Podcasts about ventures

In this episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis welcome XRC Ventures' Managing Director Pano Anthos, for a deep dive into the future of retail innovation, investment strategies, and overcoming the systemic challenges that keep great technology from scaling.Pano shares his journey from serial entrepreneur to leading a venture fund focused on pre-seed and seed-stage investments at the intersection of retail, consumer behavior, and technology. With over 150 investments since 2015, XRC Ventures targets transformative sectors including retail media networks, the consumerization of healthcare, commerce enablement, and new distribution channels. Pano highlights examples of groundbreaking innovations—from AI-driven financial automation to diagnostics that detect autism in under two hours—that are redefining operational efficiency and customer impact.A major focus of the conversation is retail's organizational dysfunction, where siloed leadership and competing P&Ls create “warring tribes” that hinder adoption of transformative solutions. Pano argues that true progress requires structural change—appointing an operational leader with end-to-end responsibility for traffic and sales across all channels. The discussion also explores the promise of retail media, particularly in-store applications with untapped margin potential, and spatial intelligence, which can bring the precision of e-commerce analytics into physical stores. Pano shares candid insights on startup strategy, stressing that early-stage companies must demonstrate material ROI—significant EBITDA or revenue growth—to make it into a retailer's short list of investment priorities. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Why This Episode Is a Must-Listen Are you looking to build a business that goes beyond ideas and actually creates impact? This episode of Inspired Money explores the realities of entrepreneurship, demystifying the process of turning inspiration into innovation, and then into profit. Our all-star panel peels back the layers on what it really takes to validate concepts, build recognizable brands, secure funding, and achieve sustainable growth. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, you'll come away with actionable insights and fresh motivation. Meet the Expert Panelists Ilana Golan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and international keynote speaker who founded Leap Academy, one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. A former Israeli Air Force commander and the first woman to train all F‑16 pilots, she has scaled startups to $15M in annual revenue, contributed to a $300M exit, and inspires audiences worldwide with her insights on entrepreneurship, career reinvention and the future of portfolio careers.  James Orsini is the President of Startup Operations at VaynerX, working alongside Gary Vaynerchuk to help grow and scale the company's portfolio of ventures. With decades of executive experience in finance, operations, and agency leadership, he specializes in building systems that transform entrepreneurial ideas into thriving businesses.  Nikki Estes is a serial entrepreneur, co-founder of iCG Pay (acquired by CSG Forte), and CEO of Market Me More, where she helps B2B and tech companies scale through strategic marketing, sales optimization, and technology-driven solutions. As the founder of Top Voices Unite and a recognized LinkedIn Top Voice, Nikki has built a collaborative platform that amplifies thought leaders, fosters high-impact partnerships, and inspires professionals to grow and lead with purpose.  Key Highlights Early Validation Is Everything Ilana Golan reveals why quickly testing ideas and embracing direct customer feedback is essential for success. Sharing a personal story, she emphasizes, “You want to create an MVP, but don't get attached—write it in pencil because you might need to erase it and pivot based on what your customers actually want.” Personal and Business Brands Belong Together Nikki Estes and Ilana both highlight the increasing importance of building a strong, authentic personal brand alongside your business brand, especially in today's digital-first world. Nikki explains her approach: “It's almost necessary for the brand leader to stand up and talk about what they do. People want the voice behind the company.”  Funding Wisely: Bootstrap First, Raise Later James Orsini and Nikki both offer practical advice for entrepreneurial finance. “Don't squeeze the baby too tight,” James warns, underscoring the value of securing a credit line before giving away equity. Nikki describes how bootstrapping taught her the discipline that later fueled growth. Sometimes self-funding is the best teacher.  Resilience and Purpose Drive Growth Ilana and Nikki discuss how setbacks can plant the seeds for future triumphs, and why purpose is the ultimate secret weapon against burnout. In Ilana's words, “Sometimes your biggest challenges are exactly the fuel that you need… your strongest ‘why' will keep you moving forward.” Call-to-Action Here's my challenge for you this week: take one concrete step toward your idea. It could be writing out your business model on one page, reaching out to someone in your network for feedback, or even setting aside time to research your market.  Commit to taking just one step. Because the difference between a dream and a business is the action you take today.  Find the Inspired Money channel on YouTube or listen to Inspired Money in your favorite podcast player. Andy Wang, Host/Producer of Inspired Money

For episode 572 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Allen Ng, Co-founder & CEO of Everest Ventures Group, one of APAC’s largest and most active Web3 product builders and publishers, with over 200 engineers and 10+ million users. ⏳ Timestamps: 0:00 | Introduction0:45 | Who is Allen Ng?2:36 | Everest Ventures Group explained4:33 | Use-cases8:38 | AI & Web3 in Asia13:22 | Future of AI19:05 | Everest Ventures Group at Permissionless22:17 | RAPID FIRE SESSION

Diese Woche sprechen Florian Gschwandtner & Martin Kaswurm über den €220 Millionen Runtastic-Exit vor genau 10 Jahren, wie alles über die Bühne gegangen ist & was Gründer:innen wirklich wissen müssen, bevor sie ihr Start-up verkaufen? Außerdem: Maximilian Schausberger von Elevator Ventures (RBI) ist zu Gast & spricht über Innovation, Investment-Strategien & die Rolle von Corporate VCs in Europa. Dazu gibt's einen Deep Dive zu den „3 Pillars of Time Wealth“, spannende Learnings aus dem „My First Million“-Podcast mit Tim Ferriss – und eine Diskussion rund um den heiß diskutierten US-EU-Zoll-Deal: Darf von der Leyen überhaupt verhandeln?   Florian Gschwandtner & Martin Kaswurm sprechen über:     00:01:25 Zu Gast: Maximilian Schausberger von RBI Elevator Ventures  00:15:10 Happening of the week – 10Jahre €220 Millionen Runtastic Exit 00:22:08 Was Gründer:innen wissen müssen bevor sie ihr Start-Up verkaufen  00:27:14 3 Pillars of Time Wealth 00:33:18 My First Million Podcast mit Tim Ferriss – wenn Geld nicht mehr der Treiber ist  00:42:11 US-EU-Zoll-Deal: Darf von der Leyen überhaupt verhandeln?   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Werbepartner:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello again⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠dieFitmacher⁠⁠   Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠btm_podcastcom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠btm_podcastcom ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Link zum Nachlesen:  Elevator Ventures  HBR Artikel "What Founders Need to Know Before Selling Their Startup" Three Pillars of Time Wealth   Podcast-Tipp:  My First Million – Talking to Tim Ferriss about how to live a dope life auf Spotify  & Apple Podcasts    Feedback & Hörerfragen immer gerne an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@btm-podcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

As one of Silicon Valley's most respected venture capitalists, Mike Speiser, managing director of Sutter Hill Ventures, doesn't just invest in companies, he often takes a leading role in building them. On the latest episode of Goldman Sachs Exchanges: Great Investors, Speiser discusses his approach to investing with Goldman Sachs' Ken Hirsch. This episode was recorded on July 7, 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throwback Take: This week, Jenny and Thanasis revisit a conversation with Alexandre Lazarow, Managing Partner at Fluent Ventures, a global venture fund. With over 12 years of experience across financial services and impact investing, Alexandre shares how his diverse upbringing and travels have shaped his investment philosophy. He dives into the process of launching his book at the start of the pandemic, the universal patterns he's seen in global investing, and why optimism is key to his outlook on tech's role in shaping the future. Plus, he offers actionable advice for founders looking to stand out: bring on operators who live and breathe your business model.

There has been a massive influx of defense funding into Europe since Putin's war on Ukraine started in early 2022. A sea change is underway, with Germany loosening its debt brake and countries from Poland and the United Kingdom to the Baltics all reseting their expectations for defense this century. But after several years, it's time to take a retrospective look and ask, “What's next?”To do that, host Danny Crichton talks with Eric Slesinger today. Eric is general partner of 201 Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund focused on advancing freedom and autonomy in Europe. He's based in Madrid, and brings a deep local perspective on the future of the Old Continent and its new tech.The two talk about the current defense tech situation in Europe, how EU countries are trying to band together around procurement, the history and future of gray zone and multi-domain combat, and where Europe competes and even out-excels America in the defense world.

Was macht gutes Pricing auf digitalen Plattformen aus – damals und heute? In dieser Folge spricht Dr. Sebastian Voigt mit Stefan Groß-Selbeck über 20 Jahre Erfahrung mit Geschäftsmodellen, die ganze Branchen verändert haben: Stefan war Deutschlandchef von eBay, CEO von Xing und später Mitgründer von BCG Digital Ventures. Heute ist er als Beirat und Coach tätig – mit klarem Blick für Marktlogiken, Monetarisierung und strategische Führung. Im Gespräch geht es um frühe Pricing-Entscheidungen bei eBay, von Auktionen bis zu Einstellgebühren als Qualitätsfilter, um psychologisch clevere Freemium-Features bei Xing („Wer hat mein Profil besucht?“) und um das Pricing digitaler Ventures zwischen Subscription, Value-based Pricing und Test-and-Learn-Logiken. Stefan erklärt, wie Preise das Kundenerlebnis mitsteuern und warum Beiräte viel öfter über Monetarisierung sprechen sollten. Eine Folge über Plattformmechaniken, Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, die Evolution von Social Networks und die Frage, was man von Freizeitparks und Billigfliegern über gutes und schlechtes Pricing lernen kann. Über den Gast: Stefan Groß-Selbeck ist Unternehmer, Coach und Beirat. Er war unter anderem CEO von Xing (heute New Work SE), Deutschlandchef von eBay und CEO von BCG Digital Ventures, wo er digitale Geschäftsmodelle für etablierte Unternehmen mit aufbaute. Heute unterstützt er technologiegetriebene Firmen dabei, sich strategisch weiterzuentwickeln und nachhaltig zu skalieren.

Nathan Herz is the Co‑Founder and COO of Paraspot AI, a New York‑based AI company backed by RE Angels, ffVC, 97212 Ventures, SaaS Ventures & Aroundtown that applies advanced computer vision to automate property inspections for Single-family, Multifamily, Hospitality, and Logistics operators. Paraspot's platform reduces inspection costs and time, empowering operators to manage assets efficiently remotely. Since co-founding the company in 2020, Nathan has been instrumental in scaling operations, leading sales strategy, and building key client relationships.(01:28) - Nathan's Real Estate Journey & Birth of Paraspot(06:15) - Challenges & Innovations in Property Inspections(10:17) - AI-Powered Inspections(18:07) - Latest Property Management Regulation in CA & NY(21:05) - Feature: CREtech - Join CREtech New York 2025 on Oct 21-22 for the largest Real Estate Meetings program. Qualified Real Estate pros get free full event pass plus up to $800 in travel and hotel costs.(22:38) - Founder Timing & Persistence(25:58) - New Audio Feature for Inspections(28:32) - Single Family vs. Multifamily Market Fit(37:31) - New Partnership Announcement with DepositCloud(39:52) - Collaboration Superpower: Nathan's grandpa & Ryan Serhant

In episode 35 of the Truth About Ag podcast, Evan Shout sits down with Kristjan Hebert and Jeff Warkentin to talk about the lead-up to harvest, a time filled with anticipation, preparation, and pressure. They start by comparing planning the night before versus the morning of, and how that small difference can shape the tone... Read More

In this episode, we sit down with Lloyd Knight, a 20-year Air Force Veteran, cofounder of VETLANTA, and President of Knight Work, a career consulting company dedicated to helping others find purpose and direction after military service.Lloyd shares how his military experience shaped his leadership style and entrepreneurial mindset, and how he built VETLANTA into a thriving Veteran-focused community in Atlanta. He also discusses the launch of Knight Work, offering insight into how he turned a passion for mentorship into a successful business. Along the way, Lloyd opens up about the lessons learned through failure, the importance of personal branding, and why building meaningful connections is key to long-term success.Tune in to hear how service, strategy, and community come together in Lloyd's journey and how his story can inspire your own next move in business or leadership.Support the show

In this episode, Evan sits down with Kristjan and Jeff to talk about the lead-up to harvest, a time filled with anticipation, preparation, and pressure. They start by comparing planning the night before versus the morning of, and how that small difference can shape the tone of the entire day. The conversation quickly broadens into how harvest has evolved over the last decade, largely due to advances in technology. They get into how to train effectively, especially when every hour counts. They discuss the importance of knowing whether a breakdown is due to process or people, and how to set your team up for success when the stakes are high. As the season kicks into gear, they reflect on how to balance it all - equipment, timelines, decision-making, and family dynamics. The discussion also touches on team structure: why having a mix of personalities and skills matters, how divide and conquer plays out on the ground, and how leadership styles need to adapt. They explore what it would look like to have a non-family CEO on a family farm, and why the next generation might be better suited to strategy, while the older generation thrives in execution and operations.

Our summer series on “What Is the Right?” has explored the many ideological camps that make up the Right today, from libertarians and traditionalists to fusionists and “FreeCons.” In this episode, we explore the intersection of the Jewish faith with conservative thought. Today, antisemitism is on the rise, Israel is at war, and U.S. Republicans […]

This podcast is brought to you by Outcomes Rocket, your exclusive healthcare marketing agency. Learn how to accelerate your growth by going to outcomesrocket.com Investing in care infrastructure and mental health access is not just compassionate, it's foundational to long-term systemic change. In this episode, Brittney Riley Gavini, the Director of Investments at Pivotal Ventures, discusses how targeted investment strategies are unlocking real progress in youth mental health, family care, and women's empowerment. She explains how her career evolved from startups to mission-driven venture capital, and how her team supports both philanthropic and for-profit initiatives that close care gaps. Brittney highlights investments in innovative companies and shares the importance of funding diverse founders and fund managers to reshape the innovation pipeline, especially in mental health and financial access. She also acknowledges challenges in youth mental health startups like provider shortages and complex engagement pathways. Lastly, Brittney offers advice for startups pitching investors: make it a meaningful, generative conversation, not just a transaction. Tune in and learn how mission-aligned investing is reshaping behavioral health, one bold bet at a time! Resources: Connect with and follow Brittney Riley Gavini on LinkedIn. Follow Pivotal Ventures on LinkedIn and explore their website.

My guest on the show today is Joe Magyer, the Founder and Managing Partner at Seaplane Ventures. Joe spent the first part of his career in public equities and in 2022, founded Seaplane to focus on early stage investing. We have not had many VCs on the podcast before, and I was excited to speak with Joe about: • His journey from public markets to venture investing; • What the name Seaplane means to him; • Where the firms plays in the VC ecosystem; • Why he has decided to concentrate his investments; and • How the skill set he developed after a long time in public markets helps him with his new venture today Here is the link to Joe's bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemagyer/ Here is the link to Seaplane's website: https://www.seaplaneventures.com/  

New Sode; The Glitter Summer addition:  Happy Summer from St Tropez Club Sanc un Sanc Everywhere in St Trop -smoking is allowed indoors unlike porn and unregulated wheat puts and nudity on the concord. In between unfinished bottles of Dom Perignon and warding of managers of Sovereign wealth fund managers wishing to grind up against me to Usher's U Got it Bad; I realized I needed a job;  It occurred to me in my housewife delirium that I should launch an Anti-Illegal Immigrant Meme coin or Teen Mom meme coin on Base. What's a meme coin my assistant -slash 4 -year old step daughter asked. I realized I had no idea. I then decided against it when I realized I would have to do work. I also read in People Magazine that Memes are over.But I digress; my guest today is John Squire; a rather unboring episode, as he kept ranting about Spexi, which I kept thinking he was saying Sexy, so it made for rather amusing follow up queries. John and I met on a mutual family Holiday in the late 80s  at the 4 Seasons Spa in Guantanamo though I was without my family. He clearly has astronomical wealth as there was not a Gucci anything insight and he does not use phrases like “blockchain is the core infrastructure of the next generation of financial rails of the future” that make me dry up and vomit my already vomited martinay.  He has a quiet cowboy ranch work ethic that I wish I could mutually respect and emulate. John is the only cool crypto founder whose fund is not 98 percent under (sparkling) water. He is the founder of Blockchange Ventures, but hes cool, man, he likes to be in the trenches with the founders and is inspired by their idealistic passion that web3 has a use case beyond Bitcoin and crypto conference panel topics. Ipso facto, John is unique in that he also dabbles in curious projects and likes almonds and can talk about topics that excite him beyond blocks that are chained togetherSupport the show

On this week's FreightCaviar Podcast, we sit down with Tyson S. Lawrence, CEO at Diablo Freight Ventures, Inc., which offers small package and freight shipping services for small to mid-sized businesses. He shares tips on building a more resilient company, discusses what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur today, and what industry newcomers should know before venturing into tech.This video is sponsored by Epay Manager, Freight Flex and Rapido Solutions Group.

Eric Williams is the creative force behind The Silver Room and a driving presence behind some of Chicago's most beloved cultural events. In this episode, we talk about how he got his start, what keeps him going, and why community is always at the heart of everything he builds. Whether it's a storefront, a block party, or a winery, Eric's work brings people together in meaningful ways. His impact on the city is huge—and personal for me too.   Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

In this conversation, Sophie, co-founder and CEO of Morescope, shares her journey into the climate action space, discussing her background, the importance of technology in decarbonization, and the challenges posed by EU regulations. The discussion highlights the intersection of individual actions and corporate responsibility, emphasizing the need for a shift in mindset towards sustainability. Sophie also addresses the opportunities and challenges in the sustainability landscape, advocating for a future where sustainable business practices are integral to success.

Tucker Carlson has remained a prominent force in conservative media, and recent developments highlight both his evolving business ventures and ongoing influence in political circles. This past week, the most significant news is Fox Corporation's acquisition of Red Seat Ventures, a digital media company that manages business infrastructure for several high-profile independent media figures, including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Bill O'Reilly. This deal positions Red Seat as a standalone unit under Tubi Media Group, Fox's digital streaming arm, with the aim of boosting Tubi's podcasting and digital content capabilities. The move signals Fox's shift from exclusive talent contracts toward a more flexible approach, allowing media personalities like Carlson to maintain independent brands while benefiting from Fox's distribution power and ad sales machine. Paul Cheesbrough, CEO of Tubi Media Group and now chairman of Red Seat, emphasized that Fox is adapting to the creator economy, targeting younger audiences who consume content across multiple platforms and formats, such as video podcasts blending traditional talk with streaming TV experiences.Regarding Tucker Carlson's own projects, his media company continues to be a focal point of commentary and investment within the conservative ecosystem. Notably, the venture capital firm 1789 Capital, known for backing companies associated with conservative, anti-ESG values, has renewed its commitment to Carlson's media enterprise, Last Country Inc. The network is marketed as a direct-to-consumer outlet that reaches beyond standard cable news, leveraging subscription models and online distribution to build new revenue streams and audience reach.Recent public appearances and statements from Carlson himself have largely circulated through his online platforms and podcast circuits rather than mainstream television. Discussions in media circles, such as those on The Media Project and various industry analyses, have focused on Carlson's ability to operate outside legacy news channels while maintaining substantial political and cultural influence. This includes sparking debate among journalists and commentators about the responsibilities and reach of independent broadcasters in an era of rapidly fragmenting news audiences.Carlson's recent online commentary has continued to stoke political debate, especially on topics like the 2024 and 2028 U.S. elections, foreign policy, and the direction of conservative activism. His critiques of mainstream media narratives and political figures regularly elicit sharp responses from both supporters and detractors. For example, discussions about his ongoing rivalry with political personalities, such as Donald Trump, have been featured in programs and media analysis, with speculation about how Carlson's audience engagement and critiques might shape upcoming election cycles.There have been no reported legal challenges or unresolved controversies involving Carlson in the latest news, with coverage instead emphasizing his entrepreneurial activities and strategic positioning in the evolving digital media landscape.Thanks for listening to the Tucker Carlson news Tracker podcast, and don't forget to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, our Operations and Finance Correspondent Hannah Dittman speaks with Greer Tessler and Luke Goldstein, Managing Partners at Simple Food Ventures. They explore the firm's strategic approach to early-stage CPG investing, with a focus on “better-for-you” grocery staples and their unique partnership with Albertsons to help brands scale through retail distribution.Greer and Luke share valuable insights into what they look for in founders, the importance of operational expertise, and the business fundamentals that set companies apart. They also provide guidance on navigating valuations, the fundraising process, and building transparent, effective relationships with investors.For founders preparing to raise capital or operators seeking a deeper understanding of the investment landscape, this episode offers practical advice and clear takeaways.Listen now to gain expert insights on positioning your brand for growth and investment readiness.Listen in as they share about:Simple Food Ventures OverviewInvestment Criteria & StrategyFundraising Process & DiligenceValuation and Dilution GuidancePitching GuidanceFounder Fit & DynamicsCapital Raising StagesAdvice for Founders on Investor SelectionHow to Contact Simple Food VenturesEpisode Links:Website:  https://simplefoodventures.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greer-tessler-50256640/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-goldstein-a90093159/ Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.Show Links:Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Hannah's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Alexander Klyanitskiy and Valentina Zakirova, the founding partners of AdHoc Ventures, a brand-new fund laser-focused on what they call Human Interaction Tech.They explore why online communication, remote work, and AI are disrupting how we relate at work and in life, and why that opens a massive opportunity for a new kind of VC firm. With a track record of backing unicorns like Flo, Revolut, and Patreon, and institutional knowledge from Bain and SDV, the duo is now raising their first fund to scale this vision.We dive into how they define their category, the growing $150B+ market opportunity, their standout portfolio performance, and how their unfair advantages—from GTM playbooks to Tier 1 VC intros—create gravity with both founders and LPs.

For today's essential Heretics 101 feature, Kelli and Nolan do a deep dive into executive recruiting mastery with VC Andy Price, covering why exec hires fail, back-channeling strategies, post-hire support, and building scalable leadership teams.*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.coFor coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.Support HR Heretics Sponsors:Planful empowers teams just like yours to unlock the secrets of successful workforce planning. Use data-driven insights to develop accurate forecasts, close hiring gaps, and adjust talent acquisition plans collaboratively based on costs today and into the future. ✍️ Go to https://planful.com/heretics to see how you can transform your HR strategy.Metaview is the AI platform built for recruiting. Our suite of AI agents work across your hiring process to save time, boost decision quality, and elevate the candidate experience.Learn why team builders at 3,000+ cutting-edge companies like Brex, Deel, and Quora can't live without Metaview.It only takes minutes to get up and running. Check it out!KEEP UP WITH ANDY, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINAndy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyprice1/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(01:02) Why Executive Hit Rates Are So Low(04:01) The Artisanal Process: "Soaking" with Companies(05:21) Back-Channeling Strategy(07:11) Recruiters Are Overpaid: The Real Work Happens After Hire(08:24) When Not to Hire - Too Early Stage Warning Signs(09:01) Sponsors: Planful & MetaView (12:46) How to Vet Search Firms(14:00) Experience vs. Trajectory(16:17) Scaling Up and Comers(17:30) Executive Career Management(20:25) Executive Tenure: Why the "One Year BS" Doesn't Work(22:36) The Authenticity Generation(23:52) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

Most real estate developers think they need institutional investors or private equity to scale their projects.Ryan Andrews proved you can raise millions locally while building stronger community connections.Here's what makes this approach powerful:His $8 million fund is 80% local investors who show up to city council meetings advocating for his projects.These aren't just silent money partners.They're community champions.When your investors live in the community, they care about getting it right."We've had investors showing up at city council meetings, advocating for the projects, and giving public testimony. And like, it gives you a really different kind of investor." - Ryan AndrewsWe'll dive deep into this (and so much more) in this episode of the DealQuest Podcast:• Systematic approaches to local capital raising • Building investor relationships in small communities • Scaling through developer partnerships nationwide • Creating attainable housing that communities actually want Perfect for: Real estate developers, entrepreneurs seeking community-driven growth strategies, and business leaders looking for alternatives to institutional capital. • • •FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE:https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/ryanandrew• • • FOR MORE ON RYAN ANDREWRyan Andrew's LinkedIn Hiatus Homes Email: ryan@hiatushomes.com FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFERhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today!

Send us a textWhat does it take to co-found 6 global leaders and scale dozens of ventures across 80+ countries?Discover how Kevin McGovern, Chairman of McGovern Capital, helped co-found 6 global category leaders and scale ventures to over $1 billion in revenue. In this fireside chat at the Family Office Club, Kevin shares real insights on building billion-dollar companies, sourcing high-quality deals, leveraging global joint ventures, and investing with purpose.With over 25 companies co-founded and business done in 80+ countries, Kevin offers rare lessons on capital raising, licensing, family office dealmaking, and creating impact-driven legacies.

W Health Ventures launched a $70 million fund to invest in early-stage healthcare and healthtech startups in India and the United States, focusing on oncology, psychiatry, geriatric care, longevity, and preventive health. The firm plans to support eight to ten startups over four years, offering hands-on operational support and expanding its team with senior operating partners. Initial investments include Everhope Oncology, co-incubated with Narayana Health, and a psychiatry-focused startup structured as a US-India managed services platform. W Health Ventures previously deployed $43 million across 12 companies, serving over 25 million patients globally.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're all tempted, at times, to allow our ego to get the better of us. Many of us feel like we're on top of the world until the precise time we find ourselves on the bottom of it. My guest today, Aaron Hale, found himself in just that scenario as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal tech on a routine assignment when he was blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that caused him to lose sight and, later, his hearing. Today, we talk about the fear of being stuck, gratitude for our struggles and adversities, overcoming our greatest fears, how positivity and negativity are infectious, and how you can re-size your ego or have it re-sized for you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:15 - Aaron's Military Background and Injury 01:10 - Details of the IED Incident 02:04 - Injuries Sustained from the Explosion 04:36 - Medical Evacuation and Tom Cruise Encounter 06:34 - Recovery at Walter Reed 08:31 - Realization of Permanent Blindness 09:20 - Mental State Post-Injury 11:12 - Family Support During Recovery 13:11 - Connecting with Fellow Injured Veterans 17:01 - Overcoming Suicidal Thoughts 19:46 - Adapting to Sensory Loss 21:30 - Battle with Bacterial Meningitis 25:17 - Inspiration from Eric Weihenmayer 26:58 - Transition to Running and Physical Challenges 30:49 - Learning to Run Blind 34:47 - Running Badwater 135 Ultra Marathon 40:34 - Experiencing Runs Without Sight 42:45 - Building Trust with Guides 44:45 - Loss of Balance and Adaptation 51:22 - Mastering the Art of Falling 52:13 - Future Goals and Ventures 54:02 - Launching Point of Impact Podcast 56:13 - Gratitude for Life's Challenges 58:19 - Closing Thoughts and Appreciation   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

In episode #159 of

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Elizabeth Weil, founder and managing partner of Scribble Ventures, just closed an $80 million Fund III focused on AI-native startups.She spent seven years at Twitter during hypergrowth from 60 to 2,500 employees, then built the Market Development team at Andreessen Horowitz.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comKey Topics discussed:The Scribble Network- 100+ operators and executives providing deal flow and portfolio support- Strategic angels helping companies scale- "Unfair advantages" through warm connectionsAI Investment Philosophy- Backing "AI-native" founders who "grew up" with the technology- Focus on proprietary data and unique workflows- Moat matters more than ever in a noisy landscapeBold Predictions- Every person will have a personalized tutor in their pocket- Digital immortality: preserving knowledge beyond physical existence- AI transforming healthcare, education, and daily behaviorsFounder Evaluation- Key question: "Why are you the team on this planet that is going to be able to build this company?"- Looking for "guttural desire" vs. whiteboard solutions- Warm introductions as primary signalFund Details- $80M Fund III for pre-seed and seed- $750K - $1.5M initial checks- Can lead, co-lead, or follow rounds- Intentionally generalist despite AI focusContact:- Website: scribble.vc- Email: hello@scribble.vc- X: @elizabethTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:39) Elizabeth's journey from Stanford to Twitter(03:08) Early career and how she got into tech and startups(08:57) The Scribble Network and how it helps portfolio companies(12:21) Definition of AI-native companies and key characteristics of founding teams(14:17) Assessing the defensibility of a startup's data strategy(15:39) Learnings from operating at Twitter and Andreessen Horowitz(18:08) Key factors for investing at pre-seed and seed stages(20:13) Fundraising experience for Fund Three and navigating the LP landscape(23:03) Approach to valuations in the AI startup ecosystem(24:28) Exciting AI sub-sectors and areas with potential(30:15) Evaluating startups in a rapidly evolving AI landscape(31:51) Advice for early-stage founders on building their venture(34:08) Rapid fire round of questions about Scribble Ventures' investment strategyFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

Learn these 5 insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness leadership. Join 20,000 who get my newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Rafiq Ahmet of Dipalo Ventures – 361Firm's Newport Conference - July 2025SUMMARY KEYWORDS Dipalo Ventures, early stage investor, hard tech, seed and a, AI panels, manufacturing, predictive analysis, innovation, job challenges, emerging market, Midwest, portfolio companies, data inference, 361Firm, Newport Conference.SPEAKERS Rafiq AhmedI'm Rafiq Ahmed with Dipalo Ventures out of Chicago. We're an early stage hard tech investor in seed and a and this was an amazing place for the 361 gathering in Newport. Loved it and takeaways today. So a month ago, maybe a month and a half ago, I couldn't spell AI. Now I'm on all of Mark's AI panels speaking about manufacturing, the good and bad and the stuff that nobody wants to talk about. So yeah, that's us at Dipalo. And love this platform. I think that the depth of people is always interesting, because we have genuine allocators. We have people doing important projects, whether they're direct investments or funds. So just the tapestry, I think, always stands out. So this is my second one. I really think it's a great group. Well, AI impacts my portfolio because it is everywhere. It's really about data. It's about inference, it's about predictability. We have lots of portfolio companies. We don't start with AI, we start with hard tech. But where the use cases make sense, as well as in manufacturing, in the US, there's going to be so much that will start to move to more predictive analysis, etc. I think from a job standpoint, this could be a challenge. So as many you know, as many challenges there are. There's also a lot of innovation and speed because of it. Yeah, if you if you're interested in hard tech investing, if you like manufacturing, you like the arbitrage at the center of the country that really is the emerging market, then give me a call - rafiq@dipaloventures.com - or find us on all the socials You can subscribe to various 361 events and content at https://361firm.com/subs. For reference: Web: www.361firm.com/homeOnboard as Investor: https://361.pub/shortdiagOnboard Deals 361: www.361firm.com/onbOnboard as Banker: www.361firm.com/bankersEvents: www.361firm.com/eventsContent: www.youtube.com/361firmWeekly Digests: www.361firm.com/digest

