Extraordinary Pursuits by BIP Ventures

BIP Ventures
Extraordinary Pursuits by BIP Ventures

Extraordinary Pursuits by BIP Ventures is a conversation between some of the most accomplished and inspiring entrepreneurs, VC leaders, and economists working in the Innovation Economy. The podcast provides content for founders and investors. The ’golden thread’ is story-based education and information about the role of VC in the Innovation Economy. Each episode will simplify complex topics related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and private market investing.

  1. 12 DÉC.

    The Current and Future State of AI with Mark Buffington of BIP Capital

    The final episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast from BIP Ventures is a special year-end and look-forward discussion with a recognized and respected authority in the innovation economy.   Mark Buffington is the CEO of BIP Capital and Managing Partner of BIP Ventures. A seasoned investor who has endured the launches of disruptive technologies since the start of the Internet era, Mark has written a sweeping look at the transformative impact of AI. In this conversation with host Rachelle Kuramoto, Mark offers his informed perspective on the topic, offering detailed, objective insights into how AI is shaping private capital, innovation, and the larger economy.   The discussion covers topics including the danger of AI hype cycles, the ways AI is augmenting human capabilities, and the ethical considerations of this transformational technology. Mark emphasizes the importance of unique data in leveraging AI effectively and offers advice for founders who are contemplating how to integrate AI into their businesses. He raises concerns about government regulation of AI and discusses the need for an informed citizenry to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by this powerful technology.   This is an episode not to be missed.   Points of Wisdom:  "AI is going to augment human beings."  "AI will be applied to many problems."  "AI's impact will be mostly positive."  "AI tools are becoming more powerful."  Timestamps:  00:00 AI's Impact on Venture Capital in 2024  01:32 Emerging AI Opportunities for 2025  04:51 Ethical Considerations in AI Development  10:22 AI's Role in Private Capital Relationships  16:06 Advice for Founders on AI Integration  23:39 The Future of AI and Government Regulation  About Mark Buffington:  Mark Buffington is the co-founder and CEO of BIP Capital and the Managing Partner of BIP Ventures. Since founding BIP Capital in 2006, Mark has led the venture capital firm to its position as one of the most active and recognized brands outside of Silicon Valley.  Mark has led investment rounds in more than 80 companies in numerous industries (Healthcare, Digital Media, Ed Tech, Enterprise SaaS, FinTech, and Advanced Computing). Notable investments include Vendormate, Ingenious Med, QA Symphony/Tricentis, PlayOn! Sports, Huddle Tickets, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Cypress.io, ConnexPay, REACH Health, Trella Health, Shareholder InSite and Aspirion Health Resources.  Mark earned an MBA from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University and a B.S. from the Georgia Institute of Technology (where he lettered as a varsity baseball player).  Mark serves on the board of directors of several companies, including the NFHS Network, AchieveIt, Trella Health, PlayOn! Sports, UserIQ and ConnexPay. He also serves on several nonprofit boards, including Buckhead Coalition, Inc. and the Georgia Tech College of Computing.  Website: https://www.bipventures.vc/team/mark-buffington  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bipmarkbuffington/  BIP Ventures:  Website: www.bipventures.vc   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/bipventures/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bipventures/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/bipventures   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bipventures

    29 min
  2. 5 DÉC.

    Mini-episode: The 4 KPIs Every B2B Startup Should Set and Measure

    In this mini-episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast, John Thackston, co-founder of SOAR Performance Group, joins host Rachelle Kuramoto to discuss the importance of key performance indicators (KPIs) in business. He focuses his counsel on how startups should measure success and align company goals.   John emphasizes the need for clarity in KPIs, suggesting that companies should limit their dashboards to avoid confusion and ensure effective communication across teams. The conversation highlights the balance between measuring performance and maintaining focus on strategic objectives as businesses scale.    Timestamps:  [00:56] Key Performance Indicators for Business Success  [05:21] Managing KPIs Effectively as Companies Scale    Points of Wisdom:  "Pick one dashboard per KPI."    About John Thackston:  John Thackston is the co-founder and CEO of SOAR Performance Group, a consulting and training company that concentrates on transformation, enablement, and training for sales and customer success. John is a business and sales performance expert and consultant who designs, develops, and implements Sales Capital Management℠ projects to help B2B companies adopt new go-to-market (GTM) strategies and enhance their bottom line. He is a sought-after guest speaker and panelist who shares guidance about ways to improve how to land, expand, and retain customers by creating customer value.  John Thackston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-thackston/‍  SOAR Performance Group: https://soarperformancegroup.com/‍  SOAR Performance Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-performance-group-inc    BIP Ventures  Website: www.bipventures.vc  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/bipventures/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bipventures/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/bipventures  YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bipventures

