Found In The Rockies

Found In The Rockies

By Les CraigBusiness
Download on the App Store

Found In The Rockies episodes

  • Joseph Haecker (Tech Alley) \\ startup ecosystem in Denver
    In today’s episode, we have a self described “Startup Addict” - Joseph Haecker. Joseph is using his vast experience in entrepreneurship to mentor new startups, and work to create a vibrant community in the startup ecosystem of Denver, Colorado.
    Here’s a closer look at the episode:
    Joseph the Startup Addict.
    Losing $283K on his first venture.
    The big mistake founders make early on.
    Turning your customer into your marketer.
    Why Joseph doesn’t believe in formal mentorship.
    Three feet from gold.
    How Joseph ended up in Denver?
    How Tech Alley got started.
    Tech Alley is one of the most meaningful startup events.
    Free resources for startups.
    Where do you go to learn more about the startup ecosystem?
    Joseph’s prediction for the Colorado startup ecosystem.
    Resources:
    Website: https://www.techalleydenver.org/
    Joseph LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephhaecker/
    Tech Alley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tech-alley-denver/
    Tech Alley Twitter: https://twitter.com/TechAlleyDenver
    Tech Alley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techalleydenver/?hl=en
    Tech Alley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TechAlleyDenver
    1 hr
  • Joseph Haecker (Tech Alley) \\ Building and supporting the startup ecosystem in Denver

    In today’s episode, we have a self described “Startup Addict” - Joseph Haecker. Joseph is using his vast experience in entrepreneurship to mentor new startups, and work to create a vibrant community in the startup ecosystem of Denver, Colorado.

    Here’s a closer look at the episode:

    • Joseph the Startup Addict.
    • Losing $283K on his first venture.
    • The big mistake founders make early on.
    • Turning your customer into your marketer.
    • Why Joseph doesn’t believe in formal mentorship.
    • Three feet from gold. 
    • How Joseph ended up in Denver?
    • How Tech Alley got started. 
    • Tech Alley is one of the most meaningful startup events.
    • Free resources for startups.
    • Where do you go to learn more about the startup ecosystem?
    • Joseph’s prediction for the Colorado startup ecosystem.

    Resources:

    Website: https://www.techalleydenver.org/

    Joseph LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephhaecker/

    Tech Alley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tech-alley-denver/

    Tech Alley Twitter: https://twitter.com/TechAlleyDenver

    Tech Alley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techalleydenver/?hl=en

