Stefanie Smith has a storied career, most notably with famed furniture retailer IKEA.  But she has a new mission now: helping every idea see the light of day. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introducing Stefanie Smith 00:01:10 - Journey with IKEA 00:03:03 - Scandinavian corporate culture 00:04:36 - Unveiling the core process 00:06:19 - Simplifying business planning 00:07:43 - Identifying market competition 00:09:50 - Engaging financial planning 00:11:14 - Ideal candidates for the core process 00:13:07 - Impactful high school project 00:15:41 - Future plans and community involvement 🔸 Connect with the guests: Stefanie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefaniesmith7/ 🔹 Join Our Community: Philly Tech Connect is more than just a podcast. It's a hub for innovation and connection. Join us for monthly meetups and workshops to engage with like-minded tech enthusiasts and expand your network. 🤝 Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/philadelphia-e... Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/phillytechen... LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/philadelphia-tech-entrepreneurs/  👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe for more insightful stories and expert advice straight from the heart of Philadelphia's tech scene. 🎬 This content was produced and edited by Lifetime Value Media. Learn more at: https://www.lifetimevaluemedia.com  #PhillyTechConnect #StartupChallenges #EntrepreneurialJourney #TechInnovation #Philadelphia

Tim Garrity is an accomplished Realtor serving the Greater Philadelphia area and having spent the past decade running a very successful independent brokerage.  After disbanding that brokerage earlier this year, Tim joins the pod to discuss the pros and cons of partnerships and going into business with others. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Is a Partnership Right for You? 00:01:09 - From Corporate America to Real Estate 00:02:13 - Founding Your Own Business 00:05:30 - Building a Business 00:07:19 -  Defining a Partnership 00:10:23 - Ending the Partnership 00:17:20 - What’s Next 00:19:55 - Like, comment, and subscribe! 🔸 Connect with the guests: Tim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothygarrity/ 🔹 Join Our Community: Philly Tech Connect is more than just a podcast. It's a hub for innovation and connection. Join us for monthly meetups and workshops to engage with like-minded tech enthusiasts and expand your network. 🤝 Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/philadelphia-e... Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/phillytechen... LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/philadelphia-tech-entrepreneurs/  👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe for more insightful stories and expert advice straight from the heart of Philadelphia's tech scene. 🎬 This content was produced and edited by Lifetime Value Media. Learn more at: https://www.lifetimevaluemedia.com  #PhillyTechConnect #StartupChallenges #EntrepreneurialJourney #TechInnovation #Philadelphia

Mike Martin climbed the ranks of the corporate world for 30 years before striking out on his own with Top Down Strategies Consulting.  In preparing for this moment, Mike became a TEDx speaker, wrote a book, and started his own podcast.  He joins Dave to discuss it all.   📌 Timestamps: 00:02:07 - The self-fulfilling prophecy 00:04:08 - Mental fitness 00:06:10 - Positive self-talk 00:08:14 - Mastering self-command 00:10:13 - The key to successful writing 00:14:15 - Economies of language 00:18:25 - Like, comment, and subscribe!   🔸 Connect with the guests: Mike’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemartin/   🔹 Join Our Community: Philly Tech Connect is more than just a podcast. It's a hub for innovation and connection. Join us for monthly meetups and workshops to engage with like-minded tech enthusiasts and expand your network. 🤝   Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/philadelphia-e... Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/phillytechen... LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/philadelphia-tech-entrepreneurs/    👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe for more insightful stories and expert advice straight from the heart of Philadelphia's tech scene.   🎬 This content was produced and edited by Lifetime Value Media. Learn more at: https://www.lifetimevaluemedia.com    #PhillyTechConnect #StartupChallenges #EntrepreneurialJourney #TechInnovation #Philadelphia

Rachel Winchester is a serial freelancer with more than a little entrepreneurial streak.  She chats with Dave about her many irons in the fire, and how she once won a pitch competition against all odds. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00:00 - The Grim Reaper 00:01:44 - Better web presentations 00:03:42 - Death to slide decks and killing powerpoints 00:05:43 - Common mistakes in making presentations 00:07:35 - Introducing Focus Assistants 00:09:26 - The power of accountability partners 00:11:25 - The fundraising phase 00:13:21 - Winning a pitch against all odds 00:15:09 - Rachel’s contact info 00:17:06 - Like, comment, and subscribe!   🔸 Connect with the guests: Rachel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/winchesterachel/ 🔹 Join Our Community: Philly Tech Connect is more than just a podcast. It's a hub for innovation and connection. Join us for monthly meetups and workshops to engage with like-minded tech enthusiasts and expand your network. 🤝 Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/philadelphia-e... Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/phillytechen... LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/philadelphia-tech-entrepreneurs/  👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe for more insightful stories and expert advice straight from the heart of Philadelphia's tech scene. 🎬 This content was produced and edited by Lifetime Value Media. Learn more at: https://www.lifetimevaluemedia.com  #PhillyTechConnect #StartupChallenges #EntrepreneurialJourney #TechInnovation #Philadelphia

Brian Fitzpatrick has been around the block, having served as a CEO for several different Philadelphia-area technology companies and leading all but one to a successful exit.  He joins Dave to share his most valuable lessons. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00:00 - The evolution of the Philadelphia tech scene 00:01:53 - The Philly scene, then and now 00:03:41 - Seek wisdom 00:05:38 - Effective leadership 00:07:36 - The role of authenticity in leadership 00:09:22 - Embracing failure 00:11:26 - The candyman 00:13:31 - Learning from all facets 00:15:40 - Understanding others 00:17:47 - Like, comment, and subscribe!   🔸 Connect with the guests: Brian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankfitzpatrick  🔹 Join Our Community: Philly Tech Connect is more than just a podcast. It's a hub for innovation and connection. Join us for monthly meetups and workshops to engage with like-minded tech enthusiasts and expand your network. 🤝 Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/philadelphia-e... Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/phillytechen... LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/philadelphia-tech-entrepreneurs/  👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe for more insightful stories and expert advice straight from the heart of Philadelphia's tech scene. 🎬 This content was produced and edited by Lifetime Value Media. Learn more at: https://www.lifetimevaluemedia.com  #PhillyTechConnect #StartupChallenges #EntrepreneurialJourney #TechInnovation #Philadelphia

Craig Eppler, founder of his eponymous investment firm, joins Dave to discuss running his firm from vibrant downtown Philadelphia, and his strategy for generating consistent returns for his clients. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:33 - Transition to Real Estate Investment 00:03:11 - The Nightmare of the First Rental Property 00:04:44 - What is a Portfolio in Real Estate Investing? 00:06:16 - Investing in Other Ventures 00:07:48 - Secret unlocked: Aircraft Parts Business 00:09:15 - Due Diligence and Asset Backing 00:10:45 - Providing Stable Income During Retirement 00:12:14 - Diversifying your Investment Portfolio 00:13:45 - Like, comment, and subscribe!   🔸 Connect with the guests: Craig’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceppler 🔹 Join Our Community: Philly Tech Connect is more than just a podcast. It's a hub for innovation and connection. Join us for monthly meetups and workshops to engage with like-minded tech enthusiasts and expand your network. 🤝 Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/philadelphia-e... Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/phillytechen... LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/philadelphia-tech-entrepreneurs/  👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe for more insightful stories and expert advice straight from the heart of Philadelphia's tech scene. 🎬 This content was produced and edited by Lifetime Value Media. Learn more at: https://www.lifetimevaluemedia.com  #PhillyTechConnect #StartupChallenges #EntrepreneurialJourney #TechInnovation #Philadelphia  

Josh Devon, an accomplished tech founder and advisor, along with seasoned investor David Luk, hop on with Dave to chat raising capital in Philadelphia, dispelling a few myths along the way. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Nobody’s giving you money 00:02:44 - Giving up Autonomy and Equity in Fundraising 00:05:21 - Raising Institutional Capital and the Venture Market Cycle 00:08:11 - The Fundraising Cycle 00:10:59 - The Philadelphia Tech Ecosystem 00:13:31 - Building a Virtuous Cycle in the Startup Community 00:16:09 - Bridging the Gap between Capital and Tech Startups 00:18:59 - Creating a Commercially Viable Company 00:21:45 - The Unsexy Middleware Company 00:24:31 - Like, comment, and subscribe! 🔸 Connect with the guests: Josh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-devon/ David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsluk/   🔹 Join Our Community: Philly Tech Connect is more than just a podcast. It's a hub for innovation and connection. Join us for monthly meetups and workshops to engage with like-minded tech enthusiasts and expand your network. 🤝   Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/philadelphia-e... Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/phillytechen... LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/philadelphia-tech-entrepreneurs/    👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe for more insightful stories and expert advice straight from the heart of Philadelphia's tech scene.   🎬 This content was produced and edited by Lifetime Value Media. Learn more at: https://www.lifetimevaluemedia.com    #PhillyTechConnect #StartupChallenges #EntrepreneurialJourney #TechInnovation #Philadelphia

Morgan Doyle, Associate Director of Business Development at Corporate Tax Incentives, discusses how startups can benefit from Research and Development Tax Credits, including qualification behaviors, expenses, revenue exclusions, and payroll tax benefits. The podcast dives into the process and flexibility of filing for these credits, while highlighting the exclusions and criteria for startups to maximize financial outcomes.

Abu Kamara discusses creating human connections through AI, addressing startup failure, AI challenges, and narrowing focus. Exploring barter economy, networking, and future plans in tech space.

Former aerospace engineer turned CPO and co-founder of Tach Ignite, Daniele Dellavalle, shares insights on overcoming startup challenges. Topics include transitioning from aerospace to startups, running a tech-driven accelerator, and practical tips for success in the startup world.