7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. Episode 10 of Season 2 features Liz Ward, VP of ZEBOX America, an international supply chain accelerator focused on connecting large corporations to innovative startups to solve the most pervasive problems impacting global supply chains. Prior, Liz held several leadership positions at tech enabled freight brokerages such as Transfix and Convoy. Before venture, she was an executive and minority owner at Ward Transport & Logistics, a Top 25 LTL carrier in the U.S. and was a founding member of Price-Tran LLC, an asset-based trucking company revolutionizing the way freight is priced. Liz launched her career at Booz Allen – where she consulted with domestic and foreign intelligence and law enforcement agencies to disrupt and dismantle illicit supply chains, most notably the global heroin trade. She graduated with honors from Lehigh University with a B.S. in Supply Chain Management and is an active advisor and investor to startups. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Liz Ward discuss: 1. How the ZEBOX Model Solves Vexing Supply Chain Challenges 2. Supply Chain Innovation Through Corporate Venture Capital 3. Choosing the Right Investment Partners: A Key to Success 4. The Future of Work in Supply Chain Management 5. Venture Debt: A Minimally Dilutive Financing Tool for Startups 6. AI’s Transformative Impact on Global Supply Chains 7. Driving Sustainability and Decarbonization in Supply Chains Guest Information: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eaward/ - Website: https://mercuryfund.com/ Host Information: - LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - Website: ⁠ https://www.ze-box.io/hubs/america Show Information: - Website: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927 ⁠ - Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX - YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show - Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/7in7show/ - TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@7in7show - Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/7in7show - Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/7in7show DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. Episode 9B of Season 2 features Samantha Lewis, a Partner at Mercury Fund. Her specific focus is on Mercury’s Power theme, where she seeks to fund startups utilizing blockchain, data platforms and fintech to rethink the way people access capital and opportunity, build wealth, spend money and organize as communities. Samantha currently serves on the boards of Mercury portfolio companies Apparatus (infrastructure), Arden (infrastructure), Civitech (data platform), Brassica (fintech infrastructure) and Cooklist (data intelligence). Samantha is an active Kauffman Fellow, the world’s premier venture capital fellowship. Prior to joining Mercury, Samantha was the Investment Director at Goose Capital, a Houston-based investment group of serial entrepreneurs and F500 CEOs, where she led deal sourcing, structuring and portfolio management. During her time at Goose, she led investments in Syzygy Plasmonics, Rufus Labs, and Emerge. Samantha is a repeat entrepreneur with a background spanning agribusiness, logistics and supply chain, beauty, and deep tech. Samantha received her MBA from Rice University and a B.A. in Political Science and History from Texas A&M University. Samantha remains deeply committed and involved in the efforts to build diverse, robust innovation ecosystems. Outside of Mercury, Samantha actively mentors founders, teaches a Venture Capital class at Rice University, and supports Ukraine through fundraising and medical supply deliveries. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Samantha Lewis discuss: 1. Venture capital's evolution: From pitch to sustainability. 2. Diversity in venture capital: Identifying untapped markets and founders. 3. Venture debt: Bridging startups to success. 4. AI's role in startups: Beyond hype to utility. 5. The importance of geography in finding venture opportunities. 6. How venture lenders catalyze startup growth and validation. 7. Enhancing investor returns with DPI (Distributions to Paid-In capital) Guest Information: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthajolewis/ - Website: https://mercuryfund.com/ Host Information: - LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - Website: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ Show Information: - Website: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927 ⁠ - Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX - YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show - Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/7in7show/ - TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@7in7show - Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/7in7show - Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/7in7show DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. Episode 9 of Season 2 features Samantha Lewis, a Partner at Mercury Fund. Her specific focus is on Mercury’s Power theme, where she seeks to fund startups utilizing blockchain, data platforms and fintech to rethink the way people access capital and opportunity, build wealth, spend money and organize as communities. Samantha currently serves on the boards of Mercury portfolio companies Apparatus (infrastructure), Arden (infrastructure), Civitech (data platform), Brassica (fintech infrastructure) and Cooklist (data intelligence). Samantha is an active Kauffman Fellow, the world’s premier venture capital fellowship. Prior to joining Mercury, Samantha was the Investment Director at Goose Capital, a Houston-based investment group of serial entrepreneurs and F500 CEOs, where she led deal sourcing, structuring and portfolio management. During her time at Goose, she led investments in Syzygy Plasmonics, Rufus Labs, and Emerge. Samantha is a repeat entrepreneur with a background spanning agribusiness, logistics and supply chain, beauty, and deep tech. Samantha received her MBA from Rice University and a B.A. in Political Science and History from Texas A&M University. Samantha remains deeply committed and involved in the efforts to build diverse, robust innovation ecosystems. Outside of Mercury, Samantha actively mentors founders, teaches a Venture Capital class at Rice University, and supports Ukraine through fundraising and medical supply deliveries. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Samantha Lewis discuss: 1. Venture capital's evolution: From pitch to sustainability. 2. Diversity in venture capital: Identifying untapped markets and founders. 3. Venture debt: Bridging startups to success. 4. AI's role in startups: Beyond hype to utility. 5. The importance of geography in finding venture opportunities. 6. How venture lenders catalyze startup growth and validation. 7. Enhancing investor returns with DPI (Distributions to Paid-In capital) Guest Information: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthajolewis/ - Website: https://mercuryfund.com/ Host Information: - LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - Website: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ Show Information: - Website: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927 ⁠ - Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX - YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show - Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/7in7show/ - TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@7in7show - Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/7in7show - Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/7in7show DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. Episode 8 of Season 2 features Dan Espinal, the Co-Founder and CEO of Rarebreed Veterinary Partners, a thriving community of veterinary hospitals whose goal is to deliver exceptional patient care, outstanding client service, and an amazing employee experience. Rarebreed Veterinary Partners was founded in 2018 to reimagine the veterinary experience. With over 120 locations across the Northeast, Florida, and Virginia, Rarebreed is committed to universal training to sustain wellness, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. Before co-founding Rarebreed, Dan headed IDEXX Laboratories’ in-house chemistry business and Corporate Development and Strategy team. There, he led and executed global acquisitions, managed the annual strategic planning process and structured complex partnerships to serve as the technology for new companion animal diagnostic pillars. During his career, Dan also worked as a venture capital investor at Allied Minds plc, focusing on internet and communication technologies. And he was a management strategy consultant at JSA Partners (formerly AT Kearney), a mergers and acquisitions and strategy consultancy in Boston. Dan is a combat veteran and Airborne Ranger-qualified infantry officer with service time as a combat advisor embedded with the Afghan National Civil Order Police. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan School of Business) and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Relations from Tufts University. An active triathlete, he resides in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, with his wife, three children, and his dog, Boomer. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Dan Espinal discuss: 1. Why startup founders make better VCs. 2. Learning from entrepreneurial mistakes. 3. Decision-making under pressure. 4. The influence of sports and military service on leadership. 5. How venture debt helps startups through increased accountability. 6. Developing a resilient mindset to succeed as a founder. 7. AI's Impact on the Future of Work. LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ DISCLAIMER: - https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. Episode 8 of Season 2 features Dan Espinal, the Co-Founder and CEO of Rarebreed Veterinary Partners, a thriving community of veterinary hospitals whose goal is to deliver exceptional patient care, outstanding client service, and an amazing employee experience. Rarebreed Veterinary Partners was founded in 2018 to reimagine the veterinary experience. With over 120 locations across the Northeast, Florida, and Virginia, Rarebreed is committed to universal training to sustain wellness, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. Before co-founding Rarebreed, Dan headed IDEXX Laboratories’ in-house chemistry business and Corporate Development and Strategy team. There, he led and executed global acquisitions, managed the annual strategic planning process and structured complex partnerships to serve as the technology for new companion animal diagnostic pillars. During his career, Dan also worked as a venture capital investor at Allied Minds plc, focusing on internet and communication technologies. And he was a management strategy consultant at JSA Partners (formerly AT Kearney), a mergers and acquisitions and strategy consultancy in Boston. Dan is a combat veteran and Airborne Ranger-qualified infantry officer with service time as a combat advisor embedded with the Afghan National Civil Order Police. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan School of Business) and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Relations from Tufts University. An active triathlete, he resides in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, with his wife, three children, and his dog, Boomer. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Dan Espinal discuss: 1. Why startup founders make better VCs. 2. Learning from entrepreneurial mistakes. 3. Decision-making under pressure. 4. The influence of sports and military service on leadership. 5. How venture debt helps startups through increased accountability. 6. Developing a resilient mindset to succeed as a founder. 7. AI's Impact on the Future of Work. LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ DISCLAIMER: - https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. The show this week features the second half of a great interview with Dan Zwirn, a legendary hedge fund manager and one of the best credit investors in the world. Part one (Season 2, Episode 7A) can be found here: https://youtu.be/bV2rACVtvK8 Dan co-founded Arena Investors in 2015 to bring creative solutions to those seeking capital in special situations. With a mandate unconstrained by industry, product or geography, Arena currently manages approximately $3.5 billion as a global investment firm focusing on special situations asset and credit investments in corporates, real estate, structured finance, and corporate securities. And Dan and his team have become well known for their ability to develop pragmatic, very precisely-structured investment opportunities in complex situations where others can’t or won’t. Before founding Arena, between 2009 and 2015, Dan founded and/or led several specialty finance enterprises including Applied Data Finance (a consumer finance company), North Mill Capital (an asset-based lender), North Mill Equipment (an equipment lessor), and Lantern Endowment Partners (an investment fund). In 2001, while a managing director and founder of the Special Opportunities Group at Highbridge Capital Management, Dan, along with Highbridge, co-founded D.B. Zwirn & Co., a global special situations firm. Dan served as managing partner of D.B. Zwirn & Co., which grew into a $6 billion enterprise. He had previously founded the Special Opportunities Group of MSD Capital, the private investment firm of Michael Dell. Dan is a senior trustee of the Brookings Institution, a member of the Executive Board of the University of Pennsylvania Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, and a member of the Board of Overseers for the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. He previously served on the Leadership Council of the Robin Hood Foundation, the Board of Trustees of Barnard College of Columbia University, and the Board of Trustees of the New York Public Theater. Dan holds a BS in economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, a bachelor of applied science (BAS) in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania Moore School of Electrical Engineering, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Dan Zwirn discuss: 1. The evolving venture debt market and its potential for investors. 2. The importance of being selective and disciplined in venture lending. 3. How market cycles affect venture debt opportunities. 4. Growth credit as a blend of venture lending, distressed debt, and direct lending. 5. The changing dynamics of venture capital and its impact on venture lending. 6. Strategies for de-risking venture debt transactions with a focus on cash flow. 7. Recommendations for investors to consider over the next phase of the economic cycle. Guest Information: - Bio: https://www.arenaco.com/team/daniel-zwirn/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-zwirn/ - Website: https://www.arenaco.com/ Host Information: - LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - Website: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ Show Information: - Website: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927 ⁠ - Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX - YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Download “The 10 Best Things To Know About Venture Debt” from https://7in7show.com/ Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. The show this week features the first half of my interview with Dan Zwirn, a legendary hedge fund manager and one of the best credit investors in the world. Dan co-founded Arena Investors in 2015 to bring creative solutions to those seeking capital in special situations. With a mandate unconstrained by industry, product or geography, Arena currently manages approximately $3.5 billion as a global investment firm focusing on special situations asset and credit investments in corporates, real estate, structured finance, and corporate securities. And Dan and his team have become well known for their ability to develop pragmatic, very precisely-structured investment opportunities in complex situations where others can’t or won’t. Before founding Arena, between 2009 and 2015, Dan founded and/or led several specialty finance enterprises including Applied Data Finance (a consumer finance company), North Mill Capital (an asset-based lender), North Mill Equipment (an equipment lessor), and Lantern Endowment Partners (an investment fund). In 2001, while a managing director and founder of the Special Opportunities Group at Highbridge Capital Management, Dan, along with Highbridge, co-founded D.B. Zwirn & Co., a global special situations firm. Dan served as managing partner of D.B. Zwirn & Co., which grew into a $6 billion enterprise. He had previously founded the Special Opportunities Group of MSD Capital, the private investment firm of Michael Dell. Dan is a senior trustee of the Brookings Institution, a member of the Executive Board of the University of Pennsylvania Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, and a member of the Board of Overseers for the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. He previously served on the Leadership Council of the Robin Hood Foundation, the Board of Trustees of Barnard College of Columbia University, and the Board of Trustees of the New York Public Theater. Dan holds a BS in economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, a bachelor of applied science (BAS) in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania Moore School of Electrical Engineering, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Dan Zwirn discuss: 1. The evolving venture debt market and its potential for investors. 2. The importance of being selective and disciplined in venture lending. 3. How market cycles affect venture debt opportunities. 4. Growth credit as a blend of venture lending, distressed debt, and direct lending. 5. The changing dynamics of venture capital and its impact on venture lending. 6. Strategies for de-risking venture debt transactions with a focus on cash flow. 7. Recommendations for investors to consider over the next phase of the economic cycle. Guest Information: - Bio: https://www.arenaco.com/team/daniel-zwirn/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-zwirn/ - Website: https://www.arenaco.com/ Host Information: - LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - Website: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ Show Information: - Website: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927 ⁠ - Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX - YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show - Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/7in7show/ - TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@7in7show - Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/7in7show - Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/7in7show DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. The show this week features part B of the interview with Dr. Eddie Sanchez, who has over 25 years of experience as a hedge fund portfolio manager and securities analyst. He managed long/short Technology and Telecommunications portfolios at Citigroup Investments, First New York Securities, The Galleon Group, Credit Suisse, and the Blackthorn Group. Dr. Sanchez is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor of Instruction and the Director of the Bloomberg Lab at the University of South Florida, Mumma College of Business. Dr. Sanchez’s research interests are in Municipal Bonds, Hedge Funds, Mutual Funds, Capital Markets, and Financial Institutions. He has taught Executive and On-line MBA courses in financial statement analysis and corporate financial planning, as well as undergraduate courses in principles of investments, advanced investment analysis and management, and financial markets and institutions. He received a Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Florida. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Dr. Eddie Sanchez discuss: 1. Evaluating Tech Innovations 2. Tech Company Valuations 3. AI's Financial Impact 4. Tech Stock Analysis 5. Venture Debt Insights 6. Equity vs. Debt Financing 7. Future Cash Flow Importance LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. The show this week features Dr. Eddie Sanchez, who has over 25 years of experience as a hedge fund portfolio manager and securities analyst. He managed long/short Technology and Telecommunications portfolios at Citigroup Investments, First New York Securities, The Galleon Group, Credit Suisse, and the Blackthorn Group. Dr. Sanchez is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor of Instruction and the Director of the Bloomberg Lab at the University of South Florida, Mumma College of Business. Dr. Sanchez’s research interests are in Municipal Bonds, Hedge Funds, Mutual Funds, Capital Markets, and Financial Institutions. He has taught Executive and On-line MBA courses in financial statement analysis and corporate financial planning, as well as undergraduate courses in principles of investments, advanced investment analysis and management, and financial markets and institutions. He received a Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Florida. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Dr. Eddie Sanchez discuss: 1. Evaluating Tech Innovations 2. Tech Company Valuations 3. AI's Financial Impact 4. Tech Stock Analysis 5. Venture Debt Insights 6. Equity vs. Debt Financing 7. Future Cash Flow Importance LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ - DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. The show this week features part two of the conversation with Sherman Williams, the co-founder and Managing Partner of AIN Ventures. Sherman has an extensive history investing in dual-use technology subsegments, such as space technology and healthcare technology. Sherman has been the VC-in-Residence to several Techstars programs and is also a Kauffman Fellow ('26). Prior to becoming an early stage investor, Sherman gathered six years of financial transaction experience as a Healthcare Technology M&A Investment Banker. Sherman started his career as a Naval Intelligence Officer and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy. In this episode, we discuss: 1. Big Investment Opportunities in Dual-Use Technologies 2. Reasons that Military Veterans Make Great Founders 3. In-the-Box Experience for Out-of-the-Box Thinking 4. Venture Debt as a Founder-Friendly Complement to Equity Financing 5. The Importance of Founder Leadership, Resourcefulness, and Grit 6. Why Adaptability is Imperative for Success 7. The Significance of Technical Expertise in Founding Teams LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ - DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. The show this week features Sherman Williams, the co-founder and Managing Partner of AIN Ventures. Sherman has an extensive history investing in dual-use technology subsegments, such as space technology and healthcare technology. Sherman has been the VC-in-Residence to several Techstars programs and is also a Kauffman Fellow ('26). Prior to becoming an early stage investor, Sherman gathered six years of financial transaction experience as a Healthcare Technology M&A Investment Banker. Sherman started his career as a Naval Intelligence Officer and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Sherman Williams discuss: 1. Big Investment Opportunities in Dual-Use Technologies 2. Reasons that Military Veterans Make Great Founders 3. In-the-Box Experience for Out-of-the-Box Thinking 4. Venture Debt as a Founder-Friendly Complement to Equity Financing 5. The Importance of Founder Leadership, Resourcefulness, and Grit 6. Why Adaptability is Imperative for Success 7. The Significance of Technical Expertise in Founding Teams LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ - DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. The guest this week is Digvijay "Sunny" Singh, an entrepreneur, investor, academic and technologist. After serving in the New York Police Department, Sunny earned two Master's degrees and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UCLA. He then founded, operated and successfully exited two startups and later became a very active startup and real-estate investor. Sunny was past president of Tech Coast Angels, the largest angel investing network in the United States that has been running for nearly 25 years. He is currently Managing Partner at Alleyway Capital, which acquires e-commerce software startups. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Sunny Singh discuss: 1. Evolving with the Times: Navigating the Changing VC Landscape 2. Beyond Tech Hubs: The Power of Geographical Diversity 3. Uncovering VC Gaps: Underserved Sectors and Founders 4. Down Rounds Dissected: Signals to Investors 5. Strategic Venture Debt: A Shield Against Down Rounds 6. Protracted Funding Challenges: Surviving the Startup Journey 7. Investor's Toolkit: The Art of Diversified Innovation Investing LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ - DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Welcome to another episode of The 7 in 7 Show with Zack Ellison, which features full length interviews with the world’s leading investors in innovation. The guest this week is Digvijay "Sunny" Singh, an entrepreneur, investor, academic and technologist. After serving in the New York Police Department, Sunny earned two Master's degrees and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UCLA. He then founded, operated and successfully exited two startups and later became a very active startup and real-estate investor. Sunny was past president of Tech Coast Angels, the largest angel investing network in the United States that has been running for nearly 25 years. He is currently Managing Partner at Alleyway Capital, which acquires e-commerce software startups. In this episode, Zack Ellison and Sunny Singh discuss: 1. Evolving with the Times: Navigating the Changing VC Landscape 2. Beyond Tech Hubs: The Power of Geographical Diversity 3. Uncovering VC Gaps: Underserved Sectors and Founders 4. Down Rounds Dissected: Signals to Investors 5. Strategic Venture Debt: A Shield Against Down Rounds 6. Protracted Funding Challenges: Surviving the Startup Journey 7. Investor's Toolkit: The Art of Diversified Innovation Investing LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ - DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Adrian Mendoza is the founder and general partner at Mendoza Ventures which is both Latinx and woman-owned and the first Latinx-founded VC fund on the east coast. His firm focuses on investments in Fintech, AI, and Cybersecurity, with diversity playing an important role in their investment decisions—about 80% of their portfolio consists of startups led by immigrants, people of color, and women. Since its founding seven years ago, Mendoza Ventures has raised two funds and had two successful exits. The firm is currently raising its third fund, a $100M fintech fund anchored by Bank of America, focused on early growth funding rounds. In 2022, Axios Magazine listed Adrian as one of the five most influential people in Boston and the LA Times honored Adrian as a DEI visionary as one of California’s most prominent game-changers and thought leaders in the business world today. Adrian is also a regular contributor on CNBC on the state of Venture capital in the US and the firm has recently been covered in Forbes, Bloomberg, and The Boston Globe. In this episode Zack Ellison and Adrian discuss: 1. Weaknesses of the Power Law Method in VC 2. Venture Debt and Equity Synergies 3. Benefits of Venture Debt 4. The Second AI Hype Cycle 5. Cybersecurity and FinTech Opportunities 6. Show me the Money! Why Revenue Matters Most 7. Ideal Scenarios for Utilizing Venture Debt LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ - DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Adrian Mendoza is the founder and general partner at Mendoza Ventures which is both Latinx and woman-owned and the first Latinx-founded VC fund on the east coast. His firm focuses on investments in Fintech, AI, and Cybersecurity, with diversity playing an important role in their investment decisions—about 80% of their portfolio consists of startups led by immigrants, people of color, and women. Since its founding seven years ago, Mendoza Ventures has raised two funds and had two successful exits. The firm is currently raising its third fund, a $100M fintech fund anchored by Bank of America, focused on early growth funding rounds. In 2022, Axios Magazine listed Adrian as one of the five most influential people in Boston and the LA Times honored Adrian as a DEI visionary as one of California’s most prominent game-changers and thought leaders in the business world today. Adrian is also a regular contributor on CNBC on the state of Venture capital in the US and the firm has recently been covered in Forbes, Bloomberg, and The Boston Globe. In this episode Zack Ellison and Adrian discuss: 1. Weaknesses of the Power Law Method in VC 2. Venture Debt and Equity Synergies 3. Benefits of Venture Debt 4. The Second AI Hype Cycle 5. Cybersecurity and FinTech Opportunities 6. Show me the Money! Why Revenue Matters Most 7. Ideal Scenarios for Utilizing Venture Debt LEARN MORE: - Zack Ellison: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ - The 7 in 7 Show: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ - A.R.I. Venture Debt: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ - DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Download “The 10 Best Things To Know About Venture Debt” from ⁠https://7in7show.com/⁠ Mike Ryan (⁠https://www.bulletpoint.network/⁠), CEO of Bullet Point Network, shares his wealth of experience in finance and reveals key investment strategies for the current market environment. Dive into trends, risk management, and timeless investment principles that can make a difference in your portfolio. In this episode Zack Ellison and Mike Ryan discuss: 1. From Hype to Hustle: Startups Adapt to Pragmatic Capital Raising 2. Post-Bubble Capital Raising: Crafting a Credible Business Plan 3. The AI Gold Rush: Separating Hype from Prudent Investment 4. Unlocking the Power of AI: Strategies to Avoid Deception 5. Capitalizing on Scarcity for Downside Protection and Upside Returns 6. The Venture Debt Landscape: Opportunities and Risks for Investors 7. Betting on Growth: Unveiling the Formula for Investment Success LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-ryan-9415598/⁠ Company LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/bulletpointnetwork/ ⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.bulletpoint.network/bpn-homepage⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/mikeryanbpn⁠ To see short videos of all our best investing tips check out our: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/7in7show/⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@7in7show⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show ⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/7in7show⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/7in7show⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/⁠ iTunes: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927⁠ ⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://7in7show.com/⁠ Work with A.R.I.: ⁠⁠https://www.arivc.com/⁠ DISCLAIMER: ⁠https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Download “The 10 Best Things To Know About Venture Debt” from https://7in7show.com/ Mike Ryan (https://www.bulletpoint.network/), CEO of Bullet Point Network, shares his wealth of experience in finance and reveals key investment strategies for the current market environment. Dive into trends, risk management, and timeless investment principles that can make a difference in your portfolio. In this episode Zack Ellison and Mike Ryan discuss: 1. From Hype to Hustle: Startups Adapt to Pragmatic Capital Raising 2. Post-Bubble Capital Raising: Crafting a Credible Business Plan 3. The AI Gold Rush: Separating Hype from Prudent Investment 4. Unlocking the Power of AI: Strategies to Avoid Deception 5. Capitalizing on Scarcity for Downside Protection and Upside Returns 6. The Venture Debt Landscape: Opportunities and Risks for Investors 7. Betting on Growth: Unveiling the Formula for Investment Success LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-ryan-9415598/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bulletpointnetwork/ Website: https://www.bulletpoint.network/bpn-homepage Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeryanbpn To see short videos of all our best investing tips check out our: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/7in7show/ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@7in7show YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/7in7show Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/7in7show LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ iTunes: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927 ⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX Website: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ Work with A.R.I.: ⁠https://www.arivc.com/ DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Download “The 10 Best Things To Know About Venture Debt” from https://7in7show.com/ Kelly Perdew (https://www.moonshotscapital.com/) is the Co-Founder and Managing General Partner of Moonshots Capital. Kelly shares his journey from high school in Wyoming to West Point, his military service, and his transition into entrepreneurship and venture capital. He highlights Moonshots Capital's focus on investing in extraordinary leadership and how military veterans often bring valuable qualities to the business world. In this episode, Zack and Kelly discuss: 1. Mastering Media: Lessons from Working with Donald Trump on The Apprentice 2. Smart Funding: Extending Startup Runway to Ensure Survival 3. Startup Survival: Outrunning the Bear and Navigating the Valley of Death 4. Unlocking Growth Potential: How Venture Debt Fuels Startup Success 5. A Decade of Dedication: How Reputation Powers Investment Success 6. From Battlefield to Boardroom: The Unique Strengths Veterans Bring to Startups 7. How Military Bonds Shape Game-Changing Venture Investments Website: https://www.moonshotscapital.com/ Website: http://www.kellyperdew.com/ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyperdew/⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/kperdew⁠ To see short videos of all our best investing tips check out our: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/7in7show/  TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@7in7show YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/7in7show Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/7in7show  LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ iTunes: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927 ⁠  Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX Website: ⁠https://7in7show.com/  Work with A.R.I.: ⁠https://www.applied-real-intelligence.com/  DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Download “The 10 Best Things To Know About Venture Debt” from https://7in7show.com/ Kelly Perdew (https://www.moonshotscapital.com/) is the Co-Founder and Managing General Partner of Moonshots Capital. Kelly shares his journey from high school in Wyoming to West Point, his military service, and his transition into entrepreneurship and venture capital. He highlights Moonshots Capital's focus on investing in extraordinary leadership and how military veterans often bring valuable qualities to the business world. In this episode, Zack and Kelly discuss: 1. Mastering Media: Lessons from Working with Donald Trump on The Apprentice 2. Smart Funding: Extending Startup Runway to Ensure Survival 3. Startup Survival: Outrunning the Bear and Navigating the Valley of Death 4. Unlocking Growth Potential: How Venture Debt Fuels Startup Success 5. A Decade of Dedication: How Reputation Powers Investment Success 6. From Battlefield to Boardroom: The Unique Strengths Veterans Bring to Startups 7. How Military Bonds Shape Game-Changing Venture Investments Website: https://www.moonshotscapital.com/ Website: http://www.kellyperdew.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyperdew/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kperdew To see short videos of all our best investing tips check out our: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/7in7show/  TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@7in7show YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/7in7show Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/7in7show  LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ iTunes: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927 ⁠  Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX Website: ⁠https://7in7show.com/  Work with A.R.I.: ⁠https://www.applied-real-intelligence.com/  DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/

Download “The 10 Best Things To Know About Venture Debt” from https://7in7show.com/ Richard Hillson (https://www.hillsonconsulting.com), is the Founder of Hillson Consulting, an investment consultancy that helps leading independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and family offices improve their product offerings and portfolio construction, predominantly through alternative investments that help to generate optimal portfolio diversification and higher risk-adjusted returns. In this episode, Zack and Richard discuss: 1. The Alts Revolution - New Investment Opportunities for RIAs 2. Alternative Investing: Diversification Within Diversification Within Diversification 3. Invest Like a Pro: Diversification's Role in Risk Management LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-hillson-46390a8/ Website: https://www.hillsonconsulting.com/ Website: https://www.thirdsevencapital.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/richardlhillson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.hillson To see short videos of all our best investing tips check out our: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/7in7show/ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@7in7show YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@7in7show Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/7in7show Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/7in7show LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackellison/ iTunes: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-in-7-show-with-zack-ellison/id1681652927 ⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0f2NGukm1OcZYCgVbiwlZX Website: ⁠https://7in7show.com/ Work with A.R.I.: ⁠https://www.applied-real-intelligence.com/ DISCLAIMER: https://7in7show.com/disclaimer/