Startup Success: A Podcast for Founders & Investors

We explore some weighty questions on this episode of Startup Success, including:

• What would the world look like if half the venture capital dollars were in women-led funds? 
• Is VC funding the golden ticket or just another hurdle for startups? 
• How do we overcome the biggest limiting factor to success – ourselves?
• Why is the bulk of venture capital still not in the hands of women?

Sutian Dong, Partner at Multitudes and a pivotal figure in venture capital, joins us to tackle these topics and to share profound insights on the dynamics that guide VC’s decision making process, how that impacts startups, and why she started her own fund.

Known for her work supporting female founders and investors, Sutian is the founder of Global Women in VC, the world’s largest global community for women in venture capital. Her firm, Multitudes, is built on the thesis that the next generation of innovation will be different than the last, and they invest in and incubate projects that explore the edge of human consciousness.

Join us for this enlightening discussion on the future of investing, the value of diverse perspectives, and the strategic decisions every founder should consider.


----
Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

To celebrate the 100th episode of Startup Success, we have two exceptional guests: Peter Reinhardt, CEO and co-founder of Charm Industrial (and the former co-founder/CEO of Segment), and Jeff Burkland, CEO and founder of Burkland.

Peter and Jeff take us behind the scenes of Segment, the hugely successful startup that was acquired by Twilio for $3.2 billion in 2020. They recount their time working together at Segment, where Jeff came on board early as the fractional CFO.

Jeff and Peter candidly discuss:

• How Peter overcame the early stage challenges that almost ended Segment
• The struggle to find product-market fit
• Jeff’s take on what makes a great fundraising pitch (and why Peter is a natural)
• The pricing model that was a game-changer for Segment

Finally, Peter touches on his latest venture Charm Industrial, a carbon removal technology startup that raised  $100 million last year and has a long list of renowned US companies as customers. 

Tune in for practical advice, insightful stories, and real-world lessons learned from their startup experiences. Whether you're in the early stages of your startup or looking to scale, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways!


----
Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

In the rapidly evolving world of AI, standing out requires more than just innovation; it demands leadership and a clear vision. Enter Lin Qiao, the driving force behind Fireworks AI, who is redefining the limitations of speed, value and scale in generative AI.

With a $52M Series B secured earlier this summer, Fireworks AI has quickly become a major player after launching their public platform just one year ago. Lin, their CEO and Co-Founder, joins us to share the invaluable lessons she’s learned along her journey from leading Meta’s AI platform development team to founding an industry-disrupting startup.

We explore:

• Fireworks AI’s customer obsessed culture and deep belief that “if our customers are successful, we will be successful”  
• How their product iterations flowed organically from their customers’ evolving needs
• Why moving fast and prioritizing for speed is key to their success
• Where AI is headed as it becomes more sophisticated and the industry matures

Lin offers advice for founders on everything from how to avoid the “paralysis of analysis” in decision-making to strategies for driving down the cost of AI. Don't miss this insightful conversation with one of the leading voices in AI innovation.

For more information about Fireworks AI, visit fireworks.ai.

----
Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

Amid high interest rates and election uncertainty, navigating the startup landscape has never been more challenging. Fortunately, our special guest, Steve Lord, is here to offer a broader perspective that may help ease your mind.

As a member of Burkland’s Leadership Team, Steve serves as Managing Director of Service Delivery and Chief Knowledge Officer. Steve has been in the trenches for a while and his knowledge of the startup and venture capital ecosystem runs deep.

He joins us today to discuss the current state of the startup and venture capital ecosystems and what to expect as we progress through 2024.

Steve expands on:

• The macro factors that are making the startup landscape and fundraising more difficult right now
• The pros and cons of using Venture Debt to extend your cash runway
• Why a rigorous due diligence process that addresses all the “Gotchas” is a good thing for your startup
• Finding investors who are allies and who can make your company better
• The value of delegating to subject matter experts so you can stay focused on your product
• The cyclical nature of VC funding and the strategic responses startups can take 

Tune in for practical tips on how to survive and even thrive in today’s startup environment. 

----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

In this episode of Startup Success, we welcome Jaclyn Chen, Co-Founder and CEO at Benepass, a platform that solves real-world pain points for both employees and employers in the benefits space.

Jacyln dives into her experience working with Y Combinator early on and how she approached fundraising during very different economic climates. And she shares some truly great advice for fellow startup founders!

Highlights from our discussion include: 

• Strategies that increase your odds of securing funding
• The parallels between enterprise sales and raising venture capital
• The evolution of the founder role from selling the vision to building a team and scaling the company
• Ideas on how founders can make the due diligence process more seamless for VCs

This episode is packed with valuable insights for early-stage startup founders looking for a competitive edge. 

