Texas nation is a blog that was started with the vision to show Texans & non-Texans what it is like to be a Texan. Yes Texans already know how to be Texan but this blog will allow them to embrace their native culture! Podcasts are soon to be recorded and posted for Texas Nation as well! Please stay tuned and enjoy our content!
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Early growth investor David Paul interviews the world’s greatest founders, operators, and investors. Get an insider’s look into the tech ecosystem, learn how to start and scale your own business, and find an edge in today's capital markets.
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Greg Head of Scaling Point on Changing Startup Funding and Drawbacks of Venture Capital Funding
30:01
In this conversation, venture capitalist David Paul and Greg Head of Scaling Point discuss the changing landscape of funding for startups. They explore the drawbacks of relying on venture capital (VC) funding and the benefits of bootstrapping and practical founder approaches. Greg emphasizes that VC funding is not necessary for success and that the…
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Dan Soviero of Signature Lacrosse on Over-Investing in Culture and Streamlining the Ordering Process
31:59
Dan Soviero, founder of Signature Lacrosse, shares his entrepreneurial journey and how he built a successful sports equipment and events company with venture capitalist David Paul. He discusses the importance of hard work, discipline, and doing what you love. Dan explains how Signature Lacrosse expanded its offerings to solve the biggest problem in…
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Jon Corrin of Xilo on Strong Onboarding Processes and Pipeline Automation in the Insurance Industry
26:36
In this conversation, David Paul interviews Jon Corrin, the co-founder of Xilo, a vertical SaaS company in the insurance industry. They discuss topics such as pipeline management, the evolution of the insurance industry, Xilo's value proposition, and their market segmentation. Jon shares insights on the importance of product development, the role o…
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Krista Morgan of Stage Fund on Investing in Failed Startups and Navigating Distressed Assets
34:48
Krista Morgan, General Partner at Stage Fund, joins venture capitalist David Paul to discuss their unique approach to investing in early-stage technology companies that are unable to raise more funding. Stage Fund focuses on control acquisitions and provides a second chance for struggling companies by offering new capital and a new path forward. Th…
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Nathan Firth, founder and CEO of New Rocket, founder of LaunchPad San Diego, and current CCO of ShareLogic shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the success of his tech-enabled service company with venture capitalist David Paul. He emphasizes the importance of finding a niche market and specializing in one thing to become the best at it. Firth …
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In this conversation, David Paul interviews Quentin Wendt from PadSplit, a prop-tech company that allows investors to rent out single-family homes by the room. They discuss the housing crisis, the need for affordable housing, and how PadSplit provides a solution by adding density to single-family homes. Quentin explains how the platform works, with…
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In this conversation, David Paul and Matt Ekstrom - an executive with over 10+ years in sales and marketing within the HR tech space discuss various topics related to HR tech, sales enablement, and the challenges faced in these industries. They talk about the evolution of HR tech and its impact on employee onboarding and hiring experience. They als…
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Seth Merritt of Welby Health on Value Based Care Challenges and having the right Capital Mindset
43:52
In this conversation, David Paul interviews Seth Merritt, the founder of Welby Health, about value-based care in the healthcare industry. They discuss the challenges of implementing value-based care initiatives, the need for innovation in the healthcare system, and the difficulties faced by providers and payers. Seth shares his journey as an entrep…
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Nick Steinwachs of Tidal Digital Health Partners on Building Healthcare Products and Navigating Stakeholders
32:46
In this conversation, David Paul interviews Nick Steinwachs about the challenges and opportunities in the healthcare industry. They discuss the importance of customer empathy, the role of founders in healthcare startups, and the need for innovative solutions. They also touch on the difficulties of commercializing healthcare products and the importa…
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Lisa Diaz of Turf Advisory on Construction Tech Software and the America's Infrastructure Tailwinds
31:48
In this episode, David Paul interviews Lisa Diaz, the founder of Turf Advisory, about the construction industry and the need for infrastructure investment. They discuss the challenges of government prioritization, the role of general contractors and subcontractors, and the low margins in the construction industry. They also explore the potential of…
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In this conversation, David Paul interviews Pete Colligan, the CTO of Ariba Business Networks. They discuss various topics related to leadership, innovation, and hiring in the corporate world. Pete shares his experiences and insights on structuring teams, driving innovation in a large company, navigating change management, and conducting effective …
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Vickram Pradhan of Sopris Capital on Decentralization in Healthcare and the Founder/Investor Relationship
34:40
Vickram Pradhan, an investor at Sopris Capital, joins venture capitalist David Paul to share his background and experience in investing, as well as his role at Sopris. He discusses the importance of building relationships with portfolio companies and providing operational expertise. Vickram also highlights the advantages of Sopris' capital allocati…
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Jerry Colonna, executive and life coach of Reboot.io, discusses the importance of personal growth and self-inquiry for startup founders. He shares his own journey of rebooting and how it led him to become a coach. Colonna emphasizes the need for founders to confront their own brokenness and take responsibility for their actions. He also explores th…
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Al Doan of Missouri Start Quilt Company on Self-Destructive Founder Mindset and How to Overcome It
50:13
In this episode, Al Doan, the founder of the Missouri Star Quilt Company turned investor at Rolling Fun, shares his journey as an entrepreneur and investor. He discusses starting the quilt company as a way to support his mother and how it grew into a successful business. He also talks about his transition out of the company and his ventures into te…
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John Lott of Predicate Wealth Partners on Tough Board Meetings, Restructurings, and Mentorship
45:45
On this episode with host David Paul, John Lott, CEO of Predicate Wealth Managers, shares his insights and experiences in the world of finance and entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the importance of operating skills and the potential of digital currencies. John also discusses the challenges in the private equity market and the significance of alignme…
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Maya Watson of Manual on the Failure of Learning and Development Industry and Lessons from Working for Oprah
36:01
Maya Watson, co-founder of Manual, discusses her background working for companies like Netflix and Oprah Winfrey, as well as her experience during the rise and fall of Clubhouse. She explains the genesis of Manual and its mission to help individuals understand themselves better and create a more flexible and fulfilling work experience. Maya highlig…
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Brian Miller of Bloom Venture Partners on the Private Secondary Market and how to Unlock Liquidity for Employees and Early Investors
32:22
Brian Miller, Partner at Bloom Venture Partners, discusses the secondary market for private company shares and the challenges and opportunities it presents. He explains the difference between primary and secondary markets and how secondary transactions work. Brian also discusses the controversy surrounding Carta and the importance of secondaries fo…
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In this episode, host David Paul interviews Rahul Sidhu, the founder and CEO of Aerodome, a drone company for the public safety sector. They discuss the concept of Aerodome and its ability to send drones to 911 calls in an average of 98 seconds. They also delve into the regulatory challenges and waivers required for operating drones in the public s…
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Matthew Pittinsky of Parchment and Blackboard on Revolutionizing Educational Technology and Building Networks
32:32
In this episode, David Paul interviews Matthew Pittinsky, the founder of Blackboard and CEO of Parchment, about his journey in the educational technology industry. They discuss the genesis of Blackboard and its role in revolutionizing the learning management system (LMS) industry. They also explore the shift from on-premises software to cloud-based…
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Scott Garber of Early Light Ventures on Founder Interviewing via CIA techniques, Pre Seed Portfolio Construction, and Farting in Jars
30:01
In this episode, David Paul interviews Scott Garber, Managing Director of Early Light Ventures. Scott shares his background as a former CIA operative and how he transitioned into venture capital. He discusses his investment strategy, including the importance of reading founders and identifying grit. Scott also talks about the portfolio construction…
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Luke Harmon of Serendipity on When Bootstrapping Backfires, Identifying Blue Ocean, and how to Increase your Company's Valuation
47:18
Luke Harmon, founder and CEO of the Serendipity marketing agency, shares his startup journey and the challenges of bootstrapping a company. He discusses the importance of balancing sales and product development, as well as the need for founders to be involved in the sales process. Luke also highlights the significance of building strong relationshi…
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Angela Lai former Founder of Betteromics (former CTO of GRAIL) on Building Software for the Life Science Industry and What The World Doesn't know About Big Pharma
39:33
In this episode, David Paul interviews Angela Lai, the founder and CEO of Betteromics. They discuss Angela's background in the tech industry and her transition to the life sciences business. They explore the intersection of biology, chemistry, big data, and AI in the field of healthcare science. Angela explains how Betteromics serves as a regulated…
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Bill Horne Turnaround CEO of over 10+ Companies on Why Founders Fail and What to Do About It
31:52
In this episode, venture capitalist David Paul interviews Bill Horne, a 10-time CEO, the founder of 88 Keys, and an expert in turning around struggling companies. They discuss various aspects of being a fixer for early-stage companies and the challenges that come with it. The conversation covers topics such as the value destruction when founders le…
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In this episode, David Paul interviews Matt Munson, a CEO whisperer and performance coach for startup founders at Sanity Labs. Matt shares his experience working with Jerry Colonna, a renowned coach, and the impact it had on his own coaching approach. They discuss the importance of recognizing inner complacency and the deeper challenges faced by en…
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Gregg Scoresby of PHX Ventures on Mastering the Art of Startup Board Management and Building Vibrant Software Communities
44:47
In this episode, David Paul interviews Gregg Scoresby, the founder and CEO of CampusLogic and PHX Ventures about building a thriving startup ecosystem in Arizona. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of attracting institutional seed stage capital, the importance of community vibrancy in building a top software city, and the role of AI in t…
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Alan Roga of TruLight Health on Health Equity, Clinical Bias, and Creating Healthcare Categories
41:13
David Paul, venture capitalist and host of The Capital Stack Podcast is joined by Alan Roga, seasoned medical professional turned entrepreneur and founder of TruLite Health. Telehealth and telemedicine seem commonplace today, although it was not always that way. Listen to the interesting story of how it developed into what it is today and Alan’s vi…
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Jim Cantrell of Phantom Space on the Space Tech, the Defense Sector, and Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain
31:09
On this episode of The Capital Stack Podcast, venture capitalist David Paul is joined by lifelong space executive and CEO of Phantom Space, Jim Cantrell, to talk about the inner workings of the innovation happening in space exploration. Jim and David discuss the history of the space industry, why startups are outperforming primes and projections fo…
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Austin Poole of BIP Ventures on Inflation, Incentives, and Dysfunction in Healthcare Services
33:30
David Paul, venture capitalist and host of The Capital Stack Podcast is joined by Austin Poole - a partner at BIP Ventures focusing on healthcare. BIP Ventures is an Atlanta-based venture firm with various focuses, with hundreds of millions of dollars under management in credit and equity. David and Austin discuss the current state of the healthcar…
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Jim Armstrong of JDA Software on Founding a $2B Company, Operating and Investing Lessons, and Finding Meaning in Wealth
28:26
On this episode of The Capital Stack Podcast, venture capitalist David Paul speaks with his mentor, Jim Armstrong, founder of JDA Software (now Blue Yonder) - a global supply chain solution for big box retailers. This inspiring episode is filled with invaluable information and highlights how opportunity is everywhere, and when acted upon with the r…
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Mike Becker of Vocapp Partners on Verticalized Generative AI Applications, East vs. West Coast Investing, Identifying Stages of Product Market Fit
41:58
David Paul is joined by fellow venture capitalist Mike Becker, the managing partner of Vocap Partners, a Series-A firm based out of Atlanta and Florida, on this episode of The Capital Stack Podcast. David and Mike discuss how to pick and choose ideal companies for deals, the importance of VC / founder balance in value add, and what is new and excit…
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On this episode of The Capital Stack Podcast, venture capitalist David Paul speaks with his mentor, Todd P. Belfer of Brookstone Venture Capital - an Arizona-based venture capital firm. Todd speaks about his irregular and inspiring path to success, the importance of consistency and discipline, and his learnings as an investor and operator. David an…
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This week I had the opportunity to invest with friend and serial entrepreneur Hamid Shojaee. Hamid has been the founder of several companies and products including Axosoft, NetTime Solutions, and Get Krackin. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple. On this episode of the Capital Stack Podcast hosted by venture capitalist…
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Will Shaw of Better Agency on SMB Customer Churn, the Insurance Market, and a Winning Morning Routine
45:53
On this episode of the Capital Stack Podcast hosted by venture capitalist David Paul - Will Shaw, the pro-football player turned tech founder of Better Agency, an Arizona-based insurance management software company, gets on the microphone. David and Will discuss the current state of the startup market, the solution to high churn, why insurance rate…
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David Freedman of Freestar on the State of AdTech Today, Privacy, and Democratizing The Auction Process
31:05
Despite his reluctance, I got David to speak to me about the overly complex ecosystem of the adtech business today. David is an incredible entrepreneur who has helped disable the giants that have monopolized the digital ad business for decades. Hint- it rhymes with Schmoogle. Have you ever wondered about the backend workings of website monetization…
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It is a great pleasure to introduce our next podcast guest - Will Caldwell founder and CEO of SnapNHD - a San Diego based real-estate data company. I had the chance to invest in Wills company very early and if I did it would of resulted in a 10x outcome. Oops. At least I can laugh at it and Will and friend. You can listen to the podcast on all your…
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Liz Harrow of SHAKTI on Disrupting Commerce, Mobility, and Media Industries and Creating Value Through LP Engagement
31:39
I had the privilege of meeting Liz recently, thanks to a referral from one of the CEOs of their portfolio companies. It's worth noting that Liz is not one for outward marketing. Nonetheless, her unique perspective on the world is awe-inspiring, and I'm excited to share her story and the incredible journey of SHAKTI with you. How does a small team a…
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Jessica Chang of Upwards (formerly WeeCare) on Solving the Labor Shortage through Democratizing Child Care
26:30
When searching for determined founders, it's crucial to recognize individuals with a chip on their shoulders. Jessica Chang undoubtedly possesses this quality. She's fed up with witnessing mothers, who are deprived of opportunities, forced out of the workforce due to exorbitant childcare expenses. Discover how Jessica and the Upwards team are revol…
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I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mat, and I must say, he is absolutely delightful, despite his charming accent. As is often the case with founders, he found it challenging to remain idle after the successful sale of Cloudability for a staggering $1.8B, backed by Founders Fund and Foundry. What if you had a robot chief of staff to help you rem…
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Jen is perhaps one of my favorite follows on twitter on Linkedin. She is relentlessly honest about why startup founders fail to find product market fit and self-destruct. This is a must listen for any early stage founder. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify. Do you know it’s almost impossible for a startup to succeed w…
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Anthony Enrico of LeanScale on Building RevOps Function within your Company and Steps going from Founder-Led-Sales to a Repeatable Sales System
31:27
Going from founder-led-sales to a sales team is a bi#Tch. One of the first things a founder needs to think about is how to connect data and systems together to effectively understand what is working and what's not. Join me in discussing revenue operations with the grand master himself - Anthony Enrico- of LeanScale. You can watch/listen to this pod…
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Jonny Simkin of Swiftly on Creating Products for Government and Municipalities, Navigating Public Sector Procurement, and the Power of Verticalized Data
34:33
How do you create a verticalized data company that provides accurate and real-time information without completely changing the existing user experience infrastructure? In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Jonny Simkin, the Co-founder and CEO of Swiftly, talk about the process of building a govtech data platform. Swiftly is a big data platf…
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James McManus of Family First on Emerging Mental Health Crisis in Teens, Managing Risk, and Scaling a 155-Employee Treatment Center.
35:46
I am excited for this week's special episode on the Capital Stack Podcast, where I will be interviewing my dear friend James McManus, the visionary behind Family First. Family First is a renowned treatment center in Florida, dedicated to helping teenagers facing behavioral health and substance abuse disorders. James' remarkable leadership has led t…
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Kyle Johnson of SmartAction on Transitioning from CRO to CEO, Mindset, and Scaling Relationships
32:54
Kyle and I have known each other for quite some time, having served together on the board at Allbound. We once attempted to recruit him as CEO, but he politely declined. Perhaps he felt it wasn't the right moment, or maybe it was because the company was a complete disaster. However, it appears that he has now taken that leap and is currently servin…
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I am speaking to the founders of IntelyCare this week on Capital Stack- one of the largest most funded ($171M) software companies charged to solved the nursing shortage crises in the United States. This is an incredibly informative episode on the current and upcoming emergency in the healthcare workforce. Did you know fifty percent of nurses leave …
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Brian Portnoy Best-Selling Author of The Geometry of Wealth on The Psychology of Money and How Investing Has Been Solved
35:40
This week, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brian Portnoy, a renowned expert in behavioral finance and author of bestselling books like "Geometry of Wealth" and "The Investors Paradox." We delve into the fascinating idea that the game of investing has been solved, with the new frontier being the pursuit of funded contentment instead of chasing a…
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George Wang of AV8 Ventures on Hustling to Get Allocation, Key Themes in Healthcare, and Specialty Pharma
37:23
George Wang is an exceptional healthcare investor who is in the know about the burgeoning startups in the healthcare industry. If I have ever have a question about healthcare IT investing George is on my shortlist on who to call. The man knows what he is talking about - this is a must listen if you want to know where the puck is going. There are ma…
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Eva Ho of Fika Ventures Building a VC Firm, and Breaking down Deal Flow into Sourcing, Picking, and Winning
46:37
I love me some Eva Ho. This remarkable individual embodies greatness. In this week's discussion, we delve into the transformative journey from investor to operating a venture capital firm. She emphasizes the significance of building a strong community, embracing risk, and embracing unwavering conviction. What does it take to build community and rel…
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This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Benji Koltai, the co-founder and CEO of Galley. Based in San Diego, Galley is an impressive company that, unfortunately, slipped under my radar. A few years ago, we sold another food service data company, Attribytes, to Syndigo, so missing out on Galley was truly regrettable. In this captivating episode…
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Vivas Kumar of Mitra Chem on the Emergence of Battery Technologies, De-Globalization, and Applied Materials
27:17
Hosting this podcast was quite challenging for me, as I consider myself a novice when it comes to science. Vivas, a leading authority in battery technology and sustainability in Silicon Valley, has an impressive track record. Having raised over $20M and being incubated out of Chamath Palihapitya's family office, Social Capital, his expertise is unq…
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Nick Arambula of Neighbor on Doing a "Lift Out" on a New Direct to Consumer E-Commerce Category
40:52
What does it take to build a successful direct-to-customer e-commerce business? To build and scale a business that mostly deals with bulky items online, you must focus on brand visual representation, product design, and a genuine interest in the industry. In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Nick Arambula, the Co-Founder & CEO at Neighbor …
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