Coffee & Liquidity: Recent Episodes

Alderaan Ventures Media

Join us every week as host Ben Samuels helps demystify wealth creation strategies, increase listeners‘ financial literacy, exposes false narratives in the capital markets, and reframes ”the American Dream” in digestible, actionable chunks. Our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to step out and truly do their own thing but can still leverage their networks, etc. to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths, it’s time we talk about it!

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Today we are excited to have Terrance Craft in our show. Terrance is a Videographer & Editor for Oil & Gas Companies, Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners. He is also the founder of Crafty Communication, a video production company for all of your business needs. “You Record the Footage, We Can Edit It.”

Video marketing is an important part of any business's marketing strategy. It is a highly engaging way to market your brand and sell your products. In this episode, we will be discussing the basics of video marketing and why you should contact Crafty Communications for your business. Some key nugget Video Marketing Essentials for Businesses that will be discussed include:

  • Understanding how to use video marketing in your business plan;
  • What it takes to create high-quality videos;
  • Importance of considering your target audience and what they want from a video;
  • Choosing the right platform to share your videos on - YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, TikTok, etc.

Tune in!

During this episode, you will learn about;

[00:33] Terrance’s backstory and his video production journey

[02:38] Terrance’s process from meeting a client to delivering the final output

[05:14] The right questions to ask a client for better results

[07:20] Different videos for different target audiences

[09:20] Crafty Communications market share

[10:30] Terrance’s video marketing’s current overview and future projections

[12:34] What Crafty Communications has in store for you in 2022

[14:24] About Terrance’s two current movies, he has filmed

[17:55] Why LinkedIn and Facebook is their best marketing platforms

[21:19] Is TikTok good for video marketing?

[23:56] How to reach out and connect with Terrace

[25:00] How video marketing is expected to take shape in the next ten years

[30:00] Terrance’s future goals

[32:01] Advice to new content creators who are seeking an audience in social media

[37:23] Ending show and calls to action

Notable Quotes * “Meeting customer expectations is the most important ingredient in sales.” * “Sometimes, you are your own biggest critic.” * “Good things take time to develop.”

Connect With Terrance Craft Website: https://craftyok.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrance-craft-mpa-821b2372/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrancecraft25/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmazhxoQq6UJzUoKT5IheTg

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Today we are excited to have Mark Patton on the show. Mark is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the oil & energy industry. He is skilled in technology development, recycling, water treatment, environmental awareness, air quality, and environmental services.

Mark has over 25 years of experience developing, implementing, and operating water treatment technologies. Fifteen years of his expertise was used in running his own company that owned and operated a fixed treatment facility and multiple mobile treatment systems working both nationally and internationally.

Mark earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 1985. He also holds two patents for produced water management. Find out more about oilfield water treatment.

Tune in!

During this episode, you will learn about;

[01:18] What’s in for you in today’s episode

[02:20] Who’s Mark Patton and his journey into oilfield water treatment

[03:55] How the market of water in the oilfields has grown over the last decade

[08:21] Meanings of TDS, TTS, and PPM in water treatment

[09:48] Acceptable health levels of TDS and TTS in drinking water

[12:09] Water treatment operators have differences in their decisions

[18:25] Barriers to entry on oilfield water treatment market, and how to navigate

[23:06] Why Hydroxonic has not rolled out offshore operations

[29:07] Various water legislations and their impact on water treatment within oilfields

[34:24] Is it possible to produce water on a large scale from oilfields?

[43:37] Water recycling on financial impacts

[46:34] Oilfield water future market overview at the macro level

[53:24] Did ConocoPhilips buy Shell?

[55:10] Episode wrap up and calls to action

Notable Quotes * “Know your lanes. You cannot be all things to all people.”

Connect With Mark Website: https://www.hydrozonix.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-patton-98a02415/

About the show Bringing you a podcast dedicated to oilfield water and shale production ranging from academic & capital to field ops and more. Water is an underappreciated asset in the oilfield; let’s talk about it.

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Welcome to today’s episode, where Chris Powers joins us. Chris is the founder & Executive Chairman at Fort Capital, LP- Real Estate Private Equity, and the host of The Fort Podcast.

Chris is a serial entrepreneur with more than 17 years of real estate development and investment experience. He founded Fort Capital in 2005. To date, the company has invested over $1.5B in Class B industrial, commercial, multifamily, student housing, and residential / land development projects throughout Texas.

Fort Capital is a forward-thinking investment firm focusing on real estate and private businesses. “We look beyond the usual, and while we seek to provide our investors with superior financial results - our greatest returns are improved lives. Our team is our competitive advantage as we seek meaningful work and relationships.”

Tune in!

During this episode, you will learn about;

[00:50] Chris’ experiences with marketing Real Estate on the Twitter

[04:42] How Fort Capital came into being

[06:41] His inspiration to focus on class B industrial real estate

[11:09] Property management decisions and tips

[13:44] Hospitality-driven nature is the next big thing of real estate

[15:42] Industrial market overview and changes you need to know

[17:57] Changes in demand & supply of industrial real estate during the pandemic

[22:28] The winds of change in the valuation of industrial RE deals

[28:27] How inflation has affected underwriting in real estate

[31:13] How you can connect with Chris

[33:06] The company’s core values and how he instills that culture in the team

[37:14] Episode wrap up

Notable Quotes * “Real estate is a by-product of nature, and how humans are doing it.” * “Inflation makes the building of next infrastructure more expensive.”

Connect With Chris Powers Website: http://www.fortcapitallp.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fortworthchris

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispowersjr/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fort-with-chris-powers/id1410549811

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Tim Kotzman is the founder and CEO of Jubilee Royalty, one of the world's first mineral companies to integrate ESG considerations into their investment framework. He joins us to talk about the oil and gas valuation process, ESG, current dals in the market, and so much more interesting topics in the industry.

Timestamps

[01:09] About Tim Kotzman

[02:06] Valuation process in the market

[03:40] Educating potential investors in the energy business

[05:02] How heavy is the ESG now?

[06:50] Driving more profits per dollar within the upstream space

[09:336] Liquidity in the next 5-10 years

[13:20] Comparing and contrasting between mineral royalties and wind and solar developments

[15:18] Current deal flows in the market

[19:21] Which directions are the mineral deals heading?

[24:45] Bitcoin mining and blockchain interface with the energy

[27:05] Is crypto popular in New York City?

[30:50] Investing in the minerals and royalties

[37:50] Educating the public about the industry

Notable Tim Kotzman Quotes * A lot of crazy to think that you’re gonna be an expert in every base and all the time but just try to be an expert on everything. * The growth in production might come from more of the private companies because they’re not under pressure as the public companies. * The reality is you’re not going to buy a lot of deals when oils are below $10-$20. And you may/may not buy that many deals when oil is over $100. * When oil is more stable, it’s actually better for the mineral acquisition market. * The city is coming back. The country is coming back, and the price of oil is going up to the right.

Resources Connect with Tim Kotzman

Timothy J. Kotzman | LinkedIn

Jubilee Royalty: Diversified Mineral Investing

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Keith Stelter is an internationally experienced oil and gas professional and works as West Texas Business Development Manager with ARC Energy, a position he successfully marketed himself for on LinkedIn. He’s now a 'LinkedIn celebrity' with over 200k profile viewers every month.

In this episode, Keith shares how he started and worked himself to become a LinkedIn influencer and marketing specialist. He also shares some insights into the oil and gas industry, and the opportunities in the industry for investors to tap into.

Timestamps

[01:20] Becoming a LinkedIn celebrity

[04:07] Pay if forward Friday

[05:45] How to use LinkedIn to build a network

[13:07] Ways to build wealth

[23:12] Timing and executing an idea.

[25:38] Platforms to invest in the oil and gas industry

[30:42] Data monetization models for natural gas

[34:28] Keith Stelter’s contact details

[38:02] The future of the oil field markets

Notable Keith Stelter Quotes From The Episode * It all started when I was just trying to get a job. Trying to get noticed. Tring to make the phone ring after COVID-19 hit me like a lot of other people. And it kind of moved into something a little bit more and now I have great clients. * You get back what you put into it. A great post isn’t going to be a great post if you don’t try and support anybody else’s great post. * If you want to build wealth, buy things that make you money. * There’s always that opportunity to find something in today that you can grow for tomorrow.

Resources Connect With Keith Stelter

Keith Stelter | LinkedIn

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Troy Brazell is the CEO of Optima Sports Group, the top sports analytics company primarily working with professional sports teams, sports agents through high school athletes. Optima also work with top data companies on data integrity, identifying better data points more indicative of actual performance. He is also the Exclusive Distributor of HydroFLOW water conditioners, which are powered by the patented and eco-friendly Hydropath Technology, which were originally designed to treat scale-related problems in residential plumbing systems and appliances. Troy was also the CEO of Prime Victus sports analytics. Tune in to learn more about Optima Sports group and how they have impacted the sports and E-sports world.

Timestamps

[03:15] What Optima Sports Group does and how it comes to life

[04:46] How sports and E-sports professionals are utilizing the sport analytics

[08:10] Objective versus a subjective piece of Optima analytics

[09:53] Things that high school athletes can do to improve on and off the pitch

[11:32] The transition of analytics of sports to E-sports

[14:13] Areas in sports and E-sports that someone may have an opportunity to step into

[18:52] The E-sports bill that Nevada has approved

[23:07] Are there daily fantasy sports for E-sports?

[26:20] The evolution in sports betting

[31:03] The Optima Sports Group bigger picture

[40:00] Optima competitors

Notable quotes * There are no silver bullets in performance. However, Optima is as close as you can get because we are identifying the key resources of the individual athletes to see how well they can perform given their tasks. * When you have big groups chasing you, then you are doing the right thing. * Betting is a new way to engage fans.

Connect with Troy Brazell: Website: https://optimaanalytics.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-brazell-723a38/

Optima Sports Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optima-sports-analytics/

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Derrick joins us to share about ways to leverage LinkedIn as a networking platform, equipment, and rental business in the oil and gas industry, and how you can start your side hustle.

Timestamps

[05:13] About our new podcast, The Why Drive Podcast

[06:07] About Derrick Clark

[07:30] Derrick’s background in the equipment rental industry

[09:15] Using LinkedIn as a networking platform

[13:10] Ways to grow your network

[16:24] Experience with Epic solutions through COVID-19

[23:17] The future of LinkedIn

[28:17] Modulating the workload

[33:36] Keys to starting a side hustle

[37:36] Going through the tribulations and coming through them

[44:15] Connect with Derrick Clark

[46:04] The Why Drive Podcast

Notable Derrick Clark Quotes From The Episode * I’m a big advocate of networking. What I found over the years is that it’s not what you know but who you know. * I have spent most of my career in the oil and gas industry and unfortunately, I don’t think any other industry does as well the job of giving back and trying and working with the community. * It’s a mindset to become an entrepreneur. It’s not for everybody. * I wouldn’t have just branched out and done this all by myself. I started with partnerships, so it was a little easier.

Resources Connect With Derrick Clark

Derrick Clark | LinkedIn

Growing Your Business Through Networking Networking is one of the most preferred ways of getting clients for any business. Regardless of your area of specialty, you need to keep finding the connections that are relevant and crucial to help you grow your business by turning them into clients. LinkedIn is one of the best platforms businesses and companies in all sectors, including the oil and gas industry have used to market themselves and network with like-minded individuals.

In this episode, Ben Samuels interviews Derrick Clark, the sales and marketing consultant at Epic Site Solutions LLC. Epic Site Solutions provides construction equipment, heavy machinery, and crane needs for customers in the Permian Basin. The company exclusively represents Anderson Machinery and Kaige Kubota, two locally owned companies in the Permian Basin. Derrick is an experienced Account Manager with vast knowledge in the energy industry. Through his networking skill such as communication and cold calling, he has been able to close deals for various projects in the company. Besides, he is also the membership chair for the Permian Basin Association of Pipeliners, whose mission is to advance pipeline engineering, operations, safety practices, and education for the mutual benefit of its members.

We interviewed Derick on a number of topics including oil and gas, networking through LinkedIn, and how you can grow your network. Here’s what Derrick had to say.

Using LinkedIn as a Networking Platform

“I’m a big advocate of networking. What I found over the years is that it’s not what you know but who you know.”

We connected with Derrick through LinkedIn a few months ago. The platform has proven to be effective in connecting like-minded professionals whether it’s for growing a business or sharing tips and trends around different industries. Building a network requires some useful tips that Derrick Shares with us:

  • Start with your local networks. You can do this by inviting your contacts to connect with you on the platform.
  • Attend communities that are usually organized on the platform to help you learn from each other.
  • Leverage your unique network. If you have been building your network for some time now, probably you have noticed a group of connections on the platform. These represent a unique market opportunity on the platform and are a great place to seek new connections.
  • Join LinkedIn groups. Although several groups have been affected by spammy content, there are still plenty of them out there that can offer great value to members. All you have to perform is good research and choose the best ones to join.

