upside

Interview begins: 6:29
Debrief begins: 51:16

Jared Steffes is the co-founder and COO of Muxy.

Founded in 2014 and based in Austin, Texas, Muxy is an online service that develops interactive features for gaming and streaming platforms. Though optimized for Twitch, Muxy's extensions can be used for multiple streaming and video uses. To date, they have had over 120 million interactions through Twitch and are regularly creating new experiences for streamers. Jared has worked in the game design field for the past decade, having before worked for some prominent companies such as EA Sports, TapMe, and NVidia.

We discuss:

• Ad: Finding experienced employees for your new business with Integrity Power Search (5:20)
• Jared's initial start in video games (9:45)
• Starting Muxy in tandem with streaming's rise to popularity (15:41)
• Missing interactions in gaming (20:10)
• Current money-making strategies (24:17)
• Adding and developing extensions (28:10)
• Interactions beyond video games (30:52)
• Helping define the video interactive market (34:10, 38:46)
• Changes in Twitch since Amazon's purchase (36:55)
• Working towards a SaaS billion dollar company (42:40)
• Allowing public use of Muxy's development services (45:24)
• What if Muxy fails? (47:14)
• Ad: Connecting investors online through the OmniValley network

Learn more about Muxy: https://muxy.io/
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
–

This episode is sponsored by Integrity Power Search, the #1 full stack high growth startup recruiting firm between the coasts. They partner with venture capitalists, private equity groups and CEOs to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies.

Learn more about or get in touch with Integrity Power Search: https://upside.fm/integrity
–

This episode is also sponsored by OmniValley. OmniValley is a platform specifically and exclusively designed for investors. It provides transparency and access into entrepreneurial ecosystems – regardless of geography and market size.

OmniValley wants to help you make meaningful connections faster. Today OmniValley's platform connects over 600 investors spanning over 200 global ecosystems.

Claim your profile: https://omnivalley.co
Advertise with an upside classified: https://upside.fm/classifieds

Interview begins: 7:50
Debrief begins: 51:01

Lori Most is the founder and CEO of BackpackEMR.

Based in Bloomington, Minnesota, BackpackEMR is a medical EMR software designed for mobile clinics in rural, low-income markets. BackpackEMR is the sustainable, portable, non-internet dependent solution for electronic data recording in internationally underserved areas.

Lori Most has been in technology, coding, and design before coding was cool, having worked for prominent companies such as Target and United Health Group. Her pivotal decision to found a startup and create an EMR software came after a volunteering trip to South America.

We discuss:

• Ad: Finding experienced employees for your new business with Integrity Power Search (5:27)
• Ad: Apply to the Render Capital Competition before May 15 for a chance to earn $100,000 for your startup (6:44)
• Lori's coding and tech in and after college (8:01)
• Volunteering on medical trips in Peru and decision to make an EMR software (12:11)
• Backpack's technical and offline hurdles (20:06)
• Current customers, pricing, and hardware (22:29)
• Transition from paper/past EMR systems to Backpack (30:00)
• Combining forces with Timmy Global Health (33:01)
• Balancing public benefit and for-profit motives (34:11)
• Sales strategies for different markets: assessing value and price (36:03)
• Team and future needs (46:38)
• Ad: Connecting investors online through the Omni Valley network (49:36)

Learn more about BackpackEMR: https://www.backpackemr.com/
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
–

This episode is sponsored by Integrity Power Search, the #1 full stack high growth startup recruiting firm between the coasts. They partner with venture capitalists, private equity groups and CEOs to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies.

Learn more about or get in touch with Integrity Power Search: https://upside.fm/integrity
–

This episode is also sponsored by Render Capital. The Render Competition is investing $100,000 into 8 startups and they want your startup to be one them! Early stage startups with a scalable model are encouraged to apply before May 15th. Startups from any location can apply.

Apply for the Render Competition: https://render.capital/competition/
–

This episode is also sponsored by OmniValley. OmniValley is a platform specifically and exclusively designed for investors. It provides transparency and access into entrepreneurial ecosystems – regardless of geography and market size.

OmniValley wants to help you make meaningful connections faster. Today OmniValley's platform connects over 600 investors spanning over 200 global ecosystems.

Claim your profile: https://omnivalley.co
Advertise with an upside classified: https://upside.fm/classifieds

We've been waiting for today for a long, long time.

Last summer, we filmed and produced a full-length documentary about the startup ecosystem in Columbus, Ohio. The film is called Test City, USA and is now available for you to watch online.

The film premiered at Film Festival of Columbus in September 2019, and was the subject of our third issue of The Update. The film took home "Best Ohio Feature" at that festival, and we began throwing our hat in for other festivals.

With festivals going virtual, we are pulling back. We participated in this year's virtual Columbus International Film Festival, but now we're excited to share the film with you.

Read all about the film and rent or purchase it here: https://upside.fm/test-city-usa

Purchase also comes with a 25-minute bonus commentary with Jay reflecting on the film, now 7 months after its initial release.

In an effort to provide relief to the families and small businesses affected by COVID-19, we are committing 50% of all proceeds to WeFeedCbus.

With your help, WeFeedCbus aims to provide local restaurants affected by COVID-19 the financial support needed to deliver safely packaged meals to front line workers and community organizations in need.

Donations go straight to local restaurant providers partnering with WeFeedCbus to help pay for individually packaged meals that are delivered to communities experiencing food insecurity and our frontline workers in Columbus.

It's a great way to spend part of your weekend, and we hope you'll watch the film and let us know what you think. 

Synopsis:
There is undeniable energy and momentum in the growing startup ecosystem of Columbus, Ohio. ‘Test City, USA’ explores this moment in time for the city, how the ecosystem evolved, and the challenges of what comes next.

WINNER: "Best Ohio Feature" by the Film Festival of Columbus 2019
OFFICIAL SELECTION: Columbus International Film Festival 2020 

Directed by: Kyle Skinner
Produced by: Jay Clouse
Executive producer: Eric Hornung

A film by The Up Company

Watch Test City, USA: https://upside.fm/test-city-usa
Help us spread the word: https://ctt.ac/aqd4K
Read the update issue three: https://upside.fm/update/issue-three/
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm

Interview begins: 7:50
Debrief begins: 43:06

Anastasia Kraft is the founder and CEO of Xena Workwear.

Xena Workwear is a footwear and soon-to-be apparel company dedicated to designing stylish and safe apparel for women in STEM. Based in Milwuakee, Xena Workwear's first products launched less than a year ago, and since then, they already have impressive supporters and plan to soon expand their apparel to include other items.

Originally from Kazhakstan and Germany, Anastasia first realized her business idea while working in project management manufacturing, where she noticed a disconnect between the professionalism of the women in STEM and the safety apparel they had to wear. In today's interview, Anastasia details not only the process of creating a shoe but also her frustration with the inequity between women's and men's safety apparel.

We discuss:

• Ad: Finding experienced employees for your new business with Integrity Power Search (5:27)
• Ad: Business calling and texting anytime, anywhere with Tresta (6:51)
• Growing up abroad and moving to America (8:00)
• Experience at Caterpillar and consulting (14:49)
• Inspiration for Xena Workwear (17:58)
• Designing a shoe (20:49)
• Decision to start a company (21:58)
• Safety apparel standards and certifications (24:20)
• Manufacturing process (27:29)
• Xena's team (31:23)
• Direct-to-consumer vs. b2b strategies (34:19)
• Unequal standards in women's vs. men's safety apparel (39:53)

Check out Xena Workwear: https://xenaworkwear.com/
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
Advertise with an upside classified: https://upside.fm/classifieds
–

This episode is sponsored by Integrity Power Search, the #1 full stack high growth startup recruiting firm between the coasts. They partner with venture capitalists, private equity groups and CEOs to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies.

Learn more about or get in touch with Integrity Power Search: https://upside.fm/integrity
–

This episode of upside is sponsored by Tresta. Tresta is a mobile app that lets you do business calling and texting from anywhere. With Tresta, you can set up your business phone number, download the app, and start calling and texting UNLIMITED right away.

Tresta is the best business phone app on the market, whether you’re a founder or freelancer / just starting your business, or you’re already established. Growing your network and your business is all about communication. You’ve got to be available, no matter where you are. Tresta offers the call management features that empower you to communicate smarter and more efficiently, like auto attendants, call recording, user groups, and more. And you don’t need any special equipment – just the smartphone you’re already using. Tresta is easy to configure, so you can set everything up yourself – all online.

It’s just $15 per user per month, with no contract, so start your free 30-day trial today at https://tresta.com/upside

Interview begins: 6:10
Debrief begins: 45:00

Matt Hunckler is the founder and CEO of Powderkeg.

Powderkeg is a platform connecting tech talent in the middle of the country to the Midwest companies they're searching for. Founded in 2017 after emerging from Verge, one of Matt's earlier companies, Powderkeg has more than 10,000 active members, all with the goal of staying connected to startup communities outside of Silicon Valley.

An Orr Fellow from Indiana University, Matt has had a hand in a number of startups. He's been passionate about Midwestern startup communities for a while, and in today's interview, he shares his ideas on the current trends happening outside the Valley.

We discuss:

• Ad: Finding experienced employees for your new business with Integrity Power Search (4:53)
• History of Matt and Powderkeg  (9:37)
• Decision to rebrand Verge to Powderkeg (13:30)
• Powderkeg membership (14:56)
• Fundraising in the middle of the country (16:14)
• Powderkeg approach to connecting companies and talent (20:27)
• Talent gaps (23:38)
• Current Midwest movement (24:45)
• Changing ecosystems through Powderkeg (27:30)
• Cross-section of different startup cities (30:56)
• Novel approaches to growing startup scenes (36:50)
• Why not start your own fund? (40:22)
• What's missing from the Midwest (41:47)

Learn more about Powderkeg: https://powderkeg.com/
Follow Mike on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hunckler
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
Advertise with an upside classified: https://upside.fm/classifieds
--

This episode is sponsored by Integrity Power Search, the #1 full stack high growth startup recruiting firm between the coasts. They partner with venture capitalists, private equity groups and CEOs to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies.

Learn more about or get in touch with Integrity Power Search: https://upside.fm/integrity

Interview begins: 7:32
Debrief begins: 50:16

Alex Lazarow is the author or "Out-Innovate: How Global Entrepreneurs from Delhi to Detroit Are Rewriting the Rules of Silicon Valley."

Alexandre (Alex) Lazarow has spent his career working at the intersection of investing, innovation, and economic development in the private, public, and social sectors. He is a venture capitalist with Cathay Innovation, a global firm that invests across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. 

Alex is an adjunct professor specializing in impact investment and entrepreneurship at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. He is a Kauffman Fellow, CFA Charterholder, and a Stephen M. Kellen Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.Comm from the University of Manitoba. 

Alex is a regular columnist with Forbes, and his writing has been featured in the Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, McKinsey Quarterly, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, Business Insider, and Insurance CIO Outlook magazine, among others. He speaks regularly on global innovation trends and has presented at Collision, Endeavor, InsureTech Connect, Harvard Business School, the Social Innovation Summit, SOCAP, and the Corporate Venture Capital Summit. 

In today's episode, Alex shares his research into innovation outside of Silicon Valley, including successful attributes that are often overlooked when working outside the Valley, and the surprises he found in his research.

We discuss:

• Ad: Finding experienced employees for your new business with Integrity Power Search (5:08)
• Ad: Business calling and texting anytime, anywhere with Tresta (6:32)
• Entrepreneurial interest outside the Bay Area (7:35)
• Harmful biases from the valley (11:48)
• Questioning the necessity of unicorn companies (15:24)
• Adapting VC for non-Valley founders (25:37)
• Revenue shares with employees (31:57)
• Balancing innovation as a startup (36:50)
• The "new" trend in remote work (40:22)
• Bidirectional innovation from outside Silicon Valley
• Ten-year predictions for Valley vs. non-Valley startups

Check out Alex's book: https://amzn.to/2JT0MMt
Follow Alex on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alex_Lazarow
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
Advertise with an upside classified: https://upside.fm/classifieds
–

This episode is sponsored by Integrity Power Search, the #1 full stack high growth startup recruiting firm between the coasts. They partner with venture capitalists, private equity groups and CEOs to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies.

