For most, the IPO is the milestone. For Jay Heller, that’s when the real work begins.

In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Jay Heller, former Head of Capital Markets at Nasdaq, to discuss the lessons he’s learned from overseeing more than 3,000 IPOs and now building a company of his own.

Jay shares what separates companies that succeed from those that don’t, why going public is only the beginning, what founders need to understand about investors and the public markets, and why he ultimately left Nasdaq to become CEO of K-Lab.AI, a programmable payment infrastructure company using AI and blockchain to bring greater speed, transparency, and accountability to payments.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Jay Heller learned from overseeing more than 3,000 IPOs
• Why the IPO is only the beginning, not the finish line
• What separates companies that succeed in the public markets from those that don't
• Why Jay left Nasdaq to become CEO of K-Lab.AI
• How K-Lab.AI is using AI and blockchain to transform payment infrastructure
• Why strong teams, clear roadmaps, and investor alignment matter when building a public company
• What founders need to understand about delivering on their promises once they enter the public markets

Whether you're a founder, investor, CEO, or simply interested in the journey from startup to public company, this episode offers insights into IPOs, capital markets, leadership, and what it really takes to build a company for the long term.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with founders and CEOs building the next generation of public companies.

Connect with Jay:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-heller-345a033/

Chapters:
00:00 - Trailer 
00:01:00 - Introduction of Jay Heller & K-Lab.Ai Overview 
00:02:39 - How K-Lab.Ai Solves Supply Chain Friction 
00:05:05 - Market Focus: Expansion in the US & Latin America 
00:07:12 - Why Jay Heller Left Nasdaq to Become CEO 
00:12:17 - The True Meaning of the Nasdaq Bell Ceremony 
00:13:42 - Key Traits of Successful Public Companies 
00:16:10 - The Origins & Evolution of K-Lab.Ai 
00:18:52 - Navigating Government Contracts & White House Meetings 
00:23:00 - What Makes an Effective CEO Across Different Industries 
00:26:12 - Fundraising & Building the Ideal Cap Table

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

What does it take to build a public medtech company that's transforming the future of hearing?

In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Brent Lucas, CEO of Envoy Medical (NASDAQ: COCH), to discuss the journey of bringing groundbreaking hearing technology to the public markets.

Envoy Medical is developing the world's first fully implanted cochlear implant, a breakthrough that could redefine how people with severe hearing loss experience sound. But this conversation goes far beyond the technology.

Brent shares what it takes to lead an innovative medical device company, the realities of raising capital, navigating the public markets, telling a compelling story to investors, and why having a great product alone isn't enough to build a successful public company.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- How Envoy Medical is reinventing hearing technology
- Why the company chose to go public
- The challenges of building a public medtech company
- Why great products don't automatically win in the public markets
- The importance of investor storytelling
- How fully implanted cochlear implants could transform millions of lives
- The emotional impact of helping patients reconnect with their loved ones

Guest featured in this episode:
Brent Lucas, CEO of Envoy Medical -https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-lucas-envoy/

Whether you're a founder, investor, healthcare professional, or simply fascinated by breakthrough innovation, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and the public markets.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with founders and CEOs building the next generation of public companies.

Chapters:
00:00 Introducing Brent Lucas & Envoy Medical
02:38 Building Invisible Hearing Technology
05:14 Disrupting a 40-Year-Old Industry
07:16 How Brent Got Into MedTech
10:22 A 30-Year Overnight Success Story
11:26 Why Envoy Medical Went Public
13:01 The Reality of Going Public Through a SPAC
14:38 The Challenge of Building in Public
16:34 The Patient Story That Changed Everything
19:36 The Public Market Challenge Nobody Talks About

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

Most people hear "quantum" and think it's years away.

Yaki Barnes disagrees.

As CEO of Nasdaq-listed Quantum X Labs, he's building quantum computers, quantum navigation systems, and quantum sensing technology that are already moving from the lab toward commercial applications.

In this episode, we break down what quantum technology actually is, why companies like IBM, Google, Amazon, and Nvidia are investing billions into it, and how quantum navigation could replace GPS in industries where accuracy and security are mission-critical.

Yaki also shares his journey from serving as an officer in the Israeli Navy to helping take multiple companies public on Nasdaq, and explains the leadership lessons that shaped his approach to building one of the industry's most ambitious quantum companies.

Whether you're an investor, founder, or simply curious about where technology is headed next, this conversation offers a practical look at one of the most exciting fields in innovation.

Guests featured in the Episode:
Yaki Baranes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaki-baranes-5a71b059/

Chapters
00:00 Trailer
00:50 Building a Nasdaq-Listed Quantum Company
06:26 Why Great CEOs Need Smarter Teams
08:05 Leadership Lessons from the Israeli Navy
11:58 The Career Path to Becoming a Quantum CEO
13:50 The Technology That Could Replace GPS
18:56 The Secret Behind Quantum X Labs' Advantage
21:47 IPO or Reverse Merger? Why They Chose Nasdaq
24:07 The Biggest Mistake Founders Make Before Going Public
26:10 The Future of Quantum Technology

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

Cybersecurity isn't just an enterprise problem anymore, it's a business survival problem.

In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Kevin Kelly, CEO of Cycurion, to discuss how the cybersecurity landscape is changing and why small and mid-sized businesses have become targets.

Kevin shares insights from decades of leadership experience, from leading global organisations to running a publicly traded cybersecurity company. 

The conversation dives into how AI is reshaping cybersecurity, the unique challenges of serving government and enterprise customers, protecting underserved businesses, and what it takes to build and scale a public cybersecurity company in today's rapidly changing market.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, investor, or simply interested in the future of cybersecurity, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the world's fastest-evolving industries.

Guest featured in this episode

Kevin Kelly – CEO, Cycurion
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-kelly-cycu/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:15 Meet Cycurion: Serving the underserved cybersecurity market
06:42 Why healthcare, banks, and government are prime cyber targets
09:42 The true cost of ransomware attacks
12:16 Cybercrime, ransomware, and the rise of "disorganized crime"
14:40 Kevin Kelly's journey to leading Cycurion
20:28 How AI is transforming cybersecurity
22:45 Why cybersecurity is becoming an AI arms race
25:13 The realities of building a public cybersecurity company
32:53 Scaling Cycurion through government contracts and AI-driven products

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, where we bring you conversations with founders, CEOs, and market leaders building the companies shaping tomorrow.

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

What does it take to solve one of the world's biggest nuclear challenges?

In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation, to discuss how the company is transforming nuclear waste disposal using innovative borehole technology. Rod shares his unconventional journey from public accounting to leading a deep-tech company, the challenges of building in a highly regulated industry, raising capital, pursuing the public markets, and why he believes the future of nuclear energy depends on solving the spent fuel problem.

In this episode, we discuss:
* Deep Isolation's innovative approach to nuclear waste disposal
* Why spent nuclear fuel remains one of the industry's biggest challenges
* Building a company with no direct commercial competitors
* The $300 billion global market opportunity
* Navigating regulation, government partnerships, and community engagement
* Raising capital for deep-tech innovation
* Deep Isolation's journey toward the public markets
* The future of nuclear energy and long-term industry growth

Connect with Rod Baltzer on LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-baltzer/

If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and capital markets leaders on Startup to Stock Exchange.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Nuclear Innovation & Deep Isolation
01:12 – What Deep Isolation Does
02:05 – Rod Baltzer's Journey to Becoming CEO
03:52 – Learning the Nuclear Waste Industry
05:25 – Building a Business in a Highly Regulated Industry
08:58 – A Company with No Direct Competitors
11:14 – The Global Market Opportunity & Expansion
13:14 – Raising Capital and the Road to the Public Markets
17:43 – A Day in the Life of a Deep-Tech CEO
19:23 – What's Next for Deep Isolation

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

Most people see a global company and assume success happened overnight.

What they don't see are the years of persistence, the skepticism, and the countless decisions required to turn a vision into reality.

In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Leandro Iglesias, CEO of IQSTEL, and Alvaro Quintana, CFO of IQSTEL, to discuss how they transformed a telecom startup into a publicly traded global business operating across 30 countries.

The conversation explores IQSTEL's journey from a $10 million revenue company to a business approaching a $500 million run rate, their path from the OTC markets to Nasdaq, and how they're evolving beyond telecom into AI, cybersecurity, fintech, and digital health services.

Leandro and Alvaro also share their acquisition strategy, lessons from managing teams across multiple continents, and why they believe the company's biggest growth opportunities are still ahead.

Whether you're a founder, investor, or business leader, this episode offers valuable insights into scaling internationally, leveraging public markets, and building a company with long-term vision.

Guests featured in the episode:
Leandro Jose Iglesias, CEO at IQSTEL : https://www.linkedin.com/in/leandro-jose-iglesias-20940818/

Alvaro Quintana Cardona, CFO at IQSTEL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvaro-quintana-cardona-921494/

IQSTEL: https://www.iqstel.com/

Seth’s Companies
Vstock Transfer – https://www.vstocktransfer.com/
Share Media – https://www.sharemedia.co/

Listen to the Show
Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seth-farbman-on-podcast-from-startup-to-stock-exchange/id1356667808
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/54i7xkWaAALAFrUvk4WZcN

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

About the Show
From Startup to Stock Exchange, hosted by entrepreneur and investor Seth Farbman, spotlights the journey of founders and CEOs as they scale their companies from early ideas to public markets. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders across industries, offering insights on growth, fundraising, branding, and the mindset it takes to build a company that lasts.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Meet the IQSTEL Leadership Team
01:55 How IQSTEL Started 18 Years Ago
04:00 The Reality of Becoming a Public Company
05:45 From Telecom Company to AI, Cybersecurity & Fintech
09:00 Growing Revenue from $13M to $400M+
11:40 How the CEO and CFO Built the Company Together
14:40 Managing a Business Across 30 Countries
18:00 The Acquisition That Could Push IQSTEL Past $500M
24:15 Why Banks Said Their Vision Was Impossible
28:15 Why IQSTEL Chose the Public Markets
30:45 The Road to $1 Billion Revenue
33:00 What's Next for IQSTEL and Its Shareholders

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

The man who saw the future of media 15 years before everyone else.

In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Kit Gray, Founder and President of PodcastOne, to discuss how he spotted the shift away from traditional media long before podcasting became mainstream. Kit shares how he built one of podcasting's leading companies, the early advertising deals that proved the business model worked, and the lessons he learned while helping transform podcasts from a niche format into a multi-billion-dollar industry.

They also discuss why most podcasts fail, what creators underestimate about building a successful show, how YouTube has changed podcast consumption, and the opportunities AI is creating for the future of media.

Guests Featured: Kit Gray, Founder & President, PodcastOne
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kit-gray-83203265/

00:00 Trailer
01:10 Introduction and Meet PodcastOne Founder Kit Gray
02:25 Discovering Podcasting Before It Existed
05:15 Why Traditional Media Was Doomed
08:20 The Insight That Made Podcasting a Business
11:45 The ProFlowers Deal That Changed Everything
15:05 Building PodcastOne and Scaling the Industry
18:40 Why Most Podcasts Fail
22:10 How PodcastOne Helps Creators Succeed
25:05 Why YouTube Became Podcasting's Biggest Platform
28:10 AI, Content Ownership and The Future of Media
30:15 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

How do you spot the next category-defining company before everyone else?

In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Chris Marlett, CEO of MDB Capital, to discuss finding breakthrough technologies, building market leaders, navigating public markets.

From IPOs and investing to leadership and storytelling, Chris shares the lessons he's learned from helping build 18 public companies over the last 30 years.

00:00 Trailer
01:20 Introduction to Chris Marlette & MDB Capital
03:25 What MDB Capital Actually Does
06:45 How MDB Finds Breakthrough Companies
10:15 Why Most Investors Chase Trends
13:30 Building Category Leaders Through IP
16:45 Chris Marlette's Journey & Childhood
21:10 Why MDB Capital Went Public
24:40 What Founders Need to Know Before an IPO
28:30 Vision vs Execution in Leadership
31:45 The Future of Public Markets & Final Thoughts

Seth’s Companies
Vstock Transfer – https://www.vstocktransfer.com/
Share Media – https://www.sharemedia.co/

Listen to the Show
Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seth-farbman-on-podcast-from-startup-to-stock-exchange/id1356667808
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/54i7xkWaAALAFrUvk4WZcN

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

About the Show
From Startup to Stock Exchange, hosted by entrepreneur and investor Seth Farbman, spotlights the journey of founders and CEOs as they scale their companies from early ideas to public markets. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders across industries, offering insights on growth, fundraising, branding, and the mindset it takes to build a company that lasts.

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

This episode explores how modern payment infrastructure powers fintech companies, utilities, banks, governments, and enterprise brands behind the scenes.

Seth Farbman and Louis Hoch discuss how Usio, Inc. evolved from a dot-com era electronic billing company into a diversified payments infrastructure business processing billions of dollars across ACH, card issuing, embedded payments, and disbursements.

If you’re building a company in this ever-changing market environment this conversation is for you.

00:00 Trailer
01:20 Introducing Louis Hoch & Usio
03:05 Processing Payments for Major Brands
05:25 The Technology Behind MoviePass & Card Programs
07:45 Why Print & Mail Still Matter in Fintech
10:20 Surviving 28 Years Through Industry Changes
13:15 How Covid Changed Payment Behavior
15:05 From Technologist to Public Company CEO
18:00 Usio's Ideal Customers & Government Contracts
21:00 How Public Market Investors Have Changed
25:00 Common Misconceptions About the Payments Industry
27:15 The Story Behind the Name "Usio"

Seth’s Companies
Vstock Transfer – https://www.vstocktransfer.com/
Share Media – https://www.sharemedia.co/

Listen to the Show
Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seth-farbman-on-podcast-from-startup-to-stock-exchange/id1356667808
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/54i7xkWaAALAFrUvk4WZcN

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

About the Show
From Startup to Stock Exchange, hosted by entrepreneur and investor Seth Farbman, spotlights the journey of founders and CEOs as they scale their companies from early ideas to public markets. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders across industries, offering insights on growth, fundraising, branding, and the mindset it takes to build a company that lasts.

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

Most founders think going public is the goal it’s not.

In this episode, Seth sits down with Joe Lucosky, Founding Partner of Lucosky Brookman, to break down how CEOs should actually think about going public whether through an IPO, SPAC, direct listing, or not at all.

Joe shares the hard truth most advisors won’t say: many companies simply aren’t ready and chasing the public markets for the wrong reasons can do more harm than good.

If you’re building a company and thinking about the public markets, this conversation will change how you approach that decision.

00:00 – Trailer
01:20 – Introduction & Meet Joe Lucosky
05:10 – The DNA of Entrepreneurs
09:35 – Building a Business From Scratch
14:40 – What Makes a Great Founder?
20:05 – Why Most People Quit Too Early
25:30 – The Power of Relentlessness
31:15 – Going Public: IPOs, SPACs & Market Realities
38:20 – How to Know If Your Company Is Ready
45:10 – Lessons From Decades of Deal-Making
49:40 – Final Advice for Founders & Closing Thoughts

Seth’s Companies
Vstock Transfer – https://www.vstocktransfer.com/
Share Media – https://www.sharemedia.co/

Listen to the Show
Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seth-farbman-on-podcast-from-startup-to-stock-exchange/id1356667808
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/54i7xkWaAALAFrUvk4WZcN

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

About the Show
From Startup to Stock Exchange, hosted by entrepreneur and investor Seth Farbman, spotlights the journey of founders and CEOs as they scale their companies from early ideas to public markets. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders across industries, offering insights on growth, fundraising, branding, and the mindset it takes to build a company that lasts.

Connect with Seth
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1