Innovation with Mark Peter Davis

DESCRIPTION

This week, Phuong and I are discussing pricing strategies. Pricing plays a critical role in various aspects of your business. You can either position yourself as the lowest or highest price player in the market, while being in the middle can cause confusion for customers.

Deciding whether you want a high or low volume business is essential. Choose a pricing model that aligns with your value proposition, such as monthly, annual, metered pricing, or revenue share. Ensure your pricing aligns with your overall business strategy, focusing on either high price and high quality or low price and high volume, but avoid mixing the two for the best results.

Links:

• Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay 
• Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn

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This week I’m joined by Amy Rubenstein, founder of Clear Investment Group LLC, a multifamily real estate firm focused on revitalizing distressed workforce housing. Amy's journey into real estate began by accident, and she highlights the tangible nature of the industry that drew her in. She discusses the transformative work her company does, emphasizing the alignment of profitability with social impact by improving living spaces for tenants.

Amy also identifies two areas in need of innovation within the real estate sector: key management and photo tracking. We discuss cost-effective technological solutions to streamline these processes. Despite concerns about the multifamily real estate market in 2024, Amy remains optimistic about its fundamentals and foresees potential loan renegotiations as opposed to a "bloodbath." This conversation sheds light on the real estate industry and its potential for innovation.

Thank you Amy for joining the pod this week! 

Links:

• Guest links: Clear Investment Group LLC Website, Clear Investment Group LLC LinkedIn
• Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay
• Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn

DESCRIPTION

Interplay’s Incubator Partner, Phuong and I discuss the importance of managing boards and investors effectively for entrepreneurs. We chat about how boards can either be a significant asset or a liability and provide guidance on how to ensure they are a valuable resource. It is important to carefully select board members who you trust and who have the best interests of your company in mind. Setting clear expectations, communicating transparently, and regularly connecting and nurturing the relationships are key. Phuong and I finish off the conversation chatting about how a well-structured board can be a valuable resource for entrepreneurs if best practices are followed, including making board meetings more than just updates and ensuring alignment of KPIs with the company's stage.

Links:

• Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay
• Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn

DESCRIPTION

In this week’s pod, I am joined by Mike Rogers, our VC Partner, to chat about  the state of the market, especially in relation to technology companies and the venture capital space. We discuss the disappointment in recent tech IPOs, which have not performed as well as expected. Our conversation touches on the importance of strong IPOs for the entire venture ecosystem, as they drive liquidity events for investors and unlock talent for new ventures.

Our conversation dives into the changing landscape of venture capital, including the shift from traditional seed rounds to larger pre-seed rounds and the high expectations for Series A rounds. We emphasize that building real businesses with solid fundamentals is more important than inflated valuations. 

Thanks Mike for joining me this week, always a good time.

Links:

• Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay, @Mikeyjrog
• Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn

DESCRIPTION

In this week’s pod, we celebrate our 100th episode! I want to acknowledge the work of our amazing podcast producer, Will Richardson who keeps this going. The main topic of discussion is pivoting in the context of startups and entrepreneurship. Phuong, Incubator Partner at Interplay, provides insights into the pros and cons of pivoting and how to approach it strategically. She emphasizes that pivoting is a natural part of the early stages of a business and suggests that founders should continually evaluate and make changes to optimize their product, customer base, business model, and positioning. 

Phuong also offers guidance on recognizing the right time to pivot, such as when initial efforts are not yielding results or when external factors impact the business. We discuss the importance of receiving honest feedback, not settling for vague responses and emphasize the value of finding the right balance between pivoting and sticking with a failing idea.

Thank you to Phoung and to our listeners for celebrating our 100th episode!

Links:

• Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay,
• Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn

DESCRIPTION

On this week’s episode, I’m joined by Chris Zhang, Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Interplay, on the current state of the world markets and the shift in interest rates signaled by the Federal Reserve. This is Chris’ first time back on the pod since June, so we have a lot to dive into.

We discuss the mixed reactions in the market, with some seeing opportunities amidst the changes, especially in commercial real estate, while others are concerned about the potential long-term effects. Chris explains the implications of this shift on various financial assets and the mixed reactions in the market. We dive into political tensions and emphasize the importance of monitoring the 10-year Treasury yield as an indicator of economic health. 

