DealMakers: Entrepreneur | Startups | Venture Capital cover image

DealMakers: Entrepreneur | Startups | Venture Capital

Latest episodes

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Dec 14, 2024 • 36min

Sverre Dueholm On Raising $200 Million To Start A Local-First Premium Audio Entertainment Subscription Service And Building A Tool For Accessing Reliable Energy Data

Sverre Dueholm, an accomplished entrepreneur known for launching Comundo and advocating for a four-day workweek, shares his inspiring journey of building a premium audio entertainment service. He discusses the challenges of fundraising and the importance of aligning with the right investors. Sverre highlights the innovative work-life balance at Comundo, which has boosted productivity. He also addresses the significance of energy data management for businesses, emphasizing sustainability during unpredictable times.
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Dec 13, 2024 • 34min

Mary Lou Jepsen On Building $100 Laptops And Now Raising $100 Million To Develop Wearable Imaging Devices And Therapeutic Tools

Mary Lou Jepsen, an award-winning technologist known for her groundbreaking work on the first $100 laptop and now leading Openwater, shares her incredible journey. She discusses the challenges of securing funding for innovative health tech, including wearable imaging devices. Jepsen reflects on overcoming personal health struggles while pursuing academic and entrepreneurial goals. She emphasizes the importance of transforming medical technology for faster FDA approvals and creating open-source models to enhance healthcare accessibility and effectiveness.
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Dec 12, 2024 • 31min

Thomas Laurent On Raising Over $60 Million To Develop Natural, Biological Crop Protection Solutions Using Micropeptides

Thomas Laurent's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and learning through experience. From his early days in Lyon, France, to leading Micropep Technologies as a pioneer in sustainable agriculture, he has gained valuable insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. Thomas' latest venture, Micropep, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Corteva Agriscience, Sofinnova Partners, Denis Lucquin, and Sparkfood.
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Dec 6, 2024 • 31min

Sergio Fogel On Building A $18 Billion Company To Enable Cross-Border Payments By Connecting Global Merchants To Emerging Markets

Sergio Fogel, founder and entrepreneur behind the fintech unicorn dLocal, shares his remarkable journey from Uruguay to an $18 billion valuation. He discusses the evolution of technology in business, reflecting on how it has transformed practices from payments to entrepreneurship. Fogel dives into the intricacies of navigating cross-border payments, revealing key lessons on partnerships and overcoming challenges in emerging markets. His insights underscore the importance of collaboration and adaptability in building a successful enterprise.
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Dec 5, 2024 • 29min

Bradley Bostic On Raising $80 Million To Build A PE Firm Supporting AI And ML-Driven Companies Working For Improved Patient Outcomes

In this engaging discussion, Bradley Bostic, the founder of Health Cloud Capital and a seasoned entrepreneur, delves into his journey of raising $80 million to support AI and ML-driven healthcare solutions. He shares insights on the rise and fall of his previous venture, ChaCha, and how personal experiences fueled his mission to transform patient care. Bostic highlights the importance of innovation through strategic partnerships, particularly with institutions like the Mayo Clinic, and emphasizes the significance of a recurring revenue model in ensuring business stability.
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Dec 4, 2024 • 26min

Operator-Turned Entrepreneur, Shawn Weidmann, On Raising Over $90 Million To Build The First Technology-Forward, Home-Services Platform

Shawn Weidmann’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and thoughtful decision-making. He is a fantastic operator-turned-entrepreneur who successfully raised $90M+ for his company, Zephyr, and scaled it to 300 employees. In this insightful interview, Shawn explores the key moments that shaped his career, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and raising funding in challenging markets from investors like Elda River and The Pritzker Organization.
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Dec 3, 2024 • 29min

Richard Socher On Selling A Company To Salesforce And Now Raising $99 Million To Build An AI Assistant Helping Knowledge Workers Be More Productive

Richard Socher, an AI pioneer and accomplished entrepreneur, has a story that exemplifies innovation, resilience, and the ability to transform cutting-edge technology into impactful businesses. Richard has had an exceptional journey founding and scaling AI-driven companies like MetaMind and You.com. His latest venture You.com has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Marc Benioff, Salesforce Ventures, NVIDIA, Gen Digital, and SBVA (formerly Softbank Ventures Asia).
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Dec 2, 2024 • 43min

Brian O’Kelley On Building A $1.6 Billion Company Acquired By Microsoft And Creating A Protocol To Measure And Lower Carbon Emissions In Digital Supply Chains

Brian O’Kelley, founder of multiple companies including AppNexus, shares his rollercoaster entrepreneurial journey, highlighting both triumphs and setbacks. He reveals the challenges of building a real-time advertising platform that led to a $1.6B acquisition by AT&T. O’Kelley discusses his new venture, Scope 3, aimed at decarbonizing digital supply chains, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainability. He also reflects on the importance of trust and relationships in entrepreneurship, showcasing how mentorship shaped his path.
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Nov 28, 2024 • 26min

David García Aceves On Raising $60 Million In Equity And Debt To Build A Financial App Helping Prime Customers In LatAm Eliminate Debt And Improve Their Finances

David García Aceves, born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, embodies resilience and innovation. His story traces his journey through building two companies that didn’t quite work out before creating a new rocket ship, drawing valuable lessons from his failures. David's latest venture, Digitt, has raised funding from top-tier investors like Clocktower Ventures, Gilgamesh, New Stack Ventures, FJ Labs, and Treville.
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Nov 27, 2024 • 23min

Bruce Lahn On Raising $80 Million To Build A Global Company Providing Gene Delivery Technologies To Enable Research And Clinical Studies

A scientist-turned-entrepreneur, Bruce Lahn has successfully transitioned from academia to leading businesses like VectorBuilder and Cyagen, reshaping gene delivery and genetic research. Here's a dive into his extraordinary path and the lessons he's gleaned along the way. VectorBuilder has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Legend Capital, Operation Holding Group, Wanlian Securities Co., Guangzhou Yuexiu Industrial Investment Fund Management, and China Chengtong. 

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