Techstars

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Channel • 5 Shows

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated Biweekly
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated Biweekly
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated Weekly
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated 04/05/2021
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated 12/09/2020

DEC 9

Rethinking Capitalism with Seth Levine

In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen talks with Seth Levine, Partner at Foundry and co-author of Capital Evolution. Seth looks back on the early days of Techstars, the original Boulder community that shaped it, and how Foundry is approaching its final fund while still actively investing. The conversation explores why so many people are questioning capitalism today. Seth breaks down the decline in economic mobility, the growing wealth gap, and the rise of populism on both sides of the political map. He explains why he believes capitalism can still work, but only if more people have access to ownership and economic participation. Seth also shares insights from interviews featured in his book and highlights ideas like broader employee ownership, baby bonds, and modernized investing rules. He ties these themes back to the Give First mindset and how expanding opportunity can strengthen communities and the future of entrepreneurship. Seth Levine LinkedIn ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethjlevine/ Get Capital Evolution here 📖 https://www.amazon.com/Capital-Evolution-New-American-Economy/dp/1637747780 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 9

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26 min
SEP 23

AI First Leaders | Andy Sack & Adam Brotman on Scaling with the AI Wave

In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with longtime Techstars friend Andy Sack and former Starbucks Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman, co-CEOs of Forum3 and co-authors of AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand. They explore why AI isn’t just another vertical, but the foundation of how companies will be built, operated, and scaled in the years ahead. Andy and Adam share insights from their work on what it means to be an “AI-native” founder, why iteration and prompting are becoming core entrepreneurial skills, and how disruption could lead to billion-dollar companies run by just a handful of people. The conversation covers practical takeaways for entrepreneurs, lessons from their entrepreneurial journeys, and why adopting an AI-first mindset may be the difference between thriving and being left behind in the next wave of innovation. Get Andy and Adam’s book ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8TZDR74?ref=KC_GS_GB_US Follow Andy Sack on LinkedIn ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andysack/ Follow Adam Brotman on LinkedIn ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adambrotman/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23

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25 min
MAY 15

Brad Feld Returns: The Power Behind “Give First”

In this special episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen is joined once again by co-host Brad Feld, back after nearly two years away from the spotlight. Brad shares why he stepped back, what brought him back, and the deeper thinking behind his new book, Give First: The Power of Mentorship. They dive into the origins of the Give First philosophy, how it grew from a simple idea into a powerful movement influencing startup communities worldwide, and why giving without expecting immediate returns continues to shape entrepreneurship today. Order your copy of Give First: The Power of Mentorship here. Follow David Cohen on LinkedIn and Twitter Follow Brad Feld on LinkedIn and Twitter Listen & subscribe to the Give First podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 15

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26 min
11/30/2021

Zipline co-founder on how robotics and automation have changed him and the world

When Keller Rinaudo started Remotive in 2011 while in a Techstars Accelerator program, he didn’t really know what entrepreneurship was until he read Tony Hsieh's book “Delivering Happiness.” At the time, he was at Harvard University working with DNA and the inner workings of humans, not robots. That all shifted. Keller and his team knew that the world of robotics and automation would change within the next decade, and they wanted to be a part of that transformation. Now, his company Zipline is focusing on building a new type of logistics system that would not just serve those who can afford instant access to goods, but everyone equally while also helping the environment instead of destroying it. Zipline delivers vital shipments via the fastest, most reliable autonomous aircraft delivery service in the world. “When we talk about instant logistics, we really mean teleportation. In fact, the product vision for Zipline is as closely approximate to teleportation as possible. We want something to be able to be delivered to any home, any hospital, any primary care facility, anywhere in the world, in just a couple of minutes and to do it in a net-zero carbon emission way. We think that this is an obvious future.” Listen as Keller delves into his founding story, including Zipline’s mission to help serve all in the healthcare industry, his decision to start in Rwanda, how the first 8 months of the launch were “unbelievably painful,” and how Zipline has helped Rwanda achieve the unprecedented 0% of blood wasted. Also, don’t miss Keller tell David about how Zipline is expanding in Ghana, Nigeria, Japan, and the U.S.! Follow Keller Rinaudo on Twitter @KellerRinaudo Follow David Cohen on Twitter @davidcohen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11/30/2021

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19 min
06/26/2024

Building the Future of Aviation with Kevin Noertker of Ampaire

In this episode of the Give First podcast, hosts David Cohen is joined by Kevin Noertker, CEO and co-founder of Ampaire. Kevin shares his journey from aspiring astronaut and NASA engineer to leading a revolutionary Techstars-backed company. Ampaire is advancing hybrid electric aviation, aiming to cut aircraft fuel usage by 50-70%, addressing both environmental and economic issues in the aviation sector. Kevin discusses the concept of 'invariant milestones' for setting and achieving ambitious goals, the challenges of blending the automotive and aviation industries, and the importance of resilient, mission-driven leadership. The episode also covers Ampaire's fundraising journey, strategic decisions, and Kevin's commitment to the entrepreneurial community. Follow David Cohen on Twitter @davidcohen Listen & subscribe to the Give First podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

06/26/2024

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30 min
OCT 15

The Compass Within: Robert Glazer on Leading with Core Values

In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with Robert Glazer, 5x entrepreneur, #1 Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, and author of the new book The Compass Within. Robert shares his framework for uncovering personal core values, the principles that guide decisions, relationships, and leadership. The conversation explores why many people are climbing the wrong mountains, how self-awareness shapes growth, and why aligning words with actions may be the most important skill any founder or leader can develop. Find out more about Robert Glazer here ➡️ robertglazer.com Follow Robert Glazer on LinkedIn ➡️ linkedin.com/in/glazer The Compass Within is out today, order your copy here ➡️ robertglazer.com/compass Check out the Six Core Values Questions page ➡️ robertglazer.com/six Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 15

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29 min
OCT 28

How Sameer Dholakia Led SendGrid to IPO and Exit

In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with Sameer Dholakia, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners and former CEO of SendGrid, the first Techstars company to go public. When Sameer joined SendGrid, growth was slowing and the company was losing money. Under his leadership, it became a $250M business, went public, and was later acquired by Twilio. Sameer shares the story of how his mother’s advice shaped his approach to leadership and why empathy and clarity became his greatest tools as a CEO. From his first days stepping into a nervous team, to navigating “oh sh*t” moments on the path to IPO, Sameer reflects on the lessons that defined his career, and how they continue to guide his work with founders today. Sameer Dholakia ➡️ LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 28

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38 min
NOV 11

How Pledge 1% Sparked a Global Movement for Startup Philanthropy

In this special episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld and Sameer Dholakia revisit the origins of Pledge 1%, the global movement helping startups build philanthropy into their business from the start. What began as a simple conversation in Boulder between Brad and Rally Software co-founder Ryan Martens grew into a worldwide initiative championed by Salesforce, Atlassian, Techstars, and thousands of founders who have pledged 1% of equity, time, or product to social impact. Brad and Sameer trace how a local idea became a global force for good, fueling billions in new philanthropy and inspiring the next generation of founders to make giving part of their growth story. Sameer Dholakia ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sameerdholakia/ Pledge 1% ➡️ https://www.pledge1percent.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 11

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23 min
NOV 25

Starting and Closing a Bank in 3 Months with Bala Kamallakharan

In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld talks with Bala Kamallakharan, founder of Startup Iceland and a driving force behind the country’s modern startup ecosystem. Bala shares the remarkable story of moving to Mumbai to build an Icelandic bank in 2008, only to watch the entire financial system collapse overnight. Within three months, he went from launching a new bank to shutting it down, navigating canceled credit cards, emergency flights home, and the emotional aftermath of Iceland’s economic freefall. What followed was a personal reset. Returning to Iceland with no clear path forward, Bala began to rethink how the country could rebuild. His belief that new ideas and young founders could reshape the future led him to invest in early startups, create Startup Iceland, and champion the power of community-driven entrepreneurship. That work later earned him the Order of the Falcon, Iceland’s highest civilian honor. Bala reflects on uncertainty, resilience, and why believing in founders can transform not only companies but entire countries. Bala Kamallakharan LinkedIn ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/balakamallakharan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 25

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49 min
SEP 9

Building Startups and Lasting Relationships with Scott Dorsey

In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld talks with Scott Dorsey, co-founder of High Alpha and former CEO of ExactTarget, the email marketing pioneer acquired by Salesforce. Scott shares his journey from launching a startup with no technical background to building a company of 2,000 employees, going public, and running Salesforce Marketing Cloud. The conversation dives into why relationships and core values matter as much as product and market, how emotional intelligence shapes leadership, and what it means to mentor by guiding rather than controlling. Scott also reflects on failure, empathy for founders, and the importance of playing multi-turn games in venture. For founders wondering how to practice give first without being taken advantage of, Scott offers timeless advice: everyone can be both a mentor and a mentee, no matter where they are in their journey. Scott Dorsey ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-dorsey-096b393/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 9

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32 min

The Techstars Podcast Network looks to elevate and amplify voices and stories from around the Techstars worldwide network, showcasing the points of view of founders, investors, mentors, and innovation leaders.

Website

Techstars

Top Shows

Rethinking Capitalism with Seth Levine

AI First Leaders | Andy Sack & Adam Brotman on Scaling with the AI Wave

Brad Feld Returns: The Power Behind “Give First”

Zipline co-founder on how robotics and automation have changed him and the world

Building the Future of Aviation with Kevin Noertker of Ampaire

The Compass Within: Robert Glazer on Leading with Core Values

How Sameer Dholakia Led SendGrid to IPO and Exit

How Pledge 1% Sparked a Global Movement for Startup Philanthropy

Starting and Closing a Bank in 3 Months with Bala Kamallakharan

Building Startups and Lasting Relationships with Scott Dorsey

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