Shows
Invisible InkEp 78 - Using Behavioral Science for Startup Success, With Dr. Maria BlekherIn this episode of Invisible Ink, Dr. Maria Blehker—founder of Serendipity Capital and expert in behavioral science—joins Shubha Chakravarthy for a deep dive into how startups, particularly in deep tech and mental health, can succeed by blending scientific rigor with human insight and strategic funding.Check out this episode to hear her practical tips on how you can leverage research-driven insights from behavioral science to jumpstart progress with your startup as Maria shares her views on:Serendipity Impact VC's thesis and the market opportunity in mental healthThe emerging founder trends driving new healthcare startupsWhy behavioral scie...2025-07-201h 32Invisible InkEp 77 - Market Matters! How to Find the Right Market for Your Startup, with Sharon TalIn this episode of Invisible Ink, Sharon Tal, co-creator of the Where to Play framework and co-author of the book by the same name, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to walk through how startups—especially in STEM and deep tech—can systematically discover and prioritize their best market opportunities.Sharon draws on over two decades of experience mentoring founders and academic research to explain why many startups fail due to poor market choices, not product issues. She presents the Market Opportunity Navigator as a structured, three-step tool to help founders avoid costly mistakes, identify high-potential opportunities, and maintain strategic agility.2025-07-061h 07Invisible InkEp 76 - Understanding the VC Mindset, With Eileen TanghalIn this episode of Invisible Ink, Eileen Tanghal, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Black Opal Ventures, joins Shubha Chakravarthy for a deep dive into how founders can better understand venture capital beyond just fundraising and what truly drives VC decision-making.Eileen reveals what founders often miss: that VCs are entrepreneurs too, managing their own businesses with investor expectations and partnership dynamics. She outlines how founders should think more like CEOs—understanding venture returns, fund dynamics, and how their startup fits into the investor’s portfolio strategy. Tune in for Eileen's insights on: How VC fundable opport...2025-06-221h 03Invisible InkEp 75 - Cracking the Real PMF: How to Find Product-Market & Funding Fit, With Hanna WuIn this episode, Hanna Wu, co-founder and CEO of Amplify, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to share her journey building a customer-centric, digital life insurance platform focused on wealth accumulation.Tune in to listen to the inspiring journey that took Hanna from running her own financial planning firm to founding the company that has been dubbed a future unicorn by TRAC. Check out Hanna's insights on:What it takes to disrupt a legacy industryHow to take the simple but powerful steps to validate your market and demandHow to craft a killer value proposition in a competitive fieldHow to find...2025-06-0859 minInvisible InkEp 74 - Mastering XaaS Pricing: An Expert Perspective, with Ingrid Bonde ÅkerlindIn this episode, Ingrid Bonde Åkerlind joins Shubha Chakravarthy to unravel the complexities of pricing for early-stage startups, especially in the world of SaaS and “XaaS” business models.Tune in to hear Ingrid's reflections on her unexpected journey into pricing, starting from scratch in a C2C marketplace to making investment decisions with a venture capital firm. Ingrid shares powerful insights about price inertia, customer psychology, and how anchoring and framing play critical roles in both B2B and B2C contexts. Don't miss her practical and actionable insights on:Why pricing is often the orphan...2025-05-2558 minInvisible InkEp 73 - Winning Grants, Landing VCs and Building in Deep Tech, with Elise StrobachIn this episode, Elise Strobach, co-founder and CEO of AeroShield, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to share her journey from lab discovery to clean tech startup founder. Drawing on her experience as a mechanical engineering PhD at MIT, Elise discusses how a breakthrough in transparent silica aerogels evolved into a venture-backed company tackling one of the world’s biggest energy inefficiencies—heat loss through windows.Tune in to listen to Elise's thoughtful and actionable takes on:How the path to commercialization happens in the real worldThe big, unsuspected factor that can make your breakthrough marketableKey pivot points that drive comm...2025-05-111h 07Invisible InkEp 72 - Crafting a Winning Go-to-Market Strategy: A Step by Step Guide, With Maja VojeIn this episode, Maja Voje, go-to-market strategist, author, and growth expert, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to unpack the real essence of go-to-market (GTM) strategy—far beyond the buzzword.Drawing from her extensive experience advising startups and corporates alike, Maja reveals her tested GTM framework, rooted in experimentation, structured thinking, and real market insights. She breaks down the six mission-critical elements of GTM: understanding the market and competition, defining your early customer profile (ECP), building value-aligned products, crafting sharp positioning and messaging, pricing based on perceived value and evidence, and finally, setting up scalable growth and sales channels. Che...2025-04-271h 02Invisible InkEp 71 - Act, Learn, Build: Entrepreneurship, The Babson Way, with Heidi Neck, Ph.DWhat if the way we think about building a business is fundamentally flawed? In this epsiode, Heidi Neck, a leading voice in entrepreneurship education, shares actionable insights from her extensive research and experience, emphasizing that "organizations are not entrepreneurial, people are".Whether you're navigating a high-growth startup or seeking to instill innovation within an established company, you'll gain practical tools. Learn to apply the Entrepreneurial Thought & Action (ET&A) methodology, master the art of "affordable loss," and understand why a "quilting" approach can be more effective than following a rigid "puzzle". This conversation is a masterclass in cultivating a...2025-04-131h 01Invisible InkEp 70 - Surviving & Thriving in Biotech: Playing The Long Game, with Dr. Maria L. MaccecchiniIn this captivating episode, we sit down with Maria L. Maccecchini, a force of nature in the world of biotech, to explore her inspiring journey from a Ph.D. scientist to a successful entrepreneur. Maria shares her passion for developing innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and the realities of navigating the complex terrain of funding, clinical trials, and FDA approvals.Check out her fascinating journey across two continents founding a successful startup, her journey to wealth, and her subsequent decision to plunge back into the world of entrepreneurship. Check out her fascinating insights o...2025-03-3051 minInvisible InkEp 69 - Commercializing Deep Tech_ From Scientist to Startup CEO, With Dr. Tanya RamondIn this episode of Invisible Ink, we talk with deep tech expert Dr. Tanya Ramond, an expert in taking deep tech startups to market. check out Tanya's insightful and actionable insights on:Why commercializing deep tech is challengingThe one mindset shift technical founders must make to succeedHow to leverage the biggest element of your technical education to drive your startup's successA simple approach to mastering new skillsHow to overcome the lone wolf mentality and activate progressThe secret to finding the best market for your innovationHow to bridge the gap from lab to marketInsider tips to successfully cross the "Valley o...2025-03-1659 minInvisible InkEp 68 - Pitch Perfect: Using Fluid Thinking for Dynamic Decks, With Patricia LiuIn this episode, Patricia Liu, an MIT-educated computer scientist turned angel investor and Stanford lecturer, shares her diverse career journey—from consulting at Accenture to working in Michelin-starred kitchens and now teaching pitch decks to startup founders.Patricia shared her takes on the common threads across her careers, the core elements that stay constat regatdless of what endeavor you're engaged in. Check out her thoughtful and unique views on:How to set up your pitch so investors pay attention from the first slideThe one thing that makes your pitch unforgettable to investorsWhat the best pitches have in com...2025-03-0253 minInvisible InkEp 67 - Are SAFEs Really Safe? A Primer on Startup Funding and Valuation, With Eva DossIn this episode of Invisible Ink, Eva Doss, president and CEO of The LaunchPlace, discusses her work in venture development, managing a portfolio of 27 startups, and supporting early-stage companies through every part of their startup journey.Listen to Eva's experiences as she shares her journey in building The LaunchPlace, including her insights on:Why your cap table is the linchpin in your fundraising storyHow to stay on top of your cap table as an early stage founderHow to use cap tables strategically to manage financing, ownership, and regulatory compliance.How startup valuation approaches differ by type of...2025-02-161h 06Invisible InkEP 66 - The Founder’s Guide to Convertible Notes, With Liz SigetyIn this episode, Liz Sigety, chair of Fox Rothschild's Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice, shares her expertise in working with startups, her role as a co-founder of the Delaware Crossing Investor Group, and her extensive experience as an angel investor.Tune in to hear Liz's thoughts on funding mechanisms for early-stage companies, how to pick the right funding vehicle, the differences between SAFEs and convertible notes, and what founderss should think about in selecting the right one for their raise.Get a deep dive on the Angel Capital Association's new Model Convertible Note straight from...2025-02-0252 minInvisible InkEp 65 - Unlocking Funding With Financial Acumen, With Vicki KnottIn this conversation, Vicki Knott, CEO of Crux OCM, shares her entrepreneurial journey from oil and gas to starting her own company. Vicki describes her background and how she met her co-founder, Roger Shirt, and how they developed the idea for Crux OCM. Tune in to listen to her facscinating journey as she shares her thoughts on:The power of cross-pollinating ideas - origin story of an innovative startupThe difference between working and selling in the same industry - powerful founder lessonsFirst steps - why accelerators matter in your startup journeyHow to select the right accelerator program...2025-01-1943 minInvisible InkEp 64 - Charging Ahead! Unexpected Paths to Market Success, With Kameale C. TerryJoin us for a fascinating conversation with Kameale C. Terry, Co-founder and CEO of ChargerHelp! In this conversation, Kameale shares her entrepreneurial journey in the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector, detailing her transition from supporting EV drivers to founding her own company focused on enhancing charging reliability. Tune in to find out:How to transform life circumstances into entrepreneurial opportunityThe single biggest secret to sustainable startup successHow to leverage problem mastery to gain investor credibilityHow to play the fundraising game like a chess proThe oath to financial fluency, why it matters, and how to get itThe ins and outs...2025-01-0559 minInvisible InkEp 63 - Made for Medtech: The Essential Fundraising Guide, With Tasneem DohadwalaIn this episode, Tasneem Dohadwala, a venture capitalist in early-stage medical device investment, shares her insights on navigating the venture capital landscape and the unique challenges within the medical devices space.Check out this information-packed conversation to learn more about:The categories of med-tech ventures, and how they differWhy large markets have outsize importance in med-tech relative to other verticalsWhat factors drive fundability in med-tech, and why it's so challenging to build successful ventures in med-techNot all med-tech is made equal - categories within med-techHow AI will change the game in therapeuticsHow to tell if your med-tech...2024-12-0843 minInvisible InkEp 62 - Fundraising Is a Marketing Game, and Other Non-obvious Insights, with Brianna McDonaldIn this episode, Brianna McDonald, an experienced early-stage investor, shares key insights from her two-decade journey in the startup world, emphasizing the significance of a well-crafted capitalization strategy for founders. Brianna discusses the importance of not falling in love with the product alone, instead focusing on the executive team's execution and the market potential.She highlights the misconceptions around fundraising, urging founders to view it as selling pieces of their companies, and stresses the necessity of understanding cap table management from day one.She also covers the current challenges in the investing landscape, the impact of...2024-11-241h 00Invisible InkEp 61 - Winning With Markets & Investors - The Founder's Playbook, With Colette CourtionNamed one of Inc. Magazines Top 100 Female Founders of 2020, Colette Courtion is a distinguished and award-winning consumer marketer, inventor (24 issued patents), and business leader steeped in brand building, marketing, strategic planning, and finance with leading consumer product, retail, and medical device companies.She is the founder of Joylux, the leading menopausal intimate health company with Halle Berry, the acclaimed actress and menopause advocate, as an investor, brand ambassador and co-developer of products.Prior to