Investor Connect Podcast

Hall is joined by Miles Lasater of Purpose Built Ventures. Purpose Built Ventures works with driven founders to help build pre/seed companies by providing capital, advice and connections. Miles is a successful serial entrepreneur and investor. He founded Higher One and helped scale it to over $200mil in revenue and public offering. As founder of SeeClickFix and OneUni, he has experience with mission-driven startups. At Yale, he started the Y50k business plan competition, instigated the accelerator for student ventures and served on the selection committee. He also co-created and taught the popular Yale business school course on managing software development. He has invested in and advised dozens of companies at the earliest stages.

 

In this episode, we learn what Purpose Built Ventures is all about as well as their mission as a company. Miles shares what specific criteria his company looks for and his investment thesis is.

They invest at the earliest stages in companies working to increase human wellbeing expand economic opportunity and improve the public sphere.



Direct download: 134_--_Miles_Lasater_of_PurposeBuilt_VC.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:36am CDT

In this episode, Hall is joined by Fraser Hall of VFF. Fraser is a lifelong entrepreneur, activist, and technology leader who brings order and calm to fiery situations. He has a wealth of experience founding and operating both bootstrapped and venture-backed businesses – most notably: Article.com and Recon Instruments. Fraser is also a longstanding animal activist who has served as Captain for Sea Shepherd on many campaigns worldwide.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn how Fraser got into investing and what his focus is as well as what he looks for in a startup. Fraser talks about how he runs a micro vc fund and what they look for specifically. VFF sees about 600 deals a year and actually work with only four or five. Fraser gives insight to his advantage over a vc that has never been an operator. As a founder-led team, you are better equipped to be a recruiter and therapist for CEOs.

 

Direct download: 133_--_Fraser_Hall_of_Vancouver_Founder_Fund.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:46am CDT

In this episode, Hall is joined by Alexander Varvarenko of ShipNEXT. ShipNEXT is a digital, automated, shipping Marketplace and a Blockchain based eco-system. It not only allows an instant matching of Cargo with Ship/Transport mode, but allows for freight-auctioning, Contract management (including Smart-contracts), freight exchange, and eventually tracking.
ShipNEXT now welcomes other blockchain systems to join ShipNEXT in building an ecosystem that would include trucking companies, warehouse logistics provides, ports, suppliers of fuel and spare-parts, and regulatory bodies to create a global blockchain aiming at an automated, transparent, cost-efficient delivery of cargo (goods, dry- and wet-bulk commodities) worldwide.

In this episode, you’ll learn about Alexander’s background and he got to where he is today. Alex shares his thoughts on the state of investing in blockchain as well as his thesis on investing in this sector. Alexander speaks about blockchain and how it will definitely happen because the industrial players are looking for growth path.

 

Direct download: 136_--_Alexander_Vavarenko_of_Shipnext.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:55am CDT

In this episode, Hall is joined by Mark Mullen of  Bonfire Ventures.

 

A little about Mark: Mark Mullen is co-founder and Managing Director of Bonfire Ventures. Mark has been investing in private VC-backed businesses for 17 years. Previously Mark founded and served as Managing Partner of predecessor firms Double M Partners and Mull Capital.  All of the funds focused on investing in internet, media and technology with primary emphasis on business to business software solutions. Prior to Double M Partners, Mark served as COO of the City of Los Angeles (Office of Economic Policy) and Senior Advisor to the then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, where he oversaw several of the City’s assets including the LA International Airport (LAX), LA Convention Center, the Planning and Building & Safety Departments, as well as the Office of Small Business Services. From 1993-2007, Mark ran the international M&A and private equity group for Daniels & Associates, a boutique investment bank focused on the cable and broadband industry. Mark was a senior partner of Daniels when it was acquired by RBC Capital Markets in 2007 where he stayed until 2010 as Managing Director. Mark serves on the board of Fama, Trinity Mobile Networks, and Altice USA Inc (ATUS.N).  Mr. Mullen earned his BSBA with cum laude honors from the University of Denver in 1986 and earned his MBA in international business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 1992. Mark has lived and worked in San Francisco, Paris, London, Denver and New York City and currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

Direct download: 131_--_Mark_Mullen_of_Bonfire_Ventures.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:56am CDT

A little about Justin and Netki: Justin is an early Internet pioneer and technology startup veteran. His last four companies: AboveNet, NetZero/United Online, Demand Media and Blackline Systems have all exited with $1 Billion + IPOs. He was responsible for architecting each company’s platform for global scale and preparing their data systems for Sarbox compliance. He founded The Internet Service Provider’s Consortium (the first trade association for ISPs) and was their Public Policy Director. Justin is currently the founder and CEO of Netki. Netki’s products allow companies to make blockchain applications easy to use and able to meet regulatory/compliance requirements. Justin currently serves on the Industry/Law Enforcement Portal Working Group of the Blockchain Alliance and the State Legislative Working Group of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. He is also on the Board of Directors of Adra Match Software.

