Series A - The Podcast

Series A - The Podcast

Follow Series A - The Podcast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Series A - The Podcast brings you in-depth, behind the scenes conversations with the founders, investors and others changing the world with their startups. Host Jim Brisimitzis travels the US and Canada to bring listeners key insights and revelations from the next wave of innovators.

Microsoft for Startups


    • Jul 24, 2018 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 26 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Series A - The Podcast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Series A - The Podcast

    #23 – THE NEW AI-POWERED TOOL PREDICTING STARTUP SUCCESS

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2018 28:30


    While just one in 10 VC investments achieves a successful exit or next stage funding, a small team of upstarts has quietly come up with a way to significantly increase the odds of identifying whether a startup has a decent shot at succeeding. After two years of internal work, the Microsoft Startup Predictor has proven … Continue reading #23 – THE NEW AI-POWERED TOOL PREDICTING STARTUP SUCCESS →

    #22-DISRUPTING ADVERTISING WHILE DOING GOOD – DO GOOD MEDIA/CHICAGO

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2018 55:04


    Can a company change the face of advertising while doing good at the same time?  The founders of Chicago-based Do Good Media are doing just that. In this edition of Series A – The Podcast, we visit with co-founders Jerome Shimizu and Michael Sheng during a visit to startup epicenter 1871. “We provide publishers with … Continue reading #22-DISRUPTING ADVERTISING WHILE DOING GOOD – DO GOOD MEDIA/CHICAGO →

    #22 – A DATING APP FOR THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY – JASON SMITH/rMARK BIO

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2018 43:03


    What do you get when you combine a seasoned serial entrepreneur and technologist with a PhD and tenure track cancer researcher at the University of Chicago?  One of the most promising startups disrupting the health care industry. In the latest of edition of Series A – The Podcast, we return to Chicago for a visit … Continue reading #22 – A DATING APP FOR THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY – JASON SMITH/rMARK BIO →

    #21 – INTERVIEWING THE INTERVIEWERS – GEEKWIRE/SEATTLE

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2018 34:32


    When Expedia founder Rich Barton was secretly building Zillow, it was Seattle tech news site Geekwire that first uncovered and broke the story.  Same with the first tests of Amazon foray into the grocery business and numerous other big tech stories.  That dogged reporting is why the Seattle-based enterprise has become the preeminent voice of … Continue reading #21 – INTERVIEWING THE INTERVIEWERS – GEEKWIRE/SEATTLE →

    #21 – BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AND BOOSTING DIVERSITY – QUEST MOFFAT/PROJECT UK

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2018 54:20


    When it comes to representation and funding for minorities in the startup world, the numbers are sobering. Less than 3% of venture capital goes to female led startups, while just .02% (you read that right) goes to startups led by women of color. And there are so few Hispanics given the opportunity to lead a … Continue reading #21 – BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AND BOOSTING DIVERSITY – QUEST MOFFAT/PROJECT UK →

    #20 – TRASH TALKING BOTS AND THE NEW MEDIA LANDSCAPE – ALEX BECKMAN/GAME ON

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2018 27:31


    How do you make watching sports and other events truly social, and build a successful business for major media companies at the same time?  For Game On co-founder and CEO Alex Beckman, it’s all about the bots. The problem to solve for the San Francisco-based startup is  figuring out how to get people to watch … Continue reading #20 – TRASH TALKING BOTS AND THE NEW MEDIA LANDSCAPE – ALEX BECKMAN/GAME ON →

    #19 – AI, CONTRACTS AND A LEGAL DISRUPTION – ANDY ABBOTT/HERETIK

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2018 42:56


    For every deal, there’s a document.  Actually, potentially hundreds of thousands or even millions of them.  But thriving Chicago startup Heretik is leveraging AI to help the legal world search, sort through and analyze contracts, dramatically cutting the time and money spent in contract review. The work has always been done manually, with lawyers and … Continue reading #19 – AI, CONTRACTS AND A LEGAL DISRUPTION – ANDY ABBOTT/HERETIK →

    #18-CURIOSITY+COMMUNITY=STARTUP SUCCESS – JESSICA TENUTA/PACKBACK

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2018 53:42


    If knowledge is power, then Chicago-based startup Packback is rocket fuel for college students blasting off into the future (excuse the cheesy analogy, but it’s apropos in this case.) In the latest edition of Series A – The Podcast, hosted by Jim Brisimitzis from the Microsoft for Startups team, we profile the dynamic startup changing … Continue reading #18-CURIOSITY+COMMUNITY=STARTUP SUCCESS – JESSICA TENUTA/PACKBACK →

