#65: On this episode of Startup Savant Podcast, we hear from Jesse Randall, founder of Sweater Ventures, about his journey to create a venture capital fund that is open to anyone, regardless of wealth or accreditation status. He explains how the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), once created to protect everyday people from investment scams, has now become outdated and condescending towards smart individuals who are not wealthy. Jesse also shares how a bold marketing choice early on helped the startup to build a 60,000 person waitlist.Sweater Ventures Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweaterceo/https://www.sweaterventures.com/Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#64: In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Andrew Jamison, co-founder of Extend, a platform that enables businesses to issue and manage digital credit cards. Jamison shares his journey from leaving the corporate world of American Express to embarking on entrepreneurship. He recounts his experience implementing solutions for corporate clients in SAP consulting and developing an interest in payments while working at Amex. Jamison explains that the idea for Extend came from identifying a gap in the market for a solution that would capture spend, reconciliation, and expense management, particularly for the middle market. Jamison also touches on the challenges of starting a company, including the need to secure investments from friends and family before reaching out to professional investors. Extend Links: https://www.paywithextend.com/https://twitter.com/PayWithExtendhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/paywithextendStartup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#63. On this episode of Startup Savant Podcast Bridget Weston, CEO of SCORE, shares her insights on business mentorship. SCORE is a nationwide network of over 10,000 volunteers that offers free one-to-one mentorship, workshops, and assistance with business plans to small business owners across the US. Weston discusses the importance of goal-setting, clear communication, and having skin in the game for success. She also explains how SCORE is using AI to better connect small business owners with mentors who meet their needs. The episode highlights SCORE's track record of success in helping start over 30,000 new businesses and add over 82,000 jobs last year. SCORE Links: https://www.score.org/https://www.instagram.com/score_mentors/https://www.linkedin.com/company/score-mentors/getstarted@score.orgStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#62: Ethan chats with Tristan Kalos and Antoine Carossio, the co-founders of the cybersecurity startup Escape. The main objective of Escape is to assist companies in developing secure GraphQL applications by identifying and resolving any security concerns in their API. Tristan and Antoine share how they first met and how their unique skills contributed to the development of Escape. The group discusses their research and development process for Escape and how a research paper inspired their algorithm. Tristan and Antoine discuss their successful recruitment strategies and hiring process for engineers. They explain how their early strategic marketing led to a mass of inbound calls and how Escape's continuing technical blogging marketing strategy has succeeded.Escape Links:https://escape.tech/https://twitter.com/EscapeTechHQhttps://discord.gg/G9FEuFuKfdhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/escapetech/Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#61: Adrian Fagerlund and Ethan discuss Linkby, a global two-sided marketplace connecting advertisers and premium publishers. They explore Linkby's role in facilitating this relationship and their plans for future expansion. Their conversation also touches on the other co-founders, Chris and Andrew, their roles, and the group dynamic as a team. Adrian gives Ethan a glimpse at Linkby’s unique hiring process.Mention the Startup Savant podcast for free services on Linkby!Linkby Links: https://linkby.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianfagerlund/https://www.linkedin.com/company/linkby/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#60: Chen Amit joins Ethan to chat about his fintech startup, Tipalti, a global, scalable, and holistic payables automation system. Chen recalls the process of creating Tipalti and deciding to start as a one-man show. The pair discuss what factors led to Tipalti’s success and growth, how skills from Chen’s former poker career are useful for business, and his evolutions of leadership. Chen also provides valuable insight on handling difficult situations, creating a high-quality team, and knowing when to say no or walk away.Tipalti Links:  https://tipalti.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/tipalti/  https://www.instagram.com/tipalti/  https://twitter.com/tipalti/  Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#59: Marina Martianova joins Ethan to discuss her innovative web3 digital fashion startup, Seamm, a startup that produces virtual replicas of physical fashions to be utilized in the metaverse, in tandem with fashion houses. The pair chat about the future of the metaverse, refining an investor pitch, and building Seamm as a two-sided marketplace.  Seamm Links: https://www.seamm.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-martianova-84198810a/Startup Savant Links:https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#58: Andy Choi joins the podcast chat about his mission-driven startup and how he found the 'why' behind his company. Andy is the founder of Do Good Points, a nonprofit and tech startup hybrid that offers a rewards system for charitable donations incentivizing people to give back to their communities.Check out the Cashing Out podcast: https://cashingout.exitwise.com/In this episode we dive into: How Do Good Points leveraged data to create a hyper-targeted customer baseWhy as a founder you should be searching for solutions, not problemsThe value of Effective AltruismDo Good Points Links: https://www.dogoodpoints.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhchoi/Book recommendation: Startup With Why by Simon SinekStartup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/

#57: James Graham joins Ethan to chat about his telecom startup, Community Phone which provides cell and landline service to users all across America. The pair have a riveting conversation about product market fit, the necessity of experimentation, and how you can generate unique startup ideas in order to disrupt the marketplace.In this episode we dive into:The importance of product market fitWhy James asks himself simple questions and allows himself to be confusedCommunity Phone's experience in Y-CombinatorCommunity Phone Links:https://www.communityphone.org/https://www.instagram.com/communityphoneco/https://www.linkedin.com/company/community-phone/https://www.linkedin.com/in/wittedhaddock/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#56: Mir Hwang is the CEO and Co-Founder of GigFinesse, a platform that connects music artists with venues to the benefit of both parties. Mir is an NYU alumni who utilized their extensive entrepreneurial support system to build the startup into what it is today.In this episode we dive into:Going from app to desktop due to consumer demandThe choice to move from New York to Austin during the pandemicLeaving medical school to pursue entrepreneurshipGigFinesse Links: https://www.gigfinesse.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/gigfinesse/https://www.instagram.com/gigfinesse/Startup Savant Links: https://startupsavant.com/podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast