http://www.startuplounge.com StartupLounge.com is a grassroots organization (and podcast) started by two knuckleheads who want to make a difference for fast-growth entrepreneurs who aren't fortunate enough to live in Silicon Valley. Recorded in Atlanta, Georgia, the podcast focuses on bootstrapping, venture capital, angel investing, and other issues of interest to the entrepreneur. The show features informative guests, interactive discussions, and a nice dash of humor. Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:54:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Copyright © 2013 StartupLounge.com info@startuplounge.com (StartupLounge.com) info@startuplounge.com (StartupLounge.com) Business 1440 entrepreneurship,venture capital,startups,bootstrapping,atlanta Imagine. Connect. Grow. StartupLounge.com is a grassroots organization (and podcast) started by two knuckleheads who want to make a difference for fast-growth entrepreneurs who aren't fortunate enough to live in Silicon Valley. Recorded in Atlanta, Georgia, the podcast focuses on bootstrapping, venture capital, angel investing, and other issues of interest to the entrepreneur. The show features informative guests, interactive discussions, and a nice dash of humor. StartupLounge.com StartupLounge.com info@startuplounge.com No no http://www.startuplounge.com/images/itunes_logo_144x144.png http://www.startuplounge.com 144 144 http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-44-marshall-seese-and-mowgli-games/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-44-marshall-seese-and-mowgli-games/#comments Wed, 11 Jul 2012 06:45:19 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=222 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-44-marshall-seese-and-mowgli-games/feed/ 0 64:58 Welcome to SL #44! Yes, we know.nbsp; It has been two and half years since our last podcast.nbsp; Well, the hiatus is over ... ... Welcome to SL #44! Yes, we know.nbsp; It has been two and half years since our last podcast.nbsp; Well, the hiatus is over ... we're back!nbsp; The other day, we sat down with Marshall Seese, founder of Mowgli Games, and had an awesome chat.nbsp; Among the many things we discussed were Mowgli's inaugural social game (Songster), their experience in raising over $500K in angel funding here in Atlanta, and how Facebook has become a strong enabler for game developers. "In the social gaming space, the best advice I can give, is be able to explain why it needs to be social. Be careful not to just throw "social" in there because you think it needs to be social. Really analyze why it needs to be social, then nail that piece of it. It sounds easy, but it isn't." -Marshall Seese In celebration of our return to podcasting, we dug up a vintage version of the intro to the podcast.nbsp; Enjoy!nbsp; As an added bonus, we play a bit of a song that Scott made with Mowgli's product, Songster (cover your ears!).nbsp; Also, and even better, we filled the break with Home, the latest single from Marshall's latest CD - a killer tune!nbsp; Be sure to try and catch Marshall Seese and the Abandoned at a gig near you ... Oh yeah, the bus is back, too! Predatory service providers go under the bus in the return of one of our more popular segments of the show. Sponsors for this episode: Remember, StartupLounge is a non-profit organization. We simply couldn't do all of these free events and cool podcasts without the support of our stalwart band of sponsors. Be sure to click the logos below and pay them a visit, or even better, drop them a line and let them know how much you appreciate their efforts. Platinum Sponsor: Sponsors: Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: How close were your assumptions in the business model with respect to user growth? Give us your 30 second elevator pitch ndash; what is Mowgli Games all about? Can you tell us the inspiration for Songster? What led you to the concept? When we last spoke, the product had recently launched into a Beta state and had some initial success. How has the product been received? How close were your user adoption assumptions in your business plan? Tell us a cool user/customer story. You raised $500K, primarily from local angel investors ndash; which donrsquo;t have a tangible track record in investing in social gaming companies. Can you describe that process to our listeners? How did it all come about? What do you think convinced the investors to financially commit to Mowgli? What surprised you most about the fundraising process? Did you ever consider raising money from other places, such as Silicon Valley, Boston, or NY? What was the strangest question asked of you by an investor? How did your background as an attorney factor in your initial funding success, especially here in Atlanta? Did Atlanta's relatively strong music and entertainment community have an impact on Mowglirsquo;s early efforts with raising capital and getting the product out the door? Will you have to raise additional money? If so, what do you think that will be like? Some people say that Atlanta is lacking in the talent department - specifically management talent for developing emerging ventures. Is the talent available in Atlanta for Mowgli to keep growing and stay here? Could you have bootstrapped this business further? Have any community entities been significantly helpful to Mowgli and if so, how? What are your thoughts on Facebook, their IPO, and any possible ramifications that it might have for companies like Mowgli? How easy, or difficult, does Facebook make the experience for developers? What advice do you have for entrepreneurs who are launching startups in the social gaming space? If yo... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-43-atlanta-technology-angels-live-at-151-locust/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-43-atlanta-technology-angels-live-at-151-locust/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:26:31 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=110 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-43-atlanta-technology-angels-live-at-151-locust/feed/ 1 109:31 Welcome to SL #43! Recently, we got together with Gordon Rogers, the new President of the Atlanta Technology Angels (ATA), and had a great discussion ... Welcome to SL #43! Recently, we got together with Gordon Rogers, the new President of the Atlanta Technology Angels (ATA), and had a great discussion about the current state of the Atlanta startup ecosystem, the angel investing landscape, and the merits of eating potato chips while trying to interview someone for a podcast.nbsp; This was our first ever "live" podcast, recorded on-location at 151 Locust, a hip new startup incubator here in Atlanta. In addition to consuming copious amounts of "adult beverages" during the session (wheee!), we also discussed the now infamous Bresnitz paper, as well facilitating a lively Q#38;A session with the audience. Banks go under the bus, and @Unblakeable comes with the smiley face on for a "Look Who Gets It" segment.nbsp; Another great selection of listener emails and a dash of StartupLounge humor to top it all off. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us the Atlanta Technology Angels elevator pitch. More specifically, what kinds of deals are you looking for? What are the criteria to be an ATA member? Explain the process for a company to present itself for consideration by the ATA How do most deals find you? Tell us about 1-2 investments the ATA has made in the past year? How has the economy impacted the ATArsquo;s membership and by extension, the ATArsquo;s funding activity? How do deals get funded in the ATA? Are you personally invested in any deals? Once the ATA invests in the deal, how active is your participation in the companyrsquo;s management? Are the deal terms more or less standard or do they vary deal to deal? How long does the evaluation process take? How did your background lead you to angel investing and the ATA? What do you think your strengths are as an investor? Why did you want to become the ATA President? What are your key agenda items for the ATA under your leadership? Who are some of the other key leaders at the ATA? What do you see as the key challenges of the Atlanta venture environment? Whatrsquo;s your assessment of the funding environment today and a year from now? Whatrsquo;s an instant turnoff for you when companies present? What are your thoughts on the paper published recently published by Georgia Tech professor Danny Bresnitz? Whatrsquo;s some advice you can give to companies to maximize their opportunity with the ATA? Listener Emails Read and Answered on the Show: AJ: Recently there was some drama around an academic paper co-authored by Georgia Tech professor Danny Bresnitz.nbsp; In the paper, the authors came to a number of conclusions about the Atlanta startup ecosystem ndash; what do you guys think?nbsp; Irsquo;d also be curious to hear Gordon Rogersrsquo; thoughts on this topic as well. OTP4Ever: I am looking to raise some capital for my startup and have a corporate structure question. I know that outside investors typically invest in ldquo;C-Corprdquo;, so there can be multiple classifications of stock and what not.nbsp; But obviously, as a green-field startup, I donrsquo;t want to do a C-Corp initially, because of the dual taxation.nbsp; If I form an S-Corp or LLC initially, is that going to be a turn-off for an angel investor or?nbsp; Can I switch the company structure when I have a term sheet, or do I have to start out as a C-Corp?nbsp; Any guidance you guys could provide would be helpful! Thanks!I am launching a new internet business and I need to get a quote for web design work.nbsp; My question is this.nbsp; How can someone get an accurate quote for Web design on their new internet business without giving away the idea? Karl... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-42-atdc-now-rebooting-please-wait/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-42-atdc-now-rebooting-please-wait/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:56:13 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=109 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-42-atdc-now-rebooting-please-wait/feed/ 0 93:50 Welcome to SL #42! Unless you've been under a rock for the past few weeks, you are no doubt aware that change is in the ... Welcome to SL #42! Unless you've been under a rock for the past few weeks, you are no doubt aware that change is in the air down at the ATDC.nbsp; Stephen Fleming, recently promoted from his post overseeing Georgia Tech's VentureLab is now the Vice Provost of the Enterprise Innovation Institute, and has folded VentureLab and the SBIR program into the new ATDC. Additionally, they've implemented a billion changes ... and man, they're good.nbsp; Stephen stopped by along with David Sung, who runs the ATDC Seed Fund, and we had a blast.nbsp; If you are an entrepreneur in Georgia, an investor that would like to gain a deeper understanding of these changes, you won't want to miss this podcast. We also dug up some old incriminating tape of Stephen sharing his true feelings on running VentureLab ... a rare moment for sure - definitely tune in for that.nbsp; We also discussed the upcoming Venture Atlanta 2009 conference, and some of the new opportunities (and focus) on true early-stage companies.nbsp; Good stuff. The good Mr. Blake suits up, takes the mound, and throws heaters at a a group of folks in Atlanta that just can't seem to get with the program.nbsp; Another great selection of listener emails and a dash of StartupLounge humor to top it all off. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us the pitch for the new ATDC, EII, adn the ATDC Seed Fund! Talk about the ATDC re-organization.nbsp; Why now and why this way? How long have you had the idea for re-organizing the ATDC/VentureLab/SBIR entities the way you have? How is the reorganization going to impact the ATDC Seed Fund's operations? How will the reorganization impact your deal flow? As you were being considered for your new post, clearly this was on your agenda.nbsp; How prominent were these ideas as you discussed the new position? Why should entrepreneurs be excited about the reorganization? Is the ATDC still considering a bricks-and-mortar facility in Gwinnett County? Will the reorganization change how you make investment decisions and commitments? Could the reorganization increase ties with state entities with similar missions, such as the GRA Seed Fund or some of the programs the Georgia Department of Economic Development? How long will it take to complete the reorganization? What has the reaction been from the VC community to the reorganization? What are existing companies within the ATDC saying about the reorganization? Why is GA Tech on board with this concept?nbsp; You are seemingly diverting away captive resources. As you execute upon the reorganization, what do you see as the greatest challenge? What do you see as the greatest need that the reorganization will address? How do you see your role as a startup catalyst changing? How will you measure success? How long until we see the changes on the ground? In the ATDC press release, you said, "ATDC will open its membership to all technology entrepreneurs in Georgia, from those at the earliest conception stage to the well-established, venture-fundable companies. Wersquo;re interested in any technology business opportunity."nbsp; How much more open will the organization be to supporting early-stage companies? Does the ATDC need an image makeover to get buy-in from entrepreneurs and if so, how do you go about that makeover? You have started making open office hours available.nbsp; Is that going to become a permanent activity? If you were to give one piece of advice to entrepreneurs listening to this podcast, what would it be? Listener Emails Read and Answered on the Show: Alicia: I am currently at a cr... Miscellany,,Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-41-awe-june-2009-atlanta-startup-cloud/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-41-awe-june-2009-atlanta-startup-cloud/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:02:06 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=108 