    #17 – MAKING CONNECTING SMARTER & BETTER – LISA CARREL/PROXFINITY

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2018 39:30


    Attending a conference, meetup or gathering and coming away without making valuable contacts is an all too common and frustrating occurrence for busy business people.  But Chicago-based Proxfinity is shining a literal light on the problem – with a unique wearable and software solution. In this edition of Series A – The Podcast, meet Lisa … Continue reading #17 – MAKING CONNECTING SMARTER & BETTER – LISA CARREL/PROXFINITY →

    #16 – SMART APARTMENTS AND A SMARTER KC – BLAKE MILLER/HOMEBASE

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2018 42:41


    From a smart city to smart apartments, Kansas City entrepreneur Blake Miller has been at the forefront of innovation on the Silicon Prairie. In the latest edition of Series A – The Podcast, we travel to Kansas City for an in-depth look at why America’s heartland is home to some of the nation’s top tech … Continue reading #16 – SMART APARTMENTS AND A SMARTER KC – BLAKE MILLER/HOMEBASE →

    #15 – EXCLUSIVE & IN-DEPTH: CHICAGO TECH TITAN HOWARD TULLMAN

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2018 53:29


    Plenty of people are called industry leaders, tech titans, ground breakers and pioneers.  But few have earned the moniker like Chicago tech visionary Howard Tullman.  The serial entrepreneur has helmed a variety of successful companies, written numerous influential books, and helped spawn hundreds of other companies through his groundbreaking startup collective 1871, the epicenter of … Continue reading #15 – EXCLUSIVE & IN-DEPTH: CHICAGO TECH TITAN HOWARD TULLMAN →

    #14-FINDING NEEDLES IN A TRADE SHOW HAYSTACK – SUMMITSYNC

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2018 20:19


    Many business people will tell you there are few things worse than attending a crowded trade show like CES or NRF in hopes of connecting with a potential customer, only to find it nearly impossible to find the needle in a haystack. It’s a problem veteran founders and marketing and sales guys John Corrigan and … Continue reading #14-FINDING NEEDLES IN A TRADE SHOW HAYSTACK – SUMMITSYNC →

    #13 – AI IN LA – CITY OF ANGELS AT THE EPICENTER

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2018 20:04


    When you think of business in LA, artificial intelligence isn’t likely to come to mind. But it turns out a number of leading entrepreneurs and academics have made the City of Angels an epicenter of AI. Some of those leading minds came together recently for Applied AI, an event hosted by LA-based startup Deep Current. … Continue reading #13 – AI IN LA – CITY OF ANGELS AT THE EPICENTER →

    #12 – SMARTER CITIES/AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES – PAUL VALCHEFF-METROTECH

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2018 45:52


    A tragic fatality involving an autonomous Uber vehicle in Arizona recently again underscored the challenges facing the burgeoning industry.  But Atlanta-based startup Metrotech is at the forefront in developing solutions that could help make the future safer and help manage the ever increasing congestion throttling most of our major metropolitan areas. The lastest edition of … Continue reading #12 – SMARTER CITIES/AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES – PAUL VALCHEFF-METROTECH →

    #11 – CONNECTING SALES AND MARKETING – PIYUSH SAGGI – SALESTING

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2018 42:40


    Why would anyone leave a highly successful sales career after a decade at Microsoft with all the benefits that come with it? “One day I just realized sometimes you have to step out of the picture to actually see the picture clearly,” says Piyush Saggi, the CEO and co-founder of Atlanta-based SalesTing. What Saggi repeatedly … Continue reading #11 – CONNECTING SALES AND MARKETING – PIYUSH SAGGI – SALESTING →

    #10 – 3D PRINTING FOR THE MASSES – JOHN DOGRU – 3DPRINTEROS

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2018 48:45


    From the time he was a kid, John Dogru was always tinkering with electronics, taking them apart and trying to put them back together again.  So it’s little surprise he would one day become CEO and co-founder of 3DPrinterOS, a company revolutionizing 3D printing.  But it’s a journey over 30 years in the making. “I … Continue reading #10 – 3D PRINTING FOR THE MASSES – JOHN DOGRU – 3DPRINTEROS →

    #9 – OVERHAULING INSURANCE – COLE WINANS – FLYREEL

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2018 30:30


    When it comes to the founding of insurance industry upstart Flyreel, there’s been nothing quick or easy. “Everyone reads the TechCrunch article about so and so raising $5 million and it just seems so effortless.  And that just wasn’t our experience at all,” admits Cole Winans, the tenacious founder and CEO of the rising Denver-based … Continue reading #9 – OVERHAULING INSURANCE – COLE WINANS – FLYREEL →

