Guests

Bryan Dennstedt

AI Business Consultant

AIWithBry

3 episodes

Today in the Sky Lounge, Bryan Dennstedt joins Todd Merrill as they bring their unique perspectives from years in business, technology, and investing for a deep dive into the trends that will shape 2025. From venture capital’s cautious return to the AI-driven reshaping of industries, this episode is a candid discussion about what’s next for tech, work, and investing. Everything from whether AI is going to hit speed bumps or keep climbing, blockchain’s role in authenticity in AI and the future of collaboration tools is on the table! Bryan Dennstedt is an accomplished Fractional CTO or Fractional CIO with TechCXO in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he has focused his efforts as a hands-on Fractional CTO and Interim CIO with numerous clients. He is an expert in mobile application development, healthcare integrations, and all aspects of telemedicine and has worked on over 40 engagements in a fractional capacity for the firm. His experience includes managing all information technology operations, from fractional CTO product development to Interim CIO large-scale technology migrations. Bryan works to ensure that his clients’ high-level Information Technology roadmaps are well-defined and then digs into the details to ensure that established metrics, accountability, and results are being delivered by the team he leads. Once a client is up and running with his methodologies, the Fractional CIO capacity can be leveraged in an ongoing model, and it can be ramped up to Part-Time CIO as needed throughout a project. Contact:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phingers/Website: https://www.techcxo.com/partners/bryan-dennstedt/

Mike Blake

Former USAID Privatization Program Manager

High Score Strategies

2 episodes

Joining us in the Sky Lounge this week is the fascinating Mike Blake, founder of High Score Strategies. Dive into the world of business valuation and strategy consulting, and learn how Mike navigates multimillion-dollar valuation opportunities with the finesse of a recovering venture capitalist. Get a little bit nerdy as these two tech aficionados explore what it takes to make it big in the business world, how you can use gift cards to pay employees (note: you can’t!) and why the Russian mafia played a big part in Mike’s career trajectory. Don't miss this high-flying and globe-spanning episode! Mike Blake is a Founder of High Score Strategies, a business valuation and strategic advisory firm with offices near Atlanta, Georgia, and Lisbon, Portugal. Mike helps his clients achieve winning outcomes in their business valuation-related opportunities (such as buying or selling a company) and challenges (such as tax compliance or financial reporting.) With 25 years of experience in valuation advisory, venture capital, and investment banking, Mike mixes market experience and data analytics to make his clients exceptional decision-makers for their most consequential and irreversible business decisions.

Mike Martin

Fractional CMO

Tech CXO

2 episodes

Today in the Sky Lounge we are joined by Mike Martin, fractional CMO at TechCXO and creative veteran behind some of advertising's most impactful campaigns. Mike shares the inside story of creating the legendary Truth anti-smoking campaign, producing million-dollar Super Bowl spots that ran only once, and why he believes vanilla content is the biggest risk brands can take. From dealing with maniacal bosses who threw storyboards down hallways to accidentally creating viral moments with ice cream trucks at elementary schools, Mike's career spans the evolution from traditional advertising to AI-powered creativity. Plus, hear his travel adventures including swimming with 400-pound pigs in the Bahamas and getting rewarded for government success by having his program cancelled. Mike Martin, a fractional CMO at TechCXO, discussed his diverse marketing career. Starting in an ad agency traffic department, he gained foundational experience. His impactful work includes the Truth anti-smoking campaign, which exposed tobacco industry manipulation to teenagers through guerrilla marketing. He also recounted challenging experiences with abusive bosses, which ultimately led him to start his own agency. He contrasted the high-stakes Super Bowl ad world with today's content marketing landscape, highlighting the democratization of tools through AI and the importance of provocative, engaging content amidst an explosion of vanilla content.

Virginie Glaenzer

Fractional CMO

Tech CXO

2 episodes

Guest visits the Sky Lounge to talk about how an unceremonious ouster from the thriving startup he founded led him on a transformative journey to living a life of intention and purpose. He discusses founding BusinessOutside as a result, a venture that leverages nature to cultivate deeper connections and personal growth among leaders and teams, and the techniques he uses to get out of the mundane and into the “real” talk that makes real connections. Originally from France and as a Fractional CMO & CRO in Technology, SaaS, Energy, Telecom, Professional services with a knack for AI, Virginie simplify complexity. She is a go-to-market executive with 30 years expertise in brand Strategy & demand generation strategies. CONTACT:Social: Linkedin | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeContact: Virginie.glaenzer@techcxo.com

Adam Lehde

Co-founder

Happen Technologies

1 episode

In this episode of Tales from the Sky Lounge, Todd Merrill speaks with Adam Lehde, co-founder of Happen Technologies, about his journey in building a hybrid software development team that leverages talent from Ukraine. They discuss the cultural differences encountered while working with Ukrainian developers, the impact of remote work dynamics post-COVID, and the potential for a thriving startup culture in Ukraine as the country looks towards recovery from conflict. In this conversation, Adam Lehde shares his journey through mobile development, the challenges of cross-platform technology, and the importance of user engagement in apps. He discusses the balance between family and career, his transition to entrepreneurship, and how fitness plays a crucial role in managing stress. Adam also reflects on his travel experiences and the cultural insights gained along the way, emphasizing the value of community and personal growth. Prior to founding Happen Technologies, Adam spent his career building mobile apps and managing software projects for national brands, including Mazda, Hyundai, Anheuser-Busch, National Car Rental, and more. He has a passion (maybe an obsession) for improving everything he encounters. Whether this is guiding a product team to a bigger, better vision or smoking 6 racks of baby-back ribs, he looks for EVERY opportunity to make it better.

Alan Gold

Marketing and Sales Consultant

TechCXO

1 episode

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Alan Gold, a marketing and sales strategist with decades of experience in M&A, startups, and growth strategy. Alan has been on both sides of the table—helping companies scale, navigating acquisitions, and leading turnarounds. From being part of the launch team for Wi-Fi technology to working on speech recognition and AI-powered business tools, he’s seen how markets evolve and what it really takes to stay ahead. Plus, Alan shares hilarious and wild travel stories, including a baboon with an attitude and getting detained in Colombia. If you’re in startups, consulting, M&A, or just trying to grow a business, this one’s for you.

Alex Gafford

Corporate Finance Executive

Technology Debt Lending Division

1 episode

Today in the Sky Lounge, we are joined by Alex Gafford from BlueStreet Capital, who's living proof that the traditional 40-hour work week is completely broken. Alex's company discovered something remarkable nine years ago – an asset that increased their KPIs by 24%, boosted revenue by 30%, and dramatically improved retention without costing them a penny. That asset? Time itself. Through their revolutionary five-hour workday experiment, they've unlocked the secret that knowledge workers can only maintain peak mental performance for about five hours max, and everything after that is just diminishing returns dressed up as “dedication.” Alex breaks down the neuroscience of ultradian rhythms, reveals why multitasking wastes 28% of your day, and explains how his team finances everything from AI infrastructure buildouts to data center expansions while working just 25 hours a week. Plus, he shares wild stories about financing raw GPUs for AI companies and why the future of work isn't about grinding harder – it's about being strategically smarter with your energy. I work in corporate finance, specifically for a small CA based firm that specializes in technology equipment leasing and financing. Blue Street has worked with TechCXO as an eco partner for close to 20 years. I was personally introduced by our CEO/Founder to TechCXO in 2013! I currently live in Oxford MS (remote worker). I visit our HQ in Huntington Beach CA 4x year. I lived in CA 10 years (moved there after graduating OleMiss in 2007). So if you don't take control of your time, if you don't prioritize, someone else will prioritize for you. Right?

Antonio Pagano

CTO and Co-founder

Symbol Security; Co-founder at Wanco

1 episode

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Antonio Pagano, founder of Wawandco and co-founder of Symbol Security. Todd and Antonoio discuss the importance of cybersecurity, focusing on the human element and compliance, the evolution of phishing attacks, and the role of AI in crafting sophisticated scams. Antonio shares insights on real-world cybersecurity incidents, the trends in cyber insurance, and the dynamics of running a business with a remote co-founder. Antonio Pagano shares his journey as a founder, discussing the challenges, successes, and the constantly evolving landscape of entrepreneurship. While Antonio is always challenging himself to learn and develop new skills and understanding, he also highlights the importance of balancing ambition with personal well-being, and that a grounded approach fuels both creativity and success. Antonio Pagano is a visionary entrepreneur from Barranquilla, Colombia, dedicated to making technology accessible and impactful. In 2013, he founded Wawandco, a software development company that builds efficient, high-quality solutions for US and European clients. With expertise in web applications, mobile solutions, APIs, and user experience, Wawandco has become a trusted business partner worldwide. Antonio’s drive to address modern challenges led him to co-found Symbol Security, a SaaS company enhancing cybersecurity awareness. By tackling the human element of cyber risk, Symbol Security empowers organizations to safeguard their assets effectively.Beyond these ventures, Antonio’s innovative spirit has birthed tools like Releaso, which uses AI to simplify product communication, and Retabler, which is designed to streamline data workflows for startups.While excelling professionally, Antonio remains a devoted family man who enjoys sports, outdoor activities, and spending time with loved ones. His story is a testament to how vision and determination can shape the future of technology and inspire meaningful change. Sometimes the constraints create the opportunity to find ways to do things and not having a lot of cash makes you think about how do you efficiently do things. So, yeah. I keep saying this and I keep talking about this with my wife. Like, sometimes what you don't get, gets you something. It may sound contradictory, but you get something from that.

Bart Foster

Founder

Business Outside and SoloHealth

1 episode

Bart Foster visits the Sky Lounge to talk about how an unceremonious ouster from the thriving startup he founded led him on a transformative journey to living a life of intention and purpose. He discusses founding BusinessOutside as a result, a venture that leverages nature to cultivate deeper connections and personal growth among leaders and teams, and the techniques he uses to get out of the mundane and into the “real” talk that makes real connections. Bart Foster is the founder and CEO of BusinessOutside®, a facilitation and training company focused on engaging, inspiring, and empowering individuals and teams to get Outside in nature, Outside their comfort zones, and Outside of outdated norms. Bart is an entrepreneur and seasoned global executive who began his career at Kellogg’s and Novartis. After climbing the corporate ladder and building a successful healthcare startup, Bart found his true calling as an advisor, speaker, and coach to executives throughout the world. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and two kids. Most mornings, he can be found hiking the peaks above town, usually with someone in tow, discussing business, outside. …it's not that we want to network. What we want to do is we want to build connection. We want relationships. So, if you really want to do that right, you ask better questions.

Bob Brogan

Managing Partner

Tech CXO Great Lakes Region

1 episode

Bob Brogan joins us in the Sky Lounge to share his journey as Managing Partner at TechCXO for the Great Lakes Region. He pulls back the curtain on four decades in operations, IT, consulting, and strategy—including the story behind an incredible $100 million exit. From his family's surprising connection to the Chicago Bears to what really makes a business investable, this conversation delivers wisdom that's been battle-tested through multiple economic cycles.TakeawaysBob Brogan has over 40 years of experience in operations and IT consulting.He emphasizes the importance of understanding business cycles and technology.Founders need to have a strong team and modular design in their businesses.Angel investing requires assessing the passion and execution ability of founders.Community engagement and mentorship are crucial for fostering new talent.Bob has raised over $2.5 million for scholarships through the Legacy Guild.He believes in the importance of unit economics for startups.Bob's career has been shaped by great mentors and experiences.He advocates for paying it forward in the community.Bob shares travel stories that highlight the lessons learned throughout his career. Value Creation Expert-My outcomes and deliverables-Led numerous Buy/Sell-side Transactions totaling > $250M-Enabled Revenue, GM & EBITDA Growth synchronously as CFO.-Delivered multi-million $ CF improvements for companies-Automated key functions to reduce cycle times & drive GM performance My style and attributes-Collaborative & Mentor-Versatile-Passionate-Player/Coach -Team Builder-Simplifying the Complex-Integrity MattersMy background-35 years in business – variety of C-Level leadership roles-Operational & Financial Leader with $5.0M-$100M in Revenue -Strategic Advisor for Private, VC & PE portfolio companies-Track record of delivering EBITDA & CF Improvement-Enable Strategic Metrics for all levels of the Organization -Deep expertise in Enterprise SaaS, Recurring Rev. Services & Supply Chain-Transaction Readiness & Exit SupportMy top 5 areas of expertise-Strategy Definition & Execution (Enterprise Alignment)-Financial Performance Improvement (KPI, Metrics, etc.)-Executive & Board Reporting (Visibility, Forecast, Actuals)-Transaction Readiness & Execution-Finance & Accounting Standardization

Brantley Fry

Partner

Tech CXO, Human Capital Management Practice

1 episode

Today in the Sky Lounge we are joined by Brantley Fry, Partner at TechCXO specializing in human capital management. Brantley shares her remarkable journey from environmental lawyer working on the largest spills in US history to political service as state director for a US Senator, and eventually to the startup world where she helped navigate a successful acquisition by Quest Diagnostics. Her philosophy of being a “connector” between people and policy has guided every career move, and she reveals the inside story of managing culture and communication during M&A. Plus, hear about her transformative 500-mile walk across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. Brantley Fry is a Fractional Executive and Strategic Advisor specializing in human capital strategy for startups and mid-market companies. A force multiplier, she drives competitive advantage through innovative people operations, culture transformation, and strategic policy alignment. A trusted advisor who blends legal expertise with broad business acumen, Brantley has a proven track record of building high-performance cultures, fostering impactful partnerships, and driving organizational change and policy. Her leadership spans public and private sectors, aligning people, ideas, and policies to achieve mission-driven outcomes. She’s led transformation initiatives across fast-scaling startups and complex organizations, advising executive teams on workforce strategy, organizational design, and change management to ensure HR functions operate as strategic enablers.

Chris Caparon

Co-founder and former CEO

Sephoria Software

1 episode

Today we’re joined by Chris Caparon, a seasoned entrepreneur and tech veteran. Chris shares his journey from Michigan to sunny California, where he co-founded CForia Software and navigated the turbulent waters of tech business, venture capital and 20 years of highs and lows through every kind of crisis (un)imaginable. Now that he’s exited out the other side, he shares some perspective and excellent lessons learned. Chris founded Cforia Software with his partner Dave McIntyre to build a software company that created a collaborative work environment for their employees and added value to our customers every single day. Cforia was a Fintech pioneer in accounts receivable automation software. After Cforia's 20+ year journey culminated this year with our sale to Highradius, they exited the business. Chris is currently retired but interested in “using my experience to help other entrepreneurs succeed with their companies and projects.” During his tenure at Cforia, the company acquired over 250 companies world-wide who operated in over 110 countries. The platform managed over 450 Billion USD in yearly accounts receivable in 2023. …when you do things like that. It speaks for you as a company, as a person. It speaks to the time and the camaraderie that was out there on the road with all those road warriors. But you have a customer for life, and you do things like that. And that informed really the esprit de corps that we had as a company throughout our life cycle.

Chris Thomajan

CFO and Startup Finance Executive

Tech CXO

1 episode

Today in the Sky Lounge, we are joined by Chris Thomajan, a CFO who's spent 35 years with startups and has worked with over 100 companies—mostly in biotech, mostly venture-backed, always as the steady hand while everyone else loses their minds. Chris didn't start in finance. English major, disco worker in London, law firm (hated it), Columbia Business School, then three decades of pattern recognition in the startup world. He's developed a particular skill: knowing which CEOs will make it and which won't. He's even categorized them like wine—from Beaujolais Nouveau (enthusiastic first-timers) to Port (dictators you really don't want to work for). We explore what makes Boston's biotech ecosystem unique, why nine out of ten boards need to be “managed away,” and what it really takes to prepare a company for IPO. Chris breaks down the current VC landscape (“too many capital calls, not enough distributions”), why he'd never personally invest in early-stage biotech, and the one quality that separates great CEOs from the rest: the ability to delegate.

Christie Johnson

Partner

BIP Ventures

1 episode

Todd chats with a true traveler, Christy Johnson from BIP Ventures. Her story is a testament to the idea that there's no one-size-fits-all path in entrepreneurship and venture capital as she shares her unconventional path from getting an IMBA (International MBA) in school to working with microloans in Costa Rica through steel manufacturing in Florida and eventually landing in the venture capital arena. She discusses the importance of culture, the challenges of remote work, and the power of being intentional in business practices and some holiday celebrations that are…NOT mandatory (hint: they are). Christy Johnson has been a pivotal member of the BIP Capital platform team since its founding. She joined the firm initially as a member of the leadership team of BIP Wealth in 2008, then became the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of BIP Capital. In 2022, Christy became a General Partner and Chief Performance Officer (CPO) for BIP Ventures. As CPO, Christy provides comprehensive and tailored advisory support and resources that help the firm's portfolio companies grow further and faster. She partners with executive teams on talent acquisition, business practice improvements, market intelligence, leveraging growth opportunities, and assisting companies with preparation for exit or acquisition opportunities.During her tenure with BIP Wealth, Christy built the operational infrastructure for the new Investment Advisory firm. Her operational and management leadership helped lay the foundation for the firm's AUM growth from $35M to $440M in less than six years. As COO for BIP Capital, she built the internal operations for the firm and assisted portfolio companies with growth strategies, infrastructure building, and overall support. In 2016, Christy assumed the role of CEO of AchieveIt Online. Under her leadership, the company more than tripled in revenue, earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-growing Companies list for five years running (2017-2021), and was named to the Inc. Best Workplaces in 2021.

David Johnston

1 episode

Today, we are joined in the Sky Lounge by IT experts Ian Findlay, David Johnston, and Paul King from TechCXO to explore the crucial role of IT leadership in today’s challenging economic climate. They delve into the importance of technology health assessments, uncovering hidden cost inefficiencies, and share strategies for optimizing IT spend. From alternatives to VMware to cutting cloud costs, the panel offers actionable insights for businesses navigating economic downturns and making smart IT decisions. Ian Findlay is a Boston-based partner in TechCXO’s Product & Technology practice where he is focused on the technology needs of small to mid-sized businesses as an interim and fractional CIO/Head of Corporate IT and strategic IT leader. As a strategic CIO and technology leader, Ian conducts strategic planning, oversight and discrete IT implementation projects such as migration to cloud services for executive committees, investors, and management teams. David Johnston is an experienced technology executive with a strong record of leveraging IT to improve business performance. He has worked for numerous companies, including public, private, large corporations, small business and startups. His areas of expertise include aligning IT and business strategy, cloud computing, linux, relational database designs, and IT Risk management.

David Morczinek

CEO

Airworks

1 episode

Joining us in the Sky Lounge today is David Morczinek, the innovative CEO of Airworks, a geospatial AI company. David shares his fascinating journey from aerospace engineer to leading a cutting-edge company. He delves into his academic and professional experiences, including his time at Airbus and his transformative years at MIT where he pursued an MBA. With Airworks, David is at the forefront of utilizing drone technology to transform aerial data into actionable business intelligence, offering compelling insights into how aerial data is shaping the future of business decisions. David has worked in the aerospace industry for 10+ years. In the past, he led multiple teams at Airbus. As CEO, David is the driving force behind the development of AirWorks’ AI, with the goal of advancing the use of aerial intelligence across AEC. David holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Business and an MS in Aircraft Systems Engineering from the Technical University of Hamburg. In his free time, David enjoys traveling with his wife and two children. …People always look at AI as this like magic box, which is true. If you're in a white room and you're trying to identify the black chairs. Great. Like AI is going to do phenomenally well, but the world is not like that. The world looks different.

Dr. Niral Shah

Trauma Surgeon & Healthcare Entrepreneur

Physician Entrepreneur, and Entrepreneur in Residence

1 episode

Today in the Sky Lounge, we are joined by Niral Shah, a trauma surgeon and entrepreneur whose career has never quite fit in a single lane — and he's made peace with that. Niral started medical school at 19, arriving with enough AP credits and Harvard summer school coursework to skip a traditional undergraduate path. By his second year, the dot-com boom was in full swing, and he and a few colleagues left to start a search engine called NetGopher — much to the dismay of his mother, who had recently dealt with the very real consequences of broken search results while researching her own breast cancer diagnosis. The problem they were solving was real. The timing was complicated. In Silicon Valley, Niral found himself pitching Nokia Ventures without a deck, without warning, and without knowing he was pitching at all. The director of their incubator, affiliated with NASA Ames, had quietly set up the meeting as a test. Niral improvised — and in doing so, realized he'd been thinking too small. Mobile wasn't even on his radar until that room forced him to think about it. Nokia invested through the incubator. The company pivoted to enterprise software and grew. And then, as the liquidity crunch of 2001-2002 hit, Niral made a call that still defines how he talks about entrepreneurship: he chose Chapter 7, returned money to creditors, and walked away clean. One of his lead investors responded by writing a letter saying he'd back any company Niral attached himself to. Not bad for a failure.

Ghazenfer Mansoor

Founder

Technology Rivers

1 episode

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Ghazenfer Mansoor, founder and CEO of Technology Rivers. From growing up in Pakistan to becoming a tech entrepreneur in the U.S., Ghazenfer's journey has been defined by his passion for mobile development and a knack for turning ideas into reality. In this episode, Ghazenfer takes us through his experiences—starting his own software company, transitioning from a secure 9-to-5 job to entrepreneurship, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He dives deep into the challenges of building a business across multiple continents, explaining how managing teams remotely has its own set of rewards and difficulties. Ghazenfer also discusses how his company focuses on helping startups build scalable products through his unique blueprinting process, drawing on his two decades of experience in software development and mobile tech. His insights into AI, building products that people actually use, and how to successfully integrate technology to boost business efficiency make this episode a must-listen for any entrepreneur or tech enthusiast. We also explore the personal side of his entrepreneurial journey, including his early ventures in Pakistan, tutoring to earn money, and how his innate drive has always led him to explore new opportunities.

We all hear about the legendary founders who grow their business, become an overnight success over a few decades and sell out to Private Equity. Jan Heybroek shares insights about that journey that made him an ‘Exited Entrepreneur’. Watch as Jan takes us through how to close an M&A deal including some powerful Dutch negotiating techniques. Stay with us to see why getting to First Base is fun and where the next Dr. House is going to come from. Jan Heybroek is a Partner in TechCXO’s Executive Operations practice. He is most frequently called on by investors, Boards and senior management teams with life sciences companies to assist as an interim and fractional Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

Joining us in the Sky Lounge today is Jay Kleinman, a seasoned healthcare business development and sales strategy expert with over 30 years of experience. Jay dives into his journey from playing football at Auburn University to launching and scaling ventures in the healthcare space. Discover the power of teamwork, the art of sales, and the impact of digital health on elder care. Learn why you should think twice before sending that cold email and how chicken and broccoli can bring a team together. Jay Kleinman is a Texas-based Partner in TechCXO’s Revenue Growth practice. He supports clients as a fractional Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Chief Commercial Officer/Chief Growth Officer (CCO, CGO), and Chief Sales Officer (CSO). Jay is a seasoned sales, strategy, and business development leader with over 30 years of experience in healthcare services (payor/provider), MedTech, insurance solutions, technology, SaaS, marketing/advertising, and analytics. Jay’s track record of success includes end-to-end sales processes where he’s secured multiyear, 7+ figure agreements. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaykleinman/Email: jay.kleinman@techcxo.com

Jeff Haynie

Serial Entrepreneur

Founder

1 episode

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is tech entrepreneur and innovation veteran Jeff Haynie, co-founder of Appcelerator and now founder of Agentuity, a startup building a next-gen cloud platform for AI agents. Jeff takes us deep into the early days of mobile development—before React Native, before Node.js—and the wild ride of launching Titanium, an open-source mobile framework that scaled to millions of developers. From those Silicon Valley go-go years to today’s decentralized future, Jeff shares startup lessons, hard-won insights, and where he sees the future of AI development going next. 🎧 Topics include:• How Titanium laid the groundwork for mobile dev as we know it• Silicon Valley vs. everywhere else: fundraising, community, and culture• Starting and scaling agentic systems in the age of LLMs• The architecture of the next-gen cloud• Why he believes there will be more agents than apps• The importance of ecosystem—not just founders and VCs, but marketers, service providers, and the first 100 hires

Jim Rozich

Founder

Wheels Up Sales and Marketing

1 episode

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is James Rozich, founder of Wheels Up Sales and Marketing. Jim specializes in helping early-stage startups overcome the unglamorous yet essential challenges of building solid sales and marketing processes. From CRM implementation to crafting value-driven email campaigns, Jim shares practical insights that founders need to create traction and scale effectively. In this episode, we explore the realities of early-stage startup sales, common pitfalls, and the art of developing scalable processes that work. Jim also shares his thoughts on the evolving venture investing landscape and why startups are becoming the “new bricks and mortar.” Plus, we dive into the tools and tactics that can help founders thrive, including the strategic use of CRMs, leveraging AI for marketing, the critical importance of personalization in sales and how Sumerian checklists factor into Jim’s process! With a dynamic career spanning two decades in sales and marketing, I’m Jim Rozich. As an industry veteran, I have consistently navigated the intricacies of bringing products and services to market – honing my expertise in crafting tailored strategies for CRM implementation, devising lead generation tactics, and refining messages that resonate with target audiences. My genuine passion for business development and startups is what sets me apart. Embark on your journey with confidence, knowing that you have a trusted ally with a 20-year history of propelling businesses to new heights.

Joe Gruca

Partner

Tech CXO

1 episode

Sometimes the best entrepreneurial journeys start with the worst possible timing. Today in the Sky Lounge, we're sitting down with Joe Gruca, Partner in Revenue Growth at TechCXO, whose path from corporate America to startup success began with a phone call no one wants to receive. Picture this: It's April 1st, 2008, and Joe's climbing the corporate ladder at Computer Associates when he gets the call—his entire department is being eliminated. The choice? Relocate to Long Island or take a severance package. Joe chose door number two and, through a chance conversation at his kid's baseball practice, was introduced to two founders who needed sales help. What started as a consulting gig to pay the bills turned into the entrepreneurial adventure of a lifetime. HireIQ began as an applicant tracking system but quickly pivoted when customers kept asking about one specific feature—an automated interview process that would revolutionize high-volume hiring. Joe and his co-founders built a platform that could send interview links to dozens of candidates overnight, capture their responses, and even assess language fluency for companies like Delta Airlines hiring multilingual flight attendants.

John Yates

Partner / Attorney

Gunderson Dettmer Law Firm

1 episode

Mr. Yates has practiced exclusively in the technology law field for 35 years. He is one of the founding partners of the Atlanta Office of Gunderson Dettmer, the leading law firm in the country representing emerging growth companies and technology funds. The firm represents private and public technology companies, entrepreneurs, investors and business services companies throughout the U.S. and globally. Mr. Yates co-founded and has been a Board member of leading tech organizations, including the Technology Association of Georgia, Southeastern Medical Device Association, Southeastern Software Association, Technology Executives Roundtable, Tech Leaders Forum/Charlotte, and Atlanta CEO Council. He has served on the Board of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and co-chaired its Technology Leadership Group and its political action committee. He is nationally ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a top lawyer in venture capital. He frequently speaks at national and international conferences on technology law issues and has delivered more than one hundred speeches in his career. His articles have been cited in the tech law area, including citation by the U.S. Supreme Court in Kodak vs. Image Technical Services. He is the author of articles published in Law and Business of Computer Software, Handbook of Business Management and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is frequently quoted in publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Atlanta Business Chronicle. Mr. Yates has been recognized in a Harvard Business School case study (“Ockham Technologies: Living on the Razor’s Edge”) as a leading lawyer representing fast growth companies. Nonprofit service includes the Board of Visitors - Duke University School of Law, Board of Trustees - Furman University, Emory New Venture Advisory Board, Director Emeritus - United Way of Metro Atlanta's Tech Initiative, and Advisory Board of CURE Childhood Cancer. He and his wife were named the 2009 Volunteers of the Year by the DeKalb County YMCA.

John Yates and Greg Bedol

Partner

Gunderson Deetur and Co-founder of TractionBD

1 episode

Today in the Sky Lounge, we are joined by John Yates, a partner at Gunderson-Dettmer, and Gregg Bedol, founder of TractionBD. Their collaboration represents something rare: seasoned professionals using decades of hard-won experience to build something genuinely new. John arrived in Atlanta in 1981, the same year IBM announced the PC and opened its architecture to software developers. For 44 years, he's represented tech companies through every stage of growth, from garage startups to some of the largest companies in the country. Gregg's path ran through Arthur Andersen's consulting division, executive roles in tech companies, and multiple entrepreneurial ventures. They've been friends and neighbors for 35 years. The driveway conversations finally led somewhere. The problem they're solving is as old as professional services itself. For centuries, the model has been apprenticeship: find a mentor, learn for years or decades, hope they retire and hand you their book of business. It's slow, uncertain, and increasingly rare. “There aren't as many people who want to help the next generation,” as the conversation acknowledges. Most professionals find themselves having to scramble and make their own destiny.

Katherine Hunter-Blyden

Fractional Chief Marketing Officer

1 episode

Joining us in the Sky Lounge is Katherine Hunter-Blyden, a seasoned marketing expert who has journeyed from insurance pricing to global marketing roles at Ford, and now serves as a fractional CMO. Katherine shares her experiences, from the impact of mentorship and learning to take calculated risks, to the essentials of modern marketing in both large corporations and smaller startups. Discover her strategies for branding, direct response marketing, and leveraging AI tools, while still finding time to travel around the globe just to volunteer at the Olympics!! Katherine Hunter-Blyden is a marketing veteran with over 29 years of business experience. She offers marketing services that give business owners, management teams, and founders the strategies they need to find and keep the right customers at the right cost. Katherine is based in Los Angeles. To find out more about Junior Achievement and how to get involved, visit https://jausa.ja.org

Kirby Winters

Information Security Practice Leader

TechCXO

1 episode

Joining us in the Sky Lounge today is Kirby Winters—tech entrepreneur, cybersecurity expert, and partner at TechCXO. Kirby takes us through his journey from telecom to launching (and selling) his own business before diving back into consulting. Kirby breaks down the world of cybersecurity, from social engineering scams to compliance audits, and how AI is changing the game. Along the way, he shares stories of leadership—both good and bad—that have shaped his approach to balancing innovation and risk. Kirby J. Winters is a leader in the cybersecurity and technology-based communications industry with extensive experience across multiple sectors. Since 2016, he has led the Information Security Practice at TechCXO, working with healthcare, banking, and Department of Defense clients. His leadership has delivered innovative solutions, including advanced Electronic Medical Record systems, AI-driven practice management, and wireless health monitoring tools. Kirby has held executive positions across numerous industries, with a focus on Technology Product Management, Information Security Certifications, Web and Mobile Product Development, and interim CISO/CTO/CIO roles. He served as interim CISO for a $20b bank, implementing significant improvements in security governance and compliance, and still serves on the bank’s Cyber Security Advisory Board.

We speak to a legendary NYC Marketer, Lewis Goldman who talks about being a pioneer in digital marketing. Lewis shares stories about recent trends in digital marketing and where we are going in the new AI/LLM era. Hear about what role social influencers play, what the future of influence marketing is and also When is it appropriate to knock over a convenience store. Lewis Goldman is a TechCXO Partner in its New York office, and a marketing consultant specializing in scaling businesses rapidly through marketing, new products, new channels/partnerships, and leveraging customer data to cross sell and upsell existing customers. His focus on accelerating growth comes from extensive experience as a CMO and heading up growth, digital marketing, and E-Commerce efforts at companies ranging from Citigroup and MetLife to LinkedIn, Amazon, and LendKey.

Lisa Calhoun

Managing Partner

Valor Ventures

1 episode

Joining us in the Sky Lounge today is Lisa Calhoun, founding managing partner of Valor Ventures! Lisa shares her journey as a fourth-generation entrepreneur, the importance of relationships in venture capital, and her investment philosophy. She and Todd discuss the current state of the venture landscape, the impact of AI on startups, and advice for young entrepreneurs. Lisa shares her insights on navigating challenges in the industry and the transformative power of travel and personal growth. Growing up, working for her family's commercial print shop, cold-calling clients as a teenager, and witnessing the rise of the microcomputer revolution firsthand, Lisa's got a lot of experience with making things happen in the tech industry. She explains how those experiences shaped her investing philosophy at Valor, where she leads seed-stage AI and SaaS deals across the South. Lisa Calhoun is an experienced leader in venture capital. Lisa was recently named Atlanta Investor of the Year by Startup Atlanta and highlighted among Business Insider’s Top 30 Women Early-stage Investors in the U.S. She is the founder and managing partner of Valor Ventures, the South’s first woman-led, institutional venture capital firm, now investing its third fund. Valor’s portfolio employs just over 1,000 people and has a footprint across 25 countries.Under her leadership, Valor leverages a high performance portfolio of AI and SaaS software companies based in the South. Valor’s first checks into AI startups change the real world. Valor portfolio firms are helping guide major law firms (Visalaw); major city industrial cores around vehicle automation (Autonoma); US hospitals (AI genomics and mental health monitors); as well is on the front in Ukraine (AI drone intelligence). In Lisa’s board work, she is privy to multi-year trends and insights on issues including the pricing of enterprise AI, the corporate adoption curve of AI, the types of risks and analysis around AI and AI augmentation, and use cases now in the global Fortune 1000 around artificial intelligence. Investors who invest alongside or after Valor makes a significant early bet have included Draper, Bezos Expeditions, Blumberg, Goldman Sachs, Mackenzie Scott, Google, Mastercard, the Gates Foundation, S3, Lewis & Clark, and Open Prairie.Valor is also known for developing Vic, a visionary AI-powered investment management platform integrated with industry leaders like Salesforce, Carta, and PitchBook. Valor funds are backed by notable institutional investors as well as thoughtful private capital.Lisa is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 23), recipient of the Kauffman Fellows Leadership Award, and frequent keynote speaker. She’s spoken recently for NASDAQ, SuperReturn, KPMG, and the Kauffman Leadership Summit. Her insights have been featured in Forbes, Inc., and the Venture Capital Journal. She also shares insights as co-host and founder of the Atlanta Startup Podcast.Philanthropically, Lisa’s passion for discovering top investments from visionaries from all backgrounds led her to establish the Startup Runway Foundation in 2066, now the nation’s largest nonprofit (501c3) for introducing underrepresented founders to their first investors. Startup Runway is underwritten by leading nonprofit endeavors including individuals, the American Family Institute, NCR Foundation, Cox Enterprises, and the National Science Foundation. Startups from under-represented founders who have gone through the program have raised over $100M and counting.Prior to founding Valor in 2016, Lisa founded a digital marketing agency that was recognized by HubSpot as a top 10 firm for startups. She helped guide hundreds of founders to successful exits through developing meaningful sales funnels and communication platforms. Earlier in her career, Lisa specialized in enterprise IT software, consulting for leading IT departments from the Hartsfield Jackson Airport to UPS.Lisa holds an MBA in management science with a concentration in statistics from the University of Texas and a BA with honors from Baylor University, which she attended on National Merit Scholarship. Lisa recharges by spending time alone. Her hobbies include gardening and dressage. She’s a USDF Bronze Medalist and FEI competitor.CONTACT:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacalhoun/https://valor.vc/ I mean, it just, the stories that ran in our family about just get up and get on with it and get her done. It's really stood me in good stead and made me feel a certain resilience that I think people who don't have that entrepreneurial perspective, it's not as native to them.

Marc McCarthy

Founder

Pro Consult IQ

1 episode

Joining us in the Sky Lounge is Marc McCarthy, a seasoned business consultant helping UK companies expand into the US market. Marc spills the beans (and tea) on the quirks of taking your business transatlantic—from cultural idiosyncracies to navigating legal language mazes. Discover why you need to get off Zoom and into the room where it happens! Marc offers practical advice for businesses looking to make their mark across the Atlantic. Marc McCarthy is a Fintech commercial executive who has helped SaaS companies with complex solutions overcome the challenges of expanding their global footprint, designed & implemented sales strategies to significantly grow their ARR and built lasting sales frameworks for growth. Marc is based in London, England. Website: proconsultiq.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcmccarthy74/ Americans like to buy from Americans. And that's just the simple truth. As much as people enjoy my wonderful English accent, at the end of the day, you have to build trust.

Todd talks with his first guest, Maria Goldsholl, Managing Partner-Human Capital, about the mindset required to grow and learn from the tough times at any level, and what particular traits she looks for when evaluating a team or a leader. Watch/Read till the end to learn what startup coffee and stinky fish have in common. Maria Goldsholl is a seasoned, energetic executive leader with an extensive background in organizational and talent development, culture management, developing HR infrastructure and building teams and operations. Her expertise has been cited and featured in Forbes HR council, The Wall Street Journal, Working Mother Magazine, Entrepreneur, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other publications.

Mark Flickinger

Partner

BIP Ventures

1 episode

Mark Flickinger, COO and GP of BIP Ventures shares insights into competitive drive in founders, The State of Startups in the Southeast, how #VentureCapital Funds operate and what it means to have a great team. We talk about “The SVB Hangover”, dry powder (not for napkins) and when to go slow. Mark Flickinger joined BIP Ventures in 2015. In his role as General Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Mark oversees fundraising, investor relations, marketing/branding, talent acquisition, and acceleration.Before joining the firm, Mark held leadership roles for 4th Strand, a product performance consulting firm (acquired by Intertek in 2012). He oversaw project management, product development, HR/recruiting, operations, and sales. Mark's experience also includes Medarex, a biotech startup developing therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune diseases, as well as the oral care division of consumer products company Church & Dwight.Mark earned an MBA in General Management and Entrepreneurship from The University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and a BSE in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University. He was a member of the US National Rowing Team from 2001-2008.Mark serves on the board for Venture Atlanta, AchieveIt, and VoApps. He is an avid father, cyclist, runner, and skier, both downhill and water. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-flickinger-24295538/Contact info: mflickinger@bipventures.vc

Michael Weinstein

Partner

Tech CXO

1 episode

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Michael Weinstein — fractional CFO, economic strategist, and finance veteran — who brings his hard-won insights and wit to an time of financial uncertainty in the current economic climate. From early days at Anheuser-Busch (yes, there was free beer) to senior roles in asset management, Michael has seen more business cycles than most of us have had iPhones.We dig into the structural fractures in today’s economy, why uncertainty is stalling investment, and how tariffs are creating ripple effects across industries. Michael breaks down why venture capital exits are clogged, the “overvalued” truth behind many private companies, and how interest rates are shaping (and stalling) our next wave of innovation. Plus, we explore how entrepreneurship might be the escape hatch — if we’re bold enough to build what’s next. Michael Weinstein is a New York-based partner in TechCXO’s Finance practice. He serves as a CFO, investor, and capital raiser for public companies, start-ups/early-stage companies, and PE-owned companies within the renewable energy, insurance, manufacturing, fast food franchising, and equipment leasing industries. He brings a strategic perspective on finance and capital to the executive suite and Boards he advises. Michael increases the shareholder value of his clients through successful financial planning and reporting, results analysis, and capital management, as well as: It's like we're removing a segment of the natural process of the business cycle out of the process, and then we're putting some external shock, and we don't know the magnitude of the shock yet, onto the system, right?

Mike Biwer

Leader

Cavallo

1 episode

Today in the Sky Lounge, Todd Merrill interviews Mike Biwer, CEO of Cavallo, discussing his journey to the company, the importance of distribution in the economy, and the challenges and strategies in the software and ERP space. They explore the origin of Cavallo's name, the company's growth, customer satisfaction, and the significance of profitability in distribution. Mike shares insights on navigating ERP changes, the role of private equity, and how to approach economic cycles. He also offers advice for aspiring software CEOs, emphasizing the need for product market fit and understanding customer problems. Michael Biwer is the CEO of Cavallo, a company renowned for its commitment to enhancing profitability and productivity for wholesale distributors and product-centric brands through a unique emphasis on “powering flawless orders at breakthrough scale to maximize profits.” Michael joined the company in 2019 with an unwavering commitment to accelerate growth through a hyper-focus on the company’s greatest strengths, new product innovation, and rapid expansion into new markets. Since assuming the role, the company has achieved double-digit gains in recurring revenue annually and dramatically increased the rate of new product innovation. This innovation included the design, development, and launch of an entirely new cloud platform called Cavallo Order Intelligence. The development of this platform and future vision were highly aligned with a strategic decision to rebrand from SalesPad to Cavallo in 2021. A firm believer in the science and art of decision-making, Michael is committed to equipping organizations with the tools and insights needed to maximize their chances of success. His leadership style is characterized by a relentless pursuit of innovation and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by wholesale distributors and product-centric brands. Prior to joining Cavallo, Michael held leadership positions in the technology sector, serving some of the most well-known brands in the world. Michael holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from The University of Michigan.

Neil Miller

Partner Emeritus

Tech CXO

1 episode

Today in the Sky Lounge, we are joined by Neal Miller, partner emeritus at TechCXO, who figured out how to work with 70 companies over 19 years without ever getting bored. His secret: Groundhog Day with a different cast every few months. Neal's career took an unconventional path. Starting as a KPMG auditor on American Software's 1983 IPO (when you could go public with $8 million in revenue), he got bored and moved into sales engineering. Six years selling enterprise software to textile mills led to an unexpected call from the CEO offering him the CFO role. The logic: investor relations is basically sales, and Neal could sell. That unconventional trajectory—auditor to sales to CFO—created the broader perspective that makes fractional executives deadly effective at exactly the moment startups need them but can't afford them full-time.

Rich McOver

Chief Revenue Officer

TechCXO

1 episode

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Rich Makover, a seasoned Chief Revenue Officer and executive coach with over 30 years of experience in sales, finance, and leadership. Rich shares his journey, from playing lacrosse at Penn State to leading high-growth companies and navigating diverse industries from luxury goods to private equity. Along the way, Rich reflects on the powerful intersection of sports and sales, failure and success, and how resilience and competitive drive shape top-performing salespeople. We dive into Rich's journey to sales mastery, his global experiences, and how mentorship and coaching have played a pivotal role in his career. He also discusses his work as a fractional CRO and executive coach at TechCXO, helping companies find their North Star. Rich Makover is a seasoned Fractional Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and Executive Coach, with an extensive background in both athletics and business. Leveraging his experience as a D1 athlete at Penn State University and former executive at top companies like KPMG, Avon Products, and Citizen Watch Group, Rich specializes in driving significant growth and transformation for companies across various industries. He is passionate about giving back to the community that shaped him at Penn State by being a mentor for the Men's Lacrosse Team and being a part of the Teammates for Life program, as well as helping professionals, especially those going through business transitions, unlock their full potential through strategic leadership and coaching. Whether leading sales teams to success or guiding executives through pivotal career transitions, Rich's unique approach combines discipline, insight, and empathy to achieve remarkable results.

Rob Reesor

Technology Executive and Early AI Pioneer

1 episode

It all started with stumbling into a computer science course at the University of Oregon and culminated in a decades-long tech career filled with success. Rob Reesor reflects on his journey from pioneering early e-commerce to advancing AI, shares a ton of wisdom on how to lead a team and deliver promise to customers, and looks forward to sharing his expertise in new and exciting ways. Rob Reesor is a newly semi-retired CTO and VPE with nearly four decades of startup and PE-backed software development and leadership experience. Rob has both BSCS and MSCS degrees and has held software developer, architect, leader, director, VP, SVP, and CTO roles in both Silicon Valley and Austin Texas. Rob retired in 2022 after fourteen years at Planview, Inc., then after five weeks of retirement, took on the CTO role at fintech firm Cforia. After a successful sale of the company, Rob is semi-retired and available for fractional software executive leadership roles building/enhancing a team, their processes, their technology, and/or their scalability. Rob can be contacted through his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-reesor-908188/

Steve Subar

Founder and CEO

Mat Fresher, serial entrepreneur with 30+ years building and exiting companies including Open Kernel Labs

1 episode

Today in the Sky Lounge, we are joined by Steve Subar, COO/CEO at TechCXO, who's spent three decades building, guiding, and growing companies. His latest venture? The world's first fully automated yoga mat cleaning machine.It's not exactly cocktail party material, Steve admits. But the story behind MatFresher reveals something more interesting than the product itself: what happens when an experienced founder decides to design the business model before the company.After selling Open Kernel Labs to General Dynamics in 2012 and spending 13 years consulting for tech companies, Steve started his next venture with three non-negotiable constraints. He wanted recurring revenue. He wanted high gross margins. And he was done—completely done—with B2B sales friction. His entire career had been large systems, complex sales, long cycles. At this stage, he wanted something different.The yoga mat problem emerged from Steve's own 20-year hot yoga practice. Here's a discipline built on the Sanskrit concept of Saucha (cleanliness of spirit, mind, and body), practiced on mats that smell like the inside of old hockey equipment. But before investing in product development, Steve did what experienced entrepreneurs do: he tested whether anyone actually cared.He bought a folding table, rubber gloves, antiseptic spray from Whole Foods, and a Square reader. He showed up at yoga studios and asked people if they'd pay two bucks to get their mat cleaned. They would. But something more valuable happened during those 50-minute gaps between classes when he had nothing to do but talk to studio owners and staff.He learned that the bigger problem wasn't hygiene—it was unit economics. Only 10% of yoga studio operators net more than $100,000 annually. They're not in it to get rich; they're in it to help people. But cleanliness is the number one factor affecting their Net Promoter Score and churn rate. If Steve could reduce their labor costs while visibly improving hygiene, he'd solve two problems at once.This is the kind of insight you can't get from market research or surveys. “Information is not the same as wisdom,” Steve says. You can look up anything online, but “you can't Google for experience.” True wisdom comes from combining information with experience—and that's what leads to good decision-making.Steve's career bears this out. At Open Kernel Labs, his team figured out how to apply virtualization software to power-constrained devices like mobile phones. They started by targeting the most paranoid customer: the NSA. Thousands of people couldn't bring cell phones into Fort Meade. The agency was stuck with the “ObamaBerry”—essentially two BlackBerrys glued together, one for classified and one for unclassified communications.Open Kernel Labs became the first method for the NSA to enable standard smartphones for their employees. That stamp of approval opened commercial doors. By the time General Dynamics acquired the company, their software was in 1.6 billion phones.Steve calls this approach “in through the out door”—finding the entrance nobody else is using. While everyone lines up at the obvious door, he looks left and right for the legitimate entrance that's wide open but overlooked.Now with MatFresher, he's applying those same principles to a hardware-as-a-service business in an industry where most VCs say “we don't do hardware.” But that's the point. Thirty years in, Steve isn't looking for the crowded entrance. He's still finding out doors nobody else sees. Steve Subar brings 20+ years of experience launching and leading high-growth technology companies in hyper-competitive markets; from inception to IPO and Fortune 500 acquisition. He’s recognized for novel product and business model innovation with a focus on enterprise applications, B2B, and SaaS software. As a founder, CEO, investor, and board member, Steve’s earned a reputation for building clever strategies and winning teams, driving accelerated growth, developing strong customer relationships, and creating superior shareholder value.