COVID-19 Experience with Epic Solutions COVID-19 effects affected the majority of sectors and businesses and Derrick’s Epic Solutions was no exception. He says they shut down offices and in place of it, opened sales and consulting for companies that he represents. He had to build a network on LinkedIn to keep his businesses running even during the adversity.

“It really went negative and nothing really worked. I decided to build and network on LinkedIn.”

He says he had to work consistently to ensure the pipeline keeps running. He even used the time to make follow-ups on past deals that didn’t go through.

The good thing about networking is that you can work with several industries at once. This is how Derrick found himself building his own side hustle. He says that having a growth mindset and mentality are the keys to starting a side hustle, and can also be crucial in going through challenges in business.

Tune in to listen to the whole episode as Derrick shares his insights around other topics in the oil and gas industry, and about Epic Site Solutions.

Connect With Derrick Clark

Derrick Clark | LinkedIn

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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During this episode, you will learn about;

[00:17] What’s in for you in today’s episode

[01:50] Meet Braeden Windham & hear his backstory into real estate investment

[05:17] Meaning of “You are the average of the five people you hang around with.”

[06:49] If you are the SMARTEST among your friends, find another group to hang with

[09:13] Braeden’s mindset & routine

[14:27] About Well Capital and how it started

[17:02] Asset size that Well Capital targets

[17:60] Real estate market overview in the last 18 months and future projections

[20:12] Well’s Real Estate underwriting process

[23:47] Their motivation behind setting part of their income to curb the water crisis

[26:56] How to reach out and connect with Braeden

[27:56] The future of Well Capital

[29:27] Key takeaway tips for people who want to invest in real estate

[35:39] 'Where I see myself going in the next ten years'

[42:05] Braeden’s thoughts on Real Estate Mastermind Groups

[47:36] Ending show and calls to action

Notable Quotes * “You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with.” * “If you want to be successful, don’t only hang with like-minded people, but also people ahead of you.” * “Dirty water has killed more people than all the wars in history combined.” * “Be an expert in one thing, and money will locate you.”

Resources Mentioned: 1. Bigger Pockets Real Estate Podcast

Connect With Braeden Website: https://wellcapitalinvest.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/braeden-windham-b25069161/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/braedenwindham/

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Please subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review. We appreciate you, and your support enables us to keep bringing you the goods on the show!

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The shift in the supply chain and inventory management is causing the global market to restructure its macro and liquidity processes. The market is undergoing a transformation due to the gradual rise of inflation and price shifts, despite the government’s efforts to stimulate the economy with aggressive monetary policies to keep inflation low. The liquidity revolution is happening at a rapid pace and is one of the most significant changes to how the global financial markets operate within recent history.

Join the conversation with Mark Rossano as he shares about the shift of global value chains revolutions in macroeconomics, supply chain, and liquidity in the US, China, and the global market to help you build your perspective and prepare better. Mark is the founder and CEO of C6 capital holdings. He started the company back in 2019 as a private equity that invests in energy and infrastructure to offer different types of technology in the space. They also provide consulting services in the macro-economic, energy, and geopolitical world.

Tune in!

During this episode, you will learn about;

[00:01] What’s in for you in today’s episode

[00:48] Mark’s company C6 capital holdings and what they deliver in the space

[03:23] The shift in the supply chain and inventory and what to expect

[06:37] The lessons that people have learned and the models they’re adjusting towards

[08:15] China’s position in the domestic supply chain and the global macro scale

[11:30] The recent price crackdown from China domestic tech companies

[13:09] Why Chinese economy is fragile and in constant pull from liquidity

[16:29] What will happen to China’s economy if they pull on Taiwan to replace the US

[19:45] China’s strategic move in Africa, and what it means from a global macro perspective view

[22:54] The competition between what China and US offer to the global market liquidity

[26:50] How people can leverage the opportunities available in the domestic market

[31:51] Commodity price, inflation trends, and the inventory problem

[37:10] Cycling out of growth and getting into value for a solid business model

[40:21] The business cycle and why people need to open up to foster new ideas

[43:22] The unprecedented amount of liquidity and capital in the private sector

[45:31] The sweet spot for investments in the privately-held gas company

[47:58] Sale revolution and the struggle to build domestic crude to bring importations to an equilibrium

[51:30] How to reach out and connect with Mark

Notable Quotes * “We’ve to go backward before we can go forward.” * “The natural guess prices have nothing to do with manual liquidity in the balance sheet, the fact is that we underinvested” * “If the market goes down, it will sell you in and you’ve to post collateral or they’re going to get your collateral.” * “You’ve to cycle out of growth into value to build a solid business model.” * “There are a lot of opportunities but we’ve been so scared to let the business cycle work and rebirth.”

Connect With Mark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-rossano-6a17419/

Email: mrosano@c6capitalholdings.com

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Robert Hefner is the Founder and Writer of Hefner Energy, which promotes the responsible, sustainable development of our global energy resources to lift nearly 1 billion people out of poverty- the most significant issue facing the world, according to the United Nations. It was founded in 2021 to combat the increasingly destructive mischaracterizations of climate change and provide energy expertise on energy policy. He is also the Founder of Hashpower that powers decentralized finance. Tune in to learn more about the American dream and how you can build wealth as a middle-class person.

Timestamps

[03:01] Roberts favorite verse in the Bible

[04:54] The article on building family and wealth

[09:15] The capital structure that we live in

[14:47] The social Dilemma documentary on Netflix

[21:50] The American dream

[22:03] The middle-class lifestyle

[23:21] The consequences of the financial conditions in America

[28:21] The most financial socialist president

[37:38] The big lie perpetuated upon Western democracy

[41:56] Where the energy business should focus efforts on, to drive value in the right direction.

[55:28] Things people should do to make money

Notable quotes * Faith is not blind. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. * In the age of information, it is so easy for us to create these echo chambers to hear and gain confirmation around what we want to believe. * The whole American dream is to have a single-owner income that they can afford a middle-class lifestyle. * Oil and gas always do better under Democratic administrations because they restrict supply. * The biggest lie ever perpetrated upon Western Democracy is the idea that climate change is an existential threat. * To be successful, you don’t have to be the smart guy at all. The world is full of smart people who are worthless in entrepreneurship. They think it through a thousand different ways before they make a decision. Just go out there and be a doer.

Connect with Robert Hefner: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberthefnerv/

Website: http://www.hefnerenergy.com/

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Mike Umbro is an entrepreneur and investor in the oil and gas industry, and environmental entrepreneur, and a principal at FieldView Capital, a boutique investment bank providing specialized services to clients in the energy sector. He is also the vice president of corporate development at RL Environmental Inc. provides full-spectrum liquid waste processing to oil and gas operators. Mike joins us to discuss the state of the oil and gas industry in California, opportunities to invest, and lots of advice for those who want to get started in the industry.

Timestamps

[01:25] Mike Umbro’s background

[03:33] How are California’s regulations on the industry

[05:36] Production stats

[07:39] About FieldView Capital

[08:43] Selling produced water in California

[12:23] Opportunities to invest in oil and gas

[15:25] Umbro’s business model

[16:37] Advice from Mexican Gas Association

[18:03] Timing the exit and entry right

[20:38] Advice for startups

[23:10] California’s oil and gas landscape

[32:50] Bill Gate’s Report and predictions of the industry

[36:49] Water beneficial re-use

[42:53] Connect with Mike Umbro

Notable Quotes From The Episode * What we’re seeing from the federal government now, I feel like the Californian playbook is going to impact those in West Texas. * If I didn’t have this oil field project with my partner and I wasn’t so excited about that, I think now would be a really interesting time for raising funds to go after certain things that are long-term. * Don’t put any money into it that you can’t afford to never see again. * I found value in focusing on my projects in addition to different agreements with different environmental service companies that I work for on other consulting agreements.

Resources Connect With Mike Umbro

Mike Umbro | LinkedIn

California’s Oil & Gas Industry is a Gem of Opportunities While Texas is known to be the major player in the oil and gas industry in United States, entrepreneurs and investors in other states have seized the vast opportunities lying in other states as well. We interviewed Mike Umbro about the state of the oil and gas industry in California, the regulations and how they impact the players, and different opportunities to invest.

Mike Umbro is an entrepreneur and investor in the oil and gas industry, an environmental entrepreneur, and a Principal at FieldView Capital. FieldView Capital is a boutique investment bank that provides specialized services to customers in the energy sector. The company has partnered with entrepreneurs to provide business strategy and corporate development to assist in growing and creating long-term value by supporting clients’ business strategies and advising clients on general financial matters.

Mike Umbro’s Background Born and raised in San Diego, Mike came into the oil and gas industry in 2006, working for a by-side magazine acquisition firm. His job was to dial for production, sourcing, upstream assets all over Texas and Oklahoma.

When the 2014-16 downturn hit, he went back to further his study in Energy Business.

California’s oil and gas industry state Mike says a lot of oil fields in California were discovered in the 1890s. 10-20% of the state’s production is from hydraulically fractured wells. The governor is now going after steam injections to cut a lot of production, a move that may affect those in West Texas.

“What we’re seeing from the federal government now, I feel like the Californian playbook is going to impact those in West Texas.”

Mike says they are targeting a zone about 1200 feet for steam flood or have 120 producers and 70 injection steam. They are also looking forward to doing some shallow wells like 800 feet.

The Opportunities For many years, producers have been selling produced water back to water districts to use in farming and agriculture. However, the exciting part is that California’s water can’t be cleaned up for use in agriculture or water banking to help alleviate the drought situation in the state.

The flip side is, you could probably make the argument that the volume of produced water is fairly small. So, with the super dry climate (6 inches of rain), you can use the produced water for dust control.

“In the long term, there’s a lot of opportunity to use produced water in California.”

Mike also says there’s a huge opportunity to do better in terms of waste handling and recycling to minimize oil going to the land.

Mike’s big Advice Having worked with the Mexican Gas Association, Mike says one big takeaway from them is that when it’s really good, don’t buy anything unless it’s with cash. There’s no need to put yourself into debt.

He also advises investors and entrepreneurs to never put any money into something that they can’t afford to never see again.

He advises startups to continue betting on themselves and learn a new skill set when they have the opportunity.

Listen to the whole episode and connect with Mike Umbro on LinkedIn:

Connect With Mike Umbro

Mike Umbro | LinkedIn

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Vincent Lam and Sean Huang are the Co-founders of Matidor, the ultimate location visualization and data collaboration tool for businesses. It is also the only software solution that combines geospatial data with team collaboration. Vincent Lam was the Head of Product and Director at Loqus, a location-based AR platform that empowers users to visualize and interact with visual objects in real-life locations with accurate dimensions and attributes. Sean Huang was the Head of Business Development and Director of Locus and, Co-founder of EstPal, a technology company, aiming to disrupt the automotive marketplace. In this episode, Vincent and Sean talk about Y-combinator, the best startup accelerator, the importance of annual recruiting revenue in a business-to-business company, and the importance of social media in a business. Tune in to learn more about Matidor and Y Combinator.

Timestamps

[01:54] Vincent’s background and the genesis of Matidor GIS

[04:24] How long has Matidor been in the market, and what does it address?

[07:02] Y Combinator, the best startup accelerator

[15:32] The importance of Annual Recruiting Revenue in a business-to-business company

[17:15] How the Silicon Valley ecosystem is different from the rest

[23:06] Spending money as opposed to profit

[27:26] The size of the team in Matidor

[33:33] Other use cases for the Matidor platform that has nothing to do with energy and environment

[41:44] The importance of social media in a business

  • Y Combinator is the best accelerator. They are the first in the market with an accelerator model.
  • One thing about Y Combinator is that their model makes something people want. So, they want you to focus on what makes your business successful and keep building towards that.
  • The matrix that defines a successful business-to-business company in the very early stage is how much revenue they have and how long it took them to reach that revenue stage.
  • No matter what stage of company you are in, spending a lot of money in the beginning before you have a product market is suicidal for a startup.
  • If you don’t know what you are keeping track of, if you don’t have a product that people are engaging on, you are just burning money.

Connect with Vincent Lam and Sean Huang: Website: https://matidor.com/

Vincent LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamvincent/?originalSubdomain=ca

Sean LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-huang/?originalSubdomain=ca

Vincent Lam and Sean Huang: Matidor and Y Combinator

“If you don’t know what you are keeping track of. If you don’t have a product that people are engaging on, you are just burning money at the end of the day.”

For ages, companies have been struggling with decision making, efficiency, complex relationships between internal teams, vendors, clients and, partners. Luckily, Matidor has come up with solutions to all these problems. It is the only software solution with built-in GIS functionality, making it easy for technical and non-technical users to manage and share geospatial information.

“The matrix that defines successful business-to-business company in the very early stage is how much revenue they have and how long it took them to reach to that revenue stage.”

Co-founders Vincent Lam and Sean Huang have known each other for many years but have only decided to go into business together in 2018. Vincent was the Head of Product and Director of Loqus, a location-based AR platform that empowers users to visualize and interact with virtual objects in real-life locations with accurate dimensions and attributes. Loqus provides better contextual awareness to surrounding, increase on-site efficiency and reduces safety risks.

Sean Huang is the Head of Business Development and Director of Loqus. He was the Co-Founder of EstPal, a technology company aiming to disrupt the automotive marketplace. When an accident occurs, the platform allows drivers to reach multiple body shops from the palm of their hands. Sean was also the Co-Founder and CEO of Morfus Mixed Reality, responsible for all marketing, strategic partnerships, business development, sales, and investor relations.

Matidor Matidor is a new team collaboration platform that combines intuitive portfolio management with robust, user-friendly mapping. Matidor makes every day more productive and successful for teams working on map information, visual project planning, more intelligent data management, great collaboration, and secure and easy sharing.

“Nothing breaks the power of handshake.”

Roles

  • Create a standardized outreach for current and future clients and coordinate its implementation across sales channels, client management, and marketing and communication.
  • Prospects and close relationships with key target clients.
  • Monitor the strategies and processes across the revenue cycle from customer acquisition to engagement of success.
  • Develop and implement robust sales management processes- pipeline, account planning and, proposals.

How long has Matidor been in the market? Having seen the need for better GIS and collaboration software in the field services and space, Vincent and Sean decided to leave their previous roles and bring their unique skills and experience together to form Matidor. It was formed in 2018, ever since it has grown from a humble, Vancouver-based startup to a promising tech disruptor that has already been recognized for its growth, investment, and market breakthrough potential.

Y Combinator Y Combinator is the best startup accelerator. They provide seed funding for startups.

Seed funding is the earliest stage of venture funding. It pays your expenses while you’re getting started. They make small investments in return for small stakes in the companies they fund.

“One of the reasons we really wanted to go into Y Combinator is because of the resources, getting mentorship, and working with the best of the best.”

What happens at Y Combinator? The first thing they do is work with startups on their ideas. Since they are hackers and have spent a lot of time figuring out what people want, Y Combinator can see pretty clearly the direction in which a small idea should be expanded. The second thing is helping founders deal with investors and acquirers.

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

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Follow Ben on Twitter

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SHOW SPONSORS: Alderaan Ventures Affiliate Partners

Please subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review. We appreciate you, and your support enables us to keep bringing you the goods on the show!

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Collin Placke is a petroleum engineer and real estate investor and entrepreneur who began investing in single-family rentals to help smooth some of the up and downs of the oil and gas industry. Today, his focus is on large 100+ unit apartment buildings and has done close to 2000 doors across the Southern Eastern US in Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama. Collin is also the creator and host of the Rigs to Real Estate podcast that seeks to give back to the industry and help oil and gas professionals set their first foot in investing in real estate.

Timestamps

[02:28] Collin Placke’s background in the oil and gas industry

[03:27] Why real estate is a strong bet in the market now

[06:33] Preparing for bad times

[09:35] Networking for real estate investors

[11:00] Keys to success in real estate

[14:11] Mistakes to avoid when starting

[18:53] Skill transfer from oil and gas into real estate

[20:36] About Rigs Real Estate podcast

[22:36] Buying the first property

[23:09] Mass exodus to urban areas and investment

[33:08] Fundrise and micro-investment platforms

[41:02] Finding a good real estate CPA

[42:41] Real estate mastermind group

[44:53] Collin Placke’s why drive

[49:48] The future of the oil and gas industry

[51:54] Collin Placke’s contacts

  • Fall in love with finding a solution to the problem. Don’t fall in love with an industry solution.
  • The point is to be doing things when times are good to be better prepared when times are bad.
  • You’re going to think about something that can be passive, can create income, and have passion for it. Otherwise, you’ll burn out.
  • Your network is your net worth
  • You’re gonna make mistakes when you get started. You just have to learn from them and keep going forward.

Resources Connect with Collin Placke

Rigs to Real Estate

(1) Collin Placke | LinkedIn

Is Real Estate a Strong Bet in the Current Market? People are talking about cryptocurrency and blockchain for the most part of their investment ideas, forgetting about one of the most profitable investments, real estate. But with real estate has been around for a long time now, is it still a good bet in the current market? To find out more, we interviewed Collin Placke, the owner of Rigs to Real Estate podcast that is focused on giving back to the industry and helping oil and gas professionals set their first foot in investing in real estate. He gives reasons why he thinks real estate is still a big bet in the current market, networking for real estate investors, and the keys to success in the industry.

Collin Placke is a petroleum and real estate investor and entrepreneur. He began investing in single-family rentals to help smooth the ups and downs of the oil and gas industry. To date, Collin he has done close to 2000 doors across the southeastern US in Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama with his specialty being on large 100+ unit apartment buildings. He still also works full-time as a production engineer for Delaware Asset Company.

Preparing For Bad Times “The point is to be doing things when times are good to be better prepared when times are bad.”

Colin says you need to get control of your own finances first. You shouldn’t be looking at investments until you have control of your own finances. To take control of your finances, you need to live within your means.

After getting control of your finances, he advises that you find something that can earn you money while you’re asleep and things that are not going to be tied to commodity prices. He also emphasizes diversifying your investments instead of putting them all in one basket.

“You’re going to think about something that can be passive, can create income, and have passion for it. Otherwise, you’ll burn out.”

Keys to success in real estate Focusing on your passion makes the whole thing not feel like work. Network with people who have done what you want to invest in and get their insights. You can also pay a mentor to guide you through.

Colin advises real estate investors to network through social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Join groups and conversations with people having similar goals.

“Your network is your net worth.”

On mistakes you need to avoid when starting, he says that you need to know if real estate is for you or not for you. You can ask yourself these questions to find out.

  • What are your monthly cash flow goals?
  • Where is your time best spent?

Real estate is not for you if you haven’t taken care of finances also.

Collin says that you’re going to make mistakes when you’re started. What will bring the difference is whether you will learn from them and keep going forward.

“The biggest mistake is not getting started at all. You could really start with tow of three things. (Education, time, money).”

Connect with Collin Placke

Rigs to Real Estate

(1) Collin Placke | LinkedIn

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

YouTube

Alderaan Ventures

Follow Ben on Twitter

Alderaan Ventures Substack

SHOW SPONSORS: Alderaan Ventures Affiliate Partners

Please subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review. We appreciate you, and your support enables us to keep bringing you the goods on the show!

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Mason Moreland is the Deputy Project Manager at SWCA Environmental Consultants that provide clients with environmental solutions based on sound science and client-focused perspective. He specializes in oil and gas transmission, generation, communication, development, and protected species projects. Mason is also the Managing Partner of Texas Vine Country, a wine and beverage-centric investment business that focus on growth and continuous improvement. In this episode, Mason talks about how he was attracted to the Texas Vine Country, the effects of soil and weather on the growth of grapes, other regions in the world that produces wine and, the typical life cycle of grapes. Tune in to learn more about growing grapes, identifying a business gap and, transforming an idea into a business.

Timestamps

[02:37] Mason Moreland’s background

[05:01] Mason Moreland’s attraction to the Texas Vine Country

[07:19] Climate, soil and, other conditions that affect the growth of grapes

[09:35] Other regions in the world that produce wine

[11:29] Texas Vine Country investment thesis

[16:04] Has wine seen the same major uptake in the market prices that so many other markets have seen?

[22:02] Those who are not profiled for the wine investment

[24:42] Mason Moreland’s personal information

[27:07] Identifying a business gap and transforming an idea into a business

[29:40] Mason Moreland’s entrepreneurial journey

[35:49] Water consumption for the vineyard fields

[38:10] The life cycle of grapes

[43:56] The effects of fire and smoke on the wine production in California

[48:32] Mason Moreland’s closing thoughts

Notable from the episode: * Texas has a long history in the wine industry. It never took off a large commercial scale until the last 20 years. * Grapes don’t like to be wet all the time. They want to have rain then stay dry. So, if you have wet grapes all the time, it promotes fungal diseases, which are a big issue. * Within the US, Texas is the fifth-largest wine production state. * The wine production is not for someone who wants hyper liquid investments because it takes five years for grapes to get to full production. * Once you realize that there is a lot of value in what you can provide to people, you can build a business out of it.

Connect with Mason Moreland: Website: https://www.texasvinecountry.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-moreland/

About the show On Coffee & Liquidity, our mission is to give some perspective and context to those that may not have the tools at their disposal, whether income or acumen, to become a full-time entrepreneur but can still leverage their networks, etc., to build passive revenue streams or wealth in other ways. The American dream can be reached through multiple paths. It’s time we talk about it!

YouTube

Alderaan Ventures

Follow Ben on Twitter

Alderaan Ventures Substack

Please subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review. We appreciate you, and your support enables us to keep bringing you the goods on the show!