Gravity Ventures, xCap Angels, and Momentum Ventures. Brian consulted several other organizations, including Purdue Research Foundation, where he was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at The Foundry. On today's show, Brian will be pitching Parker Technology, a company focused on providing parking facilities with a premium customer service experience platform through software. Brian will have just 5 minutes to pitch Parker and share more on the incredible team they're growing at Parker, and then I will have the opportunity to hit Brian with a few hard-hitting and rapid-fire-q-and-a, sort of shark tank-style questions right after his pitch. Tune in for more! Please enjoy this conversation with Brian Wolff! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul area may not be as known for tech as San Francisco, but the city has seen huge potential in building a rising tech scene. And when it comes to the Midwest, you couldn't ask for a more tech-friendly city. Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to some of the top accounting firms in the country and overall has a healthy and satisfying tech environment. And with so much untapped potential left for opportunists to unlock...it's hard not to consider becoming a part of the incredible tech ecosystem that's brewing in the Twin Cities. In today’s episode, I speak with two leaders who are focused on investing and nurturing the innovation happening inside the heart of Minnesota Tech. The first guest is Mary Grove, Managing Partner at Bread and Butter Ventures. She brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in technology, early stage investing, and startup ecosystem growth. Mary served as the founding director of Google for Startups, leading the company’s global efforts to support entrepreneurs in over 100 countries. Mary also started a nonprofit called Silicon North Stars, which she now runs, to educate and inspire young Minnesotans from economically underserved backgrounds towards futures in tech. After her 15 year career at Google, Mary worked as an investment partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund where she led dozens of investments in a range of sectors including healthcare, enterprise software, and fintech. Joining Mary today is Brett Brohl, a Managing Partner of Bread and Butter Ventures. He is also the Managing Director of the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator. Brett is an experienced entrepreneur, investor and mentor, driven to make a difference in the world through helping entrepreneurs succeed. He founded or has been CEO of several companies, leading three to exit and also experiencing failure firsthand. AndI hear he loves leveraging those experiences to help the next generation of startups to be successful. Tune in for More! In this episode with Mary Grove and Brett Brohl, you’ll learn: - How to find the best opportunities in tech during the new normal - Why having a culture is an important stage for startups - Great advice talent looking to break into tech - The most exciting things happening in and around Minnesota tech - Backstage look into the newly created Bread and Butter Ventures Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Mary Grove and Brett Brohl! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Every new beginning has its struggles, but getting a business started to call your own can be so fulfilling. Today we dive in with a founder who is ready to risk everything. He gives up his steady 9-to-5 job to chase his passion for the entrepreneurial dream beginning with the simple words "I Quit." On today's episode of the Powderkeg Pitch, we're bringing on Co-founder and BBQ expert of Durham based Mike D’s BBQ, Mike De Los Santos. Mike and his wife Gloria started building a BBQ sauce business with Mike having 'quit' his job. They launched the company back in 2014. And hit their sales goal that year, and have seen strong and steady growth ever since. In 2015, they introduced their Sweet & Spicy rub and, in 2016, had their biggest growth year to date (120%). As if that weren't remarkable enough, Mike is about to be featured on Discovery's Channel's new show called "I Quit," which is a show that will follow six businesses for one year as they are led by hopeful entrepreneurs who leave their steady incomes and retirement plans behind to go all-in on their dreams of launching their own unique business. Tune in to hear more! In this episode with Michael De Los Santos, you’ll learn: --What drew Mike to the path of entrepreneurship --How Mike and Discovery connected to start the show “I Quit” --Building the right sales strategy for your business --Backstage look into the entrepreneurial world of BBQ --Mike’s secrets and tips for barbecue enthusiasts Please enjoy this conversation with Michael De Los Santos! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast.

How much more impactful could your company's marketing strategy be if you could understand exactly what content to create and the best places to publish it in order to keep up with the present trends? Well in today’s episode, you’ll hear from Shawn Schwegman, Co-founder and CSO of Demandjump. DemandJump focuses on taking the uncertainty out of digital marketing by allowing you to see what your customers and competitors are doing, and what you should be doing next to get out ahead. Shawn had only 5 minutes on the Powderkeg stage to pitch his company DemandJump to a live panel of investors and industry experts from our Marketing Tech in the Roaring 20’s pitch night we hosted this past February before the pandemic featuring some of the most innovative companies scaling in Middle America. The four experts you’ll hear from in this episode include: --Syam Nair | Executive Vice President, Technology, Salesforce Marketing Cloud --Miloni Madan | Private Equity Technology Investor at Warburg Pincus LLC --Aaron Gillum | Senior Vice President at 50 South Capital --Lindsey Groepper | President at BLASTMedia Today’s Presenter, Shawn Schwegman, is a professional Entrepreneur, who has been heavily involved with more than a dozen startup companies over the last two decades, both advising and working in pivotal roles running sales, marketing, technology, strategy and operations for companies in early and high growth stages. Tune in to hear more from Shawn! Figuring out your next career move doesn't have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this pitch with Shawn Schwegman of Lessonly!

Leaders that are able to build and create a culture of openness and collaboration are able to encourage their team to better self-develop, communicate, and share what they are learning so they can capitalize on the actions they are or could be doing better, and promoting and pushing one another to do the same. But where do we begin in order to create and maintain this idea that we call product culture? In today’s episode, I speak with Marcus Cobb, a technologist, product designer, public speaker, and successful entrepreneur. Marcus is a highly sought-after investor, mentor, and strategist for numerous organizations. He’s also the CEO and co-founder of Jammber, a Nashville-based music technology company that focuses on streamlining the incredibly complicated process of creating a song, sharing it with the world and ultimately getting paid and getting credit for it. Throughout this episode, you’ll get to hear Marcus discuss his role as an entrepreneur, his personal experiences with building an amazing team culture, and his current role as co-founder and CEO of Jammber. Find out more about how Marcus and his team are disrupting the music industry with their platform, Jammber. Tune in for More! In this episode with Marcus Cobb, you’ll learn: - How positive product culture can be a secret ingredient for team success - About the music tech industry and the opportunities available - Marcus’s personal experience and growth as an entrepreneur - How the Jammber platform is impacting the music industry Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Marcus Cobb! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Most companies understand the importance of employee training, with the highest priority being the need for creating the right training resources for increasing effectiveness talent training programs. But for most companies, it always seems to come with a struggle of creating the right training tools and applications for company talent. That's why on today's episode of Powderkeg Pitch, we're featuring a company focused on helping teams learn and practice, and do better work. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Kyle Lacy, Chief Marketing Officer of Lessonly. Lessonly is a simple learning management software that helps teams learn, practice, and do better work. Kyle had only 5 minutes on the Powderkeg stage to pitch his company Lessonly to a live panel of investors and industry experts from our Martech Madness pitch night we hosted in February of last year featuring some of the most innovative companies scaling in the Mighty Middle. The three experts you’ll hear from in this episode include: --Glenda Akers | GM, Messaging of Salesforce Marketing Cloud --Muhammad Yasin | Executive Vice President of Marketing of PERQ --Ryan Grable | VP Demand Generation, Diligent Today’s Presenter, Kyle Lacy, is the Chief Marketing Officer at Lessonly. Kyle brings over ten years of experience in marketing, strategy, and digital operations. Before joining Lessonly, Kyle held senior positions at OpenView Venture Partners, Salesforce and ExactTarget. He has spent the last seven years traveling the world speaking at marketing and technology industry events, including content marketing, digital marketing strategy, demand generation, and B2B marketing. And is an author of three books, Twitter Marketing for Dummies, Branding Yourself, and Social CRM for Dummies. Tune in for more! Figuring out your next career move doesn't have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this pitch with Kyle Lacy of Lessonly!

