Triangle Tweener Talks

After Tweener Madness, we’re back to regular programming with a special conversation featuring Marc Minor, CEO & Co-Founder of Higharc.In this episode, Marc talks about the long road to building fundamental technology, why Higharc spent years developing before going fully to market, how he found his co-founders, what he learned from early fundraising, and why AI has become a major tailwind for the business. Highlights CoveredHow Higharc applies advanced manufacturing concepts to homebuildingWhy the company spent four years building before going to marketHow Marc raised Higharc’s first $4.7M seed roundWhy founders need confidence, conviction, and a willingness to askHow Higharc thinks about spatial AI and proprietary dataWhy “buildings as data” is a major competitive advantageWhat founders can learn from great storytellersWhy peer groups are so valuable for CEOsIf there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s that great companies are rarely built overnight, but clear vision, strong storytelling, and relentless execution can take you a long way.Timestamps00:00 Cold open: Building takes longer than expected 00:31 Welcome to NC Tweener Talks 01:51 Back from Tweener Madness 03:00 Introducing Mark Minor and Higharc 07:36 What Higharc does 10:18 Mark’s path to the Triangle 11:23 From 3D printing to homebuilding 15:19 Taking the leap into entrepreneurship 17:20 Getting fired, getting encouraged, and starting Higharc 18:49 Four years of building before market 19:33 Early fundraising lessons 23:39 Raising the first $4.7M 24:24 Why Higharc had to de-risk technology and go-to-market 27:05 Finding technical co-founders 30:12 The technical problem behind Higharc 33:24 Where Higharc is today 35:26 How AI became a tailwind 37:02 Why Higharc builds homes as data 39:14 Training models for spatial AI 41:16 Asking buildings questions with AI 42:17 Competitive moats in an AI world 45:10 Advice for founders 46:04 Storytelling as a founder skill 48:10 Closing thoughtsWhere to Find MarcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcminor/Higharc: https://www.higharc.com/company/aboutWhere to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingo--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by NC Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

On April 9th we hosted the Triangle’s first OpenClaw meetup (more info here). This week we’re featuring our final talk with Robbie Allen! Robbie 20+ years building AI products. He ran engineering teams at Cisco, was CEO of three venture-backed AI startups that all exited, wrote multiple technical books for O’Reilly, and has over a dozen patents.In his talk, Robbie covers:Why AI isn’t just automating tasks, it’s expanding the amount of work worth doingThe difference between automating a task vs. automating a jobWhy most “multi-agent” systems are overcomplicatedHow a single-agent + shared knowledge base model can outperform role-based agentsThe real unlock: turning conversations into action, content, and execution automaticallyThis is one of the clearest looks yet at how agentic systems actually show up inside a business.Timestamps 00:00 – Intro + OpenClaw context  02:00 – Robbie’s background and ACG 04:00 – Tasks vs jobs (and why that matters) 06:00 – What an “agent” actually is 07:00 – Why role-based agents break down 08:30 – Claude Code vs OpenClaw 10:00 – The 4-channel system 11:30 – The 22-agent setup 13:00 – Mining transcripts for content 14:00 – From meeting → proposal in 30 minutes 15:00 – Lessons learned (AI is emergent)Where to Find Robbie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbieallen/ACG: https://www.automated.co/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingo--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

We don’t break the NC-only rule often but when we do, there’s a good reason. Switchyards isn’t just an Atlanta story anymore. It is expanding into Raleigh and already operating in Durham, so Michael Tavani is building right here in the Triangle. That makes this one very much a local story.In this episode, Michael unpacks the story behind Switchyards. We dive into why Michael chose one of the hardest startup paths (consumer + physical), how he built a moat through difficulty, and why investors had to physically visit a club before writing a check.With Switchyards expanding into Raleigh, this conversation is especially relevant for founders thinking about category creation, brand, and building in the real world.Highlights CoveredWhy “coworking” is the wrong label: Switchyards positions itself as a consumer product, not office space, a “neighborhood work club” designed for flexibility, not full-time desks.The hardest startup combo: consumer + physical: Michael intentionally chose a path with high barriers to entry, creating long-term defensibility once scaled.Work is becoming a consumer decision: The shift from assigned offices to choice-driven environments was clear even pre-COVID and Switchyards was built around that insight.The “third place” opportunity: Not home, not office, Switchyards fills the gap as a social, productive environment people actually want to use.Fundraising lesson: make investors feel it: Switchyards requires in-person experience—every serious investor had to visit a location before investing.From unfocused to obsessed: Early versions of the business tried to do too much. Growth came from narrowing down to one clear concept and executing relentlessly.Switchyards is a reminder that some of the biggest opportunities are in rethinking the physical world, one neighborhood at a time.⏱️ Timestamps02:10 – Meet Michael Tavani and Switchyards 04:30 – Early career + entrepreneurial origin story 08:30 – First startup + meeting co-founder 10:00 – Raising money on Twitter (early experiment) 11:30 – Atlanta startup ecosystem + Scoutmob 13:00 – Why consumer + physical is so hard 15:00 – What Switchyards actually is 17:00 – The “third place” concept explained 19:00 – Building the first location 21:00 – Raleigh + Durham expansion strategy 22:00 – The “drop” playbook for memberships 25:00 – Pricing model ($100/month) 28:00 – What the space actually feels like 31:00 – Fundraising challenges + WeWork shadow 35:00 – Team structure and operations 38:00 – Why physical spaces still matter 39:30 – Raleigh launch details 40:00 – Fun: the Switchyards mascot “Petey”Where to Find Michael TavaniLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltavani/Switchyards: https://www.linkedin.com/company/switchyards/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingo--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Today, we’re launching something new under the NC Tweener Talks network. It’s called [Redacted]. Most AI content today is polished with clean demos, perfect workflows, and everything looks like it worked on the first try. But if you’ve actually built anything with AI, you know that’s not how it works. It’s messy. It breaks. It’s iterative - you build, then rebuild and then when you get it working, that’s what other ‘how I AI’ shows work. They never show you how the AI sausage is made. This show changes that. We’re going to show you the messy middle and in fact, as we’re doing this recording some of the first episodes, we found out that frequently some super-personal information of business secrets will be slung around as we record that needs to be….you guessed it…. REDACTED. Instead of deleting that part totally, we’re keeping it (redacted where appropriate) and showing you the steps in between that everyone else skips.The first episode sets the tone immediately and they jump straight into the work. Here’s what they get into:Rebuilding a core business workflow with AI: A complex event operations system that used to require a team gets rebuilt in about a weekA new way to build software: Moving from specs and tickets → to meetings, voice notes, and AI turning ideas directly into working codeTurning conversations into production-ready tools: How a single meeting becomes product requirements, then live features, in daysLetting AI handle the structure: Simplifying forms and workflows by allowing messy input and letting LLMs interpret it“Vibe coding” and how to actually make it work: Moving fast with AI while still building systems you can trustAI as infrastructure, not just a tool: Embedding AI into operations, not just using it for one-off tasksAutomating internal processes (like SOPs and reporting): Turning repeatable workflows into systems that run themselvesThe shift from teams → systems: How a ~$1M ARR business operates with a fraction of the headcount by rebuilding around AITrust, but verify: Building in checks, QA, and guardrails so AI output actually holds up in productionTimestamps00:00 – Welcome to [Redacted] + how the show came together 00:40 – Why most AI content is too polished (and what this show will do instead) 02:00 – The format: real “show and tell” from inside Offline 03:30 – Kicking off: rebuilding the events pipeline 04:30 – The old system vs. the new AI-driven approach 06:30 – Simplifying forms: less structure, more AI interpretation 08:30 – Building with Claude Code (and shipping fast) 10:00 – From meeting → notes → working product 12:00 – Avoiding the “vibe coding” trap (trust but verify) 14:00 – Using voice + context instead of writing specs 16:00 – Moving proven components into new workflows 19:00 – From rigid stages → flexible systems 23:00 – Automating drafts, workflows, and HubSpot with AI 27:00 – AI QA: catching errors before humans do 30:00 – Fun break: AI-built March Madness bracket wins 32:30 – Automating shareholder updates with AI “skills” 34:30 – Process mapping + turning SOPs into systems 38:00 – Building context-aware workflows (AI as Chief of Staff) 41:30 – QA for AI processes: “first run” testing 46:00 – Wrapping up + what’s next for the showWhere to Find David: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshaner/Where to Find Taylor:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorcotner/More about Offline: https://www.linkedin.com/company/offline-media-inc-/--- This episode of Redacted is hosted by David Shaner and Taylor Cotner, and presented and produced by NC Tweener Fund.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In this episode of NC Tweener Talks, we share a talk from the first OpenClaw meetup in the Triangle, featuring Ryan EadeRyan’s talk walks through how he runs a 4-agent AI team off a single $24/month DigitalOcean droplet using OpenClaw for personal life management, content summaries, and software building.He goes over:His setupChannel strategyConfig patterns that matteredTwo products he’s built on topHis biggest three takeaways⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro + Sponsors01:41 – OpenClaw Meetup Context + Speaker Intro02:35 – Ryan’s Starting Point: Personal Assistant Use Case04:00 – Real-World Use Cases (Fitness, Content, Daily Workflow)05:30 – Moving from Telegram → Slack for Better Context Management06:20 – Multi-Agent Setup (Splitting Roles + Reducing Confusion)08:00 – Memory Management + Context Strategies10:00 – Model Strategy + Managing Costs Across Agents11:00 – Building with OpenClaw (Task Management System)12:40 – Ephemeral UI Framework (Micro Apps Generated on the Fly)14:30 – Live Demo + Use Cases (Shopping Lists, Trackers, etc.)15:30 – Key Takeaways (Models, Cost, Structure)16:20 – Closing + ResourcesOpenClaw is a new way of structuring how work gets done, where agents, memory, and interfaces all start to blur into one continuous system.Where to Find Ryan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryaneade/Front Porch Venture Partners: PtEverywhere: https://www.pteverywhere.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingo--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Scot Wingo is a serial founder, General Partner at the NC Tweener Fund, and CEO of ReFiBuy. With decades of experience building and scaling companies in e-commerce and SaaS, he’s now focused on what it takes to win in the AI era.In this episode, recorded live at Raleigh-Durham Startup Week, Scot shares a framework he developed while fundraising: the 12 competitive moats that matter now and why most startups get this wrong. The core idea: You’re not building a product anymore, you’re building a fortress.HighlightsProprietary data is the #1 moat: In the AI era, data isn’t just helpful, it’s the strongest long-term defense.AI is accelerating the “SaaS unbundling” moment: Companies are replacing tools in weeks that used to take years to build.The real advantage comes from stacking moatsWorkflow is the new lock-in: Owning the workflow matters more than owning the UI. Domain expertise still matters, but only in narrow verticals: AI can handle broad knowledge. Real advantage comes from deep, niche expertise.System of record is still powerful, but under threat: Tools like CRMs remain sticky today, but AI could eventually replace even these. The best companies build data flywheels earlyVCs care about this more than everIf you don’t have a moat, build one intentionallyAI raised the bar for surviving. The founders who win won’t just move fast. They’ll build companies that are hard to catch.Timestamps00:00 – The most powerful moat in AI right now 00:44 – Intro to Tweener Talks + sponsors 02:05 – Why VCs are obsessed with moats 03:30 – From weak answers to a winning framework 09:00 – The SaaS “extinction event” underway 12:00 – Why building is easier and defending is harder 13:30 – Medieval castles and compounding moats 16:00 – The 12 modern moats explained 18:00 – Why proprietary data wins 20:00 – Data flywheels and reinforcement loops 21:30 – Workflow takeover strategy 25:00 – Business model innovation and pricing 27:00 – Brand, trust, and distribution 29:00 – Scale, speed, and execution 30:00 – System of record and lock-in 34:00 – Live founder moat critiques 47:00 – How to choose your moat strategy 52:00 – Final answer: which moat matters most Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingo--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In this episode of NC Tweener Talks, Scot Wingo shares a talk from the first OpenClaw meetup in the Triangle, featuring Corey Nida’s experiment in autonomous business creation.Corey explores a bold idea: what if AI agents could identify opportunities, build products, launch them, and optimize for revenue—without human intervention?From scraping Reddit for ideas to deploying MVPs and tracking real user behavior, this talk breaks down the architecture, challenges, and surprising early results of an AI-powered “startup factory.”If you’re curious about agentic systems, AI-driven development, or the future of entrepreneurship, this is a must-listen.Highlights The concept of an AI-powered autonomous startup engine How agents identify, validate, and build business ideas from scratch  The architecture: orchestrator, researcher, builder, marketer, and more  Why speed to failure is critical, and how AI accelerates it  Real-world experiment results: launching multiple products per day  Lessons on memory management, cost control, and system design The role of “taste” in an AI-driven product world  Security risks (and surprises) when giving agents real-world access  Early traction: generating revenue from AI-built MVPs Timestamps00:00 – Intro + NC Tweener Talks overview 01:30 – OpenClaw meetup recap and context 02:30 – Corey Nida’s experiment: AI building businesses 04:00 – Vision: autonomous agents creating products 05:00 – The goal: $10K/month from AI-generated businesses 06:00 – System architecture: orchestrator + agent roles 07:30 – Startup philosophy: speed to failure 08:30 – Agent roles: research, marketing, engineering, customer 10:00 – Pipeline: idea → validation → build → launch 11:30 – Tech stack + rapid MVP development approach 12:30 – Launch + marketing via bots and social platforms 13:30 – Real-world deployment + user interaction insights 15:00 – Lessons learned: memory, cost, scaling challenges 15:45 – Early results: revenue from AI-built products 16:10 – Closing thoughts + experiment takeawaysWhere to Find Corey Nida: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreynida/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingo--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