    #8 – STARTUPS & MICROSOFT DISRUPTING INSURANCE INDUSTRY

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2018 35:44


    When it comes to innovation, some old-school industries aren’t exactly the epitome of transformation.  But thanks to a number of exciting new partnerships between Microsoft and some cutting edge startups, dramatic change is coming to the insurance industry and other traditionally staid finanical services sectors. It’s far more sexy than it sounds, according to Microsoft … Continue reading #8 – STARTUPS & MICROSOFT DISRUPTING INSURANCE INDUSTRY →

    #7 – INTEGRATING ALL ASPECTS OF WEDDING PLANNING – VISHAL JOSHI – JOY

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2018 79:41


    What do you do when a friend asks for help with her wedding? If you’re veteran Microsoft engineer Vishal Joshi, you hack an app. And before you know it, you’re CEO and co-founder of a burgeoning startup disrupting a $90 billion industry. In this edition of Series A-The Podcast, Joshi details the improbable rise of … Continue reading #7 – INTEGRATING ALL ASPECTS OF WEDDING PLANNING – VISHAL JOSHI – JOY →

    #6 – AI AND STARTUPS – JUSTIN BRONDER – MICROSOFT

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2018 24:41


    Regardless of the business, artificial intelligence has become the holy grail for just about any startup. There’s been plenty of buzz but we’ve barely scratched the surface, according to Microsoft Applied Machine Learning Scientist Justin Bronder. In this edition of Series A-The Podcast, Justin joins host Jim Brisimitzis for a revealing and fascinating look at … Continue reading #6 – AI AND STARTUPS – JUSTIN BRONDER – MICROSOFT →

    #5 – WORLD-CLASS CONSULTING FOR ALL – GERMAIN CHASTEL – NEWTONX

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2018 41:08


    Harvard Business school.  A former Associate Partner with McKinsey & Company. A financier at Societe Generale Investment Banking. By most measures, you’d call Germain Chastel a business success.  But it wasn’t enough for the CEO and co-founder of New York-based startup Newton X. “I was very comfortable in corporate life,” Chastel tells host Jim Brisimitzis … Continue reading #5 – WORLD-CLASS CONSULTING FOR ALL – GERMAIN CHASTEL – NEWTONX →

    #4 – AI AND BIG DATA FOR A NEW WAY TO WORK – JOEL LUXENBERG – DEEP CURRENT

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2018 13:28


    Silicon Valley, Boston, Seattle, New York, Austin.  They’re all synonymous with startups.  But often overlooked is the nation’s second largest city.  While Hollywood is the 800 lb. gorilla in the City of Angels, a vibrant and ever growing tech scene continues to flourish to the west of downtown Los Angeles in what’s become affectionately become … Continue reading #4 – AI AND BIG DATA FOR A NEW WAY TO WORK – JOEL LUXENBERG – DEEP CURRENT →

    #3 – NEW RETAIL TECH @ NRF 2018 STARTUP SHOWCASE

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2018 30:03


    While hundreds of companies and thousands of potential customers packed New York’s massive Javits Center for the annual NRF Big Show, a much more select event was taking place at Microsoft’s flagship store in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Tereza Nemessyanyi – who spearheads Microsoft for Startups on the east coast out of New York … Continue reading #3 – NEW RETAIL TECH @ NRF 2018 STARTUP SHOWCASE →

    #2 – MARKETING MAKEOVER – KATE BRADLEY CHERNIS – LATELY

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2018 35:15


    As a founder, one of the challenges is knowing when to listen to others, and when to trust your gut. It became pretty obvious to Lately founder and CEO Kate Bradley Chernis after years of working for others. “Once you know that it’s a line in the sand that you draw.  And to know what … Continue reading #2 – MARKETING MAKEOVER – KATE BRADLEY CHERNIS – LATELY →

    #1 – DECODING AND THE SLACK MOMENT – CHRIS NGUYEN – LOGDNA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2018 48:22


    LogDNA isn’t co-founder Chris Nguyen’s first rodeo. But when he and longtime partner, friend and co-founder Lee Liu learned a new baby was on the way, they realized it could be their last as co-founders, and LogDNA was born from another startup the pair had built. At the time the company had just $17,000 in … Continue reading #1 – DECODING AND THE SLACK MOMENT – CHRIS NGUYEN – LOGDNA →

    WELCOME TO SERIES A – THE PODCAST

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2018 8:33


    They’re the disruptors, the innovators, the dreamers and the doers.  Men and women changing the world as we know it, one startup at a time. Series A-The Podcast goes in depth with the founders, investors, engineers, technologists and others paving the way to the future. In this prologue, join host Jim Brisimitzis – the head … Continue reading WELCOME TO SERIES A – THE PODCAST →

    Claim Series A - The Podcast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel