Founder Shares

Have you ever wondered what it takes to navigate the labyrinth of venture capital and emerge as a true industry luminary? Join host Trevor as he takes us into the dynamic world of venture capital with industry titan Jason Caplain , Co-Founder and General Partner of Bull City Venture Partners. With a career spanning over twenty years, Jason's investments have catalyzed the success of renowned compa...

Ever wondered how startups in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors navigate the maze of university licensing agreements? Join us as we sit down with Dan O'Korn , a seasoned attorney specializing in life sciences. Dan sheds light on the critical role of legal counsel in securing fair agreements and avoiding potential pitfalls early in the licensing process. From dissecting license fees to underst...

Ever wondered what it takes to navigate the dynamic landscape of technology ecosystems? How about fostering a workplace revolution or leaving an indelible mark on the entrepreneurial scene? Well, today's guest, Bill Spruil , has the answers. Welcome into the mind of a true entrepreneurial icon, someone who not only sold a company for hundreds of millions but also orchestrated a windfall that creat...

Hey, fellow dreamers and doers, welcome to Founder Shares! Today's rooftop rendezvous at the American Underground has us pondering a crucial question: Where does the magic of entrepreneurship truly begin? We've dissected founders' journeys and investors' insights, but today, we're turning our gaze to the spaces where ideas incubate and collaborations bloom—coworking spaces. As we soak in the Durha...

Today's Founders Shares podcast episode presents a unique perspective that I'm sure will resonate with many of you. We typically delve into the stories of seasoned entrepreneurs and their businesses. However, this time, we're flipping the script. In this episode, we're going to embark on a journey with someone who's at the starting line, someone who's young, and full of potential, but hasn't yet l...

In the world of radiation oncology, precision is paramount. Every millimeter matters when it comes to treating cancer patients with radiation therapy. But what happens when the very technology designed to save lives becomes a source of potential errors and inefficiency? Today, we're delving into the fascinating world of radiation oncology and the critical role technology plays in patient care. Our...

Today we welcome our guest Neal Shah , who is the CEO at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc. Are you frustrated with the challenges of finding reliable and affordable home care for your elderly loved ones or medically vulnerable children? The current system might leave you overwhelmed and underwhelmed. Tune in to this episode to discover how Neal Shah's extraordinary journey led to the creation of C...

Ever wondered what the UK startup scene looks like compared to the US? Today we welcome Henry Humphreys, the managing partner of Humphreys Law , a London-based law firm specializing in technology, media, and startups. The episode delves into the differences between the UK and US startup scenes, highlighting London's emergence as a leading European hub for venture investment. Henry discusses the ch...

Tina Tang has made a lot of noise recently in the Triangle (Raleigh / Durham NC) startup community, having secured funding from well-known local investors NC IDEA , the Triangle Tweener Fund , and Primordial . Here's how she did it. --- Tina Tang is is the co-founder and CEO of Bristles , a startup that’s developed a mobile app to help design home DIY projects. Hosted by Trevor Schmidt , Founder S...

As a poor kid, Geraud Staton became an entrepreneur out of necessity, initially selling Blow Pops to the rich kids at school. He's hustled and he's seen how to grow a business, and he wanted to give back. So he started Helius (now Echo) because he wanted to level the playing field when it came to minority and women owned businesses. According to Geraud, "There are too many knowledgeable business p...

In the startup world, you're moving 100 miles an hour at all times, and data privacy rules aren't exactly high on the daily to-do list. But what happens if you're not compliant? And more importantly, what happens if that non-compliance leads to negative consequences to your clients, partners, and the company as a whole?    Lucas Beal is an attorney at Hutchison PLLC who specializes in privacy and...

At NC State's Entrepreneurship Clinic through the Poole College of Management , Haley Huie helps train the next generation of founders by both teaching entrepreneurship and having students gain real life experience. Hosted by Trevor Schmidt , Founder Shares is brought to you by Hutchison PLLC and is edited and produced by Earfluence .

Melissa Katrincic is the President and CEO of Durham Distillery , home of Conniption Gin and Corpse Reviver Cocktail Bar and Lounge . She’s the first female distiller inducted into the Gin Guild (founded in 1638), and today she shares her story of how she and her husband Lee decided to become gin distillers, the challenges of getting liquor onto shelves, the trademark headaches they went through,...

Hannah Weisberg is the founder and CEO of The Women’s Social Club ,  a women supporting women platform and community that has expanded from 1 location in Raleigh to 10 locations in 2 years. It’s a movement that’s spreading throughout the southeast and throughout the country. But The Women’s Social Club is not Hannah’s first venture - it all started with a dream that turned into a pandemic nightmar...

As a structural engineer and PhD student at NC State University, Nehemiah Mabry was asked to put together a video for the Stay With It Campaign , which would encourage students to stick with their engineering passion. The video was a smash hit and was even played on MTV, and all of a sudden people started asking Nee to produce videos. So he did, and he had a business.  But how could he take that b...

Keith Daniel and Tom Droege saw a problem in the startup and investment community - Black founders are not on equal ground when trying to build a business. They saw it in their interactions with founders and investors, but they also looked at it from a historical context. The oppression of the Black community in America starting with slavery, then barriers to owning land, and barriers to vote. Tha...

At Hutchison PLLC, we specialize in working with startups, so we completely understand that when you’re trying to build a business from nothing, legal isn’t always your top priority. You need to quickly figure out product market fit, cash flow, finding investors, and about a hundred other tasks. But there are some things, like how you work with employees and contractors, that if you don’t get it r...

Today's guest Joe Colopy is the co-founder at Jurassic Capital and the Godfather of Grepbeat , which covers all things tech in North Carolina. But before all of that, he bootstrapped Durham-based email marketing software firm Bronto and led it to a $200M exit.  Tune in to hear how it all happened. Hosted by Trevor Schmidt , Founder Shares is brought to you by Hutchison PLLC and is edited and produ...

Josh Owen never looked at himself as an entrepreneur. He formed his first company Tryon Solutions  to do some consulting work, and before he knew it, the company had grown to the point where it had about 100 employees. For Josh, it was time to try another idea, which required funding.  Even after a $2.5M raise to start his new company Cycle Labs , he still doesn't think of himself as an entreprene...

As the managing director of VentureSouth , Charlie Banks has invested over $60 million in over 90 companies. Some of them have been amazing success stories - but he’s seen  his share of failures as well.  Today, he talks about what the founder should be looking for in an investment partner, and he shares the one major reason that startups fail. Hosted by Trevor Schmidt , Founder Shares is brought...

For entrepreneurs, seeking funding from a venture capital firm can seem intimidating. But, it's important to remember that those investors are entrepreneurs, too. In this episode, learn about what it took to start Leeds Illuminate, a venture fund founded by Susan Cates in 2020. Hosted by Trevor Schmidt , Founder Shares is brought to you by Hutchison PLLC and is edited and produced by Earfluence .

Today we’re diving deep into what most startups dream about and are striving for - the exit. Hutchison PLLC partner and mergers & acquisitions expert attorney Dan Fuchs shares what both founders and buyers should be looking out for throughout the acquisition process. Hosted by Trevor Schmidt , Founder Shares is brought to you by Hutchison PLLC , and is edited and produced by Earfluence .

Jessica Mitsch Homes has always been focused on teaching and helping others, but she had no clue that that passion would lead her into a career in tech.  Today, Jessica talks about her company's start in American Underground, why she’s passionate about cultivating talent from underrepresented groups, and what’s ahead for her growing startup. Jessica Mitsch Homes is the co-founder and CEO of Moment...

How can leaders foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture - even when their business is first starting out?  When every dollar and every minute matters, culture can be secondary to everything else that needs to be done to keep the business afloat. So today, Donald Thompson shares how he created an affordable solution to DEI with his startup. Donald Thompson is the CEO of The Diversity Mov...

After decades of writing business ideas down, Philip Freeman decided to start Murphy's Naturals so he could solve a simple problem: his wife kept getting bitten by mosquitos. And then when that business grew too big for his garage, he founded The Loading Dock to solve his new problem - and help other entrepreneurs along the way. Philip mentioned several charitable organizations, and here are those...