School for Startups Radio

November 22, 2023 - Midwest VC Nathaniel Harding and Becoming More Dianna Kokoszka

Nathaniel Harding – Managing Partner at Cortado Ventures
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Nathaniel Harding
Nathaniel Harding is the CEO and Managing Partner at Cortado Ventures. Nathaniel is an expert in tech, innovation, and venture capital. A distinguished Kauffman Fellow, World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader, and Most Admired CEO, his $120M asset-managing venture capital firm showcases strategic brilliance. He can share how to discover the untapped potential and growth opportunities in overlooked sectors. His extensive experience as an entrepreneur, technologist, and visionary makes him a captivating guest for any podcast seeking insightful discussions. Nathaniel has been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and celebrated as a Most Admired CEO in Oklahoma. Under his guidance, Cortado Ventures has grown to manage a substantial $120M in assets, a testament to his strategic acumen and ability to foster success. Nathaniel’s entrepreneurial prowess is accentuated by his involvement in a remarkable $120M sale of a midcontinent resource play, showcasing his adeptness in strategic planning, financial modeling, and harnessing the potential of expansive datasets. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Nathaniel’s broad spectrum of experiences and unwavering community dedication underscore his commitment to effecting positive change. A former Air Force Captain and Afghanistan veteran, his devotion to service and collaborative efforts remains evident. Additionally, his global market prowess becomes evident through a successful Beijing-based joint venture with major Chinese entities, demonstrating his proficiency in international business landscapes.Dianna Kokoszka – CEO of KW MAPS and Author of Becoming More: You Can’t Get to Better Until You Get to Different 
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Dianna Kokoszka
Dianna Kokoszka is an Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker, Author and Mentor. As an award-winning business leader, she has established herself as a prominent figure in the business world, developing many leaders during her longevity. Dedicating 13 years as CEO of KW MAPS Coaching and Training at Keller Williams Realty International, she played a pivotal role in propelling the company to become the largest and most profitable coaching enterprise in the real estate industry! As innovator, creator and author of the KW BOLD Experience and Coaching Skills Camp she helped lead the company to be recognized as the number one training company in the world. She is a board member of Growing Leaders, a John Maxwell Leadership Foundation Organization and captures every opportunity to journey alongside EQUIP Leadership Inc. a non-profit dedicated to instilling values in individuals, transforming nations. Dianna is a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programing (NLP), a founding member of the John Maxwell Team of Certified Coaches, (IMC) and actively participating in the Strategic Coach training program. As a lifelong learner, she has followed and been mentored by John C. Maxwell since the mid-1990s. Her greatest passions revolve around developing leaders and encouraging individuals to recognize and harness their innate potential. Amongst her impressive achievements, Dianna’s most cherished titles are wife, mother, and grandmother. Her genuine concern for the welfare of others serves as the driving force behind all her endeavors, fueling her unwavering commitment to add value to others.

November 21, 2023 - 4 Doc Founded Nutraceutical Co Brenden Dougherty and Urban Sandbox Danna Okuyama