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-41-awe-june-2009-atlanta-startup-cloud/feed/ 2 60:04 Welcome to SL #41! Mike Schinkel was kind enough to ask us down to speak at the monthly gathering of the Atlanta Web Entrepreneurs (AWE) ... Welcome to SL #41! Mike Schinkel was kind enough to ask us down to speak at the monthly gathering of the Atlanta Web Entrepreneurs (AWE) group.nbsp; Initially, we were going to host a panel on raising capital (or something similar), but after a few conversations, the three of us decided to change it up a bit.nbsp; We presented our view of the current state of the Atlanta startup scene, how far we've come in just a few short years, and where we think it is going.nbsp; We also issues a call to action to members of the Atlanta startup community to help us build what we call the "Atlanta Startup Cloud" - a virtual incubator. Apologies to everyone for us going over our time limit.nbsp; We quite literally threw the presentation together a day or two before the event.nbsp; In retrospect, we probably could have done a better job in marrying our content to Schinkel's schedule.nbsp; We will most likely have an initial meeting with all the volunteers, then have another community meeting which will be a *very brief* presentation of where the group is, and to solicit additional ideas and direction.nbsp; As Schink points out in his opening remarks, this particular meeting was just the first meeting of many, and will eventually involve a lot of other groups within the community (not just AWE). This edition of the StartupLounge.com podcast is actually a screencast/video.nbsp; You can use the links below to view. In short, our Startup Cloud concept is an effort to address provide several key services to the community: Provide a "jumpoff" point - where new entrepreneurs and investors can "get plugged into" what is happening within the Atlanta early-stage scene. Provide better event coordination between the bazillion startup groups in Atlanta - i.e. shared calendar .. yay! Provide a "virtual incubator" whereby the community incubates itself Provide a vehicle to bridge into the corporate world, to bring Atlanta's corporate players to the table to look at the innovations that are happening here (side note: Since this meeting, we've made some progress on this front - looks like we have quite a number of Fortune 1000 companies already interested in hosting events and playing an active role in this). This was a platform that we started building about a year ago, but as we mention in the presentation, it will take us 20 years to finish the thing given our current schedules.nbsp; So, we decided that opening up the initiative to the community is an even better way to go - more hands involved, and more importantly, additional voices and input. Oh, and for the person who emailed me about the "Boss Hogg" slide - the three personas illustrated are not a reference to anyone specifically, but rather stereotypes that we've all come to know and love. Unfortunately, our A/V guy had to leave the event after the break, so we were unable to record the audio Q#38;A session at the end.nbsp; Which is probably a good thing, because some of it went a bit tangential.nbsp; But we did take copious notes, so we'll be putting something up online soon. At the end of the day, we pitched a very abstract concept, and managed to get an absolute boatload of people to sign up to volunteer to pitch in and help with the project.nbsp; Since the night of the AWE meeting, we've since reached out to some of our VC and startup contacts in North Carolina, and they are interested in simultaneously launching the Startup Cloud concept in North Carolina as well. We have been woefully behind in our reaching out to those who have volunteered to help.nbsp; Thanks for your patience! More soon ... Enjoy! Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-40-value-plus-ventures/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-40-value-plus-ventures/#comments Sun, 24 May 2009 03:44:46 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=107 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-40-value-plus-ventures/feed/ 2 90:47 Welcome to SL #40! There have been a number of new venture funds cropping up in Atlanta lately, which is helping to propel Atlanta's early ... Welcome to SL #40! There have been a number of new venture funds cropping up in Atlanta lately, which is helping to propel Atlanta's early stage scene.nbsp; One of those funds, Value Plus Ventures (co-founded by former Noro-Moseley partner Steve Nusrallah), has entered the market with a very unique, hybrid venture model.nbsp; There have been a lot of questions floating around about the viability and credibility of their model, so we invited VPV partner Lee Provow to come on and share their story.nbsp; We're not big fans of the "consultative" venture model, but I'll tell you, we were pleasantly surprised with what we learned. Unblakeable brings the heat behind the wheel of the bus, this time knocking some pretenders silly.nbsp; And, to commemorate Memorial Day, Scott spontaneously bursts into song with an acappella stadium rendition of the Star Spangled Banner (yes, lol - that is really Scott singing - your call as to whether it is comedy, tragedy, or both). Another great selection of listener emails and a dash of StartupLounge humor to top it all off. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us the 30-second elevator pitch on Value Plus Ventures Describe your consulting/investing hybrid model The model sounds as if you invest in companies with the result that they turn around and pay you for consulting fees?nbsp; Is that an accurate picture? How does the hybrid model differ from any active early stage investment firm's model? Are there other investment firms that have had success with a similar model? Have you found the model makes it harder or easier to do deals? Why did you choose that model? Your web site mentions that VPV will look at deals across most any sector ndash; but are there sectors or trends that are of particular interest to you right now? Can you talk about some deals that VPV has done recently? Was it hard to raise this fund, given the economic climate? What is the story you tell potential limited partners that excites them about investing in Georgia and the Southeastern US? How long does your deal evaluation process take? How do deals generally find you? What is the impact of the current economic climate on your investing behavior? What impact is the current economic climate having on your portfolio companies? What advice do you give to entrepreneurs regarding addressing the current economic environment? What impact is the current economic climate having on your deal flow? What is the VPV view of the Atlanta and Southeast early stage venture scene right now? When looking at a deal or an entrepreneur, what gets you very excited? When dealing with you guys, whatrsquo;s one thing thatrsquo;s an absolute no-no? How involved are you day to day with your portfolio companies? If you were to ldquo;sellrdquo; yourself to an entrepreneur to take you on as an investor, what do you think is your biggest selling point? What is a piece of advice you would give to new early-stage investors? If you could change something in the environment to make your jobs easier, what would that be? What is the best way to get an opportunity in front of you? If you were to give one piece of advice to entrepreneurs that might want to approach you for capital, what would that be? Listener Emails Read and Answered on the Show: Bill: I have reached the point where I am talking to an angel investor about my project. They are interested and trying to evaluate whether my invention has the potential to succeed. O.K. thatrsquo;s greathellip; but my mind is reeling, what happens next? What are the next steps to when an ange... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-39-atdc-entrepreneur-showcase-2009/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-39-atdc-entrepreneur-showcase-2009/#comments Sat, 23 May 2009 04:14:26 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=106 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-39-atdc-entrepreneur-showcase-2009/feed/ 0 83:47 Welcome to SL #39! In the spring of each year the StartupLounge crew packs up our studio and heads down to midtown Atlanta and records ... Welcome to SL #39! In the spring of each year the StartupLounge crew packs up our studio and heads down to midtown Atlanta and records live on location at the ATDC's yearly Entrepreneur Showcase event. This is always a wonderful event which features a new wave of graduating technology companies, and a new class of up and comers. This is our third year covering the event, and the energy this year was through the roof. Recorded live on-location at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Atlanta, May 29th, 2009. Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes: Guests on this show included: Cindy Cheatham, ATDC Andy Ibbotson, Synthis Jonathan Goldman, Platform Technology Ventures (in addition to discussing Suniva and VentureLab, Jon addresses the rumor that is going around about Stephen Fleming's choice of apparel in the office) Melanie Brandt, Technology Economic Development, Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce.nbsp; Melanie stops by to chat about CCP Games/EVE Online and the gaming initiatives happening in Gwinnett County.nbsp; She also drops a clue about Asante Bradford's recent trip to Korea to scope the gaming scene and do some recruiting. Bart Foster, SoloHealth (startup spun out of Ciba Vision/Novartis), joined briefly by Lance Weatherby (ATDC) - discussing SoloHealth, bootstrapping the company with involvement from customers and partners, fund raising in the current economy John Willis, CloudCamp , discussing CloudCamp, Amazon's EC2 cloud solution, Twitpay, Hadoop, Erlang/Map Reduce, and Atlanta as a cloud market. Adam Wexler, Rank'em (new music startup coming out of University of Georgia), talks about Rank'em, as well as the challenges that UGA entrepreneurs face living an hour and a half from Atlanta, and often in the shadow of Georgia Tech, how he recruited a technical team to work with him (he isn't a developer), placed second in UGA's Top Entrepreneur competition, Jon Birdsong, another UGA grad and founder of Relate Media, talks about what is happening at UGA/Athens Jeff McConnell, Atlanta-based angel investor and one of the key members of AngelLounge - talks about the current angel investing landscape in Atlanta and the Southeast. Todd Merrill, Global Crypto Systems, talks about the progress of his company since joining the ATDC last June Charles Ross (Director, ATDC), reflects on the day's events, and provides an update on the ATDC seed fund and the new GRA (Georgia Research Alliance) seed fund Chris Hanks (Director of the University of Georgia's Entrepreneurship Program), talks about UGA's Top Entrepreneur competition and the latest happenings in Athens Miscellany: Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player. We welcome your continued feedback as well! If you have an interest in appearing on the show, becoming a show sponsor, have some suggestions for topics, have feedback, or would just like to email us and tell us to "shove off", we invite you to contact us. And don't forget - the StartupLounge.com message forums are a great resource for fast-growth entrepreneurs. If you need help with any aspect of your venture, we welcome you to jump in and get the help you need! Enjoy! Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-38-intersouth-partners/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-38-intersouth-partners/#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:12:59 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=104 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-38-intersouth-partners/feed/ 0 92:24 Welcome to SL #38! In our first broadcast from our new recording home in the plush new offices of HA#38;W (a staunch sponsor and advocate ... Welcome to SL #38! In our first broadcast from our new recording home in the plush new offices of HA#38;W (a staunch sponsor and advocate of our efforts here at StartupLounge), we sat down and a fantastic chat with John Glushik of Intersouth Partners.nbsp; In addition to the staple series of questions we ask of every investor that appears on the show, we also had a very interesting discussion comparing the similarities and differences of the startup scenes in North Carolina and Georgia.nbsp; We hit a number of other topics as well, including Intersouth's investment in Atlanta-based Purewire, and some of the ramifications of cloud-computing and SaaS models. The bus is back, and man is the driver upset.nbsp; Scott brings the hammer down on another misguided service provider who recently took advantage of a local entrepreneur. Another great selection of listener emails and a dash of StartupLounge humor to top it all off. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us the 30-second elevator pitch on Intersouth Partners Why does Intersouth have a large geographic investing area (primarily the Southeast U.S)? What are the challenges of investing out-of-state for Intersouth, and how do they impact how you do business? Why do more early-stage investors seem to be more comfortable with investing outside their immediate area? What is attractive about Georgia to Intersouth, and what types of deal flow do you see here? How does the deal flow you see in North Carolina contrast to that coming from Georgia? How does the general preparedness of entrepreneurs in North Carolina contrast to that of Georgia? Where do most of your investment opportunities come from, and what is the best way to get a deal in front of you? In which Atlanta-area companies has Intersouth made investments? What is Intersouth doing to establish a name or presence in the local market? Why is it that a number of North Carolina venture capital firms appear to be actively developing a presence in Georgia? Do you see any Georgia investors doing deals in North Carolina? How active or strong is the angel investment community in North Carolina and Georgia? Do you any regional or local trends in deal valuations? Do terms and valuations for investments in Georgia differ significantly from those in the other states where you operate? Do you agree with the common perception that there is insufficient capital available in Georgia to fund good opportunities? What are some characteristics in our market that make Georgia more challenging than other states? Are there things we can do better? Are there certain business models that you see evolving within the technology space that are of interest to you right now? What mistakes do you see entrepreneurs with SaaS deals make? How do taking advantage of things like cloud-computing factor into deal quality? Can you walk us through your investment in Atlanta-based Purewire? Tell us one mistake that entrepreneurs make that is an instant turn-off? How is Intersouth responding to the current economic environment? What are you advising entrepreneurs to do as they react to the economy? What is the one piece of advice you'd like to leave with entrepreneurs listening to this show ? Listener Emails Read and Answered on the Show: Kevin (from Michigan): I am loving the show and think you guys are doing an awesome job. I stumbled across your Podcast a few weeks ago while searching for an entrepreneur/venture capital educational program. The first show I listened to was Angels in Atlanta, from then on I was hooked. I then started listening from... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-37-shotput-ventures/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-37-shotput-ventures/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:22:49 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=102 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-37-shotput-ventures/feed/ 1 83:03 Welcome to SL #37! There has been quite a bit of discussion over the past year or so about the possibilities of a Y-Combinator type ... Welcome to SL #37! There has been quite a bit of discussion over the past year or so about the possibilities of a Y-Combinator type venture fund here in the Southeast. After a few failed efforts (notably Boostphase), we finally have one off the ground here in Atlanta.nbsp; David Cummings and Sanjay Parekh, two of the founders of Shotput Ventures join us for a chat about this new venture model, the Atlanta early-stage scene, and other things that melt in the sun. Mike brings the heat and rolls the bus over a group of entrepreneurs that just can't seem to understand the value of someone else's time. Another great selection of listener emails and a dash of StartupLounge humor to top it all off. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch Have you modeled yourselves after any other funds or investors with a similar profile? Why do we need Shotput Ventures here in Atlanta/Georgia? Why did you start Shotput? Are you investing only in Atlanta-based or Georgia-based companies? Talk about the Shotput Ventures model.nbsp; Take us through your process? How can such a small amount of cash ($15,000-$20,000 per venture, depending on team size) make an impact? How did you come up with a 5-10% share? Where are you getting your deal flow? How many submissions have you had so far? How do you evaluate the opportunities? Where are you in the fund operating process?nbsp; Are you meeting the timeline provided on your site? What are the keys to making Shotput Ventures successful? Now that you're investors, what are you learning about the market or the investing business? Can you talk a bit about how you recruited the handful of principals behind Shotput? How does setting a finite end date (August 10) alter or impact your investing model?nbsp; Why do you have a finite end date? Is the economy affecting your model at all? If this is successful, will there be a Shotput II? How is the rest of the venture community responding? What will define success for Shotput Ventures? What are your thoughts on the Atlanta startup scene? Listener Emails Read and Answered on the Show: Dale: Gentlemen, first off I want to thank you for all that Startuplounge does for the community in Atlanta.nbsp; I appreciate the efforts and look forward to thanking you personally at the upcoming February event.nbsp; I am getting very close to launching my own startup as a first-time entrepreneur.nbsp; I know that bootstrapping will only take me so far, and I will probably need to raise a small round of outside capital at some point.nbsp; I know that before any investor puts their cash into a deal they go through what is called ldquo;due diligencerdquo;.nbsp; I am petrified of this, as I have never been through it before.nbsp; Can you shed any light on this process, and specifically what Irsquo;m going to be in for? BigSkyCountry: If all I have is an idea, is there a resource such as an incubator that willnbsp; help me put together the technical team to help bring it to life? ldquo;YellowJacketrdquo; Mark: Scott and Mike I love this podcast!nbsp; hellip; my question: what makes a great company name these days?nbsp; Irsquo;m stuck, please help. Roberto: Everyone says that a ldquo;downrdquo; market is a great time to start a company, especially if you have the wherewithall and the means to float the business.nbsp; But what if you donrsquo;t have the cash?nbsp; Should I just go get a steady day job right now and play the waiting game until the economy stabilizes and I have some more cash available personally?nbsp; Irsquo;m worried that investors are o... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-36-startuplounge-documentary/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-36-startuplounge-documentary/#comments Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:52:39 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=101 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-36-startuplounge-documentary/feed/ 2 http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-35-a-conversation-with-frontier-capital/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-35-a-conversation-with-frontier-capital/#comments Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:33:32 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=100 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-35-a-conversation-with-frontier-capital/feed/ 0 65:39 Welcome to SL #35! We kicked off the 2009 podcast season with a great chat with Joel Lanik of Frontier Capital out of Charlotte, North ... Welcome to SL #35! We kicked off the 2009 podcast season with a great chat with Joel Lanik of Frontier Capital out of Charlotte, North Carolina.nbsp; Frontier is one of many regional venture capital funds that routinely visits Atlanta in search of new deals.nbsp; In addition to talking about their newly closed venture fund, we spoke about the current state of the economy, and the impact it is having on their fund and their portfolio companies. The 2009 TAG/GRA Business Launch Competition is coming up, and we discussed it in the opening of the show.nbsp; "Under the Bus" or "Look Who Gets It?" - Tune in to find out!nbsp; Mike also challenges Scott to a startup mentoring challenge for charity (the gloves are off now, folks). Another great selection of listener emails and a dash of StartupLounge humor to top it all off. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch Can you tell us about your recent closing of Frontier's latest venture fund? Was it hard to raise this fund, given the current economic climate? What is the story you tell potential limited partners that excites them about investing in Georgia and the Southeastern US? Do you have meaningful competition for deal flow? What's the wackiest deal that's been pitched to you? Could you highlight a success story of which yoursquo;re particularly proud? What is attractive to you about the Atlanta market? When you receive an opportunity and yoursquo;re inclined to pursue it, what is your process for examining that opportunity? On average, how long does it take to get you from that starting point to an agreement on an investment? Whatrsquo;s your overall assessment of the Atlanta early stage market? Is it improving, and if so, how do you see that? What is the impact of the current economic climate on your investing behavior? What impact is the current economic climate having on your portfolio companies? How are valuations holding up given the bad economic outlook? What advice do you give to entrepreneurs regarding addressing the current economic environment? What impact is the current economic climate having on your deal flow? How many opportunities do you get exposed to a year and how many investments do you make? When dealing with you guys, whatrsquo;s one thing thatrsquo;s an absolute no-no? How involved are you day to day with your portfolio companies? If you were to ldquo;sellrdquo; yourself to an entrepreneur to take you on as an investor, what do you think is your biggest selling point? What is a piece of advice you would give to new early-stage investors? If you could change something in the environment to make your jobs easier, what would that be? What is the best way to get an opportunity in front of you? If you were to give one piece of advice to entrepreneurs that might want to approach you for capital, what would that be? Listener Emails Read and Answered on the Show: Gia: Gia: Hey guys love the show!nbsp; Irsquo;ve heard you guys use the phrase ldquo;cram downrdquo; several times in past shows. What the heck does it mean? Cassandra: Cassandra: Scott and Mike, I am starting up a new company and as part of this I am trying to put together a detailed breakdown of my target market.nbsp; It seems that the data is readily available out there if I am willing to pay for it.nbsp; I am bootstrapping this company by working two jobs, sometimes three.nbsp; Whatrsquo;s a poor girl to do?nbsp; I canrsquo;t afford to spend thousands of dollars on marketing reports.nbsp; Help! ImTakingoff: I am moving forward with filing a series of patents around my ... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-34-ken-stewart-commissioner-georgia-department-of-economic-development/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-34-ken-stewart-commissioner-georgia-department-of-economic-development/#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:07:51 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=99 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-34-ken-stewart-commissioner-georgia-department-of-economic-development/feed/ 2 65:13 Welcome to SL #34 (originally recorded on 12-15-2008)! We thought a great way to close out the 2008 year would be to sit down with ... Welcome to SL #34 (originally recorded on 12-15-2008)! We thought a great way to close out the 2008 year would be to sit down with someone who can provide some valuable insights for Georgia-based entrepreneurs who are looking at an uncertain economic climate in 2009.nbsp; We sat down and had a nice chat with Ken Stewart, the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.nbsp; We talk about a smattering of topics, ranging from their position on SB-80 to Georgia's view on the current startup environment within the State. Scott hops behind the wheel of the bus and plows over some silly entrepreneurs who just can't seem to practice the fundamentals.nbsp; At the end of the podcast, we drop a tease on a new type of event we are planning for 2009. Another batch of your emails and a musical ballad that speaks to the impact of offshoring jobs round out another great show. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us your elevator pitch for the Georgia Department of Economic Development Please give us your elevator pitch How did you hear about StartupLounge? Why is startup/venture entrepreneurship important to you and to the state government? What is your assessment of the Georgia startup/venture environment? What is a realistic role that you think the government can/should play in encouraging entrepreneurship? What are some programs that the GA Dept of Economic Development is supporting to promote entrepreneurship Are there any programs in the works or changes to existing programs that yoursquo;re excited about? What is your position on SB 80 that would allow Georgia public pension funds to be invested in venture capital funds? Why has SB 80 been so hard to pass (the bill that would allow Georgia to join the other 49 states in investing small portions of its pension fund into alternative class investments such as venture capital funds)? How is the current economic environment changing your thinking or program implementation? Have any programs been curtailed or cut because of budget constraints arising from the current economic environment? How do you balance the needs of Atlanta with the needs of the rest of the state? If you had to choose one thing to change in the environment, what would it be? Are there any programs in other states you would like to emulate? Where would you like to see Georgia in 5 years in terms of being a home for entrepreneurship? Listener Emails Read and Answered on the Show: Barry: I love the StartupLounge way and our podcast has a permanent home on my playlist.nbsp; Keep up the good work!nbsp; My question is this:nbsp; I have recently begun a new startup venture, but do not yet have a ldquo;business planrdquo;. I donrsquo;t have any investors yet.nbsp; I have seen lots of business plan templates, and many of them have lots of things that are not really relevant to me at this stage in my venture (since Irsquo;m still just in the idea phase really).nbsp; When is the best time to really sit down and flesh out a full plan? GT2008: I have what I think is a really great idea and am beginning to get serious about it.nbsp; The play is basically an open source software play, with a business model around the platform.nbsp; What are some of the business risks of an open source company that I should be aware of now at this stage of my planning? Ari: Thanks for your efforts at StartupLounge!nbsp; I love what you are doing and it has been a huge help to me.nbsp; I am an Israeli-American, and am working on a new startup of my own.nbsp; I am considering approaching the American-Israeli Chamber of Commerce to see... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-33-atlantas-tech-operators/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-33-atlantas-tech-operators/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:53:51 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=98 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-33-atlantas-tech-operators/feed/ 0 81:58 Welcome to SL #33! We sat down and had a blast with Glenn McGonnigle, one of the founding partners of Atlanta's newest venture capital fund ... Welcome to SL #33! We sat down and had a blast with Glenn McGonnigle, one of the founding partners of Atlanta's newest venture capital fund - Tech Operators (founded by Glenn, Tom Noonan, David Gould, and Said Mohammadioun). We discussed a variety of things, including the details of the new fund, the landscape in the Southeast, and what types of plants Mike grows in his backyard for "medicinal purposes". The bus is back and ready to rumble with Mike at the wheel - this time, he plows headfirst into entrepreneurs who seem to think that circumventing AngelLounge and trying to get us to champion their deal is a good idea.nbsp; FAIL!nbsp; Mike also segues into a nice monologue on the angel perspective of the current economic downtrend.nbsp; Some great listener emails, a musical tribute to the $700B government bailout, and a sprinkling of StartupLounge humor round out another great show. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us your elevator pitch for Tech Operators Tell us about your recent closing of a new fund Was it hard to raise this fund, given the economic climate? Yoursquo;ve raised a virgin fund, which is very hard to do.nbsp; Why do you think you were so successful where many others have failed? What is the story you tell potential limited partners that excites them about investing in Georgia and the Southeastern US? Do you anticipate a great deal of competition for deal flow? When will the fund begin investing operations? You have four people on your founding team.nbsp; Have you identified particular strengths and roles? A lot of people have a view that Atlanta VCs, donrsquo;t have much of an interest in seeing true early-stage companies.nbsp; Their perception is that most regional VCs have moved upstream to more emerging growth type deals.nbsp; Are you observing something similar? When you receive an opportunity and yoursquo;re inclined to pursue it, what is your process for examining that opportunity? There seems to be a lot of venture fund raising activity here in Atlanta ndash; some existing venture players that have been dormant for a while are raising new funds (e.g. Kinetic, Noro-Moseley), and several new funds are in the works.nbsp; From your perspective, is this a positive thing for Atlanta or a negative thing for TechOperators? Recently, there was some commotion around the notion that some regional/local VCs are ldquo;spreadsheet jockeysrdquo;, meaning they tend to invest based on analytics and business models rather than a simple opportunity to create value in the marketplace without necessarily having an easily illustrated business model firmly in place. What is your take on this? On average, how long does it take to get you from that starting point to an agreement on an investment? What is the best way to get an opportunity in front of you? How many opportunities do you expect to look at each year and how many investments do you expect to make in a given year? When dealing with you guys, whatrsquo;s one thing thatrsquo;s an absolute no-no? How involved do you plan to be day to day with your portfolio companies? If you were to ldquo;sellrdquo; yourself to an entrepreneur to take you on as an investor, what do you think is your biggest selling point? What is a piece of advice you would give to new early-stage investors? If you could change something in the environment or ecosystem to make your job easier, what would that be? Whatrsquo;s your overall assessment of the Atlanta early stage market? Is it improving, and if so, how do you see that? If you were to give one piece of advice to entrepreneurs that... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-32-spotlight-accelereyes/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-32-spotlight-accelereyes/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:46:27 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=96 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-32-spotlight-accelereyes/feed/ 0 15:21 Welcome to SL #32! In the first of a new series of short podcasts at StartupLounge.com that focus on profiling early-stage companies in the Southeast, ... Welcome to SL #32! In the first of a new series of short podcasts at StartupLounge.com that focus on profiling early-stage companies in the Southeast, we sat down with John Melonakos, co-founder and CEO of Accelereyes.nbsp; These guys are a very cool new company here in Atlanta which provides some exciting technology that they believe will help usher in a new age of "personal supercomputing".nbsp; Aside from the discussion about the company itself, we also spoke a bit about their experiences in participating and ultimately winning the Georgia Tech Business Plan Competition for 2008. Of course, Scott does a great job in trying to completely derail the discussion, by trying to find some practical applications for this new technology, especially as it pertains to getting faster framerates while viewing porn online), as well as trying to convince Google to buy them.nbsp; Jeez! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Miscellany: Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player.nbsp; You can also take advantage of our iTunes feed. Podsafe music used within this episode: Neolith by Kevin MacLeod Work, Work, Bors23 from Germany All the Money in the World by Hutch Our format is a little out of the norm as far as podcasts go. We treat our efforts as a true "show" rather than a super-concise (limited) vehicle for delivery of information. Therefore, the podcasts can run a bit long (actually, it is largely driven by the guests and their responses.) While we try to have very substantive discussions, we also try to have a lot of fun along the way (and that tends to elongate the programming a wee bit.) :) Our theory is that if we are having fun during the show, hopefully, you will be having a little fun listening as well. A special thanks to John for coming in and hanging out with us! We welcome your continued feedback as well! If you have an interest in appearing on the show, becoming a show sponsor (hint, hint), have some suggestions for topics, have feedback, or would just like to email us and tell us to "shove off", we invite you to contact us. Enjoy! Event,Photos,,Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-31-dont-despair/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-31-dont-despair/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:15:18 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=95 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-31-dont-despair/feed/ 0 86:25 Welcome to SL #31! Join us for a very cool chat with Dr. Lawrence Kersten, the king of demotivation, and co-founder/COO of Despair.com.nbsp; He shares ... Welcome to SL #31! Join us for a very cool chat with Dr. Lawrence Kersten, the king of demotivation, and co-founder/COO of Despair.com.nbsp; He shares with us the fascinating (and hilarious) entrepreneurial story of Despair.com. Making lemonade from lemons is never easy, but these guys did it through viral marketing and persistence, and are rocking and rolling. We also talk a bit about Despair's trademark of the "frownie" symbol. The bus is back, and the finance guy brings the heat and rails about early-stage companies that get hung up on their valuation. Some great listener emails and a sprinkling of StartupLounge humor round out another great show. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us your elevator pitch for Despair.com It has been reported that, Despair Inc. was ldquo;inspiredrdquo; largely by the failed promises made to you and other employees by the Internet Startup for which you worked.nbsp; Can you tell us about that? What was the response from Successories to the creation of Despair.com? Itrsquo;s our understanding that you and co-founders Justin Sewell, and Justinrsquo;s twin brother Jeff come up with most of the material.nbsp; How much is ldquo;fan generatedrdquo;? Has anyone ever bought the Chairman Edition of the Art of Demotivation? Explain the Noble Employee Myth! At what point did you determine there was a business in de-motivational products? Did you require capital to get started?nbsp; If so, how much did you need and where did it come from? Is Despair.com a durable business?nbsp; Do you ever have fear that your success is just a fad? How has your business been impacted by the current economic instability? Who is your typical customer? Despair.com seems to be a viral phenomenon.nbsp; What allows a company to go viral?nbsp; Can it even be done on purpose? How do Vodcasting and blogging fit into your marketing strategy and can you disclose how many viewers/readers you have? Your ldquo;frownyrdquo; trademark sent ripples through the intellectual property world.nbsp; Is that trademark ever seriously challenged? Have you ever thought about sending ldquo;Despairrdquo; packages to Fannie Mae or Lehman or Washington Mutual? Do you still have only four employees (the three founders?).nbsp; How do you run so lean?nbsp; Or rather, what about your model is so scalable? The Despair Inc. products have enjoyed popularity ndash; enough to make you some money.nbsp;nbsp; Does that say anything about our society or is that over-thinking the issue? Do you ever get asked to speak and if so, to which events are you invited? Which was the first de-motivator theme? Whatrsquo;s the best selling de-motivator theme/topic? Whatrsquo;s next for Despair, Inc? Listener Emails Read and Answered on the Show: Aby: I have an idea that came to me in Walmart yesterday. I spoke to a friend of mine last night, and he improved on the idea, to the point where we both believe it could be a viable product. I am not an engineer or a technician - I simply have an entrepreneurial mind. My question to you is simple, what do I do next?? John Kellogg: Just thought I would say how much I appreciate StartupLounge.nbsp; I just listened to the Noro podcast today and enjoy your ability as well as Mike's, to interject humor into a very serious conversation.nbsp; Entrepreneurs are able to gain real insight from top professionals in your "most unusual" setting.nbsp; Thanks again and I look forward to meeting you tomorrow night at CapitalLounge. Michael: We have never met. I live in Alpharetta. I have a friend who is retired and developed a unique outd... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-30-catalyst-magazine-panel-on-raising-capital/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-30-catalyst-magazine-panel-on-raising-capital/#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:15:39 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=91 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-30-catalyst-magazine-panel-on-raising-capital/feed/ 0 68:40 Welcome to SL #30! Catalyst Magazine recently hosted a panel on "Raising Capital" at The Vinings Club here in Atlanta. The panel featured Greg ... Welcome to SL #30! Catalyst Magazine recently hosted a panel on "Raising Capital" at The Vinings Club here in Atlanta. The panel featured Greg Foster (Noro-Moseley Partners), Brian Patrick Cork (Brian Cork Human Capital), and Braxton Jarratt (CEO, ClearLeap). Catalyst asked StartupLounge to moderate the panel, which we were more than happy to do. We were angling for a "dual moderator" format, where Scott and Mike could take pot shots at each other all night, but sadly, with only a 45 minute session, we decided that one moderator would be a better format (in the interest of time). Sadly, the crowd got stuck with Scott moderating. It's the million-dollar question. Whether your company is encountering consistent annual revenue growth, or you're just tired of bootstrapping your start-up, how does an entrepreneur find capital to grow a small business? On September 11th, Catalyst magazine is proud to present a featured panel of experts who will guide you on understanding how to find funds in this tough economic climate. Learn from local entrepreneurs who have raised millions of dollars in recent investment rounds. Find out from top local investors what they perceive as a bankable business. Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Sample Panel Questions: Introduction by Drew Ermenc, Associate Publisher and Editor, Catalyst Magazine A lot has been written on the challenges of raising early-stage capital in the Atlanta market. Can you give us your view on where we were say 5 years ago, where we are today, and what the future holds here? What makes up the criteria for a good deal from the regional VC perspective? What are some of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when looking for capital? Any particular big No-No's? ClearLeap is a rising star in the Atlanta technology sector having just raised a $9M outside round of capital. Atlanta certainly has its challenges when it comes to early-stage capital. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in raising capital for Clearleap? Many entrepreneurs are great at building innovation, but not great at building relationships. Could you speak on the importance of relationships and networking within the investment community and how it might benefit those looking for investors? Before you joined Noro-Moseley Partners you did ldquo;strategic venturingrdquo; at Turner Broadcasting. Is this a viable path for early-stage companies, and what does that process look like from the entrepreneurrsquo;s perspective? Braxton, your last round of funding was a $9M raise. You had a mix of investors in on the deal ndash; the deal was co-led by Noro-Moseley Partners here in Atlanta, and Trinity Ventures on the West coast. You also had participation by Sig Mosley (Imlay Investments) and Jim Chiddix, the former CTO of Time Warner Cable. Was there a difference in the process, expectations, etc, between angels, the West Coast venture capital and the East Coast venture capital? How did you bring all of these folks together to do the deal? Mitch Free, founder of MFG.com and the Catalyst November speaker, recently told Drew (and StartupLounge.com podcast listeners) that his best advice would be to "keep your head down, build your business, grow your business and the money will come to you." Would you agree or disagree to this? It is my view that a lot of deals that get passed on could be better deals with some tweaking on the part of the entrepreneur. What should entrepreneurs do to make their companies attractive to A) Angels and B) Venture capitalists? Are there some things they can do to make their deal a ldquo;cleanerrdquo; one for outside investors? Investors have the luxury of seeing lots of deals through the course of their work, and they are very selective in their investments. In your view, what... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-29-getting-engaged-with-noro-moseley/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-29-getting-engaged-with-noro-moseley/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:50:46 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=90 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-29-getting-engaged-with-noro-moseley/feed/ 2 91:47 Welcome to SL #29! We recently sat down with Alan Taetle of Noro-Moseley Partners, one of the largest venture capital firms in the Southeast. nbsp; ... Welcome to SL #29! We recently sat down with Alan Taetle of Noro-Moseley Partners, one of the largest venture capital firms in the Southeast. nbsp; Joining him was Greg Foster, who recently joined Noro after driving the corporate venture arm of Turner Broadcasting. If you want to know what drives Noro, and these two investors in particular, you'll want to tune in. We also talked about a smattering of other things, including Appcelerator's departure from Atlanta and spreadsheet jockeys. Another group of pathetic entrepreneurs get tossed under the bus ... firmly. Some great listener emails and a sprinkling of StartupLounge humor round out another great show. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors - without them, we simply couldn't do all of the things we do. Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us your elevator pitch for Noro-Moseley Partners Tell us about your recent closing of a new fund Was it hard to raise this fund, given the economic climate? What is the story you tell potential limited partners that excites them about investing in Georgia and the Southeastern US? How would a legislative bill like SB-80 help a fund like Noro-Moseley? Do you have meaningful competition for deal flow? Could you highlight a success story of which yoursquo;re particularly proud? Whatrsquo;s your take on Appceleratorrsquo;s departure from Atlanta? A lot of people have a view that Atlanta VCs, like NMP, donrsquo;t have much of an interest in seeing true early-stage companies. Their perception is that most regional VCs have moved upstream to more emerging growth type deals. Can you clarify NMPs position in this area? Greg you recently made the move from working in corporate venture capital with Turner to a traditional venture capital firm. What challenges did you face in making that change, and how are you finding the transition? When you receive an opportunity and yoursquo;re inclined to pursue it, what is your process for examining that opportunity? There seems to be a lot of venture fund raising activity here in Atlanta ndash; some existing venture players that have been dormant for a while are raising new funds (e.g. Kinetic), and several new funds are in the works. From Nororsquo;s perspective, is this a positive thing for Atlanta or a negative thing for Noro? Recently, there was a big flap in the Atlanta blogging scene around the notion that some regional/local VCs are ldquo;spreadsheet jockeysrdquo;, meaning they tend to invest based on analytics and business models rather than a simple opportunity to create value in the marketplace without necessarily having an easily illustrated business model firmly in place. What is NMPrsquo;s view on this? On average, how long does it take to get you from that starting point to an agreement on an investment? What is the best way to get an opportunity in front of you? How many opportunities do you get exposed to a year and how many investments do you make? When dealing with you guys, whatrsquo;s one thing thatrsquo;s an absolute no-no? How involved are you day to day with your portfolio companies? If you were to ldquo;sellrdquo; yourself to an entrepreneur to take you on as an investor, what do you think is your biggest selling point? What is a piece of advice you would give to new early-stage investors? If you could change something in the environment or ecosystem to make your jobs easier, what would that be? Whatrsquo;s your overall assessment of the Atlanta early stage market? Is it improving, and if so, how do you see that? If you were to give one piece of advice to entrepreneurs that might want to approach you for capital, what would that be? Listener Emails Read and Answered on ... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-28-angels-in-atlanta/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-28-angels-in-atlanta/#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:20:15 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=89 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-28-angels-in-atlanta/feed/ 3 71:33 Welcome to SL #28! Join us for a great chat with two of Atlanta's most well known angel investors. Sig Mosley and Charlie Paparelli ... Welcome to SL #28! Join us for a great chat with two of Atlanta's most well known angel investors. Sig Mosley and Charlie Paparelli joined us for a intriguing deep dive into the angel environment in Atlanta. If you are seeking angel-level capital in Atlanta, you owe it to yourself to tune in and listen to their insights. We think you'll find that angels come in different flavors - while Charlie and Sig both invest in early-stage companies, they each have a fairly unique approach. Wanna know what makes these guys tick? Tune in! A lot of positive things are starting to happen here in the Southeast, so the bus stays in the garage while we talk about some more folks that seem to "get it". Some great listener emails and a sprinkling of StartupLounge humor round out another great show. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show (Sig and Charlie both gave their thoughts on each question): Give us your elevator pitch for Imlay Investments Give us your elevator pitch for Paparelli Ventures Tell us why you invest in early-stage companies? What was the point at which you decided to make investments in early-stage companies? When you receive an opportunity and yoursquo;re inclined to pursue it, what is your process for examining that opportunity? On average, how long does it take to get you from that starting point to an agreement on an investment? What is the best way to get an opportunity in front of you? How many opportunities do you get exposed to a year and how many investments do you make? Is the current economic outlook changing your investment behavior or desire? What are the most important changes in the Atlanta investing environment in the last 15 years? Do you collaborate with other early-stage investors and if so, how often and how closely? When dealing with you guys, whatrsquo;s one thing thatrsquo;s an absolute no-no? How involved are you day to day with your portfolio companies? If you were to "sell" yourself to an entrepreneur to take you on as an investor, what do you think is your biggest selling point? What is a piece of advice you would give to new early-stage investors? If you could change something in the environment to make your jobs easier, what would that be? If you were to give one piece of advice to entrepreneurs that might want to approach you for capital, what would that be? Listener Emails Read and Answered on the Show: Chase: Irsquo;m a high school student in Charlotte NC and I really enjoy listening to this podcast. I have a question for you guys. Which would you recommend to someone my age who is interested in being an entrepreneur at some point: working in a big company or joining a startup? I am trying to plot my career path and could use some guidance! TechSquare: On one of your recent podcasts Mike made a reference to why it might be good to start a business in a down market (i.e. a recession). Can you elaborate on this? Cevans: I just became aware of StartupLounge and I'm very pleased to see this type of online community right in my backyard. I look forward to interacting as a member. Herersquo;s my question: Are serviced-based companies welcomed amongst VC circles or are product companies king? I do a fair amount of reading/research on start-up ventures and most of the activity, interest, involvement, etc. seems to focus on products. I've been an independent consultant/contractor for nearly 10 years and have done well individually, but have always seemed to struggle taking the next step with ideas or concepts for introducing a service to market. Are there any suggestions as to the approach I should take as a service provider? In a nutshell, my company's focus is o... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-27-from-bootstrapping-to-entrepreneur-of-the-year/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-27-from-bootstrapping-to-entrepreneur-of-the-year/#comments Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:11:31 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=87 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-27-from-bootstrapping-to-entrepreneur-of-the-year/feed/ 4 85:45 Welcome to SL #27! Join us for a great repeat visit with Mitch Free, founder and CEO of MFG.com. A lot has been ... Welcome to SL #27! Join us for a great repeat visit with Mitch Free, founder and CEO of MFG.com. A lot has been happening with MFG since Mitch was on over a year ago. MFG facilitated roughly $5B in transactions in the first five years of operation. Now, they're cranking out $2B in transactions each month. INSANE! Mitch was recently announced as a finalist for Ernst and Young's 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year. Besides chatting with us about MFG, Atlanta, and his angel investing activities, Mitch broke the news and gave us some insights into next big project. He also answers the questions we all want to know the answers to: is MFG staying in Atlanta? What Atlanta startups is he particularly excited about? Who picks up the tab when he lunches with his repeat investor Jeff Bezos? The bus takes a break during this show, as Mike dishes out a little love in a "Look Who Gets It" segment. Some great listener emails and a sprinkling of StartupLounge humor round out another great show. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related follow-up questions and side discussions, but here is a good sampling of the questions we asked on the show: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch for MFG.com Tell us about what's happened with MFG.com since our last podcast. You've had a chance to work with Jeff Bezos (or at least his people) for over a year. How has having him specifically as an investor helped MFG.com? How big a deal is being the regional winner of E#38;Y's Entrepreneur of the Year and a national finalist to you personally and to the company? Talk about the process of earning that honor. What are the things you like least about being where you are now? Are there any side projects you're working on other the the company? (breaking news!) How big a challenge is the current economy for MFG.com and what are some things you are doing to react to those challenges? What were the key challenges that growth posed and how have you addressed them? You were a relatively late life-stage entrepreneur - what were some of the challenges you had to face by starting MFG when you did as opposed to when you were 20? How did you prepare for entrepreneurship at that stage? What do you think about the Atlanta early stage investment climate today? Has it changed since we last spoke? Do you think it would have been easier/harder to raise money for a company like MFG.com now? What trends in manufacturing are impacting MFG? Are there companies in Atlanta that you see that are ones we should keep an eye on? What does MFG look like in 5 years? Guest Bio: Mitch Free is the founder and CEO of MFG.com, an online global operating platform for the manufacturing industry. Prior to founding MFG.com, Mitch was founder and CEO of 3DATUM, a provider of technology solutions for the manufacturing and engineering communities. Mitch, an Atlanta-native, began his career on the shop floor and has worked his way to the top of the manufacturing industry. He holds two patents and is recognized among his peers for his strategic vision, domain expertise and creative management style. Mitch belongs to the Atlanta Technology Angels, a private group that actively seeks investments in early stage technology companies based in Atlanta. Inc. Magazine named him an "Entrepreneur of the Year" finalist in 2005, and under his leadership MFG.com was ranked by Deloitte and Touche as one of the top technology growth companies in the U.S., and in the top 10 technology growth companies in Georgia. He was recently named by Ernst and Young as Entrepreneur of the Year for 2008 (Georgia/Alabama/Tennessee region). Miscellany: Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or do Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-26-inside-corporate-venture-capital-with-ups/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-26-inside-corporate-venture-capital-with-ups/#comments Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:10:55 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=86 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-26-inside-corporate-venture-capital-with-ups/feed/ 0 83:31 Welcome to SL #26! Traditional venture capital firms tend to get the bulk of the publicity, but corporate America has long played a big ... Welcome to SL #26! Traditional venture capital firms tend to get the bulk of the publicity, but corporate America has long played a big role in funding early stage companies. In fact, 20% of all early stage capital comes from strategic investors like UPS, Intel, IBM, Turner Broadcasting, and others. Contrary to popular belief, UPS isn't interested only in logistics deals, but rather anything that could affect their industry. Join us for a great conversation with Alan Koenning, who runs United Parcel Service's Strategic Enterprise Fund. Of course, a good batch of your emails, a quick bus ride (powered by a steroid-laden Mike Blake rant), and a dash of humor round out another great show. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related followup questions, but here is a good sampling of the discussion: Give us the 30-second elevator pitch for the UPS Strategic Venture Fund Can you talk about how a corporate venturing fund differs from traditional private equity/venture funds? What makes the UPS Strategic Fund different from other corporate venturing funds? How does the fact yoursquo;re accountable to a larger corporate entity as opposed to limited partners shape your investing behavior? What kinds of opportunities get you the most excited? Is the current economic climate (high fuel prices, weakening consumer purchasing power) impacting your investing processes and strategies? Are there any important strategic or technological trends you are seeing in UPSrsquo;s business space? What is the most exciting technological advance yoursquo;ve observed in UPSrsquo;s space in the last 5 years? How many opportunities does your organization receive a month? How many investment professionals work at the UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund? At any given time, how many deals are you looking at seriously? Can you talk about your investment evaluation process? How do most investment opportunities find you? Who are some venture funds that invest in spaces that are relevant to what UPS is doing or trying to do? Your web site states that you prefer to co-invest with a venture capital fund and where the VC is the lead investor. Why is that? What role do you play with the company after the investment? Could you highlight a success story of which yoursquo;re particularly proud? What are some key mistakes for companies seeking capital from you to avoid? Whatrsquo;s your overall assessment of the Atlanta early stage market? Is it improving, and if so, how do you see that? What is the best way for a company seeking funding to approach you? Guest Bio: Alan Koenning (pronounced "kenning") is the Fund Manager for the UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund. The UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund is the private equity strategic investment arm of UPS. The Fund is a corporate venture capital group which focuses on developing critical partnerships and acquiring knowledge returns from its investments in information technology companies and emerging market-spaces. Alanrsquo;s responsibilities include working with various UPS departments and business units in identifying areas of strategic interest, researching potential investments, negotiating agreements and acting as a corporate liaison with Fund companies. Alan has been with UPS for over 17 years including assignments in Corporate UPS, UPS e-Ventures, and UPS Supply Chain Solutions. He graduated from Duke University and has an MBA from the University of Georgia. Miscellany: Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player. Links referenced within this episode: UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund Podsafe music used within this episode: ... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-25-capventure-and-global-crypto-systems/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-25-capventure-and-global-crypto-systems/#comments Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:00:58 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=85 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-25-capventure-and-global-crypto-systems/feed/ 3 64:08 Welcome to SL #25! This show focuses on what is turning out to be an incredibly successful program launched by the ATDC. CapVenture is ... Welcome to SL #25! This show focuses on what is turning out to be an incredibly successful program launched by the ATDC. CapVenture is a very unique training program that aims to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tactics used to raise venture funding. Many of the CapVenture graduates have gone on to raise capital (including several companies that are part of the StartupLounge community). Lance Weatherby (ATDC) and Todd Merrill (CEO of Global Crypto Systems) join us a for an in-depth look at the program. While not discussed in the podcast, a little bird told us that the ATDC is offering a small discount for anyone mentioning StartupLounge.com in the application process. Better hurry though - the application deadline is July 15th, 2008! And of course, it wouldn't be a StartupLounge podcast without a joyful bus ride. Scott brings the heat and throws a certain group of entrepreneurs under the bus with full malice aforethought. Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related followup questions, but here is a good sampling of the discussion: Lance Weatherby: Give us your elevator pitch for the ATDC What has the ATDC been up to since your last appearance? Who's gonna be the new ATDC Director? What's changed in the Atlanta early stage market in the last year or so? What is CapVenture all about? How do you measure if the CapVenture program is successful? Are there some success stories that have come out of CapVenture? Who are good candidates for CapVenture? It costs between $300 and $500 to participate in CapVenture (with scholarships a possibility for half). Why is it necessary to charge for this program? Couldn't it (shouldn't it be free?) What makes CapVenture different from other entrepreneurial education programs? What are is CapVenture doing differently this year from years past? Todd Merrill: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch for Global Crypto Systems You've been a participant in CapVenture. What did you get out of the program? Was there a tipping point during your CapVenture participation? What are some tips you have for entrepreneurs that plan to participate in CapVenture so that they can gain the greatest value? We understand that you recently raised capital. Can you give us any details? How did you find investors and at what point did you start getting traction with them? We heard a vicious rumor that StartupLounge contributed to your capital raising process - can you elaborate? Guest Bios: Lance Weatherby is currently a Venture Catalyst with the ATDC. He is the former Chief Marketing Officer for Ciphertrust, and before that served as an EVP for Earthlink, where he focused on mobile products/services. Prior to EarthLink, Lance served as EVP Sales/Marketing for Mindspring. Lance is also a prominent voice for early-stage ventures in the Southeast. Todd Merrill is CEO of Global Crypto Systems, an Atlanta-based e-transaction security company. Earlier this year, Global Crypto was named by TAG as one of the top 40 Most Innovative Companies in Georgia, and was featured at ATDCrsquo;s CapVenture program. Prior to joining Global Crypto, Todd was Director of Acquisitions at Alpha Property Holdings, a real estate company, and held management and engineering positions at companies such as AirDefense, Ciena, PerformanceIT, Scientific Atlanta, BellSouth and AT#38;T. Todd earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Computer Engineering from the University of Florida. Miscellany: Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player. Links referenced within this episode: ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center) Globa... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-24-atdc-entrepreneur-showcase-2008/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-24-atdc-entrepreneur-showcase-2008/#comments Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:27:16 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=84 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-24-atdc-entrepreneur-showcase-2008/feed/ 0 99:34 Welcome to SL #24! Every year the Advanced Technology Development Center at Georgia Tech (ATDC) has a showcase event which features a new wave of ... Welcome to SL #24! Every year the Advanced Technology Development Center at Georgia Tech (ATDC) has a showcase event which features a new wave of graduating companies, and a new class of up and comers. This is our second year covering the event, and it keeps getting better each and every year. Recorded live at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Atlanta, May 15th, 2008. Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes: Guests on this show included: Stephen Fleming and Paul Freet, VentureLab Will Seippel, Worthpoint (a new ATDC company that was enticed to move to Atlanta from Virginia by the Georgia Department of Economic Development) Cindy Cheatham, ATDC Lance Weatherby, ATDC Andy Monin, VendorMate (2008 ATDC graduate) Elias Rodriguez, LCGI (2008 ATDC graduate) Margi Berbari, TI:GER Mike Orndorff and David Beck, Sentrinsic Todd Merrill (Global Crypto Systems) Radhika Subramanian (Emcien) (2008 ATDC graduate) Sanjay Parekh (StartupRiot) Drew Ermenc (Catalyst Magazine) Thomas Armstrong (Silicon Valley Bank) Shachar Oren (Neurotic Media) (2008 ATDC graduate) (also Lance Weatherby, ATDC) Miscellany: Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player. We welcome your continued feedback as well! If you have an interest in appearing on the show, becoming a show sponsor, have some suggestions for topics, have feedback, or would just like to email us and tell us to "shove off", we invite you to contact us. And don't forget - the StartupLounge.com message forums are a great resource for fast-growth entrepreneurs. If you need help with any aspect of your venture, we welcome you to jump in and get the help you need! Enjoy! Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-23-entrepreneurs-vs-employees/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-23-entrepreneurs-vs-employees/#comments Wed, 21 May 2008 18:46:42 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/?p=82 ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-23-entrepreneurs-vs-employees/feed/ 0 65:07 Welcome to SL #23! Jerry Bostelman, founder and CEO of VACO, joins us for a discussion of entrepreneurs vs. employees. VACO was just ... Welcome to SL #23! Jerry Bostelman, founder and CEO of VACO, joins us for a discussion of entrepreneurs vs. employees. VACO was just named the 33rd fastest growing company in the Fortune 5000. Additionally, Jerry was recently named Ernst #38; Young's Entrepreneur of the Southeast for 2007. And the bus is back - this time burning a hefty 12 gallons of $4.25 gasoline to pile-drive over 4 groups of people that just don't get it. Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related followup questions, but here is a good sampling of the discussion: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch for VACO When you founded Vaco, what was the market need you identified? Your site says you started with a $200 software package. What was the package? How did you finance the incubation of the company? Was the economic environment back in 2002 a deterrent to founding Vaco? Did it make your life harder? Talk a little about being identified as a potential Ernst #38; Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Why do you think you were named Entrepreneur of the Year for Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee? Talk about why ldquo;without a Masterrdquo; is key to understanding Vaco. Vaco is the named the 33rd largest growing company in America on the Fortune 5000 list (to revenues of $100 MM in 2007). What is the key to achieving that rate of growth and what is the greatest challenging in managing such rapid growth? The press release announcing Vacorsquo;s being named to the Fortune 5000 list says that ldquo;Vaco was designed to attract and retain the best team in the industryhellip;rdquo; What were the elements of that design? How did you define ldquo;best team in the industryrdquo;? Lots of companies talk about enthusiastic culture and zealous pursuit of only the strongest players. How do you create that enthusiastic culture? How do you characterize ldquo;zealous pursuit of only the strongest players?rdquo; Do these values contribute to the low (5%) turnover at Vaco? Late last year Vaco opened an office in Atlanta. Why was that the right time to do so? If therersquo;s an important lesson that Vaco can teach entrepreneurs, what would it be? Guest Bio: Jerry Bostelman is the founding father of VACO, LLC in Brentwood, TN. The company began in October of 2002, merging with Continuum Search in 2004 to become a 100 million dollar company with 18 offices nation wide in less than five years. Jerry graduated Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee, with a Bachelorrsquo;s degree in accounting. His professional career began with six years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Following his time in the military, he worked in the audit division of Arthur Anderson for four years. From his accounting platform, Jerry made a strategic career move in the consulting and placement industry, successfully proving his multi-talent in a multi-billion dollar national firm. As an individual producer, he consistently managed over 20 consultants on multiple projects. As a divisional Director in Nashville, his team consistently maintained over 55 consultants on key projects. Jerryrsquo;s experiences, ranging from a national business development director to a regional manager, have served to encourage his entrepreneurial spirit and has lead him to his most recent success as founder and CEO of VACO, LLC. Jerry serves on the board of the Boys and Girls club in Nashville, TN, where he lives with his wife Angela and three sons, Max, Will and Luke. His most recent award is the 2007 Ernst and Youngrsquo;s Entrepreneur of the year award for the Southeast region. Miscellany: Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-22-early-stage-capital-in-georgia/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-22-early-stage-capital-in-georgia/#comments Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:54:53 