Dominick Ard'is is known as “The Facilitator of Human Potential,” is passionate about helping organizations and the people that empower them to grow. For over 3 years, Dominick has supported the launch of 22 startups that have collectively raised over $550k in early seed-stage funding. In addition, he has accelerated the growth of 5 second-stage tier companies through optimization consulting and leadership development. Join Dominick and Mark McNees in a conversation about the ACT House, a networ...
Mar 17, 2021•43 min•Ep. 15
In this episode of FSPEI Mark McNees sits down with the 2020 winner of the Florida State University, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship InNOLEvation Challenge, Michael Benarde, co-founder and CEO of NightCap. NightCap combines a protective drink cover with a stylish hair scrunchie that can also be worn as a wristband. The cover fits tightly over most glasses and solo cups making it much more difficult for drinks to be tampered with. The NightCap is ultra-convenient, reusable, and stylish....
Mar 09, 2020•25 min•Ep. 14
On this episode of FSPEI, Mark McNees has a conversation with Rebecca Cunningham the illustrator and creative behind Cunning Co (www.cunningco.com). Her expertise ranges from watercolor illustration, to product development, to creative project management. Founder of www.cunningco.com, Rebecca's illustrations and surface pattern designs can be found at major national corporations such as Anthropologie and Terrain. She lives in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta with her french bulldog, L...
Feb 10, 2020•30 min•Ep. 13
In this episode of the Florida State Podcast of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mark McNees sits down with Kris Izquierdo the Co-Founder and CEO of Breezy Swim. Breezy Swim is a Miami, Fl based brand. Their mission is all about female empowerment! At Breezy Swim they want females to feel confident in any swimwear, regardless of age or body shape. Breezy Swim caters to all shapes and sizes inspired by women globally. They say their swimwear gives women the chance to feel their best and to take o...
Jan 20, 2020•26 min•Ep. 12
We kick off Season 2 of the Florida State Podcast of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (FSPEI) with one of the most successful startups to come out of FSU in recent years. Sunny Ilyas CEO and Founder of Vale Food Co. tells the story of the beginnings of Vale Food as an on-campus food subscription service and how and why he pivoted to brick and mortar restaurants that are growing across the South East.
Jan 13, 2020•47 min•Ep. 11
A special bonus episode of the Florida State Podcast of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This episode is a presentation given by Lisa Boyd, Lyft's Senior Manager of Social Impact. In this episode, Lisa Boyd talks about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), perhaps the biggest sea change in business since the tech revolution and Lyfts's commitment to Corporate Responsibility, implementation strategy, and the metrics they used to determine impact.
Dec 09, 2019•53 min•Ep. 10
2019 7 Under 30 Interview #1 In this amazing episode, Mark McNees sits down with Hall Pass' Co-CEO, Adam Kramer. Hall Pass is a Members-only platform that connects great people with great venues, with over 300 active Members, ranging from pro athletes to established actors & musicians, accomplished entrepreneurs, recognizable models, and high-spending tastemakers.
Dec 02, 2019•44 min•Ep. 9
Augmented Reality (AR) is going to revolutionize how we shop, learn, and interact. In this amazing episode, Mark McNees sits down with Ryan Kopisky, Founder and CEO of AddedLayer an augmented reality startup to discuss the possibilities of AR and how it is going to shape our future. AddedLayer is a Digital Product Design Consultancy. We partner with our clients to drive business outcomes through the strategic implementation of native mobile and emerging technologies. In 2019, the company also la...
Nov 25, 2019•45 min•Ep. 8
In this episode, Dr. Mark McNees sits down with Roderick Meyer and Jacob Gottlieb the team leaders of the Florida State University undergraduate students who earned a gold medal at the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition Nov. 4 in Boston for their innovation combating citrus greening. Citrus greening is a bacterial disease affecting 80% of Florida citrus crops. FLOEMA is a rapid prototyping platform of antimicrobial peptide cocktails designed to function as a bacteri...
Nov 19, 2019•26 min•Ep. 7
In this amazing episode, Dr. Mark McNees interviews the Co-Founder and CEO of Diatech, John Wilcox. Company overview: Diatech Diabetic Technologies Inc. (Diatech) is a MEDtech startup that implements innovative solutions to enhance and empower the lives of patients, families, and communities impacted by diabetes. Diatech originated from the issues the company’s CEO, John Wilcox, was facing his own diabetes care technology as a type 1 diabetic. John’s story, along with all who are affected by dia...
Nov 11, 2019•28 min•Ep. 6
Internships are a great way for students to gain practical experience in a company and have the opportunity to apply what they are learning in the classroom. That is why every Jim Moran College student is required to spend a semester under the guidance of the JMC's Director of Internships in a qualified internship before graduation. In this episode, Dr. Mark McNees sits down with three student interns to discuss their experiences.
Nov 04, 2019•24 min•Ep. 5
Angela Udongwo CEO and Co-Founder of InnoHealth Dx The InnoHealth Dx strives to empower communities to eliminate neglected tropical diseases by supplying innovative solutions to communities that need them the most. InnoHealth's mission is to decrease the rate of schistosomiasis to less than 1% (below sustainable levels) beginning in Kano State, Nigeria. Infectious diseases have been a leading cause of death within tropical areas of the world for centuries. Within these regions, the focal point o...
Oct 28, 2019•22 min•Ep. 3
Woven Futures is an ethical fashion company that links the world’s most remote artisan groups to a global fashion market through a model that emphasizes people over products and the sustainable creation of textile pieces.
Oct 21, 2019•28 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to the pilot of the Florida State Podcast of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (FSPEI). FSPEI is a JMS production that showcases student entrepreneurs and their startups, checks-in with alumni to hear about the companies they are building, and provides the opportunity to learn from seasoned entrepreneurs who have built amazing companies. In the pilot, I sit down with Dr. Susan Fiorito the founding Director of the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship and have a revealing conversation about ...
Oct 15, 2019•24 min•Ep. 4
