In this episode, you will learn:

1. Why you should do 50 customer interviews before building your product.
2. Why Joe recommends only building software code that is differentiating.
3. How less code & less employees translates into faster speed to market.
4. Which company became a Unicorn with only 13 employees.   
5. Why Columbus is an excellent place to build a tech company.  
6. Where to buy Joe’s book “Serverless as a Game Changer”

Joe Emi...

In this episode, you will learn:

1. How MapQuest became a Unicorn in 1999.
2. Channeling your inner 10 year old: The 5 Principles of Building a Fort.
3. The one mistake that all 1st time founders make.  
4. Why community & collaboration are essential for innovation.
5. Systems theory for building startups & innovation.
6. Why not all mentorship & advice is created equal.

Did you ever build a fort when you were a kid?  Chris Heivly...

In this episode, you will learn:

1. What its like to grow from Zero to $300 Million of revenues in 4 years. 
2. Why surrounding yourself with the right mentors is crucial to success.
3. Why most startups are a series of failures until they’re not.
4. How the Heartland culture gets s##t done without unrealistic expectations.
5. Why people and culture are critical to success in innovation.

This episode of the SmartMoney Ventures Podcast features...

SMV8: Dwight Smith shares why personality & integrity lead to success. He won E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year, built & sold his company, and Chaired the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

In this episode, you will learn:

1. Why your personality and integrity are essential elements of success.
2. Four important considerations in selling your company - price is NOT one of them.
3. What it’s like to Chair the Federal Res...

In this episode, you will learn:

1. How Hugh built and sold his first company at 25 years old
2. Why Hugh provides equity compensation to all team members.
3. Why continuing education is a lifelong pursuit for CEOs.
4. The inside scoop on 2 IPOs and working with Craig McCaw.
5. Why the Midwest is a great place to start a business.

Episode Summary:
This episode of the SmartMoney Ventures Podcast features Hugh Cathey who is an award winning...

SMV6: Refinery Ventures Managing Partner Tim Schigel shares how he found “Lightning in a Bottle” and hit $50M in revenues in 4 years at ShareThis.

This episode of the SmartMoney Ventures Podcast features Tim Schigel, Founder and Managing Partner of Refinery Ventures who invests in early stage companies based on his own experience as Founder of ShareThis, where they hit $50M of revenues in 4 years.  Also as an investor in A...

This episode of the SmartMoney Ventures Podcast features Dr. Michael Triplett, CEO of Myonexus Therapeutics who, along with co-founder Dr. Louise Rodino-Klapac, successfully completed a 9 figure exit event before securing Series A financing. 

The story illustrates how successful tech transfer and strategic positioning resulted in the establishment of a new Gene Therapy Center of Excellence creating over 100 new jobs while transformi...

SMV4: Ketos CEO Meena Sankaran shares how she raised $30 Million to solve water quality, an issue she experienced as a child in India.

Meena Sankaran is the Founder and CEO of Ketos, where they are saving lives with innovative water quality products.  She is truly and creator and builder of change and lives the embodiment of inspiration, innovation and impact.  

Prior to founding Ketos, Meena held Engineering leadership positions at ...

Rev1 Ventures’ Parker MacDonell shares how venture ecosystems in the heartland are birthing Unicorns and more!  Rev1 Ventures has invested close to $100 Million into 210 companies and completed 15 exit events - all in the Heartland. 

In this episode, you will learn:

1. How public/private partnerships have birthed Unicorns and more in the Heartland of America! 
2. How Rev1 Ventures has invested in 210 companies, 55 Lead Investments and c...

Episode 2 features Richard Sudek who pushes the envelope when it comes to building ecosystems & opening doors for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. He unpacks the keys to his success with Tech Coast Angels, the Angel Syndication Network and UCI Beall Applied Innovation. 

Richard Sudek serves as Executive Director of UCI Beall Applied Innovation & Chief Innovation Officer at UC Irvine.  Richard is also Chairman Emeritus of Te...

Episode 1 features former PayPal Executive & Angel Investor David Chang on why it is critical to get the right investors in your company at the right time.  He unpacks the art & science of fundraising and company building from both sides, as an entrepreneur with PayPal & TripAdvisor, and as an angel investor in over 60 startup companies.         

David is an entrepreneur and angel investor who has held operating roles at...