    Tech Alley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TechAlleyDenver


    51 min
  • David Paul (DWP Capital) \\ Investing in the Grand Canyon State
    In today’s episode, we're headed for the first time to the Grand Canyon State. Last year in 2022, Arizona saw over 140 companies raise upwards of $1.1 billion, putting Arizona on the National Venture map as a strong emerging venture ecosystem. Here to tell us all about the Arizona venture scene is my friend David Paul, who is the CEO and founding member of DWP Capital.
    Here’s a closer look at the episode:
    David’s background and how he got into VC.
    What motivated David to start his own firm.
    DWP’s SPV strategy.
    What advice are you giving to founders in your portfolio?
    Thesis and strategy of DWP.
    The power of the quick decision.
    What is unique about the Arizona Tech environment.
    What does the future hold for the ecosystem?
    The startup community in Arizona.
    What’s the future of venture in Arizona?
    Major themes or industries in Arizona.
    What if you weren’t a VC? What would you do with your time?
    Resources:
    DWP Capital Website: https://dwpcapital.com/
    David LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpaulvc/
    DWP Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dwp-capital/
    The Capital Stack Podcast: https://www.capitalstackpodcast.com/
    1 hr
  • Katherine Wells (Serenity) \\ Revolutionizing Senior Care
    In today’s episode, we are featuring an experienced startup founder who is on a mission to revolutionize communication and quality of life for families who are engaged with the entire continuum of senior care - Katherine Wells, who is the CEO and founder of Serenity.
    Here’s a closer look at the episode:
    Growing up in Colorado Springs.
    Working at Hewlett-Packard in California.
    Working with the “father of the help desk industry” - Ron Muns
    What was it like to be in a startup during the dot.com bust?
    The emotions of laying off employees.
    Getting acquired by larger companies.
    Katherine’s superpower
    Moving to Denver.
    Starting a company with her husband about co-parenting.
    Serena’s journey into startup land.
    Starting work in AI
    Working on AI with Rolls Royce
    Katherine’s mother’s Alzheimer's diagnosis
    Moving her parents into care facilities
    The problem of communication across caregivers
    Katherine’s husband Rob building her a prototype
    Deciding to fundraise so Rob could focus on the business
    The cow in the ditch
    Post COVID growth
    Mavericks of Senior Living video podcast
    Top Entrepreneur Finalist Colorado in 2022
    Partnership with World Cinema and the Thrive Innovation Center
    Katherine’s advice to people who are dealing with the challenges of family needing senior care.
    1 hr
  • Elle Bruno (TechStars Boulder)
    In today’s episode, we have someone who has done it all founder, funder, and now contributor to our startup ecosystem. Excited to have Elle Bruno who is the managing director of TechStars Boulder.
    Here’s a closer look at the episode:
    Elle’s early days as an entrepreneur
    Why Elle focuses her angel investing on female founders.
    What’s changed in the world of investing in female founders.
    Elle’s advice to founders that are struggling with challenges/disadvantages.
    Eliminate emotion and use data.
    The importance of the founder/VC relationship
    The quintessential element of investment is spending time with the founders.
    Power dynamic shift with founders and funders.
    Why investors and founders both need to do diligence.
    What brought Elle to TechStars and the imposter syndrome.
    The difficulty in choosing the companies for the cohorts.
    How TechStars has grown.
    What the TechStars Boulder program entails.
    Advice to founders thinking about applying to TechStars.
    What’s unique about being a founder in Colorado
    Why do TechStars as a founder.
    What are you looking forward to on the personal front?
    Resources:
    TechStars Boulder Website: https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/boulder
    Elle Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellebruno/
    Techstars LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techstars/
    Techstars Twitter: https://twitter.com/techstars
    Techstars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techstars/
    Techstars Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/techstars
    Techstars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/techstarstv
    1 hr
  • Elle Bruno (TechStars Boulder) \\ From founder to funder to TechStars Managing Director

    In today’s episode, we have someone who has done it all founder, funder, and now contributor to our startup ecosystem. Excited to have Elle Bruno who is the managing director of TechStars Boulder.

    Here’s a closer look at the episode:

    • Elle’s early days as an entrepreneur
    • Why Elle focuses her angel investing on female founders.
    • What’s changed in the world of investing in female founders.
    • Elle’s advice to founders that are struggling with challenges/disadvantages.
    • Eliminate emotion and use data.
    • The importance of the founder/VC relationship
    • The quintessential element of investment is spending time with the founders.
    • Power dynamic shift with founders and funders.
    • Why investors and founders both need to do diligence.
    • What brought Elle to TechStars and the imposter syndrome.
    • The difficulty in choosing the companies for the cohorts.
    • How TechStars has grown. 
    • What the TechStars Boulder program entails.
    • Advice to founders thinking about applying to TechStars.
    • What’s unique about being a founder in Colorado
    • Why do TechStars as a founder.
    • What are you looking forward to on the personal front?

    Resources:

    TechStars Boulder Website: https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/boulder 

    Elle Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellebruno/ 

    Techstars LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techstars/ 

    Techstars Twitter: https://twitter.com/techstars 

    Techstars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techstars/ 

    Techstars Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/techstars 

    Techstars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/techstarstv 


    46 min
  • Sam Fonoimoana (Datajoin) \\ Transforming B2B Sales & Marketing Teams One Micro Integration at a Time

    In today’s episode, we have Sam Fonoimoana Sam is the founder and CEO of Datajoin, which is a b2b SaaS company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, that allows enterprise customers to connect their customer behavioral data across their marketing platforms to enable truly full funnel personalization, with Datajoin’s proprietary micro integrations.