In the last decade, the cities of Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville have grown Tennesse tech tremendously, attracting skilled talent, founders, and investors from across the country. Today, we talk with a CEO of a public-private partnership with Entrepreneur Centers in seven regions across the state focused on connecting and nurturing innovative startups, and tight-knit communities—mixed with a healthy dose of Southern hospitality—that has become a secret weapon on their journey toward startup success. On today's episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, we're talking with Van Tucker, CEO at Venture Capital Firm, Launch Tennessee. As CEO, Van Tucker supports the mission and vision of making Tennessee the best state in the nation for startups by empowering a network of resources. Before joining LaunchTN in early 2020, Tucker served as founding CEO of the Nashville Fashion Alliance, a trade organization that raised international awareness of its $6B economic impact. Before that, Van was a cofounder of Avenue Bank as Chief Creative Officer, responsible for award-winning brand development. Tune in to hear more! In this episode with Van Tucker, you’ll learn: --- How the Volunteer State is creating the next wave of entrepreneurs --- The best ways to show support for underrepresented founders --- What makes Tennessee Tech special for incoming talent --- More on this year’s 36|86 Festival hosted by Launch Tennessee --- Van’s greatest vision for entrepreneurship and startups in Tennessee Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Van Tucker! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Indianapolis Tech is growing at full throttle, but there is still so much untapped potential. From startups to tech giants, high-growth companies have found Indianapolis (Indy) to be an ideal home. The city is outpacing the competition by providing experienced talent, lower cost of living, and a productive environment of innovative founders, investors, and leaders. That’s why Powderkeg teamed up with several Indiana organizations to gain insight into growth and innovation happening in the unique tech community in Indianapolis, IN. Our research results were compiled in the first-ever Indianapolis Tech Census Report and released to the public back in February of 2018. With responses from over 359 tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors representing and 138 companies in the Indianapolis area, the census used a combination of hard data and interviews with industry insiders to help paint an accurate picture of the Indy tech ecosystem as it stands today and what it can become. In this episode of Powderkeg Podcast, we feature a few of Indy's most innovative tech entrepreneurs and leaders that helped break down the report and get at the root of what's right and what's not so good about the state of Indianapolis tech. In this discussion, we share behind the scenes secrets behind Indy's rapid tech growth, explore possibilities for bringing more investment capital into the city, and share the best strategies for building more diverse and inclusive teams—in Indianapolis or any tech community across the country. Tune in for more! In this episode with four visionary Indianapolis tech leaders, you’ll learn: Secrets behind the rapid growth of the Indianapolis tech community. What tech communities can do to overcome a shortage of investment capital. Why building relationships in your community is the best way to grow your business. Strategies for finding and developing young professionals to close the tech talent gap. How to drive diversity and inclusivity in your company and the whole tech industry. Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation about the 2018 Indy Tech Census Report with Danielle McDowell, John Qualls, Haley Altman, and Yaw Aning! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Being able to launch a tech product can always be a difficult step for startups. The technical issues in the first product are common, and user feedback during the early days of rollout often more focused on the problems than the product's actual features. This can make it difficult for teams to focus on what's working and what isn't. Luckily, in today's episode of Powderkeg Pitch, we brought on someone focused on eliminating this massive headache for startups. In today’s pitch episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you’ll hear from Sashank Purighalla, Founder and CEO of BOS Framework. BOS Framework is a product framework for Microsoft developers. It’s easy to use, eliminates repeat work, and enables individual developers to work with the capacity of an entire team and get an MVP to market quickly. Sashank had only 5 minutes on the Powderkeg stage to pitch his company BOS Framework to a live panel of investors and industry experts from our Build Better Software pitch night we hosted last year featuring some of the most innovative companies scaling in the Mighty Middle. The three experts you’ll hear from in this episode include: --Linda Calvin | Vice President of the School of IT at Ivy Tech --Darye Henry | CTO at DeveloperTown Starts --Ting Gootee | Founding Member & Chief Investment Officer at Elevate Ventures Today’s Presenter, Sashank Purighalla, is a technology leader with a strong product development background, a strategic business vision, and a keen entrepreneurial spirit. Over the past 20 years, Sashank has had the opportunity to work with various organizations in North America, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and India in multiple industries. Using that combined experience and knowledge, he has helped start-ups and enterprises develop the right technology solutions quickly and cost-effectively. In 2011, Sashank developed and founded BOS Framework, a scalable, flexible, and extensible platform that quickly launches technology products. Tune in to hear more! Figuring out your next career move doesn't have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this pitch with Sashank Purighalla of BOS Framework!

There’s no doubt that companies, big or small, can have a tremendous influence on the community. And in being a founder, CEO, and a leader, it can come with great responsibility. I'll avoid using any more famous superhero references but wanted to share the most important facts I gained from this conversation. Almost 81% of all VC firms don't have a single Black investor. In a sample of 160 firms with more than 2 people, only 5 have at least 2 Black investors. Another study found that Blacks are underrepresented in the executive ranks of startups by almost 82%. This is a major social issue that needs solving. There are so many great ways startups, founders, and venture capitalists in our tech community can use their powers for good and help solve this not only in our industry but in the country as a whole. That's why in today's episode, we're bringing on someone who believes in solving this issue and bringing in the good of our Midwest communities and leaders. On today's episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, we're talking with Mike Asem, Partner at Venture Capital Firm, M25. As a partner at M25, Mike has participated in nearly 100 investments in early-stage companies across the Midwest. Outside of his responsibilities at M25, Mike is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 24) and a board member at BLCK VC, leading initiatives in the Midwest to connect, engage, empower, and advance Black venture investors. Before joining M25, Mike founded The Anvil, a co-working space and startup incubator on Purdue University's campus, where he helped launch the first Purdue startup to be accepted to Y Combinator. Tune in for more! In this episode with Mike Asem, you’ll learn: --- How to find a career in Midwest Tech --- Key advice for tech entrepreneurs seeking to raise capital --- Mike’s thoughts on racism and adversity in tech --- Backstage look into the investment ecosystem in Chicago --- Mike’s greatest hopes for startups in Mighty Middle America. Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Mike Asem! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

When entering the world of entrepreneurship, it can come with a long list of challenges. Rewarding challenges, but many unpleasant challenges nonetheless. The biggest battle for most would-be entrepreneurs is taking the first step. It may be quitting a job, putting up a website, entering a startup accelerator program, approaching somebody with your first elevator pitch, or simply announcing your new venture to the world and family and committing the dollars and credit you have. That’s why on today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast we bring in experienced entrepreneur and venture investor, Eric Tobias. Eric has started several companies with successful exits to public companies, including Batteries.com and iGODigital. Most recently, Eric Tobias was VP of Product of Salesforce and Exact Target before being acquired. Today he is a Partner at High Alpha, a venture studio in Indianapolis that conceives, launches, and scales high-growth B2B software companies. They invest in software companies across North America, and Eric serves as a board member with many of these companies. Along with sharing his entrepreneurial journey, Eric dives in the leading factors of what it takes to lead and take the first entrepreneurial steps. Sharing the many challenges that can be tossed along the journey and the key difference between either startup growth or startup death. Tune for more! In this episode with Eric Tobias, you’ll learn: --- The massive growth happening in the Martech industry --- Why it’s critical to share your entrepreneurial idea before your ready --- The importance of staying up to date on the latest tools in Martech --- More about Eric’s background and journey through the world of entrepreneurship and tech Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Eric Tobias! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Our national fight against COVID still continues in round 1. And it has been a roller coaster ride for most digital health startups here in 2020 so far. After jumping out of the gates fast, U.S. digital health companies have raised an extraordinary $5.4 billion in venture capital support across the first six months of 2020. The first half of 2020 saw more support than any previous first half from years 2011 to 2019. And there is one Indianapolis company that is capitalizing on this growth and doesn’t plan on stopping. In today’s pitch episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you’ll hear from Roger Deetz, Vice President of Technology at Springbuk, a health analytics software solution focused on preventing disease through data. Roger had only 5 minutes on the Powderkeg stage to pitch Springbuk to a live panel of investors and industry experts from our Future of Work pitch night we hosted last year featuring some of the most innovative companies scaling in the United States. The three experts you’ll hear from in this episode include: --Mimi Nguyen | VP, Product Management at Genesys --Phil Powell | Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Kelley School of Business at Indiana University --Nicole Wallace | Managing Director at mAccounting Today’s presenter, Roger Deetz, Today’s presenter, Roger Deetz, is the VP of Technology at Indianapolis-based Springbuk, and the former Vice President of Engineering at ANGI Home Services. Roger has been a longtime member of Powderkeg and the tech community and has led multiple dev teams at Angie’s List. Throughout his career, he’s taken on several roles as a designer, developer, architect, and a leader. Tune in for more! Figuring out your next career move doesn't have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this pitch with Roger Deetz of Springbuk!

