Tech Startup Network Podcast with Ashley DiBiase

Tech Startup Network
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Tech Startup Network is a weekly podcast where we dive into the real stories behind startups directly from the people building them to those backing them. Whether you're a founder, investor, operator, or advisor, Tech Startup Network is your inside look at startups today.

  1. 2d ago

    Backing FinTech Founders with Casey Williams

    Casey Williams is a Partner & COO at Fenway Summer, a VC firm investing in early-stage fintech companies. She focuses on companies building infrastructure for the financial system, with a particular conviction for founders raising their first institutional round in complex, policy-adjacent markets. Casey has walked a non-linear path to venture capital. She began her career as a fourth-grade math teacher through Teach for America, an experience that shaped how she thinks about problem-solving, resilience, and working in under-resourced environments. She then moved into financial inclusion work at Kiva Microfinance and, later, product and R&D at Wells Fargo. Her venture capital career began on the operating side of the business, when she first joined the Fenway Summer team in 2020 as an Operations Associate. She was quickly promoted to COO and has spent years managing every aspect of the business side of the firm, from fund administration to tax and audit processes. Casey has a demonstrated pattern of conviction on non-consensus founders, looking for ideas that sit outside the comfortable consensus of what fintech “should” look like, and a track record of being early. She holds a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a B.A. in English Literature from Elon University. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, two kids, and a growing collection of rescue animals. During this episode, we discuss: Casey's nonlinear career path that led her into investingHer advice for aspiring VCsWhat she does at Fenway SummerThe three things she looks for when evaluating early-stage fintech foundersWhy distribution has become the ultimate moat in financial servicesHow her operator background makes her a genuinely hands-on partnerA common misconception the VC world got wrongWhat Fenway Summer is announcing later in 2026 And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things fintech investing!

    40 min

  2. 5d ago

    Powering the Future of Space with Andrew Rush

    Andrew Rush is the President and CEO of Star Catcher, a pioneering company advancing the development of the world’s first space-based energy grid. A seasoned space industry executive, Andrew is widely recognized for scaling groundbreaking ventures and driving transformational growth across the commercial and defense space sectors. He first gained prominence as President and CEO of Made In Space, where he led the company from its early startup phase into a profitable leader in space manufacturing technology. Under his leadership, Made In Space achieved historic milestones, including the first-ever manufacturing in space and the creation of the first satellite capable of in-orbit manufacturing and assembly. Andrew also guided the company through its successful acquisition by Redwire Corporation in 2020. At Redwire, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing strategic execution, investment planning, and expansion across civil, defense, and commercial markets. During his tenure, Redwire enhanced the International Space Station’s power systems, scaled to over 700 employees, and went public on the New York Stock Exchange. Today, Andrew continues to lead at the forefront of space innovation, shaping the future of space infrastructure and sustainable energy through his leadership at Star Catcher. During this episode, we discuss: Andrew’s expertise building in the space domainHow Star Catcher is building the world's first space-based power gridThe core problem Star Catcher solvesWhy customer validation was baked in from day oneHow their philosophy is crawl, walk, runWhat’s next for Star Catcher this year after closing a $65M Series AWhy the space economy is booming right nowAndrew’s advice for space founders And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things space!

    30 min

  3. Jun 25

    Telling a Better Product Story with Jodi Innerfield

    Jodi Innerfield is a marketing strategist and consultant helping enterprise companies and high-growth start-ups with product launches, storytelling, and go-to-market strategy. Previously, she spent eight years at Salesforce as a marketing leader spanning content and solutions marketing, GTM, product launches, messaging and positioning, and PLG. Jodi’s marketing and leadership perspectives reach audiences through her Marketing Musings Newsletter and through speaking engagements and interviews including CNN International, Harvard Business School, and the University of Michigan. When she’s not talking marketing, you can find her talking about Taylor Swift’s songwriting on her podcast, AP Taylor Swift, where she does deep reading and literary analysis of Taylor Swift’s lyrics. During this episode, we discuss: Jodi’s expertise as a product marketing strategist and how she started her consultancyWhere early-stage founders should start with their product marketingWhy features alone are no longer a differentiatorThe importance of having solid positioningHow messaging evolves over timeWhy your website is no longer the first place buyers go And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things product marketing strategy!

    31 min

  4. Jun 23

    Exploring Alternative Investing with Porter Geer

    Porter Geer is one of the cofounders of Girl Math Capital, the alternative investing community for women. Founded in 2023, Girl Math Capital exists to support women on their wealth-building journeys by increasing the number of women investing in private markets. To date, Girl Math Capital has deployed over $1M into 60+ companies. Porter has spent her career in the crypto and digital asset space and is currently a member of the Governance team at Uniswap. She is based in Austin, TX. During this episode, we discuss: What Girl Math Capital is and why Porter and her two co-founders built itWhy Girl Math Capital focuses on alternative investing and what that isCommon misconceptions about alternative investingWhy financial independence is a core value underlying Girl Math Capital's missionAn inside look into their cohortHow they source deal flowThe power law of early-stage investingPorter's personal investing adviceGirl Math's long-term vision And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into alternative investing!

    28 min

  5. Jun 18

    Building in Space with Dakota Labine

    Dakota Labine is the Director of Engineering at ThinkOrbital, where he leads multidisciplinary teams building next-generation space infrastructure and advanced X-ray technologies. Starting in a hands-on Assembly, Integration, and Test leadership role before growing into engineering leadership, Dakota has helped scale the company from rapid hardware execution into broader technical and organizational growth. His work spans autonomous in-space welding, drone-based X-ray imaging, spacecraft systems, and rapid development programs supporting both commercial and government customers. Before joining ThinkOrbital, Dakota spent over four years at Blue Canyon Technologies leading spacecraft systems engineering efforts across major microsatellite constellation programs and new spacecraft product lines. Known for blending hands-on execution with big-picture systems thinking, he’s passionate about building teams, scaling ambitious ideas, and turning complex engineering challenges into real-world capabilities. During this episode, we discuss: What Dakota does as the Director of Engineering at ThinkOrbitalThinkOrbital’s core productsTheir pivot toward X-ray technologyThe hardest part of scaling a deep tech hardware companyHow ThinkOrbital serves both commercial and government customersWhy the space economy is booming right nowWhat makes Boulder, CO a hub for aerospace startupsDakota's advice for anyone looking to work in deep tech And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things space!

    32 min

  6. Jun 16

    Putting Tampa Bay on the Tech Map with Jesus Vidaurri

    Jesus Vidaurri is a community and ecosystem builder, entrepreneur, and talent strategist passionate about creating spaces where people, ideas, and innovation thrive. He is the Founder and CEO of Tampa Bay Tech Week, a community-led initiative designed to bring together founders, technologists, investors, creatives, and builders while elevating the Tampa Bay region as a destination for innovation and opportunity. Known throughout the region for connecting people and building meaningful partnerships, Jesus has become a driving force in strengthening Tampa Bay’s startup and technology ecosystem. His work centers around creating opportunities, fostering collaboration, and helping communities grow with intention. Professionally, Jesus is also the Founder and Principal Consultant of Vida Talent Solutions, where he advises startups and growth-stage organizations on talent strategy, AI, and modern recruiting practices. He currently supports Federal Government as a talent consultant and previously served as Director of Talent at the White House, helping build high-impact teams supporting critical government initiatives. Whether launching tech movements, advising founders, or helping people land life-changing opportunities, Jesus believes the strongest ecosystems are built when community comes first. During this episode, we discuss: What Tampa Bay Tech Week is and how Jesus got the idea by attending Atlanta Tech WeekHow to successfully start and build a Tech WeekTips for maintaining momentum after Tech Week endsWhy partnerships and collaborations are essential to sustaining year-round eventsWhat makes Tampa Bay an excellent home for techWhy more Tampa founders don't get funded locallyHow Jesus balances his many roles and passions And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things Tampa Bay!

    45 min

  7. Jun 9

    Investing in HealthTech with Nalina Murthy

    Nalina Murthy is the founder of HealthTech Trailblazers. As a Syndicate Lead and angel investor, she focuses on women’s health, longevity, caregiving, and healthtech infrastructure — a sector she believes is long overdue for bold innovation. Her path to investing is grounded in deep operator experience. As a former engineering and product leader for Global Fortune 500 companies, she brings rare technical depth and operator instincts to early-stage investing and also serves as a mentor and longtime startup advisor. During this episode, we discuss: Nalina’s career as an engineering and product leader at global Fortune 500 companiesWhat led her to get into investingHow she spent over a year building her investment thesis and what it isHer top advice for aspiring investorsThe four things she looks at when evaluating a startupThe biggest lesson she learned the hard wayWhat HealthTech Trailblazers will focus on in 2026 And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things health tech!

    30 min

  8. Jun 4

    Automating Accounts Receivable with Joe Zhou

    Joe Zhou is Co-Founder and CTO of Monk. Prior to Monk, Joe was an engineer at Snap (top 30 contributor to the codebase), Google, and QuickBooks. Joe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he received his B.S. in Computer Science and M.S. in Engineering. During this episode, we discuss: The journey of Joe’s careerWhat Monk does and how the idea came aboutJoe's engineering philosophyHow the key to improving the product over time is a tight feedback loopWhat Monk plans to do in 2026Joe's top advice for technical founders And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things accounts receivable and engineering!

    28 min
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Tech Startup Network is a weekly podcast where we dive into the real stories behind startups directly from the people building them to those backing them. Whether you're a founder, investor, operator, or advisor, Tech Startup Network is your inside look at startups today.

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