Cowles Ventures Podcast

This episode features Paul Wagner, CEO & Founder of GoLark, an AI-native communications platform built for revenue teams. Paul leads GoLark toward transforming how companies engage prospects and customers by putting branded video, deal rooms, asynchronous messaging, and insight tools directly on your website or inside your CRM.We dig into Paul’s path from early leadership and startup experience to building GoLark, the challenge...

This episode features Danny Porter, an experienced entrepreneur and leader with a strong background in building and scaling companies. We dive into his career journey, from early experiences shaping his perspective on business to leading ventures that push the boundaries of growth and innovation. Danny shares insights on product development, leadership, fundraising, and the realities of operating in today’s fast-moving startup worl...

This episode features Daniel A. Garcia, Business Relationship Manager at JPMorgan Chase, ranked among the top business bankers nationally. We dive into his journey from Eastern Washington University to supporting entrepreneurs across the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene region, where he helps business owners unlock capital, manage cash flow, and scale with confidence.Daniel shares insights from his career in business banking, what it take...

This episode features Brandon Tanner, CEO of Omniscia AI, a company building practical AI solutions for real-world problems. We dive into his path from early product work to leading an AI venture, covering product development, fundraising, and the day-to-day realities of startup life.Stay connected with Brandon (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandontanner/Omniscia AI: https://www.omnisciahealth.com/FUEL Coworking: https://...

This episode features Brynn MacLennan-Snyder, co-founder and CEO of Slate Dental, the company behind the Slate Electric Flosser. We dive into her journey from design school to building a purpose-driven oral-care brand, navigating product development, fundraising, and the realities of startup life. Brynn also shares what it takes to balance entrepreneurship with family while scaling a consumer health company.Stay connected with Bryn...

This episode features Bill Kalivas, founder of LaunchPad INW, and a driving force behind Spokane’s startup and innovation ecosystem. We dive into his journey creating LaunchPad as a hub for entrepreneurs, investors, and community builders, and explore what it takes to foster collaboration and opportunity in a growing city. Along the way, we talk about the evolution of Spokane’s startup scene, lessons learned from years of supportin...

This episode features Darby McLean, CEO of Spiceology, whose journey blends science, entrepreneurship, and leadership, all rooted in Spokane, WA. We dive into her early work at GenPrime, the growth of her career at Spiceology, and what it takes to scale a bold, flavor-driven brand. Along the way, we talk about the challenges of building a business outside major tech hubs, what it means to lead with vision, and why Spokane remains a...

This episode features John Munro, a multi-time founder and product leader with a career that spans medtech, fintech, industrial safety—and now, the world of entrepreneurship through acquisition.We explore the origin of TheraSpark, the fast-paced world of Chargeback, and John's more current role at Vimocity. We also touch on what John is learning through his search fund journey, and how it’s reshaping his perspective on ownershi...

Join us for an insightful conversation with David Ebel, Commercial Banking Officer at Spokane Teachers Credit Union (STCU). A U.S. Navy veteran with an MBA from Gonzaga University, David brings both strategic depth and community focus to his work with business clients across the Spokane–Coeur d’Alene region. In this episode we explore, how David's military service influences his role in commercial banking. David discusses the t...

In this episode, we sit down with Carter Bastian, CEO of Code Lexica, to dive into his entrepreneurial journey and the future of his startup, Code Lexica. Carter shares valuable insights on scaling a startup, tackling AI code generation from a new angle, and what it takes to build a company from the ground up. We also explore how Code Lexica is empowering teams to streamline development, improve software literacy, and adapt to the ...