Startup Science Podcast with Gregory Shepard

In the second half of their conversation, Greg Shepard and angel investor Marcia Dawood go deeper into the realities of early-stage investing. Marcia shares why she favors investing through funds for diversification, the misconceptions that keep people—especially women and underrepresented groups—out of angel investing, and how her book Do Good While Doing Well helps demystify the process for new...

Greg Shepard sits down with Marcia Dawood, early-stage investor, author of Do Good While Doing Well, TEDx speaker, and host of The Angel Next Door Podcast. Marcia shares her journey from attending her first angel investing meeting in 2012 to investing in over 50 startups and funds, chairing the Angel Capital Association, and advocating for diverse founders. They discuss why only a small percentage...

In Part 2, Greg continues his conversation with Toph Day, the visionary CEO of Elevate Ventures. Toph dives deeper into his mission to build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Indiana, explaining why the state is becoming a global hub for innovation and why it’s the perfect place for startups to grow. From Indiana’s top-ranked infrastructure and talent pool to its affordable cost of living an...

In this electrifying episode of the Startup Science Podcast, Greg Shepard sits down with Toph Day, the visionary CEO of Elevate Ventures, one of the most active seed and early-stage investors in the Great Lakes Region and a top 20 venture capital firm globally. With over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience and multiple exits to Fortune 500 companies, Toph shares his incredible journey from grow...

In Part 2, Greg Shepard and Aras Sheikhi explore the intricate world of entrepreneurship, offering profound insights for academics and startup founders. They delve into the mechanics of innovation hubs and accelerators, revealing how early-stage startups can transform innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Greg shares critical advice for researchers looking to commercialize their work, emph...

In this episode of Startup Science, Greg sits down with Aras Sheikhi, a dynamic leader who transformed his academic career into a mission of empowering immigrant entrepreneurs. From pioneering blockchain research in Iran to founding the Janus Innovation Hub in San Diego, Aras shares his remarkable transition from university professor to startup founder. Discover how Sheikhi's personal experience a...

In part two of this engaging conversation on The Startup Science Podcast, Greg continues his discussion with Patrick Gouhin, CEO of the Angel Capital Association (ACA). This episode dives deeper into the dynamics of angel investing, focusing on balancing risk and opportunity for both investors and entrepreneurs. Patrick emphasizes the critical role of diversification, the importance of aiming for...

In this episode of The Startup Science Podcast, Greg engages in an insightful conversation with Patrick Gouhin, CEO of the Angel Capital Association (ACA). Patrick shares his remarkable journey from aerospace engineering to leading an organization that represents over 16,000 angel investors, collectively deploying nearly $1 billion annually to fund startups. Drawing from his extensive experience,...

Greg continues his conversation with Ash Kaluarachchi, CEO of StartEd, diving deeper into the world of education technology. Ash offers valuable insights for both investors and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the long-term potential of EdTech and the importance of patient capital. They discuss the aftermath of the pandemic, which created both an influx of EdTech startups and a subsequent market correct...

Greg welcomes Ash Kaluarachchi, CEO of StartEd and producer of EDTECH WEEK. Ash shares how his upbringing in a school run by his mother inspired his passion for education technology. They discuss the evolution of the EdTech landscape and how StartEd's innovative accelerator model provides personalized support to startups, moving away from traditional batch processes. The conversation explores the...

In the second part of their conversation, Greg and Chris delve into insightful discussions around investing in the post-COVID era, the AI hype cycle, and how to evaluate opportunities in today's market. Chris provides a candid perspective on the valuation excesses of 2021 and why prudent valuations are critical for preserving investor capital.  He shares his cautious views on the AI gold rush, emp...

In this episode, Greg chats with Chris Van Dusen, a Senior Partner at Solyco Capital - a vertically integrated investment firm taking a unique private equity approach to venture capital. Chris shares his incredible entrepreneurial background, including founding and exiting several companies like a major CBD brand as well as starting a liquor distillery. Chris provides a fascinating inside look at...

In the second half of the episode, the conversation dives deeper into the practical applications of AI that entrepreneurs can leverage. David explains time series models for forecasting how situations evolve over time and how founders can use causal discovery techniques to identify the true drivers of outcomes rather than just correlations. They discuss the potential for AI to aid investors in eva...

In this fascinating episode, Greg talks with David Danks, Professor of Data Science and Philosophy at UC San Diego. David's research explores the intersection of philosophy, cognitive science, and machine learning to tackle complex interdisciplinary problems around AI. They dive into the philosophical considerations around the rapid advancement of AI technology and its growing impact across indust...

In the second half of this episode, Greg continues his illuminating open-source conversation with Heather Meeker, General Partner at OSS Capital. With her deep expertise on both the legal and business strategy sides, Heather shares invaluable insights for investors evaluating commercial open-source startups. Heather outlines key factors investors should consider when assessing these unique compani...

Heather Meeker, a leading expert on open-source software licensing and business strategy, joins Greg on the podcast. Heather is a General Partner at OSS Capital, an early-stage VC fund investing exclusively in commercial open-source startups. In this episode, Greg and Heather discuss her latest book, "From Project to Profit: How to Build a Business Around Your Open Source Project." They explore He...

In part two of their talk, Owen provides background on the Canadian Fulbright Entrepreneur Initiative, which enables Canadian entrepreneurs to study approaches to innovation and entrepreneurship in leading ecosystems. Owen also touches on his aim to serve as a "humble thought leader" seeking to make meaningful contributions rather than pursue status or fame. He discusses the responsibility he feel...

This week on The Startup Science Podcast, Greg is joined by pioneering technology entrepreneur and investor Owen Matthews. As Chairman of Alacrity Canada, Owen has made major contributions to Western Canada's tech ecosystem through his ventures and his work with Alacrity. As Chairman, Owen has helped bring over $225 million into Western Canada's tech ecosystem and employed 300+ people. He is a tru...

In Part 2 of Victorio Pellicano's conversation on the Startup Science podcast, Greg and Vic go deeper into the mindset and motivation of this tech pioneer. They discuss how Vic stays focused when facing life's turbulence and keeps moving forward with resilience. He shares how he fights adversity and uncertainty as an entrepreneur while maintaining balance as a father and husband. Vic reveals how h...

In this episode, Greg sits down with Victorio Pellicano, a modern phoenix who overcame homelessness and loss to become a leading tech entrepreneur. After growing his compassion-driven software company Verenia and selling it to Oracle, Pellicano now leads Avianna, merging AI and robotics to transform the world. Beyond his triumphs, Pellicano finds balance as a devoted family man and through Tao spi...

In part two of his talk with Greg, Geoffrey Moore reveals the two critical mistakes that often trip up startup founders. He outlines how to avoid innovation adoption pitfalls and successfully cross the chasm from early adopters to mainstream customers. The conversation centers on Moore's pioneering frameworks for crafting compelling narratives during industry disruption. He also shares tips for ad...

Buckle up for an electrifying conversation with Geoffrey Moore, the guru behind seminal works like Crossing the Chasm and Inside the Tornado. Drawing on decades advising leading companies, Moore downloads his wealth of wisdom about navigating disruptive innovations and bridging the chasm between early adopters and the mainstream market. You'll get a masterclass in Moore's pioneering frameworks for...

The brand storytelling continues as Park explains how Joseph Campbell's Heroes Journey theory can transform B2B company narratives. Going beyond product features and benefits, you'll learn how to craft a compelling origin story that emotionally resonates with your audience. Park also dives into the necessary ingredients for an engaging brand narrative, from defining your core values and purpose to...

What story does your brand tell? This week on Startup Science Podcast, Greg talks with Park Howell, the world's most industrious storyteller. Park has spent over 35 years growing purpose-driven brands by up to 600% through strategic storytelling. As host of Business of Story and author of Brand Bewitchery and The Narrative Gym for Business, he's helped thousands clarify their brand narrative to co...

In the second part of Greg’s conversation with Alice Bentinck, the co-founder of Entrepreneur First, they dive deeper into the topic of diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. Alice shares her vision and mission behind Code First: Girls, a not-for-profit organization that has taught 30,000 women to code for free while they were at university. She explains why diversity is not only a moral im...