Atlanta Startup Podcast

These founders met at a pre-sunrise run, and the conversation revolved around the intersection of real estate development and technology. The result, Yieldi, is making real estate investing as simple as shopping on Amazon. Hear the Atlanta duo discuss more about Yieldi and their thoughts on the state of current real estate markets.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Founder Dustin Walsey of Buckle thinks gig work could be a lot safer. His rideshare insurance agency is designed around the gig worker starting with drivers. Find out how that changes everything in this interview of the edge of internet economy with host William Leonard.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

SmartCommerce founder and CEO Jennifer Silverberg shares her do's and don'ts in startup fundraising in this candid episode with Valor general partner Lisa Calhoun. This is a can't-miss episode for founders packed with fundraising tips and strategies that work. You'll especially enjoy how she dives into the differences between raising in VC, New York, and the Valley as an Atlanta founder.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Atlanta Founder and Georgia Tech grad Ajesh Kapoor shares his story of prior exits, crucial lessons learned as a founder, and how his latest startup. SemiCab is digitizing the antiquated world of freight movement. Learn all about it in this conversation with Valor Investor William Leonard.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

After relocating her startup to Atlanta from New York, Founder and CEO of Knac Ariel Lopez shares the driving forces behind her decision and breaks down Knac's approach to humanizing the hiring process.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

With police and community relations in the recent spotlight, Lisa Mitchell and Marlin Jackson detail their approach to improving transparency and accountability between government organizations and local communities through the Pulse Analytix software platform.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Kauffman Fellow and VC Carlos Antequera, Co-founder and Managing Director at Novel Growth Partners, details his team's approach to building a revenue-based financing venture fund. In this conversation with host William Leondard, he lays out why they don't take equity in their investments and how they look for opportunities with this "novel" approach in Atlanta.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Led by CEO and Founder Jennifer Sparks, Atlanta startup VacMobile is working to simplify the storage and transmission of vaccination records and health status records from your smartphone. Enjoy Jennifer discussing her pre-covid vision of more secure, transparent vaccination record storage and how she's using COVID-19 to accelerate VacMobile.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Learn how Dan Drechsel, Partner at Panoramic, looks for opportunities in the Southeast in this conversation with Valor Ventures investor William Leonard. You'll get a deep dive into how Panoramic sees investing opportunity and is applying a wider lens to grow its funnel of founders. Dan shares how he sees two basic types of founders and what he looks for in pitches that catch his interest.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Atlanta Business Chronicle journalist Erin Schilling landed in Atlanta after graduating from UGA. She's made a big difference in less than a year of reporting on the Atlanta startup scene. Learn how to pitch this dynamic young journalist and what she looks for in a great story in this conversation with Valor general partner Lisa Calhoun.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Learn from three pioneering general partners in venture capital what it takes to scale an early-stage venture capital firm in the Southeast. Find out how to earn a seed-stage lead investor term sheet from each of them. Enjoy this conversation with general partners at The Artemis Fund, a Houston-based seed-stage lead investor eager to invest more in Atlanta, hosted by Valor general partner Lisa Calhoun.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Ken founded Speedscale in 2020 with the ultimate ambition of developing a more efficient solution to prevent production incidents with automation. Hear Ken's journey of starting Speedscale, his advice on developing a GTM strategy, and his take on industry/geographical trends that serve as tailwinds for Speedscale in this conversation with Valor Investor, William Leonard.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Maggie Kenefake, venture partner with Kansas City venture capital firm Royal Street, looks for seed-stage opportunities in Atlanta too. She is excited about experienced founders in the Southeast with a bias toward diverse founders. Learn what it takes to earn her term sheet in this interview with host and Valor Ventures investor William Leonard.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Georgia Tech grad and Atlanta native Graham Gitz shares how his first-time fundraising struggles created a vision for Knightley, a data room challenger to data rooms like Digify, Dropbox, and Docsend.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Hear 20-year veteran venture capitalist Gary Peat, venture capital firm founder Lisa Calhoun, and rising investor William Peat discuss investing in Fintech in the Southeast. They're all investors at Valor Ventures, one of the most active fintech seed investors in the region.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

CoFounders Capital is the most active early-stage venture capital investor in North Carolina, according to Crunchbase. Hear this deep dive discussion with general partner Tim McLoughlin and Valor investor William Leonard. Learn what Tim loves to invest in and his tips for raising capital for founders.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Interviewed by Valor investor William Leonard, Atlanta founder Tim Hall is helping reshape how large CPG brands leverage AI to automate new product research. Simporter's software automates new product research, including White Space Exploration, pre-launch forecasting, marketing simulations, and product monitoring.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

General Partner at Maveron Anarghya Vardhana is long on inclusion and the demographic shifts reshaping culture. Listen to this passionate conversation with Valor General Partner Lisa Calhoun on how she broke into VC as an immigrant from South India and how she now leads investments for one of the top venture capital firms in the country. Anarghya invests in Seed and Series A and works actively across the Southeast, including leading Maveron's investment in Atlanta's Black-female-founded Capway.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Victoria Fram is co-founder of Village Capital, a visionary VC investing in seed stage. It started right here in Atlanta and the firm backs founders in the South regularly. Victoria didn't start out as a venture capitalist. She backpacked the world trying to ease poverty. Hear how that influences and informs her investments in this provocative conversation with Valor general partner and founder Lisa CalhounLet's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Hear dynamic Atlanta lawyer-turned-software-founder Lucy Lu describe how she built AI Legal during the pandemic into a scaling platform that helps other businesses manage legal costs. Interviewed by Valor General Partner Lisa Calhoun, this Startup Runway Finalist graduated from the Harvard of China and brings incredible insight and zest to her work to change the costly legal environment by automating tedious processes.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Interviewed by Valor general partner Lisa Calhoun, learn how William Leonard--raised in Marietta, educated in Macon at Mercer--plotted a path to break into venture capital. He's worked with not one, but three, venture capital firms and shares his mindset and insights into why he chose to get into venture--and how he made it happen.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Seasoned Atlanta venture capitalists Mike Becker and Emery Waddell of Vocap Partners join host Lisa Calhoun of Valor Ventures to discuss why the Southeast is suddenly such a hot topic in the global startup community. Learn what this experienced operator-VC looks for when they lead seed investments. Get Mike Becker's incredible playbook for hiring your best sales leader ever.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Yotam's Atlanta AI startup provides monitored production for AI. "We help scientists and engineers figure out if their AI is working well," he says. Learn more about how Mona's team in Atlanta and Tel Aviv is creating outperformance for software teams using AI.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Kyle Schlotman Managing Partner of early stage venture capital firm Connetic has been investing in fast-growth startups for half a decade. The firm uses a unique screening approach. Instead of meeting with founders, they ask a few questions through a form. Learn more about how this innovative early-stage investor is sourcing deals in this conversation hosted by Valor general partner Lisa CalhounLet's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Are you hungry? Sofiat can relate. She started the fastest growing food truck platform in the country. It helps food truck owners and operators serve customers faster. Learn more about her journey as a fintech founder and why she's in love with the diversity and deliciousness of the food truck industry. Interviewed by Valor general partner Lisa Calhoun.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

What are the real grassroots technology trends driving startups this year? Hear from software founders including Deb Casurella, CEO of MyAgData; Jeannie Tarkenton of Funding U; Nelson Thomas from Ecotext and Andrew McConnell of Rented.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Medical expert Evodie Epane is an Atlanta founder whose company Vegan Tiger is bringing a healthy new delicious snack to market. Learn about her journey into vegan foods.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

The Biden Harris administration is going to have a huge impact on the venture capital industry. Get insights of national and local interest from leaders Congressman Kwanza Hall, who won the US House of Representatives seat formerly held by Hon. John Lewis; Jina Sanone, executive director of political action group Her Term; and Tiffany McKenzie, partner with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. This conversation is hosted by Valor general partners Lisa Calhoun and Gary Peat.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Hustling co-founders Joel Nkounkou and Nelson Thomas just raised their first venture round for their digital textbook platform. Enjoy their insights into what the students of today need from their learning platforms.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Hear Atlanta founder Carolyn Pitt who's building the top job platform for the film and media industry. She shares why customers like Marvel focus on hiring in the Southeast, and what her startup is doing about it.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Founder Safir Monroe knows airlines, and COVID-19 is the perfect storm for the industry. Get his insider's perspective on building the software the industry needs to recover and thrive.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Meet one of the most prolific and seasoned angel investors in Atlanta, Mike Ross, president and founder of MHR International. In this can't-miss conversation, you'll hear his deep insights on the break-out Black Tech scene headquartered in Atlanta and get his thoughts on the future.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Small Bites Adventure Club creates turn-key tools to help children discover, love and eat fruits and vegetables. Learn how Atlanta founder Erin Croom is tackling the frontier of food for the youngest, pickiest eaters.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Dive in deep with LaVonda Brown as she shares how EyeGage is changing drug screening technologies for the better. Every day, 29 people die because of driving under the influence. This simple app you can use on your own phone can change the game for good.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Calendly founder Tope Awotona shares openly about how he works, why he built Calendly, and how he sees success in a conversation with Valor General Partner Lisa Calhoun, recorded for Startup Runway as a part of its event series for under-represented founders.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

How do medical students pass national exams? These medical students designed a brand new platform to help medical students navigate the system. Find out about the business they're building and how they create smarter doctors, faster.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Founder and designer Tia Robinson created an hot activewear line in Atlanta, Georgia that keys into the needs of active performance, pole, and party. Find out why she invented this unique line and how she's building the business.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Lafayette Julius and Rodney Morris of Valor Ventures interview Julius Bryant, a Startup Runway Finalist and founder of Jax Rideshare. Julius rents cars to carless people, empowering them to make money in the gig economy. Learn about his fast-growth Atlanta platform.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Meet Ashley Richardson, whose software for social media and graphics is growing fast from its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Ashley talks about her journey as a founder. She shares why her platform for startups is growing so fast and what's next for MyTotem. MyTotem is a Zane Ventures Fund founder and a Startup Runway Finalist.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Lauren Kane spent years with Golden Seeds. She shares how she learned how to work with female founders through the Golden Seeds platform. "It's inherently hard for women to fundraise." Learn about how she's driven to support women entrepreneurs find capital through her own consulting business today and her experiences on the journey.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Learn how Ross Kimbel at Silicon Road invests in b2c leaders changing the world of commerce. This venture capital firm is based in Atlanta and focuses on companies changing how brands go to market. Ross shares openly how to get in touch, what they look for in founders, and why they love leading seed rounds in strong Atlanta startups.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Rocket scientist and physicist Louise Wasilewski is changing the world through her growing Atlanta enterprise SaaS startup Acivilate, adopted by many leading organizations. Imagine having your father taken away from the family for a crime. Imagine further, the family's economic as well as emotional suffering even after his return, because of the full impact of how hard it is to be employed after incarceration. This are just parts of Louise's amazing story. Hear her tips on fundraising and more.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Robin Gregg left a huge corporate job to take the helm at Atlanta logistics software startup RoadSync. She shares how she navigated from startup mentor to CEO, her tips on venture capital fundraising, building a strong team, and so much more.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Jasmine Crowe, CEO at Goodr, is engineering a way to feed the hungry with her startup Goodr. Get inspired by this no-nonsense, venture-backed Atlanta founder who brings smiles to the faces of our neighbors in need every day--at scale. She shares what it was like to negotiate her first enterprise customer, the Atlanta Airport, and her first investor with honesty and passion. This is one you don't want to miss.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Jasmine Crowe is a hero, and you're going to love hearing her story using tech, accounting expertise and hustle to overcome hunger. Her vision is just beginning at Goodr, one of the hottest startups out of Atlanta. Hear her share her wisdom on fundraising, hearing no, and saving the world. Because she most definitely is doing that. Listen now.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Boards can accelerate or sink your startup. Hear seasoned operators Connie Mixon, Theia Smith, and Tim Cook discuss the right way to build a dynamic startup board that will help you win. Each of these Atlanta experts has dynamic national experience across multiple startup boards.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

In this special edition drawn from his keynote at Startup Runway, hear from Ryan Wilson, a founder of color, on why Black Leadership Matters. Reality meets encouragement in his message--hear his powerful perspective as the founder of a fast-growing movement for inclusive, progressive communities across the country.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Amy Zimmerman has helped multiple fintech startups scale and exit in her role as Chief People Officer or "talent wrangler in chief." Learn her secrets on scaling talent fresh from her recent success as one of the First 5 team members at Kabbage. This is also a VIDEO interview on our web site if you'd like to see Amy in person.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Startup Atlanta just released the definitive guide to the Atlanta startup ecosystem. Hear Kylan Kester share what's new, what's hot, and what you need to pay attention to the country's fastest-growing startup and venture capital hub.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Turn your selfies in savings with Klippit, a startup competitively selected from hundreds of applications as a Startup Runway Finalist. Hear founder Chike Nwoke share his inspiration for the platform and how to get insider access.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.