----
Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

Dr. Misti Ushio, Managing Partner at Digitalis Ventures, joins us in the studio today. Misti’s entrepreneurial journey took flight with the formation of TARA Biosystems, a groundbreaking startup that developed “heart-on-a-chip” technology. 

From raising $20 million in venture financing to navigating the complexities of scaling a biotech startup, Misti shares the highs and lows of her journey and discusses how her talent for commercializing cutting-edge research is a perfect fit for her most recent role as a VC.

Misti offers valuable advice for startup founders on a variety of topics, including:

• How to put together a board of directors that will best serve your startup now and in the future
• The often-overlooked impact of branding and business development on a startup's success
• Methods for reining in the conflicting demands of running a fast-growing startup

Tune in for a conversation filled with wisdom, insights, and inspiration!

----
Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

Our guest today is Stasia Obremskey, Co-Founder and Managing Director at RH Capital, an impact-first venture capital fund that invests in the future of women's health.

Stasia provides an in-depth look at the types of innovations RH Capital is passionate about and shares examples of how their portfolio companies are dramatically improving health outcomes, affordability and health equity. Listeners will learn about the potential for outsized returns in this is a large, underserved, rapidly growing market.

We also discuss:

• The critical importance of managing every penny of your available cash, especially in this market
• Stasia’s advice for founders on securing funding
• The pivotal role of a CFO at a startup

Join us for this fascinating conversation and discover how RH Capital is a driving a paradigm shift in women’s healthcare.

Visit RH Capital at rhcapital.vc to learn more about their mission and investment criteria. Startups pioneering change in women’s health are encouraged to submit a pitch via the Pitch Us form on their website. 

----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

We’re thrilled to have Tanya Beja, General Partner at AlleyCorp, in studio for the latest episode of Startup Success. Join us for a fascinating conversation about their unique approach to investing and incubating that will strike a chord with startup founders looking to make a positive impact on society.

Tanya introduces us to AlleyCorp Impact, a fund dedicated to backing founders who are intentionally building for middle or low income Americans - the 80% of families who power our economy. Impact specifically looks for compelling ideas that use tech to solve big social challenges, accelerate upward mobility, and generate strong returns.

We also discuss:

• How AlleyCorp combines incubation and early-stage investment to build category-defining companies
• Real-world examples of how their portfolio companies are impacting a wide range of human needs, such as health equity and economic security
• Their new philanthropically funded ENG(INE) program that pairs nonprofits with a team of engineers to build tech that advances social & economic opportunity
• Tanya’s advice for founders on the importance of having a North Star, hiring amazing people, and how to pick the right investors

Don't miss this episode packed with insights and inspiration for anyone interested in the world of venture capital and impact-driven investing.

For more information on AlleyCorp and to stay updated with their latest ventures, visit allycorp.com and follow them on LinkedIn. Nonprofits interested in applying for ENG(INE) can learn more at nonprofitengine.org/

----
Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

In this episode of Startup Success, we sit down with Josh Gilbert, CFO of the VC firm Freestyle, who unravels the intricacies of venture capital investing. Josh offers an insider's perspective on the role of VC firms in the startup ecosystem and sheds light on the inner workings of how they operate.

His insights on the current state of the startup/VC landscape, along with why the renewed focused on due diligence is a good thing for startup founders (despite the potential headaches), make this a not-to-be-missed episode!

Highlights:

• Why due diligence is more stringent now and how founders should approach it
• His advice on what founders need to be transparent about, including past failures
• Josh details the rigorous process VCs go through in evaluating startups
• How to build strong relationships with your investors and why it’s important

Josh's dedication to supporting founders shines through, making this episode a must-listen for anyone navigating the world of startups and venture capital. Tune in to learn more about Freestyle and the secrets to startup success.

----
Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

Join us in this enlightening episode as we sit down with Bill Snyder, the CEO and Founder of Vivante Health. Propelled by a recent $31M Series B round, his company is on a mission to revolutionize digital health, starting with chronic GI conditions. 

Bill shares the founding story of Vivante Health and how their innovative platform transforms the way patients suffering from digestive health issues receive care. He also gives us a peek into the challenges of entrepreneurship, including the highs and lows of fundraising and the importance of building a strong company culture. 

We discuss: 

• The 3 things Vivante Health is doing right that sparked investors’ interest 
• The power of transparency, accountability, and collaboration in building a mission-driven organization
• How his startup is using pattern recognition to improve patient outcomes
• Bill’s hard-won advice for dealing with obstacles that arise along the startup journey

Tune in for valuable insights from an inspiring founder who built a successful startup from the ground up.

----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!