Shows
DC EntrepreneurJake Kramer, Managing Partner of FedTechJake Kramer, Managing Partner of FedTech is guest on this season's final episode of DC Entrepreneur. FedTech is a venture builder that thrives at the intersection of US entrepreneurship, breakthrough technologies, and mission-driven organizations. Since 2015, they've been driving forward deep tech ventures across the DoD, NASA, DoE, universities, and federal labs. Through their startup studios, accelerators, internal innovation and corporate venture programs, FedTech works with individuals, companies, and government agencies to stay at the bleeding edge of innovation.Kramer is concurrently a venture partner at NextGen Venture Partners and Thundermark Capital, formerly working at Goldman Sachs and...2020-12-0443 min
DC EntrepreneurJay Newton-Small, CEO and Founder of MemoryWellJay Newton-Small, CEO and Founder of MemoryWell, a digital storytelling platform for seniors, speaks to George on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. You'll hear how Newton-Small got the idea for the start-up when filling out paperwork to get her father into assisted care after he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. As a TIME Magazine correspondent, journalist, and author of Broad Influence, she wrote his story down to help her father's caregivers understand his past better. In this conversation, Jay talks about how MemoryWell worked with B...2020-11-0643 min
DC EntrepreneurDr. Joseph Cardillo PhD, author of "The 12 Rules of Attention: How to Avoid Screw-Ups, Free Up Headspace, Do More and Be More At Work" "George speaks with friend of the podcast Dr. Joseph Cardillo, PhD, about his new book "12 Rules of Attention: How to Avoid Screw-Ups, Free Up Headspace, Do More and Be More At Work." Dr. Joe is an inspirational speaker and nationally best-selling author of multiple books in the fields of health, mind-body-spirit, and psychology. In this conversation Dr. Joe talks about how entrepreneurs can get off of autopilot and refocus their attention throughout their daily lives and in their work. You'll learn about the three "Mindwares" and what are the differences with attention, mindfulness, an...2020-10-2446 min
DC EntrepreneurColin Moffett and Joel Daly co-founders of Artemis Ward, and host of CreativeMornings/DCOn this episode George speaks with Colin Moffett and Joel Daly co-founders of Artemis Ward. Colin and Joel met at Mindshare Interactive, one of the old guard of digital agencies, in 2005. They made the move to one of the world’s most prestigious agencies in 2008, building a large team and servicing top clients. Despite this success, Colin and Joel often talked about what life would be like if they could produce the same (if not better) work of a big agency without all the red tape. In 2015, they decided it was time: Colin and Joel ma...2020-10-0933 min
DC EntrepreneurRobert L. Longyear III, VP Digital Health and Innovation at Avenu & Wanderly, and Author of "Innovating for WellnessRobert L. Longyear III, author of "Innovating for Wellness," is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. Innovating for Wellness examines crucial innovations at the intersection of digital health technology and value-based payment. Robert speaks with George for an in-depth conversation about health care policy, innovation, and how that relates to health-tech & mHealth. Their chat delves into how this relates to patient-generated clinical data, human care teams, and telehealth as part of the patient journey.***Avenue—a Wanderly company—is a digital health company with a mission to provide high...2020-09-1942 min
DC EntrepreneurErik Rind, founder and CEO of Imagine BCGeorge speaks to Erik Rind the CEO of Imagine BC on this episode. ImagineBC aims to be for blockchain technology what “You’ve got mail” was for the Internet. It's a membership based platform that helps its community earn money for sharing their data. Inspired by a talk that Jaron Lanier gave, Erik started the company to correct the privacy and ethical issues that big tech companies pose to their users. In this conversation Erik shares his vision for how people can begin to be compensated for sharing their data. Send us a textSupport the sho2020-09-0440 min
DC EntrepreneurDawn Myers founder THE MOST and DC Director, The Vinetta ProjectOn this episode, George speaks with Dawn Myers, founder of THE MOST and of The Vinetta Project. THE MOST is a beauty-tech company looking to disrupt an $87 Billion dollar Industry featuring natural hair products for women of color, to help address the invisible pain points in textured hair styling. Dawn lives to inspire entrepreneurs to walk in their purpose and build out their visions through her legal background and work as an entrepreneur. Dawn is a start-up ecosystem architect, having launched and managed educational programming for entrepreneurs throughout the Washington metropolitan area. As Ambassador to Black Girl V...2020-08-2135 min
DC EntrepreneurChad Frey founder and CEO of AttilahChad Frey is guest on this episode in a policy discussion about the advancement of the hemp industry as a whole. As a board member of four industry associations, Chad is an expert on the legal initiatives, industry policy and federal compliance regarding hemp and cannabis regulations. As the executive director for the Nebraska Hemp Industries Association—one of the nation’s leading hemp advocacy organizations—Chad works closely with legislators to help create new infrastructure for a new commodity with the purpose of guiding the industry in the right direction. Even though we are living in a very progre...2020-08-0750 min
DC EntrepreneurDave Forbes "Saucepreneur" and founder of Disturbingly Delicious FoodsDave Forbes is the food entrepreneur and owner of Disturbingly Delicious Foods. His sauce creations are healthier than most of the stuff in the grocery store that also taste great. Dave's first creation was a kale-based substitute for ketchup when Forbes was throwing a high school graduation party for his son. After obtaining a patent on this product, he began selling "Kalechup" at the Falls Church Farmers market. He's since gone on to create over 70 different sauces which he sells in a retail storefront and kitchen including "Mayonot," "Faux Queso," and "Yumchup." Dave's background as a software design guru...2020-07-2440 min
DC EntrepreneurJonathan Wasserstrum founder and CEO of SquareFoot commercial real estate start-upGeorge speaks with Jonathan Wasserstrum the CEO of SquareFoot. SquareFoot is a tech-driven commercial real estate company that helps companies find their next office space by providing transparent access to inventory, brokerage services, and a flexible spaces. The New York City-based start-up, which was created in 2011, raised $16 million in 2019 in a Series B financing round having raised $29 million total since its founding. SquareFoot’s platform features over 300,000 office listings, with 5,000 new listings posted monthly. The company has executed over 1,300 leases to date. Sponsor: Start your podcast with Buzzsprout!Send us a textSupport th...2020-07-1031 min
DC EntrepreneurJake Sandler CEO of ChangeRoots, a political fundraising appJake Sandler, CEO and Founder of ChangeRoots is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. ChangeRoots is an app designed to help build a post-partisan political system in the United States. The app provides easy access to information about politicians, insights into their behavior, and allows users to easily provide positive or negative feedback through their campaign contributions. The platform also clearly identifies which politicians’ behaviors are partisan or post-partisan. Their mission is to help root out toxic partisanship by using micro-donations to reward leaders with integrity and fire self-interested partisans, equip the public to influence politicians to prioritize we...2020-06-2645 min
DC EntrepreneurThe Alchemy of Entrepreneurship with Jessica Carson author of "Wired this Way" and Expert in Residence at the Georgetown Entrepreneurship InitiativeJessica Carson is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur where she talks about the complex wiring of start-up founders. Jessica is the Expert in Residence on Entrepreneur Mental Health and Wellbeing at Georgetown University, and is the author of “Wired This Way.” She’s also a former Director at NextGen Venture Partners. In this illuminating conversation, which happened back in April, she delves into her new book "Wired this Way" where she talks about the archetypes of creators and the unique mental health issues they face, such as burnout, substance abuse, and stress. "Wired This Way" is "a u...2020-06-1246 min
DC EntrepreneurMusician Rude Kid-da-ReggaeRap Inventor (AKA Denton Malcolm) the founder & chair of D.A.M. Companies, LLCGeorge speaks with musician and entrepreneur Denton A. Malcolm, Chairman of D.A.M Companies, LLC known as Rude Kid-da-ReggaeRap Inventor, who has been implementing the new genre ReggaeRap™ over the last fourteen years as part of the Rude Kid Entertainment Label Group. He is currently promoting his new hit single "How We Roll" in rotation in the major US markets, UK, Canada, Costa Rica and the Caribbean. We talk about his work in the fashion, print, and media industries with his other ventures, Vibez Universal Productions, Vibez Universal, LLC, Bomb.com Magazine, and Celebrity Style Catering.2020-05-2935 min
DC EntrepreneurMikey Heard, real estate investor and entrepreneur, founder Meetin.org, partner TapDriveGeorge speaks to his friend Mikey Heard, an entrepreneur he met over a decade ago. When working as a web developer he created the social group Meetin.org which he grew from a Washington, DC based events group to a volunteer-run international organization planning real life events in cities worldwide. After working on that idea he worked on Tap Drive, a read only HD with Willie Blount (Episode 4) which his team was able to raise money for, but wasn't able to successfully launch. He talks about growing up poor on a farm commune in California and the drastic change...2020-05-1526 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersInterview on Milestone HackersA few weeks ago, I sat down with Paolo on the Milestone Hackers podcast, and had a great chat about startup life, co-founding partners, balancing family & startup life and how to avoid fear. Enjoy todays bonus episode on the Milestone Hackers podcast.https://milestonehackers.com/https://veryableops.comhttps://touchtap.comhttps://noahlabhart.comLeave us a review on Apple Podcasts! Amazing tools we use:If you want the best publishing platform for your podcast, with amazing support & people – use Transistor.fm.Want to record your remote interviews with class? Then, you need...2020-02-0344 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersInterview on Product JourneyI had the opportunity to chat with Noah and Ben on the Product Journey podcast. Every week they get together and talk about building online businesses, what’s been going on and where they struggling at the moment. On the show, we talked about the startup I co-founded, Veryable, which is a marketplace of on-demand labor for manufacturing and warehouse work. We talked through the early days of Veryable and what it looked like to reach product/market fit. We also talked through execution and asked for my advice on how to execute well. Be sure to check out their...2020-01-2744 min
DC EntrepreneurDC Entrepreneur Live Show: How I quit my office job to start a businessHow I Made the Leap to Starting My Own Business is part of The DC Entrepreneur Live Show which happened on Thursday, May 30 at 7 pm. On the show you'll hear from three different entrepreneurs in a panel discussion: Chad Hall, the founder and CEO of remodelmate, a marketplace for buying, selling, and managing home renovations online. Chad also worked in sales and growth at online daily deals company LivingSocial. Monica Kang, founder & CEO of InnovatorsBox® where she helps companies and leaders transform their organizations through the power of creativity. She's also the author of R...2020-01-231h 08
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 E20: Brandon Hilkert, BarkEarly in his career, Brandon Hilkert shifted from a mechanical engineering focus to tech support for a school district. Through his exposure to IT operations, he drifted towards software and becoming acquainted with building startup solutions. While considering the purpose, legacy and impact of his work, he was approached by his co-founder to create something to alert parents of potential online dangers for kids. This conversation ultimately led to the start of a simple, yet sophisticated internet safety solution for parents and kids… called Bark.Today’s sponsors:Podcorn (https://podcorn.com/podca...2020-01-2042 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 E19: Chris Slowe, RedditA tech and science minded individual, Chris Slowe has spent 9 years with Reddit. Beyond being a tech executive with the company, he is a Dad and likes to work with his hands in the machine shop. When he put roots into the product as the first employee, he and the co-founders wanted to build a place to discuss interesting topics. Fast forward many years, Reddit is now the premier place for news aggregation, content rating and online discussion around interesting information.Linkshttp://reddit.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisslowe/https://en...2020-01-1327 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 E18: Bill Eager, Nomad HealthFor Bill Eager, his interest in tech paralleled his desire to play music. After attending music school, he became disillusioned with music as a day job and pursued tech – still moonlighting as a performing musician. As he pursued a role with a startup, he was introduced to the founders of Nomad Health – and instantly connected with the idea. He jumped in on the ground floor, and created a marketplace to serve clinical nomads.Today’s sponsors:Dwolla (https://dwolla.com/codestory)Linkshttps://nomadhealth.com/https://www.lin...2020-01-0628 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 Bonus: Jonathan Perichon, Checkr (Replay)Throwback to one of our favorites from Season 1! Original released August 2019.Through a chance internship in LA, Jonathan Perichon made his way from France to the United States. In doing so, he fell in love with the culture and opportunity. After working for a startup requiring background checks for its users, he saw first hand how antiquated and slow the process can be. Within 6 months, he and his co-founder set off to build an API driven solution, facilitating the submission, reporting and workflow of background checks for candidate workers… and much more. 2019-12-3044 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 Bonus: Rylan Barnes, ShopSavvy (Replay)Throwback to our very first interview! Originally released, June 2019. For some builders, there is a moment where technical creativity is catalyzed. For others… it starts much earlier. Rylan Barnes has been working with technology since childhood, starting out by programming his legos to move, and all the way through college, where he built early marketplaces for trading textbooks and built physical, automated chess boards. When he started creating a solution for mobile phone barcode scanning, he had no idea the doors it would open and lead to the formation of his most successful product, venture… and exit – called S...2019-12-2344 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 E17: Blake Miller, HomebaseComing from a supportive, entrepreneurial home, Blake Miller was introduced to the internet at a very young age – building websites for friends, and flipping digital businesses the same way people flip houses. Outside of tech, he is a competitive barbecuer, with a team of long time friends who create award winning BBQ. Highly involved in the Kansas City Smart City initiative, he created an award winning iOT solution around smarter living experience for tenants and more profitable infrastructure for building owners and managers. This solution quickly turned into the company known as Homebase.Today’s sp...2019-12-1627 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 E16: Aalok Shah, EnergyFundersTech has always been a part of Aalok Shah’s life. His father and mother influenced his tech interests and biomedical education. After working in nuclear medicine and supporting the special needs community, he found himself always drifting back towards tech and software development, hacking together websites and doing web consulting. Several years later, he was onboarded by the founders of EnergyFunders – a platform for investing in Oil & Gas – to help improve their technology feature set. The business took off, and they found themselves in need of a full time CTO – and Aalok was the best fit.2019-12-0932 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 E15: Omri Mor, RoutableGrowing up in Tel Aviv, Israel, Omri Mor learned to appreciate music, art, food and other sensory experiences. After selling his first company, he and his now co-founder got together to catch up… over some pita and hummus. They began swapping stories of problems they encountered in processing payments to their third parties – so many problems that they were both required to build their own. After taking some time validate a solution in the market, Omri set out to build Routable – a modern bill payments, payouts and invoicing system, enabling companies to speed up payment processing through a secure platfo...2019-12-0236 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 E14: Dennis Steele, PodiumAlong with being a startup founder, Dennis Steele is a family man and a triathlete. A non-tech grad from BYU, he went through a software development bootcamp – called DevMountain – to arm him with practical dev skills. He took this base knowledge, and he and his co-founder built Podium – a way for businesses to manage their online reputation, through one single platform.Today’s sponsors:DevMountain (https://learn.devmountain.com/devmountain-code-story)Hackbright Academy (https://hackbrightacademy.com/learn-programs-cs)Linkshttps://www.podium.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ste...2019-11-2530 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS1 E13: Ben Milne, DwollaBen Milne grew up in a small town, and has had a pretty normal life. Raising a family, riding a stationary bike and funding startups through selling music gear, he has been in the tech world for a good while. His second startup started as a consumer product that you downloaded to move money between banks… without using credit cards or paying hefty fees. What he discovered was the thing they were best at was payment processing infrastructure… So he changed his business to focus on being a high performing, white label solution for enabling others to process ACH paym...2019-11-1829 min
DC EntrepreneurFrancesco Amodeo Owner of Don Ciccio & Figli distillery specializing in Italian liquorsOn this episode of DC Entrepreneur, George speaks to Francesco Amodeo the owner and president of Don Ciccio & Figli on location at his distillery in Ivy City. The establishment, which features both a production facility and tasting bar, is bringing amari-based craft cocktails to DC based on recipes from Amodeo's family from the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Amaro drinks are bitter herbal liquers commonly consumed as digestifs.From Don Ciccio's website: Francesco ‘Ciccio’ Amodeo began his journey in the hospitality industry as a young boy growing up in the small town of Furore, Italy, a quaint...2019-10-0425 min
DC EntrepreneurSteve Salis owner of Kramerbooks, Ted's Bulletin & Sidekick Bakery, Federalist Pig, and founder of &pizza and Prefab PartnersGeorge speaks with Steve Salis a DC-Based, serial entrepreneur and executive, who has founded an impressive portfolio of brands under his company Salis Holdings. He’s the owner of Kramerbooks and Afterwords cafe—the iconic 44 year old bookstore in Dupont Circle—the owner of Ted’s Bulletin; the founder of Federalist Pig American BBQ restaurant; a co-founder of real estate venture Prefab Partners: and former CEO of &pizza. In Ballston, Virginia he’s recently opened Sidekick Bakery. Steve has invested in these concepts because he believes i...2019-09-2045 min
DC EntrepreneurChris Brauckmuller, Chief Product Officer of Fundrise, real estate investment platformIn this episode George speaks with Chris Brauckmuller, Chief Product Officer and Creative Director of Fundrise. Chris is involved in all investor-facing aspects of the business, from new product development to the visual presentation of the platform. Prior to joining the Fundrise team, Chris ran his own independent interactive design studio for three years and spent two years as an interactive designer at a large digital agency, where he took design leadership on accounts for the Fortune 500, including Microsoft and BAE Systems.Fundrise allows individuals to diversify their portfolios into private market real estate investments. Fundrise launched...2019-09-0625 min
DC EntrepreneurMimi Millard founder and CEO of De Lune, locally-made menstrual pain productsToday's guest is Mimi Millard, the CEO and founder of De Lune. De Lune helps those experiencing period pain find relief through its safe and natural Pain Tonics, PMS Pills and chocolates. The origin of Mimi's products came from when she fainted due to complications from a popular painkiller she used to treat her debilitating period pain. From there, she began experimenting with the different organic herbs and natural ingredients to help with dysmenorrhea, while working out of DC's Union Kitchen. Mimi then built a team of researchers, physicians, and dietitians to create the products and help manage and...2019-08-2327 min
DC EntrepreneurDavid McCourt billionaire entrepreneur, author of Total Rethink, founder and chair of Granahan McCourt CapitalDavid McCourt is an Irish-American entrepreneur and founder of Granahan McCourt Capital. McCourt speaks about his new book "Total Rethink: Why Entrepreneurs Should Act Like Revolutionaries." McCourt is one of the world’s most successful, award-winning business people, widely recognized for using technology and innovation to improve the lives of underserved communities by deploying new revolutionary ways of thinking. Over the last thirty years he has founded or bought twenty companies in nine countries, becoming a leader in the technology, media and telecommunications industries. An Emmy award-winning producer, McCourt’s work has included prime-time documentaries that highlight the...2019-08-0925 min
DC EntrepreneurShafer Minnick founder of Pulse House of Fitness fitness studioToday's guest is Shafer Minnick, owner and founder of PULSE House of Fitness which features DC’s first and only VersaClimber fitness studio. Shafer is a former SoulCycle instructor who discovered the VersaClimber when he was undergoing physical therapy after a work-related injury and is betting big that people in the District will love the experience—not to mention the brief, half-hour workouts that take place at PULSE. Shafer also discusses his own personal fitness journey from achieving major weight loss and conquering emotional eating to becoming a Top Instructor for ClassPass. Send us a textSup...2019-07-2427 min
DC EntrepreneurDr. Joesph Cardillo author of Body Intelligence: Harness Your Body's Energies for Your Best LifeIn this episode we catch up with Dr. Joseph Cardillo, PhD, an inspirational speaker and sought after expert on personal energy with a conversation about how entrepreneurs can stay energized and avoid burn-out. Dr. Joe is a nationally best-selling author of several books in the fields of health, mind-body-spirit, and psychology. His books include Body Intelligence – Harness Your Body’s Energies for Your Best Life; Can I Have Your Attention- How to Think Fast, Find Your Focus and Sharpen Your Concentration; and the body-energy classic, Be Like Water and he has co-written books for Harvard Health Publications. 2019-06-2627 min
DC EntrepreneurHannah Olson CEO and co-founder of Chronically Capable, flexible jobs platform for chronically ill workersAfter getting diagnosed with Lyme Disease, Hannah Olson's mind was intact, but the physical demands of a traditional 9-5 job were not compatible with her treatment—nearly forcing her out of the workforce. Rather than accept this fate, Hannah founded Chronically Capable on the simple belief that no one should ever have to decide between their health or their ambitions. Over 133 million Americans suffer from a chronic illness and have to sacrifice their dreams to accommodate their illness. With Chronically Capable, workers only need to work when they feel well enough, and get paid before their medical bills are du...2019-06-1927 min
DC EntrepreneurMartin Ditto President and CEO of Ditto ResidentialMartin Ditto, President and CEO of Ditto Residential, a leading-edge urban design and development company, is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. Ditto is looking to make his mark in "wellness real estate" and build out a co-living concept in the District. Send us a textSupport the show2019-04-1726 min
DC EntrepreneurKestrel Linder, CEO and co-founder GiveCampusGeorge speaks with Kestrel Linder, CEO of GiveCampus on this episode of DC Trep. GiveCampus is a digital fundraising and volunteer management platform for educational institutions which is used by more than 600 leading schools around the country. Kestrel talks about the need to modernize philanthropy for the next generation and how technology can help higher ed institutions keep their alumni engaged by making fundraising an enjoyable and social experience.Send us a textSupport the show2019-04-0326 min
DC EntrepreneurChad Hall, founder and CEO of remodelmate, renovation start-upGeorge speaks with Chad Hall, founder and CEO of remodelmate, a marketplace for buying, selling, and managing home renovations online. Remodelmate is a local business whose main focus is bathroom renovations. Homeowners get quotes, plans, permits, materials, and book labor all through their site and the entire process is managed by a project concierge to make sure renovations finish on-time and on-budget.Born to first-generation Jamaican immigrants in New York, Chad has been an innovator and an entrepreneur his entire life. Hall worked in sales and growth in DC-based, online daily deals company...2019-03-1327 min
DC EntrepreneurAndrew Dana, co-owner Timber Pizza and Call Your Mother deliAndrew Dana, is guest on today's episode. He's the co-owner of DC's highly successful, Timber Pizza Co and buzzed-about new sister restaurant, Call Your Mother (a Jew-ish deli.) From the "Boca Raton-meets-Brooklyn" interior at the deli to serving up delicious pies from their mobile wood-fired pizza truck, this native Washingtonian is bringing something new to the DC food scene. Send us a textSupport the show2019-02-2731 min
DC EntrepreneurJason Fudin, CEO of WhyHotel, hotel pop-upGeorge speaks with Jason Fudin CEO and co-founder of WhyHotel, an alternative lodging service that operates pop-up hotels in newly built, luxury apartment buildings. His startup recently secured $10 million in Series A funding from Highland Capital Partners after scoring $3.9 million in seed funding earlier this year. WhyHotel has properties in DC and Baltimore and is expanding into Ballston Quarter, Centro Arlington and The Boro in Tysons. Send us a textSupport the show2019-02-2151 min
DC EntrepreneurJustin Antonipillai, CEO WireWheel, former Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of CommerceThis episode's guest is Justin Antonipillai CEO of WireWheel, a cloud-based data privacy and protection platform that helps companies manage compliance with global privacy regulations like the GDPR and CCPA. Justin is the former acting Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce working under Secretary Penny Pritzker during the Obama administration. There, he led the Economics and Statistics Administration, which includes two of our nation's leading information agencies: the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. From 2013 until 2016, Mr. Antonipillai led the U.S. Negotiating Team in reaching the E.U.-U.S...2019-02-1337 min
DC EntrepreneurByron Reese, CEO Gigaom; Author of The Fourth Age, Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of HumanityAuthor, futurist, and entrepreneur Byron Reese speaks about robots, AI, and the future of technology and humanity. Find out about the differences between general AI and narrow AI, the ethics of technology and innovation, and if robots will take all our jobs through automation. Byron is a great thinker and thought leader about technology, and his vision of the future is generally an optimistic one. We talk about his book The Fourth Age, which give a history of the evolution of tools in our society, offering a vision for a technology-filled future. "Technology is like this little t...2019-02-0644 min
DC EntrepreneurMelanie Charlton and Julie Weber, partners at Brllnt marketing companyGeorge speaks with Melanie Charlton and Julie Weber, the partners of Brllnt on this episode. We talk about the stark realities of running a marketing agency, the art of compromise in entrepreneurship, and their journey of keeping a marketing design firm afloat during a rough patch. They also talk about what they've learned working for some of their clients, and how they lead their company with both candor and compassion. Send us a textSupport the show2019-01-231h 02
DC EntrepreneurCasey Berman, Managing Director of Camber Creek venture capital firmIn this episode you'll hear from Casey Berman the Managing Director of Camber Creek, a strategic venture capital firm with offices in DC and New York. Their portfolio includes local start-up companies Fundrise, GoCanvas, and WhyHotel. Casey talks about the real estate technology market, Camber Creek's approach to "de-risking" investments, and what he looks for in a start-up as a venture capitalist. Send us a textSupport the show2019-01-0938 min
DC EntrepreneurToya Gavin, founder of Legally Bold and the Toya Gavin virtual law firmGeorge speaks with Toya Gavin the founder of Legally Bold, a consulting business designed to help women lawyers find a path to career satisfaction. She's also the founder of Toya Gavin Law a virtual law firm set up to help entrepreneurs with business formation, contracts, and IP law. Toya has a J.D. from George Washington University Law School and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Rutgers University and is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey.Send us a textSupport the show2018-12-2628 min
DC EntrepreneurEric Kozlik, CEO of Modern Bar Cart, Embitterment DCGeorge speaks wth Eric Kozlik, founder of the Modern Bar Cart podcast and Embitterment Bitters where he talks shop about entrepreneurship, podcasting, cocktails, and poetry. The Modern Bar Cart Podcast is a cocktail podcast for home bartenders and industry pros alike and features interviews with bartenders, distillers, and cocktail authors. Eric regularly does deep dives into the most important topics in mixology, creating your portal into the shaken, stirred, strained, and garnished world.Send us a textSupport the show2018-12-1228 min
DC EntrepreneurGareth Lewis, CEO and founder Sekoyia eco-friendly subscription boxGeorge speaks with Gareth Lewis, founder of Sekoyia, a subscription box company that offers environmentally friendly products. We talk about how he is helping build an eco-impact movement empowering subscribers to make a positive environmental difference. Gareth also speaks about why we need to focus on sustainability and creating green-collar jobs. Send us a textSupport the show2018-12-0527 min
DC Entrepreneur2018 Timmy Awards Winners and conversation with Peter Korbel StoreMe, Blender Workspace, Fojol Bros.This episode features the Fourth Annual Timmy Award Winners from the event that took place on October 25 in Washington, DC. Featured are Andrew Aragon, Melissa Theiss, Theresa Hebert of Best Tech Startup Quorum; Best Tech Manager Rochelle Sanchirico of mHelpDesk; Mitch Phillips and Nazanin Ramezani of Whereowhere, Best Tech Work Culture; and Grant Elliot, CEO Ostendio, Best Tech Workplace for Diversity. Also featured is a conversation with Peter Korbel founder of StoreMe an app-based luggage storage solution who also was a co-founder of Blender Workspace in NYC and Fojol Brothers food truck in Washington, DC.S...2018-11-2555 min
DC EntrepreneurMarcus Bullock, CEO FlikshopMarcus Bullock, CEO and founder of Flikshop talks about his journey into entrepreneurship as a returned citizen after he served a prison sentence in his youth. Flikshop is a tech startup that allows users to communicate with an incarcerated family member or friend via a mobile app which prints their digital message out as a postcard and mails it for 99 cents. The idea came from when Bullock remembered how meaningful it was to hear from the outside world while in prison. Bullock also talks about what he has learned as an entrepreneur, his ideas about tech innovation, and his...2018-11-1427 min
DC EntrepreneurSheena Franklin, CEO and founder Well-Kept BeautySheena Franklin, former lobbyist and creator of Well-Kept Beauty is this week's guest on DC Entrepreneur. We talk about how she changed her career path, the state of the FDA's regulations of the cosmetics industry, and how the app she created helps people learn about expiry dates for their makeup and skincare products. Send us a textSupport the show2018-11-0730 min
