Send us a textIn this episode of 'Seed to Harvest,' hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, delve into the intricate world of Broadway with five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, Sue Gilad. Sue shares her journey from a childhood love of theater to becoming a major Broadway producer. She offers a detailed look at the production process, including the roles behind-the-scenes, financing, and the impact of COVID-19 on the Broadway industry. Highlights include the making of 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical,' insights into fundraising and producing, and the excitement of winning a Tony Award. Tune in to learn about the business side of bringing Broadway magic to life and the similarities between venture capital and Broadway production.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement00:53 Sue Gilad's Early Love for Theater02:35 Behind the Scenes of Broadway Productions04:18 The Business Side of Broadway08:21 The Journey of Moulin Rouge! The Musical13:20 Impact of COVID-19 on Broadway16:31 Role and Responsibilities of a Broadway Producer19:31 Producing Shows in the UK vs. Broadway21:00 The Unpredictability of Producing Shows21:22 Discovering New Productions22:18 Fundraising for Theatre22:52 The Risks and Rewards of Investing in Theatre26:13 The Thrill of Winning a Tony30:32 Industry Jargon and Favorite Tools34:40 Navigating Age and Success in the Industry39:17 Final Thoughts and RecommendationsMoulin Rouge! The Musicalhttps://moulinrougemusical.comThe Outsiders Musical (including upcoming tour dates)https://outsidersmusical.comBroadway.com (for general show info, tickets, and news)https://www.broadway.comTKTS Discount Tickets (for half-price Broadway tickets)https://www.tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/tkts-by-tdfBroadwaySF (for touring Broadway productions in SF)https://www.broadwaysf.comSupport the show

Send us a textFrom Mold Toxicity to Million Dollar Startup: Ariana Thacker's Inspiring Journey with MoldCoIn this episode of 'Seed to Harvest,' host Paige Finn Doherty welcomes back Ariana Thacker of MoldCo. They discuss Ariana's journey from discovering toxic mold in her home while running Conscience VC to founding MoldCo, a healthcare platform tackling mold toxicity. Ariana shares her personal health struggles, the deep research into mold-related toxicity, her innovative healthcare solutions, and raising a $3 million pre-seed round. They also delve into the misconceptions about mold, the process of treating mold toxicity, and the importance of having a resilient and value-driven approach in building a startup.A call to action for those who might be affected by Mold Toxicity: MoldCo is now available in Texas and Florida, with a planned nationwide rollout by the end of the year. If you or someone you know is affected by Mold Toxicity, Ariana recommends signing up on MoldCo's waitlist at moldco.com and ordering a $99 MoldCo Standard lab Panel to get clarity on your symptoms. https://access.moldco.com/labs00:00 Welcome Back to Seed to Harvest00:36 Ariana's Mold Journey Begins01:22 Discovering the Mold Problem06:14 Meeting the Messiah of Mold08:21 Launching MoldCo13:42 Understanding Mold Illness16:44 The Science Behind Mold Illness20:50 The Role of AI in Mold Research25:42 Personal Values and Company Culture36:36 Reflections and Future PlansSupport the show

Send us a textThe Technical Storyteller: A Founder ArchetypeIn our April 2024 Fund II launch, featured in Fortune magazine, we made it clear that we back the best storytellers. Some might assume that when we say “storytellers,” we mean people who are skilled at talking. But in our view, storytelling is far more about listening and deeply understanding context. The best storytellers help us see the invisible — they show us the unseen paths to success.To expand on this thesis, we want to dive deeper into the type of storyteller we believe in: the technical storyteller. This founder archetype combines technical expertise with the ability to narrate a compelling vision, while adapting to the complexities of their landscape.In this short solo episode, I'll cover: What is a Technical Storyteller?A Metaphor: Building and Navigating a VehicleWhy the Landscape Matters MostAre technical storytellers born or made? You can also read more at https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/post/technical-storytellerWe'll be publishing our next episode soon, welcome back! Support the show

Send us a textToday, I am joined by Ben Lerer, the Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau, an early stage venture firm based in New York that invests in iconic companies that rattle the status quo. Ben shares insights into his journey from founding digital media company Group Nine Media, including the creation of Thrillist, to transitioning into full-time investing after selling his business. Ben highlights how his background in media and operating companies influences his approach to venture capital, emphasizing the excitement, challenges, and rewards of being on the investor side of the table.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Ben Lerer 02:02 becoming a full-time investor04:40 challenges with a growing company06:25 investing more into fund l08:22 intuition changing from qualitative to quantitative10:28 the trick of this market12:32 Ben’s founder process15:28 delineating a good design from a great design18:37 lessons learned from Bob Pittman22:37 what Ben been learning recentlyShow notes:Ben Lerer | https://twitter.com/benjlerer?lang=enLerer Hippeau | https://www.lererhippeau.com/Group Nine Media | https://twitter.com/groupninemedia?lang=enThrillist | https://www.thrillist.com/Bob Pittman | https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-pittman/POPSUGAR | https://www.popsugar.com/entertainmentBrian Sugar | https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansugar/Sugar Capital | https://sugarcap.com/Support the show

Send us a textIn today's episode, Missy Oei, winner of the BGV winter break college essay contest and senior at the University of Dayton studying entrepreneurship & marketing, shares her journey from realizing the significant impact of fast fashion on her generation to aspiring to break into venture capital with a focus on impact investing. Missy’s winning essay dives into the environmental ramifications of fast fashion, a topic borne out of her personal transition from a lover of shopping to an advocate for sustainability. Her narrative not only reflects a personal commitment to change but also signals a wider generational shift towards sustainability and ethical business practices, underscoring her ambition to leverage venture capital for positive global impact.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Melissa Oei01:01 writing “Fighting Fast Fasion”02:42 the environmental impact of fast fashion03:17 companies investing in multimodal AI04:13 COVID’s effects on the fashion industry07:07 how social media impacts fast fashion07:55 Missy’s peer-to-peer clothing rental app11:28 the role of technology shaping consumer behavior12:53 Missy’s dream rental scenario15:15 the gap between intention and buying behavior19:07 prioritizing sustainability in the fashion industry20:37 nano trends in the fashion industry22:50 Missy’s big dreams for impact investing24:21 my perspective on fast fashionShow notes:Melissa (Missy) Oei | https://www.linkedin.com/in/oeimelissa/Gen Z VCs | https://www.genzvcs.com/Shein | https://us.shein.com/Pickle | https://shoponpickle.com/Good on You | https://goodonyou.eco/Reformation | https://www.thereformation.com/clothingFor Days | https://fordays.com/H&M | https://www2.hm.com/en_us/index.htmlSupport the show

Send us a textIn today's episode, we discuss the transformative world of Multimodal AI, an advanced form of artificial intelligence that integrates and processes multiple data types—text, images, audio, and video—to emulate human-like perception. Unlike text-based AI models such as ChatGPT, which specialize in generating text-based responses, Multimodal AI offers a more comprehensive understanding by processing diverse data inputs, mirroring the way humans utilize multiple senses to interact with their environment. The essence of Multimodal AI lies in its ability to converge various forms of data to present a more holistic view, though it faces significant challenges in terms of technical complexity, data integration, and privacy concerns. Despite these obstacles, Multimodal AI stands on the brink of revolutionizing technology and daily life, with potential applications across entertainment, healthcare, and education. Today, we explore the importance of investing early in this rapidly advancing field, emphasizing the need for caution and diligence to navigate the fast-paced world of AI innovation, where Multimodal AI is poised to make significant strides in the coming years.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Paige Doherty00:41 introduction to multimodal AI01:29 defining multimodal AI03:17 companies investing in multimodal AI03:49 the difference between text-based AI and multimodal AI05:20 the convergence of multimodal AI06:40 the inherent technical complexity of multimodal AI08:35 roadblocks of multimodal AI11:43 possibilities for disruption12:55 BGV’s investments in multimodal AI14:50 the perfect solution for multimodal AI Show notes:Our Approach to Investing in Early Stage AI Companies | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/post/ai-investingour approach to investing in early stage AI companies | ep75 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9BxDkTCE2IProf Jim | https://www.profjim.com/Hearth Display | https://hearthdisplay.com/The Last Gameboard | https://lastgameboard.com/Aviron | https://www.avironactive.com/Lotus Labs | https://www.getlotus.com/Humane's AI Pin Tab | https://hu.ma.ne/aipinSupport the show

Send us a textIn today's podcast, I'm thrilled to share insights from the Behind Genius Ventures winter break college essay contest, which I launched in December. We received 20 diverse essays from schools like Cornell, Georgia Tech, UNC, SDSU and more. The prompt asked students to explore impactful problems in 1800 words or fewer, engaging the audience with expert quotes and a clear explanation of the problem's significance. The range of topics varied from smartphone addiction to the future of politics and AI in the creative cycle. As a 2020 graduate of San Diego State, I understand the financial challenges of college, making this essay contest, with its $500 prize, a chance to explore interesting topics, and shadow a venture capitalist, something I would have loved during my college days. Join me as I discuss and share excerpts from some standout essays, shedding light on what today's college students are thinking about.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Paige Doherty00:51 prompt of the BGV winter break college essay contest 02:03 topics of the essay contest05:07 "The Higher Education in Southeast Asia" 08:23 AI: making the rich get richer and the poor get poorer10:12 “Virtual Power Plants” 14:22 "Taking the Leap" (interplanetary travel) 18:10 the dangers of fast fashion21:19 "Overlooked and Understudied: the Ovarian Hormone Cycle" 25:26 "Software Ate the World, but Hardware is Biting Back”Show notes:Zenith | https://www.zenithlearninggroup.com/Prof Jim | https://www.profjim.com/Matrix | https://mtx.gg/Firefly Aerospace | https://fireflyspace.com/Relativity Space | https://www.relativityspace.com/Shein | https://us.shein.com/Rubi Laboratories | https://www.rubi.earth/Aavia | https://aavia.io/In the FLO | https://www.amazon.com/FLO-Unlock-Hormonal-Advantage-Revolutionize/dp/0062870483Hearth Display | https://hearthdisplay.com/The Last Gameboard | https://lastgameboard.com/Aviron | https://www.avironactive.com/Lotus Labs | https://www.getlotus.com/USB Club | https://usbclub.net/Humane's AI Pin Tab | https://hu.ma.ne/aipinRabbit r1 | https://www.rabbit.tech/Support the show