We’ve made it to the final. After dozens of applicants, weeks of competition, and some tough calls along the way, it all comes down to this: Two startups. One decision. One $25K investment from the NC Tweener Fund.This year’s final is a contrast in almost every way.HAM is building for the future of software.Druid AgTech is building for the backbone of the physical world.One is pure AI infrastructure. The other is hardware + software grounded in real-world systems. Both are betting on massive markets. Both are early. Both are convincing.🧠 What you’ll see in this episode:AI vs. IRL: Software scale vs. physical-world defensibilitySpeed vs. traction: Fast-moving markets vs. proven executionMoat matters more at the finish line: Especially in crowded AI categoriesHardware is hard, but sticky: Barriers to entry can work in your favorPricing strategy matters: Undervaluing software can limit upsideMarket size isn’t enough: Focus and positioning decide outcomes👇 Featuring the Exceptional 8 Selection Committee:Robbie Allen – Serial AI founder & GP at NC Tweener FundCameron Walker – Operator across Pixar, Twitter, Google + LPScot Wingo – Serial founder & GP at NC Tweener Fund⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness Championship 00:43 — Championship Intro + Final Two 02:04 — Meet the Judges04:50 — HAM Pitch 13:20 — HAM Q&A25:44 — Druid AgTech Pitch 32:30 — Druid Q&A45:40 — Judges Feedback Begins 45:45 — Feedback on HAM 46:58 — Feedback on Druid51:10 — Final Decision Discussion 53:07 — Winner Revealed (Druid AgTech) 55:00 — Closing + Community Thanks🎯 About Tweener MadnessTweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.--- Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

The second matchup of the Fabulous 4 is here This is where things shift. The ideas are sharper. The stakes are higher. And every decision starts to look a lot more like a real investment call.Druid Agriculture is building technology to modernize farming and food production, while Marla Amplification is building handcrafted, American-made music equipment.One is tackling a global systems problem. The other is rebuilding a category through craftsmanship and community.We’ve got two physical-world businesses with two totally different paths.🧠 What you’ll see in this episode:Traction matters, but real-world use cases matter moreHardware businesses face different scaling challengesB2B vs. B2C paths create very different venture outcomes 👇 Featuring the Fab 4 Selection Committee:Zakiya Alta Lee-Hill (Principal, IDEA Fund partners)Greg Boone (CEO of Walk West)Carly Connell (Principal at BCVP)👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome 00:45 — Intro 01:45 — Druid Pitch 04:15 — Druid Q&A 14:20 — Marla Pitch 19:30 — Marla Q&A 33:00 — Deliberation 38:20 — Winner🎯 About Tweener MadnessTweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.--- Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

We’re down to the Fabulous 4. Four startups. Two matchups. One step closer to the $25K investment from the NC Tweener Fund.This is where things shift. The ideas are sharper. The stakes are higher. And every decision starts to look a lot more like a real investment call.Utilyst is building deep infrastructure software for utilities. HAM is building lightweight AI tooling for developers. One is grounded in physical systems and regulation. The other is riding the fastest-moving wave in tech. Two B2B plays. Two completely different paths to scale.🧠 What you’ll see in this episode: AI cost is becoming a real problem → efficiency is the next wave Clear problem vs. massive market defined the matchup Investors want dollar impact, not just features Speed + scale potential won this round👇 Featuring the Exceptional 8 Selection Committee:Zakiya Alta Lee-Hill (Principal, IDEA Fund partners)Greg Boone (CEO of Walk West)Carly Connell (Principal at BCVP)👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness 00:45 — Fabulous 4 Intro: Utilist vs. HAM 08:10 — Utilist Pitch 13:00 — Utilist Q&A 23:05 — HAM Pitch 26:00 — HAM Q&A 33:00 — Judges Feedback Begins 33:10 — Feedback on Utilist 35:00 — Feedback on HAM 39:30 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)🎯 About Tweener MadnessTweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.--- Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Round 4 of Tweener Madness is here and it’s the final matchup of the Exceptional 8. Marla Amplification vs. Build-A-BookieOne is building American-made hardware for musicians. The other is building a social platform that reimagines betting without money.Both are consumer-focused. Both are founder-driven. But only one moves forward.🧠 What you’ll see in this episode: A consumer hardware company scaling U.S.-based manufacturing  A sports tech platform gamifying predictions without financial risk  Live investor Q&A and real feedback  The tension between venture-scale returns vs. mission-driven businesses👇 Featuring the Exceptional 8 Selection Committee: - Jan Davis - RTP Angel Fund / Triangle Angel Partners  - Robbie Hardy - Accel Ventures  - Jen Summe - Primordial Ventures 👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship⏱️ Timestamps00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness 00:45 — Round 4 Intro: Marla Amplification vs. Build-A-Bookie 01:15 — Marla Amplification Pitch 06:20 — Marla Amplification Q&A 18:00 — Build-A-Bookie Pitch 22:00 — Build-A-Bookie Q&A 30:00 — Judges Feedback Begins 30:10 — Feedback on Marla Amplification 32:00 — Feedback on Build-A-Bookie 33:30 — Debate: Venture vs. Lifestyle Business 35:00 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)🎯 About Tweener MadnessTweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.--- Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Round 3 of Tweener Madness is here. With a spot in the next round on the line, Druid Agriculture and HuVia Technologies go head-to-head in a high-stakes pitch battle.One is building real-time infrastructure to help farmers monitor and manage crops remotely. The other is creating an AI-powered coaching platform to improve how interpreters (and eventually other professions) develop skills over time.Both are ambitious. Both are tackling real-world problems. But only one moves forward.🧠 What you’ll see in this episode:- An agtech startup bringing visibility + automation to farming- An edtech platform using AI to guide workforce development- Live investor Q&A and unfiltered feedback- Where clarity, traction, and storytelling make (or break) a pitch👇 Featuring the Exceptional 8 Selection Committee: - Jan Davis - RTP Angel Fund / Triangle Angel Partners  - Robbie Hardy - Accel Ventures  - Jen Summe - Primordial Ventures 👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness00:45 — Round 3 Intro: Druid Agriculture vs. HuVia Technologies01:15 — Druid Agriculture Pitch06:20 — Druid Agriculture Q&A15:30 — HuVia Technologies Pitch18:00 — HuVia Technologies Q&A27:20 — Judges Feedback Begins27:30 — Feedback on Druid Agriculture29:50 — Feedback on HuVia Technologies31:00 — Pitch Lessons (Clarity, Slides, Storytelling)31:30 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)🎯 About Tweener MadnessTweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.--- Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Round 2 of Tweener Madness is here. With a spot in the next round on the line, Iguana Cyber and HAM (Hierarchical Agent Memory) go head-to-head in a high-stakes pitch battle.One is building next-gen cybersecurity to stop AI-driven exploits. The other is helping engineering teams cut AI costs and improve performance. Both are technical. Both are ambitious. But only one moves forward.🧠 What you’ll see in this episode: A cybersecurity startup tackling unknown AI threats  An AI infrastructure company optimizing token usage and cost  Live investor Q&A and real feedback  What founders get wrong (and right) when pitching technical products👇 Featuring the Round 2 Selection Committee: Jan Davis - RTP Angel Fund / Triangle Angel Partners  Robbie Hardy - Accel Ventures  Jen Summe - Primordial Ventures 👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship⏱️ Timestamps00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness 00:45 — Round 2 Intro: Iguana Cyber vs. HAM01:15 — Iguana Cyber Pitch06:20 — Iguana Cyber Q&A15:30 — HAM Pitch18:00 — HAM Q&A27:20 — Judges Feedback Begins27:30 — Feedback on Iguana Cyber29:50 — Feedback on HAM31:00 — Pitch Lessons (Clarity, Jargon, Slides)31:30 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)🎯 About Tweener MadnessTweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.--- Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

8 founders. One bracket. $25,000 on the line. Welcome to Tweener Madness 2026, the high-stakes startup competition where North Carolina’s most promising companies go head-to-head.In this Round 1 matchup, Utilyst and BeneDoc step into the arena to pitch their businesses to a panel of experienced investors. Each founder has one shot to make their case, answer tough questions, and prove they deserve to advance.One moves on. One goes home.🧠 What you’ll see in this episode: A power infrastructure startup tackling knowledge loss in utilities  A healthtech company rethinking regulatory workflows with AI  Live investor Q&A and real-time feedback  Behind-the-scenes judge deliberation (what actually matters in a pitch) 👇 Featuring the Round 1 Selection Committee: Jan Davis - RTP Angel Fund / Triangle Angel Partners  Robbie Hardy - Accel Ventures  Jen Summe - Primordial Ventures 👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship⏱️ Timestamps00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness  00:45 — Meet the Selection Committee  03:05 — Format + What’s new this year  05:05 — Matchup Intro: Utilyst vs. BeneDoc  05:35 — Utilyst Pitch  10:30 — Utilyst Q&A with Judges  20:40 — BeneDoc Pitch  26:15 — BeneDoc Q&A with Judges  40:00 — Judges Deliberation Begins  41:10 — Feedback on Utilyst  43:10 — Feedback on BeneDoc  46:20 — Pitch Lessons + What stood out  49:05 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)🎯 About Tweener MadnessTweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.--- Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

This episode kicks off Season 2 of Tweener Madness and sets the stage for what’s ahead. You’ll get:The evolution of Tweener (from list → fund → statewide platform)Why this competition exists (and why founders love it)How the bracket worksWhat judges are actually looking forAnd of course… the reveal of all 8 competing companiesThis isn’t just a competition. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how early-stage investors think.🔥 What Were the Biggest Takeaways From the Selection Show?Tweener officially expands statewide with NC IDEA partnership$4M investment from NC IDEA fuels the next phase50+ startups applied from across North CarolinaFocus on venture-scale, IP-driven companies (not lifestyle businesses)Real investor judges, real feedback, real decisionsFounders iterate pitches throughout the competitionEpisodes drop starting March 31, leading to a live championshipThe stage is set. The pitches are ready. Now it’s time to see who can rise above the rest.Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Tweener Madness 2026 00:40 – Tweener origin story (List → Fund → Media) 02:40 – NC IDEA partnership + statewide expansion 04:00 – Why founders love this format 05:00 – Sponsors + ecosystem support 06:20 – Meet the judges 10:10 – How the bracket works 12:00 – Selection criteria explained 15:20 – What didn’t make the cut (and why) 17:40 – The Exceptional 8 revealed 22:20 – Bracket matchups 23:30 – What’s next + episode schedule--- This episode of Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by NC Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

What does a go-to-market engineer actually do, and why is this role suddenly showing up everywhere?In this episode, we unpack one of the fastest-evolving roles in modern startups. Evan shares how he went from using ChatGPT as a college student and new BDR to helping build AI-powered systems inside one of the Triangle’s best-known software companies.The conversation covers how AI is changing outbound sales, why intent signals matter more than generic research, how tools like Clay, Cursor, Cloud Code, Lovable, n8n, and Supabase fit into a modern GTM stack, and why great go-to-market engineering is about making humans better, not replacing them.Highlights CoveredWhat a go-to-market engineer is and why the role is growing fastHow Evan turned experimentation as a BDR into a new AI-focused role at PendoWhy intent signals + research create stronger outbound outreach than either one aloneHow Pendo uses AI to make BDRs faster, more focused, and more effectiveThe difference between SDR inbound signals and BDR outbound signalsHow tools like Clay help enrich leads, personalize messages, and trigger outreach quicklyWhy the CRM still matters as the source of truth in an AI-heavy workflowHow Evan builds internal dashboards using Salesforce, Supabase, Lovable, n8n, and Cloud CodeWhy GTM engineering is likely to split into multiple specialties over timeHow AI can increase sales productivity without replacing the people doing the workIf you’re a founder, operator, or revenue leader trying to understand where AI fits into your go-to-market motion, this episode is a practical look at what that future already looks like inside a fast-moving North Carolina company.Timestamps:05:05 — Meet Evan Inscoe from Pendo08:05 — Evan’s background and discovering AI early10:28 — What a BDR actually does13:04 — How Evan created his own path into GTM engineering16:29 — What the go-to-market engineer role looked like at the start19:05 — Breaking down the BDR workflow21:40 — Where Pendo is today after nine months of GTM engineering23:00 — How Pendo uses Clay24:45 — What counts as an intent signal26:00 — Inbound vs outbound signals31:00 — Why CRM still matters35:20 — Measuring impact and efficiency gains36:00 — Building dashboards with Lovable, Supabase, and n8n42:35 — Tools Evan recommends most43:40 — Driving adoption across the team45:20 — Where GTM engineering is headed next48:00 — Why AI won’t replace BDRs48:45 — Evan’s next big projectWhere to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoWhere to Find Evan Inscoe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evaninscoe/--- This episode of Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by NC Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

This episode is a special one. We’re replaying NC IDEA’s Ecosysteming Podcast episode featuring Scot and Robbie following the announcement of the new North Carolina Tweener Fund, powered by NC IDEA. (Check out the announcement.) The conversation covers the “why” behind the partnership, how the Tweener model works, why statewide startup data matters, how founders can connect with the fund, and why this effort could attract even more outside capital into North Carolina. It’s part ecosystem strategy, part founder playbook, and part invitation to think bigger about what’s possible for startups across the state.Highlights coveredNC IDEA and the formerly Triangle-focused Tweener Fund have joined forces to create the North Carolina Tweener Fund powered by NC IDEA. The partnership expands the Tweener model from the Triangle to all of North CarolinaRobbie shares his own story of receiving an NC IDEA grant in 2009 and how that support helped launch his startup journeyScot explains the origin of the Tweener List and how it became the foundation for the fund’s index-style approachThe fund is designed to invest in a basket of promising North Carolina startups, helping reduce risk through diversificationThe discussion reinforces the idea that North Carolina has a uniquely broad startup base across sectors like AI, healthtech, agtech, aviation, manufacturing, ecommerce, and moreThom Ruhe highlights how better startup data helps ecosystem builders, policymakers, and funders make smarter decisionsScot and Robbie explain how increased visibility and deal activity can help pull more outside capital into the stateFounders are encouraged to reach out directly, the approach is intentionally founder-friendly and operator-ledThe episode also outlines how accredited investors can participate, including through AngelList and, in some cases, retirement vehicles like self-directed IRAsNorth Carolina’s startup ecosystem has been building toward this moment for years, and this conversation makes one thing clear: the next chapter is going to be bigger, broader, and more connected than ever.Timestamps:2:00 – Thom Ruhe introduces the episode and announces the NC Tweener Fund powered by NC IDEA2:49 – Scot and Robbie react to the early excitement around the statewide expansion4:00 – Why the NC IDEA and Tweener relationship makes sense from an ecosystem perspective6:17 – Thom explains the bigger mission: creating a virtuous cycle for North Carolina’s economy7:20 – Robbie’s background, his 2009 NC IDEA grant, and why NC IDEA mattered to his startup journey11:05 – Robbie on joining Scot and helping grow the Tweener Fund12:08 – Thom sets up the fund thesis and why the Tweener model stands out14:03 – Scot’s background, startup history, and “pay it forward” approach to ecosystem building16:47 – Scot explains product-market fit and why “tweener” companies are such an important stage18:59 – The origin story of the Tweener List20:18 – How the Tweener Fund grew out of the list and why diversification matters22:50 – The index-fund analogy and how the Tweener model works23:30 – How AI is changing startup timing and why Tweener is selectively moving earlier in some cases25:07 – Why the Tweener List matters for policymakers and ecosystem builders28:03 – Why mapping startups is harder than most people think29:12 – What North Carolina startup formation data says about the state’s momentum30:50 – Why becoming one of the most active funds matters for attracting attention and capital33:20 – How outside VCs discover North Carolina through Tweener’s activity35:28 – The case for bringing more outside capital into North Carolina37:30 – How entrepreneurs can approach the North Carolina Tweener Fund38:47 – How LPs and accredited investors can get involved41:44 – Fund structure, fees, and why the model aims to be accessible44:10 – Where to learn more and how to invest through the website46:53 – Final thoughts on ecosystem impact and investment opportunities47:52 – Quarterly LP webinars and using retirement vehicles like Alto49:10 – Closing reflections on building a statewide startup ecosystemWhere to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoWhere to Find Robbie Allen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbieallen/Where to Find Thom Ruhe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasruhe/--- This episode of Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by NC Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html   ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In this episode, we unpack how a college capstone project turned into a scalable system for custom-fit 3D-printed bracing, moving from “hours in CAD” to minutes with automated design templates. We get into the origin story, the technology moat, go-to-market evolution, fundraising, and the founder mindset required to stay in the game.Highlights coveredHow PROTECT3D started with a custom brace for a Duke teammateWhy “one-size-fits-none” is the real problem in bracingThe core workflow: iPhone scan → automated digital design → 3D printHow they reduced design time from 5+ hours to under 5 minutesMaterial/printing approaches and why they use multiple technologiesScaling from sports to insurance-reimbursable clinical productsExpansion into military / defense applications via non-dilutive fundingFounder lessons: failing fast, surviving COVID-era building, and gritKevin’s advice to younger founders: keep going, the grind is the gameCustom-fit should be the norm, and PROTECT3D is building the rails to make that possible at scale. If you’re a founder working at the intersection of software + real-world manufacturing, this one is packed with practical lessons and a lot of heart.Timestamps:00:04:29 — Kevin’s background: Greensboro → Duke mechanical engineering + football00:05:43 — The spark: 3D-printing a custom brace for an injured teammate00:06:37 — “One-size-fits-none”: why off-the-shelf bracing fails most bodies00:10:23 — Turning it into a real company through Duke I&E + early traction00:12:21 — Early funding: friends & family + NC IDEA Micro Grant path00:16:45 — The modern 3-step process: app scan → digital fabrication → 3D print00:17:11 — From traveling to scan athletes… to scanning with an iPhone app00:23:29 — Scaling breakthrough: design time drops from 5+ hours to <5 minutes00:24:19 — Growth: working with over half of NFL teams + other leagues00:25:21 — Beyond sports: clinics, insurance reimbursement, nationwide footprint00:32:44 — Fundraising + non-dilutive: ~$5.5M raised, including DoD/SBIR support00:34:44 — Founder lessons: fail fast, market expansion timing, surviving COVID00:36:25 — Team size: 12 FTE + ~5 contractors; vision for clinical-scale bracing00:38:30 — New channel: “at-home” scanning + direct-to-consumer experiments00:41:18 — Kevin’s message to young founders: keep at it, the grind doesn’t stopWhere to Find Kevin Gehsmann:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-gehsmann/Front PROTECT3D: https://protect3d.io/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingo--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html   ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

This episode is a big one. There’s a lot of noise right now around AI, venture, and whether SaaS is fundamentally broken. Public markets are re-rating software companies. Seed rounds are shifting. Pricing models are changing. And founders are asking the same question:“Are we toast?”Joe Mancini from Front Porch is in a unique position to answer that. His firm sits inside dozens of funds and startups across the Southeast and beyond. He sees what’s working, and what’s not, in real time. So we dug into the thesis behind their “SaaS is Dead” piece, what it actually means, and what founders should be doing right now.Highlights coveredWhy SaaS is being re-rated in public marketsWhether this is permanent or cyclicalAI-native vs. AI-immigrant companiesThe collapse (and split) of the traditional “seed” roundWhy vertical SaaS may explode in this eraHow founders should think about churn in the AI eraInternal resistance to AI adoption (and why it’s dangerous)What venture firms are actually looking for right nowThe next decade belongs to founders who deeply understand their vertical, obsess over customer value, and move fast enough to build moats before the standards settle.Timestamps:07:00 – From sports radio to venture capital10:30 – The hybrid fund model explained16:50 – Why they wrote “Yes, SaaS Is Dead”18:00 – The SaaS public market re-rating21:00 – The split in seed investing23:30 – AI-native vs AI-immigrant companies27:00 – The 3-layer cycle of every tech revolution30:00 – The 2x2: where opportunity lives now33:00 – Why vertical beats horizontal right now38:00 – Internal AI adoption is non-optional39:30 – The shift from seat pricing to performance pricing51:00 – What actually counts as a moat in AIWhere to Find Joe Mancini:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpmancini/Front Porch Venture Partners: https://www.frontporchvp.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingo--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html   ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