    Here’s a closer look at the episode:

    • Growing up in a Polynesian family in Hawaii.
    • Moving to Salt Lake City
    • The path that led him down solving data problems.
    • What is mico-integration.
    • Top of funnel focus.
    • Customer data activation and marketing data activation is where the company is now.
    • How Sam’s previous jobs highlighted the problem. 
    • Launching a social media marketing agency with Adobe.
    • Moving from a service to a product. 
    • When COVID dried up the pipeline.
    • How the network is needed to get the round done.
    • Always take the potential investor meeting. 
    • Advice about being a trailblazer in your region.
    • Sam’s message for investors in the region.
    • Exciting things on the horizon.

    Resources:

    Datajoin Website: https://www.datajoin.com/

    Sam Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-fonoimoana/

    Sam Twitter: https://twitter.com/samfonoimoana 

    Datajoin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/datajoin/

    Datajoin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DatajoinHQ 


    51 min
  • Sam Fonoimoana (Datajoin)
    In today’s episode, we have Sam Fonoimoana Sam is the founder and CEO of Datajoin, which is a b2b SaaS company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, that allows enterprise customers to connect their customer behavioral data across their marketing platforms to enable truly full funnel personalization, with Datajoin’s proprietary micro integrations.
    Here’s a closer look at the episode:
    Growing up in a Polynesian family in Hawaii.
    Moving to Salt Lake City
    The path that led him down solving data problems.
    What is mico-integration.
    Top of funnel focus.
    Customer data activation and marketing data activation is where the company is now.
    How Sam’s previous jobs highlighted the problem.
    Launching a social media marketing agency with Adobe.
    Moving from a service to a product.
    When COVID dried up the pipeline.
    How the network is needed to get the round done.
    Always take the potential investor meeting.
    Advice about being a trailblazer in your region.
    Sam’s message for investors in the region.
    Exciting things on the horizon.
    Resources:
    Datajoin Website: https://www.datajoin.com/
    Sam Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-fonoimoana/
    Sam Twitter: https://twitter.com/samfonoimoana
    Datajoin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/datajoin/
    Datajoin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DatajoinHQ
    1 hr
  • Wesley Eames (After.com) \\ Revolutionizing death tech
    In today’s episode, we have Wesley Eames, CEO and founder of after.com. Wesley is working to fix what is an antiquated and broken funeral system and he has the entrepreneur chops to do it.
    Here’s a closer look at the episode:
    Wesley’s early start in entrepreneurship at 12.
    Wesley’s background in business.
    Trace.com - genealogy - Wesley’s first VC backed company
    Diving into dating apps by buying another startup - MeetMindful
    Founding Tales.com with his wife
    The importance of memorializing stories.
    Why death tech?
    The death of big funeral - https://youtu.be/0hU1-kIGhJo
    No one has tried this before. Why is that?
    The environmental impact
    How death traditions have changed
    Finding a co-founder.
    The pre-planning services
    What are the locations?
    Adding the death insurance component
    Wesley’s thoughts on the future of the industry.
    Wesley’s thoughts on legacy
    Resources:
    Website: https://www.after.com/
    Wes Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weames/
    Wes Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesleyEames
    After LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/after-com/
    1 hr
  • Stef Sample (FUNDID) \\ Simplifying business finance & access to capital

    In today’s episode, we welcome back the original host of Found in the Rockies - Stef Sample. Stef now has a new company, FUNDID, which is empowering business owners on their growth journeys by simplifying business finance & access to capital

    Here’s a closer look at the episode:

    • Growing up in Billings, MT
    • Moving to Missoula to study Chinese
    • The Insight Studio and supporting other entrepreneurs
    • How The Insight Studio helped inspire FUNDID.
    • Raising her Seed round.
    • Thinking of fundraising like a competitive sport
    • The importance of having a good marketing plan in an ecosystem.
    • If you ask for advice, you get money. If you don’t ask for money you get advice.
    • How the VC world is broken.
    • Closing the seed round.
    • Getting business funding to small businesses - which account for 98% of all women owned businesses
    • Launching a business charge card direct to those who need it. 
    • A move to Salt Lake to grow FUNDID
    • Family Balance

    Resources:

    Website: https://www.getfundid.com/ 

    Stef LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefaniesample/

    FUNDID LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fundid/ 


    51 min

About Found In The Rockies

From the publisher's feed

Do you want to hear about when the idea hit the founder? When they took the leap?