Austinpreneur

Aasim Hasan brings his deep product and engineering experience to the world of venture capital, shaping how he evaluates startups. In this episode, recorded for a live audience at Capital Factory, he dives into spotting red flags and green lights in B2B startups, Moneta’s thesis-driven investing, and their hands-on operator support. Discover what types of founders succeed in their portfolio and ge...

Dive into this episode, recorded for a live audience at Capital Factory House during SXSW® 2024, for a discussion with a seasoned serial entrepreneur boasting a portfolio of 15 successful ventures, including the renowned telemedicine giant Teledoc, Michael Gorton. Join Nick Spiller, Venture Principal at Capital Factory, as he sits down with Gorton to explore the nuances of market timing, cultivati...

Dive into the mind of rising venture capitalist Ariel Ganz, a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine, in this conversation recorded live in Dallas at Health Supernova 2024. Drawing from her frontline experience with Arben Ventures and her pioneering research, Ariel shares fresh insights into the future of healthcare innovation. Explore a wide spectrum of groundbreaking topic...

What began as a college experiment with PVC-pipe drones has evolved into a groundbreaking public safety solution. Roger Pecina, CEO of eVe Vehicles Corporation, shares how he turned early prototypes into a platform for autonomous emergency response. Learn how eVe Vehicles Corporation has completed over 1,000 autonomous missions in Bee Cave, Texas, and is addressing first responder shortages with s...

What does it take to craft a pitch that truly captivates investors? In this episode, recorded live at Capital Factory House 2025, Allyson Eman, CEO of Venture Atlanta, breaks down the key elements of a winning pitch. Drawing from her experience connecting hundreds of startups with thousands of investors at one of the nation’s top VC conferences, she shares practical tips, common pitfalls, and what...

In an era where drones are reshaping modern conflict, how do we stay one step ahead? In this special live episode, recorded at Capital Factory House 2025, former Navy veteran Steven Simoni, Co-founder and President of Allen Control Systems, dives into the escalating threat of drone warfare and what it takes to build the technologies that defend against it. From national security to battlefield inn...

Sam Cossman never set out to revolutionize firefighting—but that’s exactly what he did. In this episode, recorded live at Capital Factory House 2025, Sam, CEO & Co-founder of Qwake, shares how his unconventional path as a volcano-diving adventurer led to building tools that help firefighters work smarter and safer. Driven by necessity, forged through extreme field testing, and grounded in deep...

Why toss your old laptop when it could live another life—and another—without ever hitting a landfill? That’s the question driving John Erik Metcalf, CEO & Co-founder of Upgraded, who joins Nick Spiller to talk about building a business that’s equal parts circular economy, fintech, and tech retail. John dives into his 10+ years of startup experience, from early coworking projects in Austin to l...

AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it's today’s competitive edge. Recorded live at Capital Factory House 2025, Jesse Lozano, Co-founder and CEO of Intellectible, reveals how top businesses are turning AI into a profit-driving machine. With over five years of experience building on OpenAI and other LLMs, Jesse shares real-world strategies that are delivering serious results. From automating RFPs...

Unlock the future of cell & gene therapy in this episode of Austinpreneur, recorded live at Capital Factory House 2025. Join Ryan Swoboda, CEO & Co-Founder of NAVAN, as he unveils the revolutionary NanoStraw technology. Designed to precisely deliver next-gen therapies into all primary cell types, NanoStraw is poised to reshape the landscape of cancer treatments and regenerative medicine. D...

The VC landscape is shifting—so how can founders stay ahead? In this special episode of Austinpreneur, recorded live at Capital Factory House 2025, Samantha Lewis, Partner at Mercury, shares what fundraising looks like in 2025. With a decade of experience shaping the Houston startup ecosystem, Sam has backed some of the most promising early-stage companies in fintech, AI, blockchain, and data plat...

How does a deep-tech startup go from a $50,000 prototype to a $100 million defense contract? In this special episode, recorded live at Capital Factory House 2025, Col. Elliott J. Leigh and Col. Nathan Stuckey reveal how AFWERX is de-risking defense innovation and creating scalable pathways for startups. They break down the biggest challenges of transitioning technology into the U.S. Air Force, why...

Space isn’t just for NASA anymore. Texas is taking the lead in space commercialization, defense, and workforce development—and in this episode, Nick Spiller chats with Norman Garza, Executive Director of the Texas Space Commission, to break it all down. With giants like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Intuitive Machines setting up shop in the Lone Star State, Texas isn’t just participating in the 21st-ce...

What does it take to turn a first-time pitch into a thriving rideshare platform with over 200 vehicles on the road? In this episode, Joshua Baer, CEO & Founder of Capital Factory, sits down with Matthew Iommi, CEO & Co-Founder of Fetii, to explore the journey behind building Fetii from the ground up. Matthew shares the hard-earned lessons from navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurs...

In this episode, Walker Drewett, Founder of NuBrakes, takes us on his journey from a simple idea to a scalable startup. With candid insights and hard-earned lessons, he reveals how late-night garage hustles, customer obsession, and strategic pivots turned his vision into reality. Tune in to hear about tough talks with co-founders, make-or-break moments, and the bold decisions that shaped his entre...

What if running a biotech experiment were as simple as writing a line of code? In this episode, Brian Frezza, CEO and Co-Founder of Emerald Cloud Lab, opens the door to the groundbreaking world of cloud-based research and automation in biology. Discover how Emerald Cloud Lab empowers scientists to conduct experiments remotely—leaving the heavy lifting to robotic systems and expert staff in fully a...

In this episode of Austinpreneur, Joshua Baer, founder of Capital Factory, sits down with Liv Boeree—Poker Champion, TED speaker, and decision-making strategist—to explore the art of betting on yourself. Liv delves into the psychology behind high-stakes decision-making, the secrets to crafting win-win strategies, and the societal challenges posed by coordination failures, known as Moloch Traps. Wh...

What does it take to launch a game-changing defense technology startup? Dino Mavrookas, CEO of Saronic Technologies, shares his incredible journey of building autonomous maritime solutions for the U.S. Navy. From navigating the complexities of the defense sector to assembling a world-class team, Dino reveals the grit, strategy, and innovation it takes to bring three revolutionary products to marke...

Explore the future of space exploration with Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. In this episode, Jason discusses Firefly’s record-setting rocket launch, upcoming lunar missions, and the cutting-edge technologies driving space innovation. Recorded live before an audience at Capital Factory, this conversation delves into personal stories of aerospace inspiration and offers insights on creating a r...

In this episode of Austinpreneur, Brett Hurt, founder of Bazaarvoice and data.world, sits down with longtime friend Joshua Baer, founder of Capital Factory, for a conversation on building billion-dollar companies. Together, they reflect on their early collaborations, share lessons learned, and discuss pivotal moments that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys. From recruiting top talent to capital...

In this episode, Michelle Davey, CEO and Founder of Wheel, shares her inspiring journey of raising over $215M while transforming the world of virtual healthcare. From her early days as a technical recruiter at Google and Favor to becoming a trailblazer in telemedicine, Michelle reveals the pivotal moments and lessons that shaped her path to success. Tune in as she unpacks her fundraising strategie...

In this episode, Justin Lopas, co-founder of Base Power, takes us through the fascinating story behind his groundbreaking energy startup. From his early days at SpaceX, where he helped build rockets, to his pivotal role at Anduril, Justin brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to solving real-world challenges. He explains how Base Power is leveraging innovative technology, smart pol...

Get an insider’s look at Shark Tank Season 16’s premier pitch with Destin Bell, CEO of Card.io! In this live recording at Capital Factory, Destin shares how watching pitches on Shark Tank inspired his own journey as an entrepreneur and how relocating to Austin transformed Card.io’s growth. Tune in for behind-the-scenes moments from his pitch and key insights for entrepreneurs dreaming of the Tank....

Tune in for a dynamic conversation between two of the most influential early-stage investors: Jason Calacanis—angel investor, podcaster (All-In Podcast, This Week in Startups), and entrepreneur—and Joshua Baer, Founder & CEO of Capital Factory. Together, they dive into some of today’s most pressing topics, from the surge of Silicon Valley VCs relocating to Austin to navigating high-stakes boar...

The future of the U.S. Army is unfolding right here in Texas, and this episode of Austinpreneur offers you an exclusive insight into this transformation. As Austin's vibrant startup ecosystem leads the charge in defense innovation, we dive deep into how groundbreaking technology is reshaping national security for the modern age. Recorded live with an audience of Longhorn Startup students at The Un...