Learn more about or get in touch with Integrity Power Search: https://upside.fm/integrity
–

This episode of upside is sponsored by Tresta. Tresta is a mobile app that lets you do business calling and texting from anywhere. With Tresta, you can set up your business phone number, download the app, and start calling and texting UNLIMITED right away.

Tresta is the best business phone app on the market, whether you’re a founder or freelancer / just starting your business, or you’re already established. Growing your network and your business is all about communication. You’ve got to be available, no matter where you are. Tresta offers the call management features that empower you to communicate smarter and more efficiently, like auto attendants, call recording, user groups, and more. And you don’t need any special equipment – just the smartphone you’re already using. Tresta is easy to configure, so you can set everything up yourself – all online.

It’s just $15 per user per month, with no contract, so start your free 30-day trial today at https://tresta.com/upside

Interview starts: 6:20
Debrief starts: 1:02:12

Mike Duda is a Managing Partner at Bullish.

Bullish is a marketing operating partner focused on the growth business and has helped develop companies like Birchbox, Peloton, Casper, and Harry's. Through both investment and creative services, Bullish helps early-stage companies progress in their market.

Mike has extensive experience in marketing and advertising, having served in numerous director positions at Deutsch. Our conversation today dives heavily into marketing and advertising strategies as well as some of the methods Bullish uses to currently help their partners.

We discuss:

• Ad: Finding experienced employees for your new business with Integrity Power Search (4:43)
• NYC subway ads (6:26)
• Advertising too early in DTC (10:40)
• NPS in marketing and staying relevant (15:49)
• Identifying new and innovative products (20:49)
• When to start marketing and advertising (23:48)
• Peloton's recent advertisement (25:36)
• Next frontier in advertising (26:41)
• Ineffective advertising (28:00)
• Creating personas for brands (30:17)
• Building and recruiting for consumer brands between the coasts (40:49)
• Value vs. utility of a brand (51:42)
• Survival of older vs. newer brands (57:07)

Learn more about Bullish: http://bullish.co/
Follow Mike on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeDuda
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
Advertise with an upside classified: https://upside.fm/classifieds
--

This episode is sponsored by Integrity Power Search, the #1 full stack high growth startup recruiting firm between the coasts. They partner with venture capitalists, private equity groups and CEOs to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies.

Learn more about or get in touch with Integrity Power Search: https://upside.fm/integrity

Interview starts: 6:15
Debrief begins: 49:25

Lesley Eccles is the founder and CEO of Relish, an app developed to help guild couples create healthy relationship skills and conversations.

Originally from Scotland, Lesley is also known as a cofounder of the sports fantasy service, FanDuel. Just three months after leaving FanDuel, Lesley founded her own startup, Relish, with the hopes of giving back to others and exploring how technology can improve and preserve relationships.

Today, Relish is considered one of the top relationship training apps, using guidance from therapists, counselors, and academics. In our talk with Lesley, she shares how her experience from FanDuel helped her build a second successful startup.

We discuss:

• Ad: Finding experienced employees for your new business with Integrity Power Search (5:05)
• Beginnings of FanDuel (6:18)
• Startup scene in Edinburgh (13:01)
• Building and growing FanDuel in NYC (14:51)
• Beginning concepts for Relish (21:30)
• Finding the perfect people for a new team (25:29)
• Goals of Relish and relationship building (28:28, 44:31)
• App customers (32:52)
• On-boarding and personality assessment (36:51)
• Relationship plan specifics (41:20)
• Relish vs. traditional couples therapy (43:53)

Learn more about Relish: https://hellorelish.com/
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
Advertise with an upside classified: https://upside.fm/classifieds
--

This episode is sponsored by Integrity Power Search, the #1 full stack high growth startup recruiting firm between the coasts. They partner with venture capitalists, private equity groups and CEOs to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies.