    7 min
  3. 21 NOV.

    How to Build High-Performing Field Sales for Repeatable Growth

    In a rapidly scaling startup, growth can feel like a wild ride—full of highs, lows, and moments of uncertainty. What many founders don’t realize is that the key to sustained success lies not just in having a great product but in building a strong, repeatable foundation. As teams expand and resources stretch thin, having clear objectives, aligned strategies, and a disciplined approach can make all the difference. The most successful companies know this: it’s the business fundamentals that fuel their ability to scale quickly and efficiently, turning early-stage potential into long-term, predictable growth. In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast from BIP Ventures, Bart Fanelli from Skillibrium shares insights into how great companies build the objectives and business fundamentals that guide successful field sales teams. He shares stories of starting and growing companies at the million and billion levels and offers tips for under-resourced founders to build a bench as they grow a high-performance team. He also explains a shared ownership model that has contributed to the enduring strength of his own startups. Timestamps: [02:12] Bart's career background and philosophy at Skillibrium [06:02] How to bring teams to a horizontal baseline for better outcomes [08:13] Objective measures that create successful field sales teams [12:17] Building a field team and a repeatable fundamental baseline for scaling [19:58] How to build a high-performing field force when dealing with market headwinds [27:17] The biggest benefits of cultivating a shared ownership model [33:51] Great business fundamentals: Truth in operating  [36:43] How to build a proper and disciplined approach to the market  [39:06] About Bart’s book and how you can find it [39:47] How to connect with or learn more about Bart Points of Wisdom: “Bring teams together on a horizontal baseline, and they will serve the clients and customers exceptionally well.” [07:19] “The best companies are very diligent at ensuring they don’t confuse their field teams, and they build a repeatable cadence to serve their market, which allows them to scale.” [14:22] “You don’t only invest in the product or the concept; you have to have adult leadership beside a tech founder.” [37:06] Resources Mentioned: The Success Cadence by Bart Fanelli   About Bart Fanelli: Bart Fanelli is the founder and CEO of Skillibrium, a company focused on transforming the way organizations drive scalable growth. With decades of experience in sales leadership and a deep understanding of organizational strategy, Bart created Skillibrium to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in sales: aligning talent and tactics to drive predictable and repeatable success. His extensive experience spans roles as an executive advisor, entrepreneur, and co-author of The Success Cadence: Unleash Your Organization’s Rapid Growth Culture. Website: https://skillibrium.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartfanelli/ BIP Ventures Website: www.bipventures.vc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/bipventures/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bipventures/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bipventures YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bipventures

    42 min
  4. 14 NOV.

    Advice from a Journalist: Telling a Newsworthy Startup Story with Maija Ehlinger

    In this mini-episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast, host Rachelle Kuramoto interviews Maija Ehlinger, editor-in-chief of Hypeopotamus. They discuss the nuances of storytelling in the innovation economy, the importance of timely news, and how entrepreneurs can effectively pitch their stories to journalists. Maya emphasizes the need for tailored pitches and understanding the audience to increase the chances of coverage.  Timestamps:  [01:26] Understanding Timeliness in Storytelling  [03:54] Crafting Effective Pitches for Journalists  Points of Wisdom:  Don't be discouraged if your news isn't a full story.  Timeliness is key in determining what makes a story.  Pitches should be tailored to the journalist's audience.  Avoid superlatives in pitches; get straight to the point.  Include a clear ask in your pitch.  Understand the trends relevant to your pitch.  Your pitch is an opening for conversation, not the final story.  Curate every pitch for better response rates.  Know the journalist's beat and what they cover.  A compelling story often hides behind timely announcements.  About Maija Ehlinger:  Maija Ehlinger is the editor-in-chief of Hypepotamus (aka “Hype”), the leading innovation digital news source in the Southeast. Maija's experience as a journalist has given her the chance to cover companies of every size, from seed to enterprise, but her passion is innovation companies. She took the helm of Hype after spending close to five years at CNN.  Website: https://hypepotamus.com/author/maijaehling  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maija-liisa-ehlinger  BIP Ventures  Website: www.bipventures.vc  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/bipventures/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bipventures/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/bipventures  YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bipventures

    7 min
  5. 7 NOV.

    Mastering Early-stage Hiring: Tips for Startups from Renata Mathison

    A well-optimized hiring process can be a significant growth catalyst for early-stage companies. To attract top talent, interviewers must be organized and prepared as the candidate. A streamlined and effective hiring strategy prioritizes flexibility and responsiveness to candidates' needs. The interviewer must be able to clearly define roles, keeping in mind competitive compensation ranges. Engaging data in the preparation and decision process helps to enhance recruitment efforts, streamline interviewing and hiring processes, and attract high-quality candidates. In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast from BIP Ventures, aquesst co-founder Renata Mathison joins BIP Ventures talent specialist Jacki Hertenstein to explain how early-stage companies can conduct a successful hiring process. She discusses how to create an effective interview structure that enhances the candidate experience, the need for flexibility and responsiveness in today’s competitive job market, common hurdles that startups face in their recruitment efforts, and actionable tips for building a strong team. Timestamps: [02:02] A bit about Renata Mathison and aquesst [02:29] How early-stage companies can improve their candidate experience [03:54] Common mistakes companies make when engaging with candidates [09:22] How to create an effective interview process for a different role [10:30] When a company should pursue a contingent or retained search [11:36] What early-stage companies should focus on during the hiring process [12:20] How to adapt your hiring process to market competitiveness [15:08] The biggest hurdles for start-ups in the hiring process Points of Wisdom: "A disorganized interview process is a hindrance for a lot of startups and causes a lot of candidates not to pursue the opportunity." [04:31] "The most successful startups are the ones that can be flexible, listen, take the data, and implement it in order to benefit what they are looking to achieve internally." [12:55] "Make sure that you understand the compensation ranges that are appropriate for the role that you’re looking to fill and match them to the skills, not the person." [16:04] About Renata Mathison: Renata Mathison is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of aquesst, a specialized Information Technology search firm that sources talent for organizations including small businesses, mid-sized enterprises, and Fortune 500 companies. The company offers flexible hiring options such as contract, contract-to-hire, direct hire, and project-based placements. Renata brings a wealth of IT recruitment experience, demonstrating a consistent ability to identify individuals who not only possess the required technical expertise but also align seamlessly with the culture of their prospective organizations.   Renata Mathison & aquesst LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renatamathison/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aquesst/ Website: https://www.aquesst.com/ BIP Ventures Website: www.bipventures.vc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/bipventures/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bipventures/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bipventures YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bipventures

    18 min
  6. 31 OCT.

    From Startup to Scale: Lessons on Partnerships for Founders

    In this mini-episode of the BIP Ventures Extraordinary Pursuits podcast, Colleen Hoke, co-founder and CEO of Objective Health, joins host Rachelle Kuramoto to discuss the significance of partnerships, the innovative business models that drive Objective Health's success, and the company's ambitious goals for scaling and improving clinical research. Colleen shares stories and insights to emphasize why forming and nurturing transparency and collaboration with partners is critical to healthy, directional scaling strategies.  Timestamps:  [00:00] Introduction to Objective Health and Colleen Hoke  [01:26] The Importance of Partnerships in Healthcare  [06:03] Scaling and Innovation in Clinical Research  Points of Wisdom:  Transparency fosters trust and effective partnerships.  Building partnerships is essential for scaling.  Collaboration with providers enhances outcomes.  Understanding the landscape is vital for startups.  Setting big and near-term objectives drives progress.  Innovative business models can fuel rapid problem identification.  About Colleen Hoke:  Colleen Hoke is the founder and CEO of ObjectiveHealth. She is a seasoned leader whose experience in clinical research organizations, specialty providers, and healthcare entities has guided the company's formation and stunning progress. Founded in 2018, ObjectiveHealth is already a leading integrated research provider. It brings sophisticated healthcare to the mainstream and partners with physicians and healthcare organizations to establish advanced infrastructure for research programs. In doing so, ObjectiveHealth is improving patient outcomes in palliative care.   Website: https://objective.health/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-hoke-objective/  About BIP Ventures Website: www.bipventures.vc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/bipventures/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bipventures/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bipventures YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bipventures

    7 min
  7. How Successful Startups Navigate Venture Deals: John Yates of Morris Manning & Martin LLP

    24 OCT.

    How Successful Startups Navigate Venture Deals: John Yates of Morris Manning & Martin LLP

    Building and scaling in a thriving tech ecosystem demands a deep understanding of the relationship between venture capital, deal flows, and the marketplace. Founders striving to build traction in top innovation regions must focus on building strategic networks, partnering with the right investors, and collaborating across the ecosystem. The most successful ventures happen when the founder’s and investor’s goals are aligned and relevant to the market. In other words, prioritizing collaboration and providing value is at the core of positioning a startup for sustainable growth and success in a dynamic tech environment. In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast from BIP Ventures, John Yates from Morris, Manning, and Martin LLP discusses the evolution of Atlanta and the Southeast as a thriving center for technology and innovation. Drawing on his extensive experience working with founders since the 1980s, John shares valuable lessons learned, along with the challenges and opportunities that have shaped the region's tech landscape. He also provides wisdom to help founders navigate the venture deal environment and explains what they can expect from the process. Timestamps: [02:02] A bit about John Yates and his role at Morris, Manning, and Martin LLP [02:59] John's backstory and how he got into technology law space [05:45] Morris, Manning, and Martin LLP and what it offers in the tech space [08:43] The opportunity environment that has enabled John to partner and grow companies [11:45] Why Atlanta is a haven for entrepreneurial opportunities [15:07] The key elements transforming Atlanta into a top 5 innovation region [19:28] What to consider when looking for a good partner to grow your venture [22:44] John's recommendations to founders and investors seeking to build in Atalanta [26:00] Tips on how to build successful relationships with investors [30:49] What is happening in the deal flow and funding environment [33:39] John’s advice on how to build an enduring technology innovation company [36:00] How to reach out, connect, and learn more about John Points of Wisdom: "The key to a successful ecosystem is successful players who have been around from the beginning to provide capital to the organization. Having sources of capital is key." [08:44] "The discipline that is required for the entrepreneur to dovetail properly with the investors is really important." [26:46] "Every down has an up." [30:59] "Be a good person, help others, and people will want to work with you. It will give you the greatest level of satisfaction." [33:54] About John Yates: John Yates is the chair and partner of the technology group at Morris, Manning, and Martin LLP, one of the leading law firms in the country. John is a pioneer in technology law who has practiced exclusively in the area since 1981 and launched the firm's technology practice 35 years ago. Under his leadership, the practice has represented more than 1,000 tech companies and offers comprehensive legal and corporate services to start-ups, growing tech companies, and investors. John co-founded and has been a board member of a long list of leading technology organizations and is a nationally-ranked lawyer in the venture capital industry. He frequently speaks at conferences on technology law issues and is a prolific writer whose articles have been cited in the tech law area and major business publications. John is also called upon for his perspective on technology law and high-growth innovation companies. His breadth and depth of experience make him one of the most trusted observers in the technology innovation space. Website:https://www.mmmlaw.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncyates Email: jyates@mmmlaw.com BIP Ventures Website: www.bipventures.vc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/bipventures/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bipventures/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bipventures YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bipventures

    38 min

À propos

Extraordinary Pursuits by BIP Ventures is a conversation between some of the most accomplished and inspiring entrepreneurs, VC leaders, and economists working in the Innovation Economy. The podcast provides content for founders and investors. The ’golden thread’ is story-based education and information about the role of VC in the Innovation Economy. Each episode will simplify complex topics related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and private market investing.

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