DC EntrepreneurSahaj Sharda, author of Extinction of the Price Tag, CEO and Founder DynosSahaj Sharda, CEO and founder of Dynos and author of the book Extinction of the Price Tag is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. Sharda speaks about his book, which he published with New Degree Press as part of his studies at Georgetown. He speaks about how companies are benefiting from dynamic pricing, who is using it, and how he became interested in the topic. Sahaj also talks about his company Dynos and how he applied the concept of dynamic pricing to drive customers to the the local restaurant scene in off-peak hours. Send us a t...2018-10-2135 min
DC EntrepreneurElise Whang, CEO and co-founder of LePrixCEO and co-founder of LePrix Elise Whang talks about the rebranding of her luxury fashion consignment startup from the initial concept called SnobSwap. A first time founder, Whang talks about how she found her footing as an entrepreneur, how she's gone about fundraising for her company, and her experience as a female founder in the startup ecosystem. Elise has been recognized as one of DC's 40 Power Women, DCA Live Red Hot Entrepreneur, and 40 under 40 in Tech.Send us a textSupport the show2018-10-0748 min
DC EntrepreneurNathan SooHoo of Trulioo, Global Identity Verification ServiceNathan SooHoo is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. Nathan served as Business Development Manager for Trulioo where he helped build partnerships and worked on strategic sales for the company's GlobalGateway product before moving to Facebook. Nathan is also an investment committee member for the UCLA VC Fund whose portfolio includes Cloudera, DogVacay, Twitter, SolarCity, SmartestK12, RivalMe, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, and Vicept Therapeutics. He is also formerly the lead analyst for Venture Scanner, a startup market reporting and data research firm.Send us a textSupport the show2018-09-3042 min
DC EntrepreneurMonica Kang, author of Rethink Creativity, CEO and founder Innovators BoxMonica Kang is this week's guest on DC Entrepreneur. Monica is the author of Rethink Creativity: How to Innovate, Inspire, and Thrive at Work. The book was born out of her own challenge of becoming 'unstuck' by changing up the daily routines and habits to which we are accustomed. Monica is also the Founder and CEO of InnovatorsBox where she helps companies and leaders transform their organizations through the power of creativity. Monica teaches entrepreneurship at BAU International. Send us a textSupport the show2018-09-2343 min
DC EntrepreneurGbenga Ogunjimi, author of Borderless Voice, founder of Go Global, Inc.Gbenga Ogunjimi is an identity strategist, speaker and advisor who redefined his career as an international entrepreneur. He is the author of "Borderless Voice, The Power of Telling your Story and Defining your Identity" and is the founder of GO Global, Inc. where he is a coach and consultant who regularly speaks to groups about how they can find their brand identity. Send us a textSupport the show2018-09-1650 min
The Tyler Wagner ShowGeorge Mocharko: Producer And The Host Of DC EntrepreneurGeorge Mocharko is the producer and host of DC Entrepreneur, a podcast and radio show featuring start-up founder from the Washington DC area. He is also a contributor for Technical.ly DC, a blog that focuses on the local tech startup community. And he is a multimedia content creator with background in marketing, communications, and journalism, who specializes in writing and editing for digital and print publications. You can learn more about George here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgemocharko/
This episode is brought to you by Authors Unite. Authors Unite provides you with all the resources you need to...2018-08-2015 min
DC EntrepreneurJonathan Wossene, Founder, MELTED ELEMENT candlesMeet entrepreneur Jonathan Wossene who shares his story about creating Melted Element candles, a premium retail business he started from his apartment in Alexandria, Virginia. Melted Element candles are destination-inspired, soy-based candles which burn clean, something that differentiates them from the rest of the marketplace. Jonathan tells the story of how his cat inspired the business and helped launch him on a new trajectory to create the premium candles, which have appeared at the West Elm pop-up at Union Market, the Ritz Carlton and featured on CNN. He also shares stories about his love of music and flight, and...2018-03-0933 min
DC EntrepreneurDr. Gerald Gordon, President and CEO Fairfax County Economic Development AuthorityDr. Gerald Gordon, President and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. He discusses the resources available for business startups in Fairfax County, which is home to some of the largest private sector employers in the region. Fairfax has the highest density of startups in NoVa according to Fosterly's 2016 census, and is also home to many large IT and government contracting businesses.Send us a textSupport the show2018-02-1632 min
DC EntrepreneurJay Kim, Chief Strategy Officer, UpskillGeorge speaks to Jay Kim, Chief Strategy Officer of Upskill. We talk about the Skylight platform for smart glasses, the internet of things, and how Augmented Reality will take over the world as part of Industry 4.0. Send us a textSupport the show2018-02-0940 min
DC EntrepreneurBrett Freeman and Alex DelSordo, founders Grape Intentions wine clubThis episode of DC Entrepreneur Radio features Brett and Alex who started Grape Intentions, a wine club that helps do good by giving a percent of their online purchases to select charities. Brett who had training as a sommelier and Alex had run a rowing repair shop, a sport the two friends have in common. They talk about how they developed the startup, the issues and challenge behind shipping a product like wine, and how they developed a 'palate picker' algorithm to help customers confused by foreign wine labels discover the ideal wines for them.Send us...2018-01-2026 min
DC EntrepreneurSam Sabin, Tech Reporter, DC InnoGeorge speaks with Sam Sabin, tech reporter with DC Inno, a local blog that covers what's happening in the technology startup scene in Washington, DC. In this episode, we review some of the big tech headlines of 2017 and speak about what's in store for the future of the region. [Full Length edit]Send us a textSupport the show2017-12-2152 min