We started the Tweener List in 2015 with the idea of local founders paying it forward to help amplify and support our local startup ecosystem. Based on the popularity of that list and a grassroots effort to innovate a new way to help fund and support local founders, in 2022 we started the Tweener Fund.That’s good, but it’s not enough. We’re always asking the community of founders we support - what else can we do to help you grow your companies, raise capital, provide more resources, enhance the community, etc. So, in the last two years we launched numerous community facing resources, including Tweener Talks.What’s Next? 👉 NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA! In this episode, Scot and Robbie hit the highlights of our newest adventure:Expanding geography from Triangle to NC (strategy and everything else stays consistent)Increasing our investment $/Q - that means more companies will be supportedBigger pool of potential investors (LPs)We'll be expanding our events, content and moreStay tuned for future news!Timestamps:00:32 – Big Announcement: Becoming the North Carolina Tweener Fund (Powered by NC IDEA)00:53 – The Origin Story: Tweener List (2015)01:28 – Launch of the Tweener Fund (2022)01:35 – Expansion into Founder Content (Tweener Times, Tweener Talks, Community Hub)03:52 – Robby’s NC IDEA Grant Story (2009)04:36 – Why the NC IDEA Partnership Makes Sense05:08 – Expanding Beyond the Triangle to All of North Carolina06:07 – What Qualifies as a North Carolina06:53 – Increasing Investments Per Quarter07:22 – What’s NOT Changing (Commitment + Triangle HQ)08:32 – Breaking Down NC Regions09:40 – PitchBook Data: Where NC Startups Are Located10:23 – Geographic Diversification Strategy Going Forward11:21 – How to Get Involved (Investors + Sponsors)12:26 – Thank You + Official Welcome to the NC Tweener Fund Era--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org Gold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In this episode of Triangle Tweener Talks, we unpack what it really takes to go from professor to CEO, how InsightFinder built trust in a skeptical enterprise market, and where LLMs help (and don’t) when you’re dealing with machine telemetry data. They also explore multi-agent workflows, “composite AI,” practical enterprise adoption hurdles, and Helen’s advice for students navigating an AI-shaped future.Highlights coveredHelen’s origin story: NASA Pathfinder work → distributed systems reliability → ML-based predictionThe Google chapter: being invited to evaluate anomaly-detection algorithms with SRE teamsBootstrapping InsightFinder via NSF/SBIR funding + early angels, before raising traditional VCThe professor-to-CEO transition: prioritization over “balance,” and learning to adapt dailyWhy founders should lead early sales (especially when the product is new-to-the-world)How InsightFinder runs enterprise PoCs using a “replay mechanism” on historical incidents“Composite AI” + using LLMs to translate technical insights into understandable narrativesIf you’ve ever wondered what “AI that actually works” looks like in the enterprise, and how a research-driven founder earns trust at Fortune scale, this one’s a must-listen.Timestamps00:02:12 — Intro to Helen + what InsightFinder does00:04:32 — Helen’s background at NC State00:05:49 — Google discovers the research00:06:24 — NSF/SBIR bootstrap + company start00:07:10 — Early ML roots (since 2000)00:08:54 — NASA Pathfinder origin story00:12:03 — Teaching + student questions evolving00:13:28 — Student → PhD → InsightFinder spark00:14:36 — Professor + CEO time management00:17:39 — Learning sales as a founder00:21:24 — Funding path: SBIR + angels + first VC00:22:44 — IDEA Fund connection story00:24:19 — LLM era impact + “composite AI”00:26:45 — LLMs as the interface layer00:28:20 — Plain-English explanation of InsightFinder00:31:04 — Agent workflows (Jira, probing, reports)00:32:31 — Multi-agent + SLM orchestration00:35:32 — PoCs: dogfood + replay mechanism00:37:41 — How early detection works (hours ahead)00:39:00 — Series B + scaling go-to-market00:43:00 — LLMs: maturity + “last mile” problem00:45:30 — Fine-tuning + trust risks00:47:14 — Advice for students + fundamentals#TriangleTweenerTalks #TriangleStartups #NCState #AIOps #Observability #SiteReliability #SRE #DistributedSystems #MachineLearning #EnterpriseAI #LLMs #AgenticAI #MCP #StartupJourney #FounderStories #B2BSoftware #DeepTech #RaleighDurham #NorthCarolinaTech--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors:  Gold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In Part 1 of this conversation on Triangle Tweener Talks, we walked through how David built Offline over 13 years, three companies, multiple pivots, and a subscription model that finally worked.In Part 2, we shift gears. This episode is about leverage. David breaks down how he went from running a ~34-person team to operating a multi-city business with ~2.5 people, not by cutting corners, but by rebuilding the company around AI-first systems, orchestration, and context-aware automation.This is not “AI news.” This is how a founder is actually using AI day to day.Highlights from Part 2AI adoption started as a “copywriting intern,” not a silver bulletThe biggest fork: people who learned how to talk to models vs. people who gave upThe real unlock came when David built his first full-stack app himselfTools like Cursor and Cloud Code collapsed the barrier between idea and executionOffline stopped adding features to a monolith, and started building around itn8n became the orchestration layer that glued everything togetherMost business problems don’t need apps, they need glue codeAI SDRs fail today because context is fragmented and CRMs are a messThe right approach is decomposing SDR work into atomic stepsContext windows are the real constraint, not intelligenceDavid now runs a personal “Chief of Staff” GitHub repo with 70–80 skillsThe company itself is slowly becoming a file system agents can read and write fromIf you’re thinking about automation, agents, or headcount, this one will change how you think about all three.Where to Find David Shaner:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshaner/Offline Media: https://www.letsgetoffline.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingoTimestamps00:00–02:30 – Why Part 2 matters02:30–06:00 – Phase 1: AI as a copywriting intern06:00–10:00 – Phase 2: coding, Cursor, and the “hit by a bus” moment10:00–13:00 – Why founders need to build something themselves13:00–17:00 – Orchestration layers and why n8n won17:00–21:00 – Why AI SDRs mostly don’t work yet21:00–24:30 – Context windows, atomic steps, and agent design24:30–27:30 – Debugging workflows like a human27:30–31:30 – How Offline reduced headcount without losing velocity31:30–36:00 – Self-service platforms for restaurants and events36:00–39:30 – Cloud Code, skill files, and the “singularity” moment39:30–44:00 – The Chief of Staff repo and what comes next--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors:  Gold Sponsors: Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-en... EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/conte...  2025 Sponsors: Extensis HR: http://www.extensishr.com/ ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. In this episode, we focus on Offline’s origin story and business evolution, not AI (yet).Highlights from Part 1Offline has effectively been three different companies under one brandEarly versions tried to reinvent Meetup, and failedA city-guide app reached ~3M people/month but couldn’t monetizeConsumer businesses can look successful while quietly breakingSubscription was the first model that truly workedRestaurants don’t want “deal seekers”, they want incremental revenueOffline works because it optimizes excess capacity, not discountsCOVID forced a near-shutdown, and a total rethink of operationsToday, Offline runs across 10 cities with ~600 restaurants and ~10,000 subscribersMost founders only hear about the winning version of a company. This episode shows the cost of getting there: years of pivots, wrong turns, false confidence, and learning, sometimes the hard way, how markets actually work.Offline didn’t succeed because of a clever growth hack. It survived because David kept learning, iterating, and refusing to confuse traction with sustainability.Where to Find David Shaner:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshaner/Offline Media: https://www.letsgetoffline.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingoTimestamps00:00–02:30 – Introduction & what this two-part series will cover02:30–05:30 – David’s background, NC State, and discovering entrepreneurship05:30–08:00 – The original idea: human connection in a screen-first world08:00–11:30 – Era 1: trying (and failing) to reinvent Meetup11:30–13:30 – Era 2: city guides, millions of users, zero monetization13:30–15:40 – Era 3: subscriptions finally click15:40–17:30 – COVID, near shutdown, and survival17:30–23:30 – Why restaurants accept discounts (the airplane seat analogy)23:30–25:30 – Why Groupon failed restaurants — and why Offline didn’t25:30–44:00 – Productivity, systems thinking, and process obsession44:00–45:10 – What’s coming in Part 2--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors:  Gold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  2025 Sponsors: - Extensis HR: http://www.extensishr.com/ ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Part 2 picks up where the origin story ends, and where the real work begins.Tony breaks down the three phases of Phononic: proving the science, surviving productization, and ultimately finding the market where solid-state cooling wasn’t just better, but mission-critical. It’s a candid look at why deep-tech companies require patience, capital discipline, and brutal focus to survive.This is the episode for founders navigating scale, manufacturing, or markets that don’t yet exist.Highlights from Part 2The three semiconductor problems Phononic had to solve, togetherWhy feasibility took ~$10–15M before a real product even existedThe hidden cost of productization (and why Phase 2 was the most dangerous)Why Phononic nearly spread itself too thin across HVAC, cold chain, and data centers“Market → product fit” vs. product → market fitThe moment AI and accelerated computing changed everythingWhy data centers became Phononic’s core focusLicensing non-core markets instead of shutting them downTony’s three most important lessons for founders building outside Silicon ValleyPhononic’s story isn’t about chasing trends, it’s about surviving long enough for timing, technology, and market need to finally align.For founders building deep tech, Part 2 is a reminder: focus is strategy, patience is power, and big outcomes demand big ambition.Where to Find Tony Atti:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-atti-ph-d-316483/TradePending: https://phononic.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingoTimestamps:05:55 — Back in conversation: “layman’s version of the 3 problems”06:06 — The 3 fundamentals: material science, semiconductor processing, packaging07:40 — The 3 metrics that matter: coldness, electricity consumed, work/heat pumped per area08:31 — Doing university partnerships “right the first time” (no cap table traps)09:35 — Key insight: academia solved pieces separately; Phononic integrated all 309:47 — First chips built on Centennial Campus; early build process vs today’s automation10:36 — Cost to feasibility: roughly ~$10M to get to commercially meaningful chips11:33 — Phase 2 = productization (unexpected + expensive)11:45 — Big lesson: market/product fit (not product/market)12:28 — Reality of productization: inventing mechanical/thermal/software/firmware + supply chain from scratch13:30 — The mistake: trying to productize across 3 huge markets at once (HVAC, cold chain, data centers)15:34 — Why it was intoxicating: solid-state = smaller/better/faster/efficient + millisecond response time16:25 — The strategic pivot: raise $100M to go deep in one vertical + license non-core17:22 — Data centers weren’t obviously mission-critical (then)18:15 — Inflection: jump to 1.6T + cooling becomes critical for signal integrity19:08 — COVID tailwinds: vaccine cold chain + air quality/HVAC relevance19:37 — AI compute explosion: optics → GPUs → switches → whole data center becomes thermal hotspot20:38 — Licensing moves: PeltierPro for cold chain/merchandising; Halton for HVAC21:17 — Company snapshot: ~100–140 people; 30k sq ft fab in Durham; Fabrinet Thailand; teams in Thailand + China21:53 — EBITDA positive Q4; 2026 forecast revised up; possible cash-flow positivity mid-202623:26 — Tony’s 3 founder lessons: market/product fit, ruthless focus, dream big (same work for $100M vs $1B)--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors:  Gold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  2025 Sponsors: - Extensis HR: http://www.extensishr.com/ ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In this episode (Part 1), we cover the origin story. Tony walks through the decisions, failures, and inflection points that led to Phononic’s founding: leaving the Northeast for graduate school at USC, working on applied energy systems at JPL during the Mars rover era, and learning painful but formative lessons from a university spin-out that didn’t work.Then comes the moment you can’t script. In the fall of 2008, while the global financial system is actively collapsing, Tony presents a research thesis on why semiconductors transformed everything except cooling. He walks out that same day with a term sheet and a $2M commitment to found Phononic.Highlights from Part 1Growing up blue-collar in Buffalo and why that shaped Tony’s leadership styleThe career-defining decision to leave the Northeast for USCWhat JPL teaches you about rigor, testing, and humilityWhy most university spin-outs struggle with equity alignmentHow venture capital experience sharpened Tony’s founder instinctsWhy cooling is the last unsolved semiconductor frontierFounding Phononic the day Lehman collapsedWhy the Triangle, and NC State’s Centennial Campus, won as Phononic’s homeWhere to Find Tony Atti:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-atti-ph-d-316483/TradePending: https://phononic.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingoTimestamps:01:40 — Scot tees up why Tony is a “special treat” + why Phononic matters in the Triangle03:50 — Travel / frequent flyer miles (4M miles + recent global sprint)05:10 — Why Phononic is a “quiet deep tech giant” more people should know05:23 — Tony background: blue-collar Buffalo + early “entrepreneur roots” (paper route, driveways, grass)06:00 — Parents + upbringing + being the only Italian family in an Irish neighborhood06:50 — “Boardroom to factory floor” comfort as a leadership superpower07:07 — College path: biochem → decides against med school → USC opportunity08:20 — USC + energy/sustainability roots before it had a name08:50 — JPL/Caltech work: solid polymer electrolytes + Mars-era applied R&D10:07 — JPL geek-out: what JPL does + Tony’s work context11:42 — Engineering culture: redundancy, testing, quality mindset11:56 — Funny JPL story: Tony’s dad jokes “it’s all fake, filmed here”12:26 — The Martian detail: radioisotope thermoelectric generator explanation12:59 — First startup failure: university IP / cap table misalignment lessons14:23 — Timeline bridge: how that failure pushed Tony into VC + founding MHI Energy Partners15:48 — The Phononic founding story starts: 2007–08 crisis + job search16:46 — Venrock mentor moment: “world doesn’t need another VC” challenge17:00 — Thesis: semiconductors transformed everything except cooling/heating17:41 — 3-month “liars and thieves” tour: universities + semiconductor ecosystem due diligence18:20 — Thermoelectrics vs vapor compression (what makes solid-state different)19:16 — The pitch day: Lehman collapse on the screens while Tony presents20:45 — Term sheet drop: $2M commitment + “founded the company that afternoon”21:33 — Why Venrock matters / halo effect (Scot commentary)21:59 — Why North Carolina: portfolio company move + Tony relocates23:26 — Why RTP/NC State won: Centennial Campus enabled fast lab/fab buildout--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors:  Gold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  2025 Sponsors: - Extensis HR: http://www.extensishr.com/ ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In Part 2 of the conversation with Brice Englert, we move from origin story to execution and scale. We cover:Pricing without overthinking: how TradePending set pricing before having perfect dataSales-first growth: building an outside sales motion that paid for itself quicklyScaling with discipline: reaching profitability fast and choosing when to reinvestPrivate equity, from the founder’s seat: rolling equity, staying on, and navigating majority ownershipGrowing TAM over time: expanding the product surface area instead of chasing a massive TAM upfrontWhat’s next: stepping aside as CEO, staying on the board, and gearing up for the next auto tech companyBrice’s story is a masterclass in building a durable SaaS company without shortcuts, staying close to customers, making practical decisions early, and expanding only when the foundation could support it. Part 2 shows what happens when disciplined execution meets long-term thinking.Where to Find Brice Englert:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briceenglert/TradePending: https://tradepending.comWhere to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingoTimestamps:05:10 – Starting TradePending and early engineering decisions06:20 – Finding the first lead engineer06:55 – First product build and rapid time to market07:25 – SaaS business model and early monetization08:55 – Pricing strategy and premium positioning09:45 – Why pricing doesn’t need to be perfect early10:25 – Sales-led growth and early break-even11:55 – Refining the sales motion and deployment speed12:00 – Launching second and third products13:05 – Reaching meaningful scale and revenue milestones13:25 – Deciding to explore growth and exit options14:00 – Choosing a majority private equity partner15:55 – Staying on post-deal and rolling equity17:05 – Working with PE and scaling responsibly18:10 – Acquisitions and expanding the platform19:30 – Stepping aside as CEO and planning the next chapter21:00 – Lessons on leverage, risk, and capital structure22:10 – Using AI tools to build the next company23:30 – Teasing the next startup24:10 – Reflections on TAM and long-term growth26:00 – How TAM expands through customer-led innovation28:05 – Final takeaways and closing thoughts--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors:  Gold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  2025 Sponsors: - Extensis HR: http://www.extensishr.com/ ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In this episode (Part 1), Brice shares the early story: how the idea formed, how he got the first version built, what the market told him at the beginning, and what he did to push through the inevitable uncertainty that comes with building from scratch.This is the origin story and early foundation of TradePending, before the scaling years.You’ll hear:How Brice got started and why he chose automotive as the arenaWhat the earliest product looked like (and what didn’t work first)The “crowded market” problem, and how Brice found an opening anywayEarly execution lessons: getting something live, getting customers, and learning fastThe mindset shift from idea → real business momentumTradePending’s story is a reminder that the early stage isn’t about having the perfect model, it’s about building something real, listening hard, and creating momentum one customer at a time.Where to Find Brice Englert:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briceenglert/TradePending: https://tradepending.comWhere to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingoTimestamps:01:57 – Introduction to Brice Englert02:50 – How Scot discovered TradePending05:30 – Brice’s background and early career07:30 – Engineering, Air Force, and selling technology08:15 – MBA and early entrepreneurship exposure11:45 – Corporate lessons from UBS14:00 – Entering auto tech through M&A17:10 – How acquirers evaluate startups22:00 – From corporate development to operator24:10 – The idea behind TradePending25:50 – Naming the company and early vision27:00 – Leaving corporate and managing risk30:55 – Taking the leap into entrepreneurship33:25 – Early funding and staying lean34:30 – Customer feedback and early skepticism38:35 – Competing in a crowded market40:00 – NC IDEA rejection40:12 – Rejection as fuel --- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West.  We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors:  Gold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com  Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html  2025 Sponsors: - Extensis HR: http://www.extensishr.com/ ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In this special solo episode of Triangle Tweener Talks, Scot goes beyond the two-part Tweener Times report to walk founders through what the data actually means in practice. This episode exists for one reason: to give Triangle founders clearer goalposts, better context, and fewer surprises when they sit down to raise capital.Tune in to hear:How founders can self-service fundraising expectations using real Triangle dataThe most common caps, discounts, and raise sizes at each stageWhy $1M ARR is a major valuation inflection pointSAFE vs convertible note vs priced round, when each actually makes senseWhat investors look for at Seed vs Series A (and why many founders get stuck)How founder-market fit and AI trends skew early valuationsWhy Triangle companies often raise less, and why that’s a strengthWhere to read each part:Part 1: https://www.tweenertimes.com/p/part-iii-triangle-startup-venture Part 2: https://www.tweenertimes.com/p/part-iiii-the-triangles-first-andWhere to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:00:00 – 03:00 Why this data exists & the founder questions it answers03:00 – 07:00 How the Tweener Fund dataset was built (and anonymized)07:00 – 15:00 The origin of the Tweener List and index strategy15:00 – 22:00 How funding stages are defined by company progress22:00 – 35:00 SAFEs, convertible notes, priced rounds — explained35:00 – 45:00 How deal structures change from Pre-Seed to Series A45:00 – 59:00 Valuations, raises, and dilution by stage59:00 – 1:07:00 What founders should actually do with this dataIf this is your first time really digging into venture fundraising, you’ll hear a few terms that investors use casually but aren’t always obvious. Here’s a quick guide to the most common ones we reference in this episode:Pre-Seed: The earliest stage of venture funding. Often used to fund initial product development, early customer discovery, or getting to a first version of product-market fit. Rounds are typically smaller and more founder-bet driven.Seed: The stage where a company has early traction and is working to prove repeatability. Investors expect evidence that customers want the product, not just that it can be built.Series A: A growth-oriented round where the question shifts from “Does this work?” to “Can this scale?” Metrics, revenue quality, and go-to-market execution matter much more here.Valuation: The implied value of your company during a fundraise. In early stages, this is often based more on progress, team, and market than on traditional financial metrics.Pre-Money vs. Post-MoneyPre-money: Your company’s valuation before new capital is investedPost-money: Your valuation after the new money comes inThis distinction matters a lot for understanding dilution.Dilution: The percentage of ownership founders give up when they raise capital. More money or a higher valuation doesn’t always mean less dilution — structure matters.SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity): A popular early-stage investment instrument that delays setting a valuation until a future priced round. Simple in theory, nuanced in practice.Convertible Note: A loan that converts into equity later, usually at a discount or valuation cap. Older than SAFEs and still common, especially with certain investors.Valuation Cap: The maximum valuation at which an investor’s SAFE or note will convert. Lower caps are better for investors; higher caps are better for founders.Discount: A percentage reduction applied to a future valuation to reward early investors when their investment converts.Priced Round: A funding round where the valuation is explicitly set and equity is issued immediately. More complex, but often clearer once companies reach later stages.Progress-Driven Investing: Scot’s way of describing how early-stage investors price risk: capital is deployed based on company progress (traction, learning, momentum), not perfection.Founder-Market Fit: How well a founder’s background, experience, and insight align with the problem they’re solving. This often plays an outsized role in very early valuations.---This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors:Gold Sponsors:Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneursEisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.comRobinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.comSilver Sponsors:Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.coBank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html2025 Sponsors:Extensis HR: http://www.extensishr.com/ ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In Part 2 of this two-part deep dive, Triangle Tweener Talks host Scot Wingo sits down with legendary Triangle founder Mike Doernberg to explore his journey on scaling multiple companies, spinning out new ventures, navigating private equity, and why he never left North Carolina.Tune in to hear:How ReverbNation grew from a side project into a 6M-artist platformThe spin-out journey behind Adwerx, and why it workedMike’s framework for identifying spinoff opportunities inside existing companiesWhy the team is the company, and why incubated teams can struggleThe origins of PlayMetrics and the youth-sports system-of-record visionHow Mike navigates private equity without losing culture or controlWhat PE adds that venture capital often can’tWhat it’s like to scale from 25 people to 450+Mike’s long view on the Triangle startup ecosystem, then vs. nowWhy he never moved to the Bay AreaWhether a Mike-led venture studio might be next 👀Where to Find Mike Doernberg:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldoernberg/PlayMetrics: https://home.playmetrics.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:00:05 — Welcome to Part 2 with Mike Doernberg00:12 — Coming back from “Home Depot retirement”00:18 — The origin and explosive growth of ReverbNation00:27 — Solving the cold-start problem before it had a name00:33 — Building Promote.it → the foundation for Adwerx00:42 — Spinning out Adwerx and structuring the deal00:52 — Should Mike run a venture studio? Scott pushes him01:00 — Why incubating ideas is easier than incubating founders01:10 — The spinout challenge: talent dilution01:15 — The path to PlayMetrics and modernizing youth sports01:27 — Selling Reverb to focus fully on PlayMetrics01:38 — Navigating private equity the right way01:47 — How PE can empower (not suffocate) founders01:55 — Running a 450-person org and learning a new leadership mode02:03 — Why Mike stayed in the Triangle — and how the ecosystem evolved02:16 — Triangle vs. Bay Area: culture, risk, and quality of life02:30 — Final reflections & Scott’s challenge on a future venture studio02:38 — Outro & sponsor thank-yous---This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West.We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors:Gold Sponsors:Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneursEisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.comRobinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.comSilver Sponsors:Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.coBank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html2025 Sponsors:Extensis HR: http://www.extensishr.com/ ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In Part 1 of this two-part deep dive, Triangle Tweener Talks host Scot Wingo sits down with legendary Triangle founder Mike Doernberg to explore the earliest chapters of his career, from CPA to multi-exit entrepreneur.Mike walks through the founding of Marathon, the rise of early PC-driven consulting, the creation and spinout of SmartPath, raising capital through the old-school angel gauntlets, navigating the DoubleClick acquisition, and why “retirement” lasted all of three months.Tune in to hear:What the early startup ecosystem looked like before the Triangle was “the Triangle.”The origins of Marathon and how the rise of PCs and early web consulting created new opportunities.How a project inside GlaxoSmithKline became the spark that turned into the SmartPath product.Mike’s philosophy for spinning out products successfully, and why strict separation is essential.Raising capital in the 90s and early 2000s: angel gauntlets, tough rooms, and memorable TIG stories.The SmartPath exit to DoubleClick and why Mike now believes they sold too early.How exiting young led him to a very short-lived “retirement” and why founders struggle to sit still.Where to Find Mike Doernberg:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldoernberg/PlayMetrics: https://home.playmetrics.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:01:02 – Mike’s early background & move to NC03:30 – Becoming a CPA but wanting more05:54 – Early exposure to startups at Ernst & Young07:50 – Why entrepreneurship became inevitable09:50 – Story of Burl Software and Y2K12:10 – How Marathon was formed13:22 – Rising PC adoption and early web consulting14:51 – Early e-commerce and building internet applications17:00 – How the GlaxoSmithKline project inspired SmartPath19:06 – The power of deeply understanding a customer problem20:34 – Building early commerce & workflow applications23:40 – SmartPath as an early low-code platform24:59 – Why selling SmartPath was his biggest mistake26:00 – Raising venture in the 90s & 2000s28:20 – The TIG pitching gauntlet30:00 – A founder’s early-career fear of the unknown31:10 – The SmartPath exit to DoubleClick33:00 – Life at DoubleClick & post-acquisition changes35:20 – Mike retires for 3 months (Home Depot era)36:50 – Why founders struggle not to build38:45 – The addiction and community of company building---This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Mark Flickinger is the COO and General Partner at BIP Ventures, one of the Southeast’s most active venture firms. Based in Atlanta, Mark brings a rare dual perspective, an operator who scaled startups before joining the investing side. Since 2015, he’s helped BIP expand from an Atlanta-centric firm into a major player across the Southeast and Midwest.Every year, BIP Ventures releases its State of Startups in the Southeast report, arguably the most comprehensive snapshot of our region’s innovation economy. In this episode, Scot sits down with Mark to break down the 2025 findings, from AI and valuations to where the capital is really flowing.Tune in to hear:How the State of Startups in the Southeast report came to be, and why it’s become a key annual benchmark for founders and investors.The Southeast’s steady growth amid national volatility, and what that says about the region’s resilience.Why North Carolina now ranks #2 for capital invested, with a healthy mix of early, mid, and late-stage deals.The rise of AI-driven startups, not in infrastructure, but in real applied use cases driving revenue.Which investors and funds are most active across the region, from Triangle Tweener Fund to Hatteras, IdeaFund, and CoFounders Capital.How Atlanta continues to anchor Georgia’s innovation scene, with momentum in cybersecurity, fintech, and healthcare tech.Why balanced growth across industries is dampening volatility and attracting new waves of talent and capital.Where to Find Mark Flickinger:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-flickinger-24295538/BIP Capital: https://www.bipcapital.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:02:00 – Meet Mark Flickinger & the BIP Ventures origin story05:30 – How the State of Startups report began10:00 – What makes the Southeast data different15:00 – Why the 2025 report matters18:00 – Trends: AI, capital concentration, and valuation health23:00 – The Southeast’s unique resilience27:00 – North Carolina’s rise to #2 in regional investment31:00 – Triangle Tweener Fund and other active players37:00 – Atlanta’s current momentum and industry strengths42:00 – What founders should take away from the data46:00 – Closing thoughts and Mark’s advice for founders---This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

From the world of tech startups to the high-stakes world of sneakers, Walk West CEO and founder Greg Boone is a serial entrepreneur with a unique journey. With a background in computer science and a history of building and investing in companies, Greg brings a fresh perspective on how to navigate the current "AI tsunami."Tune in to hear:Greg's entrepreneurial journey, from his computer science degree at North Carolina A&T to his early career at IBM and his ventures in everything from the bar industry to e-commerce.How his marketing agency, Walk West, is growing 30-40% year over year by helping clients adapt to a world where AI has disrupted traditional go-to-market strategies.His "Four P" framework for growth: Podcasts, Partnerships, Paid Media, and Public Relations, and why being "seen, heard, and cited" is critical for success in the age of AI.The concept of "personality-led growth" and why building trust and a personal brand is essential when abstract brands and ideas are losing their hold.Greg’s love for sneakers and what he collects.A fascinating conversation about Michael Jordan's business acumen, his brand effect, and his successful ownership of the Charlotte Hornets.The "Blockbuster moment" for Google and why they had no choice but to embrace AI.Where to Find Greg Boone:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregboone/Walk West: https://walkwest.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:06:00) The evolution of Walk West from a marketing agency to a content studio.(00:10:00) Greg’s "Four P" framework for business growth.(00:16:00) Greg's entrepreneurial journey, including his background in computer science and his various ventures.(00:23:00) A deep dive into sneaker collecting and the business of Michael Jordan.(00:32:00) Walk West's growth and the importance of partnerships.---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

