This episode is sponsored by JP Morgan . --- In this episode of Founding Philly, we bring you the second installment of our Roundtable Series—recorded live at the Fitler Club—where we gather Philadelphia's top founders and ecosystem builders for a candid conversation about what it’s really like to build in Philly. Joining me for this roundtable are Helena Jaramillo , co-founder of PamPam , a no-code map-building platform; Tito Obaisi , from Comcast Lift Labs , which helps bridge the gap between ...
Jun 24, 2025•50 min
This episode is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs . --- In this episode of Founding Philly, I sit down with three Philly founders—Tiffanie Stanard, founder and CEO of Stimulus, and Adit Gupta and Tom Falzani, co-founders of Lula Commerce—for a candid conversation on what it takes to build, grow, and scale early-stage startups in Philadelphia. This episode kicks off the Roundtable Series, a new format of Founding Philly. Same mission, same great topics—now with more perspectives from ac...
Apr 30, 2025•48 min
In this episode of Founding Philly, I sit down with Matt Wallach, co-founder of Veeva Systems, a cloud-computing company dedicated to pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Starting with just $7M in venture capital, Matt led Veeva to an IPO within just six years, marking it as one of the most capital-efficient success stories ever. Founded in 2007 by Matt Wallach and Peter Gassner, Veeva initially aimed to become the premier CRM solution for the pharmaceutical industry during a time when l...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 3 min
This episode is sponsored by J.P. Morgan . --- In this episode, I interview Andrew Goldberg, Co-founder and COO of HealthVerity, a software company advancing science by synchronizing transformational technologies with the nation’s largest healthcare and consumer data ecosystem. HealthVerity was founded to address a critical need in the healthcare industry: to combine disparate datasets in a HIPAA-compliant manner, revealing patient insights and powering innovation. They leverage innovative techn...
Dec 10, 2024•51 min
In this episode of the Founding Philly podcast, we interviewed the 3 finalists from this year's PACT "Lion's Den" segment—their Shark Tank'-style pitch competition. Over 60 startups pitched throughout the day and only these 3 made it to the finals, walking away with about $1 million in investments (pending diligence). Jo Norris of Carbon Reform , Guru Sethupathy of FairNow , and Lauren Steidl and Ian Adolsek from Integrated Reality Labs discuss their strategies for success and the key elements o...
Nov 19, 2024•44 min
This episode is sponsored by PACT . --- In this episode of Founding Philly, I moderated the Entrepreneur Panel at the PACT Capital Conference, featuring a deep dive with Mumbi Dunjwa, Alan Rihm, and Morgan Berman into their startup journeys in Philadelphia. We explored the crucial early lessons that have shaped their ventures. Mumbi Dunjwa of Naturaz discussed her approach to hair care products, emphasizing the critical role of customer feedback in refining her offerings. By integrating direct r...
Nov 05, 2024•46 min
This episode is sponsored by J.P. Morgan . -- In this episode, I interview Damon Henry, CEO and Co-founder of Asylon, a company at the forefront of robotic perimeter security, redefining the field with drones, robots, software, and AI. Dedicated to revolutionizing physical security, Asylon integrates advanced robotics and AI to boost safety and efficiency across commercial and defense sectors. Damon, an MIT grad and aerospace engineer, began his career at industry giants like GE and Boeing. Insp...
Oct 08, 2024•46 min
Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs . -- In this episode, I interview John Fazio, CEO and Founder of Nerd Street, a company dedicated to making esports accessible to everyone. Nerd Street facilitates competitive opportunities for gamers at all levels, including youth, high school, collegiate, amateur, and professional scenes. John, a lifelong gamer and technologist, has merged his passions for video games, sports, and technology into creating Nerd Street. From reverse engineering video g...
Sep 18, 2024•40 min
Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs . -- In this episode, I interview Laura Plunkett, Head of LIFT Labs and Executive Director of Startup Engagement at Comcast NBCUniversal. LIFT Labs strategically engages startups worldwide, collaborating with teams at Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky to refine strategies and transform products and experiences. During the episode, Laura emphasizes the importance of connecting startup founders with corporate leaders to forge long-term partnerships. She exp...
Sep 04, 2024•37 min
Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs . -- In this episode, I interview Dave Latshaw II, CEO and Co-Founder of BioPhy, an AI-driven company committed to bringing better drugs and therapies to market faster. Significant capital is being invested in artificial intelligence for drug discovery, yet traditional drug development remains notoriously slow, inefficient, and risky. This raises a critical question: How is the industry preparing for a future where AI drives faster and more expansive d...
Aug 20, 2024•48 min
In this episode, I interview Kurt Simmons, a Partner at Withum, a technology-driven advisory and accounting firm that provides comprehensive support to emerging businesses in the Philadelphia area. Withum offers a range of services, including audit, tax, and advisory services, tailored to support companies across various niches such as technology, life sciences, and financial services. The firm's Technology and Emerging Growth Services Team brings a dynamic approach, going beyond traditional acc...
Jun 26, 2024•23 min
At this year's PSL Entrepreneur Expo at CYTO PHL, we sat down with a few friends from the local startup ecosystem to discuss their journeys and how they navigated the early days. In this episode, I interview Robbie Verna, Co-Founder & CEO of Let's Rallie, and David Castley, Co-Founder & CEO of RAEV Mobility. Let's Rallie initially launched as a consumer app designed to help users find spontaneous activities and events around their city, such as restaurants, bars, and local happenings. Th...
Jun 11, 2024•38 min
Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs . -- In this episode, I interview Charlie Andersen, CEO and Co-Founder of Burro, a company that develops autonomous robots to work side-by-side with farm workers, enhancing the productivity and sustainability of agriculture. Charlie has always been the 'machine guy,' having grown up on a family-owned fruit and vegetable farm that also operated a construction company. He constantly explored ways to enhance productivity with machinery and technology, rec...
May 28, 2024•51 min
In this episode, I interview Brandon Aversano, Founder and CEO of Alloy, a platform revolutionizing the way individuals sell gold and other precious metals. Driven by personal hardships from a cancer diagnosis and substantial medical bills, Brandon encountered significant challenges in receiving fair prices for his own gold and jewelry. Alloy offers a customer-centric and transparent approach, enabling people to receive competitive, accurate upfront payout estimates and industry-leading payouts ...
May 14, 2024•40 min
In this episode, I interview Shannon Morales, Founder & CEO of Tribaja and the curator of Diversitech, one of the largest inclusion and tech conferences on the East Coast. Tribaja is a vibrant community of professionals advancing in modern, high-demand careers. Tribaja has built a dynamic marketplace that connects these professionals with inclusive brands, offering opportunities in high-demand career fields. The organization focuses on the intersections of tech and innovation and is committe...
Apr 16, 2024•40 min
In this episode, I had the privilege of interviewing Irene Rombel, Co-Founder and CEO of BioCurie, and Nyron Burke, Co-Founder and CEO of Lithero. Recorded live on 3/28 at Venture Cafe in front of an audience, we explored their companies' innovative use of AI in the Life Sciences sector. Our conversation covered the challenges presented by the legal and regulatory landscape, and the substantial benefits AI offers for patient outcomes and efficiency within the life sciences industry. The discussi...
Apr 02, 2024•46 min
This episode is sponsored by J.P. Morgan . -- In this episode, I interview Sylvester Mobley, Managing Director of Plain Sight Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm that specializes in investing in product-led, pre-seed to seed B2B SaaS companies led by underrepresented founders. Plain Sight Capital takes a unique approach, focusing horizontally across industries while employing product-led strategies to deliver value to customers, aiming to bypass lengthy and complex sales processes. Sylv...
Mar 19, 2024•52 min
This episode is sponsored by J.P. Morgan . -- In this episode, I interview Mike Lahiff, CEO and Co-Founder of ZeroEyes, an AI-based weapons detection solution born from a mission to prevent mass shootings and enhance public safety. Founded in 2018 by a team of Navy SEALs and military veterans, ZeroEyes integrates with existing security cameras to monitor streaming video feeds for firearms. They sought to overcome the limitations of current security systems, which largely depend on human monitori...
Mar 05, 2024•41 min
In this episode, I interview Marshall Darr, co-founder and CEO of StretchDollar, a platform that provides instant, budget-friendly health benefits for small businesses. StretchDollar dramatically simplifies the group health insurance process, making it much more affordable and accessible for small businesses throughout America. Their approach enables employers on their platform to offer tax-free funding, which employees can then use to pay for their individual market plans that best suit their n...
Feb 20, 2024•48 min
In this episode, I interview Jeff Stade and Will Sanderson, co-founders of Jawnt, a platform that provides access to the city through unified transit. Their innovative platform bridges the gap between mobility providers and organizations, delivering tailored benefits and access that align with the specific needs of each organization and its employees. Jawnt enables organizations to allocate funds for their employees' transit needs, allowing them to fully or partially cover the costs associated w...
Feb 06, 2024•43 min
In this episode, I interview Ben Williams, the Chief Operating Officer of Exyn Technologies. Exyn is a leading company in autonomous systems, specializing in navigation and data creation in unstructured environments. Exyn is focused on commercial applications involving GPS-denied navigation. This includes environments like underground mines and internal building surveys, where the company can rapidly and safely generate high-fidelity 3D maps of areas that were previously inaccessible. The compan...
Jan 23, 2024•41 min
In this episode, I interview Audrey Greenberg, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of the Center for Breakthrough Medicines (CBM), an innovative organization specializing in cell and gene therapy-focused contract development and manufacturing (CDMO). CBM offers an integrated and comprehensive service, providing a one-source solution to accelerate the market delivery of advanced therapies. Their client-driven approach, combined with a patient-centric culture, ensures high quality and reliabilit...
Jan 09, 2024•38 min
On this episode, I interview Amy Zitelman, CEO and Co-Founder of Soom Foods, a sister-owned company renowned for its tahini and tahini products. Soom Tahini, known for its silky-smooth texture, is made from sesame seeds and has become a versatile ingredient in both Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, enhancing both savory and sweet dishes. Soom Foods' high-quality tahini has established itself as a staple in professional kitchens and home pantries. Their products are available in numerous...
Dec 05, 2023•41 min
In this episode, I interview Nina Farran, Co-Founder and CEO of Fashionkind, and Josh Mastromatto, Co-Founder and CEO of Rego, following their participation in the Lion's Den event at the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Capital Conference, hosted by PACT (Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies). Fashionkind offers a luxury shopping experience that's unparalleled, featuring a curated selection of exquisite pieces from leading sustainable luxury designers worldwide. Each designer is hand-selected fo...
Nov 21, 2023•25 min
On this episode, I interview Rick Nucci, Co-founder and CEO of Guru. Guru is the all-in-one tool that keeps your team connected and puts all the information they need in one place. As a collaborative knowledge management solution, Guru is at the forefront of empowering the next generation of knowledge workers. With hundreds of customers, including leading enterprises like Shopify, Square, Spotify, and Zoom, Guru is reshaping how teams create, find, and share institutional knowledge. Guru combine...
Nov 07, 2023•59 min
On this episode, I interview Dean Miller, President & CEO of PACT, the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies. PACT provides its members with valuable connectivity to capital, talent, and customers, fostering growth acceleration and success. PACT plays a crucial role within the Philadelphia startup ecosystem, facilitating networking opportunities and helping entrepreneurs connect with investors, mentors, and other key industry players. As President & CEO of PACT, Dean is a dr...
Oct 24, 2023•31 min
On this episode, I interview Jake Stein, Co-founder & CEO of Common Paper. Common Paper helps you create and sign contracts faster. Their structured contract platform helps you build trusted templates using their standard agreements, then negotiate, sign and manage contracts in a single workflow. Jake and his team felt that buying and selling technology is still harder than it should be. Throughout his career, one of Jake's biggest frustrations was the process of managing contracts of his cu...
Oct 10, 2023•43 min
On this episode, I interview Brian Glick, Founder and CEO of Chain.io. Chain.io is connecting the software that moves supply chains. Their platform connects systems so businesses have better control over the information they need to manage their supply chain. Chain.io was founded out of necessity, not just desire. With 15 years of experience working with global retailers, logistics providers, and software vendors, they witnessed the challenges and inefficiencies in integrations. They observed th...
Sep 26, 2023•46 min
Live Episode @ Venture Cafe | Founding Philly Meetup 9/7 This episode was recorded LIVE at the Founding Philly Meetup in partnership with Venture Cafe. On this episode, I got to sit down (in-person) with Dave Becker, Co-Founder & CEO of CampusESP and Catherine Griffin, Founder of ImpactableX. CampusESP turns parents into partners and is focused on student success. Making it easy to keep the most important influencers of students informed, their families. From impacting enrollment, to student...
Sep 12, 2023•32 min
On this episode, I interview Tiffanie Stanard, Founder and CEO of Stimulus. Stimulus uses data & analytics to help companies make better (diverse, equitable, and inclusionary) purchasing decisions. Stimulus is all about transforming businesses into efficient decision-makers, with a strong focus on nurturing and growing supplier ecosystems. From impacting sourcing, to procurement, to purchasing decisions, maintaining effective vendor relationships is critical for businesses looking to support...
Jul 25, 2023•50 min