DC EntrepreneurIsaac Oates, CEO and founder Justworks HRGeorge speaks with Isaac Oates, founder of Justworks, via remote conversation in this episode of DC Entrepreneur. The company raised $33 million dollars after their last Series C round for a total of $53 million over the past five years. Isaac talks about his career path from being in the U.S. Army reserve, to selling his company Adtuitive to Etsy. He also speaks about Justworks' value proposition, the tech behind the scenes that runs the company, and the unique regulatory challenges of working on a company that focuses on HR. This episode also features special guest to the studio Charlotte...2017-12-0828 min
DC EntrepreneurLance Kramer, co-founder, Meridian Hill Pictures, producer, "City of Trees"Listen to my conversation with Lance Kramer about starting Meridian Hill Pictures, a production company he founded with his brother Brandon, both of whom created the documentary, "City of Trees" (now on Netflix). Send us a textSupport the show2017-11-1727 min
DC EntrepreneurJennifer Crawford, DC Podfest, Podcaster, Owner Social Media RescuePodcaster Jennifer Crawford is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. We discuss the upcoming DC Podfest on November 10-11, and why she thought DC needed to have its own conference focusing on podcasters. Jennifer discusses the challenges creative entrepreneurs face, and why it's even tougher for creative class to get recognized for their talent. She also talks about her work helping people with their social media campaigns, her work for Podbean, and her improv troupe: the Improv Imps, and how she's been balancing this with her podcast the Jelly Vision show! Send us a text2017-10-2026 min
DC EntrepreneurNicole Gallub, AKA DJ Neekola, founder and CEO PelonkeyNicole Gallub is guest today on D.C. Entrepreneur. We talk about her transformation from cybersecurity analyst into pink-haired DJ Neekola and founder of Pelonkey, an artist management agency that works with performers, DJs, performers, fire spinners, photo booth vendors, graffiti artists and more. You'll also get to listen to her DJ mix at the end of the broadcast.Send us a textSupport the show2017-09-2226 min
DC EntrepreneurAlex Villanueva, CEO, SpryntThis episode features Alex Villanueva, founder and CEO of Sprynt, a shuttle service for North Arlington. Sprynt differentiates itself from other ride share services with free rides. Their business model derives from selling advertising to local businesses to get the word out. Alex also talks about his switch from being a CPA to becoming an entrepreneur. Send us a textSupport the show2017-09-0126 min
DC EntrepreneurAmelia Friedman, co-founder, Hatch; co-director Vinetta Project's DC chapterAmelia Friedman is our guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. She is the co-founder of Hatch, a Y Combinator-funded app and software development startup. Amelia also helped establish the Vinetta Project's DC chapter which helps women entrepreneurs around the region. Her first startup was a non-profit called the Student Language Exchange when she was a student at Brown University. Amelia talks about her experience as a startup founder, her work in the DC tech scene, and how she and her partner helped bootstrap their startup idea by creating a card game to raise capital.Send us...2017-08-1827 min
DC EntrepreneurSarah Van Dell, CEO Plum RelishIn this episode, George speaks with Sarah Van Dell, CEO of Plum Relish, a District startup that offers lunch catering for office workers and events. Sarah speaks about her path as a startup founder, and how the idea began while she was working for the Advisory Board Company. She also talks about her all-women advisory board, her business partnerships, and why "Food Tech" is the next big thing.Send us a textSupport the show2017-08-0425 min
DC EntrepreneurKate Glantz, CEO and founder Heartful.ly, SEED SpotGeorge talks with social entrepreneurship founder Kate Glantz who built Heartful.ly Registry, a wedding registry website where couples can raise money to help charities and non-profits. Kate, a Tory Burch Foundation fellow is director of DC Entrepreneur Initiatives at SEED SPOT and involved with Halcyon Incubator, and Vinetta Project. Kate speaks about her journey from serving in the Peace Corps in Tanzania to becoming an entrepreneur, navigating the DC Tech scene, and her take on failure vs success as a startup founder. Send us a textSupport the show2017-07-2126 min
DC EntrepreneurPierre Malko, CEO and President, Ouli mobile concierge app; Dante, Inc.Today's DC Entrepreneur features a conversation with Pierre Malko, President and CEO of Ouli, a mobile concierge app that serves the local DC area. Ouli helps connect people with local merchants that have great offers for people looking for a place to eat, go out with friends, and celebrate life’s occasions. The business model lets merchants pay for only when customers have come through the app. Send us a textSupport the show2017-07-0727 min
DC EntrepreneurGrant Elliott, Founder & CEO OstendioIn today's episode of DC Entrepreneur, Grant Elliott, Founder and CEO of Ostendio speaks with George. The word Ostendio in Latin means to show or demonstrate, and Grant helps illustrate his journey from working in the corporate world to founding a Cyber Security & Information Management company. He talks about his work as a Mentor and Instructor to startups and his own unique journey as an entrepreneur. Send us a textSupport the show2017-06-2447 min
DC EntrepreneurHal Shelton, Author on business plans, SCORE Association board member, angel investor with Blu Venture Investors, LLCHal Shelton, board member of SCORE Association, and angel investor with Blu Venture Investors, LLC is today's guest on D.C. Entrepreneur. Shelton, the author of "The Secrets of Writing Successful Business Plans," shares his advice to entrepreneurs starting to map out their business.Send us a textSupport the show2017-06-0926 min
DC EntrepreneurDaniel Turissini, owner of Recharj meditation and power nap studioGeorge speaks with Daniel Turissini, owner of Recharj--a modern meditation and power nap studio in Washington, DC. Daniel left a career in cybersecurity to focus on creating health and wellness options for District residents. We talk about mindfulness, meditation, and how proper sleep are essential tools for today's entrepreneurs. Send us a textSupport the show2017-05-1927 min
DC EntrepreneurDionna Dorsey of District of Clothing & Dionna Dorsey Design, creative with 202CreatesOn this show, George speaks with Dionna Dorsey, a Creative Director from Springfield, Virginia. She is the founder of District of Clothing, and head of Dionna Dorsey Design, a creative design boutique that specializes in graphic design, art direction, brand strategy, and website development. Dionna is also a featured creative as part of 202 Creates, an initiative of D.C.'s Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment.Send us a textSupport the show2017-05-0526 min
