Les Craig - Podcast Details

Shows

2026-02-0727 min

Talk Les Show What It’s Really Like to Be an NBA Player: Torrey Craig on Women, Money, and His NBA JourneyIn this powerful episode, Torrey Craig sits down with Les to share the side of NBA life the world never sees.He opens up about his journey from growing up without parents at home to manifesting his way into the NBA, navigating fame, handling money, and staying grounded through temptation and pressure.Torrey gets brutally honest about dating as an NBA player, the stereotypes women have about athletes, the reality of temptation, and what loyalty really means to him.He also shares heartfelt stories about fatherhood, creating memories with his son, and becoming...

2025-12-081h 42

Found In The Rockies Will Pearce & Brad Palm (Dreadnode) // The Frontlines of Offensive AI SecurityIn today’s episode, Les sits down with Will Pearce and Brad Palm from Dreadnode, one of the nation’s most advanced offensive AI and cybersecurity companies. Based in the Rocky Mountain West, Dreadnode is redefining how we think about digital defense — by taking the offensive. Will and Brad share their experiences leading red teams at Microsoft, NVIDIA, and within the U.S. Marine Corps, and how those lessons now shape their mission to secure the future of artificial intelligence.From battlefield drones and AI-enabled cyberattacks to the regulatory frameworks that will d...

2025-10-0851 min

Found In The Rockies Jim Lose (The MilVet) // Elevating Veterans into Executive LeadershipIn today’s episode, Les Craig speaks with Jim Lose, a Marine Corps veteran, longtime recruiter, and CEO of The Military Veteran (The MilVet). With over 25 years of experience helping thousands of service members transition into successful private sector roles, Jim shares his mission to place more veterans in executive leadership across high-growth, early-stage companies. Jim’s passion for service shines through as he talks about the importance of community, coaching, and aligning veterans with roles where they can have lasting impact. From his time in military intelligence to becoming the go-to resource for elite veteran talent, Jim’s journe...

2025-09-171h 26

Found In The Rockies Chris Peterson (RADICL) // Building Military-Grade Cybersecurity for SMBsSummary:In today’s episode, Les speaks with Chris Peterson, co-founder and CEO of Radicl, and a pioneer in cybersecurity innovation. Chris shares his inspiring journey from early days at Price Waterhouse to co-founding LogRhythm, and now leading Radicl - a company on a mission to bring military-grade cybersecurity to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), especially those in the defense industrial base (DIB). With humility, vision, and deep industry experience, Chris talks about the challenges of cybersecurity for SMBs, the promise of AI in threat detection, and the principles that drive Radicl’s product and cult...

2025-08-0646 min

The Flux by Epistemix Strategic Innovation in Public Health with Les CraigLes Craig joins us to discuss how simulation and synthetic data are changing the way organizations prepare for infectious disease outbreaks. From helping public health leaders visualize complex scenarios to enabling pharmaceutical companies to explore new R&D pathways, Les explains how advanced modeling technology empowers faster, smarter decisions. This episode unpacks how simulation can move ideas from theory to action and why creating low-risk environments for experimentation is key to building long-term trust and value in emerging tech.

2025-07-0827 min

Found In The Rockies Arthur Karell (FirstIn) \\ Being “First In” on DefenseTechIn this episode of Found in the Rockies, Les Craig sits down with Arthur Karell, Partner at First In, a venture firm investing at the intersection of cybersecurity, defense tech, and data intelligence. Arthur shares his unconventional journey from international law to the Marine Corps to scaling startups and leading M&A at Anduril, before transitioning to early-stage investing. He unpacks the realities of venture returns in defense tech, the difference between strategic and tactical problems, and why First In aims to build enduring companies—not just chase flashy innovations. With sharp insight and mission-driven conviction, Arthur offers a ca...

2025-07-0256 min

The Mindful Movement Podcast and Community Finding Your Purpose in Midlife: A Conversation with Craig FilekIn this episode of The Mindful Movement Podcast, I sit down with Craig Filek, creator of Purpose Mapping, for a powerful conversation about how we navigate major life transitions, especially those moments that challenge our identity and sense of direction.Craig brings deep insight into the nature of the midlife crisis, explaining how periods of uncertainty can actually signal the beginning of something greater: a transformation rooted in purpose. We explore the difference between purpose and mission, and why understanding this distinction is key to personal fulfillment.From the...

2025-06-171h 07

Found In The Rockies Logan and Kevin (Datashapes) \\ Defense Tech Built for WarfightersIn this episode of Found in the Rockies, Les Craig sits down with Logan Selby and Kevin Larrabee of Datashapes AI—two veterans turned tech innovators who are redefining how artificial intelligence is applied to the electromagnetic spectrum. From battlefield-tested insights to real-world commercial applications, the conversation dives into drone detection, spectrum awareness, and what it means to build a dual-use defense tech company. With 21 patents and a mission-first mentality, Datashapes is arming the next generation of warfighters—and industries—with actionable signal intelligence.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Founders’ Backgrounds: Logan Selby and Kevin...

2025-06-0455 min

Goat Rodeo Goat Rodeo #10 Featuring Les Craig – Budget Cannibalism, Series B Surge, and SquirtThis episode: Les Craig, General Partner at Next Frontier Capital, joins the crew to talk defense venture trends, budget dysfunction, and whether innovation theater is masking a system in need of real change. From AI hype to institutional inertia, Les offers a candid look at how the funding landscape is shifting—and what startups (and policymakers) keep getting wrong. The crew also digs into defense budget priorities, including the controversial decision to move Army infrastructure funding to the border, and whether piling billions onto legacy systems actually gets better tech to the warfighter. Plus: “budget cannibalism,” callsigns, Congress as a herd...

2025-05-1548 min

Found In The Rockies John & Levi (4th State Communications) \\ Revolutionizing Battlefield Communications ForeverIn today’s episode, Les is joined by John and Levi, the co-founders of 4th State Communications, a Wyoming-based defense technology company. They delve into their backgrounds in the Marine Corps, experiences in the Warfighting Lab, and the inspiration behind their startup. The conversation explores the critical challenges of military communications in denied and austere environments and how their company is developing innovative solutions to improve battlefield connectivity. John and Levi emphasize the significance of dual-use technology, leveraging both military and commercial applications. They introduce "virtual satellite" technology, which allows for long-range, infrastructure-independent communication by manipulating the atmosphere—a capa...

2025-05-0756 min

The Innovators & Investors Podcast 28 - Investing in the Mountain West with Next Frontier Capital General Partner Les CraigIn this episode of the Innovators and Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez interviews Les Craig, General Partner with Next Frontier Capital. Les discusses the investment firm’s focus on early-stage companies in the Mountain West region, and how the unique dynamics of this area provide opportunities for founders. Les also shares insights on the importance of a founder’s ability to fundraise, the evolving venture landscape, and strategies for success in raising capital.Learn more about Les' work HERE.Connect with Les on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on t...

2025-02-2731 min

Found In The Rockies Sean & John (HighGround) \\ Transforming Defense Tech MarketsIn today’s episode, Les sits down with Sean Leahy and John Price from HighGround. the conversation delves into the founders’ unique backgrounds—from military service and government intelligence to data science and entrepreneurial ventures—and how these experiences inform their ambitious vision. HighGround seeks to create a centralized platform, similar to Bloomberg for equities, providing comprehensive market intelligence for defense and national security sectors. The episode highlights the challenges of navigating complex government systems, the evolving defense tech landscape, and the founders’ commitment to simplifying access to public data for transformative impact. Their mission underscores the potential for democratizi...

2024-12-1157 min

Found In The Rockies Kenny Scott (Paramify) \\ Automating Compliance's Tedious GrindIn today’s episode, Les talks with Kenny Scott, the founder of Paramify. Kenny shares his journey from initially disliking compliance and GRC work to eventually building a successful SaaS company that automates and streamlines these processes. He discusses his background in consulting and cybersecurity, his brief stint running a hedge fund, and the pivotal moment when he decided to create a solution to the pain points he experienced in the GRC space. Throughout the conversation, Kenny emphasizes the importance of relationships, prioritizing family, and leveraging technology to enable security professionals to focus on more strategic initiatives. Kenny talks ab...

2024-11-1347 min

Barr Talk Ep 19 Craig DorseyCraig describes himself as a maker of nice things but is best known for renovating antique travel trailers. We discuss his early life in California, his obsession with everything vintage, how he came to the Annapolis Valley, plant medicine and finding our peace and purpose.

2024-11-122h 04

Behind the Screens: Conversations with Background Screening Pros hosted by Les Rosen Episode 1: A Double Life in Background Screening and Beyond with Craig CaddellSend a textImagine meeting a guy who can navigate a call center as smoothly as he handles a sailboat in the open Pacific—and who’s also known for his “007” charm in the background screening world. This week, we dive into a fascinating conversation with Craig Caddell, who’s seen the evolution of our industry from three guys in a narrow room to an international phenomenon. Join us to hear about Craig’s incredible career journey, a few surprises (think secret modeling gigs and talent agency stints), and his role in shaping the background screening landscape. This episode...

2024-11-0126 min

Found In The Rockies Orlando Zambrano (Defense Innovation Unit) \\ How the DIU is Harnessing Commercial Tech for National SecurityIn today’s episode, Les talks with Orlando Zambrano, a West Point graduate and former infantry officer, who discusses his journey from serving in the 1/73 Airborne Brigade to working at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). DIU, established in 2015, aims to integrate commercial technology into defense solutions. Orlando highlights DIU's three phases: 1.0 focused on building Silicon Valley links, 2.0 on rapid prototyping, and 3.0 on strategic impact at scale. Orlando discusses DIU's role in leveraging private investment and AI to enhance military capabilities, aiming for rapid adaptation in response to evolving threats.Here’s a closer look at t...

2024-10-1652 min

Found In The Rockies Garrett Smith (Reveal) \\ Marine-Turned-Founder Revolutionizes Defense TechnologyIn today’s episode, Garrett Smith, CEO of Reveal Technologies, discussed his journey from the Marine Corps to founding a defense tech startup in Bozeman, Montana. Garrett, a linguistics graduate with a background in Mandarin, transitioned from government service to Silicon Valley, where he focused on drone technology. Reveal Technologies developed Farsight, a software that creates 3D maps from drone video in real-time, enhancing situational awareness for warfighters. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Garrett Smith's Background and Early LifeEnlistment in the Marine Corps post-9/11 and his decision to pursue higher educa...

2024-09-1856 min

Found In The Rockies France Hoang (Boodle.ai)-From the White House to the BattlefieldIn today’s episode of Found in the Rockies, Les spoke with France Hoang, co-founder of BoodleAI. France and Les shared their experiences and insights on optimizing AI models for efficient use in Boodle, an AI-powered chatbot. Les and France shared their experiences in the military and government, highlighting the differences in their paths and the lessons they learned about service, sacrifice, and debt. They also share their insights on entrepreneurship and investment, emphasizing the importance of culture, trust, and finding the right fit in the investment process.Here’s a closer look at the...

2024-08-2146 min

Found In The Rockies Matt Puopolo (StageDotO) & Travis Hawkes (Capital Eleven) \\ Idaho Investing and Seed to Growth ConferenceIn today’s episode, Les talks with Matt Puopolo from StageDotO and Travis Hawkes from Capital Eleven about the startup community in Idaho as well as the Seed to Growth Conference coming up in September. They discussed the growth and potential of Boise's startup ecosystem, highlighting favorable conditions such as a talented workforce and increased acceptance of distributed workforce. They emphasized the importance of supporting local founders and investing in the region to drive growth and innovation. They discuss the challenges faced by founders in accessing capital and building scalable businesses, and the need for founders to prioritize capital ef...

2024-07-2452 min

Found In The Rockies Maggie Rodney \\ Massive Innovations and Bold StrategiesIn today’s episode, of "Found in the Rockies," Les Craig sits down with a dynamic guest from the Rocky Mountain region, Maggie Rodney, a principal at Massive Capital Partners. They dive into the unique and innovative investment strategies employed by Massive Capital, focusing on deep tech and climate tech ventures. Maggie shares her compelling journey from a finance career to joining the Peace Corps in Rwanda and ultimately transitioning into the venture capital world. Listeners will gain insights into Massive Capital's distinctive model, the importance of personal interactions in investment, and the exciting future of technology and innovation....

2024-06-2655 min

Found In The Rockies Gabriel Wyner (Fluent Forever) \\ The Language Learner's JourneyIn today’s episode, Les talks with Gabriel Wyner, the creator of the most funded app in Kickstarter history - Fluent Forever. Gabe details his fascinating journey from a science-focused student pursuing dual degrees in music and engineering, to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the language learning space. He shared experiences learning languages through immersion programs that led him to dream in foreign tongues. His story provides inspiration for those seeking to unlock their potential and open up new possibilities through perseverance.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Gabe’s dual passio...

2024-05-2955 min

Found In The Rockies Quique Nagle (Advisr) \\ Transforming Sales DynamicsIn today’s episode, Les talks with Quique Nagle, the founder and CEO of Advisr - a sales operating system that helps organizations maximize existing resources to increase revenue and market share. Quique shares his journey with Advisr, discussing the challenges and innovations in risk management technology. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to change and leveraging new tools to enhance decision-making and efficiency. Quique also reflects on the serendipitous moments that have influenced his career path, underscoring the unpredictable yet significant impact of chance encounters. The discussion highlights how technological advancements can transform traditional industries and personal trajectories....

2024-05-0150 min

Found In The Rockies Rebecca Clyde (Botco.AI) \\ Using an AI platform to increase access to mental healthcareIn today’s episode, we have Rebecca Clyde who is the founder and CEO of Botco.ai. Rebecca is going to share with us her journey to creating the fully-automated, AI-powered marketing chat solution that is a HIPAA-compliant platform enabling meaningful and intelligent conversations between providers and consumers.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Growing up in Central and South America.Landing a job at Intel right out of college.Growing up in an Intel environment.Getting her MBA while working at Intel.How she got started as a consultant.Meeting Anu Shukla and Chri...

2024-04-2652 min

Found In The Rockies Blair Simpson (Frontier VC) \\ From Music to Venture CapitalIn today’s episode, Les talks with Blair Simpson, a Principal at Frontier Venture Capital. Blaire shares his journey from being a musician to entering the venture capital world, emphasizing non-traditional paths into VC and the music industry's influence on his career. Les and Blair talk about the impact of AI on creative fields, Blair's advice for aspiring VCs, and Blair's musical inspirations and how they relate to his work in venture capital.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Entrepreneurship and venture capital path.Music inspirations and teaching methods. Entrepreneurship, music, and t...

2024-04-0350 min

Found In The Rockies Travis Lowry (Vinyl VC) \\ Entrepreneurship, motivation, and investing in startupsIn today’s episode, Les talks with Travis Lowry, General Partner at Vinyl Capital. Travis shares his early background in Texas as the child of an entrepreneur and how that impacted his own decision to jump into the startup scene. Travis talks about his time in Syria, and how that impacted his world view. Travis shares how he transitioned from entrepreneur to investor. His path illustrates the power of adaptability, strategic thinking, and the impact of a global perspective in the entrepreneurial world.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Travis Lowry share...

2024-03-0648 min

EntrePastors End of Life Planning with Rick Craig (#158)In this episode of the EntrePastors podcast Jon and Les talk with guest Rick Craig about his journey from church pastor to author and end-of-life planning consultant. Rick shares how he sought guidance through prayer, transitioned to a new ministry assignment, and actively pursued different income opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of end-of-life planning and conversations about faith, using his business skills to serve others. Rick's experience, from forming prayer teams to finding fulfillment in his new role, provides inspiration and valuable insights for pastors and individuals navigating ministry and life changes. His story highlights the importance of seeking...

2024-02-0935 min

Found In The Rockies Pete Roos (Bridger Photonics) \\ Revolutionizing Methane DetectionIn today’s episode, Les speaks with Pete Roos, CEO of Bridger Photonics, discussing the company's journey and its photonics technology used for precise methane emission detection and topographic mapping. The discussion covers Pete's background, the founding of Bridger Photonics, its early challenges, and the evolution of its technology from topographic to gas mapping LiDAR. Les and Pete also touch on the environmental impact of BP’s work, the oil and gas industry's response to their technology, and future opportunities for growth and expansion.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Pete Roos...

2024-02-0751 min

Found In The Rockies John Cordier (Epistemix) \\ Simulating Futures in Public Health and BusinessIn today’s episode, Les talks with John Cordier, the co-founder and CEO of Epistemix. They discuss Epistemix's unique approach to simulation, and how it could be seen as a blend of SimCity, Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point," and The Matrix. John shares his background, including his geospatial experiences, university choices, and his journey through public health, leading to co-founding Epistemic X. The discussion covers the company's simulation technology, its applications in public health, decision-making, and business, particularly in predictive modeling versus traditional analytics. They also explore the broader impact of simulation technology on society and public health....

2024-01-1050 min

Found In The Rockies Found in The Rockies with guest Jonathan MeyersIn today’s episode, Les speaks with Jonathan Meyers, Co-Founder & CEO of DoneOps - which “designs, builds, secures, and maintains infrastructure so your devs don't have to.” Jonathan talks about his approach to balancing work and travel, his experiences in different countries, and his perspective on cultural diversity. He shares insights on adapting to various work environments as a digital nomad and the importance of flexibility and resilience in this lifestyle. Additionally, Jonathan discusses the evolution of his company, DoneOps, highlighting the challenges and successes in growing a business that supports digital infrastructure.Here’s a clos...

2023-12-2748 min

Found In The Rockies David Lopez (Gritly) \\ From Challenges to ChangeIn today’s episode, Les talks with David Lopez who is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gritly. David talks about his journey from a challenging childhood in an underserved Colorado community to a successful entrepreneur is remarkable. His mother played a pivotal role in his achievements, including being the first in his family to finish high school. David's entrepreneurial spirit manifested early, leading him to co-found Gritly while studying at CU Boulder. Gritly evolved from a tech sales bootcamp to a comprehensive data-driven platform, aiming to empower marginalized communities with tech skills and job opportunities. Despite facing hurdles like fu...

2023-12-1353 min

Found In The Rockies Brad Paz (Zoptic) \\ Leveraging Data to Prevent InjuryIn today’s episode, Les talks with Brad Paz - the co-founder and CEO of Zoptic. The podcast episode features a conversation with Brad Paz, the co-founder and CEO of Zoptic, a sports tech and data analytics company. Brad discusses his personal journey, originating from a family with Mexican heritage in Nebraska, and his passion for sports, which led him to play junior college basketball in California. The focus then shifts to his professional endeavors, particularly the founding and development of Zoptic. Throughout the conversation, Brad sheds light on the intersection of sports, technology, and data analytics, highlighting the si...

2023-11-2342 min

Found In The Rockies Patsy Landaveri (Impacto) \\ Navigating Innovations & ImpactIn today’s episode, Les talks with Patsy Landaveri, the founder and CEO of Impacto - an enterprise risk management solution to the oil and gas industry. The discussion focuses on Patsy's personal and professional journey, including her background, education, career progression, and her motivation to start Impacto.Patsy shares her story of moving from Peru to the United States for higher education and how her experiences shaped her career choices. She discusses her initial work in the energy sector, her involvement in community and business organizations, and her decision to start Impacto and develop the analytics pla...

2023-11-2352 min

Found In The Rockies Danielle Shoots \\ Empowering the RockiesIn today’s episode, Les interviews Danielle Shoots, who is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of the New Community Transformation Fund, focusing on investments as a tool for economic equity.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Pivoting from corporate finance to starting a, with a focus on consumer behavior and financial discipline.Danielle has extensive experience in finance and strategy, having worked in various industries and held leadership roles at Comcast and the Colorado Trust.Danielle launched her own fund, Daily Boss Up, after recognizing a gap in the market for financial services tail...

2023-10-2554 min

Found In The Rockies Trent Mano (Convoi Ventures) \\ First to find and fund Utah's next breakout founders and startupsIn today’s episode, I talk with Trent Mano. Trent is a General Partner at Utah-based Convoi Ventures. We dive into the Utah startup community, Convoi’s specific approach, and the growth of AI startups.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Growing up in the Bay Area and serving as a financial advisor to startup founders.Convoi’s Utah-focused venture capital fund and its unique approach.Why they want to be the first check.Diversifying investments across FinTech, consumer tech, and Utah-based companies, with a focus on early-stage companies and value-add beyond check writing.Investor...

2023-10-0554 min

Found In The Rockies Russell Sprole (Virta Ventures) \\ Climate Tech Venture Capital InvestingIn today’s episode, I'm super excited to welcome my friend Russell Sprole, who is the Founder and Managing Partner of Virta Ventures, which is an early stage, climate tech venture capital firm.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Russell Sproul shares his journey as a founder and venture capitalist in the climate tech industry.Career pivot from sports TV to climate tech investing . 1:30Russell’s Emmy Awards, including three for Sunday Night Football and the Beijing Olympics.Reducing food waste in the agriculture industry. Investing in startups during the pandemic. Venture capital investing strategi...

2023-09-2755 min

Found In The Rockies Jason O’Neil and Sharayah Clancy (Sidecar) \\ Building a tightly-knit community of entrepreneurs, creators, doers, and innovatorsIn today’s episode, we are excited to feature Jason O'Neill, founder and CEO, and Sharayah Clancy, the COO - dynamic duo of Sidecar, which is a co-working community with not one, not two, but three locations in Montana.Here’s a closer look at the episode:What brought Jason and Sharayah to MontanaThe first location in Helena - lessons learnedThe first location in Missoula.Finding a location in Bozeman. Importance of the look and feel of the space Evolution of remote work in general and the future of co-working in bozeman and Helena...