Branding. It’s one of the essential elements of any company, but it’s also something startup owners might not know how to create. Fortunately, our guest on this episode of the Powderkeg Podcast is a leading expert on all things related to the brand (including employer branding). She breaks branding down to its simplest components for time-strapped founders. Tiffany Sauder is the founder and CEO of Element Three, a full-service marketing agency in Indianapolis. In just 13 years, Tiffany has grown the company into the largest marketing agency in all of Indiana and an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company for five years running. Tiffany joins us for something of a beginner’s guide to startup branding, focusing in part on a less-talked-about subject of employer branding. In my conversation with Tiffany, we focus our discussion on how to build external-facing and internal-facing branding for your company, scaling that branding, instill your values into every level of management, and why you might want to find the best mascot for your company. Tune in for more! In this episode on employer branding with Element Three President Tiffany Sauder, you’ll learn: --- How to start building a unique brand for your startup. --- The minimal brand identity that every company should have. --- Why employer branding is a necessity for any fast-growing organization. --- Proven strategies for creating and scaling an effective employer brand. --- How a strong support system can push you to realize your full potential. --- What’s next for Tiffany and Element Three as the company grows. Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Tiffany Sauder! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Whether you’re an employee or entrepreneur, creating your personal brand has grown and become more critical. If you want to start trusting and valuing your instincts more and maybe even advance your career, it’s time to start setting yourself apart with personal branding. In a tech industry, that’s all about people; the importance of personal branding never goes away. There are 21 million salespeople in this country, and that number is set to keep growing. What are you doing to stand out in the crowd? Whether you’re looking to strengthen your sales, improve the relationships you have with clients, or leverage your professional network, personal branding is key. For these reasons, our guest on today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast believes in the importance of personal branding and how it’ll play an elemental impact on relationships. Chris Ducker, who is a serial entrepreneur. In late 2014, internationally acclaimed blogger and podcaster Chris Ducker coined the term “Youpreneur” to describe the rise of the personal brand entrepreneur, a new business model that very few people saw coming. Since then, the Youpreneur has risen to the top across sectors. The good news is, anyone can be a Youpreneur. A Youpreneur transcends the old rules of business and builds a sustainable business from the foundation of their experience, interests, and personality—their personal brand. Youpreneurs draw an engaged, loyal audience even as they pursue varying, changing interests. They play by their own rules, and they reap the benefits. Tune in to learn more! In this episode with Chris Ducker, you’ll learn: --- Think critically about what influences your brand --- Consider how your messaging impacts relationships --- Understand what it means to have a personal brand authentically Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Chris Ducker of Youpreneur! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Most consumers are excited after they buy, so they check their tracking number according to UPS, 2.42 times after they have ordered an item. And if you're shipping 1,000 packages, that's 2,420 brand impressions. Some, if not most of the well-known brands, will always send that type of traffic to a shipping company like FedEx or UPS or any third-party company. Which entirely disrupts the customer's entire branded experience. It has never been more challenging to get and retain customer attention, so every touchpoint with the customer must be hit. But what if there was a company that was offering this kind of experience? That’s why in today’s pitch episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you’ll hear from Yaw Aning, Co-founder and CEO of Malomo, a platform that turns shipment tracking into a powerful marketing channel for eCommerce brands. Yaw had only 5 minutes on the Powderkeg stage to pitch his company Malomo to a live panel of investors and industry experts from our CX & Customer Journey pitch night we hosted last year featuring some of the most innovative companies scaling in the United States. The four experts you’ll hear from in this episode include: -Darcy Lee | Director of Sales at AIS -Alex Shortle | Vice President, Periculum Capital -Cathy Langlois | Executive Vice President at Peoplocity -Tiffany Sauder | President & CEO at Element Three Today’s Presenter, Yaw Aning, found himself bitten by the entrepreneurial bug at a young age. Yaw joined an entrepreneurial program called the Orr Fellowship, where he grew his entrepreneurial skills and led him on his entrepreneurial journey of growing and founding his company. Yaw has had a number of entrepreneurial successes but, currently, he’s killing it with Malomo, a platform that turns Shipment Tracking into a Powerful Marketing Channel for eCommerce Brands. Tune in for more! Figuring out your next career move doesn't have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this pitch with Yaw Aning of Malomo!

No one wants to hear a sales pitch on LinkedIn. But sales teams that use LinkedIn wish to create valuable connections, which can eventually lead to sales opportunities. By making a few minor tweaks, you can turn your LinkedIn profile into a remarkable lead generator and sales tool, but first, you have to focus on creating a positive impression. What are some key ways to accomplishing this? In today’s episode, you’ll hear an interview, and LIVE Q&A, we recently hosted with some of the leading influencers who are using LinkedIn that are using the platform to build incredible sales strategies. Our first guest will be Morgan J. Ingram, the Director of Sales Execution and Evolution at Jbarrows sales training, where he focuses on delivering to sales development teams to enhance their skill sets and performance. Morgan is also a motivational speaker that has been nominated for TEDxSBY and TEDxUGA. Joining him is Jake Dunlap, founder, CEO, and B2B Sales Leader at Skaled Consulting. As a C-level sales leader and entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience, Jake has been able to develop and lead high-performing sales and operational teams, who have specialized in building out repeatable, sustainable methods. Receive invaluable advice from some of Linkedin’s top influencers as they give thoughts on some of the best sale strategies, generate a list of valuable relationships, open new doors for opportunities, and help you reach your full potential with Linkedin. Tune in to hear more! In this episode with Morgan J. Ingram and Jake Dunlap, you’ll learn: --- How the LinkedIn Algorithm Works And How to Make it Work for You --- Best strategies to generate and connect with potential sales prospects --- How to build a list of potential clients on LinkedIn wanting to learn more about you --- Keyways to manage your Linkedin profile and build a sales platform Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Morgan J. Ingram and Jake Dunlap! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Power is shifting in Silicon Valley. And the stories in today's edition of The Spark give you more context to the trends and opportunities that are worth keeping an eye on. Here are some of the top stories we'll be featuring that happened in tech beyond Silicon Valley on this week's edition of The Spark:

Whether you’re planning a full-scale job hunt in 2020 or simply thinking about your future steps, career-wise, you may have to do some prep work to reach your full potential on your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is one of the first places prospective employers scope you out. So what are some of the ways you can make the most out of your profile? For these reasons, our two special on today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast are experts when it comes to helping job seekers use the power of LinkedIn. Our first guest is Ashley Watkins, a Job Search Coach, and Nationally Certified Resume Writer. Ashley has experience in recruiting top talent for nonprofits such as the American Cancer Society and Gateway and multimillion-dollar companies in the banking and manufacturing industries. Joining her is Ana Lokotkova, a personal brand & career advisor, resume writer, and job interview coach at CV Labs in Calgary, Canada. Ana focuses on telling career stories to showcase job seekers’ unique qualities to gain an employer’s attention. With Ashley and Ana’s help, you’ll learn how to effectively network, build key relationships, and how to better design and better utilize your LinkedIn profile. This interview will prepare for your next big opportunity to bring your LinkedIn profile to its full potential. Tune in for more! In this episode with Ashley Watkins and Ana Lokotkova, you’ll learn: -The Most In-Demand Hard and Soft Skills in the Current Job Market -What Job Recruiters look for in a Great Candidate -Who’s Hiring Right Now (and How to Reach Them on LinkedIn) -How to grow your personal brand and attract an audience of fans Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this episode of the Powderkeg Podcast with Ashley Watkins and Ana Lokotkova! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

How have you been responding to some of the big shifts in tech that have been happening over the past week? Well in this very special mini-episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, we will be sharing some of the latest and greatest news stories that happened in tech between the coasts this past week. Here are some of the top stories happening in tech beyond Silicon Valley in this week’s edition of The Spark:

The tech industry is growing rapidly. But there’s a shortage of skilled talent to match all the new positions being created. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that by 2026, careers in software development will increase by 24%. Which translates to a lot of open career opportunities in tech. Fortunately, there are many ways for people to learn these skills such as following the traditional path of a college. But for some, going to college isn’t an option – it’s expensive, it takes years and it can be difficult to get a career after graduation. Being self-taught is great, but can sometimes result in a learning plateau and lacks relevant networking and coding portfolios. On today’s episode of Igniting Startups, our guest is a major advocate of one popular alternative: coding schools and boot camps. Ruben Harris is the co-host of the Breaking Into Startups podcast, he is also the CEO of Career Karma, an organization that matches people who want to learn to code with the right support circle and coding boot camp for their needs. Throughout this episode, Ruben will explain how learning certain skills in tech can ignite your career. He will also discuss the importance of making and building connections through networking, and choosing the right boot camp for your needs. Tune in for more! In this episode with Ruben Harris, you’ll learn: - What people should know about work in startups and how it’s different from a large company - Ruben’s thoughts on who the best companies are to work for - Ruben’s advice for people who want to break into tech - How to approach your tech job search after graduating from a bootcamp - Why networking is important for your career - How Career Karma finds the best boot camps Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this episode of the Powderkeg Podcast with Ruben Harris! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

As Advisors and VCs urge funded tech companies to cut costs and freeze spending. New forecasts and models are urgently needed to be created for the new world we live in (which is still changing day to day). CFOs will have to ultimately take charge of more significant strategic planning, budget distribution, and forecasting across their organization to help ensure essential changes are implemented successfully. But how do you go about prioritizing what may come next? In today’s episode, we’ll be sharing a recent interview and LIVE Q&A we hosted with special guests Patrick Smith, Managing Principal of Professional Search. Patrick has over 20+ years of experience working in various industry segments, including manufacturing/distribution, technology, and software/SaaS. The companies he serves range from closely held business to start-ups to multinational organizations with varying structures, including corporations, partnerships, and S-Corporations. Joining Patrick from CLA is Brandon Martin. As a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, Brandon now serves as a principal within CLA’s Technology Industry Group, providing advisory and assurance services to software developers/SaaS, technology, high growth businesses, and other privately-held entities. Brandon has more than 13 years of public accounting experience working with entrepreneurs and leadership teams to drive enterprise value and manage business execution risk to build more reliable and more successful businesses. And joining them is Glenn Dunlap, CEO and Founder of Peerview Data, a SaaS firm that specializes in benchmarking and comparative analytics solutions for CPA firms. Peerview turns the company data accountants use for audits and taxes into competitive insights they can use to improve their clients and to improve their practices. Peerview works with firms across the country, including several Top 100 firms. We recorded this conversation back in April of 2020 during the pandemic, where we get into some important topics regarding financials and preparing for the worst. Our guests discuss how to establish clear goals, recognize employee efforts, and create a positive culture. Along with answering some great questions from the Powderkeg community on the focused topic of “Better Finance and Forecasting”. Tune in for more! In this episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you’ll learn: - The most effective cash management and sash modeling techniques - Economic Injury Disaster Loans - The new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) - More info on Tax Changes and Credits Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this episode of the Powderkeg Podcast with Patrick, Brandon, and Glenn! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

