Amplified CEO

IDEA Fund Partners is backing bold, early-stage founders from pre-seed to Series A and hunting for the next unicorns. Senior Associate Juan Carlos Pacheco chats with Richard Stroupe, discussing exceptional founders with disruptive ideas, what stands out—grit, self-awareness, real traction—and what kills a deal, from arrogance to shaky numbers. Pacheco also highlights how companies like Wilmington’s SkillMaker are fueling a new wave...

Richard Stroupe sits down with Daniel Summers, CEO and Founding Partner of Electronic Lab Logs — a cloud-based platform helping labs improve compliance, reduce errors, and streamline operations.

Daniel shares how digging footings in Georgia’s red clay led him to a 20+ year career in software. He walks us through the early challenges of building a business from scratch, raising capital in the Southeast, navigating COVID-era uncertain...

Justin Whitman went from touring musician to tech founder. Now, as Founder & CEO of UMuseUs, he’s building a platform that gives musicians and fans a new way to connect.

In this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe talks with Justin about his journey from music to entrepreneurship, the lessons he’s carried from two decades of consulting through JWW, Inc., and why UMuseUs is more than just a platform — it’s a movement t...

In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Heather McWhorter, Director of UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a board member at NC IDEA. Heather shares her journey from Penn State to southeastern North Carolina—and how she’s helping shape Wilmington’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

They discuss:

• Building momentum at CIE and supporting high-impact startups
• The value of entrepreneurial min...

What if breaking into the federal market didn’t have to be a bureaucratic nightmare?

In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Giles Walger — retired Marine, former AWS mission engineering lead, and founder of OODAx — to talk about what it really takes for startups to succeed in the world of defense and government contracting.

From warfighter needs at the edge to the pain points of procurement, Giles shares les...

Chris Hornbecker — What Comes Next: Founders, Exits, and the Future of AI

In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Chris Hornbecker, a serial founder and former tech CEO with multiple successful exits, including companies like Xgility and Solutions Developers.

Together, they explore what life looks like after building and selling a business — from identity shifts to the search for purpose beyond the exit. They...

What does it really take to build a $10M ARR company, survive a financial crash, pivot through a recession, and still come out on top?

On this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Tyson Nargassans — Operating Advisor at Jurassic Capital and Founder and former CEO of Saylent — to explore the mindset, strategy, and resilience behind scaling a B2B fintech company to a successful exit. Tyson opens up about learning t...

What do The Blair Witch Project, Madden NFL, and cutting-edge workforce training have in common? It's Robin Cowie and in this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe talks to the Founder and CEO of Skillmaker.AI—to explore how immersive tech and AI are reshaping how we train the next generation of skilled workers. From producing one of the most iconic indie films of all time to reinventing automotive technician training with...

In this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe sits down with Scott Chamberlin, Managing Director of Venture Capital Relationships at Customers Bank. With over 25 years of experience in tech banking across Silicon Valley, Boston, Toronto, and now Wilmington, NC, Scott shares his journey from launching startup-focused banking divisions to navigating the evolving landscape of venture lending. He offers valuable insights into ...

In this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe sits down with General Robert S. Cooley, Jr.—retired U.S. Army Brigadier General, co-founder of neurodata science company Nuream, and owner of two beloved Wilmington businesses: Apple Annie’s Bake Shop and The Wine Sampler. Rob shares insights from his 37 years of military service, his early start in entrepreneurship, and his experience navigating everything from biotech exits ...

On this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Kevin Green, Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at NextPoint Group, a consulting firm delivering mission-critical IT solutions and professional services to the defense, intelligence, and homeland security sectors. Kevin is also the Co-Founder of Horns and Hens Farm, known for it's Scottish Highland cattle, as well as Odysseus Holdings and Brittmore Capital.

Send u...

What happens when an entrepreneur finally steps away from the grind—only to be pulled back in? 

Scott Moody, co-founder of AuthenTec—the company behind the fingerprint technology that became a cornerstone of Apple’s Touch ID—joins Richard Stroupe, host of Amplified CEO, to discuss the challenges of retirement, the thrill of reinvention, and why purpose, not just profit, drives him. 

From his latest mission-driven company, K4Connect, ...

In this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe sits down with Jeff Peterson, owner of Peterson Properties, to discuss his journey from running an upholstery business to becoming a successful real estate developer. Jeff shares how he got started, the challenges he faced, and his approach to growing a diverse portfolio of vacation rentals, commercial properties, and developments like Peterson Station in Cary. He also talks ab...

Can AI change the future of opioid use disorder treatment?

On this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe sits down with David Reeser, Founder and CEO of OpiAID, a groundbreaking company using artificial intelligence to transform the way we treat opioid use disorder. From his early passion for healthcare to pioneering predictive analytics, David shares how real-time biometric data and AI-driven insights are reshaping recover...

Richard's guest is Ian Padrick, CEO and founder of Ohanafy, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing the food and beverage industry. Ohanafy helps businesses streamline operations, leverage data-driven insights for smarter decision-making, and maximize revenue from start to finish.

Ian shares the pivotal moments that led him to leave a secure corporate career, the challenges of building a scalable AI-powered platform, a...

Today’s guest is Justin Williams, CEO of Carolina Marketing Co. With over 20 years in regional publishing, Justin’s portfolio includes lifestyle magazines that spotlight communities from Oak Island and Southport to Wilmington and Topsail. His team specializes in graphic design, digital marketing, geofencing, and delivering media and services that connect people and tell the stories of locals and businesses in coastal North Carolina...

Jim Roberts, Founder of NEW - Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington - sits down with Richard and discusses his journey from growing up in Florida to becoming a pivotal figure in North Carolina’s startup scene. Jim shares his initiatives in Charlotte, Asheville, and Raleigh before ultimately focusing on Wilmington.

He shares insights on the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, the role of the CIE at UNCW, and the evolution of...

Today’s guest is Danielle Mahon, founder and CEO of Topsail Steamer, specializing in providing take-home seafood steam pots.

In this episode, we discuss Danielle’s detailed vision and operational experience with Topsail Steamer, her entrepreneurial roots, AND her recent experience with the widely popular Shark Tank.

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Co-Produced by Topsail Insider and Cape Fear ...