What happens after you sell a company you helped turn around?For Dr. Doug Kaufman, it’s a story of new ventures and hard-won lessons.In this second part of a two-part series, Doug discusses his time at TransLoc, a mass transit technology company he helped lead to a successful sale to Ford.He shares how he navigated a challenging acquisition process and the importance of a strong, collaborative board. He also talks about the challenges of his most recent venture, Belongly, including the difficult decision to pivot the business and raise capital in a shifting market.Now, as a Duke professor, executive coach, and partner at an AI consulting firm, Doug offers insights on the critical importance of founder mental health and the power of vulnerability in leadership.Tune in to hear:Why Doug was initially hesitant to get involved with TransLoc, a company focused on "mass transit technology".The red flags he ignored when joining TransLoc , and how he turned the company around after discovering it was not financially healthy.How TransLoc expanded its services beyond tracking buses to create a "mobility network" and provide data-driven insights to transit agencies.The story of TransLoc's acquisition by Ford , and the delicate process of bringing a Fortune 15 M&A team back to the table after walking away.Dr. Kaufman’s philosophy on how to run a board, including the importance of setting clear roles and fostering a collaborative team environment.A candid account of his experience with his next startup, Belongly, and the painful lessons learned from market shifts and fundraising challenges.The psychological impact of founder ups and downs , and why Dr. Kaufman believes vulnerability is a "superpower" for entrepreneurs.Where to Find Dr. Doug Kaufman:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdougkaufman/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:01:00) Dr. Kaufman describes how he got connected with TransLoc after leaving Spring Metrics. He initially thought "mass transit technology" was boring until a board member convinced him to talk to the founding CEO, Josh Whitten. (00:06:00) Dr. Kaufman became the CEO and raised over $6 million in equity from investors like SJF Ventures and Fontinalis, and another $2 million in debt from Square One.(00:11:00) Dr. Kaufman reveals that he and his team did walk away from the deal once.(00:17:00) Dr. Kaufman describes the big idea behind Belongly as an effort to address the mental health crisis in young people(00:28:00) Dr. Kaufman describes his specific type of executive coaching(00:33:00) The conversation shifts to founder mental health. ---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

