Sound Investments - The Pacific Northwest VC & Startup Podcast with Ed Barker

Startup Haven: Bob Crimmins on Poker, Founders, and Funding In this episode, serial entrepreneur and investor Bob Crimmins, the force behind Startup Haven, shares his journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to creating a unique networking platform where poker and startups meet. Bob discusses the importance of curiosity and discipline in founders, the decision-making parallels between...

Championing Neurodiversity: Brett Greene’s Journey from Music to Tech Brett Greene has worn a lot of hats - music industry insider, executive coach, community builder - but around Seattle, he’s best known as the founder of New Tech Seattle. For more than a decade, Brett’s been at the heart of the region’s startup community, creating spaces where people can connect, share ideas, and spark new ventu...

How HP's Incubation Director Sees the Future of AI and Innovation In this episode Ed Barker talks to Elizabeth Scallon, Director of Incubation at HP. Elizabeth discusses the current state of AI adoption, the potential for robots in various settings, and the challenges and opportunities of corporate innovation. She shares her journey from biotech startups to major tech companies like Amazon and HP,...

The Heart of Seattle's Startup Ecosystem with Nick Ellingson of WTIA In this episode of Sound Investments, the host, Ed Barker, dives into Washington's tech ecosystem with Nick Ellingson, the startup ambassador at the WTIA. Nick has spent a decade helping founders navigate the startup landscape, and he shares insights into the unique characteristics of Seattle's founders, the role of WTIA, and the...

In this episode, Chris DeVore, managing partner at Founders Co-op, shares his journey from an operator to an influential venture capitalist in Seattle, shaping the city’s startup ecosystem. He discusses the evolution of his investment philosophy, the challenges of venture capital outside Silicon Valley, and his commitment to community-driven legacy projects like the waterfront park. Chris also hig...

In this episode Ed Barker interviews Jason Stoffer, general partner at Maveron, a Pacific Northwest-based consumer VC fund. Jason shares his unconventional journey into venture capital, Maveron's focus on consumer brands, and insights into building a consumer VC fund in Seattle. The discussion also covers current and emerging opportunities in sectors like EdTech, AI, wellness, and retail. Jason sh...

Navigating the Seattle VC Landscape with Elisa Lava of Trilogy Equity Partners Ed Barker talks to Elisa Lava, Principal at Trilogy Equity Partners in Seattle. They discuss Elisa's journey in venture capital, the distinct qualities of the Pacific Northwest's startup ecosystem, and emerging trends in AI and early-stage investing. Elisa shares her insights on investment strategies, the importance of...

Ed Barker talks with Pablo Casilimas, co-founder and managing partner of OneSixOne. Pablo shares his journey from a student entrepreneur to venture capitalist, emphasizing the significance of community in venture capital. They discuss how OneSixOne was created, the innovative approach they take to building their fund, and the critical role of community. Pablo also shares insights on the types of s...

Ed Barker chats with Amish Patel, Managing Director of Conduit Venture Labs, about his dynamic career transitioning from Microsoft to launching startups in the hard tech space. They explore Patel's vision for Conduit Venture Labs, its innovative venture studio model, and its emphasis on the synergy between hardware, software, and entrepreneurship. The discussion covers various sectors Patel is pas...

Ed Barker talks to Sarah Applebaum, partner at Pangaea Ventures. They discuss Sarah's journey into venture capital and her work at Pangaea, an investment firm focused on hard tech and sustainability. The conversation covers the startup ecosystem in Vancouver, the importance of hard tech for addressing global challenges, and specific investment sectors like industrial decarbonization, green chemist...

Ed Barker talks to Jennifer Savage, Partner at Illuminate Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments in enterprise software. Jennifer discusses her journey into venture capital, the unique operating model of Illuminate Ventures, and their focus on impactful enterprise solutions. She highlights the firm's extensive advisory council, consisting of industry leaders who pr...

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker enjoys in a comprehensive discussion with Anne Kennedy, general partner at The Mastersfund. The conversation explores the fund's mission to address the underfunding of female founders by leveraging a unique structured exit model that mitigates risk for investors and promotes financial stability for startups. Anne shares her journey from serial e...

Ed Barker talks to Evan Poncelet, co-managing partner of Dreamwood VC. Evan shares his journey from a career in software engineering to founding a venture capital fund focused on closing the funding gap for under-represented founders, particularly within the Black community. He discusses his family's legacy of economic empowerment through the establishment of the Liberty Bank in Seattle and how th...

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker is joined by Andrew Peterson, founding partner of Aviso Ventures. They discuss Andrew's journey into venture capital, which is rooted in his experiences as a startup founder and operator. Aviso Ventures specializes in investing in cybersecurity and enterprise infrastructure companies, primarily in pre-seed and seed stages. The conversation dives...

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker sits down with Dennis Joyce, Director of Investments at the Tacoma Venture Fund (TVF). They explore Dennis' fascinating journey from a young dreamer in New York to leading a venture fund in Tacoma. The conversation covers Dennis' experiences, from his early inspirations in venture capital to the formation and mission of the Tacoma Venture Fund....

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker discusses into the Pacific Northwest venture capital scene with Andy Liu, co-founding partner of Unlock Venture Partners. Andy shares his journey from being an entrepreneur to an active early-stage investor, with over 90 investments under his belt. The conversation covers his experiences in launching startups, the investment focus of Unlock VC,...

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Parker chats with Martin Tobias, Managing Partner at Incisive VC. Tobias, a seasoned angel investor and startup founder, discusses his unique investing philosophy focused on B2B software that reduces friction at scale. Tobias recounts his journey from his early days at Microsoft to running his own VC firm and creating a successful angel syndicate. Key...

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Peter Muller, founding partner of Breakwater Ventures, to explore his unique journey from Merrill Lynch to the launch of his venture capital firm in Seattle. They discuss Peter's career transitions, the Seattle startup ecosystem, and dive into key areas of interest like AI, fintech, and marketplaces. The conversation covers the challe...

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Brendan Wales, founding partner of Fuse, a venture capital firm in Seattle. Brendan shares his pathway from a tech-obsessed teenager to co-founding Fuse, including his early career and nine years at Headline. He details the founding of Fuse alongside partners Kellan and Cameron, highlighting their focus on early-stage companies in the...

Minda Brusse, First Row Partners on Nurturing Pre-Seed Startups In this episode of 'Sound Investments,' we sit down with Minda Bruce, founding partner at First Row Partners. With over 25 years in the startup ecosystem, Minda shares her journey from early startup roles to teaching investment and entrepreneurship at the University of Washington. She discusses First Row's unique investment strategies...

Sound Investments: Global Venture Capital and Emerging Markets with Will Poole, Managing Partner at Capria VC In this episode of Sound Investments, Ed Barker speaks with Will Poole, co-founder and managing partner at Capria VC, about his journey from a tech executive at Microsoft to a global venture capitalist. Focusing on emerging markets in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, Will discusses the uni...

Sound Investments: Exploring Seattle's VC Scene with Ken Horenstein In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker delves into the Pacific Northwest venture capital ecosystem with Ken Horenstein, Founder and Managing Partner at Pack Ventures. Ken shares his personal journey in venture capital, from his educational roots at the University of Washington to his role in supporting Seattle-based...

Empowering Female Founders: A Conversation with Jessica Kamada of Swizzle Ventures In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Jessica Kamada, the managing partner of Swizzle Ventures, a venture capital fund based in Bellevue that focuses on empowering female founders addressing women's challenges at pivotal life stages. Jessica shares her journey from a competitive figure skat...

Inside Venture Mechanics: Reinventing Startup Acceleration with Ron Weiner In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Ron Weiner, CEO and chairman of the Bellevue-based startup launchpad, Venture Mechanics. They discuss Ron's extensive experience as a tech startup CEO and investor, and the innovative business model of Venture Mechanics, which aims to provide a unique, asynchro...

Empowering Pacific Northwest Startups: Insights from Voyager Capital's James Newell In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews James Newell, Managing Director at Voyager Capital. They discuss the unique investment landscape of the Pacific Northwest, Voyager Capital's focus on early-stage local companies, and the strengths and challenges of the Seattle startup ecosystem. James...