The Supportedly Podcast

James Bance is the Co-Founder of Startup High Country, a company that specializes in helping startup companies and entrepreneurs through mentorship and accelerator programs. James founded his first company in 2000 and has 18-years of experience in technology, investment, solution selling, online marketing platforms, and leadership development. He has an education in Biology and Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Brandon Hall is the Co-Founder and CEO of ChurchLEARN, a software company designed to help churches and other non-profit organizations to better manage, equip, and engage with their volunteers. Known for creating solutions to complex issues, Brandon has a passion for solving problems through technical innovation. He is a serial entrepreneur with a Bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University.

James joins me today to share how Startup High Country is helping tech startups and entrepreneurs throughout the High Country region. He reveals how the Silicon Hollar social events, Impact Fund, and Velocity Labs are assisting entrepreneurs and what the application process looks like. I also spoke with Brandon to learn more about how Startup High Country has helped ChurchLEARN get started and develop their business.

"The companies that pitch have the opportunity to join, get additional resources, mentorship, and guidance so that they can increase the probability of their venture succeeding." - James Bance

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

• James's background and how he became a part of Startup High Country.
• What are Silicon Hollar social events?
• How the Impact Fund is supporting the growth of companies throughout the High Country.
• The typical types of companies that Startup High Country work with.
• The resources available at Velocity Labs.
• How to apply for funding and what the screening process looks like.
• How ChruchLEARN is equipping local churches.
• How Brandon first connected with Startup High Country.
• How the Impact Fund and Velocity Labs has helped ChurchLEARN.

"The founders of Startup High Country are just genuinely there to help. Of course, they have some interest in it, but at the same time, they really want to hear what you are working on and give some advice." - Brandon Hall

Free & Low-Cost Programs at Startup High Country:

• Silicon Hollar
• Impact Fund
• Velocity Labs

Connect with James Bance:

• Startup High Country

Connect with Brandon Hall:

• ChurchLEARN

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Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Supportedly podcast! If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don't forget to visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share your favorite episodes on social media!

The Supportedly Podcast is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast – faster and easier – at Podcraft.com

Dr. Sarah Glova is the host of RIoT Underground and the Director of Growth & Communications for RIoT, a non-profit organization that is committed to growing the IoT market sector. Sarah is the Founder of Reify Media, an award-winning digital media company. She also taught technical writing for business and engineering students at NC State University and is a published author and international speaker on women in tech, technology in education, women in entrepreneurship, and technology trends. She has an M.S. in Technical Communication and aPh.D. in Instructional Technology from the North Carolina State University.

On today's episode, Sarah joins me as a co-host to discuss the best pitch practices we saw at the RAP Pitch Night, what startups should be doing, and the pitch practices they need to avoid. We discuss the vital elements that should be included in any start-up's pitch and share fantastic examples of each component, using hand-picked audio from the RAP Pitch Night. We also discuss some of the common mistakes entrepreneurs make when pitching their idea, product, or company and how you can avoid these mistakes and nail your next pitch.

"It's not always a pitch for investment, sometimes it a pitch for that person that you need." - Dr. Sarah Glova

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

• The fundamental elements to include in a pitch.
• The importance of practicing and being prepared for pitching your product or startup.
• The importance of 'defining the problem.'
• How to convince the panel that your solution is the right solution to the problem.
• Explaining the value proposition and path to revenue in a pitch.
• How to create traction around the use case for your product.
• Alternatives ways to validate a use case if there are not yet customers.
• The importance of describing your team, their strengths, and how it can help you 'fill the gaps' in your team.

"Be prepared. Do not think you can just jump up and give your 60-second pitch." - Stephanie Kissel

Free & Low-Cost Programs at RIoT:

• RAP (RIoT Accelerator Program)
• RIoT events
• RIoT Ed Courses
• RIoT Pitch Night

Related Content:

• Episode 16: Why Entrepreneurs Need to Adapt to IoT and Emerging Technologies with RIoT Executive Director Tom Snyder
• Episode 26: RPT Capital's Mark Friedman and Elaine Bolle: Understanding Angel Investing

Connect with Dr. Sarah Glova:

• RIoT
• Reify Media
• Sarah Glova in LinkedIn

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Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Supportedly podcast! If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don't forget to visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share your favorite episodes on social media!