Ted Stone

Fractional CFO and Managing Partner

Tech CXO New York

1 episode

Today in the Sky Lounge we are joined by Ted Stone, a 72-year-old fractional CFO at TechCXO who's living proof that experience beats age in the business world. Ted shares insights from four decades of private equity deals, including rollups, spinoffs, and integrations that taught him every strategy in the playbook. He explains how the “silver tsunami” of baby boomer business exits is creating unprecedented opportunities for private equity firms, why ESOPs are emerging as attractive exit strategies, and how fractional executive work lets veterans stay in the game past traditional retirement. Plus, hear his incredible travel story about surviving not one but two helicopter incidents on a single business trip. What does it look like when someone refuses to accept the traditional retirement playbook? Today in the Sky Lounge, we're exploring that question with Ted Stone, a 72-year-old fractional CFO at TechCXO whose energy and deal-making expertise put executives half his age to shame. Ted represents something fascinating happening in the business world right now. While most people his age are playing golf in Florida, he's helping companies navigate complex private equity transactions, ESOP formations, and business integrations. His philosophy is simple but powerful: retirement requires three things—physical health, financial health, and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. For Ted, that reason is watching bright, hardworking people get the right information so they can transform struggling businesses into success stories.

Teja Yenamandra

Founder and CEO

Gun.io

1 episode

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Teja Yenamandra, founder of Gun.io — the dev marketplace built for engineers who don’t belong on job boards. From martial arts to macro trends, Teja breaks down why great hiring is about rhythm, not resumes; how AI is reshaping the shape of work itself; and what most startups forget after the match is made. This is a founder story built on cold calls, precision matching, and scaling trust — not headcount.Takeaways Teja Yenamandra is the founder of Gun.io, a labor marketplace for freelance engineers.Balancing personal life and business is crucial for performance.Change management is essential for company growth and stability.Talent acquisition should focus on cultural fit and skill alignment.A good match between talent and company needs is vital for success.The current market shows a demand for AI and ML skills in software development.Gun.io was founded out of a need for better talent sourcing.Remote work dynamics have evolved with new tools and practices.Venture capital can provide valuable partnerships for growth.Learning from board members can enhance leadership skills.Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tales from the Sky Lounge00:30 Teja Yenamandra and Gun.io Overview02:10 Balancing Business and Personal Life05:59 Change Management in Business06:53 The Unique Approach of Gun.io09:28 Finding the Right Talent Match12:19 Current Market Trends and Challenges16:43 The Origin Story of Gun.io21:24 The Evolution of Remote Work Tools23:03 Venture Capital and Strategic Partnerships28:07 Navigating Board Dynamics31:09 Aligning Goals and Exit Strategies35:53 Understanding Developer Needs40:19 Shifting Job Demands in Tech46:35 The Future of Junior Developers49:13 Travel Tales and Lessons Learned

Joel Forman

0 episodes

The Sky Lounge is packed today with our first Roundtable! Joining us are AI experts Nikolaos Vasiloglou, Joel Forman, and Kevin Carlson to dissect the latest in machine learning, generative AI, and the future of tech. The discussion dives into the cutting-edge world of AI, unraveling the distinctions between machine learning and AI, the hype around large language models, and the real-world applications driving innovation today. From the ethics of AI to the challenges of implementing ML in complex environments, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of technology. Plus, hear their thoughts on what’s next in AI and how businesses can leverage these advancements to stay ahead. Nikolaos Vasiloglou is the VP of Research-ML at RelationalAI. He has spent his career on building ML software and leading data science projects in Retail, Online Advertising and Security. He is a member of the ICLR/ICML/NeurIPS/UAI/MLconf/KGC/IEEE S&P community, having served as an author, reviewer, and organizer of Workshops and the main conference. Nikolaos is leading the research and strategic initiatives at the intersection of Large Language Models and Knowledge Graphs for RelationalAI.

Kathryn O'Day

0 episodes

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Kathryn O'Day, entrepreneur and partner at Atlanta Ventures. Kathryn shares her journey of building multiple successful startups and being a major part of massive acquisitions. We dive deep into the parallels between endurance sports and entrepreneurship, uncovering how triathlon training taught her key lessons in consistency, grit, and pushing through difficult times. Kathryn also reveals key insights into startup culture, highlights how Atlanta Ventures finds and molds startups to be their best selves and shares the value of being “positive, supportive, and self-starting”—qualities that shaped her experience at Pardot and beyond. We explore the importance of confidence, especially for women in tech, and discuss why being nice can be a superpower in business. Kathryn is a partner at Atlanta Ventures, where she empowers entrepreneurs to learn, build, and grow. She has been scaling Atlanta tech companies for over a decade as employee #9 at Pardot (acquired by Salesforce) and COO at Rigor (acquired by Splunk).

Louis Gump

0 episodes

Louis Gump joins us in the Sky Lounge to explore a question every founder and executive faces eventually: what happens after the acquisition? In this candid conversation, Louis shares how he helped build the mobile businesses at CNN and The Weather Channel, and became the steady hand guiding post-acquisition innovation at startups and growth-stage companies alike. We unpack the differences between entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, what makes someone thrive inside a big company post-acquisition, and how timing and self-awareness shape every meaningful career move. Louis also discusses the importance of clarity in strategy, the value of not rushing change, and why keeping founders involved after a deal often leads to better outcomes. Louis is also the author of The Inside Innovator, a practical guide to driving innovation from within established companies — ideal for leaders navigating post-acquisition roles or scaling without the founder title.