Pitchology: Recent Episodes
Steve Distante
Discover with the host: Steve Distante, the best strategies entrepreneurs use to raise capital to help their businesses scale and grow. Hear personal stories of what people did to be able to figure out the next level of their businesses which require capital. Whether you're a successful entrepreneur or you're simply aspiring to join the world of entrepreneurship, capital raising is often a very vital part of your growth and success.
In this powerful talk, entrepreneur and impact leader Steve Distante visits inmates at the A.M. Stringfellow Unit to share a message of hope, purpose, and transformation. "From Lockup to Startup" dives into the heart of entrepreneurship—not just as a business venture, but as a mindset and a way of reclaiming one's story.
Steve breaks down the core qualities of successful entrepreneurs, challenges common misconceptions, and emphasizes the power of vulnerability, vision, and authentic leadership. With compassion and clarity, he empowers these men to see their past not as a barrier, but as a launchpad for something meaningful.
Whether you're behind bars or navigating life’s toughest challenges, this talk is a reminder that it’s never too late to dream, to build, and to lead with purpose.
In an interview hosted by Kary Obrbrunner, author Steve Distante discusses the new book, "Once Upon A Time In Entrepreneurland" and how it is full with stories that have lessons that can help the experienced and budding entrepreneur.
In this captivating podcast, Steve interviews Robbie Crabtree, a former trial lawyer who has transitioned into the world of entrepreneurship. Robbie candidly shares his motivations for becoming a trial lawyer, drawing inspiration from his childhood love of comic book heroes and the desire to fight for justice.
The conversation takes a poignant turn as Robbie opens up about the emotional toll of handling cases involving child abuse, which eventually led him to reevaluate his career path. Robbie's insights into the challenges of embodying the emotions of his clients and the lingering impact of these cases provide a sobering look into the realities of being a trial lawyer.
Robbie and Steve discuss the art of communication and the importance of being genuine when pitching to a potential client. In addition, they talk about the different techniques you can use when storytelling and how they can influence a pitch.
The discussion also explores the parallels between acting and the art of persuasion in the courtroom and in being an entrepreneur, as Robbie reveals his unique ritual of using a specific playlist to help him transition into the right mindset before trials. This podcast offers a unique glimpse into the life of a former trial lawyer turned entrepreneur, highlighting the personal and professional transformations that can occur along the way.
#triallawyer #prosecutor #criminaljustice #entrepreneur #entrepreneurialmindset #artofpersuasion #founder #courtroom #criminalcase #criminalcourt #childabuse #careerchange #courtroomtactics #emotionalstory
In this insightful podcast, the host sits down with venture capital leader George Bandarian the General Partner at Untapped Ventures. Bandarian shares his journey from successful entrepreneur to venture investor, with a focus on artificial intelligence startups. He discusses the importance of identifying top-tier founders who don't necessarily need hands-on guidance and the strategy of being a "small follower" investor alongside leading VC firms. Bandarian provides valuable insights into the venture capital landscape, the dynamics of different funding rounds, and his mission to invest in AI startups that positively impact humanity. This episode offers a unique glimpse into the world of AI-focused venture capital from an experienced practitioner.
In this captivating podcast episode, join Steve Distante as he sits down with Alex LePage, founder of MillerHill IP, a prominent intellectual property consulting and valuation firm. Discover the fascinating world of IP and its role in company valuation, market protection, and raising capital. From patents and trademarks to intangible assets, explore how businesses can leverage their intellectual property for growth and success. Gain valuable insights into the strategic use of IP as collateral and its impact on investor confidence. Don't miss this engaging discussion that sheds light on the hidden value of ideas and innovation.
In this podcast you will discover:
- Licensing: Businesses can license their IP to other companies, allowing them to use their patented technology, trademarks, or copyrighted content in exchange for royalties or licensing fees. This enables businesses to generate additional revenue streams without the need for extensive production or distribution.
- Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with other companies through strategic partnerships can be a powerful way to leverage IP. By combining complementary IP assets, businesses can create innovative products or services, access new markets, and enhance their competitive advantage.
- Branding and Marketing: Strong IP, such as trademarks and brand names, can differentiate a business from its competitors and build brand recognition and customer loyalty. Businesses can leverage their brands to attract customers, enter new markets, and command premium pricing.
- Securing Financing: Intellectual property can serve as collateral for securing loans or attracting investors. Lenders and investors may be more willing to provide capital if a business has valuable IP assets that can be used as security or demonstrate the potential for future revenue generation.
- Defensive Positioning: IP can be used defensively to protect a business from competitors. By obtaining patents or trademarks, businesses can establish barriers to entry, deter potential infringers, and safeguard their market position.
- Technology Transfer: Businesses can monetize their IP by transferring their technology or know-how to other companies or industries. This can involve licensing, joint ventures, or even spin-off companies that commercialize the IP in new applications or markets.
- Research and Development: Investing in R&D and continuously developing new IP can fuel business growth. By creating a robust IP portfolio, businesses can introduce innovative products or processes, stay ahead of market trends, and capture new market opportunities.
In this episode, Steve sits down with filmmaker and Documentarian, Akira Chan and we dive into the fascinating world of filmmaking and entrepreneurship. Discover the power of creative storytelling, the impact of documentaries, and the connection between art and entrepreneurship. From igniting social change to highlighting inspiring stories, Akira shares his experiences and collaborations with entrepreneurs, artists, and change-makers. Get inspired and gain insights into the art of storytelling and its ability to create a ripple effect in the world.
Connect:
Steve Distante - https://pitchology.ai/
Akira Chan - https://www.raremedia.tv
filmmaking #Entrepreneurship #Creativestorytelling #Documentaries #Art #Socialchange #Inspiringstories #Collaboration #Entrepreneurs #Artists #Changemakers #Storytelling #Impactfulstorytelling #Documentaryfilmmaking #Creativethinkers #Entertainmentindustry #Filmproduction #Videoproduction
Visit pitchology.ai for more content, information, and tips for becoming a successful entrepreneur.
In this episode, Steve and writing coach, Leslie Hinson, discuss the excitement, frustration, happiness, and even sadness that comes with writing a book. Join us for an adventure into the heart of storytelling where creativity knows no bounds.
Highlights from this episode:
Dive into the mesmerizing journey of storytelling and book creation with Leslie Hinson, a master of weaving tales that captivate and educate. In this enlightening podcast, we unravel the art of fable writing, explore the transformative power of stories, and discover how ancient wisdom is repackaged for modern audiences.
Leslie shares insights from her unique path to becoming a fiction and fable writing aficionado, the intricacies of crafting stories with moral lessons, and the joy of blending historical facts with imaginative fiction.
Whether you're an aspiring writer or a lover of stories, this conversation is a treasure trove of inspiration, offering a glimpse into the meticulous process of bringing tales to life that resonate across generations.
Connect with Steve and Leslie:
Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com
Leslie Hinson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-hinson-572b2481/
Steve sat down with friend Salim Ismail, the author of Exponential Organizations and its sequel, Exponential Organizations 2.0: The New Playbook for 10x Growth and Impact, to discuss the ins and outs of Entrepreneurial drive.
Highlights from this Episode:
Your Life’s Work may require money, but it’s never about money. It’s bigger than that. It’s usually visceral, or at your core of being, that is a challenge or opportunity to have a massive impact on both you (the entrepreneur) and many others. In most cases, it becomes your legacy because it’s so beneficial.
For EIs, often the drive of the entrepreneur is more alluring than the company itself—we buy the drive, not the company.
Efficiency and predictability aren’t enough anymore. Salim explains how the old paradigm of a sustainable organization used to be based on efficiency and predictability. Now, he says that organizations need to be architected for agility, flexibility, adaptability, and speed to truly succeed in today’s market.
Evolve to wisdom. Salim and I speak about the thrill of momentum we feel when we have a new idea, or even see a new avenue in the direction of our Life’s Work.
Know your highest and best use for the organization. Sometimes the CEO and president role isn’t where the entrepreneur needs to be forever. This can be a scary feeling for entrepreneurs, so they mess it up so they can find meaning.
Learn how to harness your drive beneficially for everybody. It doesn’t matter how good your ideas are if you’re constantly shifting the purpose of your organization. If you’re repurposing your talent to new roles too often, no one will ever be able to master their position. This will lead to eye-rolling and frustration from your team, or worse—A-players leaving the organization.
Consider creating an internal research and development team as an explorer. You can create an R&D team that serves that explorative purpose without stressing out your existing business or pulling your nucleus team off their jobs.
Your ideal space may be at the edge. Salim discusses how the entrepreneur/founder may be happiest existing more at the edges of the company— where they can dabble with new ideas without being a destabilizing force—then at the helm.
Being an “arsonist” can give you the illusion of purpose. They’re intentionally (or subconsciously) messing things up so they can have the opportunity to step in as the hero again. Learn to discern when you’re just looking to mess things up for the thrill of it.
Arson can be a reaction to metamorphosis. Often, when people start lighting their own fires to put out, it stems from the fact that the business has matured to a place where it is no longer dependent on the entrepreneur. This can be a scary feeling for entrepreneurs, so they mess it up so they can find meaning.
The luge can be a good thing. The thing about a luge is there’s no getting off. To accomplish big projects, you may need to have a “leave the world behind” mindset so you can focus intensely on the project at hand. When you’re in a luge, you’re accountable for results and deadlines. When you know how to harness the power of a luge, you can use it to create periods of commitment and intense focus so you can create BIG things.
Connect with Steve and Salim:
Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com
Salim Ismail - https://salimismail.com
Steve Distante sat down with friend and fellow wolf, AJ Caro, a lifelong serial entrepreneur who truly embodies the benefits of M&A. His strategic acquisitions of a home health aide business and an insurance company served as the inspiration for the Littlepigs story above.
Highlights from this Episode:
Diversification is important. Diversification across different industries should bring longer-term stability, as one economic event would not be destabilizing enough to tank any of your businesses. Diversification allows for a variety of activities. Entrepreneurs tend to get bored easily, so having a lot of different activities can offer longevity in more ways than just buffering for a market downturn.
Diversification has its cons too. Diversification can take your concentrated growth efforts into multiple industries—which does create multiple streams of income—but not one larger company, which will likely hold a higher value.
M&A can be a win-win. Looking for companies in their sunset stage can help ensure a win-win. One of the greatest benefits of acquiring a “sunsetting” business is to acquire and mentor the “A player” from the company to manage and ultimately grow that new venture with minimal participation.
Acquire strategically. The best time to acquire a disaster relief company is before a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake hits, not after. Acquiring a business like this for a reasonable price can pay off immensely in the event of a disaster, or whatever it takes to change the normal market. You can make headway in diversification through M&A, and then develop those businesses under stable circumstances.
Savings are the first expense. In the world of cycles, never gouge your business. Make saving your first expense. In a downturn market, that is the time to access your savings for an acquisition.
It is often advantageous to invest (or acquire) during a big market downturn or cataclysmic event. This is why saving for rainy days is always a good strategy whenever possible. Another strategy involves relationships. When you identify businesses that may be good M&A opportunities for you in a few years, keep an open line of communication with the current owners. If something happens and they decide to sell the business, they’ll come to you as a lifeline.
Connect with Steve and AJ:
Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com
AJ Caro - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajcaro/
Dean Jackson coined the phrase “Who, not how,” which you might recognize as the title of a well-known entrepreneurial book. Well, Dean’s friend and Strategic Coach founder, Dan Sullivan, resonated with the idea so hard that he and Dr. Benjamin Hardy wrote a book about it. (Who, Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy is dedicated to Dean.)
For Dean, the idea is more of a concept by which to live his life. We discuss unique ability, abundance mentality, and the power of sticking with a community for the long run. He also breaks down the concept of a Who. The gist is this: we don’t have to know.
Highlights from this Episode:
- No one can do it alone. A Who Hunter is always on the lookout for someone whose unique skill set matches what is missing in the organization. You’re always looking for the person who was literally put on earth to do what you need them to do.
- Often people don’t know their own unique abilities. While a unique ability is certainly something special about an individual, it is often an attribute they come by so naturally that they don’t even notice it. Sometimes, the best way to find your unique abilities is to ask other people what they rely on you for. There are exercises to help you find your unique abilities in "Who, Not How. "
- Fast track to done. Dean explains how entrepreneurs usually excel at adaptive challenges where the answer is not known. We can figure it out or invent a solution, but we often get caught up in the technicalities of it, or in trying to teach other people how to do it.
- Whos are not always entrepreneurial, but they can be. They are the perfect Whos because they do the role so naturally, that they’ve never even thought of it as a skill.
- A business owner and an entrepreneur are not the same thing. An entrepreneur is usually a business owner, but a business owner is not always an entrepreneur.
- What constitutes a Who is much more comprehensive than their unique ability alone. You have to look into their history, their track record, their personality, the gut feeling you have about them, what other people are saying about them, etc., and draw a full picture before determining whether they’re your Who.
- You often learn more about your values when things don’t go right. Often it’s easier to identify your values when things go tragically wrong and then to reverse engineer them!
Connect with Steve and Dean:
Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com
Dean Jackson - http://deanjackson.com
Doug and Steve discuss the natural progression many leaders have to go through as they learn how to harness their “inner wolf” for good. It’s easy for us to intimidate others; we have an intense presence. But as we grow, learn, and evolve, we become more effective leaders.
Wolves are the villains of so much lore, yet are an incredibly vital part of many ecosystems. As an entrepreneur’s business grows, they have to learn how to select and mentor the people who work with them. Often this takes a few years—and a few alienated employees who may jump ship. The wolf has to learn how to be a shepherd, which isn’t a role wolves perform naturally. As Doug explains in the conversation, there’s a big difference between a shepherd standing behind a flock of sheep, driving them forward by scaring them, and a shepherd whose sheep follow him by choice.
Highlights from this Episode:
- Entrepreneurial drive is natural. In my conversation with Dr. Doug Brackmann, we also discuss his first book, Driven: Understanding and Harnessing the Genetic Gifts Shared by Entrepreneurs, Navy SEALs, Pro Athletes, and Maybe YOU. Many of these people have a unique genetic characteristic of having the allele (mutation) genes DRD2-A1 or DRD4- 7R, or both. Our drive is in our DNA! How you channel your energy is your choice. Left unattended or unaware, that drive can turn into negative results, but when harnessed for good, it can change the world.
- The internal drive might come from different sources. There are a lot of Drivens in places of high power; some are driven by heart or by wounds, while others are driven by greed.
- Drivens flock to different careers. Doug explains that there are exceptionally high numbers of Drivens who are high-performing athletes and Navy SEALS. There are also a high number of dictators who are Drivens. Whether it’s for the greater good or not, a lot of Drivens⁺ are on the edge of being superhuman. A Driven⁺ might be attracted to more than one outlet for their energy.
- Don’t try to figure out what inspires people. Hire to it. Don’t try to change someone’s values. Part of surrounding yourself with the right people are finding those whose values already align with the organization and its mission.
- A leader learns to stand in someone else’s shoes. Inspirational leaders learn to put themselves in someone else’s position and to lead them from that person’s point of reference. Evolved leaders understand that what inspires them might not inspire other people.
- Learn to become a servant leader. The act of giving releases serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine for everybody involved, including the giver, the recipient, and anyone else who witnesses the deed. This means that if an employee is aligned with an organization’s mission, any progress the organization makes feels good to everyone within the system.
- Don’t surround yourself with “yes” people. The people in an organization must feel empowered to push back against an entrepreneur who is experiencing destabilizing optimism. That not only means you have to get the right people around you but it also means you can’t be a bully. If your team is afraid to tell you no, that’s a problem that will permeate every level of the organization. Great leaders create a culture in which people aren’t afraid to voice their opinions.
Connect with Steve and Doug:
Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com
Dr. Doug Brackmann - https://www.iamdriven.com
When I first had the idea for the PIN, I knew I wanted to include Joe Polish in a way that's more than making an Easter egg out of his ELF acronym. Joe and I had a conversation in which we discussed the benefits of having a network and getting to do your Life’s Work, what we look for in investable entrepreneurs and much more. Highlights from this episode: * Don’t BS people. Your reputation will travel in this community, so you need to build that reputation on honesty and respect. Have the wherewithal to do what you say you’re going to do. * The importance of being genuine and respectful when asking for (and dealing with) Other People's Money, especially when working with an Entrepreneur Investor. * You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room if you’re in a room where everybody is getting smarter. We learn by watching each other, taking advice, and being humble. * Is the juice worth the squeeze? Joe and I talk about how even if you don’t like someone, you can still make money with them, but as you mature and evolve as an entrepreneur (and as an individual), at some point, you have to ask yourself if the juice is worth the squeeze.
What makes a good, fail-proof sales pitch? How can you ensure that the investors will not say “No” when you try to raise capital for your business?
The conversation between Steve Distante and Sandra Powers surrounds the topic of creating your sales pitch. Sandra talks about the role of a global investment firm in helping small businesses to grow their market share and how it works with both managers and potential investors to help them connect and grow their assets. She also emphasizes the importance of being able to tell a story about why a product is different and better than what is already on the market.
The pitch map process is a way for entrepreneurs to raise capital efficiently by focusing on the why behind their product or service. In a competitive world, it is essential to be able to articulate what makes your offering unique and why it is needed. The best pitches are those that are clear and concise, focusing on the value that the product or service will add.
Who’s The Guest?
Sandra Powers is the CEO and founder of a global, a third party marketing company that helps entrepreneurs raise capital. She has been in the industry for over a decade and her experience includes working with retirement planning clients. Sandra decided to start her own company in order to work more closely with entrepreneurial investment management firms, particularly those that are women and diversity-oriented.
Highlights
- What is a third party marketer?
- How Sandra Powers got started in the field
- Differentiating factors that institutional investors are looking for
- Pitch mapping: A process for raising capital
- Importance of a good story in a capital raise
- Impact of Business Development on Investment Decisions
- Having a good team in entrepreneurship
- Understanding and starting with the “why”
- Benefits and drawbacks of pitching via Zoom
- Different stages of capital raising
- Process of capital raising
- The Do’s and Don’ts of pitching to prospects
- Components of an interesting pitch
- Kinds of deals that Sandra is typically doing
- How to have a clear and concise pitch when raising capital
Call to Action
Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Sandra Powers
- https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sandrawpowers
In this episode of Pitch, host Steve Distante is joined by Akira Chan, director and founder of Rare Media. Chan discusses the company's focus on producing videos that tell human stories and highlights the demand for this type of content. He also talks about how he met Steve at the Abundance360 conference and how their meeting led to the creation of this podcast.
Akira also shares his belief that video is an essential part of marketing, as it is an easy way to share information with a large number of people. It is also an effective way to communicate, as it can convey a lot of information in a short amount of time and how Rare Media produces videos for investors which tell the story of the founder, the business, and the impact it is having on the world.
Who’s The Guest? Akira Chan is a documentary filmmaker and also the founder of Rare Media, a production studio creating videos for organizations, entrepreneurs, and authors such as Mindvalley, Chopra Global, Abundance360, and more. Akira’s recent film on art and addiction, was awarded Audience Choice Short at the Illuminate Film Festival 2018. Its film screening + art auction distribution model raised half a million dollars towards addiction recovery.
Highlights
- What is Rare Media?
- John's Crazy Socks: A company that empowers those with special abilities
- Importance of videos in telling stories
- Key elements they are looking for in an interview
- Difference between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
- Adding a video element: VR and AR in businesses
- Creating a video content to tell your story
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Akira Chan
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/akirachan
- https://www.raremedia.tv/
In this conversation, Tucker Max discusses the importance of writing a book and how it can help entrepreneurs raise capital. He describes how Scribe Media helps people write, publish, and market their books. He also talks about how most of their clients have more money than time, and so they hire Scribe Media to help with the process.
Tucker also talks about the benefits of writing a book, both in terms of the personal satisfaction of the author and the potential to make money from the book. They also describe how important it is to have a plan for promoting the book, including interviews, guest posts, and articles. The goal is to get sales and clients from the book.
Who’s The Guest? Tucker Max co-founded Scribe Media, a premier professional publishing company that helped people like Dan Sullivan, David Goggins, and Tiffany Haddish publish and market their books. He has written four New York Times Best Selling books which sold more than 4.5 million copies around the world. He is only the fourth writer to have three of his books listed on the New York Times Nonfiction Best Seller List.
Highlights
- Benefits of writing a book
- How promoting a book goes
- Pros and cons of a full-package book launch
- How to get a book from idea to finish and launching to other people
- The power of a good book
- Tiffany Haddish's The Last Black Unicorn and Aaron Taylor's
- The Bad One Stand Out among Simon & Schuster's books
- Tucker Max’s unique ability
- Coming from nothing is easier than coming from suffering and pain
- Why you should hire a ghostwriter
- Writing multiple books
- The benefits and challenges of self-employment
- The advantages and disadvantages of raising capital for your business
- Investing in trees
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Tucker Max
- https://www.tuckermax.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuckermax
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_Max
- https://twitter.com/TuckerMax
- https://www.amazon.com/Tucker-Max/e/B001JSAOIA
Living his best life in Puerto Rico, Richard Harmon, together with the host, Steve Distante, discusses the pros of living in another country, including the tax benefits it entails.
Richard moved to Puerto Rico in 2018 after a client of his expressed interest in doing the same. He found that, compared to the mainland US, Puerto Rico has much lower taxes (4% after a reasonable salary is deducted), no capital gains taxes, and is a great place to live overall. They also talk about raising capital and how to extract money from a business. Richard discusses how he helped to structure Tony Robbins' ESOP deal and how entrepreneurs can start using it for their businesses.
Who’s The Guest? Richard Harmon began his CPA career at PwC. He was a top financial systems implementation specialist tackling numerous assignments for Fortune 500 companies. He founded TeamAlliance, a technology staffing company, opening offices in 30 states, and after a successful exit, started building several start-ups.
Richard Harmon’s experience in public accounting, as a CFO, and as an entrepreneur, allows him to bring unique strategic insights and practical solutions to his investment banking activities as a Managing Director at CSG Partners.
Highlights
- Why Richard decided to live in Puerto Rico
- Benefits of moving to Puerto Rico
- The ground rules when moving to Puerto Rico
- Best ways to reach out to Richard Harman
- How you can extract money from your business without selling it
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP): What is it and why you should own one
- The benefits of an S Corp ESOP
- Utilizing money for businesses using S Corp ESOPs
- The benefits of an ESOP for a business owner
- How the process works for getting an ESOP
- Different opportunities for an entrepreneur to use ESOP
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Richard Harmon
- https://www.csgpartners.com/esop-advisory-team/richard-harmon
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardharmon/
Dan Sullivan and Steve Distante discuss the benefits of collaboration and how it can lead to the creation of new and innovative ideas. They talk about the importance of finding collaborators who share similar values and goals and how collaboration can often lead to opportunities that are much larger and less complicated than funding alone.
Additionally, Dan goes on to share how he has since become involved in a number of collaborative ventures, including work with Entrepreneurs Organization, Tony Robbins, and Mike Koenigs. He describes how these collaborations have led to a number of positive outcomes, including the funding of his farm through Climate First Bank.
Who’s The Guest? Dan Sullivan is the founder and president of Strategic Coach®. With over 40 years of experience as a highly regarded and world-class speaker, consultant, coach, and strategic partner, he helps entrepreneurs and groups in reaching their full potential, both in their business and personal lives.
Dan is also an accomplished author with more than 30 titles under his name, including Creative Destruction, How The Best Get Better®, and The Great Crossover.
Highlights
- The power of collaboration
- What are the benefits of collaboration for businesses and entrepreneurs?
- How Dan approaches collaboration
- The connection between collaboration and achieving success
- The importance of stockpiling capability over short-term money
- What the book, The War and Art of Funding: An Insider’s Guide to Raising Capital Through Storytelling, is all about
- What impact investing is and why it is an important cause
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Dan Sullivan
- https://www.strategiccoach.com/
- https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dansullivansc
In the conversation, Peter Diamandis talks about his work with XPRIZE and his mission to help entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. He discusses his work with building a coaching program for entrepreneurs. Peter also talks about three different mindsets that he believes are important for people to have in order to be successful in the future.
Who’s The Guest? Dr. Peter H. Diamandis is an international pioneer in the fields of innovation, incentive competitions, and commercial space. He is a three-time best-selling author, public speaker, and philanthropist.
He is the founder and executive chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, which leads the world in designing and operating large-scale incentive competitions. Peter is recently named as one of the world’s 50 Greatest Leaders and continues to counsel the world’s leaders on growing technologies.
Highlights
- What is Peter’s work with XPRIZE and age reversal all about?
- The power of an exponential mindset in an age of abundance
- Defining the abundance mindset
- SPACs: A new way of going public
- The role of SPACs in the investment world
- What are the benefits and risks of SPACs
- The velocity of capital
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Peter Diamandis
- https://www.diamandis.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/PeterDiamandis/
- https://twitter.com/PeterDiamandis
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Diamandis
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterdiamandis
- https://www.instagram.com/peterdiamandis
In the conversation, Andrew Sherman and Steve Distante discuss the importance of intangible assets in business deals, particularly in the context of mergers and acquisitions. They also talk about the challenges of building and selling a company, and the role of strategy in acquisitions.
Who’s The Guest? Andrew Sherman serves as a legal and strategic advisor to both leaders of Fortune 500 companies and founders of rapid growth, emerging businesses in the areas of business planning, corporate finance, M&A, and intellectual property harvesting, such as franchising and licensing strategies. He authored about 26 books on business growth, M&A, and strategies and was a frequent public speaker to business groups. He also serves as a Professor in the MBA program at the University of Maryland and at Georgetown Law School for nearly 30 years.
Highlights
- The connection between the two books: Mergers &
- Acquisitions from A to Z and the Harvesting of Intangible Assets
- Mergers and acquisitions in business
- The importance of goodwill in business transactions
- Treating assets as collateral
- What a growth strategist attorney is
- Primary ways a business grows
- Why should you be prepared for an acquisition?
- The benefits of understanding your buyer when selling your business
- Setting the stage for a successful business scale
- The impact of intangible assets on a business valuation
- How to start leveraging your brand
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Andrew Sherman
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjsherman
- https://www.seyfarth.com/people/andrew-j-sherman.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Sherman
- Mergers and Acquisitions from A to Z
- Harvesting of Intangible Assets
Ken LaRoe was a banker who decided to start a values-based bank. He was inspired by Yvon Chouinard's autobiography and his experience in the cannabis industry. He sold his first bank and then circumnavigated the country with his wife in a mini motorhome. He eventually started Climate First Bank, which was a part of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. He served on the board of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values.
Ken also shares his story of how he got involved in the industry and how he has seen firsthand the difference that green initiatives can make. He talks about the importance of making a profit while also doing good, and how few people in the industry are actually doing that.
Who’s The Guest? After graduating from Florida State University, Ken LaRoe’s banking journey started in 1982 at the Flagship Bank in Tavares, Florida. In 1996, he joined the Colonial Bank as the President for their Lake County operations and founded the Florida Choice Bank in 1999 which grew its assets to $400 million before being sold to the Alabama National Bankcorp in 2006.
Ken was inspired by Yvon Chouinard's autobiography and his experience in the cannabis industry after selling the First GREEN Bank. In the summer of 2020, he began working on a business plan and application for the Climate First Bank. After overcapitalization at $44.2 million, the bank was granted a charter by the State of Florida and the FDIC. The bank opened June 1, 2021 in St. Petersburg, Florida to a huge reception as the only Benefits Corporation bank in the State of Florida. Additionally, the bank was Net Zero day one as well as a member of 1% For the Planet and a provisional B Corp.
Highlights
- The tough time that Ken and his wife went through
- Using cannabis as a treatment for seizures
- The process of selling his first bank and traveling with his wife
- The evolution of a values-based bank: From First GREEN to New Resource
- Importance of green banking
- The transformation of capitalism to impact investing
- The power of collaboration: How two men are making a difference
- Vision of the Climate First Bank
- The business model of Climate First Bank
- Using storytelling as an art form that entrepreneurs need to master
- Characteristics of an ideal entrepreneur to work with
- Impact of investing on businesses
- Building a bank to last with the Climate First Bank
- The benefits of going public
- Why traditional banking doesn’t work for businesses and entrepreneurs
- Kinds of investors they are looking for
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Ken LaRoe
- https://www.climatefirstbank.com/
- https://www.firstgreenbank.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/FirstGREENBank
- https://kenlaroe.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-laroe-92887510
Steve Distante welcomes Adam Rein, the Co-Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer of CapShift. The conversation discusses how a family office can help manage a family's wealth as well as other family-related business activities. A family office typically has two core parts: investment management and family planning. Investment management helps decide where to invest the family's money, and family planning helps with things like tax planning, accounting, estate planning, and legal services.
Adam Rein also talks about his expertise in the field of family office and how it has led him to his latest venture, CapShift. He describes how he helps high-net-worth families build purpose-driven investment portfolios.
Who’s The Guest? Adam Rein is the Co-Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer of CapShift, a turnkey impact investment solution for the $1 trillion charitable investment market of donor-advised funds and private foundations. He was also the Managing Director of MissionPoint Partners, which provides growth capital, knowledge, and a broad network of relationships to companies focused on the clean energy, energy efficiency, and environmental finance sectors, where he is still a Strategic Partner now.
Highlights
- Adam Rein’s journey to family office expertise
- The benefits and challenges of investing in purpose-driven assets
- Impact of family offices on customized portfolios
- Different types of family offices and what they are looking for in investments
- Types of family office deals
- Why entrepreneurs should start investing in family offices
- Structure in family offices for angel investors and venture capital
- Benefits and risks of impact investing
- How to find family offices for investments
- The pros and cons of raising capital for startups
- How to give an effective VR pitch deck
- Connection and importance of trust in pitching
- Kinds of investors you’ll meet when raising capital
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Adam Rein
- https://capshift.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrein
Steve Distante welcomes Franz Hochstrasser of Raise Green to talk about SAFE or the Simple Agreement for Future Equity, which is a security that is often used in early-stage investments. The conversation discusses the rise of private investment through crowdfunding portals, which has been a democratizing force in the securities market. The focus is on mission-driven companies, which have historically struggled to access capital. They also share the challenges that exist in the space, such as companies that take in money and don't pay anything back.
Who’s The Guest? Franz Hochstrasser is the CEO and co-founder of Raise Green. He is the former Obama appointee on energy and climate for the White House, the US State Department, and the United States Department of Agriculture. He was also part of the core team that negotiated the Paris Agreement.
Highlights
- How regulation crowdsourcing works
- The regulation crowdfunding rule and its impact on private investment
- The main focus of Raise Green
- Climate tech venture: Water filtering for the developing world
- Crowdfunding options for startups
- What a perfect deal is
- Investing in the clean energy transition
- The future of climate change
- What the future of investing looks like
- The importance of a good team in creating successful business ventures
- How to have a good support system in entrepreneurship
- The power of investing in sustainable solutions
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Franz Hochstrasser
- https://www.raisegreen.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/franzhochstrasser
- https://twitter.com/franzish
Oscar discusses how COVID-19 has changed the process of raising capital for companies. In the past, companies would rely on personal relationships to raise capital, but now they are turning to online crowdfunding platforms to reach a larger audience. Oscar believes that this shift will continue even after the pandemic ends, as investors become more comfortable with online investing.
Who’s The Guest? Oscar Jofre is one of the top 10 global thought leaders in Equity Crowdfunding, a Top 10 fintech and blockchain influencer, and a Top 50 insure tech influencer. Before co-founding KoreConX, he founded BabelFish Corp, a SaaS-based and multilingual translation portal. He was awarded the Vision 2012 Businessman of the Year by the Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is a resource speaker on blockchain, crowdfunding, shareholder management, and finance.
Highlights
- What Core Connects does
- Crowdsourcing as the new way to raise capital
- How crowdsourcing under the JOBS Act works
- The different models of crowdfunding and their implications
- The newest ways to invest
- Impact of regulation A+ on broker dealers
- Different types of broker-dealers in the industry
- Importance of social media in investor acquisition for regulation A+ offerings
- Power of storytelling in entrepreneurship
- Benefits of audited financial statements in regulation A+ crowdfunding
- Crowdfunding vs. Reggae Plus vs. Regulation D: Which is Right for Your Business?
- The different types of regulation D offerings
- Requirements for setting up crowdfunding, reggae plus, or regulation D
- Importance of liquidity
- What the future of investing looks like
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Oscar Jofre
- https://www.koreconx.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/oscarjofre/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscarjofre
- https://twitter.com/oscarjofre
Steve Distante welcomes Will Weisman of KittyHawk Ventures, a frontier technology venture capital firm. He discusses how the world has changed in the last year and how businesses have been pushed ahead for 5 to 10 years. He also talked about how the rate of change is accelerating and his belief that we are living in a time of great abundance and opportunity.
Steve and Will differentiate the types of companies that Will's venture firm invests in. They say that the firm focuses on tech-forward companies in areas like quantum computing, machine vision, robotics, AI, med tech, and FinTech. They try to find companies that are just starting to generate revenue, or that are at the idea stage with a lot of potentials.
Who’s The Guest? Will Weisman is the former Executive Director at Singularity University and now leads KittyHawk Ventures, an early-stage frontier technology capital firm that invests in networking, AI/ML, space, fintech, computing, and more.
Highlights
- The rate of change and how it has affected the world in the past year
- What the Venture Capital, Kitty Hawk Investments is all about
- Different types of venture capital funds
- What happens when a company goes public?
- The rise of the SPAC and the fall of the Unicorn
- Types of funding rounds
- The Importance of being proximate, passionate, and consistent in Entrepreneurship
- Who is the ideal entrepreneur
- What the importance of company culture is and hiring the right people for the role
- Role of transparency and vulnerability in entrepreneur-investor relationships
- How you can stay real in business relationships
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Will Weisman
- https://www.kittyhawk.vc/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/willweisman
- https://twitter.com/wweisman
A new, creative business idea caught your eye? Perhaps you can become an angel investor to look things over. As an angel investor, you’ll not only provide support for the budding startup, but you can also have more direct access to a company with high growth potential.
Talking about angel investors, Steve Distante invites David S. Rose as he talks more about his experiences as an entrepreneur and as an angel investor. He recalls how he founded New York Angels and how he helps make the process of angel investing easier for startups and investors.
In this conversation, David Rose discusses his experience as an angel investor, including how he got started in the industry and his work to organize and manage angel investor networks. He also talks about his book on angel investing and his active involvement in answering questions about startups and angel investing online.
Who’s The Guest? David S. Rose is an Inc. 500 CEO, real estate developer, financial technology investor, and serial entrepreneur. He founded or funded more than 100 pioneering companies. He has been described by Forbes as "New York's Archangel", by BusinessWeek as a "world conquering entrepreneur", by Crain's New York Business as "the father of angel investing in New York”, and by Red Herring magazine as "patriarch of Silicon Alley".
David is the New York Times best-selling author of both Angel Investing: The Gust Guide to Making Money & Having Fun Investing in Startups, and The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to a Scalable, High-Growth Business.
Highlights
- Other than being the founder of New York Angels, who is David S. Rose?
- Gaining different titles: Godfather of Angel Investing,
- Patriarch of Silicon Valley, and Archangel of New York Angel Investing
- What the future of technology is and its impact on humanity
- Angel investors vs venture capitalists: What’s the big difference?
- The different kinds of investors and their motivations
- What are the stages of funding for startups?
- How much money should you raise and what valuation should you expect
- What the JOBS Act 2012 is all about
- The dangers of investing in angel deals
- Pros and cons of crowdfunding for startups
- The reality of crowdfunding for startups
- Essence of a good pitch
- How to learn more about angel investing
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with David S. Rose
- http://www.davidsrose.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsrose
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_S._Rose
- https://twitter.com/davidsrose
Steve Distante and Mike Caito discuss Mike's experience as a CEO and going through different crises in business. Mike shares his advice on how to handle a crisis, which is to cut quickly and cut deep, and to panic sooner.
During their conversation, Steve and Mike discuss the importance of having a Plan B, especially for startup entrepreneurs. They emphasize how having a system in place, like MAP, is so important and can help you avoid flying blind.
Who’s The Guest? Mike Caito is the owner and CEO of Management Action Programs, Inc. or MAP. As a visionary, nose-to-the-grindstone leader, his entrepreneurial roots go back to the early 1990s when he joined two parties in launching Restaurants on the Run. After 20 years, he scaled the business, which they sold in 2015, valuing at 12x EBITDA, and scaled 10 markets, 600 people, and $40 million in revenue.
Mike is also known as the “metrics guy” as he’s pretty big on data and uses it to measure progress and get results. He’s been a member of the Entrepreneur’s Organization for more than 20 years.
Highlights
- Why should you have a Plan B in business?
- Mike Cairo’s journey with MAP: How he came to do what he’s doing now
- The importance of a strategic plan and business playbook for growth
- What are the different kinds of systems to implement?
- Big wins and success of the MAP system in business
- How to start building a business system
- The benefits of having a MAP in your business
- Having a good mentality when running a business
- The power of entrepreneurship
- How to start implementing MAP
- Why should you start working with a business coach?
- The importance of leadership and goal-oriented thinking
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Mike Caito
- https://www.mapconsulting.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/managementactionprograms/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/map
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcaitomap
- https://www.instagram.com/mapcaito/
A company without a system is a company without a compass in a jungle. Implementing processes and systems within your business can help ensure success and allow for continuous growth.
In this episode, Steve Distante welcomes Verne Harnish to discuss how you can build systems in a business, even for startups. Verne talks about how having a system in place can help businesses scale and grow. He shares his own experiences in scaling successfully. Additionally, he narrates how he founded his companies, the world-renowned Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and Scaling Up, and how they have progressed over the years.
Who’s The Guest? Verne Harnish is a world-leading speaker, author, entrepreneur, and expert in the field of business growth and scaling. He founded the world-renowned Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and Scaling Up, a global executive education and coaching company with over 180 partners on six continents. With his experience and expertise in high demand, he chairs annual Growth Summits in North America, Europe, and Asia and continues to teach in the MIT-based executive program he founded. He is also a private investor in many scale-ups.
Highlights
- Why systems matters for Verne Harnish
- The Rockefeller Habits: How does it work as a system for entrepreneurs to scale up?
- The three biggest mistakes that startups make
- Power of letting go: How to become redundant and grow the value of your company
- Which can help you scale up: Focusing on the business or working in it?
- The benefits of systems in business
- The challenges of running your own systems
- What is the Process Accountability Chart?
- How you can start systemizing your business processes
- Scaling your business with the EO Platform
- Why should you start tracking the gross margin dollars per employee?
- The benefits of a high revenue per employee ratio
- Implementing metrics in business: How should you start?
- The power of a systematic approach to business growth with Ornish Scaling Up
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Verne Harnish
- https://scalingup.com/verne-harnish/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/verneharnish
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verne_Harnish
Is cryptocurrency the future of banking and currency? Why are more and more companies, including big ones like Tesla and Apple, now treating bitcoin as the currency of the future?
In this episode, Steve Distante welcomes bitcoin Expert Don Weidner, the founder of Formidable Ventures, an investment business built upon exponential technologies and aggressive growth. Don talks about how he invests in things that excite him and how cryptocurrency, in particular, helped his career and investments take off. He also shares the benefits of bitcoin for entrepreneurs, and why more and more companies are making the big switch and investments to cryptocurrency.
Who’s The Guest? Don Weidner is the founder of Formidable Ventures, an investment business built upon exponential technologies and aggressive growth. He’s actively consulting for a $30B financial exchange company and has been asked to speak about cryptocurrency, FinTech, and Bitcoin at different events such as the Global Investors Virtual Summit, World Economic Forum, and Seattle's Columbia Tower Club.
Don has been interviewed about his expertise in the field by the IEEE Spectrum, International Business Times, and Seattle Times to name a few. He has been quoted by Investors Business Daily and appeared in Luxe magazine and Seattle Metropolitan magazine.
Highlights
- How Don Weidner’s crypto career started
- Considering himself a crypto expert
- Crypto helping his career and investments take off
- Don’s career track and investments in technology
- The impact of technology on the future of work
- What the benefits of bitcoin for entrepreneurs are
- Bitcoin vs Blockchain: What is the difference and which is more stable?
- The best way to invest in bitcoin
- Is bitcoin the future of banking?
- What are the benefits of using cryptocurrency, especially in business?
- Seeing bitcoin as the currency of the future
- The future of bitcoin through an entrepreneur’s perspective
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Don Weidner
- https://formidable.io/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/donweidner
- https://twitter.com/donweidner
Steve Distante welcomes expert deal-maker, strategist, and attorney Corey Kupfer to discuss the importance of striking deals in the business. Corey talks about the EO 2030, an initiative to help diversify and value people of all backgrounds in business, as well as mastering the CDE in negotiations: Clarity, Detachment, and Equilibrium. Additionally, he explains how deals can help people become more clear-headed in their business dealings and why it is an important skill for entrepreneurs.
Who’s The Guest? With over 35 years of experience under his belt, Corey Kupfer is an expert deal-maker, strategist, attorney, and consultant. He runs his own New York-based law firm, Kupfer & Associates, PLLC, and is also the host of the #DealQuest Podcast where he interviews executives, entrepreneurs, and experts to share their stories of making deals.
Corey is also a co-founder and member of the Board of 1+1+1=ONE, an organization committed to using art and civic dialogue for positive social change in race relations and young women’s empowerment. He is a published author of the book Authentic Negotiating: Clarity, Detachment & Equilibrium – The Three Keys to True Negotiating Success & How to Achieve Them.
Highlights
- Corey’s commitment to diversity in business
- How EO 2030 helped diversify and value people of all backgrounds in business
- The importance of conversation about race
- What is the project on change makers and champions about and how does it promote social impact?
- How you can stay on top of business
- Creating and maintaining a personal brand
- Mastering CDE in negotiations: Clarity, Detachment, and Equilibrium
- The power of being detached in negotiations
- What are Corey’s proven negotiation techniques, strategies, and abilities, and how he uses them when dealing with others
- The importance of knowing your “WHY” in business deals
- What is Corey’s advice for startups who are seeking funding?
- The different ways to get funded as an entrepreneur
- What psychological preparations should you have during the business sales process?
- The Differentiators of a Successful Entrepreneur
- The importance of risk management for entrepreneurs and business leaders
- Why should you maintain good relationships in business negotiations?
- The power of a positive mindset in business
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Corey Kupfer
- https://www.coreykupfer.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/CoreyKupfer/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer
- https://www.instagram.com/coreykupfer
- https://twitter.com/coreykupfer
Jack Lane discusses his experiences as a producer on Broadway and the not-for-profit world. He describes the process of raising money for a show or project and the importance of involving co-producers in the process. He also talks about how he is now involved in bringing capital to Broadway shows, and how his goal is to help people believe in themselves and their stories.
Who’s The Guest? Jack Lane is the Co-Founder and Executive Producer of Stages St. Louis. He produced several top-rated shows on Broadway such as The Prom, The Play That Goes Wrong, The Humans, and Fun Home. He also won two Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Musical.
Highlights
- Jack Lane’s unique way to raise capital
- The importance of storytelling
- How a broadway show gets funded
- Making money thru broadway investments
- Pros and cons of proms
- Winning the prestigious Tony Awards
- Importance of building relationships in the entertainment industry
- Success of “The Prom”
- The global effect of “The Prom” and raising money from broadways
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Jack Lane
- https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jack-lane-492421
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9134796/
- https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jack-Lane/
- https://www.instagram.com/jackjlane/
In this episode, Steve Distante interviews Tripp Baird, co-founder and managing partner of The Builder's Fund. The Builder's Fund is a growth-stage private equity fund that invests in high-growth businesses that are trying to solve social and environmental problems. They also discuss the Impact Classification System, a tool used to help align a portfolio based on the business models within it and the sustainable development goals that they contribute to. Additionally, Tripp highlighted the vision of The Builder's Fund, which is to help solve the environmental and social challenges of our time through the profitable deployment of capital into more conscious businesses.
Who’s The Guest? Tripp Baird is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Builders where he also sits on the investment committee. Previously the founding principal of Partnership Capital Growth (PCG), he helped create top-quartile returns across four funds at PCG and North Castle Partners. His prior experience includes NCP, a leading consumer middle market private equity firm focused on the health/wellness markets, Bain & Company, and Goldman Sachs Global Equities Management.
Highlights
- What are builder funds?
- The importance of being certified as a B corporation in achieving sustainable development goals
- What’s the impact of investing in purpose-driven companies?
- The ideal company for The Builders Fund
- The benefits of operating experience in venture capital
- What are the areas of impact on the society and environment from the money deployed from The Builders Fund
- The impact of private equity on social enterprises
- How The Builders Fund communicate with their investors
- How the gratitude railroad can help people connect with others who are committed to making a difference in the world
- The benefits of capitalism and gratitude in business
- What the future of capital markets look like
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Tripp Baird
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-builders-fund
- https://www.thebuildersfund.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/trippbaird
Speaking as an expert in the field, Steve Distante welcomes Max Fleitmann, a serial entrepreneur and investor, to talk about how he got started in the field. Building businesses is not new for Max, having built his very first internet company at just 13 years old. He also discusses the role of fundraising when starting, as well as the different processes of raising capital without blowing up your business. Additionally, Max shares more about BaseTemplates and how it can help companies and entrepreneurs scale up their businesses.
Who’s The Guest? Max Fleitmann is a serial entrepreneur and investor who built his first internet project when he was just 13 years old. He is passionate about building tech companies and meeting amazing people. Max is also the founding partner of Wizard Ventures bought, built, and invested in great online businesses such as BaseTemplates, VCStack, PitchDeckHunt, and StartupandVC to name a few.
Highlights
- Who is Max Fleitmann?
- Germans as people who are taking calculated risks
- What Richmond View Ventures is and how are they different from other companies?
- The two types of founders raising capital
- BaseTemplates: What is the company all about?
- The role of fundraising in starting your own business
- What is the process of raising capital without blowing up your business
- Entrepreneurs are either simplifiers or multipliers: What’s the difference?
- How BaseTemplates help companies and why entrepreneurs love working with them
- Why systems matter, regardless of the business
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Max Fleitmann
- https://www.basetemplates.com/
- https://twitter.com/basetemplates
- https://www.maxfleit.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximilian-fleitmann/
- https://twitter.com/MaxFleit
As an entrepreneur, you're always looking for new challenges and ways to grow your business.
However, in the first few years as business owners start their business, they come up against different challenges. Some even harder than others are overcoming, resulting in almost 77% of new companies going out of business every year.
In this episode with Michael Gerber, we explore his journey as an entrepreneur. We also discuss the different transformations happening in business now and why entrepreneurs are creating equity, not income. Additionally, we examine the four different personalities of an entrepreneur and what a great result should be. Michael also shares more information about his book, The E-Myth Revisited, and how it provides insights that can help you transform your business and achieve success.
Who’s The Guest? Michael Gerber is a legend of entrepreneurship. He is the author of the mega-bestseller “The E-Myth Revisited” and 28 other business coaching books. Michael is also the co-founder and chairman of Michael E. Gerber Companies, a group of highly unique companies that is dedicated to creating world-class entrepreneurs and start-ups from every economy and industry. They help transform the way small business owners are growing their businesses for nearly three decades.
Highlights
- Guest spotlight: Who is Michael Gerber?
- Challenges business owners do over and over again
- The journey of being an entrepreneur and how his book,
- The E-Myth Revisited changed him
- Why entrepreneurs are creating equity, not income
- The different transformations happening in business now
- The four different personalities of an entrepreneur
- What a great result should be
Call to Action Join the Early Access List
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Michael Gerber
- https://www.michaelegerbercompanies.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelegerber
- https://www.facebook.com/MichaelEGerberCo/
- The E-Myth Revisited
Switching places with Pitch Decks expert Max Fleitmann, Steve Distante looks back on his entrepreneurial career and what drove him to the man he is today. He shares the different passion projects he has, especially the Cally Farms, and how they got started. Steve also defines what success means for him now and what tips he can give to people when it comes to storytelling.
Who’s The Guest? Max Fleitmann is a serial entrepreneur and investor who built his first internet project when he was just 13 years old. He is passionate about building tech companies and meeting amazing people. Max is also the founding partner of Wizard Ventures who bought, built, and invested into great online businesses such as BaseTemplates, VCStack, PitchDeckHunt, and StartupandVC to name a few.
Highlights
- Looking back on his entrepreneurial career, what drove Steve?
- Changes in power or motivation after changing to a more economic way of thinking to the impact investing
- What igniting impact is
- The initiatives that Steve is driving forward
- How Cally Farms started
- Defining success for himself in his project
- What are the tips Steve can give other people when it comes to storytelling?
Call to Action Join the Early Access List Learn more about Cally Farms!
Episode Resources
- Connect with Steve Distante
- https://pitchology.ai/
- https://joinvanderbilt.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistante
- https://twitter.com/Sdistante
- https://www.instagram.com/sdistante/
- Connect with Max Fleitmann
- https://www.basetemplates.com/
- https://twitter.com/basetemplates
- https://www.maxfleit.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximilian-fleitmann/
- https://twitter.com/MaxFleit