2023-09-1359 min

Found In The Rockies Leah Pagnozzi (RugDoc.IO) \\ Identifying and avoiding potential scams through audits and reviews of various crypto projectsIn today’s episode, we have Leah Pagnozzi who is the founder and CEO of RugDoc. RugDoc is is a website and platform that focuses on providing information and analysis about cryptocurrency projects, particularly within the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. The term "rug" in the name refers to a type of scam in the crypto world, often associated with "rug pulls," where a project's creators abandon the project after accumulating funds from investors. In these cases, investors are left with worthless or nearly worthless tokens.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Leah’s early career...

2023-08-3056 min

Found In The Rockies Caroline Lewis (Rogue Women's Fund) \\ Investing in women-led tech companies across the USIn today’s episode, we have Caroline Lewis from Rogue Women’s Fund. Caroline is sharing with us what got her into investing, why she thinks investing in women is so important, and what is unique about a venture fund from the Pacific Northwest.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Caroline’s early days teaching English in South Korea for a year and traveling around southeast asia for another year.How did you Caroline Starting in Angel InvestingInvesting in women in healthcare.The importance of family and work balance. The role of the Pacific NorthwestS...

2023-08-1659 min

Found In The Rockies Andres Sigcha (Tariy) \\ Creating a meeting platform that empowers all voicesIn today’s episode, we have an incredible founder who is trying to change the way we think about meetings. And most importantly, how we make sure that everyone not only has a seat at the table, but a voice as well. Andres Sigcha, who is the CEO and founder of Tariy has build a way to tackle this problem.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Andres growing up in Ecuador and leaving to come to the U.S.Working/growing/learning at Pepsi.The ceiling that Andres believes kept him in middle-level management at P...

2023-07-1958 min

Found In The Rockies Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks (KeepWOL) \\ Using gamification to engage, develop, upskill talent, and retain themIn today’s episode, And on today's episode, we have a story that is one of the most incredible trailblazing journeys, you will hear. Meet Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks, who is the founder and CEO of KeepWOL, which is a gamified learning platform for teams that enables employee engagement and retention insights for employers.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Growing up in Kansas and MissouriGetting out of Kansas City to get to Maryland and work for BoeingFirst black woman to win the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design competitionWhat got Lauren into aerospace engi...

2023-07-051h 05

Found In The Rockies Dave McCarson (Alpine Greenhouses) \\ Greenhouse tech to help people live healthier livesIn today’s episode, we have a whole different kid of tech. Dave McCarson is on the show. Dave is the founder of Alpine Greenhouses, which is a very unique company using proprietary technology to build greenhouses for extreme climates. We get into not only the science of his greenhouses, but the benefits of growing your own food. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Dave’s background and goals for a healthy lifestyleTomato DaveMoving to MontanaFounding Alpine Organic FarmsThe evolution of Alpine Greenhouses.The difference between growing food and building greenhouses in Mont...

2023-06-2138 min

Found In The Rockies Riley Hughes (Trinsic) \\ Building a full-stack self-sovereign identity platformIn today’s episode, we're talking all about the coming wave of IDTech. And we're so excited to welcome a founder with Montana family roots, who grew up in Idaho, and now lives in Utah, talk about the epitome of a rocky mountain founder, Riley Hughes, who is the co-founder and CEO of Trinsic. He is going to tell us how Trinsic can help enable you to use your identity to get access to all kinds of different products and services you wouldn't otherwise have been able to get.Here’s a closer look at t...

2023-06-0752 min

Found In The Rockies Dr. Grin Lord & Brian Williams \\ Bringing Empathy to the World of AIIn today’s episode, we're gonna get empathetic. We are welcoming Dr. Grin Lord, CEO and founder of mpathic, and Brian Williams, who is the VP of Engineering and mpathic. Grin and Brian are going to talk about how they are working to bring empathy into the world of AI throught their unique API. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Brian’s background and history with startups.Grin’s early life growing up in the midwest and ending up in Seattle.How Grin’s work in a trauma center inspired the idea for mp...

2023-05-2452 min

Surviving Narcissism with Dr. Les Carter Rethinking Narcissism, Featuring Dr. Craig MalkinDr. Les Carter shares an insightful interview with psychologist Dr. Craig Malkin, who is a lecturer at the Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and who also maintains an active therapy practice. Dr. Malkin explains how narcissism is a combination of inborn temperament and learned patterns, and also discusses why they have such difficulty regulating themselves as adults. Go to https://betterhelp.com/survivingnarcissismpodcast for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored Sign up for Dr. Carter’s NEW course: Ready, Set, Con...

2023-05-1642 min

Found In The Rockies Matt Hyde (Catalyst Law Group) \\ Supporting Founders in the Rocky MountainsIn today’s episode, we have Matt Hyde, who is a partner and the co-founder of Catalyst Law Group, which is a Colorado based venture and technology law firm. Matt is going to go through the ins-and-outs of being a lawyer working with startup founders as well as venture capital firms.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Matt’s Naval Academy and law school background.The challenge of starting over in law.Moving his family to Hong KongMoving back to Colorado to work directly with foundersThe impetus to start a law firm.W...

2023-05-101h 02

Found In The Rockies Serene Papenfuss (Kickstart Fund) \\ Investing in Great Companies in the Wild WestIn today’s episode, I am very excited to welcome a fellow investor and friend here in the Intermountain West, Serene Papenfus, who is a Principal at Kickstart Fund in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kickstart is a venture capital firm on a mission to help build great companies in the Wild West.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Growing up in Tokyo, Japan. And comparing the skiing in each. Transitioning from management consulting to Venture Capital.What brought Serene back to Utah.Kickstart Fund NOT KickstarterThe Kickstart mission and 6th FundWhat does...

2023-04-1249 min

Found In The Rockies Scott Walgren & Matt Maasdam \\ The Value of Coaching for FounderIn today’s episode, we explore a critical and relevant topic for all founders, optimizing personal and professional performance through coaching. We have Scott Walgren who is the founder and CEO of Credo Performance Coaching. He coaches founders and entrepreneurs through goal setting and through the startup process. And we also have Matt Maasdam, who is going to help us provide a founder perspective on coaching and on this subject. And Matt is an entrepreneur, who is the co-founder at PECOS Outdoor.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Matt’s background and in...

2023-03-2944 min

Found In The Rockies Elliot Justin (FirmTech) \\ Bringing tech to sexual healthIn today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Elliot Justin, who is the founder and CEO of FirmTech. FirmTech is a company whose slogan is think smarter, get harder and the main product is a wearable tech device for improving sexual health and performance for all men, not just those with erectile dysfunction.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Elliot’s life growing up in an Army family. Elliot’s experience in medical school.Why Elliot moved his family to Bozeman.Pegasus Emergency GroupHow an injury led Elliot back to aphrodisiacs.How did you becom...

2023-03-1542 min

Found In The Rockies Jerryck Murrey & Aly Hollewijn (Annum) \\ Pioneering Housing as an Employment BenefitOn today's episode, we are excited to share a powerful story of two founders who are on a bold mission to dent the universe by pioneering housing as an employment benefit. Jerryck Murrey and Aly Hollewijn, who are the co-founders of Annum. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Aly’s early experience watching her parents as entrepreneurs.Jerryck’s early entrepreneurial aspirations growing up.Learning the world of real estate and development.How Jerryck and Aly met.Identifying the connection between affordable housing and employee retention - especially during COVID. The value of...

2023-03-011h 03

Found In The Rockies Jeff Gibson (MonetizeNow) \\ Scaling sales and billing with streamlined systemsIn today’s episode, have one of Next Frontier Capital's portfolio company founders on the podcast - Jeff Gibson, who is the CTO of MonetizeNow. Jeff and his co-founder Sandeep are revolutionizing billing systems and streamlining the process.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Jeff’s early days in Missoula, MT.Jeff’s start in tech with Advanced Technology Group.The transition from Montana to San Francisco.Learning data engineering on the fly at Atlassian.The challenges of building a product-lead growth platform.The problem with tech debt and tech debt.Deciding to team up with...

2023-02-1553 min

Found In The Rockies Kate DeGon (ChangeSync) \\ Enabling companies to make strategic decisions and improve change management practicesIn today’s episode, we have a pioneer in change management. Kate DeGon is the founder and CEO of ChangeSync which is a platform working to enable companies to to make strategic decisions and improve change management practices. This practice will allow companies to see internally how they are dealing with changes, and help manage changes in th future.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Kate shares her background and how she found her way to Phoenix from Madison, Wisconsin.What she learned from her time as a PI that she...

2023-02-0856 min

Found In The Rockies Joseph Haecker (Tech Alley) \\ Building and supporting the startup ecosystem in DenverIn today’s episode, we have a self described “Startup Addict” - Joseph Haecker. Joseph is using his vast experience in entrepreneurship to mentor new startups, and work to create a vibrant community in the startup ecosystem of Denver, Colorado.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Joseph the Startup Addict.Losing $283K on his first venture.The big mistake founders make early on.Turning your customer into your marketer.Why Joseph doesn’t believe in formal mentorship.Three feet from gold. How Joseph ended up in Denver?How Tech Alley got started. Tech Alley is one of th...

2023-02-0150 min

Found In The Rockies David Paul (DWP Capital) \\ Investing in the Grand Canyon StateIn today’s episode, we're headed for the first time to the Grand Canyon State. Last year in 2022, Arizona saw over 140 companies raise upwards of $1.1 billion, putting Arizona on the National Venture map as a strong emerging venture ecosystem. Here to tell us all about the Arizona venture scene is my friend David Paul, who is the CEO and founding member of DWP Capital.Here’s a closer look at the episode:David’s background and how he got into VC.What motivated David to start his own firm.DWP’s SPV strategy.What advice are you givi...

2023-01-1843 min

Found In The Rockies Katherine Wells (Serenity) \\ Revolutionizing Senior CareIn today’s episode, we are featuring an experienced startup founder who is on a mission to revolutionize communication and quality of life for families who are engaged with the entire continuum of senior care - Katherine Wells, who is the CEO and founder of Serenity.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Growing up in Colorado Springs.Working at Hewlett-Packard in California.Working with the “father of the help desk industry” - Ron MunsWhat was it like to be in a startup during the dot.com bust?The emotions of laying off employees.Getting acquired...

2023-01-0458 min

Found In The Rockies Elle Bruno (TechStars Boulder) \\ From founder to funder to TechStars Managing DirectorIn today’s episode, we have someone who has done it all founder, funder, and now contributor to our startup ecosystem. Excited to have Elle Bruno who is the managing director of TechStars Boulder.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Elle’s early days as an entrepreneurWhy Elle focuses her angel investing on female founders.What’s changed in the world of investing in female founders.Elle’s advice to founders that are struggling with challenges/disadvantages.Eliminate emotion and use data.The importance of the founder/VC relationshipThe quintessential element of investment is spending t...

2022-12-2145 min

Found In The Rockies Sam Fonoimoana (Datajoin) \\ Transforming B2B Sales & Marketing Teams One Micro Integration at a TimeIn today’s episode, we have Sam Fonoimoana Sam is the founder and CEO of Datajoin, which is a b2b SaaS company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, that allows enterprise customers to connect their customer behavioral data across their marketing platforms to enable truly full funnel personalization, with Datajoin’s proprietary micro integrations.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Growing up in a Polynesian family in Hawaii.Moving to Salt Lake CityThe path that led him down solving data problems.What is mico-integration.Top of funnel focus.Customer data activation and marketing data a...

2022-12-0750 min

Found In The Rockies Wesley Eames (After.com) \\ Revolutionizing death techIn today’s episode, we have Wesley Eames, CEO and founder of after.com. Wesley is working to fix what is an antiquated and broken funeral system and he has the entrepreneur chops to do it. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Wesley’s early start in entrepreneurship at 12.Wesley’s background in business.Trace.com - genealogy - Wesley’s first VC backed companyDiving into dating apps by buying another startup - MeetMindfulFounding Tales.com with his wifeThe importance of memorializing stories.Why death tech?The death of big funeral - https://youtu.be/0hU1-kIG...

2022-11-2354 min

Found In The Rockies Stef Sample (FUNDID) \\ Simplifying business finance & access to capitalIn today’s episode, we welcome back the original host of Found in the Rockies - Stef Sample. Stef now has a new company, FUNDID, which is empowering business owners on their growth journeys by simplifying business finance & access to capitalHere’s a closer look at the episode:Growing up in Billings, MTMoving to Missoula to study ChineseThe Insight Studio and supporting other entrepreneursHow The Insight Studio helped inspire FUNDID.Raising her Seed round.Thinking of fundraising like a competitive sportThe importance of having a good marketing plan in an ecosystem.If you ask for advi...

2022-11-0950 min

The Capital Stack Les Craig of Next Frontier Ventures on transitioning from CIA to VC, Sharky VCs, and Investing with a Regional Focus Investments ThesisToday, David is talking to Les Craig. Les joined Next Frontier Capital in 2017. During that time, he has led the investments and serves on the board of Special.tv, S2 Corporation, Bandwango, EveryoneSocial, and Gravwell.Before joining NFC, Les served as the Executive Director of the Montana State University Innovation Campus. In less than 16 months, he successfully built a partnership between a private developer, the MSU Office of Research and Economic Development, and the MSU Alumni Foundation to develop a 42-acre Research Park in Bozeman, MT, focused on technology and research commercialization.Les moved to M...

2022-11-0841 min

Found In The Rockies Zach Smith (Align Tech & Best Mobile Inc) \\ Lifting Up Community Through Skill DevelopmentIn today’s episode, I speak with Zach Smith, who is the founder of the FinTech company, Align Tech, and also on a professional mission to improve financial literacy for young people. Zach's journey is underscored by his persistent commitment to create value respect and lead people from all backgrounds and walks of life.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Zach’s story and how it all began.Men of TomorrowGrowing up in Florida and having mentorship. How Zach’s life changed after he left the University of Florida and went to Nantucket.How did Zach...

2022-10-2645 min

Found In The Rockies Jason & Justus Thompson (CAPE Inclusion)In today’s episode, we have an incredible team, building data driven solutions to power Diversity, Equity and Inclusion change. It's practical, real and focused. This is going to be a great episode, I'm pleased to welcome Jason Thompson, and Justus Thompson co-founders of CAPE inclusion.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Introducing Jason Thompson and Justice Thompson.Jason’s career in diversity and inclusion.The Olympic and Paralympic teams.Justus’s start building diversity programs.Working at TechStars. Jason’s book: Diversity and Inclusion MattersCAPE Inclusion: Collect, Analyze, Plan, and ExecuteThe disconnect between the data an...

2022-10-1250 min

Found In The Rockies Rilee Buttars (Dónde) \\ Why better time off means better time onIn today’s episode, we have another incredible story that takes us from Idaho, to the great State of Utah. I am excited to welcome Rilee Butters, who is the co-founder and CEO of Dónde the travel as a benefit company that is taking PTO to the next level. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Rilee’s childhood in Idaho and looking for a place to belongHow a trip to India started her love of travelFrom a collegiate athlete to BYU Advertising ProgramFilm producingHow Rilee’s experiences prepared her for DóndeLeaving advertising to chase he...

2022-09-2850 min

Found In The Rockies Kirsten Suddath (Next Frontier Capital) \\ VC 101In today’s episode, we have NFC’s very own. Kirsten Suddath. Kirsten is a General Partner at Next Frontier Capital. For the first episode of Season 3 are doing a crash course in Venture Capital - a “VC 101”. We are breaking down all the Alphabet soup of VC terms, the different positions in a Venture Capital firm, where the money comes from, and what kind of companies/founders are right for Venture Capital investment. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Kirsten’s background and what got her into VCWhat is Venture Capital?Ventu...

2022-09-2149 min

Found In The Rockies Abby Schlatter (commonFont) \\ Building a Bozeman company with community involvement at the heartIn today’s episode, Abby Schlatter joins us, who is the CEO and co-founder of Bozeman based commonFont. CommonFont is a tech company that partners with the world's top companies to establish, evolve and optimize experience management solutions.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Abby’s start in Central Illinois, Harvard, Stanford Business School, Google, UNICEFThe decision to come to BozemanLife in Bozeman in 2013Starting to hire and grow the teamThe name commonFont and how it relates to the company missionExperience Management TechnologyHaving too many tools that don’t work well togetherOpening an office in Rhode IslandWho we choos...

2022-09-0738 min

Found In The Rockies John Temte (Temte Capital & WY Global Tech Partnership) \\ Bringing capital and attention to the Wyoming ecosystemIn today’s episode, I talk with John Temte. He is a general partner with Temte Capital and the co-founder and chair of Wyoming's Governor's Global Technology Partnership. John talks about his background and how he turned from entrepreneur to investor. We discuss what Boulder was like in the mid 2000s. He shares with us a little bit about the Wyoming Tech Partnership, how it got started. He talks about Wyoming’s ecosystem and what’s unique about it. He talks about the current trends and the energy industry. John makes predictions on the future of tech in Wyoming. Here’s...

2022-09-0339 min

Found In The Rockies Liz Giorgi (soona) \\ Redefining Content CreationIn today’s episode, I talk with Liz Giorgi, the CEO and co-founder of soona. We talk about how Liz 's journey began with a bootstrap company that works in content creation for large companies, and a pivot to a venture backed startup that created a novel and revolutionary solution for entrepreneurs and small businesses. We talk about the TechStars program. Liz shares her company’s growth from starting without even having a company name, to Demo Day, to her post-TechStars journey. We also talk about why Liz created the Candor Clause. And what Liz thinks the next steps are...

2022-09-0247 min

Found In The Rockies Timeri Tolnay (EdCuration) \\ Empowering educators to find the best resourcesIn today’s episode, we have an Timeri Tolnay, who is the CEO and founder of EdCuration. Timeri is an Edupreneur, who has built a company focused on connecting educators to the right curriculum and instructional resources to help their students succeed. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Timeri’s early career in education in CaliforniaMoving to ColoradoUnderstanding how schools purchase curriculumDeveloping and selling a curriculum companyThe problem Timeri was trying to solveLaunch in 2018Early advice from TractionRaising a Friends and Family roundSupport from the state of ColoradoFirst customersHow they defined the business modelGrowing the team during COVIDC...

2022-08-2441 min

Matinee Heroes CastOFF! S4E20 – Les MisérablesLES MISERABLES Welcome to Episode 20 of Season 4 Show Notes We’re going to get more happy by recasting "Les Misérables" with Elisabeth Rappe and Derek McCaw. If you want to watch the show, you can head over to matineeheroes.com/castoff where you’ll find all the links to past and current episodes. Feel free to email MHCastoff@gmail.com to offer up feedback, suggest movies for the Castoff or just to say "hey". You can also watch the CastOFF! live every Tuesday 9pm/6pm ET/PT on http://twitch.tv/matineeheroes & https://youtube.com/channel/UCnxw7gfxe_ChqBXnchT8vFA

2022-08-1100 min

Found In The Rockies Natty Zola (Matchstick Ventures) \\ From Entrepreneur to Venture CapitalistIn today’s episode, Natty Zola, who is a TechStars founder travel startup EverLater. He's the former managing director of TechStars Boulder and now is an investor and partner at Matchstick Ventures.Here’s a closer look at the episode:From Colorado to Maryland for a bad track teamLeaving Finance to develop EverlaterHow travel inspired EverlaterThe early help with Everlater and the “give first” mindset of ColoradoAccess to capital in the early daysGetting acquired by MapQuestJoining TechStars as the managing directorHow Natty’s entrepreneur journey helped him succeed at TechStarsWhat Natty loves most about being an investorThe decision to leave Tech...

2022-08-1041 min

Found In The Rockies Susie Lira-Gonzalez & Thomas Cotter (INDX) \\ Curated content for continuous learningIn today’s episode, I talk with co-founders who deliberately relocated their early stage startup to the great State of Colorado. They are on a mission to curate learning paths for all of your interests. No more Google searches or expensive online courses. The co-founders of INDX - Susie Lira-Gonzalez & Thomas Cotter, are helping experts and tastemakers curate the best articles, podcasts and newsletters to help you quickly level up your interests and knowledge. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Early days and how Susie and Thomas metFrom big tech to the startup worldCreative bootstrapping strategies during COVI...

2022-07-2748 min

Found In The Rockies Harley Blakeman (Honest Jobs) \\ Providing Real Second ChancesAnd on today's show, we have Harley Blakeman, who is the CEO of Honest Jobs. He is sharing with us one of the most authentic and powerful stories of inspiration you will hear anywhere. Harley founded Honest Jobs, to help people impacted by the criminal justice system. find meaningful employment. He is going to tell us his story, what circumstances landed him in jail, and where his passion came from to start Honest Jobs. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Harley’s early life in Texas, Arkansas, and FloridaTragedy that lead to drug use and drug dealingIncarceration and...

2022-07-1345 min

Found In The Rockies Heather Shoemaker (Language I/O) \\ The Language of CodingIn today’s episode, we have Heather Shoemaker, who is the CEO and co-founder of LanguageI/O. She’s a linguist, but she doesn't just speak multiple languages. She also speaks programming languages. As a matter of fact, she wrote the first version of her company's enterprise software, the epitome of a technical founder and CEO, meet one of Wyoming's most accomplished startup founders, Here’s a closer look at the episode:Heather’s love of language and communicationFrom linguistics to Java programmingWorking as a globalization engineer on software globalizationLearning from experience at eCollege during the acquisition by Pearson Educatio...

2022-06-2946 min

Mansfield Matters Podcast Stags Stories - Les Robinson (The glory of the Amber generation EP4)Twenty years ago, Mansfield Town under the stewardship of Stuart Watkiss won promotion to what is now Sky Bet League One. In celebration of the success from a team full of local starlets, we're recalling the glory from those at the heart of it all. Former Stags front man Andy White will join Craig as co-host for the series, and in this episode, the duo are joined by the skipper of the side, and self proclaimed granddad - Les Robinson!Robbo, always the character, shares some brilliant stories from his time at the club - including why he felt it...

2022-06-181h 28

Found In The Rockies Josh Nielsen (Zencastr) \\ Creating the “perfect” podcasting platformIn today’s episode, we are joined by Josh Nielsen, a founder who launched his tech career as a Hackstar in Boulder. He then traveled all over the world, only to return to the Rockies to build and grow something new and very exciting, Zencastr. Josh is here today to talk to us about the trajectory of the podcasting industry, what podcasters need and how his platform is innovating, modern recording tools for quality conscious podcastersHere’s a closer look at the episode:What brought Josh to the RockiesFrom Mechanical Engineering to Computer EngineeringEarly days at MahaloTechStars Hackstar programHackathon musi...

2022-06-1547 min

Found In The Rockies Clay Gordon (Stout Street Capital) // Bringing founders and investors togetherIn today’s episode, I am talking with Clay Gordon about a VC fund who is going outside their own firm, and hosting conferences and job fairs to help startups and job seekers in underrepresented regions of the country. Clay talks about how he got started in Venture Investing, what he sees in not only Colorado, but all areas of the country, and even in Canada. We get into what is going on with venture in Arizona. Clay highlights the UNMET Conferences and all the great connections they facilitate for founders and investors. Here’s a closer look at the...

2022-06-0439 min

Found In The Rockies Mike Myer (Quiq) \\ The Godfather of Tech in MontanaIn today’s episode, I speak with Mike Myer, who is the founder and CEO of Quiq, which is helping redefine the ways that customers are communicating with companies. Mike talks to us about the history of his involvement in the Bozeman tech community, the origin story of Quiq and what he thinks may be in store for the future of conversational AI. We also talk about the future of tech in the Rockies, and Mike gives some good advice to other founders.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Mike’s love for computer science and engineeringRight Now Te...

2022-05-1836 min

Found In The Rockies Dan DeCloss (PlexTrac) // Making the world a safer place with Cybersecurity innovationsIn today’s episode, I talk with Dan DeCloss. He is the Founder and CEO of PlexTrac - PlexTrac is a revolutionary, yet simple, Cybersecurity platform that centralizes all security assessments, penetration test reports, bug bounty submissions, audit findings and vulnerabilities into a single location. He is going to share with us how he got started in cybersecurity, and his journey as the founder of PlexTrac. He’s going to tell us what Purple Teaming is and what his advice is for founders going after their dream.Here’s a closer look at the episode:Dan’s dream of entrepre...

2022-04-2042 min

Found In The Rockies Jerad Stack (Breakthrough 307 & FlowState Solutions) \\ A founder & an investor in the land of Steamboat the broncoIn today’s episode, I talk with Jared Stack, the founder of Breakthrough 307, and the founder and CEO of Casper-based FlowState Solutions. We talk about Jerad’s deep family history in Wyoming, his early years as an entrepreneur, and moving to Silicon Valley when his company was acquired. We talk about what brought him back to WY, how he created Breakthrough 307 and what his unique perspective is being both a founder and an angel investor. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Jerad’s family history in Wyoming.First tech startup - Firehold TechnologiesWyoming kids in San FranciscoEarly days of...

2022-04-0541 min

Found In The Rockies Allison Kent-Smith \\ Creating interactive audio content for learning, marketing, communications and moreIn today’s episode, I talk with Allison Kent Smith. Alison is the co-founder and CEO of Giide, which is a platform for creators and businesses to make and share interactive audio content, for learning, marketing, communications, and much more. Allison talks about her founder story, what got her started. She shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the region. We talk about her ideas around funding in the early days. We take an in-depth look into Giide and how it works. We discuss the trends in the creator economy. Allison gives some insight on the future of Giide and wh...

2022-03-2336 min

The Craig Silverman Show Episode 86 - Les Shapiro RememberedRundown - Chris Fuselier in Craig's Lawyers' Lounge - 05:12 Jessie Shapiro - 01:06:14 Troubadour Dave Gunders - 01:47:27 "Eddie Don't Quit" by Dave Gunders - 02:08:52 Right Wing Media Watch - 02:14:59 Chris Fuselier is welcomed into Craig’s Lawyer’s Lounge to share memories of his best friend Les Shapiro. This owner of Denver’s famous Blake Street Tavern adored Colorado’s famed sportscaster, Les Shapiro, who passed away last month. Find out why Les loved Chris...

2022-03-052h 46

Found In The Rockies Kate & Chris (Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association) \\ Creating Community Through Fun Networking EventsIn today’s episode, I talk with Kate Beardsley and Chris Calder from the Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association, an organization who represents entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and the service providers who support them in the Rocky Mountain region. We talk about what exactly the RMVCA is, how it got started, and what the association's goals are. They talk about the benefits of the membership. We discuss the linking tissue that connects entrepreneurs to investment. We talk about their various fun events like the Ski-Doggle, the Food for Thought Series, and the Adventure-Doggle. We talk about the major themes, strengths an...

2022-02-2342 min

Found In The Rockies Vanessa Otero (Ad Fontes Media) \\ Helping us become better media consumersIn today’s episode, I talk with Vanessa Otero, the CEO and founder of Ad Fontes Media. We talk about her background and how she transitioned from being a patent lawyer to a founder. We discuss news media bias, and how Vanessa is using the Media Bias Chart and Ad Fontes Media to help us all become better media consumers. We discuss her raising capital and crowdfunding. Vanessa shares why it is vital to have a news rating system and how it works. She gives us tips and advice for founders. She shares the vision for Ad Fontes and wh...

2022-01-2744 min

Found In The Rockies Baylie Evans (gBETA WY) \\ Helping Startups in Wyoming expand theIn today’s episode, I talk with Baylie Evans, . She shares her background and how she got into the VC world. We talk about the growth of Wyoming's ecosystem. We discuss the generator’s program and its benefits. We dive into the local Cheyenne ecosystem. Bailey shares some advice on joining the gBETA program. We talk about mentors and how to find them. We briefly discuss crypto and Wyoming. We talk about the current new trends and gBETA’s future. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Baylie's background and origin story Going into the VC world The growth o...

2022-01-1243 min

Found In The Rockies Amelia Wilcox (Nivati) \\ Bringing mental health services into the workplaceIn today’s episode, we have Amelia Wilcox, CEO and founder of Nivati. She is a founder who created a high growth mental health platform that provides the easiest way for employers to understand and manage employee mental well being. The app provides HIPAA compliant real time employee data to companies and on-demand holistic mental health solutions for employees. Amelia is here today to tell us all about her journey as a lifelong entrepreneur, the ups and downs that it entails and the exciting path she is on as a b2b SaaS founder based in Utah.Here’s a cl...

2022-01-0651 min

Found In The Rockies Les with the 2021 Wrap-Up \\ The Anti-Portolio and Telling Founders “No”In today's episode, I wrap up the year by highlighting the topic of hearing “no” as a founder. I highlight some interesting stories of “no” by talking about the anti-portfolio for some funds. Finally, I wrap up with some perspective on why hearing no may not be the worst thing, and how founders can handle the nos and move forward. Here’s a closer look at the episode:The word Les hates saying the most.The human aspect of having a dream. Bessemer Venture Partners and the idea of an anti-portfolio. Some other fascinating stories of companies that ended in the ant...

2021-12-3016 min

Found In The Rockies Mo Parikh (Bandwango) \\ Growing a tourism company by focusing on communityIn today's episode, I talk with Mo Parikh, the CEO and founder of Bandwango. He shares his background, going to biomedical engineering school, joining a PhD program to start his company. We talk about his journey and bootstrapping his first few years. We discuss some of the challenges that he faced, running and scaling the business. We talk about how as a travel company they manage to triple their revenue during the pandemic. Here’s a closer look at the episode:Mo talks about his background and his start in biomedical engineering Cutting his teeth in the startup world ri...

2021-12-1634 min

Found In The Rockies Keaton Brown of Farmstack \\ A different approach on technology in the farming industryIn today’s episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Keaton Brown. We talk about the farming industry and what their company does. We had a conversation about the selling process and differences within the farming industry. We also talk about the generational transition of the farming industry, the traditional ways and the tech infused ways. We discuss the roadmap of Farmstack. We talk about the different approaches in marketing when it comes to the farming industry. We circled back to when the founders met and the story of starting the company.Here’s a closer look at the...

2021-12-0428 min

Found In The Rockies Doug & Dave from Rockies Venture Club \\ Connecting and educating Investors and EntrepreneursIn today’s episode, I talk with Doug Mandic and Dave Harris from the Rockies Venture Club. We talk about RVC’s history and both of their backgrounds. They give us the inside scoop on Angel Investing, and how it is different from traditional Venture Capital investing. We talk about the evolution of the entity. We dive into what it's like for new angel investors. They share with us the three pillars of RVC Academy. Doug talks about his experience as a mentor. We discuss finding investors and companies and the current trends. They share some things to consider for...

2021-11-1848 min $whatishipradio\'s podcast$

2021-11-151h 01

Found In The Rockies Ken Fichtler of Gaize \\ The fastest, safest and most affordable real-time cannabis impairment detection device.In today’s episode, I talk with Ken Fichtler, the founder of Gaize. We discuss how the company is trying to solve the DUI testing for cannabis. Ken talks about his background and what let him to start Gaize. We talk about the current cannabis impairment testing and challenges that come with the current model. We discuss Ken’s solution and how he combined VR technology with machine learning to develop his product. We discuss Ken’s early vision, and the potential use cases beyond law enforcement. We dive into the questions around the cannabis testing in companies. We talk a...

2021-11-0538 min

Found In The Rockies GAN Ventures \\ Creating opportunities for startups around the worldIn today’s episode, I talk to two of the visionaries behind the Global Accelerator Network and GAN ventures, Pat Riley and Reilly Flynn. We talk about the founders that they are funding, and the emerging venture ecosystem. We start by talking about what GAN is, and how it ended up in Colorado. We discuss how accelerators changed since 2005. We talk about the 4 traits they look for in founders they want to invest in. We discuss some interesting data on where to find ideas to invest in. We talk about the future of Venture in the Northern Rockies. We di...

2021-10-2147 min

Found In The Rockies Les Craig of Next Frontier Capital \\ Funding Rocky Mountain technology companiesIn today’s episode, I talk with Les Craig, a partner at Next Frontier Capital. We discuss the five things that Venture Capitalists do. We talk about raising funds and how they closed their most recent fund. We dive into the challenges for VCs. We talk about some fund analysis and measuring how well the fund is performing. Les discusses the evolution of the fund and its thesis. We talk about the fund strategy and approach. Les gives us a glimpse into who they are funding and who they typically look for. We talk about some tips for the pi...

2021-05-1848 min

New Human Living podcast What Is Enchantivism? with Craig Chalquist, PhDSend a textPlease join us and our guest, Craig Chalquist, PhD, for a discussion on, What Is Enchantivism? During the show, Craig will describe the many ways we make lasting change by telling reenchanting stories about our relations with ourselves, each other, or our ailing but still-beautiful planet; sharing our reflections and inviting others’ on the relevance of these stories; and then letting the stories impel creative and thoughtful responses to how things are. The stories can be narratives, displays of imagery, humor, even dance and ritual.Craig, who is a depth psychologist, professor, author, presenter, terrapsychologist, an...

2021-04-011h 02

Radically Different How to spend your 20’s, Pt. 3 - Les CraigIn the final episode of this mini-series on "How to spend your 20's", Les Craig and I discuss how to think about each decade of your life, what a lot of 20-somethings are doing wrong when it comes to spending money, and how to open yourself up to transformational experiences.Les Craig is an investor with Next Frontier Capital. He used to do top-secret stuff for the CIA, and he makes legendary cocktails. You can get in touch with me, Sam Kern, at radicallydifferentpodcast.com or via Instagram and Facebook @radicallydifferentpodcast.Support the...

2020-04-2940 min

Micromegas: A Podcast from Bozeman, MT Forging New Frontiers: Les Craig and Next Frontier CapitalNext Frontier Capital is Montana's first true venture capital firm. Les Craig describes how venture investment is affecting Montana, and how it might develop in the future.Check out Next Frontier: https://www.nextfrontiercapital.com/Bozeman Public Library Business Center: https://www.bozemanlibrary.org/services/for/adults/business-centerReach out to the podcast: edpodcast@bozeman.net

2019-06-1917 min

Westworld: The Podcast 'Les Écorchés' S2E7 Deep Dive (Ep. 87)Les écorchés literally translated means "the tormented." That turned out to be very appropriate with all the torment we saw in the latest episode of "Westworld." Craig Carter and Ashley Melzer give their general thoughts on "Les Écorchés" (1:24) before discussing the attack on the Mesa part I (24:42), the Man in Black and Maeve (43:08), and the attack on the Mesa part II (54:50). Become a supporter on Partreon Check out our merch on Society6

2018-06-061h 27

Westworld: The Podcast 'Les Écorchés' S2E7 Quick Review (Ep. 86)This streak of fantastic Westworld episodes just keeps going! "Les Écorches" was magnifique! Craig Carter and Jess Bowers discuss the explosive episode (3:27) before talking about their favorite moments (16:51). Support the podcast on Patreon Check out merch on Society6

2018-06-0421 min $Craig\'s List$

Craig's List Craig's List Episode 71: #30 Au Revoir Les EnfantsCraig & Carla are back to discuss his 30th favorite movie, Louis Malle's Au Revoir Les Enfants, as well as Craig's ill-fated piano lessons, Carla's fear of quotes among strangers, and why to never put your tongue on the freezer door.

2018-05-2458 min

Wisdom of the Aged Dot And Elsbeth Charity Single - The Confrontation (Les Miserables)A deeply moving tribute to Les Mis, released by elderly care home residents Dot and Elspeth from Dwindling Horizons near Bath, UK. In collaboration with the Swindon Regional Orchestra, they present an unusually passionate rendition of 'The Confrontation' from Les Miserables. This is the first track in a full album of hits, raising funds for more luxury items for residents at the home.

2017-11-1402 min