On this episode of The Capital Stack Podcast, venture capitalist David Paul speaks with his mentor, Todd P. Belfer of Brookstone Venture Capital - an Arizona-based venture capital firm. Todd speaks about his irregular and inspiring path to success, the importance of consistency and discipline, and his learnings as an investor and operator. David and Todd discuss their wins and losses from working together, and their valuable insight on the startup market today. You can watch and listen to the podcast on on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple. What You Will Discover - (2:38) - Todd’s story of his first companies and his road to becoming an investor (7:35) - How Todd learned and gained the courage to acquire capital early in his career (15:00) - Fund structure vs. syndicate structure in venture capital (17:48) - Todd’s wins at Canal Partners (28:35) - How and when Brookstone Venture Capital was founded, and info on Brookstone (31:05) - How Todd works and invests now Connect with Todd - https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-p-belfer-26586326/

This week I had the opportunity to invest with friend and serial entrepreneur Hamid Shojaee. Hamid has been the founder of several companies and products including Axosoft, NetTime Solutions, and Get Krackin. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple. On this episode of the Capital Stack Podcast hosted by venture capitalist David Paul - Hamid Shoajee, serial entrepreneur, author, investor, and founder of Savvy Trader, an Arizona-based investment portfolio-sharing software company, gets on the microphone. David and Hamid engage in conversation about how to get started in investing, how to balance and maintain your investments, learnings from investing mistakes, and projections on the economy’s future. Hamid discusses his own valuable investing tactics and investments.What You Will Discover(2:12) - Hamid’s story with his previous companies(4:20) - Info on Hamid’s company, Savvy Trader(8:18) - What is trading vs. investing?(12:10) - Learnings and the importance of patience in investing(17:48) - Previous and current stock market trends(30:41) - Bias in trading(36:42) - Trends in the aerospace market(40:25) - View on the US Healthcare Landscape(52:43) - Outlook and projections on the economy

On this episode of the Capital Stack Podcast hosted by venture capitalist David Paul - Will Shaw, the pro-football player turned tech founder of Better Agency, an Arizona-based insurance management software company, gets on the microphone. David and Will discuss the current state of the startup market, the solution to high churn, why insurance rates are so high, and the back end of the insurance space. Will opens up about what habits he practices to stay successful, the importance of showing up, and what is most shocking about becoming a founder. Listen to this episode on all your platforms including YouTube, Spotify, or Apple!What You Will Discover - (4:50) - The different types of entrepreneurs(11:40) - The thesis for Will’s company, Better Agency(12:00) - Why churn is created, and how it is reduced(16:00) - The state of the insurance market, why rates are so high, and projections for the future(22:13) - The transition of football into the business world(30:18) - Will’s habits that keep him focused and successful(36:06) - The most humbling moment for Will as a founder and person(44:29) - Memorable quote - “Things are never as bad or ever as good as you think they are”Connect with Will - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willshaw8/

Despite his reluctance, I got David to speak to me about the overly complex ecosystem of the adtech business today. David is an incredible entrepreneur who has helped disable the giants that have monopolized the digital ad business for decades. Hint- it rhymes with Schmoogle. Have you ever wondered about the backend workings of website monetization and ad-tech? The ad-tech industry is a fast-moving industry that’s allowing publishers around the world to invest in their work and have world-class technology dealing with the inefficiencies in the industry. In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have David Freedman, the founder of Freestar. Freestar is a managed service that simplifies the challenges of website monetization to help publishers and e-commerce sites reach their true revenue potential. David is a 15-year veteran in the digital advertising and publishing space, with his entrepreneurial career beginning when he founded a college calendar company, Tempe12.Listen in to learn how the advertising landscape has changed for publishers after the introduction of header bidding in ad auctions. You will also learn the importance of having a partner to help you as a founder with systems and processes to improve culture, scalability, and growth.What You Will Discover:·       [01:05] David’s entrepreneurial journey – how his college venture launched Freestar to help publishers with monetization.·       [03:15] He explains why he pivoted from web publishing and traffic to the monetization side of things.·       [07:59] How the advertising landscape has changed for publishers after the introduction of header bidding in ad auctions.·       [11:21] Understanding how Prebid open source technology has changed header bidding ad actions.·       [13:58] The monetization solution Freestar offers publishers to lessen ad-tech industry inefficiencies.·       [17:04] The importance of being open to testing things in the ad-tech industry as things change.·       [18:54] David shares his personal views on privacy protection and why people’s concerns should be addressed.·       [21:36] The threats and benefits of generative AI on content creation as it pertains to publishing and advertising.·       [23:49] How good user/customer experience on a website leads to increased monetization chances.·       [26:03] He describes the experience and learning curve of getting a partner to help with systems and processes.·       [29:25] David shares a piece of business advice he received and how it has helped him as an entrepreneur.Memorable Quote:·       “When you hit a certain amount of scalable employee and or revenue-wise, there’s a different level of systems and processes that need to be put into place.”- David Freedman [26:28]Connect with Will:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freedmandavid/