The Supportedly Podcast is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast – faster and easier – at Podcraft.com

Laura Smailes is the Assistant Director of Ventureprise, UNC Charlotte's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center focused on helping startups, early-stage companies, and innovation-based entrepreneurs throughout the Charlotte, NC community. She obtained her Master's Degree in Communications Studies at UNC Charlotte and, later, formed the cleantech startup, Eco-H2O Innovations LLC, with two engineers. In addition to the work she does with Ventureprise, she serves as the Communications Manager for PitchBreakfast as well as the Community Ambassador for StartCharlotte. Over the past five years in the entrepreneurial community, her passion for using her skills and experience to assist and support entrepreneurs has grown significantly.

Laura joins me today to share her journey into the entrepreneurial community and how Ventureprise helps entrepreneurs through the market research and customer discovery process. She explains the various programs the company offers and how UNC students, as well as Charlotte community entrepreneurs, can get involved with their programs. I also spoke with Ventureprise program participant and founder of GIG CONNECTED, Keith Clithero, to get his insight and perspective on the Ventureprise programs and share his advice to other entrepreneurs considering their programs.

"You may have great research or great innovation, but if nobody wants it, then there's no reason to go forward. You need to make sure it's matching a need." - Laura Smailes

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

• How Laura got started with Ventureprise.
• How Ventureprise has evolved over the years.
• The various programs they currently offer to UNC students and Charlotte's entrepreneurial community.
• How Ventureprise helps startups through market research and customer discovery processes.
• What is the Charlotte Venture Challenge?
• How entrepreneurs can get involved in their programs.
• How their programs help entrepreneurs with staying accountable to proving their markets.
• Mistakes Laura has made throughout her entrepreneurial career that turned into a blessing in disguise.

Resources Mentioned:

• PitchBreakfast
• StartCharlotte
• GIG CONNECTED

"Ventureprise is a great program for anyone - at all stages of their company's maturation process." - Keith Clithero - Founder, GIG CONNECTED

Connect with Laura Smailes:

• Ventureprise

This episode is sponsored by Spengler Agans Law Firm

When it comes to all aspects of your business - who you work with matters. Spengler Agans Law is Charlotte's go-to law firm for startup businesses and small to mid-size companies. Spengler Agans specializes in helping entrepreneurs with everything from business formation to key contracts to early-stage funding. Spengler Agans attorneys and associates help clients understand how various strategic business options can increase or reduce risk and how to grow a sustainable company.

Working with a law firm that specializes in providing top legal guidance to startup businesses and entrepreneurial enterprises makes a difference. Learn more about Spengler Agans Law Firm and their services by visiting SpenglerAgansLaw.com

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Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Supportedly podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don't forget to visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share your favorite episodes on social media!

Michael Diettrich-Chastain is the Founder and CEO of Arc Integrated, a company that offers professional coaching and organizational consulting services. Michael is an expert and consultant in behavioral change and emotional intelligence. He works with business leaders and teams to develop and improve communication, staff retention, productivity, and sales. He is the author of CHANGES - The Busy Professionals Guide to Reducing Stress, Accomplishing Goals and Mastering Adaptability and is a regular contributing writer for publications like Time, Money, Livestrong, and The Washington Post. He has a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Appalachian State University and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Michael joins me today to share his expertise in emotional intelligence (EQ) and how it affects your career or business startup. He reveals why emotional intelligence is essential for business leaders and entrepreneurs and delves into how it can change your hiring process. Michael shares the action steps that can be taken to develop emotional intelligence and explains the four quadrants of EQ. He also shares how EQ can be used to encourage trust in a team, which is vital for business success.

"The process - or the interpersonal dynamics or emotional intelligence of a group - highly influences the success of a product or a business." - Michael Diettrich-Chastain

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

• The basics of emotional intelligence.
• The differences between IQ and EQ and why entrepreneurs should develop their EQ.
• How emotional intelligence will affect your career development or startup.
• Why emotional intelligence is crucial during a pitch.
• The two elements of EQ that affect the hiring process.
• Why you should be concerned about developing your EQ as well as your team's.
• The steps that you should take to improve your EQ.
• The four quadrants of emotional intelligence.
• Strategies to improve your emotional intelligence.
• The differences between empathy versus sympathy.
• Why communication and delivery are essential to business leaders when talking to their team.
• How to create trust and develop your team through EQ.
• How Michael's book relates to emotional intelligence.

Resources Mentioned:

• EQ 2.0 Book
• Primal Leadership Book
• EQ Matrix
• Developing EQ Across Life Domains
• The Value of Coaching
• Data around the value of EQ

Connect with Michael Diettrich-Chastain:

• Arc Integrated
• CHANGES - The Busy Professionals Guide to Reducing Stress, Accomplishing Goals and Mastering Adaptability
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain on Instagram
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain on Twitter
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain on LinkedIn
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain on Facebook

Michael is currently giving away a free preview chapter from the book as well as an accompanying workbook, so you can apply what you learn! Download those giveaways here - The Changes Book.

If you'd like the entire book (FOR FREE) and even more free giveaways in the coming months, as well as an opportunity to get your questions answered and be involved with the book launch, you should - Join The Changes Book Launch Team.

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Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Supportedly podcast! If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don't forget to visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share your favorite episodes on social media!

The Supportedly Podcast is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast – faster and easier – at Podcraft.com

Mark Friedman is the President and Director of RTP Capital, a network of angel investors who offer mentorship to early-stage companies and entrepreneurs. He has held high-level positions in many large companies in the roles of operations and as an investor. Mark has influenced companies in many different sectors including retirement planning, real estate, financial services, and healthcare. He holds a Certified Financial Planner designation and has a bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester.

Elaine D. Bolle is an Advisor and Board Director for several leading companies and enterprises. She is an active investor who helps young companies with their ventures and sits on the RTP Capital board as well as a member of the board of directors on the Council for Entrepreneurial Development. She is an expert in helping companies that are rapidly changing and have high growth potential.

Mark and Elaine join me today to share the steps that entrepreneurs should take before approaching an angel investor. They explain how partnering with an investor will affect an early-stage startup in terms of ownership and control and share their views on the Shark Tank TV show. Mark stresses the importance of finding useful resources and tools and Elaine reveals the questions that entrepreneurs should ask themselves before attending a pitch event as well as highlights some of the red flags that angel investors are watching for.

"There is a reason that people making investments are called angels. They're really looking to work with entrepreneurs and help them, in addition to trying to make a good investment and return on investment." - Mark Friedman

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

• The steps that entrepreneurs should make before they go to a fund, network, or angel group.
• Three fundamental questions to ask before you seek funding.
• The implications that tying up with an investor can have on your business.
• The tools, programs, and resources available to entrepreneurs.
• How Shark Tank influences entrepreneurs and investors.
• The pros and cons of the Shark Tank TV show.
• The factors Elaine considers when entrepreneurs approach her.
• The traits and red flags that investors are watching out for.
• Two things that early-stage companies should be prepared for, before pitching to an investor.

"Knowledge is very important and having clear goals and shared expectations is really critical." - Elaine Bolle

Free & Low-Cost Programs at RTP Capital:

• Early-Stage Investment

Connect with Mark Friedman:

• RTP Capital

Connect with Elaine D. Bolle:

• RTP Capital

Subscribe, Rate, & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Supportedly podcast! If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don't forget to visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share your favorite episodes on social media!

The Supportedly Podcast is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast – faster and easier – at Podcraft.com

Mark Friedman is the President and Director of RTP Capital, an angel network of accredited investors focused on early-stage investment and mentorship, primarily in the North Carolina region. He has held senior roles with several entrepreneurial businesses including Cutting Edge Information and Affordable Care. He has worked within numerous industries including financial services, dentistry, healthcare, real estate, and retirement planning.

Elaine D. Bolle is an Angel Investor, Board Director and Advisor for leading organizations ranging from start-ups to $750M+ enterprises. She serves on the board for RTP Capital, where she helps early-stage entrepreneurial ventures. She has held business management, strategic marketing and business development roles for numerous companies. She has a BA in French and Spanish and an MBA in International Business and Marketing from the University of Michigan.

Patrick Mateer is the Founder and CEO of Seal the Seasons, a company that supports local farmers through sustainable methods of bringing healthy local food to all. He launched Seal the Seasons in 2015, and the business now serves more than 3,000 grocery locations. Patrick was recognized by Forbes Magazinein 2017 as a 30 under 30 Social Entrepreneur and currently serves the community as a board secretary for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Partnership.

Mark and Elaine join me today to share how RTP Capital invests in entrepreneurs and businesses. They explain what entrepreneurs need to understand when applying for angel investments and reveal how entrepreneurs can apply for investments and the criteria they must meet. They also share how valuable feedback is given to everyone, regardless of whether they acquire an angel investor. I also spoke with Patrick to learn what inspired him to create Seal the Seasons and how RTP Capital helped him build his business.

"We want to be of value to the entrepreneurs. So even if we choose not to invest, we'll give you very real, honest feedback and help where we can." – Elaine D. Bolle

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

• Why Mark and Elaine became involved with RTP Capital.
• The process of RTP Capital uses to give feedback to entrepreneurs seeking financial investments.
• How entrepreneurs can apply for financial investments and the process RTP Capital uses to screen candidates.
• The type of companies RTP Capital typically invest in.
• Patrick's background and why he created Seal the Seasons.
• What is in the near future for Seal the Seasons.
• How Patrick first connected with RTP Capital.
• The investor and mentorship relationship with RTP Capital.
• The advice that Patrick would give to companies looking for angel investors.
• The one piece of advice that he would give to new entrepreneurs.
• The crucial things to consider when looking for partnerships.
• The differences between a fund and a network.

"I didn't expect that investors would have that much time to help with things that were not investment related." - Patrick Mateer

Free & Low-Cost Programs at RTP Capital:

• Early-Stage Investment

Connect with Mark Friedman:

• RTP Capital

Connect with Elaine D. Bolle:

• RTP Capital

Connect with Patrick Mateer:

• Seal the Seasons

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Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Supportedly podcast! If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don't forget to visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share your favorite episodes on social media!

The Supportedly Podcast is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast – faster and easier – at Podcraft.com

This week on The Supportedly Podcast, I sat down with Josh Dorfman, CEO of The Collider and James McMahon, CEO of The Climate Service. They help me better understand the programs available to support entrepreneurs at The Collider. Not only did I find out more about the programs, I also discovered a passion for helping startups with new ideas centered around climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. The Collider provides advice and mentoring, knowledge and skills, and space and tools for climate entrepreneurs. I find out the best ways to take advantage of the programs offered at the Collider. We also take time to discuss how Collider members gain access to a global community of climate solution providers.

Drew Price is the Creator of 10 Billion Emailsand the Head of Life-cycle Marketing at Grammarly. He is an expert within the field of email marketing and has helped companies such as The Home Depot and IGN Entertainment create the direction of their B2C email programs. He has a passion for assisting companies in avoiding email marketing mistakes and finding success through effective design, message, and analytics. Drew has a BA in Advertising from The University of Georgia and ran the university's Red & Black newspaper and radio station.

Drew rejoins me to share how startups and entrepreneurs can start measuring the success of their email campaigns. He explains the KPIs and metrics that marketers should use when evaluating their inbound marketing campaigns and stresses the importance of understanding the difference between click-through rates and click-through on open rates. He reveals common mistakes that businesses make when evaluating their email marketing metrics and and how entrepreneurs can leverage automation with their marketing strategy. He also shares why it's important to have a consistent theme throughout the different elements of an email campaign and how segmentation and personalization can bring greater success.

"If you're only evaluating things based on engagement metrics, such as opens, clicks, and unsubscribes, you're really missing the heart of why we send emails in the first place - which is to support your business." - Drew Price

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

• The true value of email open rates and clickthrough rates for entrepreneurs and marketers.
• The KPIs you should start measuring for your email marketing campaigns.
• The difference between click-through on open rates and regular click-through rates and why one is more useful than the other.
• Examples of KPIs that can be monitored including ultimate conversion rates and AB tests.
• Platforms that are recommended to gain statistical significance for solopreneurs and small teams.
• The role of email design and how to be effective - even with a low-design strategy.
• The common mistakes that startups often make and how to leverage automation.
• The importance of having an authentic and consistent subject line, pre-header, and message.
• Segmenting email lists and personalizing campaigns for different demographics.

Resources Mentioned:

• MailChimp
• Interview: How 250ok is Helping Marketers Optimize Email Performance -Medium

Connect with Drew Price:

• Grammarly
• 10 Billion Emails
• Get special access to Context Over Cadence
• Drew Price on LinkedIn

Subscribe, Rate, & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Supportedly podcast! If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don't forget to visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share your favorite episodes on social media!

The Supportedly Podcast is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast – faster and easier – at Podcraft.com

Drew Price is the Head of Life-cycle Marketing at Grammarly, an AI-based writing program that helps users create clear, bold, and mistake-free writing. He is the Founder of 10 Billion Emails, a collection of field notes, philosophies, principals, and hard-learned lessons that will help business startups and growth experts build more thoughtful email programs. He has extensive experience in building email systems, messaging, and project management for numerous B2C marketing campaigns.

Drew joins me today to share how businesses and startups can utilize email as part of an inbound marketing strategy. He shares strategies for building effective email campaigns and explains the importance of aligning your business goals with the customer experience in your email messages. He also explains how email marketing helps you build relationships with your customers and shares why inbound marketing 'best practices' may not be suitable for every business.

"Email is one of the best if not the best channel for cultivating a direct relationship with your customers." - Drew Price

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

• How Drew got started email marketing.
• Why businesses and startups should focus on email to build long term relationships.
• How Home Depot, IGN Entertainment, and Grammarly effectively utilize email marketing.
• How to evaluate a marketing channel and decide how much to invest in it.
• How to develop an empathetic, customer-focused arsenal of emails.
• How Grammarly uses its email channel for marketing Grammarly Insights and adding value for the user.
• The myths around 'gold standards' and "best practices" regarding building an email campaign.
• Frequency capping and how often you should send out different types of email.
• How businesses can hurt their relationships by sending out non-customer focused emails.

Connect with Drew Price:

• Grammarly
• 10 Billion Emails
• Get special access to Context Over Cadence
• Drew Price on LinkedIn

Subscribe, Rate, & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Supportedly podcast! If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don't forget to visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share your favorite episodes on social media!

The Supportedly Podcast is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast – faster and easier – at Podcraft.com

David Gardner is the Founder and General Partner of Cofounders Capital, an early-stage funding organization dedicated to helping passionate entrepreneurs receive the guidance and funding they need to launch their new venture with success. He is the author of The StartUp Hats, a volunteer coach and advisor, and serial entrepreneur who has served as the founder or co-founder of seven successful companies including PeopleClick and Report2Web. He is passionate about helping the startup ecosystem thrive by supporting first-time entrepreneurs through the fundraising process and build successful businesses.

Jon Hayes is the CEO and Founder of RewardStock.com, a company that helps people plan and book travel, paid for by points and airline miles. Jon is an investment banker on Wall Street turned entrepreneur. He has a Major in Economics from Princeton University, and he has appeared on the ABC TV show Shark Tank, where he secured an investment from billionaire Mark Cuban.

David joins me today to share the story behind creating Cofounders Capital and its mission for helping entrepreneurs understand the process of finding and securing early-stage funding. He reveals how investors fund entrepreneurs and business startups as well as how they help mature an idea into a feasible business. I also spoke with Jon to learn more about RewardStock, how it got started, and his experience of connecting with Cofounders Capital and CoFounderLab.

"Cofounders Capital's mission is to seek out the best and brightest, most tenacious and passionate entrepreneurs in the Triangle and make sure that they have the guidance and the funding they need to make their venture successful." - David Gardner

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

• How Cofounders Capital got started and its mission to help first-time entrepreneurs.
• The types of entrepreneurs that Cofounders Capital and its angel investors work with.
• How the Town of Cary became involved with Cofounders Capital and how they are helping new entrepreneurs start their venture.
• Why he gives new entrepreneurs "homework" when connecting with Cofounders Capital.
• How the CofoundersLab Accelerator program helps new entrepreneurs troubleshoot problems and vet their venture idea.
• The qualification requirements to receive seed funding from Cofounders Capital.
• How entrepreneurs can connect and engage with CoFoundersLab and Cofounders Capital.
• Why entrepreneurs need to understand the early-stage fundraising process.
• What inspired Jon to create RewardStock and how it helps people pay for travel with miles and points.
• Jon's experience with appearing on Shark Tank.
• How Jon initially connected with Cofounders Capital.
• What it is like to work with Cofounders Capital and a venture capitalist.
• The benefits of joining the CoFoundersLab Accelerator program.

"David is dedicated to helping guys like me, or people like me, start their companies." - Jon Hayes

Free & Low-Cost Programs at CoFounderLab:

• CoFoundersLab Accelerator

Connect with David Gardner:

• Cofounders Capital
• CoFoundersLab
• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jon Hayes:

• com

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Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of theSupportedly podcast! If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don't forget to visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and share your favorite episodes on social media!

The Supportedly Podcast is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast – faster and easier – at Podcraft.com