From 2 Championships to VC: Katie Fling on Startups, Strategy & Resilience

What do two national championships, a coffee app, and a dual-use defense VC firm have in common? One incredible founder: Kati Findling.In this episode of Purpose-Driven Progress, Jacob Hicks dives into Kadi’s wild and purpose-driven journey—from selling Happy Meal toys as a kid to building My Coffee Pass, a startup that helped local coffee shops thrive... until COVID hit. Now the VP of Stony Lonesome Group, Ka brings a founder’s lens to investing in companies at the cutting edge of national security, AI, and defense tech.You’ll hear:Why great teams matter more than great ideasWhat to look for (and avoid) when raising capitalHow to pitch a VC the right way—and what makes them instantly say noLessons from startup failure, and how they shaped her success in VCHer newest project, Digital Athlete, and what’s coming in 2025🔗 Connect with Kadi Findling:Kadi Findling on LinkedIn💡 Kadi also shares powerful mindset tips on abundance vs. scarcity, how to spot “bad capital,” and why your early-stage team will make or break your startup.This is one of the most wide-ranging, tactical, and inspiring episodes yet. Whether you're building your first business or fundraising your fifth, don’t miss this one.