As more and more employees continue to shift to working remotely, our “new normal” of remote work has become demanding and a quick adjustment in how we continue to stay connected, stay productive and engaged. The critical factor is that productivity will always remain, especially during a time like these. So how are you managing your time and productivity? In today’s pitch episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you’ll hear from John Rampton, CEO and Founder of Calendar.com, a mobile application that allows event attendees to mix, meet and collaborate together through an online platform. John had just 5 minutes on the Powderkeg stage to pitch his company Calendar.com to a live panel of investors and industry experts recently at our first-ever all virtual pitch event featuring some of the most innovative companies scaling in the United States. The three experts you’ll hear from in this episode include: - Mandy Hasket, Leadership Consultant at ADVISA - Phil Powell, Associate Dean of Academic Programs at Kelley School of Business, Indiana University - J. Kelly Hoey, Angel Investor, Author, Speaker, and Podcast Host of BUILD YOUR DREAM NETWORK John Rampton is a serial entrepreneur that has helped people bring amazing products and services to scale. John was just recently named #2 on Top 50 Online Influencers in the World by Entrepreneur Magazine as well as a blogging expert by Forbes. Time Magazine also recognized John as a motivational speaker that helps people find a “Sense of Meaning” in their lives. He currently advises several companies in the bay area. Tune in to hear John’s pitch! Please enjoy this pitch with John Rampton of Calendar.com!

Since the beginning of global coronavirus pandemic, companies have been asking employees to work from home while others are getting furloughed or laid off as the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to spread around the globe. For those searching for employment opportunities, this has been a cause for concern, with large group gatherings, daily activities, and even dining in restaurants being put on hold or banned for the foreseeable future, the chances to network and discover the opportunities we all once knew have entirely disappeared. On today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, we’ll be sharing a recent interview and LIVE Q&A where we learned and gained invaluable advice from networking expert and author of the “Build Your Dream Network,” Kelly Hoey. Who has been lauded by Forbes as a Woman who is Changing the World of VC and Entrepreneurship, by Fast Company as one of the 25 Smartest Women On Twitter”) and by Inc. as 1 of the 10 Most Well-Connected People in New York City’s Startup Scene. She is a frequent speaker at leadership conferences, Hoey helps businesses and professionals leverage their formal and informal social networks. Kelly has a whole new approach to the old topic of networking. And her fresh process for upping your social game does not require circulating in stale rooms or forcing awkward conversations. Instead, this conversation shows how small changes in your daily routine, simple generosity and your goal-focused efforts are all it can take to set you apart and lead to your next big opportunity. Tune in for more! In this episode with Kelly Hoey, you’ll learn: - The best ways you can continue to connect - How to establish and re-establish key relationships - Finding and setting the right directional goals - Ways to stay on-brand through remote connections Please enjoy this episode of the Powderkeg Podcast with Kelly Hoey!

Life in lockdown has not been easy, with a large majority of the country still facing an increase of financial pressures and many families are under severe stress of canceled trips, separation from friends, and the large abundance of time being cooped up at home has been putting stress and restful sleep on everyone. Luckily, there are some positive practices to help us relieve this large amount of stress and restore our restful sleep cycles. On today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, we’ll be sharing a recent interview and LIVE Q&A we hosted with a special guest, my dad, John Hunckler. Hypnotist and Guided Meditation Instructor, he’s the owner of Bloomington Hypnosis, where he has helped many, many people reduce stress, quit smoking, get better sleep, lose weight, and all-around live healthier lives. John Hunckler was introduced to transcendental meditation, zen, and hypnosis in the 1970s, but did not become a certified hypnotist until 2011. He holds master’s degrees from the Universities of North Dakota and Notre Dame in education and business. And worked for eighteen months in a busy practice in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he conducted almost two thousand sessions before opening his full-time practice — Bloomington Hypnosis. In this episode, I talk with my dad John Hunckler about how to optimize your greatest asset, your mindset, to help reduce stress and live a better life. It’s a particularly relevant topic right now at the time of releasing, because of all the uncertainty surrounding the economy and the coronavirus pandemic which continues to spread around the globe. Tune in for more! In this episode with John Hunckler, you’ll learn: - Best practices in reducing fears and anxieties. - How to be mindful of language and change habits - Ways to gain deep, restorative sleep - How to become refreshed and energized. - And finding your key power pose Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with John Hunckler! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

No matter how you approach it, networking is always inevitable, particularly for entrepreneurs. And the number one issue when it comes to a lot of networking events is that they don’t deliver the results they always promise. But attendees aren’t the only ones who suffer from poorly coordinated and awkward networking events. Event hosts and sponsors lose out on the opportunities to collect valuable data about their attendees that can be used to determine audience demographics and adjust marketing and planning for all future events. So who is tackling this opportunity to help event hosts collect valuable data to host a successful event? In today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you’ll hear from Ashlee Ammons, President and Co-founder of Mixtroz, a mobile application that allows event attendees to mix, meet and collaborate together through an online platform. Ashlee had just 5 minutes on the Powderkeg stage to pitch her company Mixtroz to a live panel of investors and industry experts recently at our first-ever all virtual pitch event featuring some of the most innovative companies scaling in the United States. The three experts you’ll hear from in this episode include: - Mandy Hasket, Leadership Consultant at ADVISA - Phil Powell, Associate Dean of Academic Programs at Kelley School of Business, Indiana University - J. Kelly Hoey, Angel Investor, Author, Speaker, and Podcast Host of BUILD YOUR DREAM NETWORK Ashlee Ammons is the President and Co-Founder of Mixtroz. She is the 38th Black Female to raise over $1M in pre-seed funding. Ashlee also serves on the boards of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Tech Birmingham. She was a 2019 Birmingham Business Journal 40 Under 40 recipient as well as Birmingham 40 Under 40 of the decade and Business Journals National Rising Star. Tune in to hear more! Figuring out your next career move doesn't have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this pitch with Ashlee Ammons of Mixtroz! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast.

There is not a successful company in the world that hasn’t faced its share of hard times. Whether it be a mass withdrawal of leadership, a shift in the company’s goals and objectives, or even a lack of resources and funding, there will be times when employees will find themselves extremely overwhelmed, confused, and on edge, especially right now. According to a recent study completed by Gallup, most disengaged employees can cost companies up to astonishing $550 billion a year in loss of productivity, not to mention the hiring and onboarding costs to replace them. This can become troublesome for some companies, especially those who might be facing the repercussions of a possible economic recession looming just around the corner. For those reasons, our guests on today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast believes that there is no higher calling than instilling value and supporting talent in times of difficulty. Our first guest is Dave Hickman, Managing Principal of Professional Search for CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA). After 20 years as an entrepreneur with fast-growing domestic and international companies, Dave joined CLA. He believes that a “we before me” mindset is foundational for teams to serve clients best, solve their problems, and improve outcomes that help them achieve their dreams. Joining Dave is Sarah Conroy, HRCO Consultant CLA Washington, DC (Greenbelt). Sarah has more than 30 years of HR experience in human resources, both directly and consulting companies across the country. She’s got a ton of experience working with tech companies and scaled the team at a geospatial tech company in Maine. She’s in the trenches right now with HR leaders across the country, doing the work as well as consulting. In this episode, Dave and Sarah will share strategies on being transparent with your team, advice on instilling value in talent, and to continue building engagement and confidence. Along with the best ways to make a pipeline of talent, rethink, and prepare retention strategies during an economic downturn. Tune in for more! In this episode with Dave Hickman and Sarah Conroy, you’ll learn: -- The best ways companies can think about building a pipeline of talent -- How to rethink and prepare retention strategies during an economic downturn -- Trends that companies can capitalize on during isolation and remote work -- Ways the current environment can be advantageous for business -- Thoughts on a future surge of job seekers looking for remote work Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Dave Hickman and Sarah Conroy! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

The emergence of the novel coronavirus has led many tech leaders into a massive struggle on the ways to solve and respond to the pandemic crisis. Tech companies are now having to step up to the plate and help play a part in the coronavirus pandemic response, tapping into their wide-ranging resources to help experts get a handle on the spread of the virus and to fill in gaps in the government’s response. But it’s not clear yet how — or to what extent — those efforts could help bring the crisis under control. In today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you'll be hearing someone with years of experience when it comes to public safety and has a passion for helping organizations. Jarret Winkelman is the President & CEO and Cofounder of Incident Response Technologies, Inc. IRT is a fast-growing software company focused on developing affordable, user-friendly, incident management solutions for public safety, educational, and private sector organizations. Before creating IRT, Jarret served as an Assistant EMS Chief, a HAZMAT Technician for the Department of Homeland Security, and a police and air medical dispatcher. Jarret has extensive experience in the areas of Wilderness Search and Rescue, Technical Rescue, EMS, HAZMAT, NIMS/ICS, and Critical Incident Management and Dispatching. Tune in for more! In this episode with Jarret Winkelman, you’ll learn: --- Jarret’s experience in public safety and entrepreneurship --- How companies can better use their resources to prevent a crisis --- Gain an inside view on the impacts of the Colorado Tech Scene --- The exciting things happening at IRT and its vision for the future Figuring out your next career move doesn't have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this pitch with Jarret Winkelman of IRT! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

All signs are pointing to the same thing: there is an economic downturn on the horizon. If you’ve just recently started or have been running your company for a while, you probably know that there are always ups and downs when it comes to owning or starting a business. Market conditions can change, outside events like the global pandemic can affect demand, and sometimes, growth can stall simply due to cyclical reasons. As a leader, you have to prepare for such inevitable downturns. Even as you gather the right resources towards growth, it’s also essential to create a contingency plan when things go south. At the same time, you must structure your company to be more resilient. A few changes in how you operate can make you more recession-proof. But how can you do this? Our guest on today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast believes there is no higher calling than helping entrepreneurs grow and improve. Scott Kraege is a serial entrepreneur who is no stranger to growing tech companies during a recession. He founded MOBI back in 2010, scaling the company from $0 to $40M+ ARR and leading to a successful exit (that was acquired by Tangoe in 2018). Before that, he founded and bootstrapped and drove Bluefish Wireless (2001-2009) to Inc 500 three years in a row. Today he is a co-owner of The Vogue in Broad Ripple, Indiana and is now managing director at Techstars Heritage Group Accelerator. Throughout this episode, Scott will share key ways of being transparent with your team, advice on managing and measuring the performance of remote teams. Scott will also share the ideas on how best to support local businesses that are struggling during the economic pandemic.Tune in for more! In this episode with Scott Kraege, you’ll learn: --- Bottlenecks and challenges you’ll face when executing goals --- Advice on being transparent as a leader and sharing with your team --- Ideas on how to manage in performance in a remote team --- Ways to execute goals, and profitably serve customers and potential stakeholders --- How can companies can stay ahead, during an...economic and pandemic crisis Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Scott Kraege! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

When confronted with a crisis like COVID-19, that has brought global uncertainty and record-high market volatility. Tech leaders are now forced to change the way their companies operate almost entirely overnight. This has had enormous ramifications for how companies are working. Leaders are now expected to be able to support and communicate with their teams with full transparency. But there is a silver lining, and that silver lining is that uncertainty can create opportunity–especially for companies that could be born or survive this uncertain period. This isn’t the first time our world has felt the burden of an economic downturn, and it definitely won’t be the last. So how can leaders better prepare and adapt themselves and their companies for times like these? On today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you’ll hear from a leader with an uncommon passion and authenticity in helping leaders build high-performance teams based on trust and shared purpose. Heather Haas is the President of ADVISA. ADVISA, provides talent optimization software and assessments, well as leadership development programs and strategic consulting to organizations across the country. Heather’s passion for fueling others’ success drove her from her beginnings as a classroom teacher and principal to her current role as President of ADVISA. Since making the leap into the business world, Heather has coached and trained thousands of leaders to understand and leverage their strengths, as well as build skills for engaging others effectively. Throughout this episode, Heather will share the importance of being transparent with your customers and how important transparency can be in order to reassure your members of your team in such a time of uncertainty. Heather will also share the important key values of what a leader needs to have and why those values can play a significant role in a time of crisis. Tune in for more! In this episode with Heather Haas, you’ll learn: --- Important values leaders should focus on in order to lead --- When’s the best time to be transparent with the team and with clients --- The biggest opportunities that exist for you during the COVID-19 situation --- What steps to take to better position a company and profitably serve Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Heather Haas! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

While most people don’t ever want to experience a crisis situation like we are all involved in now, it’s always important to be prepared. Being able to effectively communicate during a crisis has now become a necessary and essential skill that every person needs to understand, especially when sharing empathy—for each other, for the community, and for customers. As you consider the best way to communicate with customers and as we collectively navigate the coronavirus crisis, consider the best ways you can share empathy in your communication during this moment and how to effectively share your message with others. On today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you’ll hear from a PR leader with diverse leadership experience across PR and business communication who believes in using the power of empathy in communication. Kim Jefferson is the Senior Vice President at BLASTmedia and oversees all PR account teams. BLASTmedia is the nation’s only PR agency dedicated to SaaS, and Kim’s decade of media relations experience guides strategic direction for account teams and clients. The intersection of her genuine passion for news media and tech allows her to find the hook in clients’ stories. Throughout this episode, Kim will discuss the importance of having empathy involved with communication, how providing useful communication and advice can better serve your customers in a time of crisis. Kim also shares helpful information on communicating transparency with your team and the importance of reassuring them at a time of uncertainty. Tune in for more! In this episode with Kim Jefferson, you’ll learn: --- How to use the power of empathy and communication --- Ways to better serve you audience in a time of crisis --- Key ways to being honest with your team --- The importance of positive PR during difficult situations Figuring out your next career move doesn’t have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity, and get started today! Please enjoy this conversation with Kim Jefferson! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

As an entrepreneur, creating new paths and making mistakes are part of the expected journey and adventure that we can face. Taking risks, especially those that don't pay off when launching when trying to launch a tech product, can become a very rocky adventure for a startup. These rocky experiences can lead to problems, business mistakes, or even the common technical issues that surround the product you're trying to produce. And this all ends up as a waste of the entrepreneur's most valuable resources: time and money. So how can entrepreneurs turn those rocky entrepreneurial mistakes into a more significant learning opportunity? Our guest on today’s episode of the Powderkeg podcast is one who has faced all the challenges when it comes to the common and rocky entrepreneur’s journey. PJ Taei, is the Founder and President of Washington DC-based Uscreen, a video-on-demand company that helps people launch their own apps and online video streaming service. PJ is a serial entrepreneur and an expert in video streaming and monetization. PJ started his career as a network technician and founded a company called WebNet Hosting, that he built for 14 years until it was acquired back in 2016. PJ then shifted his focus over to Uscreen. Uscreen’s platform is home to over 5,000 video creators, enabling them to monetize their passions - from education to fitness, to yoga, and much more. Throughout this episode, you’ll get to hear PJ discuss his role as an entrepreneur, his personal experiences with overcoming challenges of making mistakes and how he turned them into learning opportunities, and his current role as Founder and President of Uscreen. Find out more about how PJ and his team are disrupting the video-streaming service industry with their platform, Uscreen. Tune in for more! In this episode with PJ Taei, you’ll learn: --- How to turn failures and mistakes into learning opportunities --- The challenges of creating successful video content --- How to grow your personal brand and become a thought leader in your niche --- The best ways to succeed in building useful and engaging software --- Get an inside look at Washington DC tech ecosystem Please enjoy this conversation with PJ Taei! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Have you been watching the economic roller coaster and wondering how it’ll affect your wallet? The fallout from coronavirus has been substantial, and economic cracks are beginning to emerge. Small business owners are beginning to share supply chain problems and a loss of sales. The travel industry is falling apart, and consumer spending has drastically decreased as consumers pull back from their usual daily purchases and routines. This has cause for alarm as many start to question their financial stability and outlook for the future, but being able to make the right adjustments and decisions in an ever-changing economic environment has now become more critical than ever before. Now might just be the time to tighten up your personal finances. Are you ready for it? For these reasons, our guest on today’s episode of the Powderkeg podcast believes in being ahead of the economic curve. Peter Dunn, aka Pete The Planner is an award-winning comedian and an award-winning financial mind. He’s a USA TODAY columnist, author of ten books, and host of the popular radio show and podcast The Pete the Planner Show. Pete appears regularly on CNN Headline News, Fox News, Fox Business, and many nationally syndicated radio programs. He’s also the CEO and Founder of Your Money Line and Hey Money. In this episode, you’ll get to hear Pete answer critical financial questions from our very own Powderkeg community. Along with his thoughts on the best moves for freelancers and realtor’s in this shaping economic climate. You’ll also get to hear his view and predictions on the future of the economy. Tune in for more! In this episode with Pete The Planner, you’ll learn: --- What’s the near-term and long-term economic impacts --- How people be thinking about their job right now --- What freelancers should do in a time of economic uncertainty --- Whether you should continue to invest or save --- How are real-estate markets being affected Please enjoy this conversation with Peter Dunn A.K.A Pete The Planner! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

