Episode 375 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Becca Xiong, Managing Director of Programs & Engagement at Harvard Innovation Labs.

Becca is a serial entrepreneur with the rare experience of having success in both consumer and B2B products. She was a Co-Founder of an early social networking startup called Going.com which was acquired by AOL and then she went with her fellow Co-Founder, Roy Rodenstein to start SocMetrics, a social insights platform for marketers that was also acquired.

This combination of experiences makes Becca the perfect leader for the Harvard i-lab where 1 in 9 students across all of the schools under the Harvard umbrella are a member of the i-lab. 

Since its founding in 2011, the i-lab has supported over 6,000 ventures that have gone on to raise over $8B in funding including unicorns like WHOOP, Shield AI, Mark43, Lightmatter, and others.

Chapters

00:00 Intro
02:34 The Most Common Startup Mistakes
04:40 The Importance of Storytelling for Startups
06:31 Becca's Background Story
09:26 Early Career and Startup Experiences
13:28 The Story of Going.com
27:00 Building Socmetrics: A Social Insights Platform
30:34 Difference Between Building B2B & Consumer Products
32:52 Transitioning from Startups to Supporting Entrepreneurs
36:05 The Harvard i-lab: Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship
40:46 How the Harvard i-lab Supports Student Entrepreneurs
43:55 Alumni from the Harvard i-lab
45:10 Using ChatGPT for Customer Research
47:05 Startup Pitch Advice
51:15 Fundraising Advice
53:34 Book Recommendation for Founders

Episode 375: Becca Xiong - Managing Director, Harvard Innovation Labs

In a new episode of This Much I Know, Carlos’s guest is Dr Melanie Garson, an associate professor at UCL and expert in cyber policy and geopolitics. Together they discuss critical issues in the current geopolitical and defence systems, including the evisceration of the US civil service, reactive politics, and the role of technology companies as geopolitical actors. 

Dr Garson emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, stress-tested technology rollouts, and the holistic view of future defence strategies. She highlights the information domain as another critical area, where misinformation and disinformation can proliferate and destabilize, underpinning the need for robust measures to counteract these threats.

The conversation explores the strategic role of tech in geopolitics, the evolving nature of warfare, and the potential for innovation and international cooperation within the defence industry. Dr Garson also shares her views on the importance of building secure digital economies and engaging meaningfully with emerging technologies for long-term future defence capabilities.
Looking to the future, Dr Garson predicts the emergence of new industry players and the potential for existing companies to re-engage with defence manufacturing. She remains optimistic that the industry will recognize the value of entrepreneurs and facilitate environments where innovation can thrive alongside traditional primes.

Show Notes: 
Dr Melanie Garson linkedin.com/in/melaniegarson/
Carlos Espinal linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal/

Dr Melanie Garson -  profiles.ucl.ac.uk/25481-melanie-garson
institute.global/experts/melanie-garson 
Seedcamp - seedcamp.com

Decoding Modern Challenges: AI, Cyber Policy, and Global Politics with Dr. Melanie Garson

In this conversation, Daniel Faloppa and Dan Gray discuss the current state of the startup fundraising market, focusing on early-stage funding trends, the impact of AI on startups, and the disconnect between valuation and price. They analyze the challenges faced by European startups and explore future strategies for growth in a changing economic landscape. This conversation delves into the evolving landscape of deep tech investment, the impact of macroeconomic shifts on innovation, and the current state of AI funding in venture capital. The discussion highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing dynamics of IPOs and secondary markets, emphasizing the need for transparency and regulatory frameworks to foster a healthier investment environment.

The State of VC in Q1 2025

In this conversation, Daniel Faloppa and Dan Gray explore the current state of the fundraising environment for startups in 2025, discussing trends, challenges, and strategies for founders. They analyze the impact of global economic factors on valuations, the importance of cash flow, and the evolving dynamics between venture capital and private equity. The discussion also delves into the implications of AI on startup valuations and the necessity for founders to align with investors who share a long-term vision.

Startup Valuation Trends, AI and Mega-Funds

It's not often we see a new social app launch. A drone accelerator program deadline approaches. Tons of events from AI gatherings to small business support to Portland Startup Week 2025. All that and more in Portland Oregon startup news this week. 

PORTLAND STARTUP LINKS
- Save the date https://www.meetup.com/pie-portland-startup-community/events/307183761/
- Dayo https://dayo.co
     - Launch Party https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dayo-launch-party-90s-dance-jam-tickets-1295003964719
     - Dayo on Product Hunt https://www.producthunt.com/products/dayo-2
     - GeekWire on Dayo https://www.geekwire.com/2025/get-paid-to-limit-social-media-time-portland-startups-app-monitors-usage-and-gives-rewards/
- Oregon UAS Accelerator application https://www.einpresswire.com/article/801430762/oregon-uas-accelerator-opens-applications-for-summer-2025-cohort
- Portland Office of Small Business "Show Up for Small Business" https://www.meetup.com/pie-portland-startup-community/events/307221148/
- Portland AI Engineers https://www.meetup.com/portland-ai-engineers/
- Portland Startup Week 2025 https://lu.ma/pdxstartupweek

PORTLAND STARTUP NEWS
00:00 Portland startup news intro
00:14 Portland startup community gatherings new and old
02:05 Dayo takes on social media
05:09  @OregonUASAccelerator  applications are due
06:42 Show up for small business
09:56 New AI meetup for Portland AI Engineers
12:12 Portland Startup Week 2025
14:13 Celebrating AAPI founders and community leaders

FIND RICK TUROCZY ON THE INTERNET AT…
- https://patreon.com/turoczy
- https://linkedin.com/in/turoczy
- https://bsky.app/profile/turoczy.bsky.social
- https://siliconflorist.substack.com/
- https://pdxslack.com

ABOUT SILICON FLORIST ----------
For nearly two decades, Rick Turoczy has published Silicon Florist, a blog, newsletter, and podcast that covers entrepreneurs, founders, startups, entrepreneurship, tech, news, and events in the Portland, Oregon, startup community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a startup or tech enthusiast, or simply intrigued by Portland's startup culture, Silicon Florist is your go-to source for the latest news, events, jobs, and opportunities in Portland Oregon's flourishing tech and startup scene. Join us in exploring the innovative world of startups in Portland, where creativity and collaboration meet.

ABOUT RICK TUROCZY ----------
Rick Turoczy has been working in, on, and around the Portland, Oregon, startup community for nearly 30 years. He has been recognized as one of the “OG”s of startup ecosystem building by the Kauffman Foundation. And he has been humbled by any number of opportunities to speak on stages from SXSW to INBOUND and from Kobe, Japan, to Muscat, Oman, including an opportunity to share his views on community building on the TEDxPortland stage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj98mr_wUA0). 

All because of a blog. Weird.

https://siliconflorist.com

#pdx #portland #oregon #startup #entrepreneur

Week ending Apr 11, 2025 - Portland startup news

In this episode of Platform Builders, Christine Spang and Isaac Nassimi chat with Ben Rubin about the evolution of software development, from the early days of the internet to the current age of AI. They discuss the impact of AI on B2B SaaS, the challenges of building platforms in a rapidly changing landscape, and the future of user experience. Ben shares his experiences and insights on how developers and businesses can adapt to thrive in this new era.

Subscribe

Platform Builders - Ep. #3, Building Platforms in the AI Era with Ben Rubin of Verify

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In this comprehensive SEO-optimized article, we’ll explore everything there is to know about buying GitHub accounts: the reasons, benefits, risks, and best practices. If you're considering investing in GitHub accounts, this is your ultimate guide.

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Buy GitHub Accounts  A Complete SEO Guide for Developers, Startups & Agencies

Episode #376 features Prem Sharma, Founder & CEO of Tandem.

When you are a serial entrepreneur like Prem, you are probably coming up with lots of ideas but how do you decide which one is viable to focus on and actually build a company around?

For Prem, it comes down to recognizing an experience that is broken and lots of market research. And this is not light market research, this is total submersion into the industry market research.

The interest in Tandem started with a puppy arriving at his home as a new family pet and an experience at the vet. During a visit, he recognized  how fragmented the industry was and how inefficient the office operated.

This got him thinking about a unified vet experience.  But, before jumping into build mode, he spent time working at veterinary clinics and recognized that the appetite for adopting a whole new system was not going to happen, so just a new tech platform wouldn’t be the answer.  

Instead, he had to build a healthcare company from the ground up that includes a comprehensive service leveraging onsite clinics, mobile care, telehealth, and a whole new tech stack for running the overall operation.

Tandem raised $10M in funding earlier this year to redefine veterinary care with a comprehensive solution through its novel approach to care delivery, AI technology, and more.

Chapters:

00:00 Prem Sherma Intro
02:48 What Ideas Should You Build a Company Around?
07:00 From Childhood Dreams to Startup Realities
10:39 Navigating the Startup Landscape
14:30 The Full Story of DayToDay Health
18:16 Building Impactful Solutions in Healthcare
21:50 The Complexity of Patient Care
27:03 Lessons Learned From Building DayToDay Health
29:45 All the Details about Tandem
38:26 Current State of the Business & GTM
44:36 Advice for Building a Healthcare Company
50:00 App & Book Recommendations

Episode Sponsor:

As a longtime champion of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank supports innovative companies with the solutions and financing they need through every stage of growth. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors, and $42B in loans as of Q2 2024 – SVB delivers the right people, service and resources to support your entire financial journey. Learn more at SVB.com.

Episode 376: Prem Sharma - CEO & Founder of Tandem Vet Care

In the latest episode of “Path to Market,” Natasha and Micah are joined by Fanny Talagrand, Head of EMEA sales for startups and SMBs at Stripe to discuss key sales strategies from startups to enterprises. Drawing from her extensive experience in global tech companies like Google Cloud and Stripe, Fanny emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs and journeys, leveraging user feedback, and the different dynamics between selling to startups versus enterprises. 

She also provides advice for hiring the first sales reps, highlighting the need for candidates to be smart, driven, and coachable. She stresses the significance of onboarding processes and embedding new hires with users early on. Additionally, she explores how to balance product-led growth with enterprise sales and shares metrics to optimize sales performance.


Tune in to learn about:
- how to align sales strategies with the needs and journeys of different types of users;
- how PLG and enterprise motions can coexist with careful planning and differentiation in user journeys;
- why as companies grow, including a sales team becomes vital to extend market reach and support users who require more comprehensive solutions;
- and more practical strategies for founders looking to enhance their sales operations and build successful teams.



Show Notes:
Fanny Talagrand - linkedin.com/in/fanny-talagrand-a51a81b
Natasha Lytton – linkedin.com/in/natasha-lytton
Micah Smurthwaite – linkedin.com/in/micah-smurthwaite-2283b49

Overview:
00:00 Introduction to Path to Market
01:17 Meet Fannie Talegrand, Head of EMEA Sales for Startups and SMBs at Stripe
02:13 Fannie's Career Journey
04:29 Comparing Sales at Google Cloud and Stripe
06:58 The Importance of Product and User Feedback
13:31 Sales Metrics and Funnel Optimization
16:32 Differences in Selling to SMBs vs. Enterprises
24:07 Hiring the Right Sales Leader
34:29 Onboarding New Sales Hires
40:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Path to Market: Adapting Sales Strategies for Startups and Enterprise with Fanny Talagrand of Stripe

Is there more VC flowing into Portland? A new president for TiE Oregon, $1M in funding for a Bluesky effort, and Portland startup events galore. Let's get into Portland, Oregon, startup news for this week…

PORTLAND STARTUP LINKS
- TiE Oregon https://oregon.tie.org
- Bluesky raises $1M https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/31/custom-feed-builder-graze-is-building-a-business-on-bluesky-and-investors-are-paying-attention/
- Uptick in Portland Venture Capital in 2025 Q1  https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/inno/stories/inno-insights/2025/04/15/venture-monitor-q1-oregon-metro.html 
- Portland Digital Corps https://siliconflorist.com/2025/04/17/portland-digital-corps-ramps-up/ 
- Portland AI Engineers https://www.meetup.com/portland-ai-engineers/
- PIE + Portland startup community events https://www.meetup.com/pie-portland-startup-community/
- Portland Startup Week 2025 https://lu.ma/pdxstartupweek
- Startup Success podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uW9DLlNVTDtEqg243fuwh?si=Cwb0V3bBRvmq4ljC1dHAlA
- 5 Min Startup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbbAT6TcH-8

PORTLAND STARTUP NEWS
00:00 Portland startup news intro
00:35 Matt Dittrich named new president of TiE Oregon
03:11 Graze raises $1 million for Bluesky tooling
06:01 Significantly more VC in Q1 2025
08:30 Portland Digital Corps is up and running
12:00 Portland AI Engineers meets April 30, 2025
12:42 PIE + Portland startup community events 
19:15 Me on other podcasts

FIND RICK TUROCZY ON THE INTERNET AT…
- https://patreon.com/turoczy
- https://linkedin.com/in/turoczy
- https://bsky.app/profile/turoczy.bsky.social
- https://siliconflorist.substack.com/
- https://pdxslack.com

ABOUT SILICON FLORIST ----------
For nearly two decades, Rick Turoczy has published Silicon Florist, a blog, newsletter, and podcast that covers entrepreneurs, founders, startups, entrepreneurship, tech, news, and events in the Portland, Oregon, startup community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a startup or tech enthusiast, or simply intrigued by Portland's startup culture, Silicon Florist is your go-to source for the latest news, events, jobs, and opportunities in Portland Oregon's flourishing tech and startup scene. Join us in exploring the innovative world of startups in Portland, where creativity and collaboration meet.

ABOUT RICK TUROCZY ----------
Rick Turoczy has been working in, on, and around the Portland, Oregon, startup community for nearly 30 years. He has been recognized as one of the “OG”s of startup ecosystem building by the Kauffman Foundation. And he has been humbled by any number of opportunities to speak on stages from SXSW to INBOUND and from Kobe, Japan, to Muscat, Oman, including an opportunity to share his views on community building on the TEDxPortland stage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj98mr_wUA0). 

All because of a blog. Weird.

https://siliconflorist.com

#pdx #portland #oregon #startup #entrepreneur

Week ending Apr 18, 2025 - Portland startup news

The Equidam podcast is co-hosted by Daniel Faloppa (Equidam's CEO) and Dan Gray (Equidam's Head of Marketing), and focuses on startup fundraising trends around the world, with a particular focus on valuation for early stage companies.

Heavybit is the leading investor in developer-first startups that turn visions into movements, products into platforms, and contributors into communities. Since 2013, Heavybit companies have redefined how teams build, deploy, secure, and scale mission-critical technology. From JAMstack, to DevSecOps, to feature flagging, Heavybit founders build the future of software from the bottom up.

This Much I Know is the podcast from Seedcamp, Europe’s seed fund.

Tune into hear the inside story from startup founders, investors and leading tech voices: the people who’ve built businesses, scaled globally, failed fantastically and learnt massively.

Seedcamp invests early in world-class founders attacking large, global markets and solving real problems using technology. Seedcamp provides the infrastructure to fast-track a founder’s vision and create value through immediate access to smart capital, a lifelong community of support and a global network built upon a decade’s experience backing exceptional talent.

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The VentureFizz Podcast is the flagship podcast of VentureFizz.com, the leading authority for jobs & careers in tech. In this podcast, VentureFizz Founder Keith Cline interviews the top founders and investors in the tech industry.

More than mildly obsessed with Portland, Oregon, startups

New tracks tagged #startups