614Startups

On this episode, Elio interviews Amelia Gandara of Nationwide Ventures. Amelia is a Principal at Nationwide Ventures. She has a dual role, spending time managing the fund’s operations and investing alongside the team. She focuses on Nationwide’s early-stage investments with a passion for insurtechs. Amelia has additional experience in investing, operations, strategy and partnerships with stints at GE and a pre-seed funding program. She received a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Louisville. As a former professional ballet dancer, Amelia continues to explore all types of movement and is an avid advocate for the performing arts.

On this episode, Elio interviews Liz Todia, Senior Associate at Mutual Capital Partners, a Cleveland-based venture capital fund that invests in software and medical device companies. Liz manages all deal flow and due diligence for the fund, as well as supporting portfolio companies and overseeing LP relations. She has been on the team since graduating from the University of Dayton where she received a B.S. in Entrepreneurship and Finance with honors.  Prior to joining MCP and while at Dayton, she spent two years managing the Flyer Angels Fund, a $1 million seed investment fund investing in early stage, Ohio-based technology companies.  Liz also worked as a member of the Davis Center for Portfolio Management, a student-directed organization that manages over $20 million of the University of Dayton endowment invested in equity markets.  Liz currently serves as Executive Co-Chair of the young professional group VentureNext, the premier peer group of rising venture capital investors who work with, manage, and run venture capital investment funds. Under Liz’s leadership the group has grown to over 80 funds across the country with a collective $7.2B AUM, and has been responsible for over $800M of syndication in investments across the Midwest.  

On this episode, Elio interviews Densil Poretous, CEO of Pride Fund 1. Pride Fund 1 invests in early-stage and growth companies led by LGBTQ+ people, as well as companies which uplift that community. Very early in his life, Densil discovered his love for making connections. Starting by working in the admissions office of his alma mater, Kenyon College, he then transitioned to the Bay Area where he did a lot of nonprofit and community service work. Returning to Ohio, Densil felt his involvement in organizations that promote and support LGBTQ and other underrepresented communities was extremely important, which led to him becoming the Vice-Chair of the Board at Equitas Health. He continued his pursuit of connecting and serving which has ultimately manifested in Pride Fund 1.

On this episode, Elio interviews Paul Ehlinger, Principal at Allos Ventures. Allos Ventures invests in industry-transforming businesses and partners with visionary entrepreneurs to help their companies accelerate growth and build value. Paul’s career started as a medical device engineer in Southern California and he ultimately transitioned from the corporate world to the world of venture capital as an Investment Manager at the Kentucky Enterprise Fund where he invested in pre-seed and seed-stage companies. Paul joined Allos Ventures in December 2019 to continue creating opportunities for early-stage companies. Allos recently invested in Columbus-based startup getHEALTH led by Nick Potts.

Paul is also the Managing Partner at Sixty8 Capital, a venture fund for black, brown, women and LBGTQ+ led startups.

Drive Capital is a venture capital firm that partners with founders who are solving critical problems in massive markets. With Drive Capital, companies gain more than just capital, they gain coveted access to Drive’s well-documented and highly respected prowess in venture. Drive proactively seeks out founders and companies where there is founder-investor-problem-product and market fit. With a background in health care, Molly Bonakdarpour leads Drive’s health care investment strategy. Molly uses her passion for making the greatest positive impact in people’s lives and channels it into finding companies that align with Drive Capital’s investment thesis.

On this episode, Elio interviews Max Brickman, Managing Director at Heartland Ventures. Heartland Ventures is a value-add venture investor that connects high-growth startups with new customers in the Midwest. Max’s entrepreneurial endeavors began at a very young age with him starting his first company at 14 years old. From landscaping to real estate to education, Max has garnered a wealth of knowledge that has guided him in his journey into venture capital. He delves into why he initially decided to pursue venture capital and also details why Heartland Ventures chose to focus on the coast, although not limited to the coast, as well as how and why it raises funds the way it does. Max’s story is quite impressive thus far, and this is only the beginning.

On this episode, Elio interviews Matt Wyckhouse, Founder and CEO of Finite State. Finite State's platform detects IoT threats to networks to proactively mitigate risk. Matt takes us through his years at Battelle, coming straight out of Ohio State, where he started in software development, and then eventually helped to lead the company’s expansion into the cybersecurity space. He reveals what he discovered working with Battelle that emphasized his entrepreneurial itch and prompted him to found Finite State. The conversation evolves from “What is national security really?”, to taking on a giant multinational company, to “Is 5G out to get us?” Listen as Matt details the interesting world of cybersecurity. 

On this episode, Elio interviews Sheri Chaney Jones, President and CEO of SureImpact. SureImpact is a user-friendly case management platform that thinks like a collective impact outcomes generator. Sheri has a background in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and in 2010 she channeled her passion for doing good into starting Management Resources Company, which helped government and nonprofits measure and communicate their impact and value. This ultimately led to the development of SureImpact, which has a more social focus, allowing the social sector to be able to track, manage, measure and communicate their unique social impact. The company’s aim is to work with high performing visionary leaders who want to prove their impact, while also driving social change to improve the community at large.

On this episode, Elio interviews Constance Borro, Co-founder of Mastery Portfolio. Mastery portfolio is a collection of web-based tools designed to improve education practices. This digital grade book is easy to maintain and was built by teachers, for teachers. Their philosophy emphasizes the unfairness of traditional grading and posits that it leads to demotivated teachers, students and parents alike. Mastery Portfolio totes a standards-based grading model that facilitates better communication and understanding between teachers and students about expectations. It involves learning each student’s unique proficiency profile and deciphering each individual’s path to mastery. Constance is passionate about serving underprivileged and underrepresented students and recounts her time at Yale University interacting with unsupported students. This served as the catalyst to her then going on to teach almost 11 years in New York high need public schools ultimately ending at Columbus School for Girls which is the birthplace of Mastery Portfolio.

On this episode, Elio interviews Mike Holt, Advisor and Investor in Nodis. Nodis TruTint uses color coated nanoparticles that act as small light shutters that are oriented when voltage is applied, transforming windows by giving people the ability to change the tint, color, and temperature characteristics of windows instantly. Mike discusses why Nodis decided to relocate their operations to Columbus, why buildings are the nonobvious frontier for fighting climate change, and how nanotechnology and Nodis' unique process gives glass manufacturers the flexibility to meet their customers' needs.