Give First

In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with Ian Hathaway, co-author of The Startup Community Way, host of Outsider Inc., and Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Far Out VC, to unpack what makes entrepreneurial ecosystems actually work.

They revisit the early days of their collaboration, from Ian’s initial cold email and time in Boulder, to writing the book that reframed how founders, cities, and networks build momentum. They dive into the theory of complex adaptive systems, the power of feedback loops, and why startup success is anything but linear. Along the way, they reflect on Boulder’s influence, COVID’s inflection point, and how Techstars shaped Ian’s investing philosophy.

Plus, Ian shares why he launched Outsider Inc., a podcast dedicated to founders breaking the mold, and how he’s helping push founder-friendly policies through the Center for American Entrepreneurship in Washington, D.C.

If you’ve ever wondered how movements grow, how policy intersects with startups, or how to support founders outside the usual hotspots, this conversation delivers.

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In this special episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen and Brad Feld go deep with Lesa Mitchell on the 35-year evolution of the startup community movement. Recorded live at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, they reflect on the early days of entrepreneurship support—from the founding of EO and early angel networks to the ripple effects of the Kauffman Foundation.

Together, they explore the rise of startup ecosystems, the shift from gatekeepers to networks, and how placing founders at the center reshaped everything. Brad shares pivotal moments from Boston to Boulder, Lisa brings insider context from Kauffman’s legacy, and David reflects on how it all led to Techstars. It's a look back,—and a look forward,—at the movement that transformed how startups start.

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Listen & subscribe to the Give First podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen and Brad Feld go deep with Lesa Mitchell on the 35-year evolution of the startup community movement. Recorded live at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, they reflect on the early days of entrepreneurship support—from the founding of EO and early angel networks to the ripple effects of the Kauffman Foundation.

Together, they explore the rise of startup ecosystems, the shift from gatekeepers to networks, and how placing founders at the center reshaped everything. Brad shares pivotal moments from Boston to Boulder, Lisa brings insider context from Kauffman’s legacy, and David reflects on how it all led to Techstars. It's a look back,—and a look forward,—at the movement that transformed how startups start.

Follow David Cohen on LinkedIn and Twitter

Follow Brad Feld on LinkedIn and Twitter

Listen & subscribe to the Give First podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with Robert Wolfe, founder of Zeck and serial entrepreneur behind companies like Moosejaw and CrowdRise. Robert shares his transition from consumer brands to enterprise software—and how Zeck is modernizing how executive teams communicate, collaborate, and make decisions.

They explore the inefficiencies of traditional board meetings, the role of design and clarity in leadership, and how humor and authenticity have shaped Robert’s approach to building companies. He also reflects on working with creative partners like Edward Norton and building products that scale across startups and large organizations alike.

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Listen & subscribe to the Give First podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

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In this special episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen is joined once again by co-host Brad Feld, back after nearly two years away from the spotlight. Brad shares why he stepped back, what brought him back, and the deeper thinking behind his new book, Give First: The Power of Mentorship.

They dive into the origins of the Give First philosophy, how it grew from a simple idea into a powerful movement influencing startup communities worldwide, and why giving without expecting immediate returns continues to shape entrepreneurship today.

Order your copy of Give First: The Power of Mentorship here.

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In this episode of the Give First podcast, host David Cohen is joined by Usman Gul, founder and CEO of Metal. Usman shares his entrepreneurial journey and how his company is revolutionizing the fundraising process for startups.

Usman discusses his own experience raising capital, the challenges he encountered, and how Metal is simplifying and democratizing access to venture capital. With advanced investor intelligence and AI-driven tools, Metal is transforming the way founders identify and connect with the right investors. Tune in to hear how technology and entrepreneurship come together to make fundraising more efficient and accessible for all.

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In this episode of the Give First podcast, hosts David Cohen is joined by Kevin Noertker, CEO and co-founder of Ampaire. Kevin shares his journey from aspiring astronaut and NASA engineer to leading a revolutionary Techstars-backed company.

Ampaire is advancing hybrid electric aviation, aiming to cut aircraft fuel usage by 50-70%, addressing both environmental and economic issues in the aviation sector. 

Kevin discusses the concept of 'invariant milestones' for setting and achieving ambitious goals, the challenges of blending the automotive and aviation industries, and the importance of resilient, mission-driven leadership. 

The episode also covers Ampaire's fundraising journey, strategic decisions, and Kevin's commitment to the entrepreneurial community.

Follow David Cohen on Twitter @davidcohen

Listen & subscribe to the Give First podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

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In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen speaks with Marc Steren, Cofounder and Co-CEO of University Startups. The two discuss the entrepreneurial journey and the transformative impact of education. 

Marc offers insights into his 30-year entrepreneurial career, from pioneering mobile ticketing to selling his company in 2012, and transitioning to education as a professor at Georgetown University. He also recounts the unexpected success and eventual founding of University Startups, an AI-augmented curriculum designed to empower under-resourced students by providing pathways to higher education and career success through virtual generative AI counselors.

The conversation covers the importance of being mission-focused for startup success, the value of running numerous small experiments, and the impact of having celebrity investors like Steven Spielberg and Michael Jordan. 

Cohen and Steren also take time to explore the challenges and opportunities within the current educational system, the need for reform, and the unique approach of University Startups in democratizing access to quality education.

Follow David Cohen on Twitter @davidcohen

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Emma Bates, co-founder of Diem, is reshaping the way women search the internet. Diem is a social search engine designed to provide women with trustworthy, community-driven results. In this episode of Give First, Emma talks about her journey building Diem, starting with her experience in the Techstars accelerator and the inspiration behind her women-centric approach to search.

Emma dives into the challenges of fundraising as a female founder, sharing hard-earned insights on overcoming bias in venture capital. “Fundraising is a game,” Bates explains in her strategies for navigating investor interactions and the importance of staying focused amidst a sometimes discouraging landscape.

Listeners will also hear the inside story of Diem's $3.7 million funding round, and the details behind a challenging experience that highlights the gender disparities that still exist in the VC world. Emma's candid discussion with David Cohen offers valuable guidance for any entrepreneur seeking investment.

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Follow Emma Bates on Instagram @emmashbates

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Kirill Bigai, Preply CEO and co-founder, launched the company’s first set of values back in 2015, while participating in the Techstars Berlin program. But as the team has changed, so have the values.

“It’s an evolution,” said Bigai, who involves his 650+ staff members in their development and incorporates the values into hiring, performance reviews, and operations.  

David Cohen agrees that fine tuning and articulating values is smart for business and for company culture. In this edition of Cohen’s Give First Podcast, he and Bigai dig into values, hiring practices, stubbornness and how, when the company expanded outside of the Ukraine, Bigai would call every single customer himself. 

Tune in for more. 

Books mentioned in episode: 

Who by Geoff Smart and Randy Street

No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer

Follow David Cohen on Twitter @davidcohen

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