Brenden Dougherty – CEO/COO of MDbio
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Brenden Dougherty is the CEO/COO of MDbio – The Doctors Brand. The company was founded by four doctors to bring pharma-level testing to the nutraceutical market. The company was created to treat the most common conditions seen in patient care – sleeplessness, stress/anxiety, and chronic aches and pain. Recently, MDbio’s hero product, MDsleep, was clinically proven in the largest onshore, randomized, placebo-controlled sleep study in history and demonstrated to improve sleep quality, decrease feelings of stress, decrease feelings of anxiety, and improve overall well-being. Brenden Dougherty, a visionary leader in the nutraceutical industry, has spent the past 10 years refining and developing business concepts in traditional and emerging markets. His early professional background in finance for UBS and PPM America instilled a strong analytical background and understanding of business modeling and growth strategies. In 2014, he combined his passion for cultural travel and business acumen into his own concept, OneGlobe Citizen, a Chicago-based tech/media platform that predated Airbnb in connecting travelers with cultural activities and local favorites. By 2016, the market had shifted, so Brenden applied his successful growth strategies to early-stage businesses needing strong visionary and operational leadership. He saw a gap where companies were scaling through outdated advertising and solely seeking capital rather than strategic partnerships to expand exponentially while requiring less capital to launch. This concept, venture development, took off with the rise of fractional leadership services. His strategic growth ideas and interpersonal leadership catalyzed many clients at his consultancy, Team Shift, founded in 2016. This ultimately led him to the nutraceutical space, where he currently leads MDbio – The Doctors Brand. MDbio is a groundbreaking pharmaceutical alternative company redefining supplements with clinically-backed plant medicines. When Brenden first met the founding physicians, including Dr. Babak Larian, Department Chair of head, neck and throat surgeries at Cedars Sinai, he knew MDbio converged his passion for developing meaningful companies with a culture prioritizing patient outcomes. In 2012, Dr. Larian performed invasive tumor removal surgeries at Cedars Sinai. He noticed older patients statistically likely to struggle with recovery were actually faring better than younger, healthier ones undergoing identical procedures. Further analysis revealed patients using plant medicines, often cannabis, had superior outcomes – faster healing, less inflammation, and greater emotional stability. Plant-based medications erased weeks from recovery after traumatic healthcare events. This represented a paradigm shift combining pharmaceuticals with milder yet effective plants. Inspired, Brenden foresaw incredible benefits if consumers had plant-based medicines approved by healthcare professionals. The challenge was formulating effective, scientifically validated medications. With over 99% of supplements untested and under 1% demonstrating statistical significance, this was no small undertaking. For over 3 years, MDbio, under Brenden’s leadership, partnered with experts to develop sophisticated internal clinical research to test formulations on chronically ill patients with sleeplessness, stress and pain. With patient outcomes guiding them, MDbio refined products that garnered life-changing results. This was only the first step toward statistically significant clinical results at scale. In partnership with a leading clinical research organization, MDbio began unbiased clinical testing of their sleep aid MDsleep in 2022. With the largest-ever non-melatonin cohort (620 participants), MDsleep proved not just statistically significant but groundbreaking for clinically effective sleep, stress, anxiety and well-being. Achieving this first-ever clinically proven hemp sleep aid took four years, but for Brenden, it’s just the beginning. With two more products awaiting 2024 outcomes, MDbio is poised to lead clinically proven nutraceuticals that will transform health. Brenden’s drive stems from his purpose – creating joy for consumers relying on hope during tough times.Danna Okuyama – Founder of Urban Sandbox
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Danna Okuyama is the Founder of Urban Sandbox, the modern-day pen pal app and safe space for students that parents can trust. Students can connect, share, and grow with other like-minded peers from around the world and learn from qualified educators within the app, while parents have full access to their child’s platform to easily supervise activity and ensure safety. She represents the pinnacle of self-taught success and a role model for any aspiring AAPI entrepreneur. Having lived on four continents and coming from the competitive world of finance, Danna knew the sort of challenges and stigma children can face. When her own son entered school, she saw that he was struggling to make the right friends, and online forums and screentime left many concerns for safety. Her solution? She quit her job and launched Urban Sandbox. Born out of her passion for fostering diverse connections and learning experiences for her son and his peers, Urban Sandbox stands as the modern-day pen pal platform for children worldwide, offering a secure space parents can trust. In her role as CEO, Danna envisions Urban Sandbox as more than just a digital platform—it’s a global community where children can discover, share, and grow together. The platform, announced on October 25, 2023, prioritizes safety, allowing students to connect with like-minded peers, learn from accredited educators, access educational resources, and showcase their own achievements. Danna’s mission extends beyond traditional education, aiming for children to not only learn from global educators but also from each other. Recognizing the inevitability of screen time in the evolving digital world, Urban Sandbox optimizes this time for young individuals. By combining the social interactivity that students love with an emphasis on academic interests, teacher-approved content, and cyber safety, the platform helps build smarter technology habits. Through this innovative platform, Danna Okuyama and her team at Urban Sandbox are redefining the way children learn, share, and grow in the digital age, providing a secure space for global citizens to connect and thrive.

