In this episode of The Accelerator, Michael Conniff interviews Pat Riley, CEO of Morrow, a company that empowers startups through accelerator support, venture investments, and a focus on sustainable growth. Pat shares his insights on the evolving startup landscape, the importance of redefining success beyond rapid growth, and the critical role of community and work-life balance for founders. Key Takeaways: Understanding the Accelerator Ecosystem: Learn the distinctions between accelerators, incu...
Jan 04, 2025•30 min•Ep. 111
Join us as we delve into the world of university startups with Professor Ryan Coles and his talented students, Masil Mallem and Peter Goggins. The UConn Foundry is a unique program that transforms groundbreaking research into thriving businesses. In this insightful conversation, we explore: The Power of University Innovation: How universities like UConn are driving innovation and economic growth. The Foundry's Impact: Learn how this program nurtures early-stage startups and provides essential re...
Dec 13, 2024•31 min•Ep. 110
Join us as we delve into the exciting world of AI-powered marketing with AJ Elliott, COO of Dicer.ai. In this insightful conversation, we explore how this innovative platform is revolutionizing the way businesses approach advertising and achieving unprecedented results. Discover how Dicer.ai leverages the power of artificial intelligence to: Analyze Ad Performance: Uncover hidden insights from your existing campaigns to identify areas for improvement. Generate Creative Ideas: Create high-quality...
Dec 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 109
Join us as we delve into the world of medical innovation with Dr. Bernardo Perez-Villa, Senior Innovation Engagement Partner at Cleveland Clinic. In this insightful conversation, we explore the cutting-edge research and development happening at Cleveland Clinic, and how it's transforming patient care. Discover how Cleveland Clinic is bridging the gap between research and real-world applications, turning groundbreaking discoveries into life-saving treatments. Learn about the latest advancements i...
Nov 23, 2024•30 min•Ep. 108
Join us as we sit down with Scott Jablonski, a seasoned entrepreneur and former sports executive. Learn about his journey from the world of sports to the exciting realm of startups. Discover valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs, as well as the lessons learned from the sports industry. Scott shares his expertise on topics such as: Navigating the Startup Landscape: Gain practical advice on building a successful startup. The Importance of Adaptability: Lear...
Nov 12, 2024•30 min•Ep. 107
Join us for an in-depth conversation with Dr. Steve Sharlapp, Founder and CEO of Soap Health, as he discusses the revolutionary potential of AI in transforming healthcare. In this episode, we delve into the world of AI-powered medical diagnosis and explore how Soap Health is revolutionizing patient care. Dr. Sharlapp shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare today, and how AI can address critical issues such as diagnostic errors and inefficient patient care. Disco...
Oct 24, 2024•30 min•Ep. 106
Join us for an insightful conversation with Sean Branigan, the Director of Digital Media Entrepreneurship at the Newhouse School, as he shares his entrepreneurial journey and expertise in the ever-evolving world of digital media. From his early days in typesetting to his successful ventures in internet marketing and consultancy, Sean offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals seeking to navigate the complexities of the digital age. Discover how Sean's experience and ex...
Oct 14, 2024•30 min•Ep. 105
Join us for an exclusive conversation with Sean Clifford, former Penn State quarterback and co-founder of Limitless, and Pat Waters, sports marketing veteran and co-founder of Team Group Holdings, as they explore the dynamic world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college athletics. Discover the challenges and opportunities facing athletes in the NIL landscape, the crucial role of collectives, and the strategies for building successful careers both on and off the field. Learn how Limitless i...
Oct 02, 2024•29 min•Ep. 104
Description: join Michael Conniff as he talks to Kurt Long, a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder of Bunker, a secure messaging platform designed to protect your digital life. In this episode, Kurt shares his insights on the importance of trust in the digital age, the challenges of online security, and how Bunker is revolutionizing the way we communicate. Key topics: The rise of online fraud and scams The dangers of unsecured messaging platforms The benefits of a trusted network How Bunker wor...
Sep 22, 2024•31 min•Ep. 103
Welcome to The Accelerator, a podcast and newsletter designed to ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and equip you with the tools to turn your ideas into reality. Join host Michael Conniff as he delves into the world of startups, roll-ups, and the entrepreneurial mindset. In each episode, you'll discover: Inspiring interviews with industry leaders: Learn from the experiences of successful entrepreneurs who have navigated the challenges and triumphs of the startup world. Practical advice and strat...
Sep 12, 2024•31 min•Ep. 102
In this episode of "The Accelerator," host Michael Conniff interviews Jeremy Lessaris, a serial entrepreneur with eight company exits under his belt. Jeremy discusses his journey through entrepreneurship, sharing both the successes and challenges he's faced along the way. He delves into the lessons learned from his first exit, the online furniture retailer FurnitureStock.com, and how it shaped his approach to future ventures. Jeremy also introduces his current company, Payment Brokers, a busines...
Sep 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 101
In this episode of "The Accelerator Podcast," host Michael Conniff engages in a dynamic conversation with Mark Gold, a prominent figure in New York City's tech and startup scene, and the visionary behind 2020 Startups. Mark delves into his extensive experience in digital transformation, sharing how he's helped shape the future of numerous startups through his mentorship and leadership at the New York Startup School. The discussion covers the intricate challenges and immense opportunities that co...
Aug 22, 2024•30 min•Ep. 100
In this episode, we sit down with Fred Schonenberg, the founder of VentureFuel, to explore how his accelerator is driving innovation and growth for startups. Fred shares insights on what it takes to succeed in the competitive world of venture capital and the unique approach that sets VentureFuel apart from other accelerators. Want to dive deeper into these topics? Check out our Substack for more in-depth discussions, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes insights from our podcast episodes. Li...
Aug 09, 2024•30 min•Ep. 98
In this episode, we dive deep with Mario Tarouca, Founder and CEO of FrameDrop.ai, a revolutionary platform reshaping content creation. Mario shares insights into how FrameDrop.ai is transforming the landscape of video content, the challenges of scaling a startup, and the innovative strategies behind their success. Whether you're a content creator, marketer, or just curious about the future of media, this conversation offers valuable takeaways on driving growth and impact in the digital age....
Aug 01, 2024•30 min•Ep. 97
In this episode, we sit down with Dave Liniger , the founder of RE/MAX LLC and author of " The Perfect Ten. " Dave shares his journey, starting with the inception of RE/MAX LLC in 1973. RE/MAX is one of the leading real estate empires globally. Dave reflects on the challenges faced in revolutionizing the real estate industry with a model focused on empowering agents and offering higher commission rates. Throughout the conversation, Dave emphasizes the importance of adaptive leadership and humili...
Apr 10, 2024•31 min•Ep. 96
In this episode, we delved into the journey of Jeremy Luceris , Investor, Founder & CEO in Fintech & SaaS. He is a serial entrepreneur with a track record of eight successful exits. Jeremy emphasized that while some might hear about his eight exits and envision glamour, the reality is quite different. "It's not glamorous at all," he clarified. "These weren't all successful exits. Some of them were quite painful because I didn't have a choice." He added, "So it's funny because whenever so...
Apr 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 95
Join Michael Conniff in the latest episode of "The Accelerator" as he sits down with Kurt Long , BUNKR CEO and co-founder. Kurt is a successful entrepreneur with over 25 years of starting, growing, and building financially successful information security and privacy businesses. Kurt is the Executive Director of the Long Family Force for Good Foundation, which focuses exclusively on supporting not-for-profits dedicated to improving the mental health of children and families. In this episode, he t...
Mar 20, 2024•31 min•Ep. 93
Summary In this conversation, Michael Conniff interviews Sean Clifford and Pat Waters from Team Group Holdings. They discuss the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation on college athletes and the opportunities it presents for them to become entrepreneurs. They also talk about the growth of Limitless, a company focused on NIL business, and its collaboration with Strategic Sports Marketing and Sports Vault. The conversation covers topics such as locker room dynamics, the role of col...
Feb 25, 2024•29 min•Ep. 92
In this episode, Michael Conniff talks with Sean Branagan, the Director of the Digital Media Entrepreneurship Program at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. They discuss Sean's experience as an entrepreneur, the transition from traditional typesetting to digital media, the rise of social media and its impact on tech companies, and the role of AI in the media industry. Sean emphasizes the need for media companies to embrace technology and act as tech companie...
Dec 13, 2023•30 min•Ep. 91
In the latest episode of The Accelerator with Michael Conniff , Steve Charlap MD, MBA takes us on a journey into the innovative world of healthcare with SOAP Health . SOAP, which is an acronym for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan, introduces us to Jeannie, an animated character revolutionizing patient interviews using the power of AI. Dr. Charlap, the CEO and founder of SOAP Health, begins by sharing his unique educational background, blending medicine, business, and genetics. His motivat...
Nov 28, 2023•30 min•Ep. 90
Welcome back to The Accelerator, the podcast where we unravel the secrets of startups, entrepreneurship, and groundbreaking innovations. In today's episode, we're joined by a true visionary, Allison Kent-Smith , the CEO and co-founder of Giide . Imagine a world where your podcast isn't just something you listen to but an immersive experience that captivates both your ears and eyes. That's exactly what Giide brings to the table—interactive audio for the business world. In this episode, Allison ta...
Nov 15, 2023•30 min•Ep. 89
In this episode of The Accelerator with Michael Conniff, host Michael engages in a dynamic conversation with Scott Jablonski , the founder and CEO of 77 Analytics LLC , who also has a passion for sports ventures. Scott brings his extensive experience and wisdom to the table as he delves into the world of startups and the challenges they face. In this enlightening discussion, Scott reveals the two facets of his work at 77 Analytics – consulting and advising. He provides strategic guidance to esta...
Nov 01, 2023•30 min•Ep. 88
Greetings, listeners! Welcome back to The Accelerator with Michael Conniff. If you've been following us, you know we love to explore the realms of accelerators, startups, incubators, and all things innovation. Today, we've got a real treat in store. Joining us is none other than Dr. Bernardo Perez Villa, the Senior Innovations Engagement Partner at Cleveland Clinic. In this fascinating podcast, Michael and Bernardo take you on a journey through a groundbreaking study recently published in Nature...
Oct 13, 2023•30 min•Ep. 87
🚀 Dive into the future of marketing on this electrifying episode of The Accelerator with Michael Conniff! Join us as we venture into the world of AI-enhanced marketing with A.J Elliott , the brilliant Co-founder and COO of Dicer.ai , a trailblazing company pioneering AI's potential to skyrocket your marketing game. In this episode, you'll uncover a treasure trove of insights: 🔮 Discover the wizardry behind Dicer.ai's AI-enhanced marketing services, equipping marketers with superhuman insights ...
Sep 27, 2023•30 min•Ep. 86
Ever wondered about the captivating world of esports and why it's setting the global stage ablaze with excitement? Esports, short for electronic sports, isn't just about gamers battling it out; it's a dynamic fusion of entertainment, culture, and commerce, igniting the imaginations of millions worldwide, particularly among the younger generation. Picture this: Professional video game competitions and teams, watched by throngs of devoted fans, taking center stage in a new-age arena that's changin...
Sep 22, 2023•30 min•Ep. 85
In this episode of The Accelerator with Michael Conniff, our guest is Frederick Cary . He is a senior executive, strategic consultant, attorney, and investment banker with over 25 years of experience building global companies. He is the CEO of IdeaPros, a company that helps entrepreneurs turn their ideas into profitable ventures across various sectors. Fred talks to Michael Conniff about his unique approach to helping entrepreneurs launch their ventures. Idea Pros charges $100,000 and takes 30% ...
Sep 11, 2023•30 min•Ep. 84
We are thrilled to have Brian Will in this episode of The Accelerator with Michael Conniff's podcast. Brian Will is a serial entrepreneur, a two-time Wall Street Journal best-selling author, and an industry-leading business and sales management consultant. The conversation kicks off with Michael asking Brian about his book The Dropout Multi-Millionaire .Brian shares his incredible story of overcoming a troubled childhood, a rebellious attitude, and a learning disability to become a successful bu...
Sep 07, 2023•30 min•Ep. 83
In this episode, we have a special guest who is a master of go-to-market strategies and a passionate advocate of data-driven technologies. He is Raviv Kerem, a seasoned specialist in strategy operations, product, and go-to-market. Raviv Kerem has an impressive background that spans across different industries and continents. He is originally from Israel, where he witnessed the rise of one of the most vibrant and successful tech ecosystems in the world. He moved to New York City a few years ago a...
Aug 30, 2023•28 min•Ep. 82
In this episode of The Accelerator with Michael Conniff, we speak with Pat Riley, the CEO of Morrow and Managing Partner at Morrow Ventures. The conversation starts off with Pat explaining the mission of Morrow. The mission of Morrow is to give startups the power to create and grow their business and to make an impact wherever they call home. Pat believes that accelerators are the best way to do this, as they provide startups with the necessary support, data, tools, and community. He also explai...
Aug 23, 2023•30 min•Ep. 81
Joining us from Mexico, our guests today delve into the podcasting arena. Jorge Gonzalez, the founder of Nodalab, introduces their collaborative platform for podcast creation and growth. Sofia Benedicto, Nodalab's co-founder, podcast producer, digital content developer, and creative writer, is Accompanying him. Remarkably, there are over 200 million content creators worldwide, with the industry valued at $100 billion. Podcasting, a thriving medium, boasts 4 million podcasts and a market worth $1...
Aug 17, 2023•30 min•Ep. 80