Chris also shares some hopeful news, highlighting that consumer spending and the job market remain strong, which provides a sense of optimism and supports the idea of a "soft landing."

As usual, big thanks to Chris for taking the time to share his insights! 

Links:

• Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay 
• Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn

*DISCLAIMER*

Interplay Family Office LLC (“Interplay”) is registered as an investment adviser with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Information about the qualifications and business practices of Interplay is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov._ Interplay only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Offering of asset management services through Interplay is pursuant to an investment advisory agreement.The views expressed in this <<insert advert type, i.e., podcast>> are subject to change based on market and other conditions. The <<insert advert type>> may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Any projections, market outlooks, or estimates are based upon certain assumptions and should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur.Information communicated during the <<insert advert type>> does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general market information. A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented. The <<insert advert type>> is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. Neither Interplay nor its advisory persons render tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax and legal advisors for advice concerning your circumstances.

On this week’s episode we have a very special guest join to talk about the future of mental wellbeing and hygiene. Zak Williams - son of the entertainer Robin Williams - shares how his journey has influenced the creation of his company PYM. PYM creates natural supplements with science-backed amino acids, vitamins and minerals to boost neurotransmitter health, an often overlooked part of mental health.

Research in nutritional psychiatry is gaining momentum, with organizations like Harvard Medical School and Stanford exploring the link between metabolic health and mental wellbeing. Zak's team at PYM has become educators and advocates, emphasizing the importance of connecting data environments to understand lifestyle factors' impact on mental health.

Big thanks to Zak for joining the pod and sharing his story!

Links:

• Guest Links: PYM
• Books Referenced: Brain Energy by Christoper Palmer
• Follow us on Twitter: @zakwilliams, @youcanpym, @mpd, @interplay

Welcome back to Innovation w/ Mark Peter Davis. After taking a few months off from the pod, we’re back at it. Here’s what’s covered on this week’s episode:

• Mike Rogers shares insights on the current market dynamics and data indicating a possible upturn in the venture capital market. The discussion emphasizes the importance of pricing your startup appropriately during different funding rounds.
• Mike and MPD also discuss the growth stage and IPO market, including Instacart's potential IPO and its impact on the private market.
• Mike also shares some tips on how entrepreneurs can hit the ground running after the summer slow down.
• Phuong Ireland talks about the significance of crafting a clear and concise value proposition for startups and provides a tool to help define it.

Links:

• Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay, @Mikeyjrog
• Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn

Summer is upon us and - as we do every year - we’ll be taking a little podcast break until mid-September, so this is the last episode for a couple of months.

Since this one will be the most recent ep for a while, we chose to focus on two important topics to help founders navigate the summer lull: summer fundraising tactics + useful parenting strategies for the entrepreneurs out there raising kids AND a company.

Have a great summer everyone and see you in September. As usual, if there’s anything we can do to help, please feel free to reach out to us via socials and/or engage with us at interplay.vc/engage.

Links:

• Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay, @Mikeyjrog
• Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn

This week I sit down with Adam Nathan, Cofounder and CEO of Almanac, a collaboration platform that helps remote teams work on the internet, with more structure, more transparency, and fewer meetings. 

Adam emphasizes that the debate between remote and office work is irrelevant because even before the COVID-19 pandemic, most companies were already operating online and utilizing tools like document editors, Slack, and Zoom. He refers to it as "internet work" and believes that remote work brings flexibility, focus, and improved productivity for employees. Adam argues that the transition to internet work is an inevitable force of change that cannot be reversed, despite some resistance from those who are invested in traditional office environments.

However, Adam also acknowledges that there are challenges to remote work. While remote teams offer benefits like global hiring and individual flexibility, there is a need for more structured and transparent workflows. Many teams still rely on traditional office mechanisms such as meetings and messages, which can overload calendars and hinder productivity. Adam suggests that successful remote teams work with more structure, transparency, and fewer meetings. He also addresses the importance of creating human connection and fostering synchronous collaboration in remote settings. By implementing structured best practices and thoughtful approaches, remote teams can overcome the cons associated with remote work and achieve effective collaboration.

Special thanks to Adam for joining the pod!

Links:

• Follow us on Twitter: @adampnathan, @AlmanacDocs, @mpd, @interplay, 
• Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn