Startup Steroid - Investors Podcast: Recent Episodes
Startup Steroid
Startup Steroid provides a platform to entrepreneurs and startup owners looking to expand their wings. The podcast gives them a platform to discuss who they are and what they are trying to do and how.
Welcome to the Startup Pulse podcast! Join us in this episode as we feature Upasana Sharma, Managing Director of the Startup Visa program in Canada and Co-Managing Partner of Tangentia Ventures, in one on one conversation with Anshuman Sinha, Co-founder and CEO of Startup Talent and Co-Founder, Startup Steroid.
Upasana, also Vice President of TiE Toronto, shares insights into TiE Toronto's 19-year journey fostering entrepreneurship. Here, Upasana breaks down the intricacies of the Canada Startup Visa program, covering eligibility criteria, individual founder requirements, and the pathway to Canadian permanent residency. She also highlights different factors like startup visas vs. investment visas to clear the distinctions between Canada's startup visa and investment-based visas like the US EB-5.
Upasana highlights the program's emphasis on reasonable funds, skill sets, and experiences. Connecting Global Startups with Canadian Opportunities Gain insights into how any global company, from ideation to established ventures, can apply for the Startup Visa program.
Upasana shares success stories and emphasizes the program's openness to innovative ideas benefiting Canada. Navigate the Path to Permanent Residency and learn about the streamlined process of the Startup Visa program, offering direct access to Canadian permanent residency. Upasana provides insights into the absence of age and education bars, focusing on applicants' experiences and abilities. đ
Join us on this insightful journey into the world of startup opportunities in Canada with Upasana Sharma. Don't miss out on unlocking the potential for global entrepreneurs to thrive in the vibrant Canadian ecosystem.
Welcome to the Investor Spotlight Podcast by Startup Pulse. In this episode, our host Anshuman Sinha, a renowned Angel Investor, CEO, and co-founder of Startup Talent and Co-Founder of Startup Steroid, sits down with Shaun Sanders, Managing Partner of VentureCraft.
As a leading venture capitalist with years of experience in the industry, Shaun Sanders has an extensive background in investing and supporting startups.
Join us as we dive into his insights, knowledge, and expertise in this engaging and informative conversation.
In this episode, Anshuman Sinha delves deep into Shaun Sanders' journey, discussing his role as a Managing Partner at VentureCraft and exploring the strategies behind successful investments.
They also explore the current market trends, the importance of due diligence, and the challenges faced by startups in today's dynamic business landscape.
Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned investor, or simply interested in the world of venture capital, this podcast episode is a must-listen. Gain valuable insights, learn from real-world experiences, and get inspired to take your startup or investment journey to new heights.
Tune in to the Investor Spotlight Podcast as Anshuman Sinha brings you engaging conversations with influential investors like Shaun Sanders, uncovering the secrets of successful investment strategies and providing valuable insights for entrepreneurs and investors alike.
Subscribe now and join us on this exciting journey of exploring the world of venture capital, innovation, and startup funding.
Hosted By: Anshuman Sinha - Renowned Angel Investor, CEO & Co-founder of Startup Talent, and Co-Founder of Startup Steroid
Guest: Shaun Sanders - Managing Partner of VentureCraft
Welcome to another episode of Startup Pulse, the dedicated platform for startup founders to share ideas, entrepreneurial journeys, and connect with angel investors.
In this episode, our host Anshuman Sinha, Co-Founder of Startup Steroid and an experienced Angel Investor, welcomes Mahendra Naik, President of First Angel Capital, a private investment and advisory company focusing on early stage technology companies and investments.
Mahendra Naik shares his insights and experiences in the industry. With a rich career spanning various roles, Mahendra brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Join us as we dive deep into the world of startups, investments, and entrepreneurship.
Donât miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the industryâs veterans.
Startup Pulse : https://startuppulse.pro/
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Brenda McCabe possesses a unique combination of international experience of over 25 years, in operating roles of CEO and VP positions in Sales, Operations, Business Development in Enterprise SaaS, biotech and pharmaceuticals; renewable energy, retail, digital health, and M&A experience while at McKinsey & Company and AstraZeneca. She has multicultural experience and total fluency in Spanish having lived and worked in Spain, Italy, and the US.
Since 2008, her operating experiences have been in early-stage and mid-sized companies in the cleantech, digital health, and enterprise SaaS space working to build businesses with founders and Private Equity ownership. From her firm, Next Act Advisors, a white-glove advisory firm serving entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs with disruptive technology including Healthcare Technology, Medical Devices, Clean Tech, and Enterprise SaaS, she is passionate about creating and maintaining Enterprise value by working with technological innovation out of the âlabâ and bringing it into the mainstream. A graduate of the University of Chicago Booth, she served as President of the University of Chicagoâs Alumni network in Spain and B.S. Business Administration and B.A. Spanish from Berea College. Since 2012, she has served as an Independent Board Director on privately held (PE portfolio companies) and public company boards in the US and Spain. She is an NACD Governance Fellow, Ambassador for the NACD PSW chapter, and a member of Women Corporate Directors, OcTane, LAVA, an angel investor in technology companies.
Digvijay "Sunny" Singh is the current president of TCA-LA. He has been a member of TCA since 2017 and has previously served as membership chair and vice president.
Sunny started his investment journey as an electrical engineer at the end of his Ph.D. at UCLA in 2013. Since then, he has been part of the creation and sale of two technology startups in the IT and MedTech fields. He now oversees the acquisition and management of his commercial real-estate and startup portfolio in Southern California.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
We help companies tackle their most ambitious projects and build new capabilities.
Break out of the usual silos. We have specialists in your industry, but we also share ideas, methodologies, and knowledge across all our industry teams. By drawing from our collective expertise in everything from retail to life sciences, we offer a wide-angle view on unconventional solutionsâbecause the best approach is rarely the most familiar.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
David Friedman is a tech-savvy marketing and operations executive with more than 30 yearsâ expertise in bringing to market new technology. He plays at the intersection of technology and the customer; his real love is innovation and commercializing technology to meet the needs of customers. A member of the TechCoastAngels of Orange County since 2009, he serves as President, TechCoastAngels, Orange County, and is currently Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of TCA. He is also a senior consultant with the Small Business Development Lead Center and founder and managing partner of C-Level Partners, a business advisory that focuses on helping companies grow their top-line revenue.
During his career, he has introduced more than $1.5 billion in new products. In his corporate career, he has helped companies build top-line revenue growth and EBITDA while mentoring the next generation of business leaders. David has been executive vice president and Chief Marketing Officer for ATX Group (now Sirius Connected Car) which provides telematics and information services to automobile manufacturers. Previously, he was Vice President, Marketing and Direct Sales at Connexion by Boeing, and commercialized the first Wi-Fi services available to passengers onboard commercial airplanes. He also held executive positions with US Cellular, Covia Technologies, Ameritech Services, and RCA.
Friedman holds an MBA (economics) from George Washington University, a master's degree in electrical engineering from Columbia University, and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (summa cum laude) from City College of New York.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Ad Astra Ventures is an investment company dedicated to growing and empowering female founders in the early stages of their businesses. This is done through our Ad Astra Accelerator, which provides programming and education, and our Ad Astra Venture Fund, which invests early-stage capital. Ad Astra is building a global community of founders, investors, executives, and philanthropists passionate about seeing more diversity in leadership.Â
Championing fierce female founders, Ad Astra was created by three San Diego female investors that live and breathe the startup, product, and investment industry, Allison Long Pettine (Managing Partner), Vidya Dinamani and Silvia Mah.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Philip Topham is The Savvy Founder and Armchair sociologist. Philip has an inquisitive mind and passion for ideas. Heâs impatient to see tomorrowâs today. He focuses on helping technical founders unlock their pragmatic dreamer and develop their business skills and social capital with The Savvy Founder framework.
With more than 25 years across startups and corporate roles, Philip has been everything from janitor to the Founder and Chief Everything Officer. His earliest career was as a network engineer bringing companies into the Internet age. Heâs served as the Head of Information Technology (Divisional CIO) as well as startup Chief Technology Officer, building software and solving problems others said couldnât be solved.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview Â
VDOSH is a venture capital firm, which gives investors the opportunity to invest in promising new startup companies alongside major players in the industry through VDOSH Fund. For its entrepreneurs, it provides an efficient funding process and instantaneous access to a well-established network of investors and influencers. Â
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Founded on the belief that investment success starts with excellence in relationships. Established in 2020, TopShelf Equity Partners looks for opportunities that have value to high net-worth individuals across the globe, offering investors the chance for success in the world of private equity management. Our model is simple and unique, relying on the relationships that weâve built with stellar late-stage companies along with our team of professionals in the capital markets.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
TiE SoCal Angels is a network of successful entrepreneurs, professionals, and highly educated individuals who are now turning their passion for business into investments and mentorship for the next generation.
Started by a handful of dedicated individuals in the 1990s, TiE SoCal Angels formalized the group in 2018 with the intention of bringing together more investors and helping more entrepreneurs. Today, TiE SoCal Angels comprises of 75+ accredited investors who are actively investing and mentoring founders.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Executive profile
- Highly experienced tech founder with over 15 years of track record leading technology teams at startups and Fortune 500 companies
- Proven expertise in deploying large scale production solutions for Mobile, Cloud, and AI platforms
- Strong hands-on skills in the full life cycle of software design, architecture, development, and testing
- Deep operational experience in cutting edge markets and highly competitive verticals such as consumer products, media, fintech, healthcare
- Strategic thinker skilled in decision making through collaborative partnerships inside and outside the organization
- High energy, self-motivated individual with a "get it done" attitude in fast-paced environments
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Highly proficient lawyer in areas of civil litigation, business law, immigration, and taxation. Emphasis on Technology Startup Law. Office locations Santa Monica and San Francisco. Deeply involved with technology innovation and its applications in optimizing business processes. Founder of a technology-based startup. Always available to hear about new investment opportunities in areas of healthcare, real estate, and technology.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Michael Lerma has over 20 years of combined corporate and business consulting experience working with Wall Street firms and Fortune 100 companies across multiple industries including Investment Banking, Financial Services, Filmed Entertainment, Consumer Products, Executive Recruiting, and Management Consulting. Over the years, he has liaised with private equity firms, hedge funds, family offices, and high net-worth individuals analyzing and identifying attractive industry sub-sectors and companies towards business and investment opportunities. His demonstrated expertise lies in Private Equity Business Development, Finance, Business analysis, Corporate strategy, and Telecommunications.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Josh Bois the global entrepreneur accelerator brings 15 years of executive experience at tech brands and consulting firms to help brands get the capital, marketing, and strategy they need to grow revenue & market share. Client list ranges from Fortune 500 to startups, celebrity, political & government, and philanthropic brands around the world.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
CEO Global Capital Network - âConnecting investors to entrepreneurs & deal flowâ
Founder 2030 Ventures, Inc. - âAccelerating Ideas with Capital, Leadership, and Marketing"
The FÂł Tech Accelerator Program provides funding and support for early-stage companies to prepare them for potential investment from the F3 Tech Seed Fund, industry partners, and investors.
Our industry-specific advisors:
-Expedite commercialization
-Accelerate manufacturing, customer acquisition, and revenue development
-Attract top innovators that match our industry partner commercial needs
-Invest in innovations with grants, private funding, and executive support
-Evaluate technologies for diversification in other sectors
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Dharti Desai is an entrepreneur, advisor, board member, and investor with more than 23 years of versatile global experience - spanning direct marketing, wines, printing, packaging, lifestyle industry, and not-for-profit organizations. Leveraging her extensive experience in innovative marketing and global leadership, her broad areas of expertise include deep data-driven analytics, marketing strategy enhancement, branding, digital communications, and team building.
Dharti holds a BA in Sociology from Mumbai University, India, a diplĂ´me supĂŠrieur in French from the Alliance Française, and is enrolled in level 3 of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) NY. She is the author of DM in India Guidebook and has been selected as jury for the Echo Awards of the DMA USA for 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Dharti is also a Founder Ambassador of her familyâs non-profit trust Animedh Charitable Trust (ACT). ACT skill trains women from the underserved, impoverished and under-represented communities and places them in jobs matching their skills or trains them to be economically independent with their micro-enterprises. ACT also provides basic and higher education for underprivileged children, especially a girl child.
Dharti is an investor through Plumalley.co in NY â a syndicate focused on women and gender diverse founders. She also sits on advisory boards of companies in the digital marketing and Not for Profit sectors. She is an investor through Bodhi Capital (bodhicapital.com) in early-stage companies in fashion, Fin-tech, hospitality, and health-tech. She has been invited to judge and deliver keynote addresses at Start-up Pitch Competitions/conferences and has hosted webinars on marketing.
Dharti is President on the board of TiE NY (www.ny.tie.org - a global not-for-profit organization âfor entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs) and is the Co-Chair of TiE NYâs Angel program. Dharti has mentored women entrepreneurs of AIRSWEEE 2.0 (All India Road Show for Womenâs Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship) - a project by TiE Global and funded by the US Department of State and now is the Co-Chair for TiE Women (tiewomen.org).
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Sohail is the worldâs premier âJoint Venture Expertâ Founder of The Joint Venture Group and creator of the âMillion Dollar Partnering Systemâ.
A sought-after Business Growth Speaker, Coach, and Author, Sohail works with Corporate, Business, and Educational establishments worldwide. Prior to starting The Joint Venture Group, Sohail has had over 15 years of sales, joint venture marketing, and business experience.
Having previously built a multi-million dollar online training company which he started with just $1,000 in 2000, he then sold a majority stake to a $150M IT group in 2006.
In 2008 the IT group went bust and Sohail lost everything but retained the knowledge and expertise of building a business with over $10 Million in sales using just joint venture partnering. In 2009 Sohail set himself a challenge to make $1 Million within 12 months using nothing but just his joint venture marketing expertise and managed to close a $1.5 Million joint venture in just 30 days.
Sohail is co-author of the Number One International Best Seller âGuerrilla Marketing and Joint Venturesâ with the late Jay Conrad Levinson, the final âGuerrilla Marketingâ book from Jay before he passed away in 2013.
In 2017 Sohail sold his consulting and training business for an undisclosed 8 Figure sum but continues to do business working with selected clients. Sohail is in demand as a keynote speaker, consultant, and facilitator in the areas of business growth, joint venture partnering, and leadership. His high-impact speeches, seminars, and boot camps have received rave reviews and standing ovations worldwide.
Company Profile Link - https://www.startupsteroid.com/investors-interview
Paul Lopez the Co-Founder and Partner, 11-11 Ventures and TiE Atlanta.
11-11 Ventures is an innovation-driven venture capital firm investing and growing early-stage technology companies run by the best entrepreneurial minds in the world. Our headquarters is at Tech Alpharettaâs Innovation Center in the technology city of the South.
Designing technologies to work for people and the planet - I'm an engineer turned sustainability scientist, scraping the world to build solutions. I thrive leading and working in teams, with international experience in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. and background ranging from research, engineering consultancy, and systems design to venture capital, social entrepreneurship, and business development. Constantly finding ways to improve and be more inclusive!
Business leader with significant experience creating high-impact partnerships. Direct experience in leading teams and establishing initiatives with triple bottom line goals. Especially interested in leveraging technology for social impact.
Raghu has 20-plus years of global experience in US, Europe & Asia in senior executive/management and executive board member roles including 12 years at CXO levels (COO, CSO & CIO) & board levels in fintech, financial services, pharmaceuticals, health tech, digital health and technology sectors.
Connecting at a human-level comes naturally to Venkatesh. His humble upbringing and strong foundation in a value system, helps him connect and understand people. He has experienced and realized that whether the business plan calls for B2B or B2C relationships, its all about H2H (Human to Human) connections.
Axel has a demonstrated leading organizations to success, through vision coupled with passion being the fuel. Regardless of company size - Startup or division of a larger corporation. 20+ years of Senior C-Suite leadership in early-stage privately held and emerging public companies with strong P&L are the foundation for who I am today.
A seasoned entrepreneur turned investor with over 20 years of experience in the tech industry evenly distributed between the US and India, Darshan has led teams at various companies in developing award-winning technology products, from enterprise servers and network protocols to web-based applications and databases.
Xandra Laskowski is an angel investor and startup advisor with over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience with large multinational tech companies as well as startups as founder, investor, advisor and board member.
Vijay Kotrappa is a successful technology entrepreneur and angel investor. He founded Guidance Solutions, an internet services and co-venture company, building it to a leading software co-venture company with 200+ employees in Los Angeles, and $20 million in annual revenue.
Kim was a General Partner with IDG Ventures from 1997 to 2006. She played an active role in managing and investing over 9 years a $120 million captive fund. She led multiple investments in software and technology infrastructure.
Experienced business operations leader with a passion for entrepreneurship and technology. Demonstrated track record of success in various roles including prior experience as an engineer, program manager, business analyst, and most recently, chief of staff for the Technology Engineering division within Google's Hardware Product Area.
Jeff is the founder of Global Kinetics, a market development accelerator to early-to-mid stage clients seeking to establish/expand operations in the US market & a long-standing enterprise mobility industry veteran.
Brad is the former CEO and co-founder of Lumedyne Technologies, a MEMS Inertial Sensor company acquired by Google. Prior to Lumedyne, Brad held engineering and management positions at the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Defense Systems Command (SPAWAR), and with semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics.
JJ Richa is an accomplished serial entrepreneur, executive and investor. JJ has successfully founded several companies, where he served as President and CEO, including a software company for the hospitality industry, an online eCommerce portal for high-end made-to-order gifts, and a custom software development company concentrating on the financial sector.Â