Founders And Funders

When DogSpot launched in Brooklyn, Chelsea Brownridge's startup attracted so much media attention that venture capitalists started cold-calling her for investment opportunities. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Chelsea Brownridge didn't think anyone would notice a couple doghouses newly parked on Brooklyn streets. She was wrong. The press noticed. Passersby noticed. And soon she and her "dog-friendly sidewalk sanctuaries" were thrown into the spotlight. While the doghouses aimed to be helpful—providing a temporary safe shelter for pets when owners wanted to make a quick visit or run a brief errand inside a venue where dogs aren't allowed—reviews were decidedly mixed. Brownridge remembers, "We had gotten a lot of press attention, immediately. Three weeks after we put it out, the New York Post contacted us to do a story, and it's been nonstop since then." Though front-page coverage is a prize many founders

AVG is disrupting the venture capital industry by giving individual investors access to the most competitive venture deals and by creating a career path for aspiring VCs. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Photo: Luke Antal, CMO and founder of AVG's Venture Fellow Program (left), and Weston Moyer, VP of Fellow Program and Digital Outreach (right) Episode Summary The disruption that Alumni Ventures Group is causing in the venture capital industry is well-documented in other episodes of Founders & Funders and TechCrunch, among other major media. Until the firm came along in 2014, accredited investors had scant opportunity to add venture to their portfolios unless they could make very large investment minimums — in the ballpark of ~$10M. Now people can invest as little as $50K in a diversified portfolio across stage, sector, and geography, and alongside the top venture firms in the world — thanks to AVG. AVG has also ignited a s

Banks have been wary to count cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether as solid assets when generating loans, so BlockFi's Zac Prince developed a new kind of lending platform that welcomes alternative assets. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary In 2015, Zac Prince started investing in Bitcoin and other blockchain technologies, and by 2017, cryptocurrency value in aggregate crossed the $100 billion mark. Prince was proud of his investments, but a curious thing happened when he listed the assets on a loan application for an investment property. The bank "freaked out," according to Prince, and lenders accused him of being involved in illicit activities. The timing proved serendipitous, however. Prince had already been exploring alternative lending business models and areas of the financial ecosystem in which banks are less active or not active at all. "I had a light bulb moment," he says. "Companies like SoFi, Len

This founder journey is one of persistence and eventual success, as Edrizio De La Cruz took his million-dollar idea from the South Bronx to Silicon Valley. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Edrizio De La Cruz has always worked hard. From selling guavas on the streets of the Dominican Republic to bagging groceries in the South Bronx, the entrepreneur sought a better life for himself and an underserved community for years before his big break came from Y Combinator. Now he's CEO of the FinTech startup Arcus, a Chestnut Street Ventures investment. Y Combinator provides seed funding, mentorship, and training for startups, but acceptance into the program meant even more than that to De La Cruz. "It was a relief," he says of the experience. "It was either get funding or die. It's like being thrown a life preserver when you're drowning in the middle of the ocean. That's literally how it felt." Now, just a few year

When Alex Klein's cousin asked for a computer kit "as simple and fun as Lego," Klein responded with a product that is changing the face of computing. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Some major innovations take shape in boardrooms. Others are cultivated through run-of-the-mill conversations at home. Alex Klein's opportunity to make a dent arose when his 6-year-old cousin began talking about building a computer from scratch, and challenged his older relative to help make it happen. Unable to find a kid-friendly computer kit on the market, Klein assembled a team of developers to create one. In 2013, the team launched their new product, Kano, via a Kickstarter campaign. Their goal was to raise a relatively modest $100,000 in 30 days. However, within just 16 hours, Klein and his team had reached their target. The campaign went viral, closing with a record-setting $1.5 million from backers in 86 different countr

Yale's entrepreneurial chops are sometimes understated, but David Shapiro, Managing Partner of Blue Ivy Ventures, believes the founders in his fund's portfolio could change that perception. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary When David Shapiro, Managing Partner of Blue Ivy Ventures, started exploring colleges to attend, he wanted to go somewhere other than Yale. He grew up in Connecticut, his dad graduated from Yale, he'd been on the campus and to football games many times, and his brothers were also attending the university. To his father's dismay, David wanted to attend a less familiar college. After visiting several schools, however, David thought of Yale from a new perspective. He thought about the people he'd met on various campus visits, his brothers' roommates, and the friends they'd brought home for Thanksgiving and weekend visits. Remembering these acquaintances to be "some of the absolute coolest peo

Laura Bordewieck Rippy, Managing Partner of Green D Ventures, shares how Dartmouth alumni investors are bringing more than just money to venture-backed businesses. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary When Mike Collins, founder of Green D Ventures and parent company Alumni Ventures Group, began pooling capital from Dartmouth alums to invest in Dartmouth-connected businesses, the goal was to open access to a previously unavailable asset class while giving alums an avenue to "pay it forward." Dartmouth entrepreneurs would receive funding from Dartmouth-educated investors, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem would be enhanced. Now, with Green D well into raising its fifth fund, a new benefit has emerged. "We literally have such a huge level of engagement with our alumni that sometimes we can change the trajectory of companies just by sending a newsletter,"according to Laura Bordewieck Rippy, Managing Partner of Gree

Chris Sklarin, Managing Partner of Castor Ventures—a fund investing for and in MIT alumni—shares why VC deals are so competitive and how being MIT-connected gives entrepreneurs and investors newfound access. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary According to Chris Sklarin, Managing Partner of Castor Ventures, the best deals are competitive. Though Castor Ventures often writes the smallest check in a VC round, their team gets into deals because of the impact they can make in other ways. Portfolio companies enjoy a variety of services, including access to a network of MIT-connected individuals that can facilitate introductions to key talent, industry experts, and strategic partners. On the other side of the equation, investors in Castor Ventures get access to VC deals that are potentially lucrative as well as life-changing — literally. RapidSOS, for example, provides a life-saving data link from any connected devic

Amy Errett walked into a drug store, bought 30 boxes of permanent hair color solutions, and left on the verge of discovering a gaping hole in at-home hair coloring options. Now her venture-backed business is challenging beauty brand titans like L’Oreal and Clairol, but she's not intimidated at all. Photo Credit: Christoper Michel Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Although Amy Errett has years of experience as a venture capitalist, founder, and leader of some very well-known companies, she didn't intend to start Madison Reed as a full-time business. Already deeply involved in a number of companies and charitable organizations, she initially just wanted to identify the consumer pain point, fund the incubation of the idea, and hire a team to bring the product to fruition. But then her daughter (the original Madison Reed) challenged her to do more. Now, according to Amy, "Madison Reed is a hair color company tha

Michael Martin and the team at RapidSOS are building technology that will soon be integrated into the iPhone. When that happens, having the latest iOS upgrade could literally save your life. (Listen) Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary: When Michael Martin got mugged in New York City, he gained instant and first-hand knowledge of the inadequacies of our current 911 Emergency Response System. Unable to easily dial his phone, give an accurate description of his location, or ask his attacker to pause so he could relay important details, Michael didn't get the help he needed in a timely manner. The 911 system failed him as well. Built on 1960’s infrastructure, our nation’s emergency calls are relayed via an old public switch telecommunications network. Using this voice-only technology means the information relayed to operators is dependent on callers being able to have a clear, coherent conversation during a time

The entrepreneur Sanjay Gupta made a bold career move after realizing he’d earned a great education but almost no real-world experience. Now he’s a prolific inventor and a mentor to the next generation of consumer electronics developers in the Penn and MIT networks and beyond. (Listen) Episode Summary: Sanjay Gupta spent several years getting advanced degrees (B.S., M.S. and Ph.D.) and had his work and research published more than 40 times in academic journals. Despite his renown, however, he woke up one night in a cold sweat, having suddenly realized that his life’s work would be marked by a bunch of papers that few people would ever read. So Sanjay virtually started over, wanting to leave a legacy that would make his children and future grandchildren proud. He took a low-level job at a nearby technology company and now — 18 patents later — he has helped develop some of the most well-known consumer technologies. In this podcast, Sanjay shares the lessons he learned outside the classroom. Subscribe to Fou

Frustrated that ice cream manufacturers valued shelf life more than taste and quality, this Stanford MBA graduate set out to freshen up an overly industrialized category. Nearly a decade later, she figured it out. (Listen) Episode Summary: Robyn Sue Fisher, CEO and Founder of Smitten Ice Cream, is on a crusade to create the "best ice cream in the world with the touch of one or two buttons." Using her love of ice cream and head for technology, this woman whom Silicon Valley Magazine called a "rule-breaker and industry innovator" worked for nearly a decade to bring her vision to life. (Silicon Valley Magazine editors also made Robyn their most recent cover star.) Now that she's well beyond the prototype phase and elbow-deep into expansion territory, this engaging entrepreneur is here on the Founders & Funders podcast to share her story and give insight into how she managed to finance the dream she's currently living. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and

Listen to this interview before you take venture capital, angel investments, or anything more than "friends and family" money. Mike Collins, experienced founder and VC, says there's only one good reason to take institutional money for your business. (Listen) Episode Summary: Mike Collins, CEO and Founder of Alumni Ventures Group (AVG), discusses business owners and outside capital — when they should consider taking institutional money and when they should reject it. Born from his own experiences, plus years spent working with entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, and potential portfolio companies, Mike shares his insights on VC-gone-wrong and what founders need to know before they get involved with pitching for venture money. He also helps new venture capitalists understand their role within a company once money has changed hands. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Introducing Mike Collins Mike Collins is not

His product has been compared to a sci-fi device, but the founder of Consumer Physics says the technology he's using has been around for years. Now he's using VC to make it accessible to everyone. (Listen) Episode Summary: Though the product Dror Sharon developed is so innovative that it has been compared to the tricorder on Star Trek, this former farm boy says the underlying technology has been around for at least half a century — Sharon even studied it at MIT years ago. He calls his new gadget the SCiO pocket molecular sensor and, using the science of spectroscopy, this miniature, portable spectrometer can detect an object's molecular fingerprint in 10 seconds or less. Fortunately, you don't have to understand spectroscopy or be a Trekkie to enjoy hearing the story of how this Consumer Physics founder combined an MIT education with his childhood experiences to develop an award-winning company that is just beginning to realize its potential. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Go

When she hit a roadblock in her career, this future VC enrolled in Kellogg’s top-tier Executive MBA Program and ended up with a successful business and a career in an entirely new industry. (Listen) Episode Summary: Mellie Chow hit her limit as a successful IT consultant and wanted a change. Unsure if she needed to develop new skills or just get into a new environment, she enrolled in an EMBA program that gave her both. Now, a few years later, Mellie is an angel investor, venture capitalist, and co-founder of The Revolving Kitchen. She's also on the Investment Committee at Purple Arch Ventures, a venture capital fund that enables alums from Northwestern to invest in ventures connected to fellow alums. In this podcast, Mellie shares her journey as a "shifter" and why people at Purple Arch call her "the triple threat." Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Introducing Mellie Chow Mellie Chow is a digital and strategy consultant

Former football player turned venture capitalist believes alumni should use their capital to build entrepreneurial ecosystems at their universities. (Listen) Episode Summary: Many graduates recall their college experiences fondly, but few strive to give back to their alma maters as much as David Beazley does. Once a Wildcat wide receiver — credited with making one of the most memorable touchdown catches in Northwestern University (NU) history) — Beazley has a new playbook to follow. He is the founder and Managing Partner at Purple Arch Ventures (PAV), a private, for-profit venture capital fund for Northwestern alums (not affiliated with the University). For the past several years, David has been supporting the NU entrepreneurial ecosystem from the sidelines. As a former Wildcat Angel, he now works full time matching NU alumni founders with investors and has a goal to deploy "at least $100 million over the next 10 years into 200-250 alum-led startups." In this episode, you will learn why David believes that N

Editors' note: In this episode, the host erroneously states that Jeff Crowe is a Green D investor. Crowe is, more accurately, a Trustee of Dartmouth College. If you're interested in becoming a venture capitalist or seeking to raise venture funding, then this interview with Jeff Crowe, a Dartmouth grad and a world-renowned investor, should be required listening. (Listen) Episode Summary: Though Jeff Crowe has achieved world-class recognition for venture investing in startup companies like Lending Club, Spotify, and Uber, he didn't start investing in or advising companies until he had successfully launched and exited a business of his own. In this podcast, Jeff shares his journey from founder to funder. Drawing on his experiences and track record as an operator and investor, Jeff offers valuable insights into growing a business. He also explains what he looks for in potential CEOs, the types of companies he invests in, and why he believes staying connected to alumni is essential. Subscribe to Founders and Fu

When Porter Braswell heard his father deliver the tough love message that Porter would never play in the NBA, this eventual entrepreneur shifted his focus from having a basketball career to getting the best education possible. After a few years of working on Wall Street, something didn't feel right. Learn more about this Yale alum and the genesis of Jopwell, the company he co-founded. (Listen) Episode Summary: Porter Braswell, a 2011 graduate of Yale University, shares his story of how he switched from being a top-level basketball player to happily working on Wall Street. But when his employer continually asked him to help recruit people who "looked like him," Porter and a co-worker decided to leave the company to create a career platform that would give under-served minorities equal access to job opportunities. Two years after its launch, Jopwell was listed as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” and one of Entrepreneur’s “100 Most Brilliant Companies" in 2017. One participant in Jopwell's Seri

You don't have to be an expert in a field to know how to make good investment decisions around it. Bruce Cahan shares how successfully funding any pioneer economy often requires knowledge from other fields. (Listen) Episode Summary: Though Bruce Cahan has been involved in a wide range of activities throughout his career, he says that one of the most unlikely pivots he’s made is to look at how we're going to bank and finance space exploration. Given that space is a 70-year-old industry, you might be wondering why this has to be considered at all. Aren’t we already funding space? Bruce explains that the government invested in space for defense and other activities during the Cold War, but budgets dedicated to space agencies flatlined after that. Recently, however, smartphone technology (the ability to carry a supercomputer in your pocket) has inspired innovators to take a different look at how we build space assets like satellites, robotics, imagery, and so forth. Though the engineering has advanced, thinking

When the specialty drug prescription process delayed access to medication that her little brother desperately needed, Zoe Barry took on the system with a "bet the farm" move that could affect millions. (Listen) Episode Summary: Zoe Barry’s founder story is a vivid example of how a life experience can make a future founder uniquely qualified to tackle and solve a particular problem. When her younger brother was diagnosed with severe epilepsy and needed a specialty drug (fast), Zoe could not believe the steps that her family had to take to get the much-needed prescription. Though every minute her brother went without the medication put him at risk for another brain-damaging seizure, the family still had to painstakingly walk through an antiquated, labor-intensive approval process involving the doctor, the health insurance company, and the pharmaceutical company. Frustrated by this experience, Zoe decided to take on the system in classic "big sister" fashion. Many people told her that the mountain she intended