founding Joylux, she founded and lead two other VC-backed aesthetic companies. She was also a marketing executive with Starbucks responsible for launching a...2024-11-101h 02Invisible InkBest of Invisible Ink Season 6! Highlights & Best MomentsWelcome to the Best of Season 6! In this special episode, we've put together the very best clips from all of our incredible guests for your listening pleasure. Check out the time stamps below to find your favorite clips or do yourself a favor and listen to the whole roll!00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction00:00:09 - Gender Bias in Negotiation Techniques | Angela Lee00:00:32 - Handling Perceptions of Aggressiveness | Angela Lee00:01:52 - Balancing Strength and Warmth | Angela Lee00:02:42 - Building Economic Case for Women Founders | Angela Lee2024-10-271h 21Invisible InkEp 60 - Building With Exit in Mind- The Legal Essentials, With Madhu SinghIn this episode, Madhu Singh, a seasoned legal expert, shares her insights on the importance of preparing for an exit when building a startup. Tune in to find out why founders need to prioritize legal structure, the ins and outs of devising a smart equity compensation structure, how to ace due diligence to avoid common pitfalls, and much more. Highlights include:Why entity structure matters, and what to do if you didn't form a Delaware C CorpHow corporate structure can impact hiring your team and fundraisingHow to grant equity to your team the smart wayWhy dead equity c...2024-10-131h 12Invisible InkEp 59 - Bootstrapping to a Billion Dollar Exit, With Lynda WeinmanOur guest for today is Lynda Weinman. Lynda is a pioneering entrepreneur, educator, and co-founder of lynda.com, a trailblazing online learning platform. Lynda launched her namesake platform in 1995 with her husband, Bruce.Her leadership and vision led lynda.com to tremendous growth for years before raising its first venture capital funding in 2013. In 2015, she sold the platform to LinkedIn for $1.5 billion for cash and stock, marking one of the most successful exits of a woman-founded startup.In this fascinating conversation, Lynda provides an insider’s view of what it’s like to bootstrap a company from scratch, all t...2024-09-2955 minInvisible InkEp 58 - Startup Fundraising Made Simple, With Marcia DawoodIn this episode, Marcia Dawood, angel investor, Chair Emerita of the Angel Capital Association, and author of the recent bestselling book, "Do Good While Doing Well", discusses her journey into the world of angel investing and the critical lessons she’s learned along the way.Tune in to listen to her accessible and friendly perspectives on: How to tell if your business is scalableHow to develop a credible market size estimate that investors will buyPros and cons of going it alone versus finding a teamHow to pitch even a highly technical idea so investors get excitedHow to ensu...2024-09-151h 12Invisible InkEp 57 - Shattering Stereotypes: A Medtech Success Story, With Dr. Charu RamanathanIn this insightful episode, Dr. Charu Ramchandran, a pioneering entrepreneur in the life sciences sector, shares her journey from a PhD student to a successful startup founder. Starting with the creation of CardioInsight, a company that developed a groundbreaking noninvasive cardiac diagnostic tool, she recounts the challenges of transitioning from researcher to entrepreneur, including the struggle to secure funding and navigate complex licensing issues.Despite setbacks, including losing a co-founder and facing the 2008 financial crisis, she persevered, leading to the eventual acquisition of her company by Medtronic for nearly $100 million. Now a serial entrepreneur, she discusses her current...2024-09-011h 15Invisible InkEp 56 - Building VC-Backable Impact Startups, With Kerry RuppKerry Rupp is a General Partner at True Wealth Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund investing in women-led businesses that improve human and/or environmental health. She is a board director for True Wealth Ventures’ portfolio companies Flourish, Partum Health, reHarvest Provisions, Rosy, and VidaFuel and a board observer for BrainCheck and Atlantic Sea Farms. Tune in to this insightfgul, value-packed conversation to get Kerry's takes on:How to identify the ideal startup for investment, considering factors beyond just financial metrics.Why valuations have shifted since 2022 and how these changes impact fundraising for early-stage companies.How to nav...2024-08-181h 22Invisible InkEp 55 - Not Shark tank! How Startups Really Get Funded, With Elaine BolleIn this episode, Elaine Bolle, an accomplished entrepreneur, corporate leader, and angel investor, shares key insights into achieving early-stage success for founders.Tune in to listen to her takes on curiosity and innovative problem-solving, how to select the right angel groups, the differences between angel investors and venture capitalists, strategic fundraising, and much more.Women founders - look no further for practical guidance on navigating investor groups and leveraging your unique strengths. Want to build credibility, make investing in your startup easy and grease the path to getting funded? Elaine has the answers for you!2024-08-041h 04Invisible InkEp 54 - To IPO and beyond: A Techpreneur's Take, With Vinita GuptaIn this riveting episode, Vinita Gupta, the first Indian American woman to start a company and take it public in the United States, shares hard-won lessons from her entrepreneurial journey. From the motivation to start her tech company to the challenges of running and exiting it, she provides a candid look at the highs and lows of her career. She discusses the importance of purpose, the role of learning, and the value of integrity in business. Whether you're a first-time founder or a startup veteran, her story offers valuable lessons on resilience and staying true to oneself. Intriguing takeaways from...2024-07-2157 minInvisible InkEp 53 - Beyond the Tech: Fundraising Secrets for STEM Founders, With Jen BairdIn this riveting episode, Jen Baird, a seasoned entrepreneur with seven startups under her belt, shares hard-won lessons from her 20-year journey.From evaluating ideas to crafting a compelling pitch, Jen breaks down the essence of what investors look for and the common pitfalls that derail founders. She reveals the surprising truth about how much time fundraising really takes and the critical importance of financial acumen.Jen also tackles tough topics like team building, knowing when to pivot, and what it really means to be "fundable." Whether you're a first-time founder or a startup veteran, Jen's...2024-07-071h 03Invisible InkEp 52 – Raise Ready: What Smart Investors Want You to Know, with Gwen EdwardsIn this thought-provoking episode, Gwen Edwards, angel investor, and Managing Director at Golden Seeds, and an accomplished innovator and entrepreneur herself, address the critical issues founders struggles with and provides crystal-clear, actiomable and encouraging advice including:selecting the right idea for your startupmarket validationgetting your business model rightpreparing for investor scrutinythe strategic approach to raising capitaland so much more.2024-06-231h 18Invisible InkEp 51 - Navigating the New Normal in Fundraising, with Angela LeeIn this insightful conversation, Angela Lee, founder of 37 Angels and an experienced angel investor, shares her profound wisdom on funding challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.From deconstructing early-stage funding trends to unveiling the secrets of leveraging networks and negotiating fair valuations, Angela offers a treasure trove of actionable advice.Prepare to be enlightened as she dispels myths, challenges conventional wisdom, and empowers women founders to navigate the VC landscape with confidence and strategy.2024-06-0947 minInvisible InkEp 50 - Building a Research-Based Startup From Scratch, With Christy SheehyHow do you mine the kernel of a startup idea from scientific research?How do you bridge the knowledge gap in learning hundreds of new startup and business concepts, while progressing your idea and getting funding all at the same time?How do you piece together every part of a complex business model when you don't know what one is to begin with?In this episode, Dr. Christy Sheehy, co-founder of C. Light Technologies inventor of Retitrack™, talks about how she started her career as a hard-core scientist, and learned literally every step of th...2023-07-2552 minInvisible InkEp 49 - The Legal Side of Fundraising, with Elke TrillaWhat's the danger in following online startup advice as a new founder?How can you break the dilemma of not having the cash to hire the good lawyers you need so you can raise cash?If you’re a first time founder, how can you find and leverage the sharpest legal minds you can find to help you nail your raise and beyond?In this episode, Elke Trilla, venture capital transaction and corporate governance attorney talks about the hidden perils facing you as a first time founder, the boring but game-changing details that can ma...2023-07-1847 minInvisible InkEp 48 - Redesigning VC for Women, with Julie Castro AbramsSummary:What important aspect of your startup has an outsize impact on your fundraising outcomes?Why is it so hard to change vc investment patterns in women-founded startups?What do founders often miss about the investor side of startup funding?In this episode, Julie Castro Abrams, managing partner at How Women Invest, started an ambitious project that addressed the triple whammy of low corporate board representation, lopsided investor participation, and of course, abysmal VC funding to women founders.Listen to her sharp insights on:Why product...2023-07-1147 minInvisible InkEp 47 - A Radical Startup Model, With Melanie RiebackSummary:What does a cutting edge cybersecurity company have in common with the medieval Dutch church?What's the most critical ingredient for ANY company to fulfill a meaningful social purpose?What important aspect of the venture capital model do most founders fail to understand?In this episode, Dr. Melanie Rieback, CEO and Co-founder of Radically Open Security and startup incubator Nonprofit Ventures, talks about the inspiration behind the unique organizational structure for her startup, implications of VC funding that few founders realize, attractive alternatives to vc funding, and much more.2023-07-041h 02Invisible InkEp 46 - A Primer on Technology Transfer, with Laleh ShayestehWho are the some of the smartest experts in the innovation ecosystem most entrepreneurs don't even know exist?Why is it fatal to your startup to talk about your big scientific breakthrough too soon?How can you as a founder get the best of both worlds in bringing your discovery or invention to market for great outcomes?In this episode, Laleh Shayesteh, Director of Intellectual Property and Administration in the Office of Technology Licensing at UC Berkeley, talks about how how university-based science and technology entrepreneurs can proactively protect their valuable research, successfully bring...2023-06-2743 minInvisible InkEp 45 - Starting Up in Clean Tech, with Kristin Wegner GuilfoyleHow does the Inflation Reduction Act impact funding for climate tech and clean tech startups?What’s different for climate tech startups compared to startups in other sectors?How can a climate focused startup improve their funding prospects and accelerate their path to revenue?In this episode, Kristin Wegner Guilfoyle, climate tech and policy specialist, talks about the sectors that stand to benefit most from the inflation Reduction Act, the unique challenges and opportunities facing climate tech startups compared to non-impact driven startups, the surprising avenues of funding and growth for climate tech startups, an...2023-06-2034 minInvisible InkEp 44 - Ep 44 - Capital Reboot: Rethinking Funding Models, With Vanessa RoanhorseWhat do you do if your very identity effectively shuts the door on many types of capital as an entrepreneur?How do you get capital for your venture if even the nearest ATM is an hour away?And what can one determined entrepreneur accomplish when all other options simply don’t exist for her, or even her entire community?In this episode, Vanessa Roanhorse, capital innovator, and founder of Roanhorse Consulting, shares eye-opening challenges that Native American women entrepreneurs face in getting capital, the invisible walls that keep Native American women from getting traditional cr...2023-06-1341 minInvisible InkEp 43 - Pro Tops on Acing the Raise, with Lisa FrusztajerSummary What are investors looking for during fundraising due diligence?What one critical fact do most founders miss when thinking about what drives their investors’ funding decision? What is the single biggest mental pivot you need to make as a founder to successfully fundraise?In this episode, Lisa Frusztajer, Investor in Residence at the Capital Network, talks about what founders should prepare for pre-investment, what factors external to your startup could play an outsize role in the funding decision, the one fundraising skill non-financial founders MUST master, and much more....2023-06-0654 minInvisible InkEp 42 - De-biasing VC - a Pioneering Approach, With Kim BanhamWhat does the vc investment process really look like?Why should women founders be wary of VC funds that are earmarked only for women?When fundraising, what hidden risk might scare an investor away that you as a founder may see as a big win?In this episode, Kim Banham, general