It is a great pleasure to introduce our next podcast guest - Will Caldwell founder and CEO of SnapNHD - a San Diego based real-estate data company. I had the chance to invest in Wills company very early and if I did it would of resulted in a 10x outcome. Oops. At least I can laugh at it and Will and friend. You can listen to the podcast on all your platforms including YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.Does your startup have what it takes to identify strong business cases, have ready-to-go customers on the products, and have high margins? In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Will Caldwell, Co-founder and CEO of SnapNHD, a leading provider of natural hazard disclosure reports and real-time flood determination certificates. Will saw a business opportunity in a big company dominated industry and scaled SnapNHD from $0-$100k in less than three years. Listen in to learn how to identify opportunities in a market and figure out how to be better and compete head-to-head with existing companies. You will also learn how to bootstrap efficiently to the point of scaling by having financial discipline, cash flow generation, and nailing product-market fit. What You Will Discover:• [03:13] How SnapNHD is identifying strong business cases, having ready-to-go customers on their products, and having high margins. • [06:14] How Will figured he could compete head-to-head with big data natural hazard report companies. • [09:03] How the cost perspective became their competitive advantage when acquiring customers. • [12:54] The real estate demand over the next ten years and the business opportunities available in the industry.• [17:28] How financial discipline, cash flow generation, and nailing product-market fit enabled SnapNHD to bootstrap efficiently. • [21:35] Will on the guiding principles that allowed him to achieve his success. • [22:33] Some random questions with Will! Memorable Quote:• “In any kind of verticalized software industry, the more you become entrenched in that vertical, the more intrinsic value you create.”- Will [19:55]Connect with Will:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caldwellw/

I had the privilege of meeting Liz recently, thanks to a referral from one of the CEOs of their portfolio companies. It's worth noting that Liz is not one for outward marketing. Nonetheless, her unique perspective on the world is awe-inspiring, and I'm excited to share her story and the incredible journey of SHAKTI with you.How does a small team and emerging venture capital fund prioritize supporting and empowering founders? Taking the community approach is a great way to add value to early-stage founders by bringing in mentors and industry titans.In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Liz Harrow, a Partner at Shakti. She has experience of 10 years at Morgan Stanley in equity research & venture capital and, most recently, as a Vice President leading their startup accelerator program for diverse entrepreneurs.Listen in to learn how limited partners and mentors come together as a titan network to offer value to founders. You will also learn why good storytelling is a powerful skill to have as a founder to guarantee the success of your early-stage startup.What You Will Discover:·       [02:21] Liz on how her fund empowers founders from the beginning of their journey, hence the name Shakti.·       [03:44] She shares her 10-year background in Wall Street and how she got into venture capital.·       [05:39] How they prioritize supporting founders offering value as a small team and an emerging fund.·       [07:16] The community approach that has proven you don’t have to be on a board to add value to companies.·       [09:55] The value Shakti’s titan network brings to the founders’ journey with their industry expertise.·       [13:11] What it takes to become a trillion-dollar coach who’s different from the rest.·       [15:54] Shakti’s thematic investing strategy – looking for companies reimagining the world’s largest habits with new tech infrastructure.·       [17:50] The components Shakti considers when thinking about company picking.·       [19:44] The process of finding the right founder, even at the risk of making a mistake.·       [25:16] Liz shares a success story of a company that’s reimagining a habit completely driven by change.·       [28:04] The role of luck in success and the importance of having an investment process for a solid venture franchise.·       [29:30] Some random questions with Liz!Memorable Quote:·       “You have to be the number one storyteller for your company whether that’s to get capital in the door, to hire the initial team, or to convince people to buy your product/service; we rarely see incredible founders who aren’t also good storytellers.”- Liz [21:35]Connect with Liz:·       Website: https://shaktivc.com/·       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-harrow/Book Recommendations:·       Born a Crime by Trevor Noah  ·       Trillion Dollar Coach by Alan Eagle, Eric Schmidt, and Jonathan Rosenberg  

When searching for determined founders, it's crucial to recognize individuals with a chip on their shoulders. Jessica Chang undoubtedly possesses this quality. She's fed up with witnessing mothers, who are deprived of opportunities, forced out of the workforce due to exorbitant childcare expenses. Discover how Jessica and the Upwards team are revolutionizing traditional childcare, catering to those who need it most and breaking the cycle of inequality. You can watch/listen to this podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.Are you aware of the struggle parents and childcare providers are going through? How do we make care accessible for all and also support childcare providers to stay in the industry?In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Jessica Chang , CEO & Co-Founder at Upwards (formerly WeeCare). Upwards is a platform helping families, caregivers, employers, and local government all work together to make childcare accessible to all. Before Upwards, Jessica worked in finance and marketplace operations roles and also owned and operated preschools.Listen in to learn about Upwards’s three-step process for government employers, which caters to placement, data measurement, and affordability. You will also learn how to strategically approach investors and market to individual target markets as a B2B early-stage startup.What You Will Discover:·      [01:57] Jessica’s entrepreneurial background and how her experience with childcare inspired her to start Upwards.·      [05:44] How Upwards pivoted to ensure parents, care providers, and employers all benefit from affordable childcare.·      [10:47] Upwards’s three-step process for government employers – placement, data measurement, and affordability.·      [15:39] She explains how they strategically approached investors and built the company from the start.·      [18:30] We discuss the globalization of tech, politics, and what the tech community can learn from it.·      [23:17] How they approached the marketplace by focusing on acquiring and growing supply.·      [24:27] How they found success approaching care providers individually instead of general marketing.·      [26:14] Some random questions with Jessica!Memorable Quote:·       “It becomes a national strain on the economy when we don’t have a childcare industry that works.”- Jessica Chan [10:04]Connect with Jessica:Website: https://www.upwards.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-chang-1010402/

