Startup Builders & Backers

Tech Talks Network

Startup Builders & Backers is a podcast that takes you inside the minds of the people shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship. Part of the Tech Talks Network, this series goes beyond headlines and hype to bring you real conversations with startup founders, angel investors, VCs, and seasoned operators who are building, backing, and scaling the next generation of companies. You might know me from Tech Talks Daily, where we explore a broad spectrum of business technology. But here, the focus narrows to the pulse of the startup ecosystem. From the spark of an idea to the complexities of funding, go-to-market strategies, team building, and exits, this series unpacks what it really takes to create a successful venture in today’s fast-moving environment. In each episode, we uncover what motivates founders to leave stability behind in pursuit of something bigger. We explore how investors identify promise amid uncertainty, what they’re looking for right now, and how early-stage bets evolve into long-term partnerships. Along the way, we look at the less polished moments—the pivots, the pressures, and the personal lessons that shape both people and products. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an investor looking for your next big bet, or a startup operator navigating growth, these conversations offer insight, connection, and an honest look at the reality behind the pitch decks. So what does it take to build something from nothing, and who are the people willing to take that risk? Let’s find out together. And if you’ve got a story to tell or a venture to share, I’d love to hear from you.

  1. From High School Dropout to Redefining Modern Wealth Management

    3D AGO

    From High School Dropout to Redefining Modern Wealth Management

    What does it really take to rewrite your own story, and then challenge an entire industry at the same time? In this episode of Startup Builders & Backers, I’m joined by Steven Woods, Founder of Stirlingshire Investments, for a conversation that goes far beyond balance sheets and buzzwords. Steve’s journey is anything but predictable. From leaving high school early to advising on Wall Street, earning credentials from Harvard and Oxford, and ultimately building a firm that questions how modern asset management should actually work, his path challenges many of the assumptions we still take for granted in finance. We talked about why the traditional broker-dealer model feels increasingly out of step with today’s founders, operators, and investors. Steve shared how transparency, ethics, and genuinely personalized service can coexist with modern technology, and why large firms often struggle to deliver any of those at scale. Rather than chasing complexity, he argues that clarity and alignment are becoming the real differentiators in wealth management, especially for builders who want their capital to work in ways that reflect their values as well as their goals. What I appreciated most was how practical this conversation became. Whether you are a seasoned investor, a startup founder thinking about long-term financial strategy, or simply finance-curious, Steve offers grounded advice shaped by lived experience rather than theory. We also touched on life outside the boardroom, from growing up in Kansas City to the contrast between Manhattan and Missouri, along with football, fishing, and why good barbecue still matters when building relationships. If you are building something new or backing others who are, this episode offers a candid look at how personal reinvention and industry change often go hand in hand. As capital, technology, and trust continue to shift, what kind of financial partners will founders and investors really need in the next decade, and are we brave enough to move away from models that no longer serve us? Useful Links Connect with Steven WoodsLearn more about Stirlingshire Investments, Thanks to our sponsors, Alcor, for supporting the show.

    24 min
  2. From Startup to Scale: How Emanuel Pirker Built and Evolved Stratodesk into IGEL

    11/10/2025

    From Startup to Scale: How Emanuel Pirker Built and Evolved Stratodesk into IGEL

    What makes a startup founder stay inspired after years of building, scaling, and sometimes starting over? In this episode of The Startup Builders and Backers Podcast, Emanuel Pirker shares a founder’s journey that every entrepreneur can learn from. Recorded live at IGEL’s Now & Next event in Frankfurt, Emanuel opens up about the path from launching Stratodesk to becoming Field CTO at IGEL, where his vision continues to influence the future of secure digital workspaces. Emanuel reflects on how he built Stratodesk into a global player in Linux-based endpoint technology and the lessons learned along the way about scaling, product focus, and resilience. His advice for founders is refreshingly practical: stay obsessed with solving real problems, move fast when you fail, and never build technology for its own sake. We also talk about how IGEL’s acquisition of Stratodesk became a story of alignment rather than loss, showing how founders can successfully transition into leadership roles within larger organizations without losing their entrepreneurial drive. We also dive into how his leadership philosophy has evolved. Emanuel explains how letting go of control after the acquisition gave him the freedom to focus on what matters most: innovation and people. He describes how creativity thrives when leaders balance listening with action, and how this mindset now shapes his work bridging customer insights with product development at IGEL. It’s a story that reminds any founder that scaling isn’t just about growth—it’s about adapting how you lead. From AI-powered voice tools improving human connection to IGEL’s preventative security model, Emanuel illustrates how technology can both simplify and humanize work. His enthusiasm for building purposeful, people-first innovation remains undiminished after decades in tech. For startup founders, his journey is a reminder that reinvention never ends—it just takes new forms. If you’re a founder looking for real-world startup lessons about scaling, acquisition, and staying inspired through change, this episode is for you. What do you think helps a founder thrive after their company is acquired? Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Useful Links Connect with Emanuel Pirker on LinkedInLearn more about IGELFollow on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTubeTech Talks Daily is Sponsored by NordLayer: Get the exclusive Black Friday offer: 28% off NordLayer yearly plans with the coupon code: techdaily-28. Valid until December 10th, 2025. Try it risk-free with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

