Old Pueblo, New Economy

Welcome back to investor’s corner, this week we’re going to talk with Brian Ellerman, he is an angel investor and the founding director of Arizona FORGE. As both a technology scout and angel investor, Brian brings a very impartial and diplomatic view to help entrepreneurs navigate early-stage investments.

It is always exciting to see entrepreneurs with big vision, and this week we’re learning from LegalBreeze as they work to level the playing field for access to legal services. They are taking on transformation of a complex and dynamic industry which is ripe for change.

Dr. Fox is an active early-stage investor and has assisted numerous businesses by providing capital and guidance. He has also founded several successful businesses and has served at the executive and board level for multiple companies. He is a former adjunct instructor at the Eller College of Business of the University of Arizona and holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology.

Welcome to Mentor Me Live.  I’m grateful to have the opportunity to help Tucson entrepreneur and film-maker, Jeff Brack. Not only has Jeff directed, written, and produced short and feature films, but he’s also launched a highly successful premium dine-in movie Theater Chain, Roadhouse Cinemas in Tucson, Scottsdale, and Colorado Springs.

We have an extremely exciting show today with CEO of the Desert Angels, Joann MacMaster. Joann has served as a startup founder, mentor, investor, and educator. She’s passionate about regional ecosystem development and recently received the Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson Lasting Community Builder Award and this year the 2020 Women of Influence Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Sean Parker’s astrophotography showcases the sparkling sky above our distinctive desert landscape. His passion for shooting the stars, capturing lightning, and chasing a dust storm translate into amazing pieces with graphic impact. Hear how he launched his photography career and how his work was quickly published in the Smithsonian. Learn how his presence on social media has led to amazing opportunities like shooting the aurora borealis in Iceland for a big brand to now leading international workshops there. Sean’s an adventurer, hard-worker and reveals many tips for creative entrepreneurs and up-and-coming photographers! Enjoy this Creative Community episode with Sean Parker.

Sean Parker is an award-winning photographer and workshop instructor based in Tucson, AZ. Sean holds a strong passion for capturing the beauty of our universe from gorgeous sunsets all the way to the stars above. His fascination with the night sky started when he was younger, but it wasn't until 2011 when he took a photo of the moon with his iPhone through a telescope that really had him starstruck with the art of astronomy and photography. Now Sean has been published internationally in magazines such as Arizona Highways, Smithsonian, Digital SLR Magazine, and more for his landscape DSLR

This Mentor Me Live episode features Eric Bockman, founder of Auction Roo. He has an early-stage idea to transform how auction houses distribute merchandise to customers. AuctionRoo does not currently have any paying customers, and Eric is looking for support in finding a business-minded co-founder and narrowing the focus to get his first paying customer.

Today on Mentor Me Live, we are going to tackle fear. As entrepreneurs, we are constantly facing our fears. The fear of running out of money, fear of hiring the wrong person, fear of customers rejecting us, the fear of our skills not being enough to accomplish our gigantic visions.

In this interview, you will learn how Janelle created a new real-estate category, a revolutionary new way to own your first home in downtown Tucson, with expansion into Seattle, Denver and more! How to start your first company through the local innovation ecosystem in Tucson, along with Janelle’s number one piece of advice for startup founders. Fundraising 5 million dollars in Tucson.

In March and April of 2020, I heard directly from numerous small business owners and understand that the challenges created by COVID-19 are overwhelming. Many described feeling paralyzed and overwhelmed, which has led to inaction and an inability to pivot or make thoughtful plans or decisions. This is such a normal place to be during this unprecedented time and we wanted to help, by offering support to let you know that you are not alone, your feelings are normal and there is a way to start down the path toward action.

On Wednesday, April 22, I led two interactive sessions with local business leaders and experts to discuss ways to begin to re-imagine your business during this unprecedented time.