
69 episodes

Venture Pill Sam Gordon, Brandon Osian
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- Business
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5.0 • 8 Ratings
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Your weekly dose of startups and venture capital. Brandon Osian and Sam Gordon prescribe all you'll need to get into the wonderful world of venture. From fundraising news to startup deep dives, you can expect to stay up to date with the most innovative, exciting companies out there.
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E68: Interview with CS Freeland, Co-Founder of Texas Venture Alliance
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And now, for this week’s prescription:
On this week’s dose, we have CS Freeland, founder of Texas Venture Alliance, and an incredible ambassador for startups and venture capital in the great state of Texas.
In our conversation, you will hear about CS’ background starting several companies and organizations centered around community and advocacy for entrepreneurship.
Later, she dives into what she’s currently working on, the Texas Venture Alliance, and some exciting plans on the horizon, including the Texas Venture Crawl.
To wrap up the interview, CS tells us about what excites her most about Austin and Texas in general as a startup hub. Stick around to hear some great advice for the Pillgrims looking to get into venture.
It was a blast having CS in studio this week, and we are excited to help her spread the word and, as she puts it in the interview, use our voices to foster more entrepreneurial activity in Texas. Here it is!
Sources:
https://www.csfreeland.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/csfreeland/
Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keeton
https://www.colebauer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=en
Disclosure:
The views, statements, and opinions, expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security. -
E67: Interview with Harry Gestetner and Simon Pompan, Founders of Fanfix
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Join our Entre Community
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And now, for this week’s prescription:
On this week’s dose, we have Harry Gestetner and Simon Pompan, co-founders of Fanfix, the revolutionary platform that helps creators monetize their audience and connect with their most loyal fans.
Harry and Simon have both had the entrepreneurial bug since childhood, and it was fascinating to hear how that blossomed into starting a successful nonprofit in college, to building Fanfix
In the interview, you will hear more about how they came up with the idea, their thesis on the future of the creator economy, and how they differentiate themselves in the competitive space.
Stick with us to hear more about their remarkable exit, and some of their recommendations for the Pillgrims looking to get into venture.
It was awesome having these guys on and it is our pleasure to share their story, a story that is only just beginning for two of the youngest founders we have had on the Pill.
Sources:
https://www.fanfix.io/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-gestetner-802041a1/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-pompan-a09a966b/
Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keeton
https://www.colebauer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=en
Disclosure:
The views, statements, and opinions, expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security. -
E66: Newtropics, ChatGPT for Enterprise, Democratizing Music, and Catching Kidney Disease
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Join our Entre Community
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And now, for this week’s prescription:
On this week’s dose, (2:27) we start things off with a discussion on Thesis, a startup that offers personalized nootropic formulas to enhance performance based on brain chemistry, and its recent $13.5M funding round. (8:03) Next, we talk about Cohere, an AI company that’s creating a ChatGPT-type product geared toward privacy-prioritizing enterprises, and its massive $250M raise. (14:05) From there, we breakdown Duetti’s $32M raise, and how the startup is getting in on the music catalog sales market by providing funding to independent, rising artists in exchange for their music. (19:27) Lastly, we wrap up this week’s dose with a discourse on Healthy.io, a startup that’s developing game-changing technology that will help millions of people detect Chronic Kidney Disease using a smartphone, fresh off its $50M Series D.
Sources:
https://www.finsmes.com/2023/05/thesis-raises-13-5m-in-funding.html
https://takethesis.com/
https://cohere.com/about
https://www.ft.com/content/84bfc44e-d1f3-4b83-9986-ed0d958b5f4c
https://duetti.co/
https://www.billboard.com/pro/tidal-apple-execs-music-financing-firm-indie-artists/
https://healthy.io/about-us/
https://www.investorsobserver.com/news/qm-pr/7668628238261655
https://www.axios.com/pro/health-tech-deals/2023/05/03/healthyio-raises-50-m-series-d-smartphone-testing-kidney-disease-ckd-wounds
Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keeton
https://www.colebauer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=en
Disclosure:
The views, statements, and opinions, expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security. -
E65: Interview with Ben Topor, Founder and MP at Titan Capital Partners
Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!
