Metro Startup Launcher

In the last MetroStart podcast, we talked to Cornbread Hemp's Jim Higdon about their ongoing equity crowdfunding round. This week, we talk to Jim again about how they knocked it out of the park - nailing an oversubscribed $107,000 round in just 17 days! Listen to the podcast to learn how they were so successful, even in the middle of the Coronavirus shutdown.   Podcast Transcript (This is machine transcribed, so please forgive the typos.) Alan (00:03): Welcome everyone to the MetroStart podcast. This is Alan Grosheider and I'm here today again with Jim Higdon. Jim is the co founder of Cornbread Hemp ,and it's a first for Metrostart because I'm interviewing Jim for the second time in a row. So it's the first time I've ever interviewed the same person twice right in a row. And there's a good reason for that. In the last podcast we talked about a capital raise that a cornbread hemp was going through and what was the first, because they received $20,000 from Render Capital and they were the first to be accep

Louisville's Cornbread Hemp just scored a local fundraising first. They're the first company to receive Render Capital's $20,000 investment in their WeFunder Match Fund. They're also the first local company to raise funds using Regulation CF equity crowdfunding through WeFunder, one of the nation's top equity crowdfunding portals. Equity crowdfunding is the way of the future for startup companies, and Cornbread Hemp is blazing the trail in the Louisville area. In this episode of the MetroStart podcast, learn: --- how Cornbread hemp got started; --- what they learned about equity crowdfunding; --- the pros and cons of equity crowdfunding; --- pitfalls to avoid; and --- how to make equity crowdfunding successful.     Transcript (This has been machine transcribed, so there may be some typos.) Alan (00:02): Welcome everybody to the MetroStart podcast. I'm Alan Grosheider, and today I'm talking to Jim Higdon. He's a cofounder of Cornbread Hemp Company, and we've been talking about raising capital and w

Steven Plappert and two co-founders, Andrew Busa and Chris Pierce, started an online fantasy sports company in 2013 called FantasyHub. The company saw early promise and growth, moved to Austin, TX to join the TechStars accelerator program, and even attracted $1.1 million in investments. However, due to issues in the industry as a whole, FantasyHub eventually shut down and sold parts of their operations to another fantasy sports company called DraftKings. In the world of startup companies, you learn more from being in the game than you ever could from reading any books or even earning an MBA. So, the experience was a fantastic learning opportunity. Steven is now back in Louisville, sharing his experience with our local startup community. He's also back in the game with a new startup called Forecastr. In this episode of the MetroStart podcast, learn how Steven got started as an entrepreneur, how he funded his previous company, and what he has learned from his entrepreneurial journey. Also learn what's happeni

People often cite healthcare as an area of expertise that may help propel Louisville, KY to greater startup and business prominence in the United States, and Dr. Angelique Johnson is helping us make that happen. She holds undergraduate degrees in mathematics and in computer engineering, a masters in electrical engineering, and a PhD in electrical engineering. Her doctoral work lead her to the development of technologies that she now applies in her own company called MEMStim. To quote directly from their website: "At MEMStim we produce implantable electrode leads capable of providing targeted electrical stimulation to highly dense and small nerve fiber groups. Using automated Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) manufacturing similar to that of the micro-computer chip industry, we create biocompatible electrode leads, which, just like computers, can be made smaller, and do much more than their hand-assembled counterparts." The website also notes that, "We are an early stage startup dedicated to enhancing

After years of working in the corporate world, Mo Sloan saw a need. Online ordering systems that were available to restaurants had a glaring problem. They do not integrate with the restaurant's current point-of-sale systems. This causes many restaurants to forego offering any sort of online ordering, even though the demand is very high. Mo set out to create a solution: EZ-Chow. The company found early traction and is growing fast. Entrepreneurs like Mo are a great example of how the "Third Wave" of growth of the Internet is happening. Specifically, people like Mo with industry experience are spotting problems and creating solutions with current technology. Learn how Mo saw the opportunity, how he got started, and where EZ-Chow is headed in this MetroStart podcast interview.  