November 20, 2023 - Blue Angel Pilot Scott Kartvedt and Coaches’ Coach Catherine B. Roy

Scott Kartvedt – Author of Full Throttle: From the Blue Angels to Hollywood Stunt Pilot
If you accept responsibility for some shortcoming that you have had, I amactually going to believe in you more and you will gain credibility with me.
Scott Kartvedt was the Navy’s first Commanding Officer of the only F-35C Stealth Strike Fighter Squadron in the US inventory, Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO ONE, based in Eglin AFB, Florida. He also commanded a F/A-18 Hornet squadron during two combat deployments to Afghanistan in Support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. While leading the 250 Sailors of VFA-83, the unit was awarded the 2009 Commander Naval Air Forces Aviation Battle Efficiency Award, the CAPT Michael J. Estocin Award as the Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron of the year, and the 2010 CNO Safety Award. In 1999 Scott was selected as a member of the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, stationed in Pensacola, FL, where he was the #7 VIP pilot and Narrator for the 2000 show season. Scott has served during five combat deployments and flown 91 combat missions in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (3 tours) and ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan (2 tours), as well as the 1996 TAIWANESE CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS. He has accumulated over 6,300 flight hours, and 658 carrier arrested landings on 11 aircraft carriers. His personal awards include the 2009 American Legion Aviation Valor Award, Bronze Star for combat leadership, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, and 5 Strike/Flight Air Medals. Scott is a graduate of Pepperdine University, the US Navy and Marine Corp School of Aviation Safety, Air Command and Staff College, and the Joint Forces Staff College and is currently enrolled in the University of Denver’s Executive MBA program. Scott is currently a professional pilot and on the Board of Directors for the Blue Angel Foundation. He is an instructor and evaluator for United Airlines in Denver, Colorado, the number 5 pilot for the Patriot Jet Team, the only civilian jet demonstration team in North America, and was a stunt pilot in TOPGUN Maverick.Catherine B. Roy – Coaches’ Coach
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Catherine B. Roy is an internationally recognized business and personal growth coach, bestselling author, podcaster, and keynote speaker with the mission to help you do what you love, empowered by your own freedom. Catherine specializes in helping Coaches, Consultants, Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, and Companies to grow their businesses online. Catherine enjoys the distinction of being an official Forbes Coaches Council member, MENSA member (IQ>156), also officially certificated by the Goldman Sachs 10 000 Women Program, and has received many thought leadership awards, 4 years in a row. Catherine is the author of LHM Business Coaching, LHM Personal Growth Coaching, and eLearning platform LHM Academia where you can find LinkedIn Decoded eBook, the LHM 963 Business Accelerator Program, and the LHM LinkedIn Business Accelerator Program. Her latest book, Live from Your Heart and Mind, is an international Bestseller, and she is also the founder of the LHM System, a holistic approach to personal and professional growth that emphasizes love, happiness, and mindfulness. She has clients in 30 countries and her work has been featured by Forbes, Goldman Sachs, TEDx, Microsoft, Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and others. Her most popular work went viral and reached 1.2M people in less than 10 hours and her social media counts for over 100K followers while a Google search shows more than 40 million results for her name.

November 17, 2023 - Stress Killer Anna Gudmundson and Non-Food Franchising Jon Ostenson

