Ara chats with Blake Mischley, Co-Founder of Meet Your Class, a platform designed to help students build meaningful connections before their first day. Ara and Blake talk aboutthe inspiration behind the idea, the challenges of launching a startup, and what’s next for Meet Your Class. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an educator, or just love a good startup story—this episode is for you.

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series produced by Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) and hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.

This episode is sponsored by Michigan Rise, Pre-Seed Fund III.

In this episode, Ara sits down with Justin Turk, CEO & Co-Founder of Livegistics, the game-changing cloud-based platform revolutionizing the construction and waste management industries. Justin shares his journey from startup to scaling, the impact of real-time data on operational efficiency, and how Livegistics is driving innovation in traditionally paper-heavy industries.

Ara chats with Cindy Warner, Founder of 360ofme, an ethical data exchange platform. Cindy is a an active member of the Michigan ecosystem who also serves on the Michigan Strategic Fund that helps promote economic development within the State of Michigan. (Ara sat down with Cindy during the 2024 Michigan Tech Week activities).  

Ara chats with Paula Macpherson, Executive Director of Velocity which is a catalyst for culture change designed to accelerate innovation, re-invention and growth for businesses. Located in Sterling Heights, MI, they are an incubator, accelerator and coworking space combined in one world class facility. Paula’s role is in helping Velocity grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem by strengthening relationships and partnerships within their county.

For more information on MVCA, please visit: https://michiganvca.org/

Ara talks with Monica Wheat who is currently the Managing Director of the Techstars Detroit Accelerator Powered by JP Morgan, part of a global seed-stage accelerator in 40+ cities worldwide. She previously served as a Techstars Startup Programs Lead for 10+ years leading programs globally and is the Founding Co-Director of Founders Boost, a global Pre-Accelerator and for Techstars program now live in 20 cities.

Monica’s extensive experience in tech startups and venture capital offers invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial landscape. Our conversation delves into her journey, the challenges she’s faced, and her vision for the future of innovation in Michigan. Don’t miss this engaging and insightful discussion.

Special thank you to our generous podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  

Ara chats with two MVCA Venture Fellow recipients: Jacqueline Lensing (Grand Ventures) & Sapna Patel (Michigan Capital Network) about their path to Michigan and venture capital.

Special thank you to our generous podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Ara talks with Mykolas Rambus, a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and advisor. Mykolas brings a wealth of experience from his impressive career, including his roles as CEO of Wealth-X and Head of Business Development at Bloomberg LP. Join us as Mykolas shares his unique perspectives on venture capital, the challenges and opportunities in the tech industry, and his journey from startup founder to influential investor.

Ara talks with Atomic Object’s Co-CEOs, Shawn Crowley and Michael Marsiglia.
Atomic Object is a custom software development consultancy that creates web, mobile, desktop, and embedded applications for a diverse range of clients.
Both are known for their forward-thinking approach and remarkable leadership; Shawn and Michael have guided Atomic Object to the forefront of custom software development.

Ara talks with Mike Flanagan, Managing Director of the Michigan Angel Fund and Vice President at Ann Arbor SPARK. Mike and Ara discuss the ecosystem, the importance of angels, entrepreneurs and much more. Special thank you to our sponsor: Michigan Rise.

Ara talks with both Broc Edwards and Reuben Levinsohn, managing partners of Exit Quotient Ventures.