In this "Ask Bernie" segment, host Bernie Dixon speaks from her experience as an angel investor and venture capital investor. She talks about where entrepreneurs can find investors, how to start off and build relationships, and questions to ask to help you find a good fit for you and your company.

Conferences that bring entrepreneurs and investors together are great opportunities for networking, visibility, and doing research. You don't have to present on stage to make valuable connections to help your business. Allyson Eman, executive director of Venture Atlanta, encourages startup founders by sharing valuable insight on how to work the room and make the most of conferences. 

While your company is a startup, you may find yourself doing media relations for your business. It's important to know what interests editors, how to contact them, and how to build a good relationship. Holly Beilin is the editor-in-chief of Hypepotamus, a online news magazine about the entrepreneurial scene in the Southeast. She shares some important "dos" and "don'ts" for founders who find themselves wearing the publicist hat.  

Noelle London leads the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Sector of InvestAtlanta, the city's economic development agency. In this episode, she talks about her experiences working for an incubator and some of the resources the city offers to entrepreneurs through InvestAtlanta. 

Hala Moddelmog is one of Atlanta's most powerful business execs. She served as president of Church's Chicken, Arby's, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Now, as president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, she's working to create opportunities for businesses of all size. In this episode, Hala shares how the Metro Atlanta Chamber supports startups. Show notes are available at launchpad2x.com. 

Kara Smith Brown is the CEO of Smith Brown Marketing, an agency she started in 2016. Two years later, her company broke a million dollars in revenue. Kara came from the corporate world, where she faced a lot of pressure to conform her style to someone else's expectations. In this episode, she shares how she finally broke away from social pressure and decided to own her authentic leadership style. And a lot of it has to do with confidence in her own character. 

Bernie Dixon explains why confidence is so important for women entrepreneurs, and why she started Launchpad2X. 

Chenxi Wang is the managing partner of Rain Capital, a early-stage venture capital fund in California that specializes in AI and cybersecurity. Chenxi is one of a handful of women who run venture funds. She shares what she looks for in investable startup companies and entrepreneurs, and how her own character influences how she does business. Visit launchpad2X.com for show notes.