Join our Entre Community
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And now, for this week’s prescription:
On this week’s dose, we host Ben Topor, Founder and Managing Partner of Titan Capital Partners, an Israeli firm that invests in world-class growth stage tech companies.
Here’s the prescription:
Ben served as an officer in the Israeli intelligence directorate and Israeli Department of Defense. He’s spent the past decade in senior roles in private equity and investment banking, and has personally led more than 30 transactions.
Then, in 2021, he founded Titan Capital Partners, a firm that’s focused on providing growth equity & secondary capital to world-class internet, software, consumer, and financial technology companies.
In the interview, you will hear about how his experience has enabled him to find and invest in unique market opportunities in these first couple of years after launching the fund.
From there, the conversation moves on to Ben's insights on the Israeli startup ecosystem, as well as what differentiates Israeli founders and some of the challenges facing them today.
After that, Ben shares his philosophy on what makes a good investment opportunity and offers unique advice to those looking to get into venture capital.
Sources:
https://www.titan-capital.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-topor-97707a64/
Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keeton
https://www.colebauer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=en
Disclosure:
The views, statements, and opinions, expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security. -
E64: Interview with Michael Marra, CEO and Founder of Entre
Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
TikTok
LinkedIn
And now, for this week’s prescription:
On this week’s dose, we have Michael Marra, CEO and Founder of Entre, a professional network for the next generation of entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and build.
In the interview, you’ll hear about Michael’s early career, and the journey that led him to starting a community for entrepreneurs. You’ll also hear about how he differentiates Entre from existing communities and platforms.
Michael also breaks down some of the challenges he has faced in addition to the four areas of the business that he focuses on mastering to stay ahead of the game.
Stick with us as Michael provides a glimpse into the future for Entre, tells us about his fundraising plans, and discusses his mindset as a founder.
Another energizing in person interview to share with all the pilgrims this week, and with that, here’s our conversation with Michael.
Sources:
https://joinentre.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmarra1/
Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keeton
https://www.colebauer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=en
Disclosure:
The views, statements, and opinions, expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security. -
E63: Interview with Katie Castillo-Wilson, Founder and CEO of TapOnIt
Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
TikTok
LinkedIn
And now, for this week’s prescription:
On this week’s dose, we have Katie Castillo-Wilson, founder and CEO of TapOnIt, the multi-image business texting platform based out of beautiful Davenport Iowa.
Katie and her sister, Sara, started the business in 2015 when text message marketing was only just getting off the ground.
They have since evolved the business into a SaaS which offers self service to small businesses in addition to more comprehensive solutions for mid to large businesses.
In the interview, you will hear about Katie’s background and how TapOnIt has grown into the company it is today, including a major pivot in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Stick with us as she breaks down what it has been like as a woman founder building a business out of Iowa, not a combination we’re typically used to in venture.
Tune in to hear Katie’s valuable advice to females looking to get into venture, some of her go-to entrepreneurship resources, and a scrumptious woman-founded startup out of Iowa to keep your eye out for.
It was a blast to have Katie on this week’s dose. Honored to call her our newest Pillgrim.
Sources:
https://taponit.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwilsonqc/
Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keeton
https://www.colebauer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=en
Disclosure:
The views, statements, and opinions, expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.
Customer Reviews
Very relevant
Sam and Brandon do a great job of not only picking exciting & edgy topics in VC, but condensing the information in a fun & digestible way. Thanks guys!
-a happy pillgrim
Incredibly insightful
Brandon and Sam are a joy to listen to. I listen daily on my commute and they are both so knowledgeable about the space. A must listen for anyone in VC !!!