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mat, and I must say, he is absolutely delightful, despite his charming accent. As is often the case with founders, he found it challenging to remain idle after the successful sale of Cloudability for a staggering $1.8B, backed by Founders Fund and Foundry.What if you had a robot chief of staff to help you remember other people’s problems? Think of a human-compatible AI product built and designed to enhance your productivity which will, in turn, make you a better executive.In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Mat Ellis, the co-founder & CEO at Sixty AI and the former founder and CEO at Cloudability. He has previously held executive positions with four startups and key technology roles at Frito-Lay, Pepsi-Cola, and Goldman Sachs. Sixty AI is an AI-powered Personal Relationship Management software optimized for focus and flow, eliminating mundane and time-sucking digital tasks to focus on what matters most.Listen in to learn how to become more productive and liberated from tedious tasks with an AI system that helps you remember the important things. You will also learn how to build a great and viral product that makes a difference and how to create demand for it.What You Will Discover:·       [04:31] Mat explains where he gets his humility from and the need to learn constantly.·       [06:31] The importance of having problem-solving skills to run an early-stage startup.·       [09:50] How he shifted his mindset to avoid compulsiveness when running an early-stage startup. ·       [13:53] He describes the end of Cloudability and the beginning of Sixty AI – the journey it’s been.·       [17:52] How Sixty AI is built and designed to be human-compatible for more productivity.·       [21:16] The power of a digital system that helps you remember people’s problems to enhance productivity.·       [31:53] Mat on the business model helping Sixty AI move from zero to one.·       [34:26] How to create a great viral product that makes a difference and how to create demand for it.·       [36:20] How to become a beta customer and part of the Sixty AI movement.·       [37:11] Some random questions with Mat!Memorable Quote:·       “The wedge is a great product that makes a difference in your life instantly but also one that’s well-known, highly spoken of, and viral.”- Mat Ellis [35:10]Connect with Mat:·       Website: https://sixty.app/·       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matellis/

Jen Abel, co-founder of JJELLYFISH and an expert in guiding early-stage startups, shares her honest insights on why founders often struggle to achieve product-market fit. She emphasizes the need for a visionary leader at the helm of a startup and advocates for giving founders at least two years to fully grasp their market. Jen discusses the importance of customer feedback, embracing rejection, and the shift from founder to sales manager. Her advice is crucial for any entrepreneur navigating the tumultuous waters of startup growth.

Going from founder-led-sales to a sales team is a bi#Tch.  One of the first things a founder needs to think about is how to connect data and systems together to effectively understand what is working and what's not.  Join me in discussing revenue operations with the grand master himself - Anthony Enrico- of LeanScale.  You can watch/listen to this podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.How do you handle revenue operations in your business, and when did you start doing it? Revenue ops is a better management system for aligning go-to-market operations to boost revenue growth. Revenue op is best started before your first sale, if possible.In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Anthony Enrico talk about revenue operations and the importance of standardizing processes in the early stages of an organization. Anthony is the Founder & CEO of LeanScale, a startup providing access to exceptional RevOps services to any company scaling their business. He was also the VP of Revops responsible for overall GTM strategy and operations.Listen in to learn the importance of having a process for clear communication and expectations amongst teams. You will also learn about the value of starting your Rev op journey early, even without sophistication and continuing to evolve.What You Will Discover:·       [03:52] Anthony shares his background and how LeanScale was born to provide revenue ops services.·       [08:02] The importance of having a foundation of a go-to-market operations function of the business before your first sale.·       [09:23] Why you should start standardizing your processes when you start delegating.·       [11:09] The importance of having a process for clear communication and expectations amongst teams.·       [14:51] What the hiring steps look like when hiring for an in-house revenue op as you scale your business.·       [17:33] The importance of starting your rev op journey early, even without sophistication, and continuing to evolve.·       [19:47] The expected change in sales and marketing tech, plus the value of organic marketing in keeping companies intentional.·       [23:34] Anthony on how he’s enjoying his journey from an operator to a founder.·       [25:20] He describes the emotional ties that come with being a founder and how it affects him personally.·       [28:51] Anthony answers random questions!Memorable Quote:·       “The second you have more than one person doing sales, that’s a good time to start standardizing your process.”- Anthony [09:29]Connect with Anthony:·       Website: https://www.leanscale.team/·       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyenrico/·       Book Mentioned: Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke