From Vision to Traction: How Founders Turn Ideas into Scalable Systems | The Catalyst Effect Podcast

In this special episode of The Catalyst Effect Podcast, recorded live at Austin Tech Week and presented by Capital Factory, host Isaac Carter sits down with three visionary founders—Steven Laidlaw (Stellar), Victor Cruz (TDE), and Brock Wagehoft (Fractional COO)—to explore what it really takes to scale ideas into sustainable, impactful companies.🔹 Steven Laidlaw shares how his personal $80,000 loss inspired Stellar, a platform protecting condo owners and HOAs from financial ruin through smarter reserve planning and predictive capital management.🔹 Victor Cruz, CTO and co-founder of TDE, dives into the future of holographic AI companions and how human-centered design can make artificial intelligence less intimidating and more empowering.🔹 Brock Wagehoft breaks down the founder’s journey from zero to ten—how to turn scrappy early growth into structured, scalable systems without losing agility or clarity.Across all three conversations, Isaac and his guests unpack lessons on leadership, product-market fit, operational clarity, and why scaling a company isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things with structure and intention.