Welcome to Innovation with Mark Peter Davis, a podcast dedicated to innovation, truth, and education. Through fireside chats with entrepreneurs, industry leading executives, and creative minded business folk, I'll highlight the society altering transformations that are happening all around us while providing crucial entrepreneurial advice. Pickup tips from founders who sold their company for hundreds of millions of dollars. Discover how everyday materials and goods are being reinvented by sc ...
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The time of year for reflection is upon us, so in this week’s episode the team and I review our 2024 predictions and dive into bold forecasts for 2025. From the impact of geopolitical shifts to the state of venture capital and global deglobalization trends, we explore what lies ahead for technology, startups, and markets. We cover key trends like A…
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In this week’s episode Phuong and I dive into the essentials of early-stage startup fundraising, exploring the diverse options available to founders. We discuss everything from leveraging friends and family to connecting with angel investors, accelerators, and venture capitalists, as well as alternative funding methods like non-dilutive capital and…
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What if I told you there’s a way to make reading as entertaining and interactive as video games and social media? Wendy - an innovative new app that’s transforming how kids engage with stories - is doing just that. They’re creating a platform to compete in today’s captivating, fast-paced media landscape, and on this week’s ep I chat with Lance Neuh…
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How Much Equity Should You Give Early Employees? A Guide to Structuring Your Startup’s Cap Table to Fuel Growth and Attract Investors
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This week, Phuong and I dive into one of the most crucial yet often perplexing aspects of startup formation: cap table construction and equity distribution. If you're setting up a startup or restructuring your cap table, this conversation is a must-listen. We discuss the essentials of setting up a cap table that aligns with industry norms, aiming t…
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As someone passionate about the role of innovation in advancing society, I’m particularly interested in how rapidly evolving technologies - like artificial intelligence, robotics, and dual-use technologies - are reshaping the military landscape. Naturally, I was thrilled and honored that Major General Julian “Ghost” Cheater joined me on the pod to …
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Determining how much capital a startup should raise during each funding round is hard. This week, Phuong and I break down the tools and methodologies that founders and VCs use to calculate the right number, emphasizing the importance of creating a detailed operating model. The conversation covers key fundraising strategies, including aligning miles…
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We kick off a new season by sitting down with Patrick Butler, the CEO of BizDefender. Patrick, a seasoned founder with deep technical expertise, discusses his latest venture, BizDefender, a company co-founded with Interplay. BizDefender addresses the growing epidemic of fraud targeting small and medium-sized businesses. The conversation delves into…
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For this week's episode - the last one before the podcast takes a summer break - my colleague Mike Rogers joins to discuss Apple's new updates + AI announcement. Additionally, we touch on the implications of growth round pay-to-play dynamics in the early-stage market.Interplay
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This week's pod is a mid-year check-in on the global markets with Chris Zhang. Chris shares his insights on the current state of the U.S. and global markets and we dissect key economic data, market trends, and potential risks, offering a nuanced evaluation of the economic landscape.Interplay
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Phuong delves into the crucial strategies for acquiring initial customers when launching a B2C (business-to-consumer) product. We discuss the importance of targeting early adopters who feel the problem intensely and are willing to tolerate an imperfect product. Practical advice is provided on how to find these initial users both offline and online,…
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I recently sat down with Chris Zhang, CIO and partner at Ascend Interplay, to discuss the often misunderstood concept of diversification. We explored the endowment model, which focuses on alternative assets like private equity, venture capital, and real estate, and how it can be applied to ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals with long-ter…
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DESCRIPTION Recruiting and team construction are crucial for any company's culture and success. This week, Phuong and I dive into this topic and how important it is to focus on hiring when building a startup. Phuong provides insights into assessing team needs, creating effective job descriptions, conducting thoughtful interviews, and evaluating can…
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Mike and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Todd Saunders (CEO of Broadlume), and Chetan Narain (co-founder and CTO of Pepper) to discuss the concept of vertical SaaS and its application in different industries. We explore how Broadlume and Pepper leverage vertical SaaS to serve the flooring and food distribution markets. Our conversation delv…
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The Downstream Effect of Reddit's IPO, Implications of the Residential Realtor Settlement, and What Boeing's Struggles Means for American Industry.
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Mike and I sat down this week to chat about current events and their implications for the innovation economy. We begin our conversation by highlighting successful tech IPOs like Reddit and Estera, suggesting a strong demand for tech companies in the public market. We discuss how these IPOs could signal to other entrepreneurs and investors, potentia…
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Impact of AI Across Real Estate and Various Sectors: A Discussion at The Annual Columbia Business School Real Estate Symposium
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I joined my alma mater, Columbia Business School to give a talk at The Annual Columbia Business School Real Estate Symposium. I was invited by the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate and decided to discuss the impact of AI on the real estate industry and various sectors. During the talk, I delved into the potential of AI across various sectors, in…
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Phuong is back on the podcast this week to discuss the importance of doing things that don't scale in startups. Phuong explains that this concept, popularized by Paul Graham of Y Combinator, involves manually handling processes to acquire customers, test concepts, and iterate on products before scaling. We dive into examples such as Seamless and Di…
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Chris is back on the podcast this week, joining me to discuss recent market shifts. Our overall assessment is that the year started with uncertainties but seems to be stabilizing, with tech companies performing well and equity markets thriving. However, despite positive signs, there's concern over a potential commercial real estate crisis, as refin…
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Phuong is back for her first appearance in 2024, where she shares insights on effectively conducting user testing for MVPs. We discuss the importance of learning from customer behavior, gathering a small group of dedicated users, setting clear objectives, tracking engagement metrics, and using various feedback methods like observing user interactio…
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On this week’s pod I sat down with Alan Feld, Founder & Managing Partner of Vintage Investment Partners. Vintage is a stalwart in the venture ecosystem and manages roughly $4 billion. As a result of building such an incredible venture firm, Alan has had the chance to really think about and hone in on what makes a company special. What I love about …
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I sat down to chat with Dylan Taylor, CEO and chairman of Voyager Space. Voyager Space has a contract to build America's next space station, STARLAB, in collaboration with NASA. Dylan I would say is probably one of the top five most significant names in the entire space industry. A lot of people know Bezos and Musk, but Dylan's in that bucket. He's…
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In the closing episode for 2023, I’m discussing rapid-fire predictions with my colleagues—Phuong, Mike, and Chris—highlighting insights for the upcoming year. Phuong discusses her predictions for 2024, focusing on AI's impact on businesses, particularly in marketing, customer service, and the rise of co-pilots. Mike dives into predictions about hig…
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This week we delve into the intricate dynamics of global markets and the impact of the Federal Reserve's decisions on economic shifts worldwide. Chris is back to dissect the recent tumultuous events in the public equity and bond markets. Our discussion centers on the significant shift in the Federal Reserve's stance, moving from a pessimistic outlo…
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Description: Instead of our usual discussions, I'm excited to share some recent tech discoveries that have caught my attention. These recommendations, I believe, can truly help you level up a few parts of your life. I've been exploring some fascinating Apple features, like stunning screensavers from Apple TV on Macs, widgets on the desktop, and a g…
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DESCRIPTION This discussion revolves around what Phuong and I believe to be the essential qualities of a successful founder. We emphasize four key traits: grit, consistent execution, humility, and integrity. Phuong highlights how successful founders possess unwavering determination despite setbacks, actively learn from failures, execute plans effec…
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Unraveling Market Mysteries: A Deep Dive with Chris Zhang on Fed Influence and Global Turbulence
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DESCRIPTION This conversation between MPD and Chris provides a comprehensive analysis of current market dynamics, emphasizing the nuanced interplay between economic indicators, geopolitical tensions, and the impact on investment strategies. Our discussion underscores the complexity of financial markets, urging caution amidst shifting tones from cen…
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DESCRIPTION This week, Phuong and I are discussing pricing strategies. Pricing plays a critical role in various aspects of your business. You can either position yourself as the lowest or highest price player in the market, while being in the middle can cause confusion for customers. Deciding whether you want a high or low volume business is essent…
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Creating Value for Real Estate Investors by Creating Value for People with Amy Rubenstein of Clear Investment Group LLC
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DESCRIPTION This week I’m joined by Amy Rubenstein, founder of Clear Investment Group LLC, a multifamily real estate firm focused on revitalizing distressed workforce housing. Amy's journey into real estate began by accident, and she highlights the tangible nature of the industry that drew her in. She discusses the transformative work her company d…
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DESCRIPTION Interplay’s Incubator Partner, Phuong and I discuss the importance of managing boards and investors effectively for entrepreneurs. We chat about how boards can either be a significant asset or a liability and provide guidance on how to ensure they are a valuable resource. It is important to carefully select board members who you trust a…
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What a lackluster IPO market means for the venture ecosystem + insights on the changing VC landscape
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DESCRIPTION In this week’s pod, I am joined by Mike Rogers, our VC Partner, to chat about the state of the market, especially in relation to technology companies and the venture capital space. We discuss the disappointment in recent tech IPOs, which have not performed as well as expected. Our conversation touches on the importance of strong IPOs fo…
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Our 100th Episode! How to pivot your startup and why it’s important / shouldn’t get a bad rap.
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DESCRIPTION In this week’s pod, we celebrate our 100th episode! I want to acknowledge the work of our amazing podcast producer, Will Richardson who keeps this going. The main topic of discussion is pivoting in the context of startups and entrepreneurship. Phuong, Incubator Partner at Interplay, provides insights into the pros and cons of pivoting a…
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Navigating the Changing Financial Landscape: A Conversation on Interest Rates, Politics, and Market Outlook
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DESCRIPTION On this week’s episode, I’m joined by Chris Zhang, Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Interplay, on the current state of the world markets and the shift in interest rates signaled by the Federal Reserve. This is Chris’ first time back on the pod since June, so we have a lot to dive into. We discuss the mixed reactions in the market…
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On this week’s episode we have a very special guest join to talk about the future of mental wellbeing and hygiene. Zak Williams - son of the entertainer Robin Williams - shares how his journey has influenced the creation of his company PYM. PYM creates natural supplements with science-backed amino acids, vitamins and minerals to boost neurotransmit…
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Is a VC market upswing coming? Plus, how to hit the ground running after the summer slow down & how to craft a compelling value proposition.
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Welcome back to Innovation w/ Mark Peter Davis. After taking a few months off from the pod, we’re back at it. Here’s what’s covered on this week’s episode: Mike Rogers shares insights on the current market dynamics and data indicating a possible upturn in the venture capital market. The discussion emphasizes the importance of pricing your startup a…
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Summer Survival Guide for Founders: How to Navigate the Lull, Fundraising Tactics and Useful Parenting Strategies
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Summer is upon us and - as we do every year - we’ll be taking a little podcast break until mid-September, so this is the last episode for a couple of months. Since this one will be the most recent ep for a while, we chose to focus on two important topics to help founders navigate the summer lull: summer fundraising tactics + useful parenting strate…
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This week I sit down with Adam Nathan, Cofounder and CEO of Almanac, a collaboration platform that helps remote teams work on the internet, with more structure, more transparency, and fewer meetings. Adam emphasizes that the debate between remote and office work is irrelevant because even before the COVID-19 pandemic, most companies were already op…
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This week’s pod is a two segment episode with my partners Phuong Ireland and Mike Rogers. As usual, Phuong shares some great startup advice. This week she shares valuable insights on team construction and the key factors to consider when making your first hires. Mike and I then discuss the current state of AI and its hype cycle. There’s no question…
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This week, Phuong and I discuss the importance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for entrepreneurs. We emphasize the need to choose a limited number of KPIs to avoid analysis paralysis and prioritize actionable metrics. The primary KPI should align with the business model, such as revenue for most companies, and additional supporting metrics can…
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Effects of the recent debt ceiling resolution, the dichotomy of the stock market and bond market, and the butterknife problem
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This week Chris Zhang and I discuss the impact of the recent debt ceiling resolution and the conflicting signals from the equity market and the bond market. While the stock market remains calm and confident, the bond market indicates a continuing inflationary cycle and a decline in the long-term creditworthiness of US treasuries. Chris suggests tha…
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On this week’s pod ep I sit down for a chat with Seth Levine, Partner of Foundry. Seth has played a significant role in shaping the venture ecosystem over the past two decades and is known for his work in accelerating the democratization of innovation outside of Silicon Valley. We cover a range of topics but do a double click on the importance of h…
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Here’s what’s covered on this week’s pod: A step by step guide on how to iterate your MVP Phuong and I discuss the importance of testing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) to iterate and achieve product-market fit. She outlines a step-by-step process for testing MVPs, starting with defining test objectives and creating metrics to track performance. Fon…
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On this week’s episode I do a deep dive into the world of venture debt with special guest Billy Libby, CEO and Co-founder of Upper90. Get ready to uncover a groundbreaking approach to financing early-stage startups that challenges the traditional equity-focused model. Upper90 is on a mission to make credit accessible to tech companies at an earlier…
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The ultimate guide to bootstrapping your startup + a conversation about the recalibration of Series C valuations
17:45
Here’s what’s covered on this week’s episode: Phuong Ireland joins us to talk about bootstrapping startups. Bootstrapping means building and growing your business without external funding, relying on personal savings, revenue, or loans. It offers benefits like maintaining full ownership, having control over the company's direction, and focusing on …
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China Has Arrived: A Deep Dive Into China's Tech Surge and Increased Standard of Living with Chris Zhang, Partner & CIO of Interplay Family Office
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This week’s episode is a special one. I have a chat with my partner and CIO of the Interplay Family Office, Chris Zhang, to discuss China's remarkable advancements over the past few decades and what its current status looks like. Chris is uniquely positioned to opine on this topic. He was born in China and spent the first 16 years of his life there…
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The Secret to Building A Killer Minimum Viable Product + How to Bank Without the Panic: A Brainstorm on How to Stop Bank Runs
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Here’s what’s covered on this week’s episode: Startup Tip of the Week: Building a Killer MVP (Minimum Viable Product). An update on the situation with First Republic Bank. A brainstorm on how to stop bank runs. Links: Links: RSVP to Is This A Thing?!, Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn…
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How the AI horse race will impact the future of search, validating your MVP, is the dark cloud of the FTX scandal gone and an update on the inflation battle
32:55
Here’s what’s covered on this week’s episode: The AI horse race and how it will affect the future of search Crypto prices are up. Is the dark cloud of FTX gone? The Shanghai Upgrade for the Ethereum network. Startup Tip of the Week: Validating an MVP An update on the inflation battle. Links: Links: Bruvi, Ethereum's Shanghai Upgrade Follow us on Tw…
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On this week’s episode, I interview Taylor Adams, a fifth-generation family member who is an entrepreneur, investor, and coach to families on multi-generational wealth. We discuss the challenges of managing wealth across generations while empowering individuals to find their purpose, as well as the importance of education, purpose, and giving back.…
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How & when to build your startup’s sales team, a discussion about the open governance opportunities that come with crypto, and a deep dive into the modern tech-enabled restaurant industry with Vivian Wang ...
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This week's episode has a special guest, Vivian Wang - Founder and CEO of Landed. Landed is the first end-to-end recruiting platform helping restaurants and hospitality employers hire top-notch candidates fast. During the interview Vivian and I chat all about how Landed is making it easier for restaurants to hire folks (which is especially helpful …
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The game theory of a bank run, navigating advisor relationships, and bond laddering explained
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Here’s what’s covered on this week’s episode: The fallout from SVB’s closure. Different strategies founders can keep in mind when deciding on where to keep and invest their cash reserves, including bond laddering. With the banking system's current status, there has been a lot of crypto activity. Brett breaks it down. Startup Tip of the Week: how to…
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Banking Madness: A before and after analysis of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse, plus what really happened with Silvergate
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In the past week three prominent banks closed their doors. On this week's episode we break down what's happening. Links: Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay, @brettpalatiello Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedInInterplay
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Tax tips for startups, content checkin including our go to sources for news, and indexing against sandbagging
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Tax season is upon us so we decided to bring on a guest from the Interplay ecosystem to help break down some must-knows for startups when navigating the process. The guest is Kate Kelly, CEO and Co-Founder of Chelsea Capital. Chelsea Capital is a financial services company, offering alternative financing, accounting, tax, and fractional CFO service…
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