By Darius Gant
5
5151 ratings
The podcast currently has 70 episodes available.
In this episode, Adrian Mendoza, co-founder of Mendoza Ventures, shares his journey from getting started in web design in the early 90s, to founding startups, and eventually transitioning into venture capital. He details his career progression, his experiences in the tech and design intersection, and his work at companies like Disney and startups during the dot-com boom. Adrian delves into the firm's focus on AI, fintech, and cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of investing in sectors they know well. He also touches on the challenges and strategies of raising a fund, the importance of a strong network, thematic focus, and the unique approach of supporting diverse and underrepresented founders. Additionally, they discuss the current and future landscape of AI startups, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Adrian provides insights into how Mendoza Ventures supports both founders and LPs, fostering a community of investors and innovators.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
Adrian is the founder and General Partner at Mendoza Ventures which is both Latinx and woman-owned and the first Latinx-founded VC fund on the East Coast based in Boston. With 20 years of experience in building technology products and teams, Adrian is an experienced entrepreneur, operator, and veteran of the Boston startup ecosystem. Adrian founded Mendoza Ventures to take an in-depth-focused approach to venture capital, looking for founders who demonstrate domain expertise in one of his three focus areas across fintech, AI, and cybersecurity. Adrian prides himself on being a hands-on investor by setting up companies for success beyond just writing a check, creating strong funding syndicates, making customer introductions, and assisting with partnership conversations.
His firm Mendoza Ventures focuses on investments in Fintech, AI, and Cybersecurity, with diversity playing an important role in their investment decisions—about 90% of their portfolio consists of startups led by people of color, and women. Since its founding seven years ago, Mendoza Ventures has raised two funds and had four successful exits. The firm is currently raising its third fund, a $100M fintech fund anchored by Bank of America.
Time Stamps:
00:38 Adrian's Early Career and First Ventures
06:18 Transition from Founder to Investor
10:13 Investment Strategy and Success Stories
13:31 Engaging with Founders and Investors
18:21 Raising Fund 3 and Engaging LPs
28:36 Fund Size Considerations: Building and Managing a Fund
32:45 Challenges and Lessons in Fund Management
34:59 Understanding Pro Rata Rights
36:47 Investment Strategies at Mendoza Ventures
38:37 Scaling and Institutionalizing Startups
42:34 The Role of AI in Venture Capital
50:40 Distinction between AI native Startup and not Native AI Startups
54:31 Connecting with Mendoza Ventures
Resources
Company website: https://mendoza-ventures.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mendoza-ventures/
Twitter: https://x.com/MendozaVentures
Follow Darius Gant
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-darius-gant-cpa-44650aa/
Company Website: www.tesoroai.com
In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, securing enterprise contracts can be a game-changer for startups and tech firms alike. The journey to winning over Fortune 1000 clients requires strategic planning, tailored communication, and a deep understanding of the enterprise world. Drawing insights from venture capital experts, we explore the nuances of navigating enterprise sales and building successful relationships with top-tier clients.
In this episode, we sit with Theo Williams, the founder of Third Vector and an expert in venture capital specializing in the space technology industry. Theo shares his journey from a finance background to diving into the tech world, highlighting the challenges and opportunities he encountered along the way. He delves into the importance of investing in the space technology industry and how it can drive significant global impact.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
Theo Williams is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in venture capital, strategic partnerships, and business development. As the Founder and Managing Partner at Third Vector, he spearheads an early-stage VC firm specializing in investments at the intersection of Space Tech and Big Data. Prior to founding Third Vector, Theo served as a Senior Portfolio Development Manager at Salesforce Ventures, where he played a key role in fortifying the enterprise ecosystem through strategic partnerships and investments. Before his tenure at Salesforce Ventures, Theo held positions in sales and investor relations at Cadre and in product development at Nuveen, a TIAA company. Throughout his career, Theo has demonstrated a commitment to driving growth and innovation in various sectors, leveraging his expertise in investment strategy and relationship management.
Theo holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Rice Business - Jones Graduate School of Business, where he was recognized as a Robert Toigo Foundation Fellow. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Louisiana State University, where he demonstrated leadership as part of the Tiger Twelve Senior Recognition Class of 2012 and in various student government roles.
Time Stamps:
02:49: Theo’s journey from finance to tech
06:33 Understanding alternative investments
09:08 Transitioning to tech and angel investing
14:15 The birth of a space tech VC firm
21:37 Investment focus: Space data and infrastructure
24:22 Navigating the fundraising process
26:34 Aligning with founders and managing risk
31:43 Enterprise sales strategies for founders
37:49 Building for Enterprise vs. SMB
42:22 What’s coming new in 2024, and how to get in contact with the team
Resources
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/third-vector/
Theo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theowilliams3/
In this episode we speak with Marlon Nichols, co-founder of MaC Venture Capital, who discusses his diverse career path from starting as an early employee at an enterprise software company, moving into consulting, and ultimately venturing into the world of venture capital. He explains the founding and growth of MaC Venture Capital, sharing insights into their investment thesis, sector focus, and the types of companies they seek to partner with. Marlon also provides invaluable advice for new fund managers and entrepreneurs, touching on the current fundraising landscape, strategies for success, and the importance of aligning with a firm's culture and team dynamics
MaC Venture Capital is a seed-stage venture firm that invests primarily in North America, with a focus on California. While the firm does not have a specific sector focus, it considers itself a generalist firm run by sector experts. Marlon explains that the common thread among their investments is a focus on popular culture and future trends. The firm seeks to identify emerging behaviors and trends early on and invest in companies that align with these shifts. This approach allows MaC Venture Capital to invest in a wide range of sectors, including fintech, B2B SaaS, digital health, and space and defense.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
Marlon Nichols is the co-founder and managing general partner at MaC Venture Capital, a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in visionary founders building the future that the world wants to see. Marlon has an extensive background in technology, private equity, media and entertainment. His unique eye for global and cultural trends, along with shifts in consumer behavior, has helped him uplift and accelerate entrepreneurs and companies that are on the verge of their breakthrough moment. Some of his current and previous portfolio companies include Blavity, Faze Clan, FINESSE, Gimlet Media, LIT Videobooks, Mansa, MongoDB, Pipe, PureStream, Ryff, Solo Funds, Spill, Thrive Market, Wonderschool and others.
Thanks to his background as a professional athlete, Marlon utilizes sports leadership philosophy when working closely with CEOs to build the Venture of tomorrow. His diverse network of media and entertainment industry leaders, tech entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives and sports professionals helps him develop strategic partnerships and promote brand expansions for his portfolio companies.Marlon serves on the board of directors for the Kauffman Fellows program, where he has been instrumental in growing the representation of underrepresented minorities. He also serves on the advisory board for Los Angeles Mayor’s office’s PledgeLA.
Marlon has been honored on the LA500 in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and ranked among top early stage investors on Business Insider’s Seed 100 for three consecutive years. He was also named Pitchbook’s 25 Black Founders and VCs to Watch for the last six years. Marlon has been featured in Axios, CNBC, Cheddar, The Information, Crunchbase News, Fortune, Yahoo! Finance and more.
Prior to MaC Venture Capital, Marlon was co-founder of Cross Culture Venture. He eventually enacted the merger with Adrian Fenty’s M Venture that resulted in MaC Venture Capital as it stands today. Prior to Cross Culture Venture, he served as an Investment Director at Intel Capital and earned hands-on experience as an operator himself. Marlon earned his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Northeastern University and an MBA from the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, where he was also adjunct faculty in entrepreneurship and venture capital.
Time Stamps:
02:57 Marlon's journey from early operator to VC founder
08:55 Venture capital as a path to diversity and strategic engagement
12:14 MaC Venture Capital investment thesis and strategies
16:25 Fundraising challenges and advice for new founders
21:04 Strategies for first-time fund managers targeting LPs
23:25 Fundraising realities for new VC managers
26:18 The multifaceted role of a founding general partner
28:56 Strategies for startups targeting successful exits
31:42 Evaluating seed stage investments
34:03 Venture capital’s shift to sustainable investment strategies
38:25 The impact of AI on business
41:40 What is coming up in 2024 and how to get in contact with MaC Venture Capital team
Resources
Company website: https://MaCventurecapital.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MaCventurecap/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/MaC-venture-capital/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaCVentureCap
In this episode we speak with Brandon Thorpe, a trailblazer in technology and entrepreneurship. From his early programming days to pivotal roles at Google AI and Apple, Brandon has redefined innovation in the tech world. Beyond his technological achievements, discover how his musical collaborations with Grammy winner Dallas Austin and the launch of his groundbreaking album 'Unicorn' showcase his diverse talents. Co-founder of Formless, Brandon is revolutionizing the internet through shared technology and smart contracts.
Learn about his vision for an equitable digital landscape, the origins of his passion for tech, and the challenges and successes he faced while raising funds for Formless. Explore the multifaceted world of a creative technologist committed to inspiring others and reshaping the future of digital communities.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
Brandon Thorpe was a Staff engineer at Google AI, Senior engineer at Apple, self-taught programmer at 13 years old, featured in national media such as Forbes and WSJ, signed with Grammy Award winner Dallas Austin to release album "Unicorn", creator of Multi-Dream Theory with the idea that humans are capable of achieving excellence in multiple fields in parallel, co-founded Formless in 2022 aiming to illuminate true human purpose through technology by revolutionizing the internet with SHARE technology empowering common property ownership with smart contracts. Creative technologist with millions of streams and views across internet platforms. Formless was selected as one of around 30 companies from a pool of 8,000 to receive investment from a16z's CSX accelerator in 2023 and has since raised a multi-million dollar pre-seed round.
Time Stamps:
03:11 Brandon's journey from tech to music and back
12:52 Exploring the intersection of music, technology, and blockchain
15:27 Pain point that led to creating Formless
18:58 Redefining music distribution through blockchain
20:18 Blockchain as a nongovernment global computer.
23:02 Challenges and opportunities of music and blockchain
25:47 Redefining artist monetization and community building
30:52 Expanding Formless Beyond Music
34:04 Starting points and essential skills for building blockchain
38:31 Navigating the blockchain insights and opportunities
43:12 Engaging with the Formless Platform
45:08 Fundraising journey: strategies and lessons learned
51:56 What is coming up in 2024 and how to get in contact with the formless team
Resources
Company website: https://formless.xyz/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/formlessxyz/ Twitter: https://x.com/formless_xyzLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/formlessxyz/
In this episode, we sit with Kevin Moore, the fund manager at Serac Ventures. Kevin shares his unconventional journey to venture capital. Starting with a degree in civil engineering, Kevin transitioned through roles as a financial advisor, a regulatory worker at the Federal Reserve Bank, and eventually into the VC world. He emphasizes the importance of diverse experiences and a curious mindset for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities. He discusses his methodology for investment selection and the significance of a disciplined approach across various investment mediums.
Kevin provides insights into the venture capital industry, highlighting the importance of understanding both the finance aspects and the operational challenges of startups, he also delves into the specifics of fundraising, offering advice on engaging with different types of investors, including foundations, endowments, family offices, and high net worth individuals. Furthermore, Kevin outlines the strategic focus of Serac Ventures on fintech, B2B SaaS, and commerce enablement solutions, emphasizing the fund's commitment to diversity and hands-on support for portfolio companies.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
Kevin Moore is the Founder and Managing Partner at Serac Ventures. Kevin has over 18 years' experience in public and private markets investing having worked at Spur Capital Partners (VC FoF), i2E (VC Fund), Morgan Stanley, The Federal Reserve Bank, and Northwestern Mutual. Kevin is also the author of Starting Your Investment Fund: A How to Guide and he has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Time Stamps:
02:52 Kevin Moore’s unconventional paths to VC success 08:03 First steps into venture capital and the importance of background diversity 11:25 Embracing your role for personal and professional growth 13:08 Navigating the investment landscape: from LP to VC fund manager 18:33 Strategies for investment managers to engage with endowments 26:36 Challenges and strategies in fundraising for successive funds 28:06 Strategizing fund size for investment success 30:34 Financing GP commitments through fund distributions 32:33 Investment criteria and strategies at Serac Ventures 36:28 VC leverage expert networks for founders 38:24 Investment trends and predictions for 2024 and beyond 41:51 Dry powder and investment strategy in fund management 46:32 What is coming up for Serac Ventures
Resources
Company website: https://www.seracventures.vc/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SeracVentures LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/serac-ventures-vcfund/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/seracventures
In this episode, we have a conversation with Justis Mendez, who is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of OneSixOne Ventures. Justis shares his journey from the tough streets of Cleveland to becoming a leading figure in the venture capital world. From experiencing the harsh realities of gang violence and incarceration to founding Qu Parking, an innovative startup that revolutionizes residential parking. We also delve into Justis's transition into the venture capital sphere and his role in building a robust tech ecosystem, tracing his path from his initial introduction to VC at OneSixOne Ventures.
During our conversation with Justis, he highlights the significance of making a positive impact through venture capital and offers valuable advice for aspiring founders. He emphasizes the importance of being authentic and having technical expertise. Justis also discusses the challenges of raising capital in Florida and their mission to support local founders and keep them in the state. Building a strong community and providing value to founders beyond just capital is also a key point that he talks about, sharing insights into their investment strategy, focusing on early-stage startups in the enterprise software and AI infrastructure space.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
Justis was born and raised on the west side of Cleveland. He grew up around gang violence, drug traffickers, and drive-by shootings happening as often as one could imagine. Many of his childhood friends have been either gunned down or locked up in prison. His best friend even ended up on First 48 after being involved in the murder of a high-profile gang member they knew. Justis founded Qu Parking, an "Airbnb for residential parking" startup, and led business development for Pinata, a fintech startup based in NYC helping tenants earn rewards for paying rent. OneSixOne Ventures is a leading pre-seed venture capital firm in the Southeast that identifies and invests in enterprise software and government tech startups that are developing breakthrough dual-use technologies.
Time Stamps:
03:13 Justis Mendez’s background and introduction to VC 12:41 Building a tech ecosystem: The genesis of OneSixOne Ventures 17:05 Launching a virtual accelerator during the pandemic 19:12 Launching their fund after realizing the need for monetization 22:15 Making a positive impact through venture capital 24:24 The strategic focus on enterprise software and AI 26:56 Investing in pre-seed and seed stages with small checks 30:05 Joining the fund’s ecosystem and warm referrals as ways to connect with OneSixOne 34:20 Current state of the VC space and capital deployment 38:57 Plans and predictions for 2024 40:52 Advice for founders: Authenticity and technical expertise 44:06 Considerations when outsourcing technical development for AI 46:17 Upcoming events for 2024 and how to get in contact with the OneSixOne group
Resources
Company website: https://www.onesixone.ventures/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesixoneventures/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onesixonegroup/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onesixone-ventures/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/161ventures
When it comes to fundraising, storytelling is a crucial element that can make or break a founder’s success. It goes beyond presenting information and numbers; it’s about creating a narrative that captivates investors and showcases the potential of the opportunity. Black founders should leverage their unique experiences and perspectives to craft a powerful story that resonates with investors, highlighting their journey, the problem they’re solving, and the impact they can make can help differentiate them in a crowded market.
In this episode we sit with James Norman, co-founder Black Ops, who shares valuable insights on building successful tech companies and raising venture capital as a black founder. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the power of a compelling narrative when pitching to investors. James also offers advice on navigating the fundraising process and highlights the need for black founders to focus on building a strong network and finding mentors who can provide guidance and support. Overall, he provides valuable advice for black founders looking to succeed in the tech industry.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
James Norman is a serial entrepreneur who built his first company at the age of 16, an aftermarket automotive e-commerce site called MJH Sound.com. While previously he may have been known as a visionary in automotive product planning, over the past 7 years in the media and entertainment industry he has become a thought leader in over-the-top media and consumer video consumption behaviors. His latest venture is Pilotly, a consumer insights platform that enables content creators to get feedback from audiences at scale.
Time Stamps:
02:25 Introduction and background of James Norman
10:02 Hiring the right engineer to build a product
13:46 The continuous learning process in technology
15:09 Funding challenges for non-profit organizations
17:27 How Black Ops program born out of the experience of founder support
21:13 Shifting power dynamics when fundraising as a founder
24:39 Building a Strong VC Network
26:11 Articulating the unique value and experience of the fund
30:38 Considerations for fund size and raising a first fund
33:19 Financial modeling and decision-making for portfolio construction
35:05 Importance of having a term sheet to raise a Series A
36:21 The power of storytelling in convincing investors and supporters
41:25 Addressing Gaps in Accelerators for Black Founders
46:21 What is coming up in the 2024
Resources
Company website: https://www.blackopsvc.com/Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-ops-vc/ LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/BlackOpsVC
Today we sit with Roberto Ibarra, co-founder and CTO of Expediente Azul. Roberto shares how he transitioned from a software development company to building a product-focused business, driven by the need to solve a specific problem in the financial sector. Expediente Azul streamlines the loan onboarding process by automating the collection and verification of documents and data. As the platform evolves, it focuses on extracting data directly from reliable sources and creating documentation from that data. The ultimate vision is to create a digital marketplace for lenders to share opportunities and data, fostering trust and speeding up loan processes globally.
As Expediente Azul gained traction and more customers, the team realized that the real value lay not in the documents themselves, but in the data they contained. Financial institutions didn’t want the documents; they wanted the data for analysis. This realization led to a shift in focus from gathering documents to extracting and utilizing the data within them. The platform began integrating with third-party tools that connected to tax authorities’ databases, allowing for the extraction of accurate and up-to-date income data directly from the source. This eliminated the need for customers to provide physical or scanned copies of their tax records. Instead, the platform automatically retrieved the necessary data, ensuring its accuracy and reducing the risk of fraud
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
Roberto Carlos Ibarra Rabadán entered the world of computing over 25 years ago assembling and selling personal computers. He went on to start a software development services company called Innox, being the 9th company in Mexico with a CMMI 4 quality rating (military/medical grade) with over 70 employees which was sold in 2013. Later, Roberto developed various apps with millions of downloads, two of them nominated the best in the world during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. During his sabbatical year, Roberto created the podcast Vidaentrepeneur.com where he interviewed over 290 Latin American inspiring entrepreneurs. Today he is the founder of the Fintech company Expediente Azul or Blue File in English, a software platform that simplifies the document-gathering process for large loans and other KYC processes currently operating in Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Perú, the Caribbean, and South East Asia. Roberto was educated by the Tec de Monterrey, IPADE Business School, Harvard, and Oxford and was nominated by CNN as one of Mexico’s 30 promises as well as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
Time Stamps:
03:07 Introduction and background of Roberto Ibarra 05:37 Transition from software development to a product Company 08:14 Finding a Problem worth solving 13:55 Scaling loan brokerage business with automation 18:07 Product evolution from document gathering to data sharing 26:27 Countries Expediente Azul operating today 27:46 Bringing in the right talent to build the initial version 30:38 Investing in sales over tech 33:32 The importance of thinking beyond the happy path 37:04 Building a lean and efficient tech team 42:02 Building a multilingual platform 44:23 Funding journey and resourcefulness 49:21 How to get in contact with the Expediente Azul team
Resources
Company website: https://bluefile.expedienteazul.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xpazul/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xpAzul] Twitter: https://twitter.com/AzulExpediente Email: [email protected]
Chandler Malone is a startup founder and entrepreneur in the technology space. He has a background in venture capital and has worked at various firms, including iSelect Fund and Atento Capital. Chandler co-founded the software company Boot Up, which focuses on workforce development and upskilling retail workers for technical roles. He recently launched a new company called Path AI with his partner Chris Gray, which aims to provide AI-powered career mentorship and job search tools.
In this episode, we interview Chandler Malone, a startup founder and entrepreneur in the technology space. Chandler shares his background and journey, from his early entrepreneurial experiences in college to his work in venture capital and the launch of his own companies. He discusses his latest venture, Path AI, which focuses on providing AI-powered career mentorship and job search tools. Chandler also shares insights and tips for founders, including fundraising strategies and the importance of metrics and communication skills.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio:
Chandler has been focused on helping people reach their economic potential throughout his entire career via his work at Bootup and The Family. In Chandler’s 3 years as the CEO of Bootup, the company helped thousands of people get their first jobs in tech for over $200M in annualized salaries at companies like JP Morgan Chase, Home Depot, Mailchimp, Cerner, and more. Chandler is also founder of The Family, a venture studio focused on Black and Brown founders. Over the past 4 years, The Family has invested in 10 Black and Brown founders with an estimated market cap of over $300M.
Time Stamps:
02:43 Introduction and background of Chandler Malone 06:23 Challenges of startup fundraising 08:49 Transition from working at Tinto Capital and Launching Boot Up 11:29 Introduction to Path AI and the need for AI tools in the hiring process 15:37 Advantage of AI advisors for specific industries 18:44 Advantages of sourcing talent from South America 23:22 Incorporation of AI into the product using OpenAI, Anthropic, and Llama2 25:24 Importance of delivering value and creating awareness for customers 26:46 Looking for people who care about helping others and economic mobility 29:30 Funding journey: self-funded, upcoming funding round 32:53 Finding investors with expertise in the relevant industry 33:55 Selecting the most compelling and honest metrics for investors 35:15 Communication with partners, associates, and analysts in the funding process 38:13 How to get in contact with Path AI team and whats coming new in 2024
Resources
Company website: https://yourpath.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourpathai/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourpath.ai/ Other: https://www.thefamily.studio/
In this episode, we interview Stacy Spikes, the founder of MoviePass, about his background in the entertainment industry and the journey of building a successful tech company. Spikes shares his experience in the music and film sectors, his motivation for creating MoviePass, and the challenges he faced in the movie industry. He explains how MoviePass works as a subscription-based service that allows moviegoers to save money on tickets and provides insights into the technology behind the platform. Spikes also discusses his passion for supporting underrepresented filmmakers and the impact of MoviePass on the movie industry.
Unlike streaming services that dominate the entertainment industry, MoviePass focuses solely on the physical movie theater experience. By offering a subscription service, MoviePass aims to eliminate the need for studios to constantly reacquire customers through advertising, ultimately doubling the size of the movie industry. The platform provides customers with a virtual card in the app, which they can use to purchase tickets either online or in person. This flexibility allows moviegoers to choose from a wide range of theaters and enjoy significant savings on their movie tickets.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
Stacy Spikes is an award-winning entrepreneur and inventor who USA Today named one of the 21 most influential Blacks in technology. He holds several technology patents and is the co-founder and CEO of the nation’s first theatrical subscription service, MoviePass. In addition, Spikes is the founder of Urbanworld, the largest international festival dedicated to nurturing Women and BIPOC filmmakers. Spikes is the author of a business memoir titled Black Founder, The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider on Kensington Press.
Time Stamps:
03:00 Introduction and background of Stacy Spikes
04:50 Solving the pain point of movie exposure
06:45 Revolutionizing moviegoing experience with subscription services
09:17 Flexible movie ticket credits with MoviePass
12:15 Building a technology platform: from concept to execution
15:17 Finding the right tech hubs
19:55 The evolution of Dev shops
24:06 Getting the word out and acquiring new customers
26:29 Overcoming barriers to entry in the movie theater industry
28:20 Creating an innovative OTT platform
31:54 Stages of fundraising and how to find demand for your product
34:38 Stacy's new Book: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider
36:37 What coming new and how to get in contact with the MoviePass team
Resources
Company website: https://www.moviepass.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/moviepass
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moviepass-inc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviepass
The podcast currently has 70 episodes available.