Learn more about or get in touch with Integrity Power Search: https://upside.fm/integrity

Interview begins: 5:29

Elias Torres is the co-founder and CTO of Drift.

Jay recently had the chance to talk to with Elias Torres at Embarc Collective in Tampa Bay. Having worked in software all his life, Elias has been a part of impressive businesses, including IBM and Hubspot, and has founded two software based companies.

A Nicaraguan native, Elias discusses his story of immigrating to America and the opportunity he commits to in other LatinX founders and in his home town, Tampa Bay. With his extensive experience, he leaves us with valuable tips in starting effective and strong teams.

We discuss:

• Ad: Business calling and texting anytime, anywhere with Tresta (4:30)
• Immigrating to America (6:05)
• Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneur (8:43)
• Mentorship (12:00)
• Starting companies in Boston (13:34)
• Tampa vs. Boston (19:17, 34:37)
• Multi-city office organization (23:40)
• Bringing opportunity to LatinX founders (24:35)0
• How to bring speed to a startup (29:01)
• Hiring at Drift (32:08)
• Tips for successful fundraising (32:58)

Learn more about Drift: https://www.drift.com/
Learn more about Embarc Collective: https://www.embarccollective.com/
Follow Elias on Twitter: https://twitter.com/eliast
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
--

This episode of Upside is sponsored by Tresta. Tresta is a mobile app that lets you do business calling and texting from anywhere. With Tresta, you can set up your business phone number, download the app, and start calling and texting UNLIMITED right away.

Tresta is the best business phone app on the market, whether you’re a founder or freelancer / just starting your business, or you’re already established. Growing your network and your business is all about communication. You’ve got to be available, no matter where you are. Tresta offers the call management features that empower you to communicate smarter and more efficiently, like auto attendants, call recording, user groups, and more. And you don’t need any special equipment – just the smartphone you’re already using. Tresta is easy to configure, so you can set everything up yourself – all online.

It’s just $15 per user per month, with no contract, so start your free 30-day trial today at https://tresta.com/upside

Interview begins: 7:02
Debrief begins: 51:37

Amanda DoAmaral is the founder and CEO of Fiveable.

Fiveable is an online streaming and content platform helping high school students study and master their AP exams. Started just two years ago, Fiveable offers live and pre-recorded videos, study guides, as well as community building resources.

After teaching in Oakland for several years with Teach for America, Amanda DoAmaral began Fiveable as a way to help her old students who needed guidance in studying for their AP exams. In only a couple years, Fiveable has grown to include teachers from various types of backgrounds and boasts a 92% pass rate from their students.

We discuss:

• Ad: Business calling and texting anytime, anywhere with Tresta (6:02)
• TFA training and lack of teaching preparation (9:47)
• Teaching in Oakland and decision to leave (12:27)
• Start of Fiveable (20:30)
• Business growth (23:27)
• Live streaming vs. pre-recorded videos (26:00)
• Teachers/streamers on Fiveable (27:10, 41:17)
• SAT/ACT prep (32:19)
• Measuring success (33:13)
• Dealing with seasonality of APs (37:10)
• Fiveable's tiny team (46:53)

Fiveable is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Learn more about Fiveable: https://fiveable.me/
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
Advertise with an upside classified: https://upside.fm/classifieds
--

This episode of Upside is sponsored by Tresta. Tresta is a mobile app that lets you do business calling and texting from anywhere. With Tresta, you can set up your business phone number, download the app, and start calling and texting UNLIMITED right away.

Tresta is the best business phone app on the market, whether you’re a founder or freelancer / just starting your business, or you’re already established. Growing your network and your business is all about communication. You’ve got to be available, no matter where you are. Tresta offers the call management features that empower you to communicate smarter and more efficiently, like auto attendants, call recording, user groups, and more. And you don’t need any special equipment – just the smartphone you’re already using. Tresta is easy to configure, so you can set everything up yourself – all online.

It’s just $15 per user per month, with no contract, so start your free 30-day trial today at https://tresta.com/upside