Anna Gudmundson – CEO at Sensate – ‘Best Innovations of 2022’ by Time Magazine
We cannot and should not avoid a stressful situation. Sometimeswe need to have very challenging conversations. We should alsostretch ourselves professionally. The question is how are we dealingwith it. How are we able to both have the stressful moment andthen reconnect and reset the systems. The recovery is extremelyimportant. Over time we hope to increase stress resiliency. 
Anna Gudmundson is CEO of getSensate.com. Anna has been a senior tech business leader in the international high-growth scene for 15+ years. Her present-day focus is on transformational technologies which impact the world in a significant, positive way while also having strong commercial viability. As CEO of Sensate, a consumer stress-management technology company, she is tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time: stress and mental health. Apart from a passion for technology business, Anna has a huge curiosity for personal growth and the human potential – both in what she produces and how she leads. Anna leads Sensate to mobilize cutting edge science and technology, informed by wisdom drawn from old traditions and practices, to bring greater calm and consciousness to our current, overstressed world. Sensate is in ‘Best Innovations of 2022’ by Time Magazine. Anna Gudmundson, a seasoned professional in the tech industry, has cultivated a career marked by diverse roles at VP/C-level, including positions as CEO and CPO. With a trajectory spanning both consulting and permanent roles, Gudmundson has recently honed her focus on health, fitness, and wellbeing tech, along with a keen interest in data/AI. Despite encountering initial challenges in securing programming positions in the early 2000s, Gudmundson swiftly transitioned into management roles, excelling at Lucent-Technologies due to her surprising blend of technical knowledge, people skills, negotiation prowess, and organizational acumen. Her journey in the emerging mobile industry led to delivering systems and services for major players such as Vodafone, Metro PCS, and T-Mobile. Gudmundson’s unique perspective as a first-generation immigrant from war-torn Bosnia, combined with her early hardships, instilled in her a profound understanding of financial stability and independence. Embracing macro trends and shifts, she continually gravitates towards innovative endeavors. Gudmundson’s commitment to fostering diversity in STEM fields is evident, having had no preconceived notions about certain people excelling in specific subjects. She underscores the importance of role models, especially for young individuals aspiring to break into the tech industry. Currently steering a tech startup, Gudmundson acknowledges the challenges, emphasizing the need to manage energy in the fast-paced and demanding startup environment. Her organizational approach reflects a commitment to remote work, a flat team structure, and a focus on purpose, with mindfulness practices incorporated into meetings. Motivated to facilitate change in traditional hierarchical structures, Gudmundson believes in deeply involving the team in organizational processes for enhanced motivation and skill development. Beyond her professional achievements, Gudmundson takes pride in personal growth and the positive impact her team has made through a crowdfunding campaign, enabling broader participation in their company’s growth. Her startup, focused on providing stress relief and well-being through innovative technology, aims to serve a global audience facing stress-related challenges. Looking ahead, Gudmundson envisions an exciting period of reinvention, with plans to expand product offerings, conduct research, and reach a wider global audience. Her mission is rooted in bringing stress resilience and well-being to millions globally, leveraging cutting-edge technology developed over five years of dedicated work.Jon Ostenson – CEO of FranBridge Consulting and Author of Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership
It’s easier to get into Harvard than to purchase a Chick-fil-A franchise.
Jon Ostenson is the CEO of FranBridge Consulting and Author of Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership. Jon Ostenson is a top 1% national franchise broker, investor, author, and international speaker specializing in the area he has coined as ‘Non-Food Franchising’. Having served as the President of an Inc. 500 franchise system and now as a multi-brand franchisee, himself, Jon is uniquely positioned to educate others on franchising and franchise selection. Jon serves as CEO of FranBridge Consulting and has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and investors explore business ownership and investment opportunities. Jon is the author of the book “Non-Food Franchising’’ and is a frequent contributor and thought leader for publications on the topic of franchising and franchise investments. Prior to FranBridge, Jon was the President of ShelfGenie, a national franchise system with 200+ locations. Prior to FranBridge, Jon was the President of ShelfGenie, a national franchise system with 200 locations. Before he had his start in franchising with ShelfGenie, Jon spent 15 years in the corporate world, most recently as the Vice President of Sales for Carter’s Inc., responsible for over $350M in annual sales. Jon began his career as a Consultant with Accenture, often working Internationally on behalf of clients. Jon serves on the Board of the Entrepreneurs Organization and is active in supporting charitable organizations such as Growing Leaders and Hope International. Jon has BBA and MBA degrees from the University of Georgia and lives in Atlanta where he and his wife, Jenny, have 3 children and are very active in the community.

November 15, 2023 - Texas Industrial VC Malcolm Peace and Financial Ed for Kids Maya Corbic

Malcolm Peace – President of Tsetserra Growth Partners     
Life is a two out of three match. You can lose the first set and you can stillwin. Be prepared to endure and sometimes you might have to pivot, but eventhough you’ve lost the first set, doesn’t mean you were doing it incorrectly.It may not have been the right time for you to win.
Malcolm Peace is president of Tsetserra Growth Partners (pronounced sit-Sarah), an investment firm in Texas that works with well-established businesses that have owners just about to retire who still want to see their businesses thrive. They identify profitable small businesses with revenues from $3.5 million to $12 million in stable industries, such as food & beverage, hospitality, manufacturing, logistics & distribution, and more. Malcolm and his team help rewrite the operating playbook of a company while maintaining the owner’s culture with a strong succession plan. Malcolm has a B.S. in Psychology from James Madison University and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.Maya Corbic – CPA and Author of From Piggy Banks to Stocks: The Ultimate Guide for a Young Investor 
We need to be careful not to get ourselves in debt for a degree thatis not going to provide us with a living.
Maya Corbic is a mother and a seasoned CPA with a rich background as a CFO, tax accountant, and auditor. Maya Corbic, an influential figure in the realm of financial education, has spent the past 11 years positively impacting the lives of thousands of parents by guiding them in raising financially savvy children. Boasting an impressive Instagram platform, @teach.kids.money, with a substantial following of over 128,000, Corbic continues to inspire a growing audience on a daily basis. Her commitment to empowering young minds with financial wisdom and fostering excitement for investing is exemplified by her latest venture—an authored children’s book titled “From Piggy Banks to Stocks: The Ultimate Guide for a Young Investor,” slated for launch on November 1st. This book stands as a testament to the crucial financial guidance often lacking in formative years. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Corbic’s personal journey adds a layer of resilience and determination. As a first-generation immigrant from war-torn Bosnia, she arrived in a new country with minimal resources, facing adversity head-on. Having experienced financial hardships and overcome them, Corbic developed a profound understanding of financial stability and independence. By the age of 32, she and her husband achieved mortgage freedom and successfully paid off $60,000 in student loans and other debts. Corbic firmly believes in the potential of every child to become a financially independent adult, given the right tools and knowledge. Her mission is to share effective methods with parents, enabling them to instill financial acumen in their children and set them on a path to long-term financial success.

