Steve Kann is a Partner at Ocean Street Partners, a prolific investor, capital markets strategist, and Amazon #1 bestselling author of Microcap Magic. With over 30 years of experience in investment banking, public markets, and entrepreneurship, Steve has advised or raised over $1 billion in deals. He’s known for uncovering massive value in overlooked public companies and helping growth-stage startups navigate IPOs, M&A, and strategic fundraising with precision. Prior to Ocean Street, Steve built and exited multiple ventures, ran a top-performing investment newsletter, and produced an indie film featuring none other than Kristen Wiig.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
01:15 Steve’s First “Illegal” Business and Early Sales Lessons
03:30 Breaking Into Capital Markets in the 80s Bull Market
04:45 Why Companies Staying Private Longer Hurts Everyone
07:00 The Flaws of Accredited Investor Laws & What Needs to Change
09:30 A $0.50 Stock That Became a $54 Exit
14:30 How Microcap Magic Came to Life After Newsletter Success
18:00 How Steve Picks Microcaps (and Why It’s Like VC)
21:00 TAM Blind Spots and What Founders Miss
23:30 Evaluating Founders: Coachability, Plans, and Pitfalls
27:00 Cap Table Nightmares and What to Watch Out For
30:00 “One-Call Steve” and the Art of Dot-Connecting
33:30 Steve’s CRM, Note-Taking Strategy & Network Building
37:00 Why He Moved Away from Early-Stage Investing
39:30 When Founders Should Call Steve (Hint: Not Just at IPO)
42:00 Going Public Early: Risks, Benefits, and Misconceptions
48:00 The Real Costs of Being Public (And When It’s Worth It)
52:00 Public vs Private Valuations: What Founders Get Wrong
53:30 Launch Velocity: Marketing Your Stock Like a Product
55:30 How to Choose the Right Capital Markets Advisor
57:00 The #1 Rule in Startup Finance: Don’t Run Out of Money
59:00 Rapid Fire: Biggest Wins, Books, Deals & Kristen Wiig
Subscribe on Spotify:
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenkann/
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