Before the A: Recent Episodes
John Siracusa
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who's startups are seeking their "A round" of financing. Before the A is created by veteran fintech podcast host John Siracusa, listen in as he uncovers what the founders are doing, why they're doing it now and who they're doing it with. This is the perfect show for you to subscribe to if you're looking for new deal flow or partnership opportunities. If you’re looking for stories on later stage fintech founders and the VCs who fund them subscribe to Bank On It podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio and, www.bankonitpodcast.com.
Requirements included in this post: 1. Microphone 2. Room (echo & background noise) 3. Computer 4. Internet
1.Minimum microphone requirement = Audio-Technica AT2005USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone.
Figure 1.0
Microphone guidelines for optimal audio:
It’s very important to make sure you hold the microphone at a 45 degree angle, maximum one inch away from your mouth. See figure 1.1
Figure 1.1
Make sure there’s a foam cover over the mic. See figure 1.2
Figure 1.2
You can purchase the microphone cover here.
Make sure you aren’t wearing any noisy clothing or jewelry like necklaces, bracelets or rings, fabric noises and jewelry clanging are picked up clearly by the microphone.
2.Room requirements:
A room with no echoes: Make sure you’re in a room with no echoes. You can self-test room echo by clapping in the area you’re going to record in. If the sound doesn’t just die-off instantly, you have room echoes. Room echoes are magnified by microphones, even the slightest echo will sound worse when picked up by the microphone. It’s required to record in rooms with floor carpet and lots of soft furniture such as cloth couches and a bed, without many smooth, hard surfaces, glass or windows.
Ways to make the room sound better:
If a smooth hard surface is present, cover it with a blanket or towel. This is including desks, flooring and steel/wood/plastic furniture.
Cover long bare walls by hanging towels or blankets in the middle of the wall
Put soft, cloth bags and pillows in each corner of the room.
If there’s a window in the room, keep the shades shut and hang a towel over the shade. If there’s noise coming in from outside. Try to use a different room without windows. If that’s not an option, put pillows in the windows to absorb some of the incoming sound and point the front (see figure 1.0) of the microphone away from the sound.
Shut the room door and put a towel on the floor between the floor and door bottom.
Try to avoid it, but if the only type of flooring options are wood or tiles, put an area rug right under where you’re recording. A few large towels or a heavy blanket will do as well.
If you have mover blankets hang them up directly around you on the left, right, front and most importantly directly behind you. Your mic is directional and will pick up sound directly in front of it (see figure 1.0) the front is the most sensitive area.
If all else fails and you still have very bad echoes you can always record with a heavy blanket over your head.
A room with no background noises. Background noises are easily picked up by professional microphones. If a light background noise is unavoidable you can reduce its effects by turning the front of the mic (see figure 1.0) away from the noise.
3.Computer requirements:
https://support.zencastr.com/en/articles/2775779-what-are-the-system-requirements-for-zencastr
4.Internet speeds:
https://support.zencastr.com/en/articles/2775733-how-do-i-know-if-my-internet-is-fast-enough
About this episode:
In this episode we have David Snider and Catherine Prentke English, co-founders of Harness Wealth.
Harness Wealth helps clients achieve their financial impact by connecting affluent people with the right technology and adviser.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John, is the host of the ‘Bank On It’ podcast recorded onsite in Wall Street at Carpenter Group, and 'Before the A' podcast recorded onsite in Flat Iron at Barclays/Techstars Rise NYC. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry. Stay in the fintech know by subscribing to ‘Bank On It’, ‘Before the A’
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have Jeff Myers, co-founder and co-CEO of Gatsby.
Gatsby, is an options trading application that makes options trading available to the masses.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John, is the host of the ‘Bank On It’ podcast recorded onsite in Wall Street at Carpenter Group, and 'Before the A' podcast recorded onsite in Flat Iron at Barclays/Techstars Rise NYC. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry. Stay in the fintech know by subscribing to ‘Bank On It’, ‘Before the A’
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have co-founders, Sean Merat, CEO, Sohrab Merat, CPO and Vahid Mirjalili, COO of owl.co.
Owl is a data aggregator/analyzer that helps Financial Institutions know their customers and get deep insights.
This episode was recorded live onsite during the Canada Fintech Forum.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John Siracusa is the host of the twice-weekly “Bank On It” podcast. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry.
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter or on Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have Matt Beecher, CEO of Vault.
Vault is a software platform to address the financial burden of student loan debt and can be utilized as a tool for employers with the option to make contributions to employees’ debt repayment.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John Siracusa is the host of the twice-weekly “Bank On It” podcast. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry.
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter or on Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have Paul Kesserwani, co-founder and CEO of Cushion.
Cushion, automatically negotiates bank fees and credit card interest on behalf of consumers.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John Siracusa is the host of the twice-weekly “Bank On It” podcast. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry.
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter or on Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have Mark Casady, founder and general partner of Vestigo Ventures.
Vestigo Ventures is a Seed and Early-stage FinTech focused VC firm.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John Siracusa is the host of the twice-weekly “Bank On It” podcast. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry.
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter or on Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have Zac Sheffer, co-founder and CEO of Elsen.
Elsen, is a platform-as-a-service company for large financial institutions that allows anyone to harness their data to solve the most complex problems.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John Siracusa is the host of the twice-weekly “Bank On It” podcast. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry.
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter or on Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have Quentin Coolen, co-founder and CEO of Waffle.
Waffle, is a technology company, based in the center of NYC, dedicated to reinventing insurance and improving value for consumers.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John Siracusa is the host of the twice-weekly “Bank On It” podcast. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry.
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter or on Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have Stuart Jones Jr, founder and CEO of Sigma Ratings.
Sigma Ratings ("Sigma") is an AI-powered non-credit rating agency. Developed at MIT, Sigma focuses on quantifying company-level non-credit risks such as management, governance and financial crime compliance in high-growth emerging/frontier markets.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John Siracusa is the host of the twice-weekly “Bank On It” podcast. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry.
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter or on Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have Henry Yoshida, founder and CEO of Rocket Dollar.
Rocket Dollar, offers an Enhanced Retirement Account (ERA), which allows the 80 million Americans with more than $50k to invest in alternative assets such as rental properties, startups, other private companies, and more, without losing the tax savings of an IRA or 401(k).
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John Siracusa is the host of the twice-weekly “Bank On It” podcast. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry.
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter or on Medium
About this episode:
In this episode we have Nathan Stevenson, founder and CEO of ForwardLane.
ForwardLane, is highly focused on supercharging the relationship manager in wealth and asset management by providing them with personalized insights for their clients.
About this show:
Before the A, is a show dedicated to telling the stories of fintech founders who’s startups are seeking their “A round” of financing.
You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on iTunes, Google Play, Overcast and Spotify.
About the host:
John Siracusa is the host of the twice-weekly “Bank On It” podcast. He’s a highly sought after fintech, VC and financial services industry enthusiast and connector. He’s in the center of the fintech ecosystem, keeping current with the ever-innovating industry.
Follow John on LinkedIn, Twitter or on Medium