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
Mar 5, 2024 • 50min
AI's Hypersonic Transformation of Society
Explore societal implications of artificial intelligence with Mike Millard, Partner at Ecliptic Capital, and Nick Spiller, Venture Principal at Capital Factory, in this week's episode. With roots tracing back to his role at Dell in 1999, Mike's extensive experience in Austin's tech landscape includes notable positions at Austin Venture and the launch of MassChallenge Texas before assuming his current role as a VC at Ecliptic Capital.The conversation centers around Ecliptic's recently published report on artificial intelligence, offering valuable insights into this rapidly evolving field. Check out the report firsthand by clicking here.Sign up for the best Austinpreneur updates at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast
Feb 27, 2024 • 46min
Healthcare for People Fed Up with Health Insurance
In this episode of Austinpreneur, we chat with Melissa Blatt, Founder & CEO of indipop. Melissa's entrepreneurial journey began with a realization many can relate to—the daunting costs of health plans outside the safety net of large corporations. Determined to make a difference, she launched indipop, a platform dedicated to crafting personalized health plans, or healthshares, tailored for small business owners, independent contractors, and anyone navigating the maze of healthcare expenses. With a prestigious background, having studied at NYU and led business development in diverse industries such as media, technology, and nonprofits, Melissa brings a wealth of experience to the table. Tune in to this episode, recorded live at Austin Startup Week 2023, to learn about Melissa's journey, and discover how indipop is making healthcare more accessible and friendly for all!
Feb 20, 2024 • 46min
Investing in the Best of the Bold
Dive into a conversation situated at the intersection of national security and venture capital, recorded during Fed Supernova 2023. Our guest for this episode is Chip Walter, Managing Director at Marlinspike, known for his expertise in defense innovation. With a career marked by impactful contributions to both the U.S. government and the private sector, Chip's journey began as a U.S. Navy Pilot. His professional trajectory extends through over a decade in Washington D.C., where he adeptly navigated legislative and congressional affairs, before entering the private sector at Northrup Grumman. Today, Chip continues to bring his wealth of experience to the forefront at the nexus of national security and entrepreneurial ventures.Visit fedsupernova.com for more information.
Feb 12, 2024 • 18min
A Smart Bear in the Era of AI
Prepare for the era of AI with Jason Cohen, the Founder of WP Engine, as he engages in an insightful conversation with Joshua Baer, CEO & Founder of Capital Factory. This dynamic episode of Austinpreneur, recorded for a live audience of Longhorn Startup students at The University of Texas, not only explores the founding journey of WP Engine but also delves into the profound implications of AI. Join Jason and Josh as they passionately geek out on the latest tech trends.Get the best updates on Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast
Feb 5, 2024 • 54min
Helping All of Us Get Smarter Than Any of Us
One of Austin's iconic entrepreneurs, Brett Hurt, CEO & Co-founder of data.world, shares his venture's vision for artificial intelligence in society and business. Prior to founding data.world, Brett revolutionized e-commerce through online reviews at BazaarVoice. Much of the conversation dives into the implications of AI for businesses and how data.world's array of AI initiatives are facilitating this future. Brett and host Nick Spiller also reminisce on their collaborative work catalyzing undergraduate entrepreneurship at The University of Texas over a decade ago.For a deeper dive into the discussed topics, check out the related article on Brett's blog here.Get the best Austinpreneur updates at capitalfactory.com/podcast
Jan 29, 2024 • 57min
The Art of Texas Whiskey
Dive into the up and coming Texas whiskey scene with Chris Seals, CEO & Founder of STILL Austin. As the pioneering distillery within Austin’s city limits since the days of prohibition, STILL embodies the spirit of innovation and tradition. In this episode of Austinpreneur, recorded for a live audience at Capital Factory, Chris Seals unfolds his unconventional narrative — a transformation from an economist to a whiskey-driven entrepreneur. Discover the secrets behind his pursuit of crafting a whiskey brand destined to stand the test of time, spanning a century of excellence. Gain exclusive insights into the intricacies of Chris’s entrepreneurial odyssey, from navigating the challenges of building a legacy brand to securing essential capital through the Central Texas Angel Network. Tune in for a an intimate exploration of the vibrant journey that is the evolution of STILL Austin! Sign up for the best Austinpreneur updates at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast
Jan 22, 2024 • 1h 1min
Building Crossborder Tech Teams
Explore optimal strategies for maximizing development funding through the utilization of offshore talent. In this episode of Austinpreneur, we are joined by Jacqueline Samira, the CEO & Founder of Howdy. Delve into the intricacies of assembling international teams for venture-backed startups as she shares insights from Howdy’s journey, from passing through Y-Combinator to joining the Capital Factory portfolio on their path to success.Get the best Austinpreneur updates at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast
Jan 10, 2024 • 48min
From Airborne Ranger to Boardroom Director
Presented by The Outpost, our guest for this episode is Brad Harrison, who is General Partner at dual-use venture capital firm Scout Ventures out of Austin. The episode was recorded at Capital Factory's Fed Supernova in August of 2023. Brad is a graduate of West Point and MIT. He served the United States as an Airborne Army Ranger specializing in Air Assault. Today, Brad invests in top founders exiting the military, intelligence community, and top research labs. By doing so, Scout is paving the way for military veterans and intelligence professionals to access hundreds of millions in government grants and non-dilutive capital. Keep listening to to get a peek inside the mind of this investor funding the future of dual-use defense technology.Get the best updates for Austinpreneur at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast
Jan 3, 2024 • 1h 25min
Bridging Naval Capabilities and Startup Communities
This episode peaks into how the United States Navy is working with startups to drive innovation in their capabilities, processes and culture. We recorded this episode back in August of 2023 at Capital Factory's Fed Supernova. Our guests include Graham Chynoweth and Diana Teel from the Navy's innovation network, NavalX. Also on the show today is Carol Ann Logue, who leads South Florida's efforts to build a supportive startup ecosystem around defense innovation programs, including NavalX. The conversation uncovers new avenues into the department of defense for startups. These networks and non-dilutive funding sources are changing the game for hard tech startups looking to unlock early milestones, even if they have a primarily commercial target market. Listen now and you just may be the next startups to partner up with the DoD.Get the best Austinpreneur updates at capitalfactory.com/podcast
Dec 19, 2023 • 1h 4min
Leading Austin's Angels
The Chairman of the Central Texas Angel Network, Gary Forni, is our guest for this episode of Austinpreneur. The conversation was recorded for a live Austin Startup Week audience and spans Gary's deep experience in technology starting in Silicon Valley as a billion-dollar business builder for Intel. Since moving to Austin, Texas over 20 years ago, Gary has invested in, mentored and managed a wide range of ventures including ListingSpark, ScaleFactor, TuffWerx and HeatGenie.Gary has been a member of the Central Texas Angel Network for over a decade as an investor. In 2023, Gary accepted the invitation to become CTAN's Board Chair and lead the organization moving into its next phase of growth.Get the best Austinpreneur updates at www.capitalfactory.com/podcast