partner at Connetic Ventures, talks about how the vc process can be moulded to remove bias against women founders, the big disservice that women-focused vc funds do to women founders, the founder blind spot that is a red flag for potential investors, and...2023-05-3059 minInvisible InkEp 41 - How Tech Marries Mission and Money, with D. SangeetaHow do you marry a burning desire to help women advance, with the need for economic viability?How do you take something that works very well at the individual level, and carefully rebuild it so it works for thousands of people reliably and effectively?And how do you balance the needs of individuals with those of large companies and make both of the happy?In this episode, D Sangeeta, founder and CEO of Gotara, talks about the career-long frustrations that prompted her to found her startup, her patient journey to scaling the solution the...2023-05-2354 minInvisible InkEp 40 - A Primer on Federal Grant Funding, With Christine E.B. HowardAre you the founder of a STEM startup suddenly dealing with the vc pipeline closing up?Are you intrigued by the influx of government funding especially into climate related fields, but even other sectors more broadly?Have you ever tried diving into the wide world of government grants but quickly realized you’re out of your depth?In this episode, Christine E.B. Howard, seasoned grant professional and founder of E.B. Howard Consulting talks about the how’s and what’s of government grant funding for for-profit startups, what you need to know and do...2023-05-021h 07Invisible InkEp 39 - How to Build a Deep Science Startup, with Lieza Marie DananHow do you find a big market opportunity in a deeply technical, even boring field like chemistry?How do you overcome years of training as a scientist and learn entirely new and uncomfortable skills as a founder?And when you know you're new, how do you develop the insight to know which "expert" advice to take and which to leave alone?In this episode, scientist and founder Lieza Marie Danan talks about her long journey in the field of mass spectrometry, how she learned to identify a growing market need from large pharma companies, how...2023-04-2548 minInvisible InkEp 38 - Negotiating Secrets of Rock Stars, With Jennifer JusticeWhat’s the one negotiating lever women overlook in almost any negotiating situation?What’s more important in a critical negotiation - looking for fairness or looking out for your best interests?Why does even a top notch attorney work with ANOTHER attorney when engaging in a negotiation for herself?In this episode, Jennifer Justice, entrepreneur and women’s advocate extraordinaire, talks about what it means to claim your space, how to use relationship building for long-term wins, the importance of having an objective champion, and much more.Episode HighlightsWhy ne...2023-04-1837 minInvisible InkEp 37 - What Investors Really Want From Your Startup, With Pat HedleyWhat are the three non-negotiable factors EVERY investor looks for, and every founder MUST demonstrate to get funded?How can you create an intelligent yet simple startup roadmap no matter where you're starting and what resources you have access to?What steps do you need to take as an early stage founder to get investors excited even when the market isn't hot?In this episode, Pat Hedley, veteran private equity investor, advisor and author, talks about how to nail the trifecta of market, traction and returns, the sure-fire method of proving your concept, how...2023-04-111h 01Invisible InkEp 36 -It Takes an Entrepreneurial Village, With Dr. Sameeksha DesaiWhy is it important for women to understand the “view from the balcony”, and not just stay on the dance floor?What’s the surprising barrier to entrepreneurship you never heard about?Why do you need to be extra vigilant as a woman with entrepreneurial ambitions?In this episode, Dr. Sameeksha Desai, Associate Professor, and Director, Manufacturing Policy Initiative at Indiana University, talks about the “iceberg” problem of entrepreneurship, why the step before the first step is so critical, and so overlooked for women, how women can push the odds in their own favor despite a...2023-04-0459 minInvisible InkEp 35 - Hire Power: Tips From an HR Expert, With Susan LovegrenWhat’s the single surprising thing you must get right as a founder before setting compensation for your team?How can you avoid the typical pitfalls of early stage founders on HR issues so they don’t come back to bite you later?What do you need to know about stock option plans and incentives so you’re setting up the best possible environment for your team AND your startup to succeed?In this episode, startup advisor, HR expert and former Chief People Officer Susan Lovegren, talks about what founders need to know about the st...2023-03-281h 12Invisible InkEp 34 - Fast Tracking Your B2B Startup, with Vanessa LiuWhat's the one startup lesson that never changes no matter what your specific startup situation is?How do you flesh out and test a B2B idea before spending a single dollar on building it?What’s the surprising test to tell if you’ve priced your offering not too high, not too low, but just right?In this episode, Vanessa Liu, Co-Founder and CEO of Sugarwork, talks about the biggest lessons she learned building and helping startups from the Netherlands to the United States, the one thing that’s critical for every startup to do...2023-03-2146 minInvisible InkEp 33 - Wall Street Entrepreneurship Secrets, with Lois ScottWhat could a career on Wall Steet possibly teach you about creativity, innovation and ownership?How can you translate the moves of high finance into eminently practical lessons for your entrepreneurial venture?What's the single surprising thing that is at the heart of all the financial forces you'll have to contend with in your business? (Hint: it has nothing to do with spreadsheets)In this episode, Lois Scott, former Wall Street banker, corporate director, investor and entrepreneur, talks about her fascinating journey from Wall Street and helping at-risk youth rebuild their lives, all the...2023-03-1449 minInvisible InkEp 32 - A Recipe for Reinvention, with Disha GulatiWhat do you do when your cherished startup idea vaporizes right before launch, the world shuts down....and you've just had a baby?How do you deal with the hand you've been dealt, and still make it work as a business?What do you need to know, and how do you adapt in the midst of a maelstrom of change and uncertainty?In this episode, Disha Gulati, cofounder and CEO of Here Here Market, talks about how she turned her entire startup on a dime when the pandemic destroyed their original business model, how...2023-03-071h 02Invisible InkEp 31 - Shopping for Entrepreneurial Success, With Allegra StennettWhat if you want to be your own boss but the whole founder thing isn’t your cup of tea? What does it take to hit the ground running and take an already good business and make it great? How do you find the money, the resources and the network to find and buy the right business for you?In this episode, Allegra Stennett, cofounder of New Majority Capital, tells you everything you need to know about the “Buy Then Build” model of entrepreneurship.Listen to her great insights on why the purchase path is attractive to man...2023-02-2844 minInvisible InkEp 30 - Charting the Path to Success in Health Tech, with Corinne VargasHow do you go from being an insurance actuary to a speech therapist to a health tech startup as a nontechnical founder?How do you recognize the right time and place to bring your idea to the world?How do you walk the tightrope between what inspires and drives you and what the market is telling you about the opportunity?In this episode, founder and CEO of SMARTCharts, Corinne Vargas, talks about what prompted her to change careers from numbers to words to ideas, how her unique background and experiences led to her startup...2023-02-071h 00Invisible InkEp 29 - How to Up Your Fundraising Game, with Marie MeslinWhat’s even more important than an MBA when you’re a founder on the lookout for funding?What’s one obvious mistake many founders don’t even realize they’re making when fundraising?What simple exercise will help you find the best sources of capital for where YOUR startup is right now?In this episode, Marie Meslin, former president and Executive Director of The Capital Network, talks about the one critical factor founders must focus on, easy-to-avoid mistakes founders make, tips to sharpen your fundraising strategy, and much more.Episode HighlightsThe one...2023-01-3155 minInvisible InkEp 28 - Success Secrets of Million Dollar Businesses, with Elaine PofeldtHow do you start from where you are, and do what you can with what you have, especially if you feel like they don’t add up to much?What is the right path to the right business for YOUR combination of skills, resources, and aptitudes?And how do you stretch your entrepreneurial gas as far as possible so you can get to positive cash flow and far beyond?In this episode, two-time author on small business and entrepreneurship, Elaine Pofeldt, talks about the surprising paths successful entrepreneurs have taken to build their million dollar businesses, ha...2023-01-2450 minInvisible InkEp 27 - Accelerating Your Startup's Growth, With Charla TriplettHow can you evaluate and find the right support for YOUR startup - one that fits your industry, your stage and what you need most right now?What preparatory steps can you take early on to protect your interests before ever stepping into an accelerator program?How can you get the most bang for your accelerator buck and continue to build your business once you enter an accelerator?In this episode, Charla Triplett, Managing Director of Suncoast Ventures gives you the low down on everything you always wanted to know about accelerators but were afraid to ask!Episode...2023-01-1755 minInvisible InkEp 26 - Fundraising Essentials - the Legal Issues, with Heidi AbdulWhat are the hidden dangers that lurk in the unsexy foundations of your business that can trip you up?How can you make smart and strategic decisions about the most basic steps, like how and where you register and incorporate your business?What do you need to do before you take the first outside dollar to protect both yourself and your company so you don’t get blindsided down the road?What simple steps can every founder take to make potential investors happy, and your own life much easier?In this episode, Heidi Abdul, co-founder and CO...2023-01-1049 minInvisible InkEp 25 - How To Build a Global Nonprofit From Scratch, With Isvari MaranweHow do you take a runaway viral movement and transform it into an effective and sustainable organization on a global scale? How do you create a culture and work environment that protects and safeguards your highest values as an organization? And how do you do all of this with the slimmest of budgets, all powered by unpaid volunteers spread across the world?In this episode, Isvari Maranwe, ex physicist and cyber securities lawyer, and CEO of Dweebs Global and DG Sentinel, talks about how an early pandemic experiment to help others turned into a global movement, the challenges...2023-01-031h 01Invisible InkEp 24 - Cracking the Cash Code, with Donna RockinWhat invisible traps lurk in the shadows that could trip you up as a new entrepreneur?How can you stay grounded in reality and uncover all the predictable but hidden reasons that might cause your startup to fail?What’s the one thing you MUST do to ensure you stay in business long enough to start making money?In this episode, seasoned entrepreneurial educator and mentor Donna Rockin taps into her experiences with countless entrepreneurs to discuss the make-or-break factors that many entrepreneurs miss in building their startups, the surprising, non-obvious ways to give your startup its best shot at...2022-12-201h 01Invisible InkEp 23 - Designing Startups for Happiness and Profit, with Melissa KwanHow do you create a viable business by scratching your own itch? Can you really build a tech business as a nontechnical founder? And in a world made noisy with “disruptive unicorns” how do you buck the trend and manage your business for profitability and longevity rather than explosive short-term growth?In this episode, repeat founder and tech entrepreneur Melissa Kwan talks about how she capitalized on her long-standing frustration to start e-webinar, how she orchestrated its development with smart resourcing and an eye on revenue and cash flow from day one, and how she used her authentic defi...2022-12-131h 02Invisible InkEp 22 - Effective Pitching for Women Founders, with Allison ByersHow do you banish the fear and dread you feel when you’re pitching investors? What’s the one mental switch you can make to instantly gain power and confidence when pitching? How can you use your knowledge of the human brain and the investor mindset to make your pitch much more compelling?In this episode, entrepreneur and founder Allison Byers talks about the key mindset shifts you need to increase your odds of getting funding, how to equalize the power balance when you’re seeking capital, how to avoid the hidden pitfalls that lurk unseen in every invest...2022-12-0655 minInvisible InkEp 21 - Bringing Insurance Into the 21st Century, With Soton RosanwoHow do you bring a radically new idea down to earth and make it real? How do you validate the market for a product that doesn’t even exist? And how do you do this with a view to getting a very specific kind of incubation and growth support, as well as capital, in a narrow, niche industry?In this episode, insurance technology entrepreneur Soton Rosanwo talks about her incredibly thoughtful and systematic approach to getting, capturing and selecting ideas, how she balances head and heart in navigating her startup path, her step-by-step approach to validating her market wi...2022-11-2953 minInvisible InkEp 20 - From War to Startup Success, with Nassim AbdiHow do you transform a deeply personal, even traumatic experience into a transformational moment for thousands of other people?How do you scale personal change and impact so it manifests in behavior and attitudinal change that affects the bottomline?How do you package all of this into a real, economically healthy and scalable business that does well, makes money AND promotes greater economic and social benefits for all?In this episode, academic turned entrepreneur Nassim Abdi, founder of Storybolt, talks about how she started with an idea that wouldn’t let go, and built an...2022-11-0148 minInvisible InkEp 19 - Straight Talk on Angel Investing, with Susan PrestonHow do you go from zero to sixty in mastering the angel fundraising game? What hidden indicators signal to investors that you’re a pro and not a rookie entrepreneur when it comes to your startup?What’s the one thing angel investors look for in a pitch that most entrepreneurs miss? What small action will get you off to a great start with any angel investor?In this episode, veteran angel investor and author Susan Preston talks about how she started the first group of women angels, the ABC’s of angel investing that you’ve alway...2022-10-2559 minInvisible InkEp 18 - The Science and Secrets of Solving World Problems, With Tayyaba AliHow do you start with a revolutionary technological product, no educational credentials, and $600 in your pocket and sign up a huge name in your market?How do you stretch your time and money so far that one small order from one surprise customer opens up an entire market for you?How do you get over self-doubt, blatant reverse ageism and sexism to create a product that literally saves lives for less than the cost of filling gas in your car?In this episode, entrepreneur and vc analyst Tayyaba Ali talks about how she strategically...2022-10-181h 05Invisible InkEp 17 - Bringing Data Discipline to DEI, With Aparna RaeSummaryHow do you take an important but noisy subject like workplace equity and move it into the realm of data, discipline and impactful action?How do you stay true to mission while staying solvent AND relevant to your paying clients?How can you find the right markets to serve so you can deliver impact AND grow at the same time?In this episode, Aparna Rae, entrepreneur and founder of Moving Beyond, talks about how to bring substance to organizational change initiatives, how to develop and effectively sell an impactful, science-based offering...2022-10-1157 minInvisible InkEp 16 - How to Succeed as a New Builder, with Elizabeth MacBrideHow do you take your skills from a traditional career and transform them into the core of a monetizable business? How do you mine the experience, contacts and the tacit knowledge you’ve built up over years into value-adding assets Day One?And how do you find creative and enterprising ways to take care of important parts of the business, but that you really hate or aren’t good at?In this episode, journalist, author and media business founder Elizabeth MacBride, talks about how she leveraged her prior career, raised founder-fit funding, resourcefully navigated tough challenges and...2022-10-0439 minInvisible InkEp 15 - Designing for Success in Engineering, with Kimberley MooreIf you’re a woman in STEM trying to establish yourself, it can feel almost impossible to get your foot in the door. Double that if you’re also a person of color. And once you’re in the door, you’re only starting - you still have to deliver, get paid, get new business, find and keep great people, and have the means to pay them.Feels like an impossible task, that is, unless you’re Kimberly Moore, founder of KDM EngineeringIn this episode, Kimberly talks about how she crafted a path successfully as one of the...2022-09-2756 minInvisible InkEp 14 - Bootstrapping a Social venture in Fintech, With Rochelle Nawrocki GoreyHow do you go from a pure social services background to founding a financial services company? How do you run that while staying true to mission?What is a certified B Corp and why would you choose that route? How do you learn everything you need to learn while bootstrapping your business from scratch ?In this episode, SpringFour founder Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey talks about her journey from grassroots social work to founding an award-wining financial services firm that’s also a certified B corp.Hear Rochelle’s take on why a nonprofit background is the...2022-09-2044 minInvisible InkEp 13 - How to Activate Community Through Capital, With Vicki SaundersYou’ve seen the numbers - the minuscule amount of funding that goes to women-founded businesses, the uphill battles, the struggle.What if you could turn the whole conventional model on its head and making fundraising less like the hunger games and more like getting an unexpected banquet?In this episode, Vicki Saunders, activator and founder of She-EO, now Coralus, talks about the inspiration behind SheEO’s unique model for funding, her vision of helping women entrepreneurs tackle the world’s “to do” list, how getting access to the right community can supercharge your venture, and much more...2022-09-1341 minInvisible InkEp 12 - Making Healthcare Leaner and Fitter, with Dr. Aneesa MajidHave you ever been frustrated by how much money we spend on healthcare and yet how bureaucratic and inefficient the system is? Or wondered why nobody’s fixing it?The good news is somebody already is! And it’s an amazing woman, no less, who’s also an accomplished doctorIn this episode, radiologist and tech entrepreneur Dr. Aneesa Majid talks about how her frustrations with an antiquated healthcare system that still sends billions of faxes prompted her to found Zip Data.Listen to Aneesa’s hard-won insights on how she manages a tech startup...2022-09-061h 03Invisible InkEp 11 - Cracking the Nonprofit Startup Code, with Tina TangHow do you translate a burning social purpose into a functioning real-life organization? How do you make the biggest dent you can with the limited resources you have? How do you do all this while knowing nothing about your subject or the business when you start out?In this episode, neuroscientist turned social entrepreneur Tina Tang describes how she founded Debtless and canceled crushing debt totaling tens of millions of dollars starting with just two thousand dollars, how she learned to fundraise, the nitty gritty of starting a nonprofit, how she stays true to mission, and much more...2022-08-3044 minInvisible InkLiftoff - How Smart Women Startup, with Lauren WashingtonWhat do you do when you’re forced to shut down a business you’ve poured everything into? How do you break past the isolation of fighting your entrepreneurial battles alone?How is fundraising different for you as a woman than it is for your male peers? And what does it mean for your venture?Should you go it alone? Or get a cofounder? What are the two things women founders must do to do better at raising money?Lauren Washington, cofounder of Fundr and the Black Women Talk tech conference, answered all these ques...2022-08-2353 minInvisible InkEp 10 - The Insider's Guide to Getting Business Insurance With Anna Maria Viti WelchYou became an entrepreneur because of an idea that grabbed you and wouldn’t let you rest. But with the thrill of that pursuit came some hard stuff you’d rather not deal with, but that you can’t neglect either. Like insuranceDealing with these matters doesn’t have to feel like getting a root canal. And you don’t have to shove it under the rug only to have it come back and bite you later.In today’s episode, startup mentor and business insurance expert Anna Maria Viti Welch gives you the scenic tour of insu...2022-07-1934 minInvisible InkEp 9 - Blazing a Trail in Venture Capital, with Shruti GandhiHow do you make it in a new country when you don’t know the first thing about surviving, let alone thriving, when your peers are already miles ahead of you. How do you reverse-engineer problems so you can break through brick walls to accomplish what you want? And how do you do all this in a completely homogenous , male dominated field?In today’s episode, entrepreneur and B2B venture capitalist Shruti Van Dyke Gandhi talks about finding your place in a tough ecosystem, succeeding as an invisible minority, staying motivated and laser focused regardless of setbacks, the...2022-07-1232 minInvisible InkEp 8 - Pitch-Perfect Branding With Shireen SmithDo you believe in any of these? That building a bankable brand is all about smart marketing? That legalese is for later, when you’re bigger and making lots of money? That once you snag the domain name of your choice, your brand is safe? If you do, you just might be setting your business for a lot of pain later.In today’s episode, Shireen Smith, author of Brand Tuned, and IP and branding expert , reveals common myths about branding and law that trips up may new and small business entrepreneurs and provides immediately actionable tips on how...2022-07-0546 minInvisible InkEp 7 - All-in On Success, With Melanie WeisnerImagine you’re now in a high-stakes situation in your business. It’s that moment when you KNOW you need more than just your hard work and expertise to tackle. Can you rise to the occasion? Can you build your risk-taking muscle so you prevail?How do you overcome fear, emotion and the inner voice that’s harshly negative so you make the right move and not the easy move more often?In this episode, pro poker player Melanie Weisner shares the secrets only the pros know on what it takes to harness luck, how to master...2022-06-2852 minInvisible InkSuccess Reimagined and Reinvented, with Juliana ScheidhauerWhat do you do when your dream career slips out of grasp? And a global pandemic hits just as you’re trying to change course? How do you take a boring, male-dominated business by the horns as a young, untested entrepreneur through guts, discipline and tenacity? How do you stay true to your inner calling while still being financially viable?In this episode, entrepreneur Juliana Scheidhauer talks about finishing college at 18, her love of the Marine Corps, bootstrapping a business from her parents’ garage, and more. Here’s Juliana.2022-06-2125 minInvisible InkThe Smart Entrepreneur's Guide to Intellectual Property and Branding, with Lisanne ButterfieldWhat is intellectual property? Why should you care, especially as an entrepreneur just starting out? How can you protect your hard work and investment in your business from undue risk? What can you do right now to get a head start? How should you select a good IP attorney?In this episode, business attorney Lisanne Butterfield discusses her views on all these questions and more. Please note that the information and content in this episode are not intended as legal advice for any specific person or entity. Please seek legal counsel before taking any action.2022-06-1439 minInvisible InkDreams, Drive & Discipline, with Reetu GuptaHow can you tell if YOUR burning problem is a good candidate for a startup? How do you know when it’s time to quit your job and jump in full time? What do you do when you’ve poured years into your startup and there’s still no traction? How do you get angel investors to open their checkbooks for a category-defying business?In today’s episode, engineer-turned-entrepreneur Reetu Gupta answers all these and more as she describes her journey to make CirkledIn the LinkedIn for the next generation.2022-06-0733 minInvisible InkThe Unstoppable Entrepreneur, with Renata MerinoAre you switching to entrepreneurship from a corporate career? Feeling isolated and alone? Confused about startup financing and unsure what to do next?In this episode, Renata Merino, LatinX serial entrepreneur, 20 yr operator, Chicago Booth merit scholar and former investment banker turned investor, talks about her accidental entry into entrepreneurship, succeeding as a single mom, secrets to smart fundraising, how to get advisors for your startup, and more.2022-05-3028 minInvisible InkBeating Cancer The Smart Way, With Feyi AyodeleFeyi Ayodele is the CoFounder and CEO of CancerIQ, a startup that uses genetic information to predict, preempt and prevent cancer. Feyi started her career in finance but switched to healthcare to fulfill her desire to build a company that made a tangible difference in people’s lives. Feyi Ayodele started off her career as a promising star in finance, but soon realized she wanted to do something more fulfilling. But as a female Black founder with no prior healthcare experience, it wasn't easy to get funding, customer orders from big, bureaucratic health systems and traction in building her...2022-05-2730 minInvisible InkOff the Beaten Path, with Shubha ChakravarthyWhat’s different when you’re an underrepresented entrepreneur? Why create a new podcast? In this inaugural episode, advertising executive Susie Steinberg interviews podcast host Shubha Chakravarthy about becoming an entrepreneur. Learn about the 2 AM test, growing up Indian, fear, risk, the motivation to create this podcast, and more.2022-05-2623 min