DC EntrepreneurBrandon Luong of WeTogether and DMV StartupGeorge speaks with Brandon Luong, Product Manager for WeTogether and the brains behind DMV Startup. Brandon was also a co-organizer for the DC Tech Meetup. Brandon speaks about his love for DC Tech, diversity in the tech startup community, and his growing up around entrepreneurs as a "restaurant baby." Send us a textSupport the show2017-04-2124 min
DC EntrepreneurMichael Sabat of @MSSG, a Facebook messaging service for marketersIn this conversation, George speaks with Michael Sabat, founder of @Mssg which helps marketers increase conversions and decrease Cost Per Acquisitions (CPAs). An organization can connect @Mssg to an existing Facebook Ad Campaign or other page, measure the results, and compare the results to their other touchpoints.Send us a textSupport the show2017-04-0726 min
DC EntrepreneurStephen Jefferson, Founder of Bloom labs: a geolocation platform for journalistsIn this show, George speaks with Stephen Jefferson co-founder of Bloom Labs. Bloom is a geolocation platform that helps journalists and other content creators add a geographic ID tag to where they are covering their stories from. Bloom was created as a part of Stephen's passion for local communities and technology, leading him to become a recent fellow at the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism at CUNY. Stephen grew up in the Washington DC region, working as a web developer and strategist for small businesses and non-profits throughout the region. He formed a non-profit to raise awareness for skateboard...2017-03-2427 min
DC EntrepreneurDana Matassa, Royal Blue Fine ClothingGeorge speaks with Dana Matassa, Owner of Royal Blue Fine Clothing, a custom-made men's clothier in the Washington, DC area. All Royal Blue suits and shirts are handmade from the highest quality fabrics for a purely custom tailored garment. Dana talks about how he found his passion for clothes and dressing well, and his almost accidental foray into business as an entrepreneur. Dana also shares his insight into understanding dress codes, the marks of quality and style in clothing, and the essential menswear accessories all men should consider wearing for a refined look. [This is the full length interview.]2017-03-0233 min
Technology Thursday | Hello Tech ProsThe UX of Technical Documentation — George MocharkoGeorge Mocharko helps create authentic, crafted, strategic messaging for small businesses, start-ups, and non-profits. He also specializes in digital and print publications management, with professional-quality newsletter & magazine design and production, including marketing collateral creation. George has a Master's degree in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University's School of Policy, Government and International Affairs and a Bachelor's degree in Communication from Mason. He studied Digital Marketing at Georgetown and Front-End Web Development at General Assembly. He is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Society for Technical Communication, Graphic Artists Guild, and Project...2017-02-1140 min
DC EntrepreneurFrank V. Taylor, co-founder Fosterly, founder RESTIN, WeDC Ambassador organizerGeorge speaks with Frank V. Taylor, Co-Founder of Fosterly, which recently released a new study based on a survey of DC based startups. Frank is also the leader of RESTIN, a massage chair wellness company which he started as a student at the College of William and Mary. Frank is active in the DC Tech community and is the organizer of the WeDC ambassador program which represents the Washington, DC area at the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas. This is the long edit of this interview. Send us a textSupport the show2017-02-1049 min
DC EntrepreneurJoel Sprechman, One Great GutGeorge speaks with Joel Sprechman, Founder of One Great Gut, a Benefit Corporation, and the #1 science-backed gut health resource. Hear Joel's personal journey and transformation from how he went from being a DC-based IT engineer to starting a health and wellness organization in San Diego. This is the a long edit of the interview. Send us a textSupport the show2017-01-1326 min
DC EntrepreneurLily Cua, co-founder, AspireGeorge speaks with Lily Cua, Co-founder of Aspire, a DC based start-up that helps companies make smart investments in offering workplace perks so that they can recruit, engage and retain the best talent. in this conversation, Lily shares her experiences as an entrepreneur and why a company's culture matters. This is the full length interview of the episode. The radio edit which aired [12-9-16] is available on MixCloud.Send us a textSupport the show2016-12-0938 min
DC EntrepreneurIra Koretsky, CEO, The Chief StorytellerGeorge interviews Ira Koretsky, the CEO of The Chief Storyteller®. Ira shares his experiences about marketing, cross-cultural communications, executive storytelling, and how to perfect your elevator speech. This is the full length interview of the episode. The radio edit which aired [11-25-16] is available on MixCloud.Send us a textSupport the show2016-11-2544 min
DC EntrepreneurMorgan Hirsh, CEO, Morgan's (now Public Goods)George interviews Morgan Hirsh the Montreal-based CEO of subscription-box e-commerce business Morgan's. Morgan's delivers a monthly box of essential toiletries and goods to its members, with a beta-test program now offering its products at-cost.Send us a textSupport the show2016-11-1125 min
DC EntrepreneurOmer Aru, Owner, Escape Room HerndonD.C. Entrepreneur is back for a second season in this conversation with Omer Aru, owner of The Escape Room in Herndon, Virginia. We talk about solving puzzles, teambuilding, and how solving puzzles has a lot in common with entrepreneurship and business ownership. Send us a textSupport the show2016-10-2827 min
DC EntrepreneurDavid Ramos, Knowledge Commons DC, KCDC; Design instructor American UniversityToday, D.C. Entrepreneur is in conversation with David Ramos of Knowledge Commons DC, and graphic design faculty at American University. We talk about the history and background of KCDC and the convergence of technology and design. Send us a textSupport the show2016-08-1227 min
DC EntrepreneurCherian Thomas, Co-Founder & CEO SpotluckGeorge sits down in conversation with Cherian Thomas, Chairman and CEO of Spotluck. Cherian has taken the Spotluck app from a Georgetown University Masters thesis to the number 1 dining app on the iTunes App Store. The app's gamified UX makes it an engaging and useful tool for its users, and a value added customer experience for restaurant marketers. [Air Date 7-29-16]Send us a textSupport the show2016-07-2924 min