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-22-early-stage-capital-in-georgia/ ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-22-early-stage-capital-in-georgia/feed/ 9 00:01:01 My cohort Mike Blake took to the stage recently at the Technology Association of Georgia's Entrepreneur Society and delivered one of the best presentations I've ... My cohort Mike Blake took to the stage recently at the Technology Association of Georgia's Entrepreneur Society and delivered one of the best presentations I've seen in a long time. The topic was "Early Stage Capital in Georgia". And of course, the tape was rolling, and a slidecast of the presentation can be viewed/listened to by clicking on the slide image below. In my opinion, this is easily one of the most informative things we've ever published here. Specifically, he discussed: What the capital market is really like in Atlanta What the challenges exist How asset allocation works (great if you really want to know what you're up against) How the real estate industry is affecting early stage capital here The funding gap Everything you could ever want to know about angel investors What sources exist? How to do due diligence on an angel investor What angels really want Handling rejection How to smoke out "fake" investors What "good" angel deals really look like Market validation How much funding to solicit Your pitch Deal killers Advisors Closing the deal Typical investment terms Capital-seeking "to-do" list Some case studies Facts of life in the Atlanta startup eco-system How we can repair it If you weren't able to attend, you won't want to miss this. Much of his discussion will apply to other areas here in the Southeast as well ... Cheers. Event,Photos,,Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-21-cleantech-venture-capital/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-21-cleantech-venture-capital/#comments Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:46:52 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-21-cleantech-venture-capital/ ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-21-cleantech-venture-capital/feed/ 3 90:17 Welcome to SL #21! Clean energy technologies (Cleantech) is one of the hottest trends in venture capital, and has been for a while. Joining ... Welcome to SL #21! Clean energy technologies (Cleantech) is one of the hottest trends in venture capital, and has been for a while. Joining us for a deep dive into this space is David Kirkpatrick from SJF Ventures. The bus takes a break this time, and instead we throw some props to some Atlanta angels for being part of the solution. Of course, a nice batch of your emails rounds out a great show! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes and Interview Questions: As usual, we had lots of related followup questions, but here is a good sampling of the discussion: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch in SJF Ventures Can you summarize your investment criteria? What is the (your) definition of CleanTech/GreenTech? (Is there a difference between the two?) CleanTech is generally most widely understood to mean renewable, clean energy sources. But doesnrsquo;t the term encompass other economic sectors? Is nuclear energy CleanTech? When did you personally gain an interest in CleanTech? Talk about some of the most powerful trends yoursquo;re seeing in CleanTech? Where do you see most of your investment opportunities coming from? How many opportunities are you personally and as a company considering at any one time and what % get funded? How long does it take you to evaluate an opportunity? What are your key due diligence areas? How do you exit from CleanTech deals? What is the best way to contact you about an investment opportunity? There seems to be a green gold rush now for CleanTech. Do you agree and are you worried about a bubble? What sectors of CleanTech seem to you to be oversaturated or overworked? Are there CleanTech sectors that you feel hold great promise but seem to be underdeveloped? Can you name some other funds that have an emphasis on CleanTech? What is the most exciting advance in CleanTech yoursquo;ve seen in the last 2 years? What do you think will be the most exciting CleanTech breakthrough in the next 5 years? What are some common mistakes you see in emerging CleanTech ventures? How is Georgia as a source of CleanTech opportunities relative to other areas of the country? The Bush Administration has been banking heavily (at least publicly) on the role of technology to solve issues relating to environmental damage and climate change. How is that affecting the sector? Do you anticipate there might be a change in technology focus with a new President? Who is the Cleantech venture community's candidate of choice? How will the prospects of some sort of global environment agreement affect the Cleantech sector? Kyoto? Where do you fall on the corn ethanol debate (as a realistic alternative fuel that can make a significant impact on greenhouse gasses)? In 2020, most new automobiles in the United States will run on what fuel? In 2020, most electricity in the United States will be produced with what fuel? Tune in to find out! Guest Bio: David Kirkpatrick is Managing Director and co-founder of SJF Ventures, a venture capital fund with $45 million under management and offices in Durham, NC and New York. SJF focuses on rapidly expanding cleantech, tech-enhanced services and premium consumer products firms, has 20 portfolio companies, and is investing from its second fund. SJF assists and invests in enterprises with innovations that have a positive impact in the world and create strong competitive advantages in large markets. David was named the national 2005 CDVC Practitioner of the Year by the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance. Previous to SJF, he founded and managed two other successful enterprises ndash; KirkWorks, an environmental investment research firm, and SunShares, a solar energy and recycling company. David was named Recycler of the Year in 1996, the National Recycling Coalitionrsquo;s award for leadership in the recycling indu... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-20-inside-georgia-techs-tiger-program/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-20-inside-georgia-techs-tiger-program/#comments Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:36:00 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-20-inside-georgia-techs-tiger-program/ ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-20-inside-georgia-techs-tiger-program/feed/ 0 79:53 Welcome to SL #20! In this show, we dive into the inner workings of Georgia Tech's TI:GER program. TI:GER is the only program of its ... Welcome to SL #20! In this show, we dive into the inner workings of Georgia Tech's TI:GER program. TI:GER is the only program of its kind to bring together PhD, MBA, and law students in the classroom and research lab to learn about the challenges of commercializing innovative technologies. The "bus" is in fourth gear on this show. Scott uses both hands to push the various "pay-to-pitch" outfits under the bus (including the reading of a rather gifted, but incriminatory email). We also have a nice batch of your emails to round out a lengthy, but great show! Note: This show was recorded back on December 20th, 2007, and was originally slated to be published just before Christmas. Due to some technical difficulties, combined with our hectic schedule, we're finally getting around to publishing it. But hey, there's nothing wrong with holiday music in February! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes and Interview Questions: Give us the 30-second elevator pitch about TI:GER Talk about being a woman in technology entrepreneurship. Did you face any unique challenges? Explain what TI:GER is? What are TI:GERrsquo;s goals? How many businesses/teams are participating in TI:GER right now? Why did you want to get involved? Yoursquo;ve got a business plan contest coming up. Can you tell us about it? Can you name a couple of businesses or technologies that started out in the TI:GER program and continue to operate or be important today? Can you talk about some of the more interesting businesses yoursquo;ve worked with in the TI:GER program? Has the private equity (venture capital) community gotten involved (or shown any interest in getting involved) with TI:GER? How easy or hard is it to get students involved in TI:GER? Is there a lot of student demand for the entrepreneurial career route or life experience? What are the most important lessons that the students take away from the program? How unusual is the TI:GER program? Are you aware of other universities or colleges that have similar programs? What do you think are the most valuable things that the TI:GER participants get out of the experience? How does being in academia change your view on the entrepreneurial process? If you had to pick one book on entrepreneurship to recommend, what would it be? Are there opportunities for people in industry to get involved in TI:GER? Do you get opportunities to engage in the entrepreneurial community outside of TI:GER? What are your views on the Atlanta early stage environment? Is there a view among your GA Tech colleagues on what industries are particularly attractive or are going to be attractive for early stage capital? Are you seeing interest within TI:GER for pursuing or promoting greentech/cleantech businesses? Are you seeing interest within TI:GER for pursuing or promoting so-called Web 2.0 businesses? Tune in to find out! Guest Bio: Kathleen Kurre is a Lecturer at the College of Management of Georgia Institute of Technology and the Executive-in-Residence of its Interdisciplinary Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ILE). After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, Kathleen began her career in computer technology. Her passion emerged quickly: creating systems that connect imagination with reality. After having held analyst and manager positions at Kentucky Fried Chicken, PNC Bank and KPMG, and senior management positions at Humana Inc. and Aegon Corporation, Kathleen formally stepped into the creative world of entrepreneurship by joining Healthcare Recoveries, Inc. (HRI), a venture capital backed healthcare, technology services company, where she became CEO... Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-19-a-conversation-with-chrysalis-ventures/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-19-a-conversation-with-chrysalis-ventures/#comments Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:38:41 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-19-a-conversation-with-chrysalis-ventures/ ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-19-a-conversation-with-chrysalis-ventures/feed/ 3 101:15 Welcome to SL #19! In this show, we are pleased to be joined by Wright Steenrod of Chrysalis Ventures. We discuss a number of ... Welcome to SL #19! In this show, we are pleased to be joined by Wright Steenrod of Chrysalis Ventures. We discuss a number of topics, including their investment model, their view of the Southeast and Midwest markets, and things they look for as they filter deal flow. As an added bonus, we provide a double dose of "Under the Bus": Mike tosses some alcoholic StartupLounge haters under the bus, and Scott piles on and "gently nudges" some regional VCs into oncoming traffic. We also have a nice batch of your emails and a great Thanksgiving comedy bit to round out a lengthy, but great show! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes: What types of deals do the Chrysalis partners look for? What are the key characteristics of their portfolio companies? What is the unique value proposition that Chrysalis brings to the table? What are some of the lessons that he's learned as a VC? How does Chrysalis get most of their deal flow? Does emailing a business plan to a VC really work? How can entrepreneurs get their deal as "clean" as possible for a VC? How does the Chrysalis due diligence process work? Can military training prepare someone to be an entrepreneur or a VC? What is Chrysalis' view of the Atlanta/Southeast market? Watch as we do a very admirable job of trying to bribe a VC on air. And so much more! Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player. Links referenced within this episode: Chrysalis Ventures Adams Capital Chrysalis Ventures Angus Mcrae Insurance Brokerage Services Clements-Walker Intellectual Property Attorneys ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center) PeachPodStudios Slingshot Product Development Group Southern Capitol Ventures Web.com Podsafe music used within this episode: Sundial by Bill Derome I Heart Thanksgiving by Robert Lund By the Hammer of Thor, Ben Base All the Money in the World by Hutch Tune in and find out! Our format is a little out of the norm as far as podcasts go. We treat our efforts as a true "show" rather than a super-concise (limited) vehicle for delivery of information. Therefore, the podcasts can run a bit long (actually, it is largely driven by the guests and their responses.) While we try to have very substantive discussions, we also try to have a lot of fun along the way (and that tends to elongate the programming a wee bit.) :) Our theory is that if we are having fun during the show, hopefully, you will be having a little fun listening as well. Here is the breakdown for the show, in case you want to hop around. Intro 00:00 to 02:00 Smalltalk and introductions: 02:00 to 07:24 Under the Bus: 08:35 to 25:35 Mailbag: 25:35 to 34:27 Capital Connections Update: 34:27 to 36:52 Commercial/Comedy Break: 36:52 to 40:49 Main Discussion Topic 40:49 to 1:34:36 Commercial/Comedy Break: 1:34:36 to 1:35:40 Analysis/Wrap-up: 1:35:40 to 1:41:15 A special thanks to Wright Steenrod for coming in and hanging out with us! We welcome your continued feedback as well! If you have an interest in appearing on the show, becoming a show sponsor (hint, hint), have some suggestions for topics, have feedback, or would just like to email us and tell us to "shove off", we invite you to contact us. And don't forget - the StartupLounge.com message forums are up and running. If you need help with any aspect of your venture, we welcome you to jump in and get the help you need! Enjoy! Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-18-start-up-council/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-18-start-up-council/#comments Sat, 25 Aug 2007 23:44:00 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-18-start-up-council/ ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-18-start-up-council/feed/ 0 53:49 Welcome to SL #18! In this show, we are joined by Genna Keller (of Trevelino-Keller Communications Group), who is also the co-founder of the Start-Up ... Welcome to SL #18! In this show, we are joined by Genna Keller (of Trevelino-Keller Communications Group), who is also the co-founder of the Start-Up Council, a group in Atlanta that seeks to provide free mentoring and peer review for entrepreneurs. Genna was accompanied by Pat Huddleston, CEO of Investors Watchdog, one of the companies that has benefited through participation in the Start-Up Council. As an added bonus Mike continues to earn a top spot in the rotation as he brings the heat again, this time by tossing business plan consultants under the bus. We round this show out with some of your emails, Capital Connections updates, more! Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes: Who comprises Start-Up Council, and how does it work? What services do they provide? Is it free? Can they help you find capital? What's their track record? Why are they doing this? Who really killed Kennedy? And so much more! Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player. Links referenced within this episode: Start-Up Council Investors Watchdog Trevelino-Keller Communications Group Adams Capital Chrysalis Ventures Angus Mcrae Insurance Brokerage Services Clements-Walker Intellectual Property Attorneys ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center) PeachPodStudios Slingshot Product Development Group Technology Association of Georgia Southern Capitol Ventures Web.com Podsafe music used within this episode: Sundial by Bill Derome Tru Gangster by Nice Peter All the Money in the World by Hutch Tune in and find out! Our format is a little out of the norm as far as podcasts go. We treat our efforts as a true "show" rather than a super-concise (limited) vehicle for delivery of information. Therefore, the podcasts can run a bit long (actually, it is largely driven by the guests and their responses.) While we try to have very substantive discussions, we also try to have a lot of fun along the way (and that tends to elongate the programming a wee bit.) :) Our theory is that if we are having fun during the show, hopefully, you will be having a little fun listening as well. Here is the breakdown for the show, in case you want to hop around. Intro 00:00 to 01:44 Smalltalk and introductions: 01:44 to 07:24 Under the Bus 07:24 to 11:56 Mailbag: 11:56 to 16:19 Capital Connections Update: 16:19 to 22:05 Commercial/Comedy Break: 22:05 to 24:36 Main Discussion Topic 24:36 to 49:30 Commercial/Comedy Break: 49:30 to 50:08 Analysis/Wrap-up: 50:08 to 53:49 A special thanks to Genna Keller and Pat Huddleston for coming in and hanging out with us! We welcome your continued feedback as well! If you have an interest in appearing on the show, becoming a show sponsor (hint, hint), have some suggestions for topics, have feedback, or would just like to email us and tell us to "shove off", we invite you to contact us. And don't forget - the StartupLounge.com message forums are up and running. If you need help with any aspect of your venture, we welcome you to jump in and get the help you need! Enjoy! Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-17-inside-the-winners-circle-with-ivox/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-17-inside-the-winners-circle-with-ivox/#comments Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:39:38 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-17-inside-the-winners-circle-with-ivox/ ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-17-inside-the-winners-circle-with-ivox/feed/ 0 53:01 Welcome to SL #17! In this show, we go one-on-one with Gregg Warren, the CEO of IVOX, winners of the 2007 TAG/GRA Business Launch Competition. ... Welcome to SL #17! In this show, we go one-on-one with Gregg Warren, the CEO of IVOX, winners of the 2007 TAG/GRA Business Launch Competition. Gregg shares his insights into the competition, how his company prepared for it, and what the impact has been on his company. As an added bonus Mike takes his game to the ldquo;next levelrdquo; and tosses someone under the bus. We also provide another update on our upcoming Capital Connections and PitchCamp events here in Atlanta. Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes: Any entrepreneur considering entering a business plan competition should definitely tune in to hear Greggrsquo;s insights. How do you prepare your company for these types of events? How do advisors and mentors fit into the equation? What did he learn in the process? What were the biggest challenges? How has winning it affected his companyrsquo;s perception within the marketplace? How useful is the services component of the award? Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player. Links referenced within this episode: IVOX Omnilink Systems Adams Capital Chrysalis Ventures Angus Mcrae Insurance Brokerage Services Clements-Walker Intellectual Property Attorneys ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center) PeachPodStudios Slingshot Product Development Group Technology Association of Georgia Southern Capitol Ventures Web.com Podsafe music used within this episode: Sundial by Bill Derome Sundae Chocolate Sundae by Possible Oscar All the Money in the World by Hutch Tune in and find out! Our format is a little out of the norm as far as podcasts go. We treat our efforts as a true "show" rather than a super-concise (limited) vehicle for delivery of information. Therefore, the podcasts can run a bit long (actually, it is largely driven by the guests and their responses.) While we try to have very substantive discussions, we also try to have a lot of fun along the way (and that tends to elongate the programming a wee bit.) :) Our theory is that if we are having fun during the show, hopefully, you will be having a little fun listening as well. Here is the breakdown for the show, in case you want to hop around. Intro 00:00 to 01:37 Smalltalk and introductions: 01:37 to 05:47 Under the Bus 05:47 to 09:46 Mailbag: 09:46 to 14:53 Capital Connections Update: 14:53 to 18:39 Commercial/Comedy Break: 18:39 to 24:43 Main Discussion Topic 23:43 to 49:34 Commercial/Comedy Break: 49:34 to 50:08 Analysis/Wrap-up: 50:08 to 52:31 A special thanks to Gregg for coming in and hanging out with us! We welcome your continued feedback as well! If you have an interest in appearing on the show, becoming a show sponsor (hint, hint), have some suggestions for topics, have feedback, or would just like to email us and tell us to "shove off", we invite you to contact us. And don't forget - the StartupLounge.com message forums are up and running. If you need help with any aspect of your venture, we welcome you to jump in and get the help you need! Enjoy! Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/healthcare-benefits-for-startups/ http://www.startuplounge.com/healthcare-benefits-for-startups/#comments Sun, 22 Jul 2007 03:26:36 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/healthcare-benefits-for-startups/ ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/healthcare-benefits-for-startups/feed/ 0 70:44 Welcome to SL #16! Sooner or later, every startup struggles with the issue of how best to offer healthcare benefits to their employees. We are ... Welcome to SL #16! Sooner or later, every startup struggles with the issue of how best to offer healthcare benefits to their employees. We are joined in this episode by Angus Mcrae, a guy who does a ton of consulting and brokering for healthcare benefits for Atlanta-area high-tech startups (for companies like N2 Broadband/Tandberg, ViTrue, etc.) As an added bonus we toss (under the bus) the knuckleheads holding up SB80 (the legislative bill that would allow the Georgia teacher's pension fund to be invested in private equity). We also provide an update on our upcoming Capital Connections and PitchCamp events (as well as ATDC's upcoming CapVenture program) here in Atlanta. Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes: Another solid show with some great nuts and bolts content for entrepreneurs. How do healthcare benefit brokers work? What are the warning signs of unethical brokers? What about PEOs? How expensive are healthcare benefits for startups? Can they afford to do it? Should they? How big does a company have to be to offer benefits to employees? What are the key considerations in selecting a benefits program for your company? Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player. Links referenced within this episode: Angus Mcrae Insurange Brokerage Services N2 Broadband Adams Capital ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center) PeachPodStudios National Personnel Services Technology Association of Georgia Podsafe music used within this episode: Sundial by Bill Derome Amish Girl by Todd Chappelle All the Money in the World by Hutch Tune in and find out! Our format is a little out of the norm as far as podcasts go. We treat our efforts as a true "show" rather than a super-concise (limited) vehicle for delivery of information. Therefore, the podcasts can run a bit long (actually, it is largely driven by the guests and their responses.) While we try to have very substantive discussions, we also try to have a lot of fun along the way (and that tends to elongate the programming a wee bit.) :) Our theory is that if we are having fun during the show, hopefully, you will be having a little fun listening as well. Here is the breakdown for the show, in case you want to hop around. Intro 00:00 to 01:48 Smalltalk and introductions: 01:48 to 04:13 Under the Bus 04:13 to 10:09 Mailbag: 10:09 to 13:33 Capital Connections Update: 13:33 to 23:52 Commercial/Comedy Break: 23:52 to 27:56 Main Discussion Topic 27:56 to 64:20 Commercial/Comedy Break: 64:20 to 65:00 Analysis/Wrap-up: 65:00 to 70:43 A special thanks to Angus for coming in and hanging out with us! We welcome your continued feedback as well! If you have an interest in appearing on the show, becoming a show sponsor (hint, hint), have some suggestions for topics, have feedback, or would just like to email us and tell us to "shove off", we invite you to contact us. And don't forget - the StartupLounge.com message forums are up and running. If you need help with any aspect of your venture, we welcome you to jump in and get the help you need! Enjoy! Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-15-teambuilding-in-a-startup/ http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-15-teambuilding-in-a-startup/#comments Fri, 15 Jun 2007 23:03:45 +0000 Scott Burkett http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-15-teambuilding-in-a-startup/ ]]> http://www.startuplounge.com/sl-15-teambuilding-in-a-startup/feed/ 1 65:47 Welcome to SL #15! Andy Monin, the founder and CEO of Vendormate stopped by and not only shared a nice overview of their vision as ... Welcome to SL #15! Andy Monin, the founder and CEO of Vendormate stopped by and not only shared a nice overview of their vision as a company, but also his insights into effective ways of teambuilding in a startup. And a course, we have a nice batch of your emails as well. Good stuff! As an added bonus we throw the state of Georgia under the bus - you can't miss that! :) Sponsors for this episode: Be sure to click the logos below and visit our sponsors! Shownotes: We had a great time with Andy, and the content was flowing early and often. Learn all about Andy's ABC's of CEO'ing, how he recommends entrepreneurs seek out those first few key hires, and how he manages to keep a team hungry as they race to the finish line. We also had some great listener emails, including a great question about ways to find angel money for a non-technology related business - big love, baby! Pictured: Andy Monin, CEO, Vendormate Enjoy! To play it, use the tools at the top of this post - you can play it via the embedded Flash player by pressing the big play button at the top, or download it to play on your computer or MP3 player. Links/entities referenced within this episode: Vendormate Broadsource Adams Capital PeachPodStudios National Personnel Services SON Capital Technology Association of Georgia Podsafe music used within this episode: Sundial by Bill Derome Waking up Jedi by Tom Smith All the Money in the World by Hutch Tune in and find out! Our format is a little out of the norm as far as podcasts go. We treat our efforts as a true "show" rather than a super-concise (limited) vehicle for delivery of information. Therefore, the podcasts can run a bit long (actually, it is largely driven by the guests and their responses.) While we try to have very substantive discussions, we also try to have a lot of fun along the way (and that tends to elongate the programming a wee bit.) :) Our theory is that if we are having fun during the show, hopefully, you will be having a little fun listening as well. Here is the breakdown for the show, in case you want to hop around. Intro 00:00 to 01:36 Smalltalk and introductions: 01:36 to 05:54 Under the Bus 06:38 to 08:58 Announcements/Mailbag: 08:29 to 18:05 Commercial/Comedy Break: 18:58 to 22:19 Main Discussion Topic 22:19 to 75:46 A special thanks to Andy for coming in and hanging out with us! We welcome your continued feedback as well! If you have an interest in appearing on the show, becoming a show sponsor (hint, hint), have some suggestions for topics, have feedback, or would just like to email us and tell us to "shove off", we invite you to contact us. And don't forget - the StartupLounge.com message forums are up and running. If you need help with any aspect of your venture, we welcome you to jump in and get the help you need! Enjoy! Podcasts StartupLounge.com no No