What single Louisville company is part of the same fraternity as Airbnb and Dropbox? It's a company called WeatherCheck, and they now are an alumnus of the prestigious Silicon Valley accelerator Y-Combinator. They're the first and only Y-Combinator company to date from Kentucky! Demetrius Gray, Founder of WeatherCheck, and Co-Founder Jermaine Watkins recently returned from their 4-month stint with the accelerator, and it has proven to be an amazing accelerator for their company. In this podcast, I have an in-depth conversation with Demetrius and learned: ◊ more about his background and how he became and entrepreneur, ◊ how WeatherCheck got started and raised early seed capital, ◊ how they got into Y-Combinator, ◊ what they learned from Y-Combinator that can apply to our startup community, and ◊ where they're headed. This is a must-listen podcast for our startup community and aspiring entrepreneurs.   Transcript (This was machine transcribed. Please forgive the typos.) Alan: 00:00:01 Hi everybody. Welcome

Patrick Henshaw came to Louisville about 4 months ago to lead the Louisville Entrepreneurship Acceleration Partnership (LEAP) as CEO. If you're part of our entrepreneurial community, you've probably seen him speak at an event or two. You've probably heard some of his vision for the local startup world. However, he probably hasn't had time to talk too much about his background. It's become more and more clear with successful entrepreneurial communities around the country that startup communities are more successful when they are lead by entrepreneurs. Well, when you hear his story, you'll see that Patrick has real, in-the-trenches, entrepreneurial experience, including pitching many, many, many angels before getting his first investment. In this podcast, you'll learn about his entrepreneurial journey and more, including his real life combat experience, which earned him a Bronze Star. You'll also find out what Patrick has learned from 4 months on the job and his thoughts about the growth and success of our

Rebah Wheeling was a successful insurance claims adjuster. One emotional day while meeting with a hurricane victim lead to the founding of her fast growing local company - Schedule It. In this podcast, Rebah talks about the emotional moment that lead her to start her company. Her description of the process of building her company is a MUST-LISTEN for any aspiring entrepreneur in our area and anyone else who would like to see our area prosper with technology startups in the "Third Wave" of the global economy. Learn how she got started, how she got funded, and how she is building a very successful software as a service company right here in the Louisville area.   Transcript (machine transcribed - please forgive the typos) Alan: 00:01 Hey everybody, welcome to the Metro Startup Launcher podcast. This is Alan Grosheider and today I'm talking to Reba wheeling with schedule it and we've known each other for a while, but I think we were introduced originally about Greg Langdon. Right. Rebah: 00:17 I think that

Alli Truttmann just celebrated a HUGE milestone for any business: the 10-year anniversary of her company, Wicked Sheets. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of businesses fail in their 1st year, about 50% of small businesses fail by their 5th year, and only 30% survive over 10. And things are really starting to heat up now with her upcoming appearance in front of an audience of 96 million on QVC! Alli has been interviewed for a lot of Louisville area publications, but as she mentioned during our talk, she's never been interviewed about how she got her funding to get started, what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and what she would have done differently. Since our mission at Metro Startup Launcher is increasing the number of local "micro-angel" investors and helping more startup companies get their early funding, we really enjoy learning how our amazing local entrepreneurs made it happen and getting to know them a little better. So, enjoy our podcast interview with Alli Truttmann

MobileServe is a fast-growing mobile app company that helps organizations track and encourage participation in volunteer activities: tracking, managing, and reporting their social impact.  They're a great example of how you can see a problem in your own workplace and then create your own solution that you and many others can use.  They're also a great example of how a Louisville area company can help us participate in the Rise of the Rest of the entrepreneurial startups in the U.S. In this podcast, I talk with Ben Reno-Weber.  Ben and his co-founder Chris Head, started MobileServe to solve a problem that Ben saw while he was working as the CEO of the Kentucky YMCA Youth Center.  He wanted a better way to track the activities and participation of volunteers.  These guys are great examples of how to pick an idea and get started, even while you're still working your day job. Well, they're full time now and chugging along very well with successful capital raises and customer growth. Learn how Ben got the entre

Artificial intelligence is quickly affecting more and more of our lives, like it or not.  I personally look forward to the day that lots of "bots" do all my busy work and leave me free to be much more creative.  Could AI take over the world?  Elon Musk thinks so.  But, I tend to focus more on what it will do FOR us vs. what it will do AGAINST us.  I'm a pretty optimistic guy. Well, artificial intelligence is advancing in Louisville, and local entrepreneur John Williamson is at the forefront.  I spoke to John about his entrepreneurial journey and his latest venture, RCM Brain. Listen to the latest Metro Startup Launcher podcast to learn: ♦ How can public speaking improve your entrepreneurial skills? ♦ Do most entrepreneurs start early? ♦ Why clearly expressing your vision and getting others excited is so important for an entrepreneur. ♦ How important is persistence in the startup world? ♦ Does a person's childhood play a factor in entrepreneurial drive and success? ♦ What was John's progression into starting

In the latest edition of the Metro Startup Launcher podcast, I interview Ted Smith, CEO of Revon Systems, Inc. Ted has been a major influencer of our startup community in many ways for quite a while.  He's been a researcher, an entrepreneur, and even the Louisville Metro Director of Innovation.  Now Ted is the CEO of Revon System, a leading developer of software applications for the treatment of chronic health conditions. Ted, Revon Systems, and their associated colleagues at Apellis Pharmaceuticals are doing amazing things to give Louisville a big star on the map in the world of healthcare innovation.  They're setting an excellent example of how we all should think much bigger about what we can accomplish right here in the Midwest. In this interview you'll learn: ♦ What is Revon, and how could their technologies improve healthcare? ♦ What's the background of Revon and Apellis? ♦ How should a local entrepreneur think about raising capital in Louisville for big vision, risky, world-changing projects? ♦ What

One thing that makes a startup investment in Kentucky extremely attractive is the Kentucky Angel Investment Tax Credit. If you're an accredited investor and a Kentucky resident, you can get an amazing tax credit (40 to 50%) on startup company investments. This is a TAX CREDIT, not a deduction.  In other words, you get a dollar for dollar reduction of your tax for up to 50% of your investment in a qualified Kentucky startup company. These tax credits were designed to encourage qualified individual investors to make capital investments in Kentucky small businesses, create additional jobs, and promote the development of new products and technologies.  And, they have been extremely successful. Tax credits are non-refundable (only count toward actual Kentucky state taxes that you owe).  The amounts that you can claim in any one tax year may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total amount of credit awarded or transferred to the taxpayer.  However, any unused credits may carry-forward for up to fifteen (15) y

  Local company SkuVault has won a lot of awards and made a lot of headlines lately.  They're one of the local Endeavor companies, and they're a shining example of how to go from scrappy bootstrapped startup to amazing success story. On this episode of the Metro Startup Launcher podcast, we talk to Andy Eastes, co-founder and CEO of SkuVault. If you're interested in being an entrepreneur or investing in local startups, you don't want to miss this podcast. Here's what you'll learn about SkuVault: What does SkuVault do?  Who are SkuVault's competitors?  How do you start a company these days when there seems to be competition everywhere? Do you have to have an earth-shattering, brilliant idea to start a company?  Why a niche mentality and a great "story" gives you an edge. What's Andy's story?  Any early entrepreneurial experience?  How did he become the entrepreneur he is today? Why are lots of small steps and partnerships important to get things started?  Why is very hands-on client interaction critica

Did you know that Kentucky is home to a fantastic new drink called Baqua?  They're poised to grow rapidly along with the world's passion for all things natural and healthy. Baqua’s founder and CEO, Sandra Marlowe, was inspired by the wonder of international cultures after a family trip to England. She fell in love with Lemon Barley Water and was intrigued by this tasty “lemonade” with a hint of grains. Sandra returned home to research and discovered the rich history of ancient grain drinks. First cultivated by the Ancient Greeks, ancient grain drinks were consumed during sacred ceremonies and believed to be a source of strength and power. Backed by studies forecasting a rapid rise in plant-based consumption patterns, Sandra and her five children developed Baqua. Sons, Daniel and Caton, formed the R&D team to test many ancient grains, settle on their favorites, and craft the delicious recipes. With a vision to disrupt the growing plant based market, the Marlowe family developed a tasty and healthy drink. Baq

  From the very first Metro Startup Launcher investor meeting, Lisa Britton has been an active participant.  She understands that more startups in our community will produce more jobs and more wealth.  She also wants to help by being an active "micro-angel investor" and believes that many others in our metro area want to help too. Lisa had some questions about micro-investing, and we decided that her questions would be good for everyone to hear.  So, we recorded the Q&A.  Listen to this episode of the Metro Startup Launcher podcast as we answer these questions and more: Is the Metro Startup Launcher website for entrepreneurs or investors? Do Metro Startup Launcher's micro-investors have to be accredited investors? Why will Metro Startup Launcher help more startups get started? Does Metro Startup Launcher actually collect investment dollars? Who actually collects the money for investments? Are Metro Startup Launcher startups restricted to the Louisville area? Are Metro Startup Launcher investors restricted t

Have you ever wondered how Gill Holland got started?  He built a company that The Hollywood Reporter named as one of the top ten movie production companies in New York City.  He runs his own record label and music production companies with world famous artists.  He currently runs another movie production company with multiple award winning films.  And, if that's not enough, he and his wife spearheaded the revitalization of one of Louisville's coolest neighborhoods (NuLu).  Now they're doing it again in the Portland area of Louisville with the Portland Investment Initiative. Often, you hear people joke that to make a small fortune in the movie business, you have to start with a large fortune.  Is that what happened? The real story is much more inspiring and a great example to our local entrepreneurs! How to get started with no money?  How to build companies with grit, tenacity, and sweat equity?  How to make things happen because you believe in yourself and your goals? I really enjoyed learning how Gill go

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO AND SHOW NOTES/BLOG By now, hopefully you know that the goal of Metro Startup Launcher is to make it much easier for startup companies in the Louisville metro area to raise capital through equity crowdfunding. We also want to help lots of people in the Louisville area actually make money by investing small mounts in lots of startups: a strategy that statistically has proven to provide an average of 27% return on investment for angel investors in the United States. Now that we have the monthly meetings rolling for both entrepreneurs and investors, I guess it should come as no surprise to anyone that startup entrepreneurs are starting to ask: OK, so how do I actually do equity crowdfunding for my company. A lot of people around here still think that you start a business in your garage, you get in pitch contests, go to a bunch of networking meetings, and meet some rich guys who invest in your company.  Next thing you know, you’ve got venture capital money, a super cool startup company o

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO AND SHOW NOTES/BLOG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHOW NOTES/BLOG: We've been meeting with lots of startup entrepreneurs. One recently sold his concept and had some opinions (GOOD AND BAD) about our startup community. We have attached his entire letter with our comments (in bold italics): His Letter: The State of Venture Capital in Louisville from a Startup’s Point of View Before offering my viewpoints and experiences on the state of venture capital in Louisville, one has to first recognize two other important elements of the money hunt. First is the established and formal educational and support opportunities, and secondly, the network of professionals that enhance their effectiveness. This is where Louisville shines. Few other cities approaching Louisville’s size have programs and commitments like those of GLI’s Enterprise Corp., the University of Louisville’s Nucleus program and Business School Entrepreneurial off