Today, David is talking to Nicolas Lopez. Nicolas joined HCAP Partners in 2013 and is responsible for originating, structuring, closing, and monitoring portfolio investments. He has been instrumental in many of the firm's portfolio investments, which achieved fast growth and realized significant value for shareholders and employees. Nicolas is a board member of HCAP Partners portfolio companies Lone Star Analysis, DYPER™, and FleetNurse and is a board observer for 5th Kind.Before joining HCAP Partners, Nicolas was in their corporate development group with Best Buy, Inc. Nicolas joined Best Buy in 2010, where he helped identify, evaluate and support early-stage investment opportunities. He was also very involved with strategic initiatives at Best Buy, working with various cross-functional business groups to drive shareholder value. Before joining Best Buy, Nicolas worked in investment banking and investment management.Nicolas attended the University of Southern California, earning an M.B.A., and San Diego State University, earning a B.S. in Business Administration. He is also a CFA charterholder.What You'll Learn:Understanding Mezzanine CapitalInvesting through a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC)Investment Conflict (Lender vs. Equity Holder in the Same Company)Impact InvestingValue Alignment before InvestingFundraising as an Impact Investment FundDeal Structure in the Current EconomyFavorite Quote:“With everything happening in the last couple of years, with covid and remote work, what makes a quality job is becoming more important. Pay is always on top of the list, but what else is important for employees.”The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit the following:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Today, David is talking to Tom Griffiths. Tom is the CEO and co-founder of Hone, the all-in-one talent development platform for modern teams delivering live learning at scale to enable behavior change, human connection, and continuous development.Prior to founding Hone, Tom was Chief Product Officer and co-founder of gaming unicorn FanDuel, where, for a decade, he helped create a multi-award-winning product, a new industry, and a thriving distributed team. He has a lifelong passion for education, technology, and business and is grateful for the opportunity to combine all three at Hone. Tom earned his Bachelor's in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge in England and his MSc in Machine Learning from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.Tom regularly speaks and writes about leadership development, equitable access to learning, management training, and the future of work. He lives in San Diego with his wife and young family.What You'll Learn:Mentorship and Broad Organization TrainingLeadership and Soft Skill TrainingDifficulties in a Non-traditional SaaS BusinessCorporate TrainingEmployee Recruitment and RetentionProduct Pricing and Budget IdentificationFavorite Quote:“You need to know that you got something people will buy, love, use, and continue to use.”--The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit the following:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Today, David is talking to Les Craig. Les joined Next Frontier Capital in 2017. During that time, he has led the investments and serves on the board of Special.tv, S2 Corporation, Bandwango, EveryoneSocial, and Gravwell.Before joining NFC, Les served as the Executive Director of the Montana State University Innovation Campus.  In less than 16 months, he successfully built a partnership between a private developer, the MSU Office of Research and Economic Development, and the MSU Alumni Foundation to develop a 42-acre Research Park in Bozeman, MT, focused on technology and research commercialization.Les moved to Montana because of MSU’s national search to hire a Director for the Blackstone LaunchPad, a campus-based entrepreneurship program funded by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. In February 2015, Les became the Director of MSU’s Blackstone programming, where he passionately mentored and encouraged students, alumni, and faculty to pursue entrepreneurial careers. In the Summer of 2016, Les received funding from the Small Business Administration to launch 406 Labs, Montana’s first accelerator program.  The program ran its first cohort in the Fall of 2016 and is strategically positioned to focus on preparing MSU’s highest potential technologies and founders for growth and scale.In 2014, Les Co-founded The Twenty, a data science services company based in Bethesda, MD, which operates a high-profile network of senior mathematicians and computer scientists focused on specialized project-based work for clients ranging from start-ups to publicly traded companies and even government organizations.Before The Twenty, Les Co-founded RedOwl Analytics, a software product company that built a platform for identifying trends and anomalies in the digital trail of corporations to combat insider threats and mitigate risk in financial services, cyber security, and US government spaces. RedOwl was acquired by Forcepoint (Raytheon) in August 2017.Previously, Les served as a Technical Operations Officer at the Central Intelligence Agency, receiving specialized training in telecommunications and computer network operations.Before his time at the CIA, Les was a member of the professional staff of the National Security Technology Department at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. He led an Operations Research team developing powerful predictive and geospatial analytic products to make battlefield decisions related to the counter-improvised explosive device fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.While on active duty, Les served on multiple special operations task forces and was an Aide-de-camp to a senior intelligence professional on General Stanley McChrystal’s staff at the Joint Special Operations Command.Les is grateful for the opportunity to raise his family in Montana with his amazing wife, Anne Meree, and three beautiful children – Max, Emi, and Hunter.What You'll Learn:Military to Entrepreneurship to InvestingFirst Experience Raising Venture Capital as a FounderCash Burn After RaiseUnderstanding the Concept of “Founder Friendly”Investor/ Founder Relationship StrategyStrategy changes from Fund I to Fund IIRegional and Nationwide InvestingPotential of Underserved MarketsFavorite Quote:“If a founder has clear what I need to see, I get to a NO. I will have a 30 min call with that founder and say here is why we got to a NO.”The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit the following:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Today, David is talking to Rahul Sidhu. Rahul Sidhu is the Founder and CEO of SPIDR Tech, the world’s first automated customer service platform for public safety. Versaterm Public Safety acquired SPIDR Tech in 2021. Rahul has served in public safety for 11 years, working as a paramedic, firefighter, crew chief, and police officer. In conjunction with SPIDR Tech, Rahul routinely works on special public safety projects in California as a reserve officer, recently serving as the creator and program manager for one of the country’s earliest semi-autonomous air support units.What You'll Learn:Combination of Tech & Public SafetySales Process for B2B SaaSBuilding a Tech Company with a Public Service BackgroundBudget and Pricing StrategyFinancial ImpactsMarket ValidationRaising and AcquisitionsFavorite Quote:“I didn’t have any former sales training. I think the best CEOs in the world are an extremely good salesman.”The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit the following:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Today, David is talking to Caitlin Wege. Caitlin is the Executive Chair at Contract Pharmaceuticals Limited and its sister company, Glasshouse Pharmaceuticals. She serves on the board of Neuralace Medical and Pumpspotting Inc. In addition to her corporate leadership roles, she is a partner at MooDoos Investments. This private family-owned investment fund invests in early-stage companies throughout the US and Canada. MooDoos is industry agnostic and invests in several industries, including life sciences, manufacturing, and education technology.Caitlin is also the President of NuFund Venture Group. NuFund is one of the largest Angel networks in the US. She is also a Trustee, finance committee member, and Chair of the Governance Committee for the Wege Foundation, an environmentally-focused family foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a board member of The Ecology Center in Orange County and serves as a mentor and advisory board member for the ZIP Launchpad, the business accelerator at San Diego State University. Caitlin is passionate about fostering entrepreneurial and investor education and learning.What You'll Learn:Family Office WorkflowTeam WorkStrategies and Investment ThesisChanges in the Industry and AdjustmentsHow to Choose a Pre-Revenue/Pre-Product CompanyAngel CommunityAngel Fund vs. Traditional Angel InvestingNeurodiversityFavorite Quote:“Seed Investors understand that you can invest in an “A” product in a “B” team and it just won’t survive, but investing in an “A” team with a “B” product that “A” team can turn into an “A” product very easily.”The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit the following:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Today, David is talking to Heidi Jannenga. Dr. Heidi Jannenga is a physical therapist, co-founder, Chief Clinical Officer of WebPT, a nine-time Inc. 5000 honoree, and the leading software solution for physical, occupational, and speech therapists.  As a member of the board and senior management team, Heidi advises on WebPT’s product vision, company culture, branding efforts, and internal operations while advocating for rehab therapists, women leaders, and entrepreneurs on a national and international scale. Since the company launched in 2008, Heidi has guided WebPT through exponential growth. Today, it’s the fastest-growing physical therapy software in the country, employing over 800 people and serving more than 90,000 therapy professionals at more than 27,000 clinics.In 2017, Heidi was honored by Health Data Management as one of the most powerful women in IT, and she was a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2018, she was named the Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year at the Arizona Technology Council’s Governor’s Celebration of Innovation. In addition to serving on numerous non-profit leadership boards, Heidi is a proud member of the YPO Scottsdale Chapter and Charter 100 as well as an investor with Golden Seeds, which focuses on women-founded or led organizations. Her latest venture is called Rizing Tide, which is a foundation dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusiveness in the physical therapy workforce.Heidi is a mother to her 10-year-old daughter Ava and enjoys traveling, hiking, mountain biking, and practicing yoga in her spare time.What You'll Learn:Digitalization of HealthcareEHR History and TransitionsMarket ConsolidationSMB vs. Enterprise Product Market-FitTransition from Organic to Inorganic Growth StrategyCulture Management and its ScalabilityOnboarding a New CEO / New Leadership Team and its TransitionsCapital Stack TransitionPhysical Therapist IndustryBrand RecognitionToday’s Early Stage Investment MarketImportance of CompetitionFavorite Quote:“Relevancy is always important for founders, and I have always felt relevant and important to the business, Today.”The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Today, David is talking to Elizabeth Brooks. Elizabeth Brooks has senior-level (CMO, CSO, GM) experience in business strategy, the full cross-platform marketing mix, team leadership, marketing data and analytics, and digital marketing strategy and execution. Creative and a digital native.Unusual skill set derived from management positions in venture-backed startups, established high-tech and eCommerce businesses, sports teams and arenas, and media/content corporations. Consumer-facing entertainment, gaming, fashion, lifestyle, and technology experience. Experienced in visual/IoT experience tech - VR, AR, 3D.Passionately interested in technologies and ideas that change consumer behaviors, positively impact communities and the planet, and cause us to look at the world differently.What You'll Learn:Media Business VS. Software BusinessMusic Industry and its Digital RevolutionMove from Working on a Startup to Working with a Family Office PortfolioEarly Stage Marketing and its ChallengesBrand Recognition and Finding Marketing PathAngel Investing and SyndicationB2B and B2C MarketingImportance of ContentFavorite Quote:“If I think I will make a difference, am I more inclined to invest? Yes!”The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Today, David is talking to Maan.Maan Hamdan is an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor with a wealth of hands-on experience providing focused leadership, building effective management teams, and creating, developing, and exiting profitable companies.As a serial entrepreneur, Maan recently founded TechGenies, software development and professional services provider, and TrenData, a predictive Analytics firm. As an investor, Maan invested in many technology firms, including Insala Inc. and MindTap Marketing. Maan sits on the board of Insala, TrenData, and Impact Workforce Technology, among others.Maan founded HRsmart in 1999, formulating the original vision and strategic direction for HRsmart and leading the company to become a multi-national cloud provider of talent management technology. HRsmart had a thousand enterprise clients in over 30 countries when Deltek acquired it in February 2015.In other entrepreneurial efforts, Maan co-founded Directel, a multinational paging company that employed over 500 professionals in Brazil and Argentina. He also co-founded and served as chairman of the board for CNI, an executive recruiting firm, and Careernet, a public career board based in Florida.As a corporate executive, Maan headed the national indirect distribution for PageNet, at one time the largest paging company in the world. He also held various senior sales and marketing positions for telecommunications conglomerate GTE (currently Verizon.)He received his BE in computer systems engineering from the American University in Beirut and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.In 2016, Maan and his wife, Weeda, founded Education Unbound, a nonprofit focused on helping expand and support software and environmental sciences education worldwide. (www.educationunbound.org)What You'll Learn:Career Change from Corporate to EntrepreneurshipExits and FailuresHR Tech / Talent ManagementFundraisingEcosystem BuildingFavorite Quote:“It’s not about managing your employee talent now! It is about managing the people before they join your company and after they leave.”-The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Today, David is talking to Bill Dolphin.William is an accomplished senior executive with a history of strategic management of international public and private companies in the Technology, Medical Device, Digital Health, and Fintech sectors. He is an established performer in successfully executing strategic and operational initiatives leading to exceptional organic growth.As an advisor and board member, William brings broad and extensive international leadership and business experience. Coupled with his technology background, he provides a unique set of skills, competencies, perspectives, and experience to assist leadership in developing, implementing, and executing a clear, value-generating business strategy.William is passionate about cultivating leadership, encouraging resourcefulness and problem-solving, and promoting team efforts to achieve goals. He holds US and EU passports and permanent residency in New Zealand.CORE COMPETENCIESChange Management; Agile methodologies; Strategic and Operational Planning; Business Transformation; Mergers & Acquisitions; Business Development; Restructuring; Process Improvement; Contract Negotiation; Operations Management; Continual Improvement Process; Cost Management/Cost Reduction; Product Development; Product Launch; Team Building/Leadership Development; Fundraising; Business Process Optimization.What You'll Learn:Academia to OperatingImportance to Hire Competent PeopleSourcing TalentExecution vs. StrategyDecision ProcessUnderstanding the Audience that You Want to ReachCommunication with Investors, Board Members, and EmployeesMissing BudgetTurnaroundsFavorite Quote:“The degree of certainty translates into risk, and strategy is really a game of risk.”The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.

Today, David is talking to Jimmy Soni. Jimmy Soni is an award-winning author. His newest book, The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley, was a national bestseller and received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New Yorker, The Economist, Financial Times, and more. His previous book, A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age, won the 2017 Neumann Prize, awarded by the British Society for the History of Mathematics for the best book on the history of mathematics for a general audience, and the 2019 Middleton Prize by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his daughter, Venice.What You'll Learn:Becoming a WriterDiscovery Process when Writing a BookInterviewsListeningMarket CyclesRecession and its ConsequencesBeing a CreatorFavorite Quote:“How leadership teams can move very aggressively and turn the pressure on not having another round of financing into action.”--The Capital StackAll Things Tech Investing and Value CreationEarly growth investor David Paul interviews the world's most excellent ecosystem, learns how to start and scale your own business, and finds an edge in today's capital markets. To connect with David, visit:Twitter - CLICK HERESubstack - CLICK HERELinkedIn - CLICK HEREIG - CLICK HEREDISCLAIMER:David Paul is the founder and general partner at DWP Capital. All opinions expressed by David and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of DWP capital. This podcast is for formational purposes only and should not be relied upon for decisions. David and guests may maintain positions in the securities discussed on this podcast.