The Mark Haney Podcast

The Mark Haney Podcast

Mark Haney is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and media personality who has founded or funded a portfolio of 30+ Sacramento-based companies across various industries including: new media, tech, consumer products, real estate, construction, transportation, distribution, and security. Mark's accomplishments include successfully exiting a Rocklin, CA based enterprise that maintained hundreds of employees and generated over $200M in annual revenues. Having scaled the entrepreneurial mountain and achieved many of his lifelong dreams, Mark has turned his attention and resources to helping entrepreneurs succeed. He is currently CEO for HaneyBiz, an investment platform he designed to help entrepreneurs be entrepreneurs by providing one-stop access to capital, expertise, and a strong community. When Mark is not company building, he can be found in his studio igniting the Entrepreneurial Revolution as host of The Mark Haney Show podcast and radio program. Mark also serves as President of the Sacramento chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and on various corporate and non-profit boards and he and his family devote time to helping military veterans through his "Allegiant Giving" non-profit. You can learn more about Mark at www.HaneyBiz.com.

Episodes

October 8, 2025 54 mins
This week on The Mark Haney Show, I sat down with Dr. Luke Wood, President of Sacramento State, and I’ll tell you — this conversation will change how you think about higher education.

Dr. Wood isn’t just running a university. He’s rebuilding what college looks like. Under his leadership, Sac State has launched the nation’s first Black Honors College, introduced a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a con...
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Thinking about selling your company — now or in the next few years?

In this episode, Bradley Frisk (Cypress Creek Capital Group / Raymond James) lays out the full exit playbook every founder should hear before taking a call from a buyer.

We cover:
• Prep that creates real enterprise value (often adding millions before you ever go to market)
• How the deal process actually works — IOIs, LOIs, diligence...
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What does it take to go from CIA officer to founder of one of the world’s fastest-growing AI startups?

In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, I sit down with Brian Raymond, Founder & CEO of Unstructured.io, to unpack his remarkable story and the explosive growth of his company.

• Brian’s journey from UC Davis → CIA → Investment Banking → Startup Founder.
• Why 90% of enterprise data is useless for AI...
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Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund, shares how her team is driving sustainability at Lake Tahoe through innovative partnerships and community support. The Tahoe Fund has raised $30M in private donations to unlock $200M+ in public funding, fueling projects that protect the lake, improve access, and inspire eco-friendly travel. From the East Shore Trail to large-scale forest restoration, Amy explains how environmental stewardship ...
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Donation Link:  https://capitalcup.mightycause.com/event/L5investments-2025

The L5 Investments Capital Cup isn’t your average golf tournament — it’s Sacramento’s Ryder Cup–style showdown where 32 business leaders compete head-to-head while raising millions for local charities.

Now in its 11th year, the Capital Cup has crossed $20 million raised, with more than $2 million this year alone. Players fundraise for...
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In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, I sit down with Derek Chase, founder of OnSight Technology and now VP of Robotics & AI at Nextracker, following OnSight’s recent acquisition.

Derek reveals how his team developed AI-powered robots that are changing the way we manage solar farms—from inspecting millions of panels to predicting failures and reducing costly maintenance. He also explains how the breakthrough Owl...
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Is AI already in a bubble, or are we just in the first inning of something bigger than the internet, railroads, or electricity?

This is Episode 3 in our continuing series on artificial intelligence and venture capital, where Rick Spencer and Ali Mackani join the conversation to explore the AI hype cycle, the rise of large language models (LLMs), and why the real moat isn’t just data but context.

We cover:
...
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Your brain is wired for greatness—you just have to find the right highway.

In this episode, Melissa Ortiz, Founder & CEO of Activate Human Capital Group, reveals how our brains are built with natural talent pathways—what she calls super highways. By age 15, these highways are already paved. The problem? Most people spend their careers on the wrong road.

Melissa breaks down how to identify and leverage you...
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n this episode of The Mark Haney Show, we sit down with Gabriel Covarrubias, CEO of MSC Integration—a company transforming how businesses secure their people and property with cutting-edge technology.