Send us a textToday, I am joined by Cam Doody, the Co-founder & General Partner at Brickyard, a first-round venture capital firm and residency. In this episode, we explore Cam's transition to the venture side, raising ~ 115 million dollars, his principles on investing, and insights into founder residencies. Cam emphasizes the grind of entrepreneurship and the absence of overnight success, drawing parallels with the metaphor of "laying brick" to signify the continuous effort and perseverance in building a business. Previously, Cam was the Co-Founder of Bellhop, the fastest growing moving & relocation brand in the U.S.— rebuilding the $18B space with tech.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Cam Doody 00:39 cam doody’s story03:50 the pressures of being a founder 07:25 the main goal of Brickyard09:22 Brickyard’s content strategy10:10 Coast - the API sales engine13:37 selection process for founders16:15 Brickyard’s vision for success19:38 cam’s favorite investors  22:06 my vision of success for BGVShow notes:Cam Doody | https://twitter.com/camdoody?lang=enBrickyard | https://www.justlaybrick.com/Bellhop | https://www.getbellhops.com/Matt Patterson | https://twitter.com/__MattPatt__YC | https://www.ycombinator.com/Coast | https://www.coast.io/Austin Pager | https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-pager/Spencer Levitt | https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-levitt/Joon | https://www.joonapp.io/Michael Gilroy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbgilroy/Haroon Mokhtarzada | https://www.linkedin.com/in/haroonmokhtarzada/Support the show

Send us a textToday, I am joined by Jasper Stephens, a leadership coach specializing in working with CEOs and executive teams of Seed Series A and Series B companies. In this episode, the focus is on the role of executive and leadership coaches in the growth journey of founders and CEOs of early-stage startups. Jasper and I explore common questions founders may have about executive coaching, touching on team management, goal-setting, effective communication, and eventually expanding to strategic considerations like product development. Tune in to gain insights into the journey of founders seeking guidance and the profound impact of coaching on both individuals and their companies.Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Jasper Stephens 01:58 do you need an executive coach as a founder?03:04 how to find an executive coach 04:29 Jasper’s vital talents 08:12 common challenges Jasper helps founders with11:28 teaching founders to coach themselves15:09 working with early stage vs series A/B stage16:42 characteristics of successful founders20:24 the most difficult feedback I had to hear24:22 how can I improve as a founder26:55 what made Jasper choose to work with BGV?Show notes:Jasper Stephens | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalejstephens/The Drama of the Gifted Child | https://www.amazon.com/Drama-Gifted-Child-Search-Revised/dp/0465016901Support the show

Send us a textIn today's podcast, I am thrilled to announce the Behind Genius Ventures winter break college essay contest for college students. Drawing from my own experience of funding education through essay scholarships, I recognize the need for a platform that allows students to explore their passions. As the founder of a venture capital fund, I'm eager to hear from the next generation of investors and founders about the issues driving their passion. The winning essayist will receive a $500 cash prize, a chance to record a podcast episode, and a week shadowing me as a Founding Partner. Also, the top five contestants will get the opportunity to be featured on our blog. The essay contest runs from December 13th, 2023, to January 18th, 2024. Please email andy@behindgeniusventures for questions. Winter break essay submission form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAosGxC4kP-D7YwbSjt-Wm6MUqAZ2RjOz-cUJjXDKVo1UGyA/viewform Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.Connect with Paige 🌱💜Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Paige Doherty00:10 launching the BGV winter break college essay contest 00:47 what does the future of play look like?01:34 the next generation of investors and founders02:24 what do you win from the college winter essay contest?02:47 what do the top 5 contestants of the college winter essay contest win?03:07 using chat gpt to help structure your writingShow notes:Winter break essay submission form | https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAosGxC4kP-D7YwbSjt-Wm6MUqAZ2RjOz-cUJjXDKVo1UGyA/viewformProf Jim | https://www.profjim.com/Statusphere | https://joinstatus.com/Lotus Labs | https://www.getlotus.com/Support the show