The Amplified CEO

From Teenage Web Developer to Multi-Million Dollar Exit with Matt Cimino

What does it take to build, scale, and successfully exit a software company?

In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Matt Cimino, Managing Partner of Amped Ventures and former founder of Amped, a Wilmington-based software company acquired by Intuit. 

Matt's entrepreneurial journey began at just 14 years old building websites for local businesses and eventually led to creating multiple technology companies, scaling teams, navigating product pivots, and closing an eight-figure acquisition.

Matt discusses bootstrapping a software business, lessons learned from building products that don't scale, the importance of staying close to customers, integrating into a Fortune 500 organization, and the opportunities AI is creating for the next generation of founders.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcimino

https://www.amped.io

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Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

What happens when a CPA stops playing it safe and builds something of his own?

In this episode, Chris Capone joins Richard Stroupe to share the journey from Deloitte and international finance roles in Switzerland and Bulgaria to launching Capone & Associates in Wilmington. They discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, company culture, financial discipline, and how AI is changing the future of accounting and business.

Capone & Associates: https://www.caponeandassociates.biz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-capone-287b2521/

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Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Tully Ryan, CEO of IQExit and Managing Director at Murphy Business, as well as a contributor to the Wilmington Business Journal.

Tully shares his journey from launching a tech company during the dot-com era to advising founder-led businesses on growth, transition planning, and successful exits in today’s evolving M&A market.

The conversation explores AI’s impact on business operations, acquisition entrepreneurship, private equity trends, and the coming “Silver Tsunami” of business owners preparing to transition or sell their companies over the next decade.

Richard and Tully also discuss why so many deals fail before closing — from unrealistic valuations and customer concentration to poor succession planning and lack of diligence readiness — and why business owners should begin preparing years before they intend to exit.

For founders, operators, advisors, and entrepreneurs interested in business growth, acquisitions, or exit strategy, this episode offers a practical look at what creates long-term enterprise value and successful transitions.

Connect with Tully Ryan:

• IQExit: https://www.iqexit.com/

• Murphy Business / Carolina Business Broker: https://carolinabusinessbroker.com/

• Wilmington Business Journal: https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/insights/tullyryan/318

• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tully-ryan-93137268/

Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks!

Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

Ian Padrick, Founder and CEO of Ohanafy, returns to Amplified CEO to talk about raising the company’s Series A round, scaling after early pivots, and building a repeatable growth engine.

Topics include:
Series A fundraising
Investor readiness
Founder pivots
Customer success
AI and automation
B2B technology
Wilmington startup growth
Building raving fans
Scaling without losing focus

👉 Learn more about Ohanafy:
https://ohanafy.com/

👉 Connect with Ian Padrick on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianpadrick/

👉 Learn more about Amplified CEO:
https://www.topsailinsider.com/aceo

Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks!

Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

What does it really take to lead under pressure—and why do most people avoid it?

In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with former Navy SEAL Commander and Warrior Poet founder Andrew Sridhar to explore high-performance leadership, decision-making under pressure, and the mindset shift required to move from comfort to growth. From SEAL training and combat experience to Harvard Business School and leading in tech, Andrew shares powerful insights on ownership, resilience, storytelling, and what it truly means to lead when it matters most.

https://thewarriorpoet.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsridhar/

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Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

In this special episode of Amplified CEO, four Purdue University students from Entrepreneurship 200 interview Richard Stroupe about what it really takes to build, scale, and invest in successful companies.

Richard shares candid insights from 30+ years in software, leadership, and venture capital—covering mentorship, investor red flags, product-market fit, ethical growth, founder psychology, and the trends shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Whether you’re a student, an emerging founder, or someone curious about the realities of entrepreneurship, this conversation offers clear, practical lessons and honest reflections from both sides of the table.

Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks!

Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

Retired Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson joins Richard Stroupe for a candid conversation on leadership, decision-making, and navigating high-stakes environments from the battlefield to the boardroom. Anderson shares lessons from nearly four decades in the U.S. Army—commanding at every level, shaping global operations as Deputy Chief of Staff for G-3/5/7, and leading through some of the military’s most demanding moments. He also talks about his current work in senior leadership at Rafael Systems Global Sustainment and his continued service on nonprofit and corporate boards. This episode offers grounded, practical insight into leading teams, managing complexity, and staying mission-focused in any industry.

LinkedIn

Rafael Systems Global Sustainment

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Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

IDEA Fund Partners is backing bold, early-stage founders from pre-seed to Series A and hunting for the next unicorns. Senior Associate Juan Carlos Pacheco chats with Richard Stroupe, discussing exceptional founders with disruptive ideas, what stands out—grit, self-awareness, real traction—and what kills a deal, from arrogance to shaky numbers. Pacheco also highlights how companies like Wilmington’s SkillMaker are fueling a new wave of tech growth across the region.

https://www.ideafundpartners.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jc-pacheco/

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Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

Richard Stroupe sits down with Daniel Summers, CEO and Founding Partner of Electronic Lab Logs — a cloud-based platform helping labs improve compliance, reduce errors, and streamline operations.

Daniel shares how digging footings in Georgia’s red clay led him to a 20+ year career in software. He walks us through the early challenges of building a business from scratch, raising capital in the Southeast, navigating COVID-era uncertainty, and integrating AI to revolutionize lab operations.

https://lablogs.co/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieljsummers13/

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Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

Justin Whitman went from touring musician to tech founder. Now, as Founder & CEO of UMuseUs, he’s building a platform that gives musicians and fans a new way to connect.

In this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe talks with Justin about his journey from music to entrepreneurship, the lessons he’s carried from two decades of consulting through JWW, Inc., and why UMuseUs is more than just a platform — it’s a movement to spotlight overlooked talent and reshape how artists and fans interact.

https://umuseus.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwwinc/

Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks!

Produced by Cape Fear Ventures
Edited by Coastal Carolina Network

The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/

Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/

LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe