Sam Parr retired with over $20 Million by age 31, just a few years after losing his job offer at AirBNB. In this interview, Sam goes deep into his journey to share his biggest lessons learned while creating an impressive career and company. Parr is the founder of The Hustle, a daily newsletter providing an entertaining delivery of the latest news in business and tech. He was born in Missouri, grew up in Tennessee, and moved to San Francisco after graduating from college. His media company The Hu...
Jan 10, 2023•53 min
Arlan is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a venture capital firm dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBTQ. Backstage has raised tens of millions of dollars, invested in 200 startups led by underestimated founders, and has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Quartz. Arlan also founded Runner, a talent operations startup that co...
Dec 21, 2022•31 min
Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) shouldn’t need an introduction. Revered as the king of content, he has an uncanny ability to spot trends in the market and skate to where the puck is going. Gary has his finger on the pulse of consumers and is one of the most forward-thinking voices in business today. He is also a prolific angel investor. His portfolio is bolstered by early positions in Facebook, Uber, Twitter, Coinbase, and his own NFT project VeeFriends. Mickey Cloud is the Executive Director of The ...
Dec 14, 2022•53 min
Six years ago we launched the Powderkeg Podcast Igniting Startups. We were featured in top publications like Entrepreneur and Forbes. Since 2017 we have interviewed over 100 execs at dynamic tech companies beyond Silicon Valley. We are excited to bring this Podcast back in a way that honors both the Powderkeg community and the amazing growth that we have seen in the Unvalley community over the last several years. In Episode 0 we are going to catch you up on what we’ve been up to for the last two...
Dec 14, 2022•55 min
The last two years have taught us so much. How to be flexible and adapt quickly to change. A whole new style of doing business in a virtual world. Even how to integrate your work and your life in a healthy way. Today we are hearing startup growth stories from 5 CEOs based in the Circle City. These five Indianapolis-based tech companies are doing incredible things and we are joined by their CEOs to hear some stories and lessons learned over the last two years. One CEO opened a 50-acre innovation ...
Nov 15, 2022•53 min
Culture, when built correctly can be your key differentiator. When built incorrectly it can be your Achilles' heel. Today we do a deep dive into the founding story of Indianapolis darling startup Lessonly. Lessonly is a market leader in training software and was acquired by San Diego-based Seismic in 2021. We sit down with co-founders Max Yoder and Conner Burt to discuss Lessonly's development over the last decade and why culture has always been a North Star in the companies evolution. Max and C...
Nov 24, 2021•40 min
Have you ever been stuck in a parking garage and couldn't quite figure out how to leave? Well, you're not the only one; according to reports, 85% of "help" calls in a parking garage are due to struggles with understanding the equipment, whereas only 15% of those calls are due to actual equipment failure. That’s why today, you'll hear from a company that saw the need for human interaction within the parking industry and set out to fill it—combining software-as-a-service, hardware, and a 24/7 call...
Sep 04, 2020•33 min
The Minneapolis-St. Paul area may not be as known for tech as San Francisco, but the city has seen huge potential in building a rising tech scene. And when it comes to the Midwest, you couldn't ask for a more tech-friendly city. Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to some of the top accounting firms in the country and overall has a healthy and satisfying tech environment. And with so much untapped potential left for opportunists to unlock...it's hard not to consider becoming a part of the incredible te...
Sep 01, 2020•42 min
Every new beginning has its struggles, but getting a business started to call your own can be so fulfilling. Today we dive in with a founder who is ready to risk everything. He gives up his steady 9-to-5 job to chase his passion for the entrepreneurial dream beginning with the simple words "I Quit." On today's episode of the Powderkeg Pitch, we're bringing on Co-founder and BBQ expert of Durham based Mike D’s BBQ, Mike De Los Santos. Mike and his wife Gloria started building a BBQ sauce business...
Aug 28, 2020•23 min
How much more impactful could your company's marketing strategy be if you could understand exactly what content to create and the best places to publish it in order to keep up with the present trends? Well in today’s episode, you’ll hear from Shawn Schwegman, Co-founder and CSO of Demandjump. DemandJump focuses on taking the uncertainty out of digital marketing by allowing you to see what your customers and competitors are doing, and what you should be doing next to get out ahead. Shawn had only...
Aug 25, 2020•15 min
Leaders that are able to build and create a culture of openness and collaboration are able to encourage their team to better self-develop, communicate, and share what they are learning so they can capitalize on the actions they are or could be doing better, and promoting and pushing one another to do the same. But where do we begin in order to create and maintain this idea that we call product culture? In today’s episode, I speak with Marcus Cobb, a technologist, product designer, public speaker...
Aug 18, 2020•49 min
Most companies understand the importance of employee training, with the highest priority being the need for creating the right training resources for increasing effectiveness talent training programs. But for most companies, it always seems to come with a struggle of creating the right training tools and applications for company talent. That's why on today's episode of Powderkeg Pitch, we're featuring a company focused on helping teams learn and practice, and do better work. In today’s episode, ...
Aug 14, 2020•14 min
In the last decade, the cities of Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville have grown Tennesse tech tremendously, attracting skilled talent, founders, and investors from across the country. Today, we talk with a CEO of a public-private partnership with Entrepreneur Centers in seven regions across the state focused on connecting and nurturing innovative startups, and tight-knit communities—mixed with a healthy dose of Southern hospitality—that has become a secret weapon on their journey tow...
Aug 11, 2020•40 min
Indianapolis Tech is growing at full throttle, but there is still so much untapped potential. From startups to tech giants, high-growth companies have found Indianapolis (Indy) to be an ideal home. The city is outpacing the competition by providing experienced talent, lower cost of living, and a productive environment of innovative founders, investors, and leaders. That’s why Powderkeg teamed up with several Indiana organizations to gain insight into growth and innovation happening in the unique...
Jul 28, 2020•53 min
Being able to launch a tech product can always be a difficult step for startups. The technical issues in the first product are common, and user feedback during the early days of rollout often more focused on the problems than the product's actual features. This can make it difficult for teams to focus on what's working and what isn't. Luckily, in today's episode of Powderkeg Pitch, we brought on someone focused on eliminating this massive headache for startups. In today’s pitch episode of the Po...
Jul 24, 2020•16 min
There’s no doubt that companies, big or small, can have a tremendous influence on the community. And in being a founder, CEO, and a leader, it can come with great responsibility. I'll avoid using any more famous superhero references but wanted to share the most important facts I gained from this conversation. Almost 81% of all VC firms don't have a single Black investor. In a sample of 160 firms with more than 2 people, only 5 have at least 2 Black investors. Another study found that Blacks are ...
Jul 21, 2020•48 min
When entering the world of entrepreneurship, it can come with a long list of challenges. Rewarding challenges, but many unpleasant challenges nonetheless. The biggest battle for most would-be entrepreneurs is taking the first step. It may be quitting a job, putting up a website, entering a startup accelerator program, approaching somebody with your first elevator pitch, or simply announcing your new venture to the world and family and committing the dollars and credit you have. That’s why on tod...
Jul 14, 2020•27 min
Our national fight against COVID still continues in round 1. And it has been a roller coaster ride for most digital health startups here in 2020 so far. After jumping out of the gates fast, U.S. digital health companies have raised an extraordinary $5.4 billion in venture capital support across the first six months of 2020. The first half of 2020 saw more support than any previous first half from years 2011 to 2019. And there is one Indianapolis company that is capitalizing on this growth and do...
Jul 10, 2020•15 min
Branding. It’s one of the essential elements of any company, but it’s also something startup owners might not know how to create. Fortunately, our guest on this episode of the Powderkeg Podcast is a leading expert on all things related to the brand (including employer branding). She breaks branding down to its simplest components for time-strapped founders. Tiffany Sauder is the founder and CEO of Element Three, a full-service marketing agency in Indianapolis. In just 13 years, Tiffany has grown...
Jul 07, 2020•52 min
Whether you’re an employee or entrepreneur, creating your personal brand has grown and become more critical. If you want to start trusting and valuing your instincts more and maybe even advance your career, it’s time to start setting yourself apart with personal branding. In a tech industry, that’s all about people; the importance of personal branding never goes away. There are 21 million salespeople in this country, and that number is set to keep growing. What are you doing to stand out in the ...
Jun 30, 2020•45 min
Most consumers are excited after they buy, so they check their tracking number according to UPS, 2.42 times after they have ordered an item. And if you're shipping 1,000 packages, that's 2,420 brand impressions. Some, if not most of the well-known brands, will always send that type of traffic to a shipping company like FedEx or UPS or any third-party company. Which entirely disrupts the customer's entire branded experience. It has never been more challenging to get and retain customer attention,...
Jun 26, 2020•15 min
No one wants to hear a sales pitch on LinkedIn. But sales teams that use LinkedIn wish to create valuable connections, which can eventually lead to sales opportunities. By making a few minor tweaks, you can turn your LinkedIn profile into a remarkable lead generator and sales tool, but first, you have to focus on creating a positive impression. What are some key ways to accomplishing this? In today’s episode, you’ll hear an interview, and LIVE Q&A, we recently hosted with some of the leading...
Jun 23, 2020•25 min
Power is shifting in Silicon Valley. And the stories in today's edition of The Spark give you more context to the trends and opportunities that are worth keeping an eye on. Here are some of the top stories we'll be featuring that happened in tech beyond Silicon Valley on this week's edition of The Spark: 🏢Mighty Middle Tops Best-Cities Lists—Again 🦄+1 Midwest Unicorn Exit 🤓Calling all Entrepre-NERDs 💥And much more! Plus, in today's episode, we feature special guest Ruben Harris, founder &...
Jun 20, 2020•43 min
Whether you’re planning a full-scale job hunt in 2020 or simply thinking about your future steps, career-wise, you may have to do some prep work to reach your full potential on your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is one of the first places prospective employers scope you out. So what are some of the ways you can make the most out of your profile? For these reasons, our two special on today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast are experts when it comes to helping job seekers use the power of LinkedIn. ...
Jun 16, 2020•37 min
How have you been responding to some of the big shifts in tech that have been happening over the past week? Well in this very special mini-episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, we will be sharing some of the latest and greatest news stories that happened in tech between the coasts this past week. Here are some of the top stories happening in tech beyond Silicon Valley in this week’s edition of The Spark: 💥VCs Take Action 🚂Leaving Salaries in SF 💸10+ New Fundings & IPOs P.S. Make sure you chec...
Jun 14, 2020•14 min
The tech industry is growing rapidly. But there’s a shortage of skilled talent to match all the new positions being created. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that by 2026, careers in software development will increase by 24%. Which translates to a lot of open career opportunities in tech. Fortunately, there are many ways for people to learn these skills such as following the traditional path of a college. But for some, going to college isn’t an option – it’s expensive, it takes years...
Jun 09, 2020•56 min
As Advisors and VCs urge funded tech companies to cut costs and freeze spending. New forecasts and models are urgently needed to be created for the new world we live in (which is still changing day to day). CFOs will have to ultimately take charge of more significant strategic planning, budget distribution, and forecasting across their organization to help ensure essential changes are implemented successfully. But how do you go about prioritizing what may come next? In today’s episode, we’ll be ...
May 26, 2020•44 min
As more and more employees continue to shift to working remotely, our “new normal” of remote work has become demanding and a quick adjustment in how we continue to stay connected, stay productive and engaged. The critical factor is that productivity will always remain, especially during a time like these. So how are you managing your time and productivity? In today’s pitch episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, you’ll hear from John Rampton, CEO and Founder of Calendar.com, a mobile application that ...
May 21, 2020•17 min
Since the beginning of global coronavirus pandemic, companies have been asking employees to work from home while others are getting furloughed or laid off as the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to spread around the globe. For those searching for employment opportunities, this has been a cause for concern, with large group gatherings, daily activities, and even dining in restaurants being put on hold or banned for the foreseeable future, the chances to network and discover the opportunities ...
May 19, 2020•41 min
Life in lockdown has not been easy, with a large majority of the country still facing an increase of financial pressures and many families are under severe stress of canceled trips, separation from friends, and the large abundance of time being cooped up at home has been putting stress and restful sleep on everyone. Luckily, there are some positive practices to help us relieve this large amount of stress and restore our restful sleep cycles. On today’s episode of the Powderkeg Podcast, we’ll be ...
May 12, 2020•1 hr 1 min