Direct download: 158_--_Justin_Newton_of_Netki.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:33am CDT

In this episode, Hall is joined by Andrew Gaiziunas of Turbadium. Andrew is a first-generation American technologist, aviator, and high-tech visionary, who has spent the last two decades creating new billion-dollar business units at Fortune 100 companies including IBM and Hewlett Packard. He is currently one of the Co-Founders and Chief Technology Officer at Turbadium. Turbadium is a platform for the tokenization of traditionally illiquid assets such as residential or commercial real estate properties.  It connects property owners directly with investors of all sizes and facilitates instant trading of real estate assets through the use of the Turbadium asset-backed cryptocurrency.

Direct download: 156_--_Andrew_Gaiziunas_of_Turbadium.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:41am CDT

In this episode, Hall is joined by Robert Crea of KL Gates. Robert is a financial and legal professional specializing in private equity fund formation, startup/emerging companies, corporate governance, investment adviser compliance and cryptocurrencies. As the interview kicks off Hall and Robert speak about his background and what led him to where he is today. In this episode you learn more about the state of investing in blockchain and how the industry is constantly evolving. Robert gives his views on where he sees the market going, options for issuing securities tokens, US securities laws and best practices for ICOs. You’ll also learn how he screens for quality clients, the best way to set up an ICO today, challenges, risks and other considerations. Robert also discusses what he anticipates will happen in the months and years to come in the crypto space. Robert is joining TEN Capital group as a guest speaker at the Emerge ICO Summit this October in Austin, Tx. 

 

Direct download: 128--Robert_Crea_of_KL_Gates.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:20pm CDT

In this episode, Hall is joined by Jonathan Crowder of Intelis Capital. Jonathan is a founding partner of Intelis Capital and a member of its investment committee. Jonathan serves in all aspects of the firm’s operations, with particular focus on developing investment theses, creation of internal processes and systems, sourcing potential investments, providing operational and strategic support to portfolio companies. Jonathan speaks about his start and growing up in a family full of entrepreneurs after his dad took a shot at opening a software company which led him to take a different route in business rather than a traditional corporate job. He talks about his path after attending SMU in Dallas to his current day at  Intelis Capital. In this interview you’ll also learn his thoughts on

 

  • Thesis driven investors
  • Healthcare, education, and real estate and how they are at historical lows in productivity growth and ripe for expansion.
  • The differentiating factor of success in startups is a deep understanding of the customer problem and not cutting edge technology.
  • How Intelis invests in underserved ecosystems.
  • His focus on geographies including Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Nashville, Research Triangle, Atlanta, and potentially others.
  • His focus on tech-enabled companies.
  • His thoughts on internal value principle- every time they meet with an entrepreneur they should get some value from it.
Direct download: 127_--_Jonathan_Crowder_of_Intellis_Capital.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:20pm CDT

In this episode, Hall welcomes Jeff Stewart of Urgent VC. Jeff is an inventor, entrepreneur and investor, focusing on technology enabled business. He’s also a blockchain enthusiast. Urgent VCs mission is to accelerate the growth of technology companies through capital investment, global expansion and opportunistic venture co-creation. Urgent is a unique hybrid between an operating company and an investment company. They invest in growth stage equities via the Global Public Offering Fund. Hall and Jeff speak about how Jeff got into early stage investing and a little about the Urgent fund and its focus. Hall asks Jeff the advantage of going public in the Asia-Pacific markets and you learn more about what Jeff looks for in startups, and the GPO fund (Global Public Offering). Hall and Jeff also dive into what they do for Series B/C investments to get companies ready for public engagement.  

 

Direct download: 125_--_Jeff_Stewart_of_Urgent_VC.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:24am CDT

In this episode, Hall welcomes Breanna Faye of Rloop Incorporated. Breanna is a trained architect, designer and Experience Design Lead at rLoop, a SpaceX award-winning, globally-distributed organization currently developing the Hyperloop. With a background in MIT’s Media Lab and Department of Advanced Urbanism, her research emphasizes the link and impact between cities, people, and transportation technologies. Her experience has led her to tackle projects from urban scale to product scale, including the hyperloop, autonomous vehicle concepts, and gps-enabled bike helmets. With rLoop, the aim is to decentralize high-technology and design solutions by utilizing Blockchain and crowdsourcing technology. Hall and Breanna talk about Best practices for starting and running a blockchain company and blockchain trends. In this episode, you’ll also learn Breanna’s advice to people investing in blockchain startups as well as challenges, risks and immediate opportunities to pursue. Breanna is joining us as a guest speaker this October at the Emerge ICO Summit in Austin Texas.

Direct download: 145_--__Breanna_Faye_of_RLoop.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:48am CDT

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