If Not Now Wen Podcast

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Andrea Nicholas, a seasoned corporate leader with over 25 years of experience known for launching award-winning SaaS products and guiding Fortune 1000 companies' growth strategies. Her unique approach, "culture salt hunt," combines coaching and consulting to help high achievers think bigger and lead differently. Andrea shares about her upbringing in a small Midwestern farming community and her involvement in 4-H, where she learned life skills and leadership from a mentor. Her mentor's ethos, "It may as well be me," left a lasting impression, shaping Andrea's proactive approach to seizing opportunities and making a difference. Andrea's career journey includes leaving her small town for Texas at 20, focusing on education, and then rising through corporate America's ranks. She transitioned from a leadership role in a publicly traded company to founding a management consulting firm in 2005 and later pivoted to a product company, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges like the 2008 financial crisis. Andrea's transition from business ownership to coaching and consulting was driven by her passion for supporting executives in expanding their influence and impact. She blends her consulting background with traditional coaching, focusing on helping executives clarify their goals, align with their values, and navigate leadership challenges effectively. In this episode we talk about: 🔹Andrea's philosophy that emphasizes resilience, continuous learning, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. 🔹The highlights of the importance of goal-setting, reflection, and maintaining confidence, emphasizing that success is defined by living one's values and making a positive impact on others and the community. 🔹Andrea's journey, which exemplifies resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to personal and professional growth, inspiring others to embrace challenges and pursue their aspirations with confidence and purpose. Andrea is such an inspiration, and she has so much wisdom to share. Tune in to the full episode to hear more of her amazing story.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Amos Schwartzfarb, a seasoned entrepreneur and former managing director of TechStars in Austin, Texas. He is known for his ventures in companies like hotjobs.com and MySpoonful, and he has expertise in product-market fit and early sales. Amos has supported over 100 early-stage companies in securing investment during his tenure at TechStars. The challenges of unwinding from a demanding job like TechStars, which operated at 100% capacity constantly, are highlighted. He shares insights into the difficulty of finding space for contemplation amid the hectic schedule and responsibilities to the portfolio companies. In this episode, we discuss the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing meaningful engagements, and we know that you'll find many of these takeaways beneficial in your own endeavors. In this episode we talk about: 🔹 Amos’s entrepreneurial background and TechStars experience. 🔹 Challenges he faced during the transition post-TechStars, including finding space for contemplation and unwinding from responsibilities. 🔹 Personal reflections on contentment, curiosity, setting boundaries, and prioritizing meaningful engagements. 🔹 Insights into the toll of demanding roles like TechStars' managing director and the importance of self-care. Amos is such an inspiration, and he has so much wisdom to share. Tune in to the full episode to hear more of his amazing story.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest, Michael Dalley, the Chief Revenue Officer at Aerial Vantage. Despite a challenging upbringing, including the loss of his mother at a young age, Dalley pursued a path of self-improvement and growth. He joined the United States Air Force to expand his horizons and later pursued higher education while working in various jobs, including selling software. Throughout his career, Dalley learned important lessons about authenticity, leadership, and resilience. He emphasizes the importance of failing fast, forgiving oneself quickly, and maintaining authenticity in all interactions. Dalley’s leadership style revolves around genuinely caring for his team and creating an environment where they can thrive. He believes in the power of intimate relationships with both customers and team members, fostering genuine connections and lasting value. In this episode we talk about: 🔹 Michael Dalley’s journey from humble beginnings in Detroit to Chief Revenue Officer at Aerial Vantage, Dalley’s path is marked by resilience, self-improvement and overcoming personal hardships. 🔹 Leadership Insights. Dalley’s career taught him valuable lessons in authenticity and leadership, emphasizing the importance of failing fast, forgiveness, and creating nurturing environments for team growth. 🔹 Discussion on Human Nature. Delving into profound insights, Dalley and I discuss the universal desire for success and genuine care for others, cautioning against rooting for failure and emphasizing the importance of a positive mindset. 🔹 Business Lessons and Future Outlook. Michael highlights the shift towards prioritizing predictable, scalable, and profitable revenue, stressing caution in hiring and scaling too quickly. Michael is such an inspiration, and he has so much wisdom to share. Tune in to the full episode to hear more of his amazing story.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with guest Lourdes Graciela Zuniga, who shares her remarkable journey from Lima, Peru, to the United States with a big dream of making a difference despite facing numerous challenges. Born and raised in Lima, Peru, Lourdes moved to the United States over two decades ago with a journalist visa and a burning desire to explore opportunities beyond her homeland's limitations. She is the founder and executive director of Financial Health Pathways, and on the podcast episode today, Lourdes shares her struggles, her triumphs, and the impact she's making locally in Austin as well as globally. She candidly recounts her initial struggles, from menial jobs in the hospitality industry to the humbling realization of being a 'nobody' in a foreign land, determined to make it despite the odds. Lourdes discovered her passion for philanthropy and social impact, transitioning from the hospitality sector to championing financial education and reforming the criminal justice system to empower marginalized communities. In this episode we talk about: 🔹 Resilience and Adaptability: Lourdes embodies resilience and adaptability, demonstrating the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. 🔹 Strength in Diversity: She emphasizes the invaluable contributions of immigrants, highlighting their strong work ethic, drive for improvement, and untapped potential to enrich communities. 🔹 Quiet Leadership: Despite her introverted nature, Lourdes exemplifies quiet leadership, challenging stereotypes and making a profound impact through her actions and advocacy. 🔹 Defining Success: For Lourdes, success lies not only in personal achievements but also in uplifting others and effecting positive change in the world. 🔹 Advice for Aspiring Changemakers: She advises aspiring changemakers to find their passion, focus on making a meaningful impact in their chosen field, and embrace their unique journey rather than trying to emulate others. Lourdes is such an inspiration, and she has so much wisdom to share. Tune in to the full episode to hear more of her amazing story.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Steve Schaffer, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, as he shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his early days in the magic business to venturing into Silicon Valley's tech scene. With a focus on continuous improvement, Steve reflects on the lessons learned from his ventures like mysterynet.com and offers.com, emphasizing the importance of metrics-driven decision-making and strategic adaptation in the dynamic world of business. Through anecdotes and insights, Steve's passion for entrepreneurship shines, offering practical wisdom and inspiration for both aspiring and established entrepreneurs. Our conversation delves into the significance of understanding key metrics in business, such as contribution margin, and how we drive sustainable growth. Steve shares insights from his own experiences, including a pivotal moment where a marketing campaign failure led to a re-evaluation of metrics and experimentation processes within his company. Steve reminds us of the transformative power of perseverance, adaptability, and strategic thinking in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship. With a renewed sense of empowerment, you'll be inspired to embark on your own entrepreneurial journey with confidence and purpose. In this episode we talk about: 🔹 Steve’s entrepreneurial journey and commitment to supporting startups. 🔹 Steve emphasizes the importance of learning from failures and adapting to challenges in entrepreneurship. 🔹 Discussion on the significance of understanding key metrics in business, illustrated with examples from Steve's experiences. 🔹 Emphasis on the need for a culture of metrics-based decision-making and clear objective setting for sustainable growth. 🔹 Steve shares personal insights and experiences, highlighting the importance of metrics-driven strategies, timing in walking away from ventures, and having a clear plan before raising funds. Steve is such an inspiration, and he has so much wisdom to share. Tune in to the full episode to hear more of his amazing story.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Christian Drapeau. Christian is a stem cell scientist, author and creator of the first stem cell supplement. He holds a graduate degree in Neurophysiology and has been involved in medical research for 30+ years, the last 20 specifically dedicated to stem cell research.   The author of 5 books, including the best-selling "Cracking the Stem Cell Code,” Christian has published dozens of scientific papers on brain research and a biological process he coined called “Endogenous Stem Cell Mobilization”. Having lectured in 50+ countries on stem cell research, he is known by scientists, physicians and biohackers alike as an expert and pioneer of his field.   Christian is a scientific advisor to many companies and is currently the CEO and Founder of Kalyagen where he developed the most potent stem cell mobilizer, STEMREGEN.   In this episode we talk about: 🔹 The power of meditation and the pursuit of truth and self-discovery 🔹 The exciting new science of stem cells 🔹 Removing stress and fear from your life 🔹 How you can be your own “Blue Zone” for health and vitality 🔹 Secrets for successful meditation   Christian has such an incredible journey to share. He is a true scientist devoted to finding the truth and sharing it with the world. I know you are going to love this episode and get so many amazing take-aways.

In this episode of If Not Now Wen, we are so excited to welcome special guest, Grant Newlin. Grant is a founder and general partner of Newlin Ventures, investing at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A across both North and South America.   Grant began his career as a process improvement / strategy Consultant for Ernst & Young where he aided the nation’s largest financial institutions in the post-financial crisis, Dodd-Frank world. He then worked in M&A sell-side and buy-side transactions for Waller Helms Advisors in Chicago, leading middle-market deals often as the sole junior banker. During the merger of Kraft Foods and Heinz, Grant worked with 3G Capital as the Lead, Senior Finance Manager to spearhead the finance and operations post-merger integration; he reported directly to the CFO and President of the US. And before Newlin Ventures, Grant was Head of Dealflow at New Stack Ventures, leading inbound and outbound dealflow strategies, owning all phases of diligence, and supporting LP engagement.   Grant is also a staunch supporter of non-profit Surge for Water where he manages the US endowment. He was Chair of the Minnesota chapter and has served on both the Governing and Associate Boards. Grant also plays Advisor / Mentor to Techstars, Gener8tor, the University of Virgina iLab, and several other leading innovation hubs across the country.   In this episode we talk about: 🔹 The key things investors are looking for from founders seeking funding 🔹 Secrets for a performing fund 🔹 Why South America is the next frontier for venture 🔹 Bridging the gap between the Americas 🔹 Advice for the early-stage entrepreneur who may be feeling stuck   Grant is such an inspiration, connecting and uniting the Americas and helping all the amazing dreamers live their global dream. He has so much insight to share, and I know you will enjoy this episode as much as I do. 

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Josh Chodniewicz. Not just an entrepreneur, but a leading expert in regulations in crowdfunding, entrepreneurship and investing in startups, Josh has consistently been at the forefront of industry evolution.   From humble beginnings selling chicken eggs in his neighborhood to navigating the complexities of the digital art world, every step has been marked by perseverance, vision, and an innate entrepreneurial drive.   Today Josh is the founder of Fundify, democratizing startup investing and empowering both accredited and non-accredited investors, allowing investments starting from just $1. Fundify embodies Josh's unwavering commitment to innovation and his ambition to empower every potential entrepreneur and investor.   In this episode we talk about: 🔹 Recognizing the potential of the internet in 1994 and having the vision to see it as the vehicle for endless possibility 🔹 Overcoming hardships and setbacks 🔹 The challenges that come with a merger and the impact it has for founders 🔹 Equity crowdfunding and how Fundify is democratizing the process 🔹 Avoiding fatal decisions as you grow your business   Josh is such an inspiration, and he has so much wisdom to share. Tune in to the full episode to hear more of his amazing story.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Lucas Mitchell. Lucas is the founder and managing partner of Infinite Ranges, a company that drives digital adoption by connecting the global integrator and resellers with the outcomes and people needed to deliver solutions. They help clients activate, deploy, and optimize their software securely. Lucas has over 25 years in the tech sector with expertise ranging from cybersecurity, devops, app modernization, and human capacity scalability. He also serves as an advisory council member at VMware Tanzu, where his teams collaborate with senior executives from channel partner organizations to explore and validate Tanzu's vision and direction. Lucas is passionate about creating outcomes that matter and empowering teams to achieve their goals, vision, and direction. In this episode we talk about: 🔹 Setting goals and pushing limits 🔹 How solving that one problem can lead to big things 🔹 The many hats that entrepreneurs wear and navigating those transitions as your business scales 🔹 Lucas’s biggest lesson and most expensive mistake 🔹 The morning routine that lays the foundation for success Living life with such resiliency, Lucas runs towards what scares him the most and faces things head on with discipline and determination. He is such an inspiration, and I know you're going to love this episode and get so many amazing takeaways.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Rima Chakrabarti. Rima is a partner at KdT Ventures, the standard for early-stage frontier science investing, where she partners with scientific founders engineering the world at the molecular level. Rima studied biology and neuroscience at Brown University and earned her MD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. While in medical school, she was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) research fellow in the lab of Dr. Helen Hobbs, where she created bio-tools for measuring lipid activity in the body. She attended the University of Pennsylvania for her clinical residency in neurology, after which she jumped to the Fannin Innovation Studio, a human-health focused venture creation firm in Houston, TX, where she directed the development of a portfolio of preclinical assets, three of which are now in clinical trials. Since joining KdT in 2020, Rima’s investments to date span the fields of material science, cell immunotherapy, cancer metabolism, and surgical robotics. She currently sits on the boards of Dimension Inx, Cypris Materials, and Modulus Therapeutics. Rima is truly an inspiring example and model for technical founders who are on a path and looking for a way to change the world, and she is doing amazing things on this planet. I know you are going to love this episode as much as I do and get so many amazing takeaways. We talk about: 🔹 Discovering a passion for building with biology and exploring the “why” of disease 🔹 Uncovering the steps for the commercialization process in the biotech space 🔹 What you need to know about the investor/founder partnership 🔹 Determining if Venture Capital funding is right for your biotech company 🔹 What to focus on in your pitch to get a seed investor excited to partner with you Rima has such a love for technology, innovation, and creating an impact which is truly making the world a better place. Tune in to the full episode to hear more of her inspiring story.

Our special guest in today’s episode of If Not Now Wen is Ash Maurya. Ash is the author of two bestselling books “Running Lean” and “Scaling Lean” and is also the creator of the highly popular one-page business modeling tool “Lean Canvas”. Ash is praised for offering some of the best and most practical advice for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs all over the world. Driven by the search for better and faster ways for building successful products, Ash has developed a continuous innovation framework that synthesizes concepts from Lean Startup, business model design, jobs-to-be-done, and design thinking. A leading business blogger, Ash's posts and advice have been featured in Inc. Magazine, Forbes, and Fortune. He regularly hosts sold out workshops around the world and serves as a mentor to several accelerators including TechStars, MaRS, Capital Factory, and guest lecturers at several universities including MIT, Harvard, and UT Austin. Ash serves on the advisory board of a number of startups and has consulted to new and established companies. Ash is passionate about giving back and sharing his knowledge to serve the entrepreneurial ecosystem and create more successful entrepreneurs. He is such an inspiration, and I know you are going to love this episode and get so many amazing takeaways. We talk about: 🔹 Recognizing patterns in the start-up process 🔹 The 3 stages of the entrepreneurial journey 🔹 Early mistakes for founders to avoid 🔹 How to structure your pitch so that you can discuss pricing with ease 🔹 Defining success and the American Dream Ash has such a transparency and self-awareness and has so much insight to share. He has such a big heart and is driven to help more people enter this profession and be successful doing it. Tune in to the full episode right here.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Valerie Ward. Valerie recently completed her MBA at UT Austin's McComb's School of Business, where she is concentrated in Strategy and Innovation with a special focus on Social Enterprise and Social Impact, and she'll be joining Strategy&'s Customer Transformation practice in early 2024. Valerie was the co-founder of Sweet Ritual vegan ice cream shop and non-profit Good Work Austin. She is a mentor at Capital Factory in Austin and is dedicated to increasing access to entrepreneurship. She has taught, directed, and performed improvised theatre for over 20 years, touring internationally with her troupe Parallelogramophonograph. An authentic people leader, Valerie is passionate about connecting with others and building a community. She is such an inspiration, and I know you are going to love this episode as much as I do.  We talk about: 🔹 Finding balance between the dream and the reality of building a business 🔹 Why networks and community are so crucial 🔹 Deciding whether to persist or move on to the next chapter 🔹 Giving yourself grace and letting go of perfectionism 🔹 Advice for founders starting out and those who are in the process of growing and scaling their business Curious to learn more about Valerie and her amazing story? Catch today’s episode right here!

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re so excited to talk with special guest Jake O'Shea. Jake is a professional match-maker and superconnector. He currently works as the Director of Portfolio Operations at Foundation Capital, building tools and systems to operationalize the firm's network and leading the 30yo firm's Platform and Portfolio Support functions. Prior to Foundation Capital, Jake was Director of Platform at Capital Factory, where he was responsible for managing and developing the firm's value-add initiatives for portfolio companies. Jake is a co-organizer of AITX, a local Austin AI community. He is also cofounder of Serend.ai, a GPT-powered network management tool, and creator of ShowerThoughts, allowing you to turn your unstructured brain dump into a short summary with highlights and action items that are delivered directly to your inbox. In this episode Jake gives an inside look into the venture capital business model and has an incredible way of demystifying the investment process in a way that is very clear and refreshing. He is an open book and gives clear steps and game-changing advice for founders. We talk about: 🔹 The 3-step process for successful fundraising 🔹 Understanding the different rounds of funding 🔹 How to create an incentive for a lead investor to offer you a term sheet 🔹 Determining the right valuation for your company 🔹 How to build relationships with potential investors Jake has such a big heart, and he is passionate about supporting others and creating a positive impact.  He is a leader with a wealth of knowledge and insights that are incredibly important for founders. I know you are going to love this episode and get so many amazing take-aways.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Ron Green. Ron is Chief Technology Officer at KUNGFU.AI’s. A serial tech entrepreneur and expert in machine learning, he has built several successful companies in telecom, biotech, e-commerce, social media, and healthcare. Ron was most recently CEO and founder of Thrive Technologies (acquired by CLOUD), a mobile healthcare startup. Prior to Thrive, he ran software development at Ziften Technologies, Powered (acquired by Dachis Group), and Visible Genetics (acquired by Bayer). Ron is such a humble leader with an incredible journey to share. I know you're going to love this episode and get so many amazing takeaways. We talk about: 🔹 Why it’s never too late to start something or learn something new 🔹 The biggest lessons learned from start-up failures 🔹 Why getting repetitions at startups is really valuable 🔹 Mistakes early-stage founders should be aware of 🔹 Fundraising advice for a tough capital environment Curious to hear more from Ron and his inspiring story? Catch today’s episode right here!

My special guest in today’s episode of If Not Now Wen is Megan Gallagher. Megan is a 2x TEDx speaker, 4x Amazon best seller, TV Host and mental health advocate. While growing up Megan experienced chronic anxiety and panic attacks. She grew inspiration from reaching rock bottom at 16. She decided to ask for help, and that started her on the journey of understanding herself. She became motivated by her struggles and has been on a mission to change the public school system for the past 10 years. She is dedicated to ending the stigma and inspiring young adults by giving them the tools they need to live a high quality life. Megan currently speaks at Colleges and Fortune 500 companies about mental health, avoiding burnout and wellness in the workplace. She is an incredibly talented speaker, author, blogger, TV Host, freelance model and fitness lover. In this episode we talk about: 🔹 Megan’s inspiring mental health journey 🔹 The power of resiliency in overcoming challenges and rejection 🔹 Recognizing the lessons in any situation 🔹 How to overcome fear and process negative emotions 🔹 Mastering your mind Curious to hear more from Megan and her inspiring story? Catch today’s episode right here!

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Lyn Graft. Lyn is the Chief Story Officer at Shār Snacks, founder of Storytelling for Entrepreneurs, and author of the best-selling book, Start With Story. He has filmed over 1,000 entrepreneurs including the founders of Starbucks, Whole Foods, TOMS, and LinkedIn. He co-created and produced CNBC’s first primetime TV series ‘American Made’ and has produced 1,200 videos for entities such as Entrepreneur Magazine, Microsoft, Dell, and Nestle. Lyn founded 8 companies and has raised $10.0M in venture funding and serves or has served on advisory boards for SXSW, Dell, and Empowering a Billion Women. Lyn has given over 50 keynote presentations on entrepreneurial and business storytelling at entities such as HP, Dell, EY, EO, SXSW, Wharton School of Business, and the University of Texas. He also is a mentor at the SKU Consumer Packaged Goods Accelerator, Founding Institute Startup Accelerator, and EBW Women Executive Accelerator. Lyn is passionate about sharing what he has learned and channeling his gifts and experience to help other entrepreneurs. Lyn has so much incredible wisdom to share, and I know you're going to love this episode and get so many amazing takeaways. We talk about: 🔹 Blazing trails and discovering a passion for capturing inspiring founders’ stories 🔹 The most important asset you have as a founder 🔹 The do’s and don’ts of great entrepreneurial storytelling 🔹 One of the fastest ways that a founder can come up with a good starting origin story 🔹 Discovering your power and how you can differentiate yourself Curious to hear more from Lyn and his inspiring story? Catch today’s episode right here! Connect with Lyn: START WITH STORY - Book by Lyn Graft https://www.amazon.com/Start-Story-Entrepreneurs-Guide-Business/dp/1544501390/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QT2XT5QHXOLH&keywords=lyn+graft+story&qid=1690993295&sprefix=lyn+graft+story%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-1 SHĀR SNACKS – Organic Trail Mix Site https://sharsnacks.com CREATE – Online Storytelling Course for Founders https://www.storytellingforentrepreneurs.com/lyn_graft LYN GRAFT – Author & Speaker Site http://lyngraft.com

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re so excited to talk with special guest Jennifer Sethre. Jennifer is currently founder and CEO of Intry and AntiBias Tech, a revolutionary HR tech startup. She is a builder of businesses to her core and is re market savvy, technically sharp and an astute leader with a history of building and exiting successful start-ups. She has also run two public companies in China and the US. Highly skilled in creating strategic partnership, Jennifer has collaborated with big names such as Apple, the Gates Foundation, Goodwill, Care Innovations, and Foxconn and has been featured on CNBC, NBC, Yahoo Finance, Austin Statesman, Austin’s 50 Tech Companies to Watch, Silicon Valley Review, MN Monthly, Awarded 40 Under 40, Stevie Award, and is part of Forbes Women. Jennifer’s mantra in life is “no fear”, and she is always moving forward with tenacity and courage with the growth mindset to figure things out and make things happen. She is a true warrior and has such an inspiring story to share. We talk about: 🔹 Becoming an accidental entrepreneur and the queen of pivot 🔹 Following new opportunities with no fear 🔹 Critical aspects to being successful 🔹 Overcoming adversity and practicing gratitude 🔹 Difficult lessons learned in life and business Jennifer leads with such a humility and kindness in heart and will continue to do good things on this planet. Tune in to the full episode to learn more.

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest and dear friend Ruben Arias. Ruben is a founder and Chief Executive Officer at Beereaders. He is a seasoned edtech entrepreneur with over 12 years of experience. Hailing from Santiago, Chile, he overcame a challenging upbringing in a low-income household to become the first in his family to pursue higher education. Motivated by his own journey, Ruben has dedicated himself to transforming education and empowering students. His edtech ventures have positively impacted the lives of over half a million K-12 Spanish-speaking students across Latin America and the United States, generating substantial revenue and securing more than $9M in venture capital. Ruben is continuously seeking new ways to improve learning outcomes and bridge educational gaps and is passionate about empowering students of the world to have the opportunity to seek out their own potential. He has such an authentic and impactful story to share, and I know you will love it as much as I do. We talk about: 🔹 What is different about growing a company in the U.S. 🔹 Advice for international founders who are thinking of bringing their business to the U.S. on a global stage 🔹 Overcoming language barriers and seeking new opportunity 🔹 What investors are looking for with international founders 🔹 The biggest lessons learned from raising 9 million dollars Ruben is such an inspiration and has so much insight to share. I know you're going to love this episode and get so many amazing takeaways. I can't wait to hear what you think!

In today’s episode of If Not Now Wen, we’re excited to talk with special guest Vincent Hsieh. Vince brings 25 years of relevant entrepreneurial and operating experience in the software and services sectors, including launching and growing two successful software start-ups. Today he is a partner at Cypress Growth Capital where he participates in all facets of Cypress’ investment process and actively supports portfolio companies. Prior to joining Cypress, Vince spent 16 years starting, building and scaling two SaaS companies, Atlas RFID and Geoforce. As CFO and COO of Geoforce, Vince’s responsibilities spanned finance, operations, marketing, human resources and legal. He also led numerous debt and equity raises, international expansions, and acquisitions. He currently serves on the Boards of both Geoforce and Atlas RFID and is a frequent speaker and panelist on the topics of entrepreneurship, growth company operations, and capital strategy. Vince is a CFA charter holder, is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, and holds an MBA from Duke University and BS in Economics from UC Berkeley. Vince is an authentic people leader who is passionate about helping and supporting others. He is such an inspiration and has so much insight to share. I know you're going to love this episode and get so many amazing takeaways. We talk about: 🔹 Why representation in leadership matters 🔹 Pivoting after facing failure 🔹 Keys to successfully raising money at different business stages 🔹 Transitioning from startup to VC world 🔹 Important tips to know before reaching out to investors Curious to hear more from Vince and his inspiring story? Catch today’s episode right here!

My special guest in today’s episode of If Not Now Wen is Kevin Parakkattu. Kevin is a Partner at Plug and Play Ventures, where he leads the firm's Commerce, Media, and Consumer investments. Throughout his 5 years of investing at PNP, Kevin has led seed and early-stage investments in over 30 companies including companies like BigID, MANSCAPED (filed for $1b SPAC), Madison Reed, Naadam, ZigZag Global (acq'd Global Blue) and others. He also sits on the Innovation Advisory Board at the National Retail Federation. Prior to PNP, Kevin was an investment analyst at Centripetal Capital and a cofounder of a pure-play customer apparel business. Kevin is such a sincere and grounded person who leads with kindness and a genuine desire to connect with the people around him. He strives to become a facilitator of opportunity and growth for others. Kevin is such an inspiration, and I know you will love this episode as much as I do. We talk about: 🔹 How the right mentor can change the path of your future 🔹 Huge lessons learned as a VC 🔹 How Plug and Play is becoming a global scaling partner 🔹 Understanding the life cycle of a fund 🔹 Advice for entrepreneurs in today’s climate Curious to hear more from Kevin and his inspiring story? Catch today’s episode right here!