Startup Success: A Podcast for Founders & Investors Burkland

Join us in this enlightening episode as we sit down with Bill Snyder, the CEO and Founder of Vivante Health. Propelled by a recent $31M Series B round, his company is on a mission to revolutionize digital health, starting with chronic GI conditions. 

Bill shares the founding story of Vivante Health and how their innovative platform transforms the way patients suffering from digestive health issues receive care. He also gives us a peek into the challenges of entrepreneurship, including the highs and lows of fundraising and the importance of building a strong company culture. 

We discuss: 

The 3 things Vivante Health is doing right that sparked investors’ interest The power of transparency, accountability, and collaboration in building a mission-driven organizationHow his startup is using pattern recognition to improve patient outcomesBill’s hard-won advice for dealing with obstacles that arise along the startup journey
Tune in for valuable insights from an inspiring founder who built a successful startup from the ground up.

----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

Today we dive  into the world of legal strategy for startups with Charu Satia, startup attorney and Partner at Silicon Legal Strategy. With more than a decade of experience under her belt, Charu provides invaluable insights into the array of key legal issues startup founders need to be aware of from inception to exit.

Charu explains why it makes sense to bet on your startup's success by investing in a solid legal foundation early on. From entity formation to IP protection, equity structuring to commercial agreements, Charu highlights the critical areas where legal counsel plays a pivotal role in minimizing risks and maximizing opportunities for startups.

We discuss:
The importance of working with legal counsel from an early stage to avoid costly cleanup and delays during fundraising or M&A due diligenceCommon pitfalls of opting for shortcuts like free online legal templates (hint: it may cost you more in the long run!)Actionable advice for startup founders around building a network of supportive partners 
Tune in to gain valuable insights from Charu Satia and learn how to lay the groundwork for your startup's success with strategic legal counsel.

Silicon Legal Strategy specializes in corporate transactional work, serving as trusted advisors throughout the entire lifecycle of startups. To learn more about their laser focus on helping entrepreneurs succeed, visit: www.siliconlegal.com.

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Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

Our guest today, Aagya Mathur, has an inspiring story to tell. She transformed her personal health challenges into a startup that empowers people to improve their overall quality of life.

In this episode, Aagya, Co-Founder & CEO at Aavia, shares how she brought her idea to fruition with help from MIT and then recently was accepted into the Mayo Clinic and ASU MedTech Accelerator. After an incredible Q1, her startup plans to leverage the lessons they learned around pivoting, listening to customers, and the power of organic marketing to reach even great levels of success.

Our conversation covers:The importance of user-centric design and staying agile enough to adapt quicklyAavia’s innovative and hugely successful approach to growth marketing through organic, education-driven content on socialWhy perseverance and grit are key to navigating the ups & downs of the founder’s journeyHer lightbulb moment of realizing that data-driven, science-backed insights could shine a light on an under-researched, under-funded area of health and potentially help half the world’s population

Tune in to hear how Aavia is revolutionizing health and empowering people with ovaries to take control of their well-being, one cycle at a time.

To learn more about Aavia and download the app, visit their website at aavia.io or find them on the App Store. Connect with Aavia on social media for educational content and updates on Instagram and TikTok (@aavia.io).

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Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

The tech ecosystem in Los Angeles may not grab headlines like Silicon Valley, but over the past decade, it has gained some serious momentum and a several major VC players have emerged. Our guest today is Jennifer Richard, Principal at Bonfire Ventures – one LA’s top B2B venture firms.

Jennifer discusses what she’s excited about in the tech sector right now, why she’s optimistic about 2024, and Bonfire Ventures’ investment approach, which prioritizes building long term relationships with founders. ​​

Our conversation also covers:  

Advice for founders, including how to make a positive first impression on investors Increased deal flow, more competitive rounds, and other positive trends Jennifer is currently seeing in the marketWhat Jennifer and her firm look for in startupsJennifer’s extraordinary experience as a Kauffman FellowThe latest on LA’s tech scene
Tune in for the latest on the evolving startup ecosystem and real-world advice for founders in the midst of their startup journey.

For more information about Bonfire Ventures and to connect with Jennifer, visit their website or reach out on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

Even though the success rates for startups today are sobering, there is reason to be optimistic. As our guest today, Venture Capitalist John Frankel sees it: "Cycles happen. We've gone through a downturn and I think we're now at an inflection point. We’re already starting to see some companies raise money at high valuations."

John founded ff Venture Capital in 2008 and has since funded over 150 seed and early-stage companies that in turn have created thousands of jobs and impacted the lives of millions. 

He joins us to share his motivation for founding a VC firm, his investment philosophy, and his perspective on today’s startup landscape.

Our conversation delves into:

John's advice for foundersWhat his firm looks for in early stage startupsThe significance of resilience and adaptability for early-stage foundersHis current fascination with applied AI, including drones, robotics, and financial services tech
This episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for early-stage founders navigating the challenging yet promising startup world.

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Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

In today's episode, we have two VCs in the studio, Dr. Tara Bishop and Eileen Tanghal, co-founders of Black Opal Ventures, who discuss their strategic focus of supporting startups that are driving innovation at the intersection of technology and healthcare.

We explore the genesis of Black Opal Ventures and how the duo, who met as freshman 30 years ago at MIT, took a leap of faith, ultimately raising $63 million for their fund.

Discussion highlights:

How their unique backgrounds converged in a shared vision for funding impactful innovation in healthcareTheir passion for building a future where automation/AI drives down costs, making healthcare more accessibleWhy we are now on the cusp of a massive wave of evolution in the healthcare industryBlack Opal Ventures’ portfolio, ranging from next-gen wearables to novel solutions for diagnosing lung cancerWhere Founders in this space should be focused and their thoughts on how to achieve success
The episode gives listeners a captivating glimpse into the journey of two visionary leaders shaping the future of healthcare.

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Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!