November 13, 2023 - Teaching ChatGPT Shanif Dhanani and Aluminum Update Nadia Steinzor

Shanif Dhanani – Founder of Locusive 
Wherever your data lives, we will be able to plug it into AI.From websites, web files, google drives, outlook are someof the earliest integrations we have done.
Shanif Dhanani is a ChatGPT consultant with a background in software development and data science. He helps businesses understand and build systems that connect their internal and proprietary systems to ChatGPT, enabling internal employees, customers, and other stakeholders to reap the benefits of using large language models on their own data. Shanif has built machine learning, analytics, and software systems at large companies like Twitter and Booz Allen, smaller startups like Apteo, where he was the founder, and TapCommerce, which was one of the world’s first mobile advertising platforms. Shanif’s journey from software to data science and now the forefront of AI showcases a unique perspective that simplifies AI to its core – math uncovering patterns. His wisdom on entrepreneurship, his vision, risk tolerance, optimism, and ability to see the bigger picture, provides valuable lessons for aspiring business leaders. He encourages us to embrace AI and use it to its fullest potential as it has the potential to transform industries and societies.Nadia Steinzor – Environmental Policy Analyst and Investigative Research Consultant – Environmental Integrity Project
Right now, the biggest projections for growing demand foraluminum are coming from the electrical vehicle market.Because aluminum is so lightweight, it can offset the weightof the batteries needed.
Nadia Steinzor is a collaborative environmental professional 25 years of experience dedicated to investigating issues, promoting solutions, raising awareness, and instigating change. Her expertise spans a spectrum of environmental concerns, policies, and regulations, allowing her to produce impactful reports, outreach materials, comments, and testimony. Steinzor’s focus revolves around the oil and gas industry, land and wildlife conservation, and the pressing matter of climate change. Notably, her work has been utilized and cited by legislators, regulators, local and state organizations, as well as the media. Adept at delving into extensive information sources, including scientific papers, legislation, pollution data, and public records, Steinzor excels in uncovering connections and assembling complex puzzles. She transforms her findings into compelling, well-written materials and presentations, showcasing a knack for managing projects with intricate moving pieces and tight timelines. Equally comfortable working independently or as part of a collaborative team, Steinzor is driven by a commitment to environmental protection and a desire for accountability in the face of wrongdoing. Despite the challenges presented by the loss of wild spaces, air and water contamination, and the escalating impacts of climate change, Steinzor draws inspiration from the resilience of human and non-human communities and the relentless determination of environmental advocates.
A new report by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), “The Aluminum Paradox: Vital for Clean Energy, but also a Major Source of Greenhouse Gases, Air and Water Pollution,” details the impacts of the “mining-to-metal” production chain and identifies opportunities for the U.S. industry to reduce climate emissions and clean up its act as it becomes part of a more sustainable economy. “The aluminum products we all use are shiny and light—but the impacts of their production on communities and the environment are anything but,” said Nadia Steinzor, a policy and research analyst with EIP and lead author of the report. The Environmental Integrity Project is a 501 (c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog organization that advocates for effective enforcement of environmental laws. Comprised of former EPA enforcement attorneys, public interest lawyers, analysts, investigators, and community organizers, EIP has three goals: To illustrate through objective facts and figures how the failure to enforce or implement environmental laws increases pollution and harms public health; To hold federal and state agencies, as well as individual corporations, accountable for failing to enforce or comply with environmental laws; and To help local communities obtain the protections of environmental laws.

November 10, 2023 - Customer Experience David Ewing and Diploma Framing Lucie Voves

David Ewing – Founder of Motiv 
You are always going to have good moments with your customers. Andyou’re going to have bad moments. These are the moments that matter.The high highs and the low lows. The key is how do you respond and howdo you change the customers’ attitude at those moments that matter.
David Ewing is the Founder of Motiv, a cutting-edge firm specializing in Oracle CX solutions. After graduating from Harvard, David founded Motiv in 2001 as a consulting group out of San Francisco.  Since becoming an Oracle partner in 2005, Motiv has become the largest Oracle CX exclusive partner in the world. As CEO, David has a passion for leading with heart and sharing his experiences, fostering deep relationships with others through his humor and captivating storytelling. David is also the Austin EO President, leading over 200 entrepreneurs in numerous industries. He has revolutionized the realm of customer service since 1998. With a keen understanding that altering customer attitudes drives ideal behaviors, David has transformed this insight into substantial revenue growth for over 500 clients. A Harvard cum laude graduate in Engineering, his leadership acumen has not only propelled Motiv to the Inc 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies but has also generated millions in additional revenue for their clients. Beyond his professional prowess, David’s leadership extends to the community as the president of The Entrepreneur’s Association, Austin Texas Chapter, where he’s committed to unlocking every entrepreneur’s potential. Outside the boardroom, David is the proud coach of his son’s robotics team and cherishes his 19-year marriage, considering it his crowning achievement.
Lucie Voves – Founder of Diploma Frame 
One of my regrets would be that I didn’t go get funding faster. The silverlining of that is that I never took venture funding and I own 100% today.
Lucie Voves started founded Church Hill Classics as a side hustle, while working days as a marketer at Procter & Gamble. She started custom framing in her basement at night. When Lucie Voves started Church Hill Classics 30 years ago, she didn’t set out to create college diploma frames. In fact, her original intention was purely nostalgic: to find a framed illustration of a building that was near and dear to her heart, Dartmouth Hall. Lucie and her husband Joe were college sweethearts, and with so many amazing memories of their years at Dartmouth College, she really wanted something special to hang in her first corporate office. When she couldn’t find a print of Dartmouth Hall, she decided to commission the artwork herself in 1991. It got Lucie thinking that there had to be other Dartmouth alumni with the same sentimental desire, so she printed 500 lithographs, took a crash course in picture framing, and set up a makeshift tabletop booth on a street corner at Dartmouth College over graduation weekend. The response was incredible! In fact, the artwork sold so well that other town merchants complained that she was cutting into their sales. Lucie knew they were onto something. Her framed art grew in popularity, and she added other campus views when they started selling at The Dartmouth Coop. Along the way, she heard from consumers who loved the art and asked if she would frame their diploma to match. Lucie created her first diploma frames for Dartmouth, and shortly thereafter expanded to Williams College, Princeton, UConn, Yale, and Syracuse. Today, Church Hill Classics carries a wide array of document and diploma frame styles for thousands of colleges, high schools, honor societies, the U.S. Military, and professional institutions. For many, their college campus will always be their “home away from home.” College logos and images of campus landmarks have a way of instantly transporting individuals to the memorable events and friendships that shaped their young adulthood. Best of all, they remind Lucie of how she met her college sweetheart—and created a sweetheart of a business!

November 8, 2023 - Situational Awareness Mike Shapiro and Disctopia Patrick Hill

Mike Shapiro – CEO of EQTY | Forbes Global Properties and the Author of the Book Read the Tape: Using Situational Awareness to Predict Business and Personal Probabilities
I do think real estate residential will decline in valuations because of thehigh interest rates. Do i think it will be a repeat of 08? No. I think we’redown 10% already.
Acclaimed entrepreneur Mike S. Shapiro’s risk-inclined and results-oriented methods help individuals and organizations leverage insights for stellar results, including building his multi-billion-dollar business, HOM Sotheby’s International Realty. He is also the CEO and Co-Founder of EQTY | Forbes Global Properties and a co-founder of Plunk, a Seattle-based proptech start up. Mike’s system is based on skills he developed as a market maker and trader with the Chicago Board of Options Exchange. There, he learned the value of paying attention to what’s in front of us – “reading the tape” – and how to use information to predict behaviors, leverage opportunities and achieve game-changing results and lifelong satisfaction. It’s the same method he used when he purchased a nearly bankrupt real estate firm in coastal Orange County, California during the 2008 “Great Recession” and that he sold 10 years later to create the world’s second-largest Sotheby’s International Realty brokerage, with 1,200 agents and annual sales exceeding $7 billion. He’s also used this system to coach 1,000+ real estate agents to greater success, including many who now rank among the “Top 20” agents in the U.S. Mike – who describes himself as “cold and calculating as a trader and as empathetic as a golden retriever, which is why I have a 51% approval rating” – approaches life and work with a commitment to joy: the joy he finds in helping others and the joy they experience when they realize that success is achievable. He’s a frequent speaker at conferences and universities, a featured guest on television news shows and podcasts, and a sought-after expert on real estate and investing for local and national business publications. His perspectives on real estate and equity markets are available via his blog and soon, his podcast will launch on ForbesRadio.Patrick Hill – Founder and CEO of Disctopia
The LinkedIn paid ad model is three to four times more expensive thanGoogle, Facebook, or any other paid advertising. It is because you candrill down to the exact person that you are trying to target.
Patrick Hill is the founder and CEO of Disctopia, a music streaming and podcast hosting platform. After selling mixtapes from his backpack and helping his friends distribute their music, he realized how unfairly artists were being paid for their work. This led him to create a platform that pays the highest per stream in the market. Dystopia is now one of the fastest-growing streaming platforms for creatives, boasting over 4 million podcasts, music from 10,000 indie artists, and a recent addition of 20,000 audiobooks to its offerings. With many creators struggling in the streaming era, Patrick’s mission is to help them grow and secure a steady income from their work.

November 6, 2023 - UK Super Star Martin Warner and Electric Mule Richard Flentge

Martin Warner – CEO & Founder at Flix Premiere, Chairman & Founder at Autonomous Flight Ltd, Founder at Entrepreneur Seminar and Author of Startup Story: An Entrepreneur’s Journey from Idea to Exit
My goal is putting 2 million passengers flying across New York Cityin a year, using vertical take-off technology.  
Martin Warner is one of Britain’s leading entrepreneurs, operating between the US and UK, and a global thought leader on the subject of Entrepreneurship. He is also an educator, inventor, film producer and investor. Martin is currently the CEO of Flix Premiere, the leading independent film streaming service. In addition, he was the first British pioneer to enter the eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off & Landing) race for Urban Air Mobility. Martin is the Chairman & Founder of Autonomous Flight, an electric aviation focused design & manufacturing firm pioneering eVTOL urban air mobility. Martin is the founder, author & mentor of Entrepreneur Seminar, the No. 1 online learning & mentoring program for Entrepreneurship. Among Martin’s accolades, he achieved the grand slam fast exit when he co-founded botObjects, a revolutionary 3D printing software and hardware manufacturer, which was later acquired for $50MM in January 2015 in a record breaking 17 months by the industry leader, 3D Systems Inc.. Warner co-invented a ground-breaking full-colour 3D desktop printer called the ProDesk3D which made the front cover, appeared No.1 in T3’s Magazine Hot 100 products. Martin recently made the top 100 global innovators list by Business Cloud. In recent times, the media has compared Martin as the ‘UK’s Elon Musk’ due to his multifaceted inventions and cross-industry areas. As a prolific innovator, Martin’s curiosity led him into state-of-the-art air logistics through his R&D firm Parcel Fly, and resulted in a recent breakthrough software innovation pioneering a new air traffic management process called ‘Random Autonomous Routes’ for use in future parcel deliveries by drones in cities around the world. Having taught entrepreneurship for 20 years, over 300,000 people have been impacted by Martin’s education across the world. Today, he shares his thought leadership, teachings, and coaching through his accelerated education program – Entrepreneur Seminar. Additionally, Martin has developed over a dozen leading products, and published over 120 patents. He was responsible for creating and hosting a leading London focused start-up & venture investment conference – Tech Entrepreneurs Week. As a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, Martin has interviewed some of the greatest leaders and innovators in the world today including Sir Richard Branson, Peter Guber, Steve Wozniak, Jimmy Wales, Carly Fiorina and others. Martin frequently comments on his ventures in the media, and has appeared on many news programmes including Sky News, BBC News, BBC World News, Fox Business, and across many print, magazine and online media outlets across the world. He has appeared on a number of magazine cover’s including Variety and Screen, and delivered a keynote interview at the Cannes Film Festival.Richard Flentge – Solar Expert and Author of Verities of an Electric Mule
In North America, we talk about being below the 30th latitude whichis a little south of Atlanta. They do get enough sunshine to substantiallyimpact their electric bill with solar.
Richard Flentge, author, as a Journalist reporting on the rise of the electric vehicle, Tesla, and solar technology, he has covered Climate Change, Tesla battery Technology and Solar innovations.On the research side Richard managed an off grid solar array and battery research focused on the innovation of devices, and repurposing of used electric vehicle batteries. Richard has experience in solar battery banks for off grid, computer power backups, solar homes and custom electric vehicles. Richard has configured and sold multiple large solar battery builds around the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and multiple countries in Europe. He has international experience with Chinese suppliers. He is also known for Mule Tack, a history book on how the mule became the official state animal of Missouri. A true fact based story of a Missouri man fighting injustice to get the Mule legally adopted as the state animal of Missouri. His latest book ZAT How to survive the Apocalypse and Not Freak out, 2nd edition paperback was released in 2022. As former Co- host of EVTV Richard has appeared and over 50 online videos and helped produce over 200 webcasts chronicling the adoption of electric vehicle technology with Jack Rickard.

November 3, 2023 - 150 Patents Greg Bullington and AI Investor Jason Criddle

Greg Bullington – CEO & co-founder of Magnolia Medical Technologies
From the time you have very legitimate proof and scientific evidenceabout the ability to dramatically improve standard of care in medicineto implementation at scale is 17 years. In health care, nobody wantsto be first. Fortunately, no one wants to be last.
Greg Bullington is CEO & co-founder of . Magnolia’s mission is to eliminate the misdiagnosis of sepsis. Sepsis is the #1 leading cause of death, costs and readmissions in hospitals nationwide. Diagnosis of sepsis is plagued by an average of 20% to over 50% of positive sepsis blood tests inaccurately providing false-positive results. Greg has raised over $125 million to date to finance the successful growth and development of the company. Magnolia’s flagship product, Steripath®, is the only FDA-cleared product family indicated to reduce blood culture contamination that causes false-positive diagnostic test results for bloodstream infections including sepsis, that can lead to harmful patient misdiagnoses, mistreatments and significant avoidable hospital costs. Greg has led all aspects of company development since inception including clinical trials, peer-reviewed publications, intellectual property strategy, product development, manufacturing and overall commercialization strategy. With a broad-based background, Greg has deep industry expertise in the medical device and healthcare technology sectors. Over the past 20 years, Greg has led engagements and worked with senior executive teams at over 50 companies ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to venture-backed and early stage startups as a consultant, advisor, and investor. Additionally, Greg has significant intellectual property expertise. He is the first named inventor on over 100 issued patents and 50+ pending US and international patent applications. Greg began his career in professional services with Deloitte & Touche LLP. He continued his professional development as a management consultant with Lake Partners, a Seattle-based strategy consulting firm prior to founding Forum Ventures in 2006.
Jason Criddle – Managing Director of SmartrHoldings
The biggest hack I could tell any business right now, if you have acleaning company, a landscaping company or you’re trying to get anew app online, go get $1000 of T-shirts and leave your house andwalk into a public area and make a scene! Give away product thatleads people back to your website. It will pay for itself tenfold!
Jason Criddle is a father, millennial investor, international best-selling author, entrepreneur, and has helped sell more than an estimated $2bil in products and services. Jason is founder of SmartrCommerce, SmartrHoldings, SmartrMarketing, and Jason Criddle and Associates. Jason builds successful on and offline sales processes and investment and insurance infrastructure for companies making $100k or more a month in sales. Specializing in top tier performance, his brands, writing, and education have helped entrepreneurs and companies sell and build more than an estimated $2-billion dollars worth of products, services and infrastructure. He has personally helped many hundreds of clients lose over 10,000lbs of body fat and add thousands of pounds of muscle after transforming his own body. When not working, Jason is training or in his gym, building cars and motorcycles, coaching sales and wellness, or trying to be an even cooler dad. Jason Criddle and Smartr have top-paying programs and positions in place for sales professionals, so get in touch if you are a top-performer looking to excel further in your sales career.