Founded Connect Raleigh Founded

Welcome to the first episode of our new series Venture Voices where we take you on the journey of Entrepreneurs in our community, and the lessons they learned along the way.



Our first guest Christopher Gergen, is a serial entrepreneur and one of the founders of Raleigh Founded.


He is also the founder of Forward Impact an investment fund that works with philanthropists and policymakers to address systemic economic inequalities, and Chief Growth Officer at 4P Foods a regional and regenerative food distribution company.



In this episode, he shares his journey of finding purpose and fulfillment through solving societal issues like food insecurity and inequalities in entrepreneurship.



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Join us on Founded Connect as we dive into the incredible journey of Sora Union. Co-Founder Sophia Wajnert shares how their professional services company is reshaping remote work by sourcing talent from at-risk communities due to conflict or climate change. Discover how Sora Union is making a positive social and environmental impact while revolutionizing the way we work.

Joining us in the studio are three legal virtuosos from Smith Anderson: Merrill Mason, Mike Saber, and Josh Diver. These seasoned experts have dedicated their careers to assisting startups, venture capital initiatives, and navigating the intricate realm of mergers and acquisitions. Today, they're sharing their wealth of experience to help founders steer clear of the legal traps that often catch the unwary.

In this Founded Connect episode, HR expert Dave Roscoe from Acclaim HR and former Founder and CEO of CarePaths, Sarah Jansen, shed light on the rising risks for small and mid-sized businesses that ignore Human Resources. The Department of Labor's proactive audits are on the rise, with over 2000 new full-time hires and a budget increase of over $5 billion since 2019. Despite this, many businesses remain oblivious to the potential penalties, fines, and lost productivity caused by HR problems. The podcast dispels common HR myths, emphasizing the importance of effective HR management to reduce waste, build better teams, and safeguard businesses from hidden risks.

In this episode of the Founded Connect podcast, our host had the privilege of hosting Kurt Merriweather, CDE®, co-founder of The Diversity Movement. Together, they embark on a deep dive into the often-misunderstood realm of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.

Kurt brings his extensive knowledge and experience to the table, challenging misconceptions and uncovering valuable insights for organizations striving to create a more inclusive environment. The conversation explores the profound impact of unconscious bias, dispels myths surrounding DEI initiatives, and offers actionable strategies for fostering a culture of inclusivity.

Join Traci Phillips, renowned coach and author of "Looking In", and Brandon Kashani, Founder and CEO of Trakid, in an insightful conversation about the innate qualities necessary to thrive as a leader in the dynamic world of startups.

In this episode of Founded Connect, Traci and Brandon delve deep into the essential traits that set successful startup leaders apart. Drawing from their combined expertise, they explore the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs and discuss how embracing certain innate qualities can make all the difference.