Investor Connect Podcast

Hall T. Martin is joined by Lisette Tellez of Ocean Azul Partners. In this episode, Lisette speaks about the Dorm Room Fund, a student run venture fund that invested in student startups. The Dorm Room Fund invested in twelve student run startups per year. Lisette currently works with Ocean Azu Partners and she speaks about criteria, they look at team, product, market and investment fit. You’ll also learn Lisette’s thoughts on agriculture as a sector and innovation. She also shares her views on what other sectors she sees coming up that she finds interesting.

 

About Ocean Azul Partners- Ocean Azul Partners is a venture capital firm in Miami, Florida. Our fund was inspired by success. We invest in startups and early stage companies across various industries including, but not limited to, emerging technologies and professional services. We invest seed and growth capital with a focus on founder-owned companies that enjoy transparency and collaborate effectively. We value leadership, commitment and inspired teams. We add value through our operating experience, strategic insights and relationships.

Direct download: 126_--_Lisette_of_Ocean_Azul_Partners.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:49pm CDT

Hall T. Martin is joined by Matthew Sullivan of QuantmRE. The interview begins with Matthew speaking about his background before engaging in the blockchain sector. Matthew has been involved in technology and finance since the late 90’s when the internet began its mass adoption. Matthew speaks about what led him to pursue the blockchain sector. Matthew believes that you only get a handful of opportunities that are as impactful as the blockchain. You’ll learn Matthew’s advice to anyone who wants to invest in the blockchain space as it is still in early development and how he believes the industry evolving.

Direct download: 144--_Matthew_Sullivan_of_QuantmRE.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:15pm CDT

Hall T. Martin is joined by Daniel Cawrey of Pactum Capital. In this episode, you’ll learn how Daniel got into investing and how he landed in the crypto sector. Daniel has been into cryptocurrency since 2013 and was previously a writer at CoinDesk. Daniel gives his advice on what investors should look for in the crypto and blockchain space as well as what they might expect. In this episode, you'll also learn Daniels thoughts on how the blockchain industry is changing and evolving and where he sees it moving. Hall and Daniel also talk about the state of investing in blockchain, Daniel’s investment thesis and how he got there and immediate opportunities to pursue.

 

A little about Pactum Capital- Pactum Capital is a financial services firm focused on cryptocurrencies. The company offers various services:

  • Over-the-counter trading to help large stakeholders buy, sell or convert cryptocurrency.
  • Risk management utilizing over-the-counter cryptocurrency forward derivatives.
  • Pactum Fund, LP., an arbitrage fund focused on opportunities in the ethereum and bitcoin markets.

About Daniel- Daniel earned his BS in Information Science from Central Michigan University. His background is information science, including work in power systems for Consumers Energy, a public utility providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of Michigan's 10 million residents. Daniel first became involved with blockchain technology in 2013 as Contributing Editor for CoinDesk, the largest information resource for the blockchain and digital currency industry. He also co-wrote the Velocity whitepaper, a decentralized derivatives concept that was prototyped on the Ethereum protocol.  

Direct download: 143_--_Daniel_Cawrey_of_Pactum_Capital.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:47pm CDT

In this episode, Hall T. Martin is joined by James Sowers an Angel Investor, and Co-Host of Exploring the Block. Before James got into early stage investing, he was always interested in buying and selling, even as a child he was self proclaimed hustler. James jumped into investing after he purchased his first Bitcoin in 2013 and then moved into crowd funding. James gives his advice to people who want to jump into the ICO space and what they should keep their eye on. The crypto, blockchain and ICO world is rapidly growing and evolving and James give us his views on its evolution and where he sees it moving. In this episode, you’ll also get James’s take on the challenges in this space,

the risks he sees and immediate opportunities to pursue.

 

 

About James- James is An experienced angel Investor, featured speaker @ MIT Media labs and blockchain strategy advisor. Mentor @ alchemist Accelerator Director @ Greater  Good Society . He is a mentor for CS359B at Stanford University Designing Decentralized Applications on Blockchain. James believes in joining the best founders in projects that are creating the future as we know it .

 

He as been quoted saying:

"The key to redefining a category is to see possibly where others don't".

"Talent is hitting a target no one else can hit

“Genius is hitting a target no one else can see"

Direct download: 142_--_James_Sowers_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:56am CDT

In this episode, Hall T. Martin is joined by Nikolai Oreshkin of Elysium Venture Capital . After Nikolai sold his first company, one of the first private internet providers in Belarus, he moved to Silicon Valley and began to primarily focus on venture capital investment in blockchain. Nikolai shares his advice on investing in blockchain startups and what to look for. He also gives his views on how the industry is evolving and his view on what is trending. You’ll also learn his investment thesis in the blockchain sector as well as challenges and risks along the way.

 

About Elysium Venture Capital - Elysium Venture Capital is a premier investment management group focused on helping high growth technology companies access the global market. With strong ties in Silicon Valley, Europe, and China, the group runs venture funds, fund-of-funds, and special purpose investment vehicles across the world. Members of the group are world famous tech entrepreneurs, founders of publicly traded companies, and professional investors. With hands-on experience, Elysium VC  invests in the most promising innovative companies and bridges the gap in emerging tech across North America, Europe, and Asia.

 

About Nikolai- Nikolai is an investment professional and experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record in bringing early-stage technology from idea to disruptive growth. For more than 5 years of investment experience across the US, Europe, and China, Nikolai was involved in over 30 transactions, including cross-border and M&A, valued at more than $1,5 billion USD. Previously, Nikolai founded an ISP and was one of the first entrepreneurs who offered internet access to people of Belarus and promoted the use of social networks. Crypto-holder since early 2011.

 

Direct download: 141_--_Nikolai_Oreshkin.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:24am CDT

In this episode, Hall T. Martin is joined by Wendy Nunnelley an Angel Investor. We kick off the interview learning about Wendy's background and how she got into investing in early stage startups. Wendy offers her own personal take and advice to people who are just starting to invest in the CPG space. Wendy and Hall speak about how the consumer product good space is always changing and evolving, where she sees it going and how the landscape has changed in investing in the CPG sector. You’ll also learn about Wendy's investment thesis and types of companies that fit into it. Wendy give her thoughts on challenges, risk and what she thinks are immediate opportunities to pursue.  



About Wendy- Growth leader and investor, skilled in strategy, planning, ops, business development, and revenue management, including pricing/promotion. Delivers on strategic, operational, and financial priorities in the short and long term. Builds a culture that drives change and growth, with a track record of developing the next generation of leaders. Investment experience in deal sourcing/screening, leading deal teams, due diligence, portfolio advisory and support. On-the-ground experience in US, Asia, Europe, and Central America.

Direct download: 140_--_Wendy_Nunnelley.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 3:52pm CDT

Hall T. Martin is joined by Abe Minkara of Mark Cuban Companies. In this episode Abe speaks about his current role as Managing Director at Mark Cuban Companies and what they do. He is part of a group that manages Marks early stage investments. Most of the early stage deals come through Shark Tank, and Abe speaks on the process that Shark Tank uses for finding startups for the program and what is looked at when coming through for an investment. They speak about companies that stood out for being being prepared and what that entails. Abe also details what happens from being on the show to actually investing and what the due diligence is. In this episode you’ll also learn about challenges and risks in investing in the consumer product goods space and immediate opportunities to pursue.  



A little about Mark Cuban Companies- Mark Cuban Companies is a venture capital firm specializing in angel investing. Mark Cuban Companies is based in Dallas, Texas.

 

About Abe- Abe Minkara Director of Business Development at Mark Cuban Companies Abe oversees the portfolio of Shark Tank, Tech, and CPG companies at Mark Cuban Companies. Abe also manages a team that supports these companies with accounting, business operations, ecommerce, sales, and marketing services. He received his MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Direct download: 139_--_Abe_Minkara_of_Mark_Cuban_Group.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:52pm CDT

Hall T. Martin is joined by Pedro Anderson of Winding Tree. In this episode, you’ll learn about Pedros background and what he did before Winding Tree, a decentralized distribution platform for the travel industry. Pedro speaks about his first hand experience raising funding and launching an ICO, the groundwork for building the application as well as getting ready for the token raise. Pedro speaks in depth about the process they went through from the start and they challenges, what worked and what didn't. Hall and Pedro also speak about challenges and risks in the crypto space and immediate opportunities to pursue.     

 

A little about Winding Tree- Winding Tree is a non-profit foundation that drives the development of open-source protocols to allow any company, big or small, or even an individual developer, to try them out and integrate with the platform in no time.



About Pedro- Pedro Anderson, Founder and COO of Winding Tree – Pedro is a social entrepreneur, fundraiser and proponent for decentralized systems. Prior to Winding Tree Pedro sold millions of dollars of SaaS products and raised funding for numerous non-profit projects including his foundation to help disadvantaged youth start careers in hospitality. Winding Tree is a non-profit foundation that drives the development of open-source protocols for the travel industry, to allow any company, big or

Direct download: 170_--_Pedro_Anderson_of_Winding_Tree.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:47am CDT

In this episode, Hall T. Martin is joined by Glenn Argenbright of Quake Capital. As we kick off the interview, you learn Glenn’s background and how he got into early stage investing as well as what led him to Quake Capital. Glen has been on both sides of the table as a startup and investor, and he gives his insight on what should be looked for in early stage companies. Hall and Glenn also speak about the quickly evolving VC world and where it's headed. In this episode, you’ also learn about Quake Capitals investment thesis and specific criteria they look out for. Other key elements discussed are challenges faced by startups to achieve their goals and the main risks that stand out during deal flow for a successful exit.



A little about Quake Capital- Quake Capital is a seed and early stage venture capital fund and accelerator program. Their investments are about more than just money-- through their accelerator program, teams receive world-class coaching, personalized mentorship targeted at each company's specific needs, and access to our extensive network of investors and strategic partners.

About Glenn-  Glen is a founding partner at Quake Capital. Glenn has over 20 years’ experience operating and running a variety of private, pre-IPO, and public technology companies. He has founded over a dozen startup ventures, resulting in three public offerings, 9 exits, and billions in shareholder returns. His background includes expertise and projects in software, firmware, middleware, hardware, enterprise, SAAS, consumer goods, and Web and mobile applications.

Direct download: 155_--_Glenn_Argenbright_of_Quake_VC.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:46am CDT

In this episode, Hall T. Martin is joined by Brian Axelrad of Beyond Capital. Brian is the Chief Investment Officer of Beyond Capital, he oversees the investment decision-making process, guides the investment due diligence process and coordinates overall investment, portfolio and fund strategy with Beyond Capital's CEO.

 

A little about Beyond Capital: Beyond Capital Fund is a social impact fund that invests in for-profit social enterprises throughout India and East Africa. We invest in businesses that are focused on greater access to health care, water, sanitation and energy, as well as food security and financial inclusion, which can increase the quality of life and standard of living for consumers at the bottom of the pyramid. Though we seek market rate financial returns, Beyond Capital is structured as a nonprofit, which permits us to emphasize fidelity to our social mission alongside our financial mandate. Investments in India include Frontier Markets, Karma Healthcare, ERC Eye Care (exited) and Bodhi Health. Investments in East Africa include Sanergy (Kenya), East Africa Fruits (Tanzania), Kasha (Rwanda), Numida (Uganda) and Tulaa (Kenya).

 

Hall kicks off this episode learning about how Brian got into early stage investing and what Beyond Capital’s focus is. In this episode, you’ll learn about impact investing, how the landscape is changing, the evolution and its impact on Beyond Capital, where it's going and what the risks are. Brian talks about how and why he got into impact investing, and offers advice to those who are interested in this type of investing.

 

Hall and Brian also speak about Beyond Capitals investment in East Africa and India, Brian's role and travels, challenges to long term success in the region.

 

Direct download: 132_--_Brian_Axelrad_of_Beyond_Capital.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:34pm CDT

In this episode, Hall T. Martin conducts an interview with Jonathan Heiliger of Vertex Ventures. They kick off the interview learning how Jonathan got into early stage investing as well as what his fund focuses on. In this episode, Jonathan also shares his views on:

 

  • The continued landscape change in enterprise software
  • Outsourcing to the cloud and how it continues to progress
  • Data governance and data privacy is coming to the forefront as witnessed by the launch of GDPR
  • Industry 4.0--digitization across the heavy industries
  • $90B of direct spend on industrial IoT will be spent
  • Blockchain and 3D printers and other technologies will eliminate spare parts and provide them upon demand.


A little about Vertex Venture: They seek founders who want to tackle fundamental challenges. People who identify with a problem or concern that’s kept them up late at night — broken tools, broken lines of communication, broken processes, broken boundaries of trust.

Sometimes this will require new skills; sometimes it will require different processes. Sometimes, it will require a completely new organization.

Whichever of these is necessary is ultimately beside the point, because there is just one result when the solution is in place and the naysayers have bought in to the vision: Things will simply be better.

 

Direct download: 135_--_Jonathan_Heiliger_of_Vertex_Ventures.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:40am CDT

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