Build Tech Stack Equity

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

Today we sit with Luis Suarez, the founder of Sanarai, a startup focused on increasing access to high-quality mental health resources for the Spanish-speaking community. Originally from Mexico City, Luis moved to the US to pursue his MBA at Duke University. After struggling to find mental health support in Spanish during the COVID-19 pandemic, Luis recognized the need for better resources for the Latino community. With Sanarai, he aims to bridge the gap and provide culturally sensitive mental health services to Spanish speakers.

Luis shares his personal journey and the inspiration behind starting Sanarai. He highlights the significant gap in mental health services for the Latino population, with only 5% of mental health professionals speaking Spanish despite 13% of the population being Spanish speakers. He shares how they have built a two-sided marketplace connecting patients with mental health providers, focusing on relationship issues, anxiety, depression, and more. The team has leveraged resources like Google for Startups to grow their platform and ensure the highest quality of care for their users.

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:

Luis Emilio Suarez pursued his education at Colegio Vista Hermosa, and later attended Universidad Politécnica de Madrid from 2006 to 2011, where he obtained a degree in Mining and Energy Engineering. He then went on to study at Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business from 2015 to 2017, and received a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.).

Luis has an extensive work history starting from 2010, when he worked as a Project Engineer at Soletanche Bachy. He worked as a Contract Manager at SENER from 2012 to 2016, and in 2016 he became an MBA Summer Intern at Kearney. He was later promoted to Management Consultant in 2017. Most recently, in 2020, he founded Sanarai and became its CEO.

Time Stamps:

02:51 Introduction and background of Luis Suarez 06:40 Challenges of serving the Latino market and expanding to Central and South America 09:46 Sanarai as a two-sided marketplace for mental health services 11:04 B2B2C model and partnerships with companies and community organizations 12:00 Strategy for creating and filling demand for therapists 14:20 Matching patients with therapists based on specialties 16:37 Building the technology for the platform started with an MVP. 18:54 How proven interest from therapists and clients led to building a customized platform. 20:20 Focusing on quality of mental health providers rather than the technology. 23:00 What does the Sanarai team look like today 26:32 How does Sanarai's work mode work 29:27 Explaining 1871 as an incubator and shared space for startups 30:52 Sanarai experience with Google for Startups program 33:03 Funding and resources offered by Google for Startups 35:24 How to get in contact with the Sanarai team

Resources

Company website: https://www.sanarai.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sanaraizen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sanaraizen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanaraizen/

In this episode we sit with Veronica Crisafuli, the founder and CEO of Mo Technologies. Veronica shares her journey from a career in consulting to becoming an entrepreneur in the fintech industry. She discusses the problem she identified in the financial ecosystem - the lack of access to formal credit for a large portion of the global population. Veronica explains how she bridged the gap between her consulting background and the fintech industry by leveraging her knowledge of technology and her passion for financial inclusion. She introduces Mo Technologies, a fintech company that offers a credit core platform to enable clients to launch, operate, and scale their credit products. Veronica also highlights the importance of data and artificial intelligence in the underwriting process and discusses the competitive landscape in the fintech industry, including traditional banks and other fintech startups.

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:

Veronica Crisafuli is the CEO and Co-founder at MO Technologies. A creative mind that focuses on innovation in the digital space and financial inclusion. She worked as a strategic consultant for more than 15 years for important consulting companies dedicated to TMT and financial services, such as Bain & Company, Delta Partners, and Mastercard Advisor, where she led projects in South Africa, Argentina, United Kingdom, Brazil, Turkey, Czech Republic, Spain, and Colombia. Veronica started her entrepreneurial path on 2016, when she co-founded MO Technologies, a fintech that developed a patent-pending proprietary credit scoring technology based on machine learning, artificial intelligence and all cloud-based with a dream to democratize access to credit all around the world. As of July 27th, 2021, Veronica was appointed CEO at fintech MO. Additionally, from 2020 she co-founded KEO World: a fintech in the pure lending space. She has been named one of the 10 Most Successful Businesswoman to Watch 2020 by CIOlook, and recently highlighted as one of the 10 Most Inspiring Businesswomen Making a Difference, 2021. Beyond Exclamation also named her one of the 10 Most Successful Women Renewing the Future in Technology, 2021.

Time Stamps: 03:15 Introduction and background of Veronica Crisafuli 06:47 Identifying the pain point in the financial ecosystem 09:35 Developing the software-based solution for credit issuance 12:32 Business model: Charging based on the amount of credit offered 15:46 Modular platform allowing customization for clients 18:55 Facing competition from both large financial institutions and fintech startups. 22:15 Collaborative models between big institutions and fintechs accelerate the adoption of new technologies. 25:30 Scalling the product, focusing on the Latin America Market 27:07 Incorporating AI and machine learning in underwriting and data analysis. 28:47 Criteria for hiring technical roles 33:28 Remote work and finding tech talent in Latin America 38:46 Challenges in fundraising and adapting to market conditions 41:40 Changing fundraising strategies for a sustainable business 43:32 How to get in contact with the Mo Technologies Team Resources

Company website: https://www.wearemo.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoTecnologias LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearemo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mo.cmp/

In this episode we sit with David Silva, a Colombian entrepreneur and community builder. David shares his background growing up in Cali, Colombia, surrounded by a vibrant community of artists, politicians, and intellectuals. He discusses his journey from studying software engineering to becoming a software engineer and eventually transitioning into the startup world. David also talks about the importance of community and how he founded Techqueria, a community for Latino individuals interested in tech. The conversation then shifts to David's current venture, AWSM ("Awesome"), a venture studio focused on launching 100 startups in five years. David explains the need for more Latino leaders in the tech industry and the importance of funding and supporting underrepresented founders. He also discusses the challenges faced by Latino entrepreneurs and the need for mentorship and support networks. Throughout the episode, David emphasizes the importance of collaboration, community, and empowering each other. He shares his vision for creating a strong network of Latino leaders and supporting startups in highly regulated industries such as finance and healthcare. David also highlights the potential of Latin American talent and the need for international collaboration in the tech ecosystem. 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: David Silva is a multi-faceted professional with a rich history of tech and business community contributions. David's diverse career is marked by innovation and leadership. He currently serves as the founder of Calima which is a dynamic executive community that fosters international business collaboration. Calima provides a unique platform that connects Latin American executives in the US and abroad both online and in physical spaces. In addition, To his work at Calima. David holds the position of CTO at AWSM awesome. His role involves deploying complex teams of business owners to efficiently launch innovative ideas with a particular focus on the accelerator community: community engagement, FinTech, and healthcare. David's commitment to creating inclusive and supportive communities extends to his role as the founder of the tech area. Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction and background of David Silva 03:50 Getting into startups and learning new skills 06:47 Importance of learning management skills for engineers 09:21 Building the TechArea community 11:44 Empowering members to create their own events 13:14 Different key positions in the tech ecosystem 14:33 Disparity in funding opportunities for Latino and Black communities 17:38 Need to create more mentors and support networks 19:56 Working on launching 100 startups in five years 22:24 Different types of startup studios and incubators 25:10 International expansion without geographic restrictions 27:37 Attractiveness of living and working in Latin America 31:10 Introduction of a secret executive community for events and networking 34:14 Introduction of the Calima community with cultural significance 38:00 How to get in contact with the AWSM team

Resources Company website: https://awsm.vc/; https://caliman.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/awsmvc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/awsmvc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awsmvc/

In today's fast-paced world, technology is constantly evolving, and consumers are always on the lookout for the latest gadgets. However, this obsession with newness has led to a significant amount of electronic waste, as people discard their old devices in favor of the latest models. ZeluCash recognized this wasteful trend and saw an opportunity to create a more sustainable and cost-effective solution. Today we sit with Lucas Keen, the founder of ZeluCash, an Argentinean startup that specializes in the recommerce industry. With an MBA in Argentina and a background in startups, Lucas has extensive experience in the e-commerce and technology sectors. He launched ZeluCash in 2015 to address the wastage of valuable technology, such as smartphones, by creating a trading program where customers can trade in their old devices for new ones. Lucas is passionate about the circular economy and believes in giving products a second life. Keen discusses the growth of the recommerce industry in Latin America and the impact of his company's trading program. He explains how ZeluCash allows customers to trade in their old smartphones for new ones, providing a more affordable option and reducing electronic waste. Lucas also highlights the importance of trust and transparency in the recommerce market and the role of technology in facilitating the buying and selling process. He shares his plans for expanding into Mexico and Chile and the potential for growth in the region. 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: Lucas Keen has 16 years of experience managing digital business in Latam. He performed as a Sales Manager for 6 years at DineroMail (acquired by PayU in 2012) From 2011 to 2014 he was Country manager and investor at Ticketbis, European ticket exchange platform sold to eBay. He earned his MBA from IAE (Business school of Austral University) in Argentina. Time Stamps: 02:57 Introduction and background of Lucas Keen 07:50 Initial challenges faced by ZeluCash 10:45 Expansion of ZeluCash product offerings 12:57 Zelu Cash's impact on the market in Argentina 14:10 Embracing the circular economy concept 16:48 Using own and third-party technologies for flexibility and efficiency. 19:44 Finding the right developers to build out the product 22:00 Using a recruiting agency to improve the quality of talent and freelancers for projects. 24:50 Buying, pricing and selling based on daily market scans and phone conditions. 29:42 Leveraging retail companies for marketing on the buying side. 32:09 Implementing cost-saving processes with technology 34:08 Ensuring trust through software verification and customer reviews 36:11 Potential growth in the recommerce market in Latin America 39:26 How to get in contact with the ZeluCash team

Resources Company website: https://zelucash.com/home Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZELUCASH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zelucashlatam/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zelucash/

Today, we have the pleasure of introducing Camille Padilla, the co-founder of Vodium, a groundbreaking platform that has introduced the world's first virtual teleprompter. Based in Chicago, Illinois, Vodium operates as a transparent app seamlessly integrated into video conferences, enhancing the virtual communication experience. With Vodium, Camille and her team aim to bring back the sense of genuine human connection in the digital realm by helping users maintain eye contact and communicate with confidence.

Before her entrepreneurial venture with Vodium, Camille served as the vice president at a top boutique political media firm based in Los Angeles. In this role, she demonstrated exceptional skills as an operator and creative thinker, managing operations and budgets for multimillion-dollar ad campaigns. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in her leadership style, actively advocating for employees from diverse backgrounds and ensuring an inclusive and empowering workplace.

In this thought leadership article, we will explore Camille's innovative journey with Vodium, her experience in the political media landscape, and her commitment to fostering diversity and creativity in the workplace. We will delve into the main themes discussed in the podcast and analyze their implications and potential impact on the future of virtual communication.

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:

Before launching VODIUM, Camille was Vice President at one of the top boutique political media firms. She likes to say she's a conundrum because she's a skilled operator and creative. Camille ran all the operations and budgets for multi-million-dollar ad campaigns. But she also wrote, directed, and produced national TV commercials. The idea of VODIUM came to her while she was conducting a video shoot over Zoom, and the first person she had to call was her best friend and roommate, Mary Mellor. Now VODIUM has been operational for three years. Time Stamps: 03:02 Camille's Journey and the Birth of Vodium 09:18 Importance of Eye Contact in Virtual Communication 13:03 Challenges and Triumphs of Building Vodium 17:11 The Role of AI in Vodium 23:01 The Importance of Soft Skills in Virtual Communication 25:49 The Challenges of Building a Tech Startup 29:05 Securing Initial Investment and Finding a Development Firm 31:46 The Trade-off Between Hiring Developers vs. Software Development Shop 35:20 Navigating the Enterprise Market 38:12 The Decision to Partner with Avanade 45:38 The Journey to Raising 2 Million in Funding 50:34 How to get in contact with the Vodium team, future Plans and Final Thoughts

Resources

Company website: https://vodium.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vodium_com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vodium-com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vodium_com