The Established Podcast

In this episode of the Established Podcast, Charlie O'Donnell, NYC venture capitalist, community builder, and Author of Founder Unfriendly: What Investors Won't Tell You About Getting Funded  joins Frank Gruber, host of the podcast and Co-CEO at Established and Managing Partner at Established Ventures, for an honest conversation about venture capital, startup fundraising, and the realities founder...

On this episode of the Established Podcast, we hear from John Betancourt, the CEO of Humantelligence, who talks about what happens when AI enters the founder's journey.   This conversation was recorded by our very own Jamilah Corbitt, live at one of our Monthly Innovation Circle sessions inside the Established Network. If you're not already in, you're missing out. Go to est.us/TheMIC2026 and claim...

On this episode of the Established Podcast, we hear from Jillian Friot who is the CEO of the Global Venture Network and Donna Harris, the CEO of Builders and Backers.    Today's guests are Grant Rogers, the CEO of Maven Scouts and Grind Ventures, and Holly Burrow, the CEO of EQALL Business Solutions.    Grant and Holly were interviewed by our own Jamilah Corbitt as part of our Established Network,...

On this episode of the Established Podcast, we hear from Jillian Friot who is the CEO of the Global Venture Network and Donna Harris, the CEO of Builders and Backers.    Jillian and Donna were interviewed as part of our Established Network, Monthly Innovation Circle, and we continue to host these events on the third Thursday of every month. Sign up today at: http://est.us/TheMIC202   Get Involved!...

On this episode of the Established Podcast, we hear from Cornel Amariei, the CEO of .lumen. Cornel chats about deep tech that guides users using haptics.     Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovators, we invite you to join the Established Network, our digital hub where creativity, capital, and collaboration collide. https://establis...

On this episode of the Established Podcast, we hear from our very own Jamilah Corbitt, who hosted a discussion about building brand value. She was joined by Sara Lawhead, who is the Vice President of Thacker NYC and Polly Rodriguez, who is the CEO and Co-Founder of Unbound Babes.    This conversation was recorded live at one of our Monthly Innovation Circle sessions inside the Established Network....

On this episode of the Established Podcast, Frank Gruber ( www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) is joined by Shawn D. Nelson, founder and CEO of Lovesac ( www.lovesac.com ), the modular couch company that started in his parents' basement. He's also the author of Let Me Save You 25 Years, a book packed with lessons on leadership, resilience, and taking ownership.    Get Involved! Founders, investors,...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear from our very own Jamilah Corbitt, who hosted a panel discussion about mental health and resilience. She was joined by:   Johnny Crowder, founder of Cope Notes, who is using daily text messages to improve mindset and emotional wellness. Margo Jordan, CEO of Enrichly, helping youth build confidence and self-worth through gamified learning....

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear from Jared Goralnick, who is a product executive and 3x founder & CEO with deep expertise in HR Tech, AI, and marketplaces. Over the past decade, he has led product organizations at category-defining companies, including LinkedIn, Microsoft, Upwork, Go1, and Articulate.   Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur supp...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear from Eric Mathews, CEO of Start Co. He's a proven startup strategist, venture architect, and author. He's launched companies, coached founders, and written books that cut through the noise.    This conversation was recorded live at one of our Monthly Innovation Circle sessions inside the Established Network. If you're not already in, you'...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear from Dr. Amy Beckley, Founder and CEO of Proov, a company on a mission to help women take control of their reproductive health. Amy was interviewed by Jamilah Corbitt during our Monthly Innovation Circle. She is also part of the Established Ventures portfolio and a longtime supporter of our community.   Get Involved! Founders, investors,...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Sarah Evans, who is a Partner and Head of PR at Zen Media. She is also a professional moderator and tech host.   Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovators, we invite you to join the...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Isaiah McPeak, the CEO of Green Pants Studios ( www.greenpantsstudio.com ). He is a master at helping people sharpen their ideas, communicate more effectively, and launch winning products. He is an author, debater, product strategist, and startup...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Joshua Baer, the Founder & CEO of Capital Factory, Austin's premier startup hub connecting founders with mentors, investors, and talent. The interview took place in front of a live audience down in Austin at the Established House.    Get Inv...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Amy Jo Martin, who is a bestselling author, speaker, and founder who has worked with some of the biggest brands and athletes in the world, and she's all about helping people design lives they love.    The interview took place in front of a l...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Jenny Fielding.   Jenny Fielding is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Everywhere Ventures, an early-stage fund that has invested in over 300 companies across the globe. Take a look at Jenny's website here: https://www.jennyfielding.com...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Robert Quinn.   Robert Quinn is the founder of MakeSense Technology, a company pioneering haptic solutions that address visual problems through innovative, non-audio/visual communication technologies. The technology stems from over a decade...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber), is joined by Briana Warner.   Briana Warner is the CEO of Atlantic Sea Farms, a company dedicated to cultivating sustainable seaweed farming along the coast of Maine. Under her leadership, the company has become a pioneer in producing kelp-based products...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Rachel Holt. Rachel Holt is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Construct Capital, a venture capital firm focused on investing in the future of transportation, mobility, supply chain, and the built world. She has a proven track record i...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber) is joined by Sherman Williams, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at AIN Ventures, a pre-seed and seed-stage focused venture fund that invests in dual-use technology and veteran-led startups. Frank and Shermann discuss all things investing - from the importa...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Dan Berger.   Dan Berger is an entrepreneur with a strong track record in the event planning industry. He is the Founder of Assemble, a boutique chain of corporate retreat centers designed to enhance team collaboration and productivity.  ...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) is joined by Adriana Carrig, Founder & CEO at Little Words Project, a bracelet sharing company that invites female entrepreneurs into a collaborative and uplifting digital community. Frank and Adriana discuss sisterhood, inclusive and compassionate busi...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Allyson Kapin.   Allyson Kapin, the Founder of Women Who Tech, Co-Founder of Rad Campaign, and a General Partner and Co-Founder at W Fund, leads grassroots movements to bolster diversity in the tech and startup sectors; she is an active in...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ), is joined by Aubrie Pagano. Aubrie Pagano is a General Partner at Alpaca VC, a venture capital firm investing in the people, products, and platforms reimagining the real world. Before joining Alpaca VC, Aubrie co-founded Bow & Drape, a fashion-tech sta...

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgruber ) is joined by Natalia Talkowska and Rohit Bhargava.    Natalia Talkowska is the Founder of Natalka Design, a high-stake visual consultancy that provides communication tools to enable leaders to communicate and engage with their audiences so that they can...