Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 028: Yamile Nesrala, Managing Director of Charlotte for Venture for America
Today we are very fortunate to have Yamile Nesrala, Director of Miami and Charlotte for Venture for America. Much like the Venture for America Fellows we will talk about shortly, Yami has an extraordinarily impressive background. She graduated with an economics degree from Harvard, received her Masters in Philosophy from University of Cambridge, and completed her law degree back at Harvard in 2013.
She has spent time in the consulting world, with legal firms, and more recently with a startup called CommonBond which helps lower the cost of student loans to borrowers.
In October 2016, though, Yami joined Venture for America serving as the point person for both the Miami and Charlotte. After our interview today, you will be more impressed and happy to know that we have Yami working for us here in Charlotte.
We covered the following aspects of the Venture for America Fellowship this week:
- What is the drive behind Venture for America (for more read Andrew Yang's book, Smart People Should Build Things)?
- Who is a typical fellow and how are they recruited?
- What is selection day? (hint: it helps select the next group of VFA fellows)
- What’s the goal of the fellows? Are the natural entrepreneurs or are there other motivations?
- How does Venture for America vet and match the companies with the fellows?
- Is there a compensation structure in place for fellows?
- What do fellows get out of the fellowship?
- How many fellows are in the 2017 class?
- What is life like for a VFA fellow?
- In the surveys VFA conducts with its fellows, what are they learning about the experience they are creating?
- Along with much more in a jam packed 30 minute podcast.
Next week, we are going to talk more about the impact to the Charlotte and how Charlotte can benefit from having a thriving Venture for America program here. This leads us to the obvious question of what can Charlotte do to support and grow the VFA program here.
Hope you enjoy today’s podcast and be sure to listen in next week to Part II with Yamile!
Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 027: Betsy Hauser Idilbi, Co-Founder of Tech Talent South Part II
Today, we welcome back Betsy Hauser Idilbi, Co-Founder of Tech Talent South to the show. Last week, Betsy spoke about Tech Talent South and how it got off the ground on so many different levels.
This week we wanted to change the direction of the conversation and talk about the future for Tech Talent South, Charlotte and Betsy. It's even better than Part I and I hope you enjoy it as we discuss the following:
The placement rates of coding schools - how they are 'ranked' - and Tech Talent South's recent step into training employees at corporations.
How Tech Talent South plans on using Charlotte as a training ground for other cities moving forward.
Their recent decision to raise capital from Cramer Mountain Growth Partners - a new VC fund in the Charlotte area.
How has Tech Talent South not only survived but thrived while some in the coding world have gone under recently?
Would Betsy have a Co-Founder if she starts another business in the future?
What would Betsy like to see in Charlotte in the future that doesn't exist today or when Tech Talent South was getting off the ground.
And much, much more.
It's a great podcast and hope you enjoy the episode. Please check in next week as we interview Yamile Nesrala who is the Director of Miami and Charlotte for Venture For America.
Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 026: Betsy Hauser Idilbi, Co-Founder of Tech Talent South
Today, we welcome Betsy Hauser Idilbi, Co-Founder of Tech Talent South to the show.
Betsy is rare success in the startup world. She's a female founder, successful raised money for her startup, and lives in Charlotte. Listening to the podcast you quickly pick up on why. She's smart, energetic, quick on her feet, and persistent.
She's grown Tech Talent South from 1 city to 11 and recruited some excellent talent to her team. She's kept Tech Talent South in growth mode as industry competitors have shut down and stands poised to grow the company for years into the future.
Betsy graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism but knew from an early time she wanted to start something. Her time at Little Idea - which merged with Louis Foreman's Enventys - was instrumental as she learned not many people had the technical school of coding. This lead her off on an adventure that would see her launch Tech Talent South and grow it into the success it is today and will become in the future.
Listen in to today's podcast to learn more about Besty and her journey including:
How did she find a network of mentors and how important was it for her to have found a female mentor as well (Tana Green of Blue Bloodhound has been a huge help to Betsy)?
Why was Atlanta their first location and why was Asheville their second city?
The reason they expanded to 4 cities in 8 months?
The role hiring the right people has played and how Betsy has tackled hiring so far, including Suzanne Speece and Darryl Jones.
How does Betsy view equity as compensation for startups?
What lessons has Betsy learned that she wishes she could go back and tell her ‘early founder self’?
What was their strategy early on as she watched her competitors develop?
Next week we dive further into our interview with Betsy and explore why now was the right time for her to raise money and more about the success that is Tech Talent South.
Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 025: Part II Kyle Suhan continues our discussion on cryptocurrencies
Today we welcome back Kyle Suhan to talk more about digital currencies. You may remember Kyle has been developing the technology behind a new company called Blockade Technologies (www.blockade.cloud). This new company leverages blockchain technology to make data storage safer than before. As such, Kyle has a very good grasp on blockchain and he's local which keeps with our theme of finding companies and experts in Charlotte.
Last week, Kyle did a great job providing a framework for Bitcoin, Blockchain, and cryptocurrencies. We asked Kyle to stick around for a few more As you’ll learn throughout this episode and our next Kyle has been toying around in the digital currency space for the last couple of years.
In today's interview we discuss the following questions and more:
Could bitcoins and blockchain be separated? In other words, are bitcoins necessary?
What’s different from bitcoin and ethereum?
Knowing Bitcoin transactions can take time to complete, what’s the benefit to businesses in using blockchain?
Can bitcoin and/or ethereum put American Express, Mastercard and VISA out of business?
How did Kyle get involved in blockchain and ethereum?
What makes the underlying currency worth more?
If I don’t have a supercomputer, how do I obtain a Bitcoin or an ethereum?
Does technology stop at Ethereum or will technology pass it as well?
What is bitcoin cash?
And get excited about our next two part podcast starting next week. We have Betsy Hauser Idilbi, Founder of Tech Talent South (TTS) joining us to talk about the growth of the company, their recent capital raise from a Charlotte area Venture fund, and much more.
Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 024: Crypto Currencies, Blockchain and more with Kyle Suhan, Co-Founder of Blockade Technologies
Today we welcome Kyle Suhan to the show to talk some about digital currencies. As you’ll learn throughout this episode and our next Kyle has been toying around in the digital currency space for the last couple of years. Recently, he’s been developing the technology behind a new company called Blockade Technologies (www.blockade.cloud). This new company leverages blockchain technology to make data storage safer than before.
This puts Kyle in a unique space where he has been mining crypto currencies and has developed companies to utilize the underlying technology. As such, I thought it would be great to get him on the Charlotte Angel Connection for what I expect will be the first of many episodes where we explore digital currencies.
We start out a little deep as Kyle dives straight into the underlying technology but we get through that fairly quickly and onto exploring concepts.
Why should digital currencies replace our traditional paper currencies?
Doesn’t this have the impact to completely displace credit cards in the future?
What do the governments of the world think about bitcoin?
What is an ICO?
Kyle owns a company in this blockchain space – Blockade Technologies. What does Blockade Technology do and how does it work?
Why are they trying to raise money through an ICO which would be registered with the SEC?
Kyle talks through some of how digital currency can be exchanged and helps us understand “alt coins”. Who is going to use those versus who is going to use the two more popular coins of ethereum or bitcoins?
And much more.
Hopefully, you will enjoy today’s show and come back for the 2nd episode with Kyle as we dig deeper into cryptocurrencies.
Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 023: Amber Lewis, CEO of The Good Kitchen Part II
Amber Lewis, Founder and CEO of The Good Kitchen (www.thegoodkitchen.com), rejoins us today to continue our conversation from last week. In this episode, we talk more about her mentors, board of advisors and involvement in Vistage (www.vistage.com) to help her grow as an entrepreneur.
We also talk more about the competition - including the two obvious ones of Blue Apron (the first IPO in the food delivery) and Amazon. What has been the impact and how has it actually helped her?
We spoke more about how Rob Wolf - a very influential person in the Paleo movement - became a spokesperson for the company. As an FYI, his favorite dish from The Good Kitchen is the Korean Beef Bowl.
We talked about how Amber started out as a food company - delivering paleo friendly foods to Crossfit members - and has grown into a technology company with a heavy focus on logistics. Along the way, they happen to deliver food!
We also explored her knowledge and involvement in the Charlotte startup scene. While she has had her head down developing The Good Kitchen in the past, she's excited to get more involved. Look for her in the coming months at startup events in Charlotte!
We wrap up talking about if she could go back and do things from day 1, what would she do differently.
It's a great interview - lots of insights from someone who has been growing a startup for the last 6 years. I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as I enjoyed doing it. As an aside, I should have done this before but I have now become a customer. My first order has been placed and should be here in the next couple of days. I'm pretty excited about the meals!!!
I'm also excited about next week. We have a great interview on Bitcoin, blockchain, and crypto currencies with Kyle Suhan. Kyle has been mining ethereum for the last two years and is in the process of starting his own company built on blockchain technology.
His company, Blockade Technologies (www.blockade.cloud), provides decentralized data storage and certainly seems set up to make a splash in the next couple of months when they do their own initial coin offering (ICO).
Don't know what that means? Tune in next week to find out.
Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 022: Amber Lewis, Founder and CEO of The Good Kitchen
This week we are very fortunate to have Amber Lewis, Founder and CEO of The Good Kitchen (www.thegoodkitchen.com) join us. Amber started The Good Kitchen, formerly known as ModPaleo, from her own kitchen after watching Crossfit (www.crossfit.com) members struggle to stick to a Paleo diet after a 30-day Paleo challenge she helped run at her local Crossfit gym.
With no experience in a commercial kitchen or running a startup, Amber has guided The Good Kitchen over the last 6 years to a fast growing fully prepared meal delivery service no longer serving just the Crossfit community. They now deliver to your door and have incorporated kids meals and bulk meals.
This is the first of two podcasts with Amber and we cover the early stages of her business including:
How or when she knew she was an entrepreneur?
What were the early days of the business like?
How did she know when to make pivots in her business strategy and how did she execute them?
How did she form the supply chain to supply the food?
How long was did she boot strap the business before seeking outside capital?
And much, much more.
After listening to today's episode, you'll want to register for meals from The Good Kitchen because you can't help but pull for Amber and her team (hint register here - https://www.thegoodkitchen.com/adult) and because you'll realize the convenience they offer with a great tasting line up of food.
Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 021: Matt Potere CEO of Sunlight Financial Part II
Matt Potere, CEO of Sunlight Financial (www.sunlightfinancial.com), continues with our discussion from last week. For this episode, though, I wanted to explore some of the Charlotte startup scene with Matt.
We talk about the following today:
What's the growth path for Sunlight Financial - does the market get saturated soon or do they have a long run?
Is lending an area of strength for startups here in Charlotte?
Why it's important to celebrate startup failures as much as successes.
Matt talks about Payzer (www.payzer.com) and Health Credit Services (www.hcsloans.com)
Can Charlotte overcome its name as a banking town and become a startup location?
The impact HQ Charlotte, Dan Roselli and QC Fintech (www.qcfintech.co) have had on the scene here.
What's the company culture like at Sunlight Financial?
Is there a founders network forming yet?
And much more.
We've also got some great podcasts coming up as we talk with Amber Lewis from The Good Kitchen (www.thegoodkitchen.com) and explore cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and ethereum.
Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 020: Matt Potere, CEO of Sunlight Financial (Part I)
In today's podcast, we get an opportunity to speak with Matt Potere, CEO of Sunlight Financial. Sunlight is successful startup here in Charlotte - having raised more then $900 million - yet you don't hear too much about it. Their business model is to help consumers afford solar panels by "providing simple, affordable solar loans."
It's a simple business model - lending money - which has helped build Charlotte into what it is today. And they are growing rapidly both here and in New York.
In this first of a two part series with Matt, we explore his background and what brought him to Charlotte and to becoming the CEO of Sunlight Financial.
We discuss why Sunlight Financial has it's CEO and home office here in Charlotte - despite NC not being extraordinarily friendly for consumer solar panels and most capital being outside of the city.
We talk about the environment for solar panels in a world where the US has recently backed out of the Paris Climate Agreement.
What's the business model?
Why they aren't talked about more as a Charlotte startup success?
It's a great interview and I hope you will turn back in next week to listen to us talk about the startup culture in Charlotte and why lending is still a strong business model in the Queen City.
Charlotte Angel Connection: Episode 019 Walt Frye
Today, we are extremely fortunate to have Walter Frye join us. As you’ll hear in our conversation, I’ve known Walt since early 2016 and have really enjoyed getting to know him – and I think you will too. He’s been a great advocate for all things startup and angel investing in Charlotte and has brought a high level of energy and passion to the scene.
I wanted to talk with Walt as he’s the kind of ‘roll up your sleeves’ guy you always want to be around. If he sees a problem or an opportunity, he’s right there to take action. As such, he’s gotten very involved with the Charlotte Regional Fund for Entrepreneurship. You will learn this today, but anything Walt gets involved with he does with 100% effort. So as the Charlotte entrepreneurship efforts grow, we are extremely fortunate to have Walt help leading those efforts.
Walt brings a wealth of experience to the Charlotte Regional Fund for Entrepreneurship. In our discussion today, we discuss and hear from Walt on a ton of different items in the startup/angel community including:
- Why should people consider getting involved?
- What organizations are in Charlotte to support startups (QC Fintech, City Startup Labs, QC Forward, CLT Joules, Ventureprise and more).
- What's the benefit to having a thriving startup culture in Charlotte
- What is Charlotte Regional Fund for Entrepreneurship doing going forward?
- Promoting Charlotte Entrepreneurship
- Focus on Talent
- Strengthen the ecosystem and interconnectivity of the ecosystem
- Capital
- Can startups impact and improve the upward mobility issue in Charlotte?
- And much more.
I hope you enjoy today's episode and be sure to tune into next week's episode of the Charlotte Angel Connection with Matt Potere of Sunlight Financial - a great startup secret right here in Charlotte.