

Austinpreneur
Capital Factory
Double click on the stories that made Austin, Texas a global startup hub. Listen to startup stories from entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and technologists shaping the Austin startup community. Austinpreneur will give you a glimpse into how Austin made itself a tier 1 city for technology, creativity and startups. Takeaway key insights for building your own success story in topics like fundraising, building products, sales, investing and creating company culture.Austinpreneur is a podcast highlighting Austin’s startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Join in on candid conversations with leaders who have built companies from the ground up and visionaries creating the next wave of world-changing technology. Discover the importance of your network, meet the people supporting your journey, and connect with the community making it all happen.Episodes feature topics like: entrepreneurship, technology, startups, innovation, funding, coworking, mentorship, startup accelerators, VC funding, angel investing, innovation strategies, partnerships, and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 15, 2024 • 30min
Facilitating Collaboration with OTA-based Consortia
sponsored by ATIExplore the dynamic world of "Other Transaction Agreements" (OTAs) in this Austinpreneur episode, recorded live at Fed Supernova 2024. Learn how OTAs are revolutionizing collaboration between startups, big enterprises, academia, and the government, breaking down barriers and accelerating innovation. These agreements are a game-changer, empowering startups to take center stage in ambitious projects that drive groundbreaking research, development, and prototyping of emerging technologies.Mica Dolan, President & COO of Advanced Technology International, brings a wealth of knowledge on building and managing consortia-based OTAs—from initial formation through contract negotiation and execution. Mica provides a practical roadmap for startups looking to seize opportunities within these agreements, offering actionable insights for growth and innovation. This episode is essential listening for anyone aiming to understand and navigate the complexities of OTAs.Stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast

Oct 8, 2024 • 1h 1min
Investing in Pattern Breakers with Mike Maples
Peel back the investing philosophy of a VC who has been on Forbes' Midas List over ten times. Joshua Baer, Founder & CEO of Capital Factory, hosts this interview for a live audience of founders, investors and other partners at Capital Factory.Mike's latest book, Pattern Breakers, takes a hard look at what it really takes to back a breakout company, expanding on his famous "Thunder Lizards" concept, as opposed to unicorns.Get ready to hear investment strategies behind some of the most iconic startups—and explore more insights on the Pattern Breakers podcast.Tune in and stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast

Oct 1, 2024 • 45min
Shaping the Legal Landscape with AI
Get ready for an in-depth look at the crossroads of law, AI, and business with Rich Harper, Partner-in-Charge of Baker Botts' New York office and Co-Chair of their Artificial Intelligence Practice. Visiting Austin from New York, Rich brings his extensive experience advising top technology, media, and entertainment companies like PepsiCo and Formula 1 Racing. He leads litigation teams in high-stakes business tort and fiduciary duty disputes, representing major players such as Liberty Media, NASCAR, Starz, and Charter Communications.Rich is at the forefront of AI-related litigation and regulations, guiding clients on the legal and strategic implications of AI in their ventures. Tune in as he shares expert insights on how entrepreneurs are leveraging generative AI, the evolving regulatory landscape, and what executives from New York and other Tier 1 cities think about Austin’s rise as a tech hub.This must-listen conversation offers actionable advice from one of the nation’s top legal minds on integrating AI into your company’s strategy and shaping its future impact on business.Tune in and stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast

Sep 24, 2024 • 53min
Combating Disinformation with Knowledge Graphs and LLMs
sponsored by ATIDisinformation and propaganda have reached new heights in the age of digital media. Tracking and understanding misinformation is critical to high stakes operations. While AI seemingly could provide a solution, hallucinations from generative AI models can make the problem worse.This week's guest sees this firsthand in his role as AI Advisor to US Central Command, which includes annual deployments to the field. Tune in as Capital Factory Principal Nick Spiller sits down with Charlie Burgoyne, Founder & CEO of Valkyrie, for an eye-opening conversation on his relevant experience in mitigating these threats.Tune in and stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast

Sep 17, 2024 • 58min
Rebuilding America's Industrial Base
sponsored by ATIStep into the future of American manufacturing with visionary entrepreneur Oluseun "Olu" Taiwo, CEO & Founder of Solideon, as he shares his mission to rebuild America’s industrial base. In this exclusive conversation, recorded live during Fed Supernova 2024, Nick and Olyu discuss into how frontier technologies—like robotics, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing—are shaping the supply chains of tomorrow.Tune in as we explore the cutting-edge strategies and opportunities driving Solideon’s growth.Stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast

Sep 11, 2024 • 58min
Funding the Future with AFWERX Director
Discover how the U.S. Air Force is driving dual-use innovation in this exclusive conversation with Col Elliott Leigh, the leader of its innovation arm. Dive into the fascinating evolution of military aviation, as Col Leigh connects the past to today’s cutting-edge initiatives like the SBIR/STTR program.This live session recorded during Fed Supernova 2024 is packed with insights for founders looking to tap into military and commercial markets. Tune in to learn how the Air Force is shaping the future of innovation—and how your startup can get involved!Stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast

Jul 17, 2024 • 26min
Innovating American Healthcare with ARPA-H's Inaugural Director
Step into the future of health innovation in this episode, recorded in Dallas at Health Supernova 2024. Join Dr. Renee Wegrzyn, the Inaugural Director of ARPA-H, and Joshua Baer, CEO of Capital Factory, as they explore groundbreaking developments and strategic collaborations shaping the field.Discover how ARPA-H, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, is revolutionizing the field with cutting-edge research and development. Learn how founders can actively engage with ARPA-H, explore the impact of the new offices in Dallas, D.C., and Boston, and understand the strategic collaboration between ARPA-H and established agencies like DARPA.Stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast

Jun 24, 2024 • 45min
Innovation via The Pursuit of Wellness
In this episode of Austinpreneur, explore new, highly effective human performance technology utilized by professional athletes, the armed forces, and top wellness clinics. Join Capital Factory Venture Principal Nick Spiller as he interviews Ingrid Sanders from Shiftwave, recorded live in front of an audience of Capital Factory founders during SXSW® 2024.Shiftwave chairs send pulsed pressure waves through your body, generating an effect unlike any other. Created in a psychophysiology research lab and developed for Special Operating Forces, these chairs are now utilized across professional sports and have proven effective on the frontlines in Ukraine. They improve focus, enhance sleep, and reduce pain. They are used in over 50 clinics in the U.S. and are now commercially available. This patented technology optimizes your mind and body, enabling peak performance on the field, at work, and in life.Before joining Shiftwave, Ingrid Sanders successfully launched two ventures in the health and wellness sector. After establishing her previous startups in San Francisco, she relocated to Austin, where she discovered Shiftwave at SXSW in 2022. Ingrid's expertise spans psychology, technology, business development, and media.

Jun 17, 2024 • 27min
The Forefront of Funding Tomorrow's Healthcare
Explore the mind of emerging venture capitalist Dr. Ariel Ganz, a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford's Healthcare Innovation Lab, in this insightful discussion recorded in Dallas at Health Supernova 2024. Ariel offers a unique perspective from the front lines of healthcare innovation, drawing on her investment experience with Arben Ventures and her groundbreaking research. The conversation spans a wide array of cutting-edge topics in health, including electronic drugs, breast cancer, precision medicine, and more.Stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast

Jun 10, 2024 • 36min
Integrity and Transparency in Data-Intensive Life Sciences Research
Tune into this episode, recorded in Dallas at Health Supernova 2024, to delve into the dynamic journey of Monty Kosma, Co-Founder & President of DataJoint.Monty is a true polymath with deep expertise spanning physics, neuroscience, economics, and law. His remarkable career includes designing stealth aircraft, tackling the largest-ever computational problems, litigating cases in federal court, and reengineering complex operations.As the Co-Founder and President of DataJoint, Monty is helping lead the “SciOps” movement, which is transforming scientific research in much the same way that DevOps revolutionized software development. DataJoint integrates and manages every aspect of data-intensive science, enhancing transparency and productivity to unprecedented levels.Join Nick Spiller as he explores Monty’s remarkable journey, revealing how his innovative work with DataJoint is revolutionizing data operations for experimental science, and how his relocation from San Francisco to Houston has positioned him within the world’s largest hub for life sciences. Stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast


