Powderkeg - Unvalley

Last Thursday was a huge day for the Indianapolis tech community. AOL co-founder Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest tour bus stopped by, and ten high-growth startups competed for a chance to win a cool $100,000. In the end, the grand prize went to the water-testing company 120WaterAudit. The company’s CEO, Megan Glover, was among our panel of guests on last week’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, which you can check out here if you missed it.

Even though Rise of the Rest Indy is over, the founders who pitched at the event can still provide invaluable lessons and examples for fellow entrepreneurs to follow. In this second part of our RotR Roundtable, which was recorded two weeks ago, I speak with leaders from the final five companies that pitched on stage last Thursday.

Our conversation touches briefly on the innovative work these company are doing in their respective spaces before diving deeper and exploring the inspiration behind each one. The real meat of the discussion centers on some of the unexpected benefits of starting up in Indiana—a state that most people don’t traditionally associate with tech innovation—and the ways that a commitment to diversity and inclusivity have given these founders a decisive edge in their industries.

In this episode with the final five RotR founders, you’ll learn:

--- The innovative work each company is doing in its space

--- What inspired each founder to start their business

--- How Indiana’s tech ecosystems and universities have given these startups an edge

--- The critical roles diversity and inclusivity have played for their companies

--- How they like to prepare for an important pitch

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If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes

This Thursday, AOL co-founder Steve Case’s sixth Rise of the Rest tour is making a stop in Indianapolis, IN, where Powderkeg’s headquarters are proudly located. Ten local tech companies will participate in a pitch competition that showcases the best in Indy entrepreneurship and promises a $100,000 investment for the startup that comes out on top.

In anticipation of the event, I gathered all ten finalists for candid roundtable discussions about their companies, their struggles and successes, and the state of Indianapolis as an ecosystem for tech innovation. In this first half of our two-part episode, I speak with the heads of DemandJump, 120WaterAudit, PoliticalBank, Torchlite and Fuzic. Our conversation is a great introduction to a few of the high-growth companies that will be competing at the sold-out event on October 12.

If you didn’t manage to snag a ticket to Rise of the Rest or don’t live in Indy, don’t worry, because Powderkeg will be broadcasting the entire event from Union 525 in downtown Indianapolis with the help of our friends at Edge Media Studios. Just visit RotR’s Facebook page on Thursday to tune into the livestream and see which company goes home with the check.

Until then, enjoy our exclusive chat with these five breakthrough entrepreneurs, and check back next week for our second roundtable featuring the remaining finalists.

In this episode with the first five RotR founders, you’ll learn:

--- Why Indianapolis is rapidly becoming the nation’s tech nucleus

--- How the success of ExactTarget paved the way for Indy’s current generation of tech startups

--- Key pivots each startup has made on its journey to becoming a successful business

--- How their pitches have changed to reflect the evolution of their companies

--- Ways Indianapolis can still improve as a hub for global tech companies

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If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes

A company’s product is its lifeblood. It’s the one thing most responsible for a company’s success or failure, which is why smart product design is an absolute must for every business. And truly expert-level product design goes much deeper than nailing the visual aesthetic for your website.

I called in help from Aman Brar and Mike Reynolds, two respected Indianapolis-area CEOs, to unpack this very loaded and very important topic. Brar is the founder of Canvas, the first ever recruitment platform based on text messaging. Reynolds heads up Innovatemap, a product design agency that has helped more than 75 clients dream, design and scale digital products and services. The connection here is that Innovatemap worked closely with Canvas during its own product design phase, helping Brar and his team craft a stellar application and raise $1.7 million in early-stage seed funding.

The story behind how Canvas got its start is a great case study for every tech company that’s in the middle of product design or is preparing to tackle it in the future. In our conversation, Aman, Mike and I cover the journey from product ideation to launch, with a strong focus on the fundamental concepts of design. We also discuss why and how to conduct high-quality market research and the important ways that product interacts with brand and culture.

In this episode with Aman Brar and Mike Reynolds, you’ll learn:

-- The very first steps you should take when designing a product

-- Three things you should keep in mind while planning your features

-- How to get the most value out of conversations with potential customers

-- Specific strategies for conducting user research and blind interviews

-- How to create a cohesive brand that powers your product

-- Why you need to distill your “big idea” into a narrower initial product

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If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes

Building and scaling a tech platform is no easy task even for someone with a background and years of experience in software development, let alone a recent college grad with no formal tech education. But that’s exactly what Sarah Adler did when she co-founded Spoon University with her good friend and business partner.

Setting out to build an online media platform featuring food and cooking-related content created by and for college students, Adler taught herself to code and created the first several versions of the website out of her tiny New York City apartment. The tech continued to evolve as Spoon University grew, and the platform now includes content from nearly 250 universities across the country. Scripps Network Interactive acquired the company in May, and it’s now part of the Food Network media family.

As the CTO of Spoon University, Adler has become an expert on scaling online tech platforms and managing content creators. I met with her at the Spoon University offices in New York to learn all about her experiences launching and growing the company, and our conversation covered topics like how to evolve a platform consistent with user needs and how to help users create compelling, high-performing content. We even touched on the importance of meditating and making time for yourself to maintain your sanity while leading a high-growth company.

In this episode with Sarah Adler, you’ll learn:

-- How meditation and taking time for yourself can help you be a better entrepreneur

-- How to scale your tech product by delivering what your customers want

-- Spoon University’s secret strategy for helping users generate great content

-- Ideas for making video content less intimidating for content producers

-- Reasons why you might want to stick to a niche audience rather than broaden it

-- The resources and community New York City can offer entrepreneurs and startups

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If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes

An education in innovative thinking can change a person’s life, opening the door to more fulfilling careers and better opportunities to make a real impact on the world. Unfortunately, it’s not something most people are likely to receive in a traditional academic setting—unless they’re a student of Don Wettrick.

Wettrick is a teacher at Noblesville High School just north of Indianapolis, IN and the co-founder of StartEdUp, an organization that’s changing education by empowering innovation and entrepreneurship in the classroom. Wettrick has 20 years of experience as a middle school and high school educator, and for the past five years, he’s been developing and teaching a curriculum that encourages students to follow their passions and work on projects that truly excite and inspire them.

I met with Don in Noblesville High School’s awesome Library/Innovation Center for this interview, and he shared his best innovation education secrets that learners of all ages can apply. In this episode, we discuss how to brainstorm and develop innovative ideas, how to connect with influential people through social media, and how to push through fear to do the work you're meant to do. We even speak with two of Don’s students for a closer look at how his innovation course is having a positive impact on their lives.

When you’ve finished listening to this episode, I highly encourage you to check out the StartEdUp podcast, in which Don and his student co-host interview experts in education, innovation and entrepreneurship and discuss how anyone has the power to change the world and live life to the fullest. And for deeper insights into Don’s innovation course and what he’s learned from teaching it, read his book, Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation and Taking 20% Time to the Next Level.

In this episode with Don Wettrick, you’ll learn:

-- Why and how he’s teaching innovation and entrepreneurship to high school students

-- Proven strategies for encouraging innovative thinking in a classroom setting

-- Practical tips for connecting with anyone through social media

-- About his special “ROTH IRA” process for innovation education

-- How two of his students have been positively impacted by his curriculum

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If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes

A talented co-founder can be an incredible asset to an entrepreneur, providing a second set of shoulders to bear the responsibilities of business and a second opinion to test ideas against. The right co-founder can compliment your strengths, compensate for your weaknesses and make every aspect of the company better than you could make it by yourself.

But don’t just take my word from it. Instead, listen to business partners, Scott Hill and Andy Medley, co-founders of the marketing tech company, PERQ. In the last episode of the Powderkeg Podcast (that’s episode 42 for those keeping count), I talked with Scott about his strength as a visionary with unique ability to see business opportunities where others can’t. Medley, on the other hand, is a masterful integrator who harnesses Hill’s visionary ideas into detailed and effective business plans. The two have leveraged their individual strengths to build PERQ into an innovative, world-class tech company in Indianapolis, IN.

For this interview with Scott and Andy, I’m joined by my own business partner and the CMO of Powderkeg, Kevin Bailey. Together, we probe the PERQ cofounders for insights into their business partner relationship and get some incredible strategies for maximizing the benefits of any business partnership. Our guests share everything from advice on developing your roles as founders to tips for handling leadership disagreements and the inevitable days when you’re both feeling burnt out.

I hope this episode teaches you a few invaluable lessons on harnessing the power of your co-founder or business partner relationship. Enjoy the show, and then give a shout to Scott “The Cheetah” Hill and Andy “The Horse” Medley on Twitter (@bizgamer and @andymedley, respectively) to show your appreciation for their advice and expertise!

In this episode with Scott Hill and Andy Medley, you’ll learn:

-- The ways a co-founder relationship can help each person develop their role

-- How Scott and Andy work together as visionary and integrator

-- Strategies for co-founders to deal with disagreements, bad days and burnout

-- Advice for building and maintaining an outstanding company culture

-- The importance of discipline and having a “harness” for your vision

-- Why education and guidance are essential elements of continual business growth

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This episode of Powderkeg is brought to you by DeveloperTown. If you’re a business leader trying to turn a great idea into a product with traction, this is for you.

DeveloperTown works with clients ranging from entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies who want to build and launch an app or digital product. They’re able to take the process they use with early stage companies to help big companies move like a startup.

So if you have an idea for a web or mobile app, or need help identifying the great ideas within your company, go to developertown.com/powderkeg.

If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast.

At Powderkeg, we believe every entrepreneur has their own personal superpower that makes them great at what they do. Scott Hill’s superpower is being a visionary—that is, being exceptionally capable of seeing opportunities that others can’t and understanding exactly how to prepare so he can seize them when the time is right.

I met Hill at a pivotal time in my life, when I was still a college student in Bloomington, IN, and thinking about becoming an entrepreneur. Hill’s company, PERQ, was in print marketing at the time, and I was so inspired by what he was doing with his business that I committed myself to starting my own company shortly afterward. Hill later transitioned PERQ into the still-fledgling marketing tech space, taking the company in a groundbreaking new direction that has more than paid off in the years since.

In this episode, Hill and I dive deep into what it truly means to be a visionary in business. We discuss some of the challenging tasks that visionary entrepreneurs are likely to undertake—such as developing an innovative product and pivoting their business to accommodate changing markets—as well as how founders can sharpen their own visionary skills (here’s a hint: it’s about practice more than anything else). We even touch on the special power that sharing stories has for entrepreneurs, which is a topic we’re both very passionate about.

I hope this episode provides you with many helpful ideas for developing your own inner visionary. Follow Hill on Twitter @bizgamer for more great insights on being a visionary entrepreneur, and stay tuned to Powderkeg: Igniting Startups for more stories from innovative entrepreneurs, investors and top talent making waves outside Silicon Valley.

In this episode with Scott Hill, you’ll learn:

-- What it really means to be a visionary

-- Tips for developing your skills as a visionary entrepreneur

-- How to socialize your ideas and work toward a final product

-- Actionable advice for transitioning your company into the tech space

-- The power of visualizing the future you want for your business

-- Why sharing stories is so important for entrepreneurs

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This episode of Powderkeg is brought to you by DeveloperTown. If you’re a business leader trying to turn a great idea into a product with traction, this is for you.

DeveloperTown works with clients ranging from entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies who want to build and launch an app or digital product. They’re able to take the process they use with early stage companies to help big companies move like a startup.

So if you have an idea for a web or mobile app, or need help identifying the great ideas within your company, go to developertown.com/powderkeg.

If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast.

A brief glimpse at Rachael Qualls’ resumé will convince you that she’s a true innovator in the world of venture capital and angel investing. A brief meeting with her at a Powderkeg pitch night in Kansas City, MO, convinced me that I had to invite her on the podcast to share her deep knowledge of fundraising and investing with our community of entrepreneurs.

Qualls has a decade of experience building and investing in companies, first among the flourishing tech ecosystem in Nashville, TN, and now in her hometown of Kansas City. She’s seen firsthand how difficult it is for founders to raise money, and she’s passionate about making it easier. Her current company, Venture360, aims to do this through a private equity portfolio management platform that helps entrepreneurs and investors close deals and track investments with fewer hassles.

In our interview, Qualls gives in-depth and practical advice on all things fundraising, touching on such topics as researching investors, generating interest, assembling an appealing pitch deck and making a good impression at your first meeting. Qualls is also an expert on innovation, and she provides insight into the latest industry trends—online investing, crowdfunding and ICOs—and how they’re likely to revolutionize investing in the near future.

This episode is packed with insider information that should provide valuable context for any founder or investor looking to increase their fundraising IQ. It should also be an enlightening resource for anyone interested in the current state of investing and the exciting places the industry is headed.

In this episode with Rachael Qualls, you’ll learn:

-- What it takes to scale an innovative tech business

-- The biggest obstacles that prevent entrepreneurs from getting funded

-- What she’s doing to get more people interested in venture and angel investing

-- How the nature of investment is changing in response to tech and government legislation

-- Why you should always be raising capital and detailed steps for doing so

-- Expert tips for assembling your pitch deck and meeting with investors

-- Why ICOs will be huge for the future of digital investing

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This episode of Powderkeg is brought to you by DeveloperTown. If you’re a business leader trying to turn a great idea into a product with traction, this is for you.

