Austinpreneur

In this episode, Walker Drewett, Founder of NuBrakes, takes us on his journey from a simple idea to a scalable startup. With candid insights and hard-earned lessons, he reveals how late-night garage hustles, customer obsession, and strategic pivots turned his vision into reality.

Tune in to hear about tough talks with co-founders, make-or-break moments, and the bold decisions that shaped his entrepreneurial path.

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What if running a biotech experiment were as simple as writing a line of code?

In this episode, Brian Frezza, CEO and Co-Founder of Emerald Cloud Lab, opens the door to the groundbreaking world of cloud-based research and automation in biology.

Discover how Emerald Cloud Lab empowers scientists to conduct experiments remotely—leaving the heavy lifting to robotic systems and expert staff in fully automated labs. Brian shares the vision that sparked the company, the challenges of building a revolutionary platform over more than a decade, and how democratizing access to advanced research tools could transform the future of science.

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In this episode of Austinpreneur, Joshua Baer, founder of Capital Factory, sits down with Liv Boeree—Poker Champion, TED speaker, and decision-making strategist—to explore the art of betting on yourself. Liv delves into the psychology behind high-stakes decision-making, the secrets to crafting win-win strategies, and the societal challenges posed by coordination failures, known as Moloch Traps. Whether you're navigating the poker table, building a startup, or striving to make smarter decisions in life, this episode delivers actionable insights to help you think strategically, lead confidently, and win big.

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What does it take to launch a game-changing defense technology startup? Dino Mavrookas, CEO of Saronic Technologies, shares his incredible journey of building autonomous maritime solutions for the U.S. Navy.

From navigating the complexities of the defense sector to assembling a world-class team, Dino reveals the grit, strategy, and innovation it takes to bring three revolutionary products to market in under two years. With a background as a Navy SEAL and private equity executive, he provides invaluable insights into balancing vision, execution, and risk in one of the world’s most demanding industries.

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Explore the future of space exploration with Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. In this episode, Jason discusses Firefly’s record-setting rocket launch, upcoming lunar missions, and the cutting-edge technologies driving space innovation.

Recorded live before an audience at Capital Factory, this conversation delves into personal stories of aerospace inspiration and offers insights on creating a resilient space workforce. Discover a fascinating glimpse into the next frontier of humanity’s journey to the stars.

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In this episode of Austinpreneur, Brett Hurt, founder of Bazaarvoice and data.world, sits down with longtime friend Joshua Baer, founder of Capital Factory, for a conversation on building billion-dollar companies.

Together, they reflect on their early collaborations, share lessons learned, and discuss pivotal moments that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys. From recruiting top talent to capitalizing on inflection points, this episode is filled with actionable advice for aspiring founders.

Don’t miss Brett’s insights—and be sure to grab a copy of his book, The Entrepreneur’s Essentials: Lessons for Startup & Leadership Excellence!

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In this episode, Michelle Davey, CEO and Founder of Wheel, shares her inspiring journey of raising over $215M while transforming the world of virtual healthcare. From her early days as a technical recruiter at Google and Favor to becoming a trailblazer in telemedicine, Michelle reveals the pivotal moments and lessons that shaped her path to success.

Tune in as she unpacks her fundraising strategies, offers advice for navigating innovation in healthcare, and highlights the power of Austin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in building an exceptional company culture.

This episode was recorded live at Capital Factory’s Women in Tech Summit during Austin Tech Week 2024. Michelle sits down with Dr. Talaya Waller, Founder of Valuables—an AI-powered enterprise brand management platform—for an insightful and empowering conversation.

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In this episode, Justin Lopas, co-founder of Base Power, takes us through the fascinating story behind his groundbreaking energy startup. From his early days at SpaceX, where he helped build rockets, to his pivotal role at Anduril, Justin brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to solving real-world challenges. He explains how Base Power is leveraging innovative technology, smart policy strategies, and operational excellence to transform the way Texans access renewable energy. Justin also delves into the unique regulatory challenges of the Texas energy market and how Base Power is navigating these to provide decentralized energy solutions that improve grid reliability and reduce costs for consumers.

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Get an insider’s look at Shark Tank Season 16’s premier pitch with Destin Bell, CEO of Card.io! In this live recording at Capital Factory, Destin shares how watching pitches on Shark Tank inspired his own journey as an entrepreneur and how relocating to Austin transformed Card.io’s growth.

Tune in for behind-the-scenes moments from his pitch and key insights for entrepreneurs dreaming of the Tank. Don't miss Destin’s candid advice and exclusive stories about the highs, challenges, and surprises of pitching in front of the Sharks.

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Tune in for a dynamic conversation between two of the most influential early-stage investors: Jason Calacanis—angel investor, podcaster (All-In Podcast, This Week in Startups), and entrepreneur—and Joshua Baer, Founder & CEO of Capital Factory. Together, they dive into some of today’s most pressing topics, from the surge of Silicon Valley VCs relocating to Austin to navigating high-stakes boardroom discussions. Jason also shares insights on his recent move to Austin and his experience working from Capital Factory. Recorded live during Austin Tech Week 2025, this episode is packed with actionable insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives you won’t want to miss!

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