“Pivoting” might seem like a dirty word in business, but Jenny Blake has learned to embrace it. Not only that, but she’s built her career around it, becoming a business strategist, keynote speaker, and author who teaches others the positive value of pivoting. Blake is the author of Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One, and the creator of the Pivot Method, which distills all the wisdom she’s gained throughout her career to teach you how to change your business direction without falling on your face. Blake learned the virtues of pivoting by doing it many times throughout her career. After spending two years at a technology startup in Palo Alto, she landed a job at Google as a product trainer for AdWords. She stayed there for five years, training more than 1,000 employees and building her public speaking and career coaching skills, before she pivoted once more and set out to become a solopreneur. She now speaks and holds workshops on the Pivot Method around the world, at companies like Intuit and Pimco, universities like Yale and MIT, and conferences like TEDxCMU and the World Domination Summit. She also runs the Pivot Podcast, which started as a passion project while she was writing Pivot and has grown into a forum for world-renowned authors and businesspeople to share their advice on how to seize opportunities and pivot like pros. Jenny has so many great stories and insights to share in our interview, from the health benefits of practicing yoga to why reading will make you a better person. She also talks about how to get over your fears of public speaking, how meditation will make you a better entrepreneur, and how you can use the Pivot Method to succeed in business and improve your personal life. To learn more or connect with Jenny, visit the Pivot Method website or her personal website. You can also check out Momentum, her private community for solopreneurs and side-hustlers, or consider signing up for Pivot Coaching if you’re looking for some help to make your own pivot a success. In this episode with Jenny Blake, you’ll learn: --- How to use your job as training for entrepreneurship (12:45) --- How to conquer a fear of public speaking (15:34) --- Why meditation will make you a better entrepreneur  (23:30) --- How to use the Pivot Method to improve your personal life (36:18) --- How to make successful pivots in business and life (39:56) --- How to succeed in your career by embracing pivots (44:06) Please enjoy this interview with Jenny Blake. If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Here at Powderkeg, we believe the rising remote work movement goes hand-in-hand with our mission to connect the amazing tech communities growing and thriving across the country. In a previous episode of the Igniting Startups podcast, the CEO and COO of Indianapolis-based Formstack shared how they built an exceptional remote culture spanning seven countries. Today, serial entrepreneur Liam Martin joins us to share some remote work secrets of his own. Liam is no stranger to managing a remote team. As co-founder of employee time-tracking software Time Doctor and Staff.com, Liam oversees a team of over 80 people living in 27 countries around the world. He and his team were also behind Running Remote, the first global conference on building and scaling remote teams, back in June. In this second episode on remote work, Liam shares tactical tips and strategies that will change how you think about going remote. We discuss the huge benefits and noteworthy obstacles of managing a distributed team, dive into the critical importance of clear processes and documentation, and even touch on the pros and cons of synchronous vs. asynchronous communication. In this episode of Igniting Startups with Liam Martin, you’ll learn: His remote work experience that inspired the creation of Time Doctor and Staff.com. -- Why data analysis plays a key role in developing remote work best practices. -- Strategies for leveraging remote work to drive employee satisfaction at your company. -- The importance of clear processes and documentation within a remote business. -- Why asynchronous communication tools may be the right choice for your remote team. -- How Running Remote aims to educate and empower remote-first companies. Please enjoy this conversation with Liam Martin! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Podcasts are becoming more popular than ever. Just last year, Edison Research completed a study showing that 51% of Americans over the age of 12 have listened to some sort of podcast just in the year 2019. As a fan, it appears that while the demand for podcasts is increasing, the supply of shows available is growing at an extreme pace. To turn into competition in this deeply saturated market, current podcasts have had to be able to market themselves well but are struggling to find efficient tools in order to promote themselves than most other products. So what can they do to keep up with the growing trend of podcasts? And who can help them better market their podcast? On today’s episode of the Igniting Startups Podcast, you’ll hear from Lindsay Tjepkema, the CEO and Co-founder of Casted, the first B2B Podcasting Platform, helping B2B Podcasters and Content Marketers become more effective through better measurement and activation of their podcasts. Lindsey had just 5 minutes on the Powderkeg stage to pitch Casted her startup to a live panel of investors and industry experts at our recent Powderkeg Pitch Night event featuring some of the most innovative Marketing Tech companies scaling in the middle of United States. The four experts you’ll hear from on this episode include: -- Senior Vice President at Chicago-based Venture Fund 50 South Capital, Aaron Gillum! -- Private Equity Technology Investor at New-York based private equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC, Miloni Madan -- Executive Vice President of Technology for Indianapolis-based Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Syam Nair -- President of the National SaaS-PR Firm BLASTMedia, Lindsey Groepper Lindsay is an experienced marketer and brand builder that creates well-planned and well-executed campaigns. Casted just announced their $2.35 Million round of seed funding just a few weeks prior to Lindsay taking the stage at Powderkeg to pitch in front of a LIVE audience. Tune in for more! Figuring out your next career move doesn't have to be so stressful. So why not try Powderkeg Matches? By joining Matches, you’re joining a community of thousands of top professionals in the Powderkeg community to get connected with outstanding people at the hottest tech companies between the coasts. Get matched with great employers, land your next major opportunity. Visit https://powderkeg.com/tech-jobs/ and get started today! Please enjoy this pitch with Lindsay Tjepkema of Casted! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

There is no doubt about it: the tasks that happen in data science can be complicated and unpredictable. The way we do business, sell, promote, strategize, and grow in today’s world ultimately has become data-driven. That’s why you need to have a good team that can keep up with the data. Now most organizations, from small start-ups to large-scale companies, are using the help of data scientists and data-minded folks to tap into the many opportunities that data possesses. And some companies are only just getting started. Today’s episode is part of a recording of a live fireside chat we hosted just a few weeks ago here in Indianapolis, where we discussed the topic of “Unlocking the Power of Data Science and Visualization.” Joining me on this special podcast episode is the VP of Data Science at High Alpha, Mark Clerkin. Mark is an experienced data science leader with an exceptional track record of conceiving, developing, and delivering innovative processes and products. He is a mentor with Techstars and The Last Mile. Mark and his team are the architects of building statistical analysis, data pipelines, data visualization, and machine learning solutions for High Alpha’s portfolio companies. Throughout this episode, you’ll get to hear Mark discuss the benefits of possessing soft skills, using data in startups, and bringing diversity to high performing teams. Also, you’ll get to listen to a featured interview with KSM Consulting’s Director of Talent, Louonna Kachur where she shares the fantastic energy and culture that KSM is building and the kind of talent they’re currently looking for on this episode of Powderkeg Igniting Startups. In this episode with Mark Clerkin, you’ll learn: -- How to make meaningful connections with other tech folks -- The biggest opportunities in data science and visualization -- Why startups should use data science to capture key data -- How Data Science has become inherently diverse -- Mark’s hope for the Indianapolis tech community and data science Please enjoy this conversation with Mark Clerkin! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

The world data science, analytics, and machine learning are rising up at an incredible pace, and companies are now searching for experienced data scientists and those who have a great fascination with data to sift through this growing goldmine of data and information to help them make and drive swift business decisions. Just recently, in a study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they estimated that an incredible 11.5 million jobs will be available in the field of data science by the year 2026. So what’s sparking this incredible growth and demand of data science? And what is the area of data science going to look like these next few years? Today’s episode is part of a recording of a live fireside chat we hosted just a few weeks ago here in Indianapolis, where we discussed the topic of “Unlocking the Power of Data Science and Visualization.” Joining me on this special podcast episode is experienced Data Scientist Brian Lehman of Honey. Brian is an expert in data storytelling and visualization. He has led numerous data projects at Google, Twitter, Proofpoint, Tendril, and now Honey/PayPal in Boulder, Colorado. And previously, he taught mathematics at the Colorado School of Mines and Colorado public schools before making the switch from math teacher to data scientist. Throughout this episode, you’ll get to hear Brian discuss his journey from math teacher to becoming an experienced data scientist, his personal experiences with data storytelling and visualization, and his current role as a data scientist at Honey. Find out more about the work in data science that Brian and his team are doing at Honey on this special episode of Powderkeg Igniting Startups. In this episode with Brian Lehman, you’ll learn: How Brian made the switch from math teacher to data scientist Finding a great mentor and how to work with them The benefits of being involved in a data science community How to identify the best culture fit for you The opportunities and future of data science Please enjoy this conversation with Brian Lehman! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Hey there, Powderkeg fans! Nick here from the Powderkeg team. This is episode #124 of Powderkeg: Igniting Startups, the show for entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators building remarkable tech companies in areas outside of Silicon Valley.  Today we’re revisiting an interview where Matt spoke with entrepreneur Rodney Williams, Co-Founder, and CCO of LISNR, one of the most disruptive companies in the IoT space and the world of mobile connectivity.  Rodney is a passionate entrepreneur with years of experience and tech expertise under his belt and is currently responsible for leading all of the LISNR’S commercial activities and strategy execution as their Chief Commercial Officer. He’s been with LISNR since its founding and served as the CEO till August 2018.  In this episode, you’ll get hear Rodney shares his personal and most significant lessons in marketing, the entrepreneurial hustle, and building a technology that has the potential to disrupt massive industries. So let’s hop right in! In this interview, you’ll learn: -- How Rodney broke free from cubicle nation and started his own company -- Some creative and unique approaches to problem solving and corporate innovation -- And some very insightful perspectives on marketing -- Plus so, so much more. So, please enjoy this interview with Rodney Williams. If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Most, if not all, customers want better ways of solving their problems, whether it be with a service, an experience, or even a product. Being able to identify the real problem our customers experience every day can be the natural part of figuring out how to build a great product. The challenging part is being able to answer that problem or need with the right solution. When creating a great product, as entrepreneurs, we have to take a look at what our customer needs and what their problems are. But the challenging question we have to answer is, “How do we solve it?” For today’s episode of the Igniting Startups Podcast, we want to shout out to our friends over at Stout Street Capital, for inviting us to this past year’s UNMET 2019 conference. And for setting up this awesome opportunity of speaking with Jason Smith, co-founder and CEO of rMark Bio. rMark Bio, a personalized business intelligence solution that empowers life science companies to identify and partner with clinical/academic scientists. Jason is a leading-edge technologist and product executive with over 19 years of industry experience where he has held numerous positions in early-stage companies, large multinational corporations, and venture capital incubators, yielding a rich professional background. Throughout this episode, you’ll have the opportunity to hear how Jason and his co-founder were able to overcome the challenges of healthcare and pharma tech, their focus on building a great product platform for customers, and his current role as co-founder and CEO of rMark Bio. Find out more on how Jason and his team are disrupting the pharmacy industry with their data intelligence platform, rMark Bio, on this episode Igniting Startups Podcast. Tune in for more! In this episode with Jason Smith, you’ll learn: -- Finding and solving the needs of your customers through product -- Great tips on raising capital with the right VC’s -- Jason’s personal outlook on finding great tech talent in Chicago -- About the growing companies and investments happening in Chicago tech -- Jason’s visions for the future of rMark Bio in Pharma Tech Please enjoy this conversation with Jason Smith! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

For most entrepreneurs, the word “traction” gets thrown around quite a bit, and it tends to be broadly defined for those in the startup scene who are looking for their first round of funding. But most startups have very little room or time to understand it before they hit a rock and hard place as the clock begins ticking as startup teams scramble to gain enough traction to obtain the next critical round of funding to survive. So why is this traction so essential and challenging to achieve? And how can we build more of that traction with customers? On today’s episode of the Igniting Startups podcast, we speak with Joe Zell of Grotech Ventures Joe is currently a venture partner at Grotech Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based out of Vienna, Virginia that focuses on Series A and B round high-growth tech/software investments. Joe joined Grotech Ventures back in 2002 as a General Partner and focused on investment opportunities in the IT infrastructure, cloud services, mobile, networking, and internet, and digital media sectors. And is active on several portfolio company boards for Grotech. In this episode, you’ll get to hear Joe shares his thoughts on how companies who have significant traction with their customers excite surprising investors and which is more valuable to a potential VC, Team, or Product. You’ll also get to hear how his view on the future of venture capitalists in the Rockies and Midwest regions, and actionable tips for companies looking for funding. Tune in for more! In this episode with Joe Zell, you’ll learn: When companies are a great fit for venture capitalist Whats a great balance between a good product and a good team How a company can be attractive and exciting for potential VC’s What differentiates certain venture capitalist from the others Joe’s vision on the future and potential of Midwest VC’s Please enjoy this conversation with Joe Zell! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

FinTech is well on its way to becoming one of tech’s hottest emerging technologies. From mobile payments to cryptocurrency, fintech startups are on fire. Investing in FinTech startups has been growing rapidly. Support for Fintech around the world has grown to a staggering $100 billion, fuelled by massive rounds of funding. With the expectation that FinTech companies are going to significantly continue to grow. But how is the world being affected by this growing investment in FinTech? And what will Fintech’s role become in growing and developing countries? In today’s episode of Igniting Startups Podcast, we’ll be speaking with Ben Lyon, founder, and CEO of Hover, an Android API platform that enables developers to integrate any mobile money service worldwide. While being Hover’s founder and CEO, Ben is also an Entrepreneur in Residence for Caribou Digital’s Digital Financial Services (DFS) Innovation Lab where he’s responsible for sourcing and supporting innovative financial technology startups throughout South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, and in some cases building them from scratch. Prior to joining Caribou Digital, Ben helped co-found Kopo Kopo, the first merchant aggregator and merchant cash advance provider in the mobile money industry, which now serves thousands of merchants throughout East Africa. In this episode, Ben shares his experiences through the entrepreneurial path of FinTech and how he and his team at Hover are changing the lives and providing an awesome opportunity for people in the regions of Eastern Africa and changing the future of FinTech. Tune in for more! In this episode with Ben Lyon, you’ll learn: --- Ben’s beginnings into the world of entrepreneurship --- How to build a remote culture for remote teams --- The diversity of hiring through different countries and cultures --- About the future of financial technologies in developing countries of Africa --- Ben’s take on the developments of the tech-ecosystem in Africa Please enjoy this conversation with Ben Lyon! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

As investors, we have a major role in building and creating opportunities for underrepresented geniuses — founders whose ideas and innovations are knowledgeable and led by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. It’s really surprising to know that the major difference between minority and majority startup founders is bleak. It's so bleak that less than 10% of all venture capital deals go to women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ founders. So how can we change the way VC’s think? And how can we best support underrepresented founders and innovators? On today’s episode of the Igniting Startups podcast we’ll be speaking with Anastasia Tarpeh-Ellis. Anastasia joined the team at Backstage in 2016 as Entrepreneur in Residence and ran Backstage Accelerator’s first cohort in Los Angeles as Managing Director. She now leads Special Projects at Backstage Capital, a VC firm that invests in women, people of color, and LBGTQ founders. She’s also the co-founder of bosa, a wellness and productivity app that enables consultants to provide the highest level of service to their clients. In this episode, you’ll get to hear Anastasia share her thoughts on why investors should believe and invest in underrepresented founders, how she found a great mentor, the amazing culture at Backstage, and finding a breakthrough in her product. You’ll also get to hear how she was able to get plugged into the culture of tech and the growing tech scene in the Los Angeles area. Tune in for more! In this episode with Anastasia Tarpeh-Ellis, you’ll learn: How Anastasia broke into tech and entrepreneurship Finding and building a great relationship with a mentor in tech How Anastasia was able to plug into the L.A. tech ecosystem The exciting things happening at Backstage Capital The biggest determinants of success or failure for a startup or an entrepreneur Please enjoy this conversation with Anastasia Tarpeh-Ellis! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

We’ve all heard about how the city of Oakland is becoming a rising counterpart to Silicon Valley. It’s becoming a rising and dynamic hub of innovation and creativity that is full of visionary innovators. But how is Oakland utilizing this amazing talent of creative, productive, and tech-savvy residents? And how is the entertainment industry in California collaborating with rising tech companies in entertainment tech? On today’s episode, we’ll be speaking with James Norman. James is a serial entrepreneur who started and launched his first company at the age of 16, an automotive e-commerce site called MJH Sound.com. While previously he has been known as a visionary in automotive product planning. In the past 7 years in the media and entertainment industry he has become a key thought leader in over-the-top media and consumer video consumption behaviors. And is currently the Founder and CEO of Oakland-Based Pilotly, an online platform that enables content creators to get feedback from a representative audience at a scale. In this episode, James shares his personal experiences into the world of entrepreneurship and how they have influenced and defined his role as the founder and CEO of Pilotly. Along with James’s thoughts on the power of the entertainment industry in Hollywood and how his company is becoming a leader in entertainment technology. Tune in for more! In this episode with James Norman, you’ll learn: What sparked James’s entrepreneurial journey What the tech ecosystem is like in Oakland, California The importance of culture at Pilotly and what it means James’s advice on raising capital as a beginning entrepreneur Please enjoy this conversation with James Norman! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

We all know that technology is influencing the future. From easier ways to communicate to money-saving software – technology is surrounding every part of our everyday lives, including education. Just recently here in Indianapolis, edTech startup Mimir was acquired by Silicon Valley based HackerRank— a developer skills platform that helps businesses evaluate software developers based on skill. No doubt, “ed tech” is starting to make big moves to create major headlines. That’s why on today’s episode, we’ll be speaking with Jaime Martinez. Jaime started his entrepreneurial career after graduating from Arizona State University and started out as a teacher for Teach For America. He has consulted and worked with numerous companies with a strong focus on student education And is now the Founder and CEO of the Phoenix-based EdTech company Schola. Schola is an educational technology company that’s focused on streamlining the recruitment and enrollment process for all public and private Pre-K through 12 schools. In this episode Jaime shares his experiences through education and how it has inspired and led him into the realm of education technology. Along with Jaime’s thoughts on the evolving influences of education and how his company Schola is changing the way parents and schools are enrolling students for their educational future. Tune in for more! In this episode with Jaime Martinez, you’ll learn: --- Jaime’s experience in education and entrepreneurship --- About the Ed-tech ecosystem in Phoenix, Arizona --- Advice on best ways to raise capital as an Ed Tech startup --- How Schola is disrupting the education industry and its vision for the future Please enjoy this conversation with Jaime Martinez! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Denver and Fort Collins for a longtime have been popular destinations for people across the country who are in search of beautiful scenery, fresh air, great food and healthy living. And over the past decade, the area has also become an amazing spot for entrepreneurs looking to build and launch their next great idea or even to find their next big investment. All I can say is… the Colorado tech scene is growing rapidly and it’s not looking to slow down anytime soon! On today’s episode, we’ll be speaking with Ashley Colpaart. Ashley is a Registered Dietitian and earned her Doctorate in Food Systems from Colorado State University. She has a unique systems understanding of food and human health in social, economic, and environmental spheres. And is currently the founder and CEO of The Food Corridor, a platform that connects food entrepreneurs to commercial kitchen spaces. In this episode Ashley shares her experiences of her journey into the world of entrepreneurship and how her experiences have influenced her as founder and CEO of The Food Corridor. Along with Ashley’s thoughts on the evolving influences of food entrepreneurship and how her company is becoming a leader in moving the shared kitchen industry forward. Tune in for more! In this episode with Ashley Colpaart, you’ll learn: --- Ashley’s journey and experiences through entrepreneurship --- About the tech ecosystem in Fort Collins and Denver, Colorado --- How the The Food Corridor was founded and its goals for the future --- Ashley’s advice on raising capital as a beginning entrepreneur Please enjoy this conversation with Ashley Colpaart! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

In a market that’s more crowded than ever, today’s brands want to be louder and achieve more if they’re wanting to capture the attention of their target market. The phrase “Disruptive Branding” has started to make an insurgence and has started to lead the way as many companies are searching for new innovations and for new ways of reaching out to their specific audiences. But how can we build a disruptive brand? And what is innovation’s role in building disruption? On today’s episode, we’ll be speaking with Raz Razgaitis. Raz is the Co-Founder and CEO at Denver-Based FloWater, a company that is revolutionizing the way people get safe drinking water. Raz started his career in Fortune 500 companies, including Johnson and Johnson and Eli Lilly. Since then he’s been the CEO at several high-growth companies, and Raz is combining his 20+ years of leadership & tech experience to deliver FloWater ---- a water refill station product that keeps 2.38 plastic water bottles from reaching our landfills and oceans every second (130 million to date). In this episode, you’ll get to hear Raz’s thoughts and ideas on how companies can successfully build successful brands with new innovations. You’ll also get to hear him share his views and thoughts on the water bottle crisis and how his company FloWater is innovating the way we drink safe drinking water. Tune in for more! In this episode with Raz Razgaitis, you’ll learn: --- How to build a disruptive brand through innovation --- The difficulties of choosing startup life over corporate life --- Best advice for people who work at startups providing the most value --- What inspired Raz to found and launch FloWater --- How you can help with the mission for FloWater Please enjoy this conversation with Raz Razgaitis! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Today we’re revisiting an interview where Matt spoke with two entrepreneurs from Nashville, Tennessee. Sashank Purighalla is the CEO of BOS Framework, a product framework that helps developers get an MVP to market quickly. Andrew Goldner is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist and founder of GrowthX, an investment firm that helps organizations commercialize innovation through capital, talent and know-how. Both Sashank and Andrew have a lot to say about building an awesome minimum viable product (MVP). Launching a tech product can be a very rocky road for a startup. Technical issues are common, and user feedback during the early days of rollout is often focused around bugs and glitches rather than the product’s core features. This makes it difficult for teams to hone in on what’s working and what isn’t, which can delay the process of reaching product-market fit. And this all wastes a startup’s most valuable resource: time. For these reasons, our guests on today’s episode of the Igniting Statups podcast believe the traditional process for developing a minimum viable product (MVP) is broken. The first is Andrew Goldner, an entrepreneur, venture capitalist and founder of GrowthX, an investment firm that helps organizations commercialize innovation through capital, talent and know-how. Joining him is Sashank Purighalla, CEO of BOS Framework, which provides a pre-built suite of APIs, plugins and UI components for startups that are building software applications. According to Andrew and Sashank, the MVP process shouldn’t just be about building software—it should be about evaluating the market and creating a product that solves a real need. By leveraging in-depth research and tools that jump-start technical development, startup teams can discover what their market needs and spend their valuable resources building that solution. That means reaching product-market fit, revenue and profitability sooner, which could make the difference between startup growth and startup death. In this episode with Andrew Goldner and Sashank Purighalla, you’ll learn: Why a successful product has to do more than sound interesting. Reasons why venture funding might be the wrong choice for a startup. How GrowthX is fueling venture capital growth outside Silicon Valley. The big problem with the traditional MVP process. The benefit of market acceleration programs for discovering market truth. How a pre-built tech framework can help companies get to product-market fit. Andrew’s and Sashank’s greatest hopes for entrepreneurship in middle America. Please enjoy this conversation with Andrew Goldner and Sashank Purighalla!

Today we’re revisiting an old episode where Matt spoke with two amazing guests. The first being David Hall, a partner at the Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, a role that has taken him around the country to meet some of the most innovative startups in America’s burgeoning tech hubs. Joining David is Mike Preuss, the founder of stakeholder-reporting software Visible, which helps more than 2,000 companies on six continents track and share key business metrics with investors and other business partners. Together, the two possess a great understanding of the ways that unique regional factors influence how entrepreneurs and investors successfully operate. As we discussed in our opening episode of Season 2, raising money for your startup works differently between the coasts than it does in Silicon Valley, New York, or Boston. Non-coastal founders need to build strong relationships and prove their business model if they hope to secure funding, and they also need to understand what makes their particular community tick. Because as it turns out, not all heartland tech ecosystems are created equal. This is a fact that our two guests for today’s show know all too well. David Hall is a partner at the Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, a role that has taken him around the country to meet some of the most innovative startups in America’s burgeoning tech hubs. And Mike Preuss (who has previously joined us on the podcast) is the founder of stakeholder-reporting software Visible, which helps more than 2,000 companies on six continents track and share key business metrics with investors and other business partners. Together, the two possess an intimate understanding of the ways that unique regional factors influence how entrepreneurs and investors operate. In this episode, David and Mike help us go beyond one-size-fits-all fundraising advice to explain how the characteristics of your tech community should influence the way you interact with investors and raise capital. They point out some of the most pertinent similarities and differences between regional tech hubs, break down what a healthy founder-investor relationship looks like, and ultimately illustrate how founders can use their community’s unique identity to their advantage when raising money. In this episode with David Hall and Mike Preuss, you’ll learn: -- Key similarities and differences between non-coastal tech hubs (15:46). -- An experienced investor’s high-level work and life advice for entrepreneurs (22:51). -- The benefits that thorough stakeholder reporting can provide for every startup (22:51). -- How to build a talented team and loyal customer base between the coasts (33:38). -- Proven strategies for nurturing healthy founder-investor relationships (37:33). -- How founders and investors should approach fundraising in non-coastal cities (49:16). If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Today’s episode is a recording of a live fireside chat we had this past week in Indianapolis where we discussed the topic of “Trends in Digital Health”. Joining me on this special podcast episode are two absolutely amazing guests who have been in the Indy tech scene for a number of years and have entrepreneurial experience with a focus in the healthcare tech space. First up is David DeRam. David has been founding successful companies for almost 30 years across multiple sectors, including startups and finance, medical and nonprofit industries. Through his experience in digital health he has enabled countless hospitals, universities, research centers and pharmaceutical teams in 80 countries to manage complex genetic and clinical data and to bring key hereditary information to the electronic medical record record field. Today, he is the co-founder and CEO at Green Light guru, a healthcare company disrupting quality management in medical devices. Joining him is Miles Sterrett. Miles is an entrepreneur with years of experience. He currently runs the Indianapolis Ruby Brigade and is now the Director of Engineering at Olio, where he leads an awesome group of software engineers to help physicians and post acute providers collaborate and improve patient outcomes. Tune in for more! In this episode with David DeRam and Miles Sterrett, you’ll learn: -- How David and Miles got started in the entrepreneurial space -- What working at a health tech startup is all about -- The challenges that most startups face and how to overcome them -- How to scale and build a successful health tech startup -- The opportunities and the future of health tech Please enjoy this conversation with David DeRam and Miles Sterrett! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.

Maintaining the best talent was simple when there were few companies hiring and employees felt stuck in their jobs. But today, it seems that holding the cream of the talent crop is a struggle for some companies. Especially with so many tech startups and big companies networking and recruiting the best available talent in the job market. Just recently in 2017, (CBRE) ranked the Raleigh-Durham area as one of the top tech talent markets in the country along with Forbes stating that tech jobs in just the city Raleigh alone had grown a tremendous 38.5% from 2010 through 2015! So how are tech companies in the Raleigh area capitalizing on this extreme job growth and how are they filling those spots with extraordinary talent?  On this episode of the Igniting Startups podcast, you’ll hear from  4 different tech, executives, and leaders from our recently held event in Raleigh discussing “Attracting The Greatest Talent in Raleigh, Durham, and Beyond” You’ll get to hear from local tech leaders with years of experience sharing their thoughts on the growing need for talent in the Raleigh tech arena, how they are able to find and attract the greatest talent, and why the Raleigh-Durham area is one of the best areas in the country to be in tech. Tune in for more! Learn from experienced tech leaders: Jessica Mitsch, Co-founder and CEO of Momentum Learning Derrick Minor, Manager of Team Development & People Operations at K4 Connect  Robert Ritchy, Senior Vice President of PureCloud Development at Genesys Karl Rectanus, Co-Founder & CEO of LearnPlatform In this episode, you’ll learn: --- What is takes to find the best fit for your team and company --- Cultivating talent in order to build a successful team --- What makes the Raleigh-Durham area attractive for talent --- How to retain the greatest talent in the Raleigh-Durham area Please enjoy this conversation with our featured guests from our panel! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.