DeveloperTown works with clients ranging from entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies who want to build and launch an app or digital product. They’re able to take the process they use with early stage companies to help big companies move like a startup.

So if you have an idea for a web or mobile app, or need help identifying the great ideas within your company, go to developertown.com/powderkeg.

If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast.

The U.S. healthcare industry is in the midst of a rapid evolution to accommodate changing government legislation, market pressures and technological opportunities. The environment is ripe for disruption by innovative startups, but health tech founders face a number of unique obstacles on the road to success.

In this episode of Powderkeg: Igniting Startups, I sit down with health tech entrepreneurs Susan Bratton and Stryker Warren to learn more about these obstacles and how to surmount them. Bratton is a former Wall Street investment banker of 20 years and founder of Savor Health, a personalized nutrition solution for cancer patients. Warren, on the other hand, is a former founder and CEO of numerous healthcare companies, and he now primarily advises and invests in talented health tech founders like Bratton.

Thanks to their combined years of experience in healthcare, Bratton and Warren provide me an insider's guide to overcoming operational and financial constraints and building high-growth health tech companies. In addition to this industry-specific knowledge, they also share insightful tips for assembling a team, conducting market research and planning for growth that can be utilized by founders in all industries.

Enjoy the episode, and reach out to us on Twitter @PowderkegCo or in the comments below to let us know how we can continue making the podcast an invaluable resource for founders and startups across the country!

In this episode with Susan Bratton and Stryker Warren, you’ll learn:

-- Why and how the healthcare industry is evolving

-- The importance of team building, perseverance and flexibility for startup success

-- Strategies for conducting market research and planning your company’s growth

-- Unique operational and financial obstacles faced by healthcare companies

-- Why Nashville and New York are great cities to build a company outside Silicon Valley

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This episode of Powderkeg is brought to you by DeveloperTown. If you’re a business leader trying to turn a great idea into a product with traction, this is for you.

DeveloperTown works with clients ranging from entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies who want to build and launch an app or digital product. They’re able to take the process they use with early stage companies to help big companies move like a startup.

So if you have an idea for a web or mobile app, or need help identifying the great ideas within your company, go to developertown.com/powderkeg.

If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast.

Following last month’s announcement that Powderkeg has officially become a product company, my team and I have been doing some intensive planning on how to build a world-class customer experience (CX). With this in mind, I sought out Haresh Gangwani of Bolstra and Don Aquilano of Allos Ventures for this episode to get the perspective and advice of two experts in the SaaS Customer Success space.

Gangwani and Aquilano have a combined 30 years of customer success experience, Gangwani as a business operator and Aquilano as an advisor and investor. Gangwani previously served in various VP roles at the enterprise software company Aprimo, where he developed such a passion for helping customers get value out of a product that he later launched his own customer success SaaS startup, Bolstra. Meanwhile, Aquilano invested in and sat on the boards of both Aprimo and Bolstra, which helped him form a close working relationship with Gangwani and taught him the incredible value of customer success from a financial and advisory perspective.

Our guests provided some truly invaluable insights on why and how to make outstanding customer success practices a secret weapon for your SaaS business. I know I’ll be heeding their advice as we create our new customer experience strategy for Powderkeg.

Enjoy the show, and please leave us a comment below to let us know if you liked the episode! You can also reach out to Gangwani and Aquilano on LinkedIn (links below) to thank them for sharing some of their wisdom on the podcast.

In this episode with Don Aquilano and Haresh Gangwani, you’ll learn:

-- How Gangwani conceived of Bolstra’s customer success platform

-- What a true mentor/mentee relationship looks like, and why you need one

-- The big difference between customer success and customer support

-- Bolstra’s process for driving customer success with their SaaS product

-- Why charging for customer success actually makes economic sense

-- Why you need to commit to customer success early in the life of your business

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This episode of Powderkeg is brought to you by DeveloperTown. If you’re a business leader trying to turn a great idea into a product with traction, this is for you.

DeveloperTown works with clients ranging from entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies who want to build and launch an app or digital product. They’re able to take the process they use with early stage companies to help big companies move like a startup.

So if you have an idea for a web or mobile app, or need help identifying the great ideas within your company, go to developertown.com/powderkeg.

If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast.