Launching a company is challenging. Raising capital while building the business is even harder.

In this episode of the TAGLine Podcast, Justin Starbird sits down with Rob Whitten and Jane Lo, co-founders of P!ng, to reflect on their crowdfunding journey and what they've learned after months of building their Wefunder campaign.

The conversation explores the realities of raising capital for a hardware startup, why traditional venture capital wasn't the right fit, and how crowdfunding opened the door for customers, supporters, and future franchisees to become owners alongside the company.

Rob and Jane share what surprised them most, the obstacles they encountered, the importance of building a community before launching a raise, and how investor feedback has helped shape both their product and their company.

They also discuss the role content, storytelling, and consistent communication played throughout the campaign, offering practical advice for founders considering crowdfunding for their own businesses.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or simply curious about how modern startups raise capital, this episode provides an honest look at what it takes to build both a company and the community behind it.

Most people think tax strategy is something to deal with only when the books close at year-end. Tim Parrish, the CEO of Sagemont Advisors, says that’s a massive mistake! 

In this episode of TAGLine, we talk about why so many founders and family business owners leave money on the table, literally, because they don’t see tax as a growth tool. 

We get into the actual, practical side of things, like why your business might qualify for R&D credits even if you aren’t building tech, and why you should be planning for next year’s tax bill right now! 

If you want to keep more cash in the business, this is worth a listen!

Ever wonder why brilliant scientific breakthroughs sometimes crash and burn before they hit the market? It’s not usually because the science was bad; it’s because the operational strategy was missing.

In this episode of TAGLine, we’re joined by Tony Lopez, CEO of AVS Life Sciences. Tony has been in the trenches of MedTech and pharma validation for decades, and he pulls no punches on what it actually takes to bring life-saving technology to life. We dig into why building in "silos" is the death of a startup, how to handle the inevitable tension between commercial hype and FDA reality, and why you need to stop trying to "boil the ocean" with your initial product launch.

If you’re a founder, an engineer, or just obsessed with how the future of healthcare actually gets made, this one is for you. Tune in to learn why the smartest companies are the ones that prioritize partnerships early, not after the money runs out.

Stop waiting for your company to hand you a promotion! 

Dr. Deepak Bhootra, Founder of RISEUP @Work, joins the TAGLine podcast to expose the myth of corporate loyalty and the truth about career growth in the age of AI. 

From a "do-good idea" to securing funding, Deepak gets vulnerable about his humbling journey as a first-time CEO, the crucial lessons learned from his biggest failures, and why every ambitious professional needs to take control of their own career destiny now.

RISEUP@Work bridges the gap between landing a job and achieving long-term operational success. By providing practical career management tools, the platform empowers professionals to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace with greater autonomy. To learn more about the mission and investment opportunities, visit https://wefunder.com/riseupatwork.

Tired of making food sacrifices? You’re not alone! 

In this must-listen episode of The TAGline Podcast, Justin Starbird sits down with Omar Atia, the CEO and Founder of ZeroCarb LYFE, to explore his mission to transform health through food. 

Omar, a chemical engineer with a background at Kraft and ConAgra, spills the details on how he cracked the code for a patented, chicken-based, zero-carb pizza crust and chips that are packed with protein. 

Find out why loyal customers are driving a 42% repeat purchase rate, the surprising upside of the GLP-1 market, and why he chose to give his community a chance to invest in the company's next chapter through a Wefunder crowdfunding round.

If you're building a CPG brand, raising capital, or just love great food, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into disciplined growth and mission-driven innovation.

The IPO Tragedy is Over: Wefunder President Jonny Price on Unlocking Wealth & Why Your Community is Your Best Capital

You don't have to be a millionaire to invest in the next SpaceX or OpenAI. Wefunder President Jonny Price joins Justin Starbird for a deep, candid look at how investment crowdfunding is finally giving the 90% a chance to share in pre-IPO wealth creation.

Jonny breaks down:

• The Myth-Buster: Why top-tier VCs like Sequoia and Andreessen Horowitz no longer fear community rounds, thanks to the SPV solution that simplifies the cap table.

• The $5 Million Rule: The three essential Reg CF changes from 2021 that made crowdfunding viable for high-growth companies (including raising the annual cap to $5 million).

• Founder Success Framework: Jonny's 3-part framework that separates campaigns that raise millions from those that struggle—focusing on product, audience, and relentless execution.

• Platform Power: New Wefunder tools like "Warm Up" and social investing features that accelerate fundraising velocity. You can even follow TAG CEO, Justin Starbird's page on Wefunder.

This is a crucial conversation for any founder ready to leverage their community into their most resilient and passionate sales force.

Get the insider scoop on the future of electrification! 

We chat with Shamara Ray, Group Event Director for The Battery Show South, about the massive growth in the "Battery Belt" and why Charlotte, NC (April 22-23) is the place to be. 

Shamara shares:

• Why the show had to move from Atlanta (spoiler: FIFA!)

• The unexpected power of co-locating with MD&M South

• And the key trends in AI, sustainable manufacturing, and energy storage that innovators need to watch right now! 

This is your essential pre-show guide to finding the next big thing, meeting industry giants and pioneering startups, and getting ahead of the curve! Tune in now!

Forget everything you think you know about crowdfunding. Devin Thorpe, founder of Superpowers for Good and former Forbes contributor, is one of the biggest champions of purpose-driven finance and he sees a future where all deals are done this way.

In this candid conversation, TAGLine sits down with Devin to break down:

• The biggest misunderstanding holding people back from smart investment in the crowdfunding space.

• His personal two-screen process for evaluating impact deals (it's not just about the mission).

• The one essential trait he sees in successful founders after interviewing over 1,000 of them (hint: it's not optimism).

• The exciting future of the Purpose Built 100 ranking and why celebrating profitable, high-impact solutions is crucial to growing the market.

Whether you're a founder considering a Reg CF raise, an investor looking for meaningful returns, or just curious about democratizing capital, this episode is a must-listen. 

Press play now to hear Devin's unfiltered take on how you can align your values and your wallet.

Tired of the "buy-and-hold and hope" investing strategy? In this episode of TAGLine, we sit down with Dr. Adam Link, founder of Fireweed Capital, for a candid talk about how he’s flipping passive investing on its head.

Dr. Link shares his unique journey from decades in cybersecurity and data science to becoming an SEC-registered financial advisor. Discover the active risk management philosophy that helps his clients avoid catastrophic market drawdowns. Think of it as taking the exit ramp before the freeway accident.

He breaks down Fireweed Capital's "retail hedge fund" model, what it takes to be a financial pro (hint: it involves passion and a dispassionate view of your money), and his unexpectedly bullish view on how AI and crowdfunding are about to change the game for small businesses and everyday investors. This is a must-listen for anyone who worries when their portfolio drops.

Join Justin Starbird as he sits down with finance veteran and founder of Planet Positive Investing, Mark Perlmutter, for an in-depth look at how the crowdfunding landscape is evolving to deliver real impact and smarter deals.

Mark, whose career spans from licensed stockbroker to pioneering online IPOs in the '90s, cuts through the noise of the startup world to share invaluable insights for any business leader focused on growth and social responsibility.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The Power of the Community Round: Learn how seasoned VCs are strategically carving out space for retail investors, leading to better-negotiated deal terms and more favorable exits for founders and the crowd alike.

• The Valuation Reality Check: Mark discusses the critical questions founders and investors must ask about exit multiples and market cap. A must-listen for anyone setting or evaluating an early-stage company's valuation.

• Beyond Veganism: The Business of Purpose: Hear the story behind Mark's company, formerly the Vegan Investing Club, and its deliberate, strategic rebrand to Planet Positive Investing (now encompassing health tech, climate solutions, and energy), and the crucial marketing advice Justin shares to cement the new vision.

• The Crowdfunding 'Stair Step' Future: Mark’s authoritative forecast on the next five years of equity crowdfunding, predicting the rise of specialized portals and platforms that offer a full lifecycle of services, from early Reg CF raises to public exit.

This is a candid conversation about leveraging community for market proof, accelerating purposeful ventures, and the long-term playbook for building a successful, impactful business. 

Tune in to hear the actionable advice that only decades in the game can provide.