Ready to discover how venture capital can drive real impact for emerging markets—and what true leadership looks like in the investment world? In this episode of Female VC Lab, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Eva Yazhari, Managing Partner at Beyond Capital Ventures, for an unfiltered conversation on building a mission-driven VC fund, why conscious leadership matters, and how investing in Africa and India’s rising middle classes creates incredible opportunities for transformation. Tune in to hear Eva share how she moved from finance into venture capital, her relational approach to due diligence, why formalizing informal markets like smallholder farming is a game-changing thesis, and how she’s fostering community and alignment by giving GP carry to all team members—and even founders. Whether you’re an aspiring investor, a founder in emerging markets, or simply passionate about sustainable growth, you’ll walk away inspired and equipped with fresh insights into where VC is headed next. Guest Information Guest Name: Eva Yazhari Bio: Eva Yazhari is the Managing Partner of Beyond Capital Ventures, a purpose-driven venture capital firm investing in seed to Series A rounds across Africa and India. With roots in institutional finance, Eva brings a wealth of experience in fund management, deep due diligence, and impact investing, focusing on technologies and services that uplift the “need to haves” through conscious leadership and stakeholder alignment. Links: Beyond Capital Ventures LinkedIn – Eva Yazhari Instagram – @consciousinvestor The Good Your Money Can Do (Book) Episode Outline How Eva Yazhari Entered VC & Built Beyond Capital Ventures Hear Eva’s unconventional journey from math major to fund-of-funds to founding her own emerging markets VC, and the unique skill set she carried into her new role. Resource: Beyond Capital Ventures Team Formalizing Informal Markets in Emerging Economies Explore “formalizing the informal,” and learn how Beyond Capital Ventures invests in businesses that empower smallholder farmers and aggregate resources for scalable, sustainable impact, featuring a spotlight on agritech company Cinch. Resource: Portfolio Companies Conscious Leadership & Redefining VC Alignment Gain insight into Eva’s approach to authentic, stakeholder-centered leadership, including her innovative decision to share GP carry with both her team and portfolio founders—creating alignment and community while driving results. Resource: The Good Your Money Can Do Related Episodes & Additional Resources Book Recommendation: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle – Eva’s pick for building strong, collaborative cultures Host & Show Info Host Name: Barbara Bickham About the Host: Barbara Bickham is the founder and Managing Partner of Trailyn Ventures, technology executive, and passionate advocate for diversity and innovation in venture capital. Podcast Website: femalevclab.com Community & Calls to Action Primary CTA: Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. https://taplink.cc/femalevclab Follow us on social media: X (formerly Twitter): @FemaleVCLab Instagram: @femalevclab Comment on LinkedIn, send us a message at femalevclab@trailyn.com, or share your key takeaways using #FemaleVCLab. Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.

Have you ever wondered what happens after you sell your startup? In this episode, Jay Reno joins Russ and Joey to share his journey from building and selling his first company to exploring the world of startups and travel tech, and the lessons he learned along the way. He discusses his current venture, which helps people maximize their credit card points for free flights, providing travelers with incredible opportunities to fly for less.If you're looking to maximize your travel points, check out Pointhound today and start booking your dream vacation at a fraction of the cost!Top three things you will learn: -The unexpected reality of exiting a company-The importance of passion and trying new things when building a business-How leveraging credit card points can provide incredible travel opportunitiesAbout Our Guest:Jay Reno is the co-founder and CEO of Pointhound, which helps people find and book flights to fantastic destinations using credit card points and miles. He also leads Seed and Series A investments at 645 Ventures, where he serves as a Venture Partner. Investment areas include consumer, fintech, climate tech, and AI.Jay previously founded Feather, raised $76m, built a world-class team of 150 people, and sold the company in 2022.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not constitute financial advice. Always consult a licensed professional for financial decisions.This episode is sponsored by a podcast show partner. We may receive compensation if you use links or services mentioned in this episode.The hosts may have a financial interest in the programs or services mentioned in this episode.Connect with Jay Reno:-Website - https://www.pointhound.com/Book Your Free Passive Income Game Plan Session:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/freecallThe Lifestyle Investor Podcast:-https://lifestyleinvestor.com/podcast/Want to raise millionaire kids? Watch how Sharran Srivatsaa — former Goldman Sachs banker turned entrepreneur and investor — is building a generational wealth system with his kids, step-by-step. -https://go.wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/millionaire-kidsTurn Active Income Into Passive Income:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/piosWealth Without Wall Street New Book:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/newbookJoin Our Next Inner Circle Live Event:-https://www.wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/live-Promo Code: PODCASTIBC Webinar:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/ibcApply to Join the Passive Income Mastermind:-

In today's episode on 24th July 2025, we take a look at the Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO, which opens today and closes subscription on July 28th, 2025 (Monday).

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of *10X Growth Strategies*, interviewing Sonia Hunt, Co-Founder & CEO at Zentāra Ventures | #1 Best-Selling Author | Global Wellness Speaker  Sonia Hunt, author of the transformative book "Nut Job" and a globally recognized speaker who's helping leaders worldwide unlock peak performance through health and wellness strategies. In this episode of the 10 X Growth Strategies podcast, host Shahara interviews Sonya Hunt, an author and globally recognized speaker, who shares her transformative journey from a childhood fraught with severe food allergies to becoming a wellness authority. Sonya discusses her early diagnosis, the challenges she faced, and the holistic, integrative healthcare approach that led to her eventual remission. She details the development of her 3-2-B method (Be Safe, Be Healthy, Be Well), and talks about the significant role of gut health in her recovery. This conversation highlights the importance of a comprehensive wellness strategy that encompasses physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, aiming to inspire others facing similar challenges. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:38 Sonya's Early Life and Health Challenges 04:18 The Turning Point: 2008 Anaphylaxis Incident 07:30 Developing the 3-2-B Method 10:13 Holistic Health and Healing Journey 18:52 Achieving Remission and Medical Miracles 27:04 Thriving Beyond Allergies 31:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Is your career site delivering the conversion you need? Dalia's plug-and-play tech turns any employer career site into a high-performance candidate conversion engine — no replatforming required, live in days.Visit dalia.co to learn more. AND by jobcase, Jobcase is an online community where workers of all kinds – like hourly employees, tradespeople and healthcare technicians – access jobs, make connections, and support each other in any aspect of their work life.Visit jobcase.com/hire and tap into their 120 million strong  job seeker network First up…1848 Ventures, an AI-first venture studio building SaaS solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the US, today announced it has led a $3 million seed funding round for Propel People, a mobile-first hiring platform built to help contractors hire skilled tradespeople faster. Propel People has also appointed industry veteran Dexter Bachelder as CEO, bringing deep expertise in construction tech and go-to-market execution to the growing company. https://hrtechfeed.com/1848-ventures-leads-3m-seed-round-for-propel-people/ WALNUT CREEK, Calif.—-BetterComp, a leading provider of compensation management software, today announced its $33M Series A funding round, led by Ten Coves Capital. The investment will fuel BetterComp's continued growth and innovation, enhance its AI-powered market pricing and pay recommendation capabilities, expand into new product adjacencies, and scale operations to better serve a rapidly growing global customer base. https://hrtechfeed.com/compensation-management-software-lands-33m-in-funding/ RICHMOND, Va — goHappy, the leading provider of innovative frontline employee engagement tools, today announced it has received a significant growth investment from Pamlico Capital, a private equity firm focused on high-growth technology and services businesses. The investment amount which was not mentioned… will support goHappy's next phase of growth as it continues to pursue its vision of helping employers drive stronger business outcomes through better engagement of their frontline teams. https://hrtechfeed.com/employee-engagement-tool-announces-investment/ Ashby, a rapidly growing company, has announced a successful $50 million Series D funding round. The investment was led by Mark McLaughlin at Alkeon, with co-lead support from existing investor Lachy Groom, and participation from F-Prime, Elad Gil, Gaingels, and other new and returning backers. https://hrtechfeed.com/ashby-raises-50-million-series-d/ SAN FRANCISCO—-CandorIQ, the AI-powered platform transforming how organizations plan and manage people spend, today announced a $4.8 million seed funding round led by Array Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator, CRV, and Switch Ventures. The funding will be used to grow CandorIQ's engineering and go-to-market teams, accelerate product development, and expand the platform's AI capabilities across compensation and workforce planning workflows. https://hrtechfeed.com/workforce-planning-tool-lands-4-8m/ The highly anticipated Monster/CareerBuilder auction has concluded, and the winning bidder is not JobGet, as some might have expected. Instead, BOLD Holdings emerged victorious with a staggering final bid of $28.4 million! Jobget emerged as the backup with a bid of $27 million. https://hrtechfeed.com/bold-holdings-snags-monster-careerbuilder-auction-for-28-4-million/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This summer, join host David Mandell as he revisits and highlights episodes from Season 3 of The Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician podcast, in our 2025 Summer Rewind Series. "I genuinely believe there is a lot of information to gain from all of our episodes deliver, but for the summer, I've handpicked a few that offer intriguing ideas and a unique perspective for physicians in 2025," says David. "I hope you enjoy this Season encore series. Have a great summer!" Episode 3.5 | Originally Released: November 3, 2022 In this episode, orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Scott Sigman joins David to discuss his career path, business and entrepreneurial endeavours, marketing, podcasts, and more. Scott begins with his background – where he grew up, what got him interested in medicine and orthopaedics.  He explains how both of his parents were entrepreneurs and how he realized early on the need for leveraging the expertise of others.  David and Scott then discuss the important factors Scott considered when choosing his first job out of training and Scott's view on the importance of branding and marketing, especially for younger physicians looking to build their practices.   Scott then relates the value he sees in finding great advisors and the importance of changing to new people if needed.   David and Scott then delve into Scott's various entrepreneurial activities, from lasers in orthopaedic surgery, an orthopaedic mutual fund, the Ortho Show podcast, his #followthefro social media hashtag and more. Finally, Scott gives David two important pieces of business advice for fellow physicians, especially younger doctors. You can find show notes and more information by visiting www.physicianswealthpodcast.com. 

In this episode of "Building Texas Business," I sit down with Molly Voorhees, the president of Beck's Prime, Winfield's Chocolate Bar, and Agnes Cafe. Molly shares her journey from Silicon Valley back to her roots in Houston's culinary scene. She talks about how her passion for food and community has shaped her approach to running family-run businesses and the importance of customer service. We explore the challenges of maintaining a successful family business, emphasizing the importance of respecting individual expertise and fostering a collaborative environment. Molly discusses how she integrates technology into operations, which can be challenging for mid-sized companies. Her experiences provide insight into the practical hurdles of implementing new systems while maintaining efficiency. Molly also reflects on the entrepreneurial spirit in Texas, particularly in Houston, where local businesses benefit from a supportive community. She shares how this environment has been beneficial, despite the uncertainties and challenges in the business world. Her approach to leadership involves patience and listening to her team, allowing them to voice their opinions and ideas. The conversation also touches on the importance of authenticity and resilience in business. Molly shares how facing challenges early on, like financial struggles and an empty restaurant, taught her valuable lessons. She emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness in corporate culture and maintaining open dialogue about success and failure. As Molly looks forward to upcoming projects, she invites listeners to experience the culinary adventures that celebrate innovation and community. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS   Molly shares her journey from Silicon Valley back to Houston, taking on leadership roles in Beck's Prime, Winfield's Chocolate Bar, and Agnes Cafe, emphasizing her passion for food and community. The episode explores her innovative approach to maintaining high standards in Beck's Prime while expanding into the chocolate business, highlighting the importance of customer service and community connection. Listeners gain insights into managing a family-run business, where respecting individual expertise and fostering collaboration are essential for effective decision-making and business success. We discuss the integration of technology in operations, acknowledging the challenges faced by mid-sized companies and the potential for improved efficiency through technological advancements. The supportive entrepreneurial spirit in Houston is highlighted, showcasing how local businesses benefit from a community eager to see them succeed, even amidst ongoing challenges and uncertainties. Her reflections on entrepreneurship emphasize authenticity, resilience, and mental health awareness in corporate culture, encouraging open dialogue about success and failure. Excitement for upcoming projects is shared, inviting listeners to join in a culinary adventure that celebrates innovation and community in Houston's vibrant food scene. LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller About Beck's Prime GUESTS Molly VoorheesAbout Molly TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode you will meet Molly Voorhees, president of Beck's Prime, winfield's Chocolate Bar and Agnes Cafe. Molly shares her passion for bringing people together over quality food and service and how, in difficult times, she looks for the next right thing to do to keep the company moving forward. Molly, I want to thank you for coming on Building Texas Business. Thanks for coming in today. Molly: Thank you for having me Excited to be here. Chris: So we have a lot to talk about with you because you cover a lot of areas. So let's start Just tell everyone kind of what it is you do, the companies that you're involved in and what they're known for. Molly: So we started Beck's Prime back in 1985. I was just 10 years old so I did not start it, but my dad, a lawyer, winn Campbell, and an operating partner, a guy named Mike Knapp, started it together. And really my dad, winn, loves food and grew up in the burger business in Dallas. Chris: Ok, what was the burger place in Dallas? Molly: It was golf. Chris: I've had lots of golf, yeah, so he was 14. Molly: He tells some fantastic stories about, you know, his first day on the job, cutting onions and being a human trash compactor and sort of all the love, and ended up getting a law degree. But always loved the food industry, always wanted to be in it and came up with the concept of Vex Prime in 1985. I convinced a lot of people to gamble with him and invest and that was the very first Vex Prime on Kirby. Chris: OK. Molly: I was 10, just kid watching, watching it all happen, while I, you know, played sports and did all the things you do and went to college, ended up in um tech out in silicon valley for a long time during the the boom and bust period okay and which was fun went to business school and then wanted to to come back and be in the restaurant industry and grow it. Food is fun. It's very personal. I had sold being in tech. You're not selling something that brings necessarily as much moment-to-moment joy as feeding people Okay, necessarily as much moment to moment joy as feeding people. And I really felt like with Beck's Prime we had something great and then it was time to grow it and so I've moved back here in 2006, back to Houston, and we started growing and building more Beck's Prime and then we took over the management five years ago, chocolate bar and rebranded that Winfield's chocolate bar and built a factory and new stores and now we're selling wholesale and corporate gifting. And then we have a little side concept that I did with a friend called Agnes. Chris: Okay. Molly: Agnes Cafe and Provisions. Chris: Oh, we're off the internet, right. And that was my crazy covid baby I was. Molly: I thought everyone wanted to get back to work and we needed to create jobs and he's desperate for community and the restaurant industry to come back. And there was a restaurant that had closed there and decided to open up a neighborhood cafe with a friend who was crazy enough to say yes when I brought her the idea and we opened Agnes four years ago in June and it is a local neighborhood favorite. Chris: That's great. That's great. So original inspiration, I guess obviously is your dad, and being exposed to the business Great. So original inspiration I guess obviously is your dad and being exposed to the business. What was it that got you to kind of branch into chocolate, because that's much different than kind of a full service meal concept. Well, in theory it was going to be easier. Molly: Famous last words. Famous last words. You know, I love how food brings people together and what we do at Beck's Prime is really hard, which is, you know, you walk up to the window or you drive through our drive-thru and I mean we are cut, grinding and patting all the burgers every day. Nothing's frozen. I mean we're cutting those French fries it is busy back there and we're going to get you a made from scratch meal in eight to ten minutes. And that's hard. So I thought, okay, let's be in the food business, but let's scoop ice cream and cut cakes and sell chocolate. Um, well, when we took the business, they weren't doing the highest quality version of that. So I was like, okay, well, I'm going to apply the Beck's Prime model to it and I'm going to make it all really high quality and we're going to make all of our own cakes and ice cream. And so now I've made it as hard or harder than go back to your roots. I mean, nothing is easy. Chris: Right Molly: But yeah, I think they're similar in the sense of how you manage a restaurant, all of the different services, and how you buy food and how you work on cleanliness and operations. So there's a lot of similarities. Chris: And, I would think, critically important to people you hire to be customer-facing. Right, to make that experience, the food's got to be great, but if the people aren't great as well, right, you have to get both right. Molly: Yeah, and there's actually some evidence that the people matter more than the food. So you'll be surprised the number of text messages I get and there's some science behind this too, not just anecdotal. But oh my gosh, that guy over at Memorial Park. Or the cute drive-thru cashier over there at Kirby who always gets my sandwich right and says, hello, I love her so much, she loves my dog. There's nothing about what they ate or if they enjoyed their meal or it tasted good. It's the people. So you know, I think that part we've done well, which is why we're still in business. Chris: So let's kind of go down that route a little bit. What is it that you have done? I guess it that you have done, I guess first at Beck's and now at Winfield chocolate to focus on getting the hiring right, the processes you put in place, what did mistakes you made that you learned from, kind of. To me that is the key to the kingdom and I think our listeners could learn a lot from what you've done to put such a good system in place to get the right people. Molly: So it's interesting. I think the basics matter right how we treat people every day. I think we've always done that really well inside of our team how we hire. So when we hire managers, we will never hire a general manager for a store. We will only hire an assistant manager and then they can move up to a general manager. But when we hire, we actually take a team member through a number of different steps. You know. Obviously they interview with our management team, they interview with other managers, they interview with the other managers, then they'll do a shadows shift where they'll come and work a shift with the team. So we're really trying to make sure we get people who see themselves working in our environment. Chris:Right. Molly: Right. If you don't, if you want to be a white tablecloth restaurant manager or employee, we're not the right place. So sometimes people will come and they'll spend a shadow shift with us and they don't want to be in the environment. And then we'll also ask them. We'll give them dinner passes and we'll say bring a loved one to lunch or dinner with you here. And we'll say bring a loved one to lunch or dinner with you here. And that test is does somebody who's close to you see you working here? Chris: Oh yeah. Molly: You know, and so we try to help employees find a couple touch points so that they know whether or not, culturally, we're a good fit for them. But from my perspective it's really interesting. I think we have incredibly loyal long-term team members who've been with us forever. If you ever go in one of our stores, you'll see these posters that celebrate, you know, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 years of with us. People are like, oh my gosh, those people have been with you for so long and I'm like, well, those are just the people on the poster that year. Right, and really I think it comes down to basic manners, boundaries, respect, helping each other. But just treating people as you would want to be treated goes a really long way. Chris: Yeah, like I said, that's the basics right, and to have that longevity in your industry is remarkable. Molly: Transparency, kind but also clear. Hey, this is how this needs to happen, Not having policies. We're not a big policy company. Chris: I love that because. I feel, the same way. I think. As soon as you create a policy, then all you're dealing with is all the reasons there should be an exception to the policy. Exactly so just treat people humanly, and humanely and reasonably. Molly: Yeah, and if we need to figure it out we will. But you know, if we had a policy that you know you can't take care of a customer if it's going to cost us more than $15. Let's say we had some limit, or something. And that would just be such a buffer. And it turns out the manager who's trying to take care of the customers all of a sudden handcuffed Right Right, and they just want the ability to do the right thing. Chris: Right. Molly: They're in the service business. People don't go into the service business unless you enjoy serving people. Chris: Well, and if you know, I think if you're watching your business, if someone's abusing a system, you'll see it and that's not a policy issue or lack of policy issue, that's a character issue, right, that surfaces, that you maybe didn't catch in the hiring process. I also like what you said because I think I'm hearing more of this in the corporate world the experimental part of the interview process where you you put someone in a skills assessment situation. So you said the shadow session or whatever. I know we're trying to do that and assessing skill. You know it's one thing to ask questions and be you know in a conversation, but people's skill sets matter in these jobs, right, that's how they're going to sink or swim. So I think that you've incorporated that is something that I see more and more people trying to do. Yeah, and I love to bring the loved one in. Molly: We try to do the same as well. Chris: It's like do something social with your spouse or significant other, because you're going to be away from them with us a lot. Molly: you're going to be away from them with us a lot they're going to spend more time with us than they are, you know, with you so? Do you see them and you know? Chris: okay with us, yeah do you like? Molly: do you like us? Yeah? Chris: so let's let's back up a little bit, because you mentioned, obviously, dad and a partner started VEX Prime. At some point you come in and kind of take over. What was that kind of transition? Molly: like it's still in transition. Chris: Okay so. Molly: I would say we certainly do not have a policy of nepotism in our business, policy of nepotism in our business, but to say that we don't have a lot of dads and daughters and family members and cousins and aunts and uncles all working together, we would have a long laugh. So my dad is still involved in the business. He's still a full-time lawyer. He's still a full-time lawyer and he is, you know, he helps us with all sorts of higher level finance, legal type ideas. I mean he's all over the map there, Our chief operating officer, Mike Knapp, the original partner. He's still working and he manages all of our managers and operating team. His daughter is our HR director and we have a marketing director who's been with us for almost 20 years and her husband is a project manager for us. So, and then on our you know extended family, I mean we really we have have tons and tons of family members working together and we actually view it as a real asset because we're all so passionate and deeply engaged in the business, because we're looking for it to be as best as it can be, but we are also, I would say, have investors from our community and our friends and family. We've raised a lot of money and so we are very careful because we're trying to make money for all of our investors. We have a fiduciary duty to that. So, I think in many ways, part of our culture is we are a family business, but we're not run like a family business at all Right. So how was it? I guess? Chris: you coming back in and you know I guess dad and his partner letting go of some things, and I mean you know, I know from experience. You know we have clients that go through this and I've had some guests on the podcast. You know everyone experienced a little different. What can you share about maybe some of the things that, looking back, probably could have done better or things that actually went well? ADVERT Hello friends, this is Chris Hanslick, your Building Texas business host. Did you know that Boyer Miller, the producer of this podcast, is a business law firm that works with entrepreneurs, corporations and business leaders? Our team of attorneys serve as strategic partners to businesses by providing legal guidance to organizations of all sizes. Get to know the firm at boyMillercom, and thanks for listening to the show. Molly: Yeah, I mean, I think one of the things I mean it's always hard and I think that there's an ebb and flow to it. And you know, one of the things I think we did really well and we still do really well is we stay in our lane and I think we're really good at the active debate and listening and having hard conversations but listening to each other's points and coming together to make a decision that is methodical and thoughtful, versus well, you know, it's going to be my way, or the highway, like we very rarely would let someone just take something and run with the decision. We're very consensus oriented but we also stay in our lane. So, if you know, I've probably my strongest background is in marketing. If I feel really passionate about something related to marketing and and I've got my reasons and I'm, you know, persuasively getting everyone on board everyone's gonna be like, okay, cool, cool, yeah, you got it, got it, you know. Or my dad's like the contract needs to read this way. You know, with the Cisco vendor, we're like, okay, cool, great, you got it. So I think one thing we've done well is we. We have a lot of people with very specific expertise and we're able to learn from each other, but not stomp on each other. And so, like Mike Knapp, who's our chief operating officer, and we have got some other great operators on our team they know how to run a restaurant. Well, if I go in there and tell them how to do it, like I'm way overstepping them my lane. Chris: Right. Molly: Right. But if I go in there and I'm like, hey, I noticed like this seemed inefficient, what's going on there? They'll either be like oh gosh, we got to go fix that, Thank you. Or well, this is why we're doing it this way and I can learn from that. Chris: I think there's a lot of humility in that for the whole team Right. Molly: Yeah, you know, or feedback, that happens. Chris: Yeah, you know, no egos. Molly: Yeah, I mean we all have egos. But yeah, I mean I can say to my dad, if we cross that out, we're never going to make this deal, Like, stop being a lawyer. Chris:Right. Molly: I mean you know how it goes. It's like there's always the lines there, but I think we do a good job of being honest, transparent, giving feedback and then, when we cross the line which family members can do, we do a good job of like coming back together. Chris: Good, so there's grace too, right. Molly: Forgiveness grace. That wasn't my best moment, I'm sorry. Chris: Yeah, okay, wasn't my best moment, I'm sorry, yeah, okay. So let's talk a little bit about you know you're, you've grown this business and you've added to it. What are you think about like technology or innovation? Are there things in that realm that you've implemented to kind of help either with the growth or, once the growth has happened, help kind of manage and make it more efficient? Molly: So I came from tech right in Silicon Valley, so it's like, okay, let's get some platforms on this business right. 2000 was the year, and so I've now been through a lot of point-of-sale changes and QuickBooks to Great Plains Accounting, all these Clover, uber, online ordering, and we have tended to actually be pretty early adopters. We probably had online ordering off your phone earlier than most companies in Houston, and it's interesting because they're so great and, in theory, they're going to make your life so much easier and everything is going to be faster and more efficient. I don't always feel that it has worked out that way. Oh okay, feel that it has worked out that way. Okay, you know, I think the layers, the layers can add just more work or buffer or time, even in how long it maybe takes to place an order. And I think we went through. If we go back a decade, I think that was the painful era of technology in the restaurant space, I think. Where we are now with some of the point of sale systems and how they're integrating, how can I let me explain this when a decade ago, or even five years ago, you would be in our restaurant and you would see we'd have our point of sale system, we'd have the drive-thru speaker, we'd have an Uber iPad, a DoorDash iPad, a Favor oh wait, favor called in and then paid with a real credit card. So just imagine. All of that is like just messy. Chris: And you'rust trying to keep up. Molly: Right, we're just coming at you and all we want to do is take the order, take your money and send you on the way with your food right. So, like that transaction, for us that 20 years ago was you walked up to the counter, you paid and you left. Now we've got all these things right and and if the DoorDash order comes in on this tablet, I've got to enter it in this system on the cash register, or it won't go to the kitchen and then the kitchen doesn't get a ticket. So it seems like, in theory, we should all love all of this. And for the consumer who's like beep, beep, beep. Chris: On the sofa at home, right. Molly: Great. It's great for them. For us, it's been hard, you know, and and it has taken a lot of time. And now what? What? My point with technology now is that all those systems are finally talking to each other, and so we were taking more orders through a single unit. There's less double entry. Chris: So technology is catching up right Kind of with the innovation, all the innovation of all that. Now technology is catching up, so it's integrated. Molly: And then behind the scenes is like how our accounting and everything flows over whether it's from our vendors that we're buying food from, and finally everything is catching up. But I think we all take for granted how easy that integration is, and when you're a mid-level size company, like we are, you don't have the financial resources to spend money on the consultants that you really need to hire to help you integrate that, and so it just can be hard. Yeah. Chris: Well, that's a great point, I think, with aspiring entrepreneurs, right, that you you've got to face these challenges and sometimes the only way through them is you know it's going to be extra time and hours on you to figure it out because you don't have the capital to just go hire a consultant to come fix it. And that's one of those lessons learned, right? It sounds easy, sounds fun, but when you're in the middle of it it's either you're going to do it or it's not going to happen yeah, and you get. Molly: I mean, there's so many great ideas out there and great technologies and great marketing ideas, but the the thought process around implementation and execution typically isn't thought through by many companies that we're partnering with. Right. You know, oh, you just do this, this and this, which is a trigger for all of us. We always laugh when we're in a meeting. It's like, oh, it's no problem to switch from this point of sale system, this point of sales, and we're like right they're never there. Chris: That's sweet they're never there past the sales delivery. Right, it's just like. Then they're gone. You're off to sell someone else, that employee will quit if if I say we're gonna switch yeah well, let's talk a little more about. I guess you know you're born and raised here. Becks started here Chocolate Bar. Winfields now, what are some of the advantages that you feel like that you've experienced as a result of being a Texas based? Molly: company. I think Texans are unique in that we embrace entrepreneurs. In Houston, I have, in particular, found this to be an incredibly warm and receptive and we believe in you, molly attitude. I'm out there hustling chocolate so hard. I'm out there selling to businesses and people want to see us succeed. It's not like being in a part of the country where I feel sometimes like well, we'll see if she can make that happen, where they kind of mock you, whereas here I feel like people are behind us and that's such a positive that happen. You know where they kind of mock you, whereas here I feel like people are behind us and that's such a positive place to work, whether it's people who you're partnering with or buying from you or, you know, just giving you money to go make it happen. Right, it's hard to make a business happen without the ability to raise money. Chris: Sure. Molly: And there's faith involved in someone giving you their money to go make something happen. I mean, you never know, right, right. Chris: No, it makes sense. I couldn't agree more. I don't think what you described as kind of that spirit of Houston, houstonia, just kind of a very entrepreneurial, very welcoming and supportive community, love to see others succeed. So you know, let's talk about the contrast of that as we sit here today, and you're in the middle of it, and you're in the middle of it. Molly: What are some of the headwinds that you are dealing with or that you kind of see around the corner, that you're trying to prepare for? You know, I think everything feels a tiny bit chaotic right now, and I think it doesn't matter. You know where you are on any sort of belief system as a business person, you're sort of like what's happening right? And I think our hr director always says this. She's like what's the next right thing to do? What's the next right? And I think, with all the challenges and headwinds, and I think, with all the challenges and headwinds which I have to just globally say I can't specifically mention I'm like, oh, I could be like, oh, the tariffs are this or that. Maybe the tariff goes away tomorrow. It's not really a worry, but it could be a worry. It's just the uncertainty. Yeah, and uncertainty can be a significant economic headwind. Uncertainty can be a significant economic headwind because when we go into uncertainty mode, we are stuck. And we just. It's like we're all of a sudden we're standing on the Galveston beaches and our feet are sinking in that squishy sand. That's so warm right now and lovely. Chris: And we literally can't come out of it we don't do anything. Molly: It creates paralysis. We just go into, like, and so I think what's hard as a leader and as a texan and as an entrepreneur, is to not let that stop us from making decisions and moving forward. Yeah, so I go back to my hr director and says okay, what's the next right thing I need to do? Chris: let that stop us from making decisions and moving forward. So I go back to my HR director and says, okay, what's the next right thing I need to do? Yeah Well, I mean, I think it's one good you have a partner, whether it's any officer or not, but someone that you can lean on and have that. What's great about that is it's simple right. It's how you eat the elephant right, one bite at a time. So big picture can be overwhelming, create a lot of uncertainty, could create paralysis. So, okay, let's go back to the basics and what's the next right step, right, and then maybe with one step, it's easier to take the second step which leads to the third step and all of a sudden you've built some momentum. Molly: Yeah, and you can do something with that. Chris: Yeah. Molly: But it is you know, and at the same time as you take the next step, you've got to kind of know where you're driving towards. Chris: Yeah, so let's talk a little bit about leadership styles, and how would you describe your leadership style? How do you think that's evolved over time? Molly: You know I think I'm not very patient and I think that's hard, and I think it's hard to probably work with me, because we all have a tendency of we've got a great idea. We wanted to have happened two weeks ago. Chris: Right. Molly: Right, not just, not just an idea. It's like oh, that's a great idea, why don't? Why aren't we already doing it? Chris: And why is it already? Why isn't it done already? Molly: Like what's the problem? And so I think one of the things I've really had to work on is patience as a leader, and it's far more fun to be part of a team with a patient leader versus a chaotic always and and I don't do this perfectly well, and so either. I would believe you if you said you did, yeah, you wouldn't you know me for half an hour and you can tell this, but I think I love being a leader that people can say no to now. I think I love being a leader that people can say no to now. I think, it's really hard sometimes to be. You can be the type of leader people can't say no to because they're scared of you or they don't want to say no. But when my team has now in a place where we're close enough and capable enough, where they can say molly, that is a great idea, and if we try to do that right now, we will fail yeah like, okay, I can be mature enough to hear that now and I appreciate you saying that. So I think, I think I don't want to stop pushing us, but I've tried to learn as a leader where kind of thinking of an organ? Right now right, which pedals I should be pushing harder on or less hard? Chris: I think you raise a great point, because I think it's like anything. I think if there's too much of one thing, it's not good. It's that statement of everything in moderation, and I think one of the challenges of a leader is to know when to push and when to back off. So you had to when to be a little forceful versus empathetic and, you know, maybe demonstrating some more grace. But every situation is a little different. So a good leader assesses it and go okay, what type of leadership does this moment call for? Yeah, and it's that awareness, almost right, and learning to be a little bit versatile, because I think if you're all one all the time, you're not going to be as successful as you want. To be right, you will be in some moments, but you're going to fail miserably in others. And again, that's much easier said than done in practice, right? Molly: I mean, it's much easier said than I don't know. You know, I'm so critical of my own leadership skills. It's hard to even walk in here right now and be positive. And yet I would say I'm doing so much better than I was, and, in part, I think it's having people around me who have helped coach me to be a better leader. I've hired coaches, or I have people who've helped me through how to handle certain situations. I think tools help. It's interesting Six months ago, about a year ago we implemented this easy calendar tool so we could watch our projects and hold each other a little more accountable, and we got so crazy. We got off of using that tool and the team was like, hey, can we bring that back? Oh yeah, why do we stop doing that? And so I think when you do have tools that help you as a leader lead, they can be really useful. If they become a way for you to stop having, I think, the productive conversations and you're just kind of using it as a checklist, I think it can be dangerous, but there's ways to use all this technology and tools out there to benefit us as leaders. Sure, and I think that's something I've learned to do a little bit better in recent years. Chris: Any anything you can point to. I always like to ask this is not the fun question but failure or mistake that you experienced or encountered, that you learned from that. You're like that was a growth moment. In hindsight, man, it felt terrible, whatever I look back. And what a growth moment for me, anything you can share there, because I always find that that's such a great learning and it hopefully dispels for listeners, right, because you feel like you're the only one out there failing and he's like, no, you're not. Molly: Oh my gosh, you're going to learn from it. Yeah, and I think you know there's so much shame we only talk about our successes or people only talk about their successes, right, or it's more fun. I mean, I don't want to walk around talking about all the things I've done wrong, and this was a little while ago and I rely on it now because not everything we try. We've just released product at Central Market in June. We just yeah, super exciting. Chris: A chocolate product, a chocolate bar. Molly: We've got truffles and boots and some go to Central Market and buy our products. But also at the airports in the market, we've got some great fun Texas themed products at Intercontinental Airport. So if you're going through the airports, buy some Winfield's chocolate. So you go out there and I'm so excited right now to tell you about this. Right, we're in these great new major retailers and we're in 12 Kroger's. Well, what I'm not telling you is I've been in 15 Kroger's and now we're in 12 because we only find those. I'm not going to tell you about the three that we're not in anymore because they're not. You know, the others are doing great. Go find us at the Buffalo Kroger or the West Gray, go find us at the airport, and I'm not going to come back and be like, well, that didn't work. They never bought from us again. Which is, you work so hard to make those deals happen and get out there in the world and there's so much hustle and it may just not work. So, going back in time, I had an investor and this was a decade ago and we had opened some stores in Dallas, some Bex Prime restaurants, and one of them had failed and we were going to close it and I mean, I was devastated, ashamed, sad, all of the things, and I'd gone out and raised $2 million and I had lost that money. It was over and I had to call our investors and let them know what had happened. Phil Plant, he says so you stubbed your toe for the first time. I was like I did. He's like, yeah, you're going to keep stubbing your toe if you keep at this long enough. Chris: If you keep trying hard enough, right? Molly: If you keep trying hard enough and you keep putting these projects together and businesses. He's like you're going to have some wins and you're gonna have some losses and you're gonna stub your toe but keep going. And it meant I can't. I'm gonna cry thinking about it. He's a really great person and but that meant so much to me in that moment because I mean I had failed big time. I had the. Chris: It didn't work, you know talk about the value of having the right people around you, right? Wow, that's pretty cool. Molly: You know and with Agnes I mean that restaurant took a solid two years to take off. You know I had to go borrow some money to keep it going and now it is a place where our community meets and people love it and then it is neighborhood joy and connection. I could not be more proud of it. But I'm telling you, walking into a restaurant on a Friday night, that you have opened and convince people to give you money to open, and there there's not a single soul in the place not a single soul. Very humbling. Chris: Right, you wanted to go walk the neighborhood streets, going, come on. Molly: Yeah, and so I think you know now with my team I can, we can take the wins and the losses with a little more grace. Chris: Yeah. Molly: You know well, that didn't work. What are we going to try next? Chris: Yeah Well, I think you know it sounds like part of the culture, right, is you said? The one thing about you said as a leader is people aren't afraid to tell you no. And it sounds like you've created a culture where people aren't afraid to fail and learn from it and keep going, and that's to me a sign of a really strong culture. Molly: Well, and it's okay to say like well, that sucked. I screwed that up pretty bad. Chris: Well, we're conditioned to, like I said, we don't talk about failures. I think we're conditioned that, oh, don't talk about that, because it's got to look like it looks on Facebook and everybody's smiling and happy when we know that's not reality. And so we can get past that and just be transparent. Molly: Yeah, authentic. Chris: I think the better off we're all. Molly: But don't you think being more authentic has happened as part of post-COVID? Chris: era. Molly: Don't you think people are more open about their wins and losses? Chris: I think, so I don't know. It's kind of the chicken or the egg. I think Brene Brown started talking about it a lot more and it caught on in the corporate world and that was happening pre-COVID but close to COVID, and then with that the world goes upside down. I don't think anybody knew what. So about uncertainty, no one knew. So I think it did create a feeling of I don't know what's next and this okay to be authentic. And as we started coming out of that, then there's a lot probably exposed more in the sports world about mental health and all that kind of just built on itself, where I think we're learning it's okay and it's more acceptable to be more authentic. Right, it's a good thing, it's a great thing. Molly: It's way more fun to live in this world. I think I'm not. Fun is not the right word, it's just grounding. Chris: Yeah. Molly: It's more real. Right, I meet more real people. Chris: Agreed, agreed. So well, let's turn to a little bit more of a light side, okay, okay, so what's your favorite vacations place? Molly: Oh my gosh. Well, I'm a, I love adventure. So you know, skiing, hiking, colorado one of those Texas and Colorado type people for sure Love going down to Galveston and fishing and being on the beaches down there, and then we love to scuba dive. So hit the Caribbean. Chris: Awesome, that's all great things. Molly: I can identify with that Stay out of the sun. Chris: You're in the food business, but, and so this is my favorite question to ask every guest Do you prefer Tex-Mex or barbecue? Oh man Hardest question of the podcast. Molly: This is so hard that I might have to Gosh. You know I'm probably a barbecue person. I think I'm going to go. Chris: We have a lot of good barbecue around here. Look, it's a hard question for a reason we have a lot of good barbecue, a lot of good tex-mex. You know, I've even had people try to answer it by combining both there's not. Molly: you know, look at levi good, he's got his tex-ex and his barbecue. He's sort of doing it right, that's right, that's right. Chris: So well, I want to, you know, just wrap this up by saying thank you for coming on and sharing your journey, excited to see what you're doing. Obviously, we watched the Becks on Kirby get redone because we're right around the corner, but what you're doing with the windfield chocolate sounds exciting and uh. Hopefully, now people hear this, they'll know more about agnes and yeah, come to all of ours. Molly: You can do breakfast at agnes, lunch at beck's, dessert at windfields. Chris: You hit them all I like it, yeah, so there you go, uh kind of a full service yeah, integrated, you can do it. Them all love it it Well, Molly, thank you for coming on. Molly: Thank you for having me. Chris: Really appreciate you taking the time. Special Guest: Molly Voorhees.

Ever wonder what it takes to transform a bold idea into a thriving enterprise, all while making a significant social impact?In Season 2, Episode 2, we sit down with Jason Van Camp, Chairman of Mission Six Zero and Executive Director of Warrior Rising, to explore how mission-driven leadership sparks entrepreneurial success.Jason takes us behind the scenes of Mission Six Zero's evolution from a bold idea to a data-driven consulting firm making waves in the federal marketplace and reveals the strategic choices that fueled its growth.He also reflects on his journey building Warrior Rising into a powerhouse nonprofit that has awarded millions in grants and provided critical mentorship to Veteran founders, candidly sharing the setbacks that became springboards for innovation.Along the way, Jason unpacks how he forges high-impact partnerships, secures the capital needed to scale, and designs programs that deliver real results for the Veteran community.Whether you are launching a new venture or leading a social-impact organization, Jason's story offers a masterclass in turning purpose into momentum and setbacks into victories.Support the show

In this episode of “What Is the Right,” we're turning our attention to the religious dimension at play on the American Right. From the often-talked-about, rarely-understood Evangelical voting bloc to observant Jews and everything in between, it's a confusing landscape. Religious groups add a layer of complexity to the freedom-vs.-order tension we've been exploring in […]

Check out Alex Gurevich, Managing Director of Javelin Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexg79/ https://www.javelinvp.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

This is episode three of a four-part series created in collaboration with Redtorch called What's Sport Selling? It's a conversation with John Ridgeon, the chief executive of World Athletics. Previous episodes in the series:UP443 Big Sugar, Big Pharma...Where's the Big Sport Lobby?UP458 Fitness, Toxicity and the Importance of the ASICS MessageJon Ridgeon bioAthletic Career (1980s-1990s)Born: February 14, 1967, Bury St. Edmunds, SuffolkKey Achievement: Silver medal at the 1987 World Championships in Rome in 110m hurdlesOlympic Participation: Represented Great Britain at 1988 Seoul Olympics and 1996 Atlanta OlympicsPersonal Best: 13.29 seconds in 110m hurdles (British record holder)Education: Magdalene College, CambridgeBusiness Career (1998-2019)Fast Track Sports Marketing (1998-2012): Founding and managing partner of Fast Track. Broadcasting: TV commentator for BBC and BSkyB Achieve Events: Director where he helped build the mass participation events business until its acquisition in 2015European Sports Championships: Director of the 2018 multi-sport championship eventWorld Athletics Leadership (2019-Present)Appointment: Appointed CEO in December 2018Mandate: Working alongside President Sebastian Coe to modernize and grow athletics globallyThis podcast is sponsored by Redtorch, a global research & creative agency passionately dedicated to making sport more relevant. We help sports rights holders and brands punch above their weight. Born in the Olympic movement, we thrive under pressure – small teams, high stakes, global eyes. We're trusted and retained by many of the world's biggest sports because we offer everything you'd want from a specialist agency: unmatched flexibility, the best people and a constant stream of innovative ideas.Visit redtorch.sport to learn how we consistently grow audiences, deliver high-impact creative and turn cultural signals into a winning advantaUnofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry. To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartnerWe publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday. These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport. Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here. Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner' on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app. If you're interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

Welcome to today's episode of the Change Maker Podcast. Join Deke as he talks with Chet Hurwitz and Jacob Blaeser of Ventures ATL, a nonprofit whose mission is to cultivate pathways to purposeful and lasting employment for talented adults with autism and other developmental differences.

Send us a textIn episode 263 of Beyond The Story, Sebastian Rusk welcomes Cooper Simpson, the Portfolio Manager for Dan Martell at Martell Ventures, as they dive deep into the world of AI startups, discussing how Martell Ventures is revolutionizing the way businesses grow by leveraging Dan's authority, influence, and extensive network.Tune in for a dynamic conversation about podcasting, business growth, and the future of technology.TIMESTAMPS[00:02:11] How Coop joined Dan's team.[00:05:07] Partnering with AI founders.[00:08:41] Authority in brand trust.[00:11:46] AI augmenting job performance.[00:15:45] Removing the middleman in business.[00:16:47] Magic experiences in AI.[00:21:21] AI tools for business success.QUOTES“The real value comes in how quickly you can be creative, identify a problem, and then get customers to use your solution for that problem.” - Cooper Simpson“ The robots are here. They're not going anywhere. They're here to make our lives easier. That's another prime example of it. Replace a lot of stuff, but also make a lot of stuff easier as well.” - Sebastian Rusk“The real magic of AI, I think, is that a lot of people are really scared that it's going to remove all these jobs, when in reality, I think it's just going to augment a ton of people's jobs.” - Cooper Simpson==========================Need help launching your podcast?Schedule a Free Podcast Strategy Call TODAY!PodcastLaunchLabNow.com==========================SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSSebastian RuskInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/podcastlaunchlab/Facebook: Facebook.com/sruskLinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/sebastianrusk/YouTube: Youtube.com/@PodcastLaunchLabCooper SimsonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coop_doggydog/Dan MartellInstragram: https://www.instagram.com/danmartell/==========================Take the quiz now! https://podcastquiz.online/==========================Need Money For Your Business? Our Friends at Closer Capital can help! Click here for more info: PodcastsSUCK.com/money==========================PAYING RENT? Earn airlines when you do with the Bilt Rewards MastercardAPPLY HERE: https://bilt.page/r/2H93-5474==========================Want to stay ahead of the curve in the AI revolution? Join industry leaders at the AI Adoption event. DM Dan Martell “AI Adoption” and say Podcasts SUCK sent you!

Welcome to The Zenergy Podcast! Today, Karan has the pleasure of sitting down with Jacyln Presnal, VP of New Energy Ventures at Williams. Jacyln and Karan discuss how she first got connected with Williams 20 years ago, what inspired her to work in the energy field, and the advice she'd give herself back in university. She currently leads the New Energy Ventures team and shares the ends and outs of the projects her team works on. They discuss where natural gas fits into the energy transition, the lead time of gas turbines compared to demand, and how gas suppliers plan for uncertainty. Finally, Karan asks Jacyln about the major news Williams recently announced regarding reviving the NESE pipeline project. Thanks for tuning in!Credits:Editing/Graphics: Desta Wondirad, Wondir Studios

In this episode, I sit down with Rose Hamilton, a powerhouse marketing strategist, CPG advisor, and the founder of Compass Rose Ventures.  Rose shares an honest, insightful look into what it takes to build, grow, and scale a consumer brand in today's landscape, from digital-first storytelling to the emotional resilience founders need to survive the chaos of retail and fundraising. This conversation is packed with wisdom earned from years in the trenches, advising some of the most innovative brands in beauty, beverage, wellness, and beyond. What I love most about this episode is Rose's unique blend of heart and strategy. We discuss how founders can become better storytellers, how to establish a robust marketing foundation, and why data is more than just a buzzword - it's a vital survival tool.  If you're a founder, operator, investor, or just obsessed with consumer brands, this is the episode for you. Here are a few key moments from our conversation: * Why modern CPG brands need both marketing soul and operational grit * How to shift from founder-led storytelling to storyselling * The concept of a “data room for marketing”—and why every brand needs one   Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to the episode and hear why Rose Hamilton believes brand builders are among the most creative and resilient people in the world. Whether you're scaling or just starting, her advice will leave you inspired and ready to act. For more on Compass Rose Ventures, visit: https://compassroseventures.com/  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today's Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: https://www.getsaral.com/demo SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. Let the SARAL team know you're a The Story of a Brand Show podcast listener to get an extended free trial! Visit the link above.    Workspace6 - Private Community for 7, 8, 9-figure Brands: https://www.workspace6.io/ Workspace6 is a private community where over 950 seven-, eight-, and nine-figure brand operators share insights, solve problems, and accelerate growth. It's the anti-fluff operator's room, and for your first 30 days, it's just $1. Get real answers and skip the trial and error.​​

Join Nick Lamagna on The A Game Podcast with our guest Nick Huber who has amassed an impressive 50 million dollar net worth owning 1.9 million square feet of storage across 63 locations in 11 states with a portfolio of $150 million plus! He is on a mission to show people a radically different way to think about success,  wealth and entrepreneurship and does a fantastic job showing you HOW with his brand new book Out NOW called The Sweaty Startup: How to GET RICH doing BORING things! He is an Entrepreneur, business owner, investor, Podcast host and Social media star fighting out of Athens GA by way of Indiana.    He went from a D1 athlete running on tracks to running boxes all around a college town as a budding new entrepreneur giving him the momentum and confidence to become the successful businessman he is today. He made a name for himself in the self storage world through Storage Squad and then catapulted his success in private equity with his company Bolt Storage.  He has since become an owner or stakeholder in 11 different businesses Including Somewhere.com, a recruiting company, REcostseg, a Real Estate services  company as well as a web development and marketing company and even a pest control company.   Gold nuggets all throughout this episode check it out now! Topics for this episode include: ✅ Things to know before becoming an entrepreneur ✅ How to build a winning business by learning from your competitors ✅ How you can invest in real estate when you don't have free time ✅  Why we seek approval from others to be successful + more! ✅ Why sales skills are crucial in business + more! Check the show notes to connect with all things Nick !   Connect with Nick Huber and The Sweaty Startup: www.nickhuber.com Nick Huber on Facebook Nick Huber on Instagram Nick Huber on Twitter Nick Huber on LinkedIn Nick Huber on TikTok Nick Huber on Youtube Buy the The Sweaty Startup Book on Amazon   Connect with Nick's Ventures: www.sweatystartup.com/ideas www.boltstorage.com www.somewhere.com www.recostseg.com www.adrhino.com www.spidexx.com www.boldseo.com www.titanrisk.com www.boltbuilders.com --- Connect with Nick Lamagna www.nicknicknick.com Text Nick (516)540-5733 Connect on ALL Social Media and Podcast Platforms Here FREE Checklist on how to bring more value to your buyers