Gabriel’s story is remarkable: from navigating a challenging upbringing in foster care to building a national security firm that deploys AI-powered surveillance trailers, cloud-based systems, and integrated protection fo...
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What if one of the most advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in America was quietly being built in Sacramento?

In this episode, Jay Shukla, founder and CEO of Nivagen Pharmaceuticals, shares the incredible story of how he went from a broke student with a borrowed plane ticket to leading a fast-growing pharma company reshoring production in the U.S.

This is more than just a business success story —...
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AI is no longer just a buzzword — it’s fueling a productivity revolution that’s reshaping how companies are built, how people work, and how investors make decisions. In this episode, the discussion dives into what the AI boom means for the future of work, startups, and venture capital.
🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• Why productivity per employee is the new gold standard for business success
• How AI agents...
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Fengru Lin left a high-powered tech career at Google and Salesforce to take on one of the biggest challenges in food: reinventing milk—without cows. As the CEO and Co-Founder of TurtleTree, Fengru is using precision fermentation to produce lactoferrin, a powerful protein that boosts immunity, gut health, and iron absorption.

In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, we dive into:

  • The $1,000/kg mole...
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In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, we sit down with Dave Shurtz, Amber Shurtz, Gary Shurtz, and Jen Matulich — the powerhouse team behind Solace Enterprises, one of Sacramento’s fastest-growing commercial HVAC, plumbing, and solar companies.

We dive deep into:
✅ How Dave risked it all at 26 with no business experience
✅ How Amber and Dave scaled Solace into a multi-million dollar family business
✅ Why...
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Taro Arai, Chief Dreaming Officer of Mikuni Sushi, shares how he built a $90 million sushi empire from humble beginnings in Sacramento. In this inspiring episode of The Mark Haney Show, Taro opens up about entrepreneurship, family business, faith, creativity, and how Mikuni became one of the most beloved restaurant brands in Northern California.

Taro’s journey began when his family immigrated from Japan with nothing b...
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Cindy Nichol is the powerhouse behind Sacramento’s entire airport system—including SMF, Mather, Executive, and Franklin Field. As Director of Airports for Sacramento County, she’s leading a $1.3 billion transformation while running an operation that functions more like a city than a terminal.

On this episode, Cindy Nichol reveals what it takes to run an airport that operates like a city—and why SMF is preparing for th...
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June 25, 2025 54 mins
In this powerful episode of The Mark Haney Show, we sit down with Billy Horton — pro baseball coach, author, and speaker — to talk about overcoming adversity and building men, not just players.

Billy shares his incredible journey from getting cut in high school to coaching World Series champions, how he rebuilt his life after major career setbacks, and the core principles that drive his leadership style.

We d...
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Greg Connolly, founder of Trifecta Nutrition and now CEO of Kora Power, joins Mark Haney to share his top 3 secrets to raising capital, scaling startups, and disrupting massive industries.

In this episode, Greg breaks down how he built a $500M brand, why he left it to launch Kora Power, and how he's bringing smart energy tech into your home. Whether you're a founder raising your first round or a seasoned entrepreneur ...
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In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, Mark sits down with Growth Factory partners Rick Spencer and Ali Mackani for a bold conversation at the intersection of artificial intelligence and venture capital.

They explore:
• Why AI is changing the rules of investing and startup building
• How "Venture Science" could reshape the VC industry
• The myth of job loss vs. the reality of augmented human potential
...
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In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, we sit down with Greg Aguirre, President & CEO of Capital Rivers Commercial, to explore his journey from humble beginnings to building one of the most respected commercial real estate firms in Northern California.

Greg shares how he went from junior high handyman gigs to working under legendary entrepreneur Dale Carlsen, before launching Capital Rivers—a full-service real es...
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In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, I sit down with Lucas Mijares, Co-Founder and CEO of Zion Capital, a fast-growing wealth management firm now managing over $250 million in assets. Lucas shares how he went from knocking doors in a suit to launching a high-trust boutique firm grounded in values, stewardship, and grit.

🎯 You’ll hear:
• Why Lucas left a "storybook" career at Edward Jones to build something big...
Mark as Played

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