    22 min
  3. The LoopUp Startup Story to Becoming the World's Most Global Telco

    10/12/2025

    The LoopUp Startup Story to Becoming the World's Most Global Telco

    In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Steve Flavell, co-CEO of LoopUp, to hear how a company once known for improving conference calls became a global force in cloud telephony. LoopUp began in 2003 with a mission to make conference calls less frustrating, growing steadily for more than a decade before going public on the London Stock Exchange in 2016. When the pandemic hit, their core business vanished almost overnight as platforms like Teams and Zoom took over the world. Rather than giving up, Steve and his team made a bold pivot. They transformed LoopUp from a conferencing specialist into a global provider of cloud telephony for Microsoft Teams. Today, the company delivers enterprise voice services across 136 countries and proudly calls itself the world’s most multinational telco. Steve explains how this shift helps multinational businesses simplify operations by replacing dozens of regional telecom providers with a single unified system. With one contract, one support model, and one management portal, LoopUp allows companies to manage telephony the same way they already manage Teams globally. We also talk about the wider transformation of the telecom industry. Legacy phone systems are being replaced by cloud infrastructure that integrates directly into the platforms people use every day. Steve shares what that change means for businesses seeking efficiency, scalability, and control. Our conversation isn’t only about technology; it’s about leadership. Steve opens up about the lessons he’s learned through both highs and setbacks, from staying persistent during tough times to keeping honest communication flowing across the team. He also reflects on the strength of his long partnership with fellow co-founder Michael Hughes. For anyone building through uncertainty or leading through change, Steve’s journey is a powerful reminder that adaptability and openness are key to lasting success.

    25 min
  4. Building a Support Ecosystem That Drives Startup Growth

    09/04/2025

    Building a Support Ecosystem That Drives Startup Growth

    What if you could accelerate your startup’s growth with the combined power of AI, targeted mentorship, and a connected community? In this episode of Startup Builders and Backers, I speak with serial entrepreneur, investor, and technologist Paul Pluschkell, the founder of StartupOS, to unpack how their Launchpad platform is reshaping the way early-stage companies find their footing and scale. Paul shares lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey and explains how StartupOS helps founders refine their pitch decks, reach product-market fit, and assemble strong teams. We discuss how AI-powered tools can streamline investor readiness, surface strategic insights, and guide decision-making in ways that were previously out of reach for most startups. The conversation also explores the importance of surrounding founders with the right ecosystem — one that blends mentorship, investor access, and collaborative networks — and how accelerators, enterprises, and even universities can plug into the StartupOS model. Paul offers his view on where the venture space is heading over the next year and what that means for early-stage founders looking to break through. If you are building a startup and seeking practical, tech-driven ways to accelerate growth, this episode provides a blueprint for leveraging AI and community to drive success. ********* Visit the Sponsor of Tech Talks Network: Land your first job in tech in 6 months as a Software QA Engineering Bootcamp with Careerist https://crst.co/OGCLA

    30 min
  5. Inside the Mind of a Founder: Startup Psychology, Burnout, and Co-Founder Dynamics

    07/26/2025

    Inside the Mind of a Founder: Startup Psychology, Burnout, and Co-Founder Dynamics

    In this raw and deeply human conversation, I sit down with Yael Daniely, a seasoned startup psychologist, co-founder, therapist, and founder of one of the world’s only clinical practices dedicated to the emotional well-being of startup leaders. Yael joins me from Israel in the middle of a war zone, where the urgency of her message becomes even more profound. Together, we explore what founders rarely talk about publicly: emotional fatigue, burnout, the silent strain on co-founder relationships, and the psychological toll of building a startup when your identity is wrapped up in its success or failure. Drawing from her work with over 400 founders and leadership teams around the world, Yael breaks down: Why startup life often mimics survival mode and how to manage itThe unconscious emotional drivers behind decision-making and leadership fatigueHow dysfunctional co-founder dynamics quietly derail 65% of startupsWhy psychological contracts matter as much as shareholder agreementsThe overlooked link between childhood experience and startup behaviorWhat founder burnout really looks like and how to recover from it holisticallyAs Yael puts it, “High-growth startups require high-growth founders.” This episode is an honest, moving reflection on what it really takes to survive and thrive as a startup leader, especially during times of extreme uncertainty.

    46 min
  6. Wells Fargo: AI, IPOs, and the Future of Venture Capital

    07/15/2025

    Wells Fargo: AI, IPOs, and the Future of Venture Capital

    In this episode of Startup Builders and Backers, I sat down with Rahul Baig, Head of Venture Capital and Growth Equity Coverage at Wells Fargo, for one of the most wide-ranging and insightful conversations I’ve had this year. We discuss the seismic shifts occurring across the tech landscape, particularly how AI is driving a new cycle of investment, innovation, and disruption. With $200 billion already invested in AI infrastructure and more to come, Rahul breaks down why this moment feels different from anything we've seen before—more accessible, more transformative, and, in many ways, more challenging. We also talk about the slowdown in software growth, the short-term pressure on IT budgets, and how the most innovative companies are leveraging AI not just to survive, but to innovate faster and extend their competitive edge. Rahul also shared his views on the state of venture capital, the consolidation of VC firms, and why traditional players are regaining dominance. For founders, this episode is packed with candid insights. Rahul pulls no punches when discussing what it takes to get funded today, what investors are looking for, and why financial discipline and real-world use cases are now non-negotiables. If you’re still clinging to a “raise at all costs” mindset, this is the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed. 🎧 In this conversation, we cover: How AI is reshaping the rules of the game for software and infrastructureWhy 55,000 venture-backed companies is a sign of overinvestment, not progressWhat it now takes to go public and why the IPO bar is higher than everWhy the next generation of great startups will emerge from this tougher environmentThe impact of geopolitical tensions, rate shifts, and investor risk appetite on capital marketsIf you're a founder, investor, or just trying to make sense of where tech is headed next, this one’s for you. You can find Rahul on LinkedIn, and as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the conversation.

    29 min
  7. From Startup Grit to Enterprise Scale: The Cask Canada Approach

    07/07/2025

    From Startup Grit to Enterprise Scale: The Cask Canada Approach

    In this episode of Startup Builders & Backers, we sit down with Jeff Butler, General Manager of Cask Canada, for a candid conversation on what it really takes to launch and grow a high-performing tech consultancy in today's evolving enterprise landscape. In just over a year, Jeff helped Cask Canada scale to 25 employees and win 11 major clients, all while navigating a crowded implementation partner market, the complexity of ServiceNow, and the growing expectations of Canadian enterprises. We explore how authenticity, trust, and relentless focus on value have been key to Cask’s success. Jeff reflects on lessons from the dot-com era, the power of genuine client relationships, and why every implementation is more about outcomes than technology alone. From the rise of AI-enhanced platforms to growing demand for local partnerships, we cover emerging trends reshaping the ServiceNow ecosystem. Jeff also discusses the increasing role of automation, the future of implementation services, and why the best consultants push back instead of simply checking boxes. If you're building in the enterprise tech space, thinking about platform partnerships, or just want to understand what it takes to lead with heart in a technical world, this episode is for you.

    48 min
  8. Building the Internet of Trees: Dryad Networks’ Bold Vision for Wildfire Prevention

    06/21/2025

    Building the Internet of Trees: Dryad Networks’ Bold Vision for Wildfire Prevention

    On this episode of Startup Builders & Backers, I sit down with Carsten Brinkschulte, co-founder and CEO of Dryad Networks, to uncover how a seasoned telecom entrepreneur pivoted from software to saving forests. Carsten explains how witnessing devastating wildfires and his own daughter’s climate activism pushed him to found Dryad Networks, a company deploying solar-powered sensors and mesh networks deep into forests to detect wildfires before they spread. We dive into what it takes to build rugged IoT devices for some of the world’s harshest, most remote environments, how Dryad trains edge AI to sniff out the gas signatures of a forest fire, and why satellite partnerships are vital to keeping the network online when traditional connectivity vanishes. He also shares hard-earned insights on scaling hardware startups, building trust with governments and forestry organisations worldwide, and balancing climate impact goals with commercial reality. This episode is a masterclass for anyone interested in climate tech, IoT innovation, or the grit required to turn a fresh idea into a global venture that could prevent millions of hectares from going up in smoke. Tune in and get inspired by a founder turning sensors, AI and satellite links into tools for fighting climate change—one forest at a time.

    22 min
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About

Startup Builders & Backers is a podcast that takes you inside the minds of the people shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship. Part of the Tech Talks Network, this series goes beyond headlines and hype to bring you real conversations with startup founders, angel investors, VCs, and seasoned operators who are building, backing, and scaling the next generation of companies. You might know me from Tech Talks Daily, where we explore a broad spectrum of business technology. But here, the focus narrows to the pulse of the startup ecosystem. From the spark of an idea to the complexities of funding, go-to-market strategies, team building, and exits, this series unpacks what it really takes to create a successful venture in today’s fast-moving environment. In each episode, we uncover what motivates founders to leave stability behind in pursuit of something bigger. We explore how investors identify promise amid uncertainty, what they’re looking for right now, and how early-stage bets evolve into long-term partnerships. Along the way, we look at the less polished moments—the pivots, the pressures, and the personal lessons that shape both people and products. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an investor looking for your next big bet, or a startup operator navigating growth, these conversations offer insight, connection, and an honest look at the reality behind the pitch decks. So what does it take to build something from nothing, and who are the people willing to take that risk? Let’s find out together. And if you’ve got a story to tell or a venture to share, I’d love to hear from you.

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