What happens when a classically trained psychologist leaves the world of academia to shift careers?For Dr. Doug Kaufman, it was to become a serial entrepreneur (obviously). Doug's story is defined by a relentless curiosity about human behavior, a series of successful ventures, and some hard-won lessons in the chaotic world of startups.In this first of a two-part series, Doug recounts his unconventional path from a psychology PhD to joining a hyper-growth tech company, starting his own bootstrapped business, and facing the ultimate test of a founder's resilience in the Triangle.Tune in to hear:Why Doug left the academic track to start his own online education company and a side hustle to fund it.His experience in the early days of a hyper-growth startup at Blackboard, and why he eventually left to seek new challenges.The story of his move to the Triangle and the founding of his first company, ClearTXT, a one-to-many notification system for universities.The unexpected challenges he faced at ClearTXT, including a televised public relations crisis and a patent troll lawsuit.Why his bootstrapped company consistently beat a larger, VC-funded competitor in a head-to-head competition.The origin of Spring Metrics and his early lessons from joining the Triangle Startup Factory.A candid account of his first, disastrous board meeting, and the onset of "founder burnout" that led to a painful but necessary exit.Where to Find Dr. Doug Kaufman:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdougkaufman/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:02:00) Dr. Kaufman's lifelong fascination with psychology, human behavior, and the personal reasons for his interest. (00:04:00) The decision to leave academia to start his first company, Alley Dog, and a computer repair side hustle. (00:08:00) Joining Blackboard in 1998 and his experience in a hyper-growth tech startup. (00:15:00) Why he left Blackboard to move to the Triangle and start his own company. (00:18:00) Founding ClearTXT and navigating a major PR crisis at a large university. (00:24:00) The lessons he learned from the chaos of startup life, including a patent troll lawsuit and a successful acquisition. (00:29:00) The origins of Spring Metrics and joining the Triangle Startup Factory's first cohort. (00:37:00) A frank discussion about his first board meeting at Spring Metrics and the difficult experience that followed. (00:44:00) His eventual transition out of the CEO role and the valuable lessons he took from the experience.---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

From her upbringing in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a career spanning Wall Street, an Ivy League MBA, and the early days of e-commerce, Ricci Wolman’s journey is a all about problem solving, resilience, freedom, and...the paradox of choice? As the CEO and co-founder of Written Word Media, she has built a bootstrapped and profitable business by solving a problem her own mom faced: book discovery in a crowded market.Tune in to hear:Ricci's immigration story from South Africa to the US and the culture shocks she faced along the way.Why she left a lucrative Wall Street job after 9/11 to pursue a more impactful career in microfinance.How her experiences at The Body Shop and Lulu Publishing laid the groundwork for her own entrepreneurial venture.The origin story of Written Word Media, which was inspired by her mom's self-published book and a realization about the "paradox of choice" on Amazon.Why the generous Amazon affiliate program in its early days acted as an unintentional seed fund for the business.The unique two-sided marketplace model that matches authors with hyper-personalized email newsletters for readers.Ricci's philosophy on "private barometers of success" and why bootstrapping allowed her to build a business aligned with her core values.Her passion project, The Flop.ai, a newsletter dedicated to demystifying AI and helping people overcome their fear of new technology.Her advice for young founders, including why it's okay to take risks and the value of a strong local community.Where to Find Ricci Wolman:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricciwolman/Written Word Media: https://writtenwordmedia.com/The Flop.ai: https://www.theflop.ai/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:04:00) Ricci’s immigration from Johannesburg, South Africa and the major culture shock of moving to the US.(00:11:00) Her path to Wall Street, working as an investment banking analyst at Bear Stearns, and leaving after 9/11 for a more impactful role.(00:17:00) Running an e-commerce side hustle on a Yahoo store and the decision to get her MBA at Harvard Business School.(00:24:00) The move to North Carolina and her career in e-commerce marketing at The Body Shop and Lulu Publishing.(00:30:00) How her mom's self-publishing journey inspired the idea for Written Word Media.(00:48:00) The birth of Free Booksy as a sandbox to test marketing and the accidental funding from the Amazon affiliate program.(00:58:00) The decision to formally start the business with her husband, Ferol, who left ReverbNation to become her co-founder.(01:04:00) The unique challenges of balancing the two sides of a marketplace business and keeping authors and readers happy.(01:07:00) Ricci's bootstrapping philosophy and why she optimizes for "private barometers of success."(01:14:00) Her new passion project, The Flop.ai, a newsletter to help demystify AI.(01:18:00) Advice for founders on taking risks, choosing the right path, and leveraging the Triangle's supportive community.---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

What happens when a North Carolina native, seasoned by Silicon Valley and Wall Street, returns home to build a company that marries profit with purpose? For Jason Massey, co-founder and CEO of Ndustrial, it's led to a 14-year journey developing cutting-edge technology that makes industrial facilities more efficient and sustainable.In this episode, Jason shares his unique path, from a childhood in Mebane and studying physics and finance at NC State, to navigating the dot-com bubble in New York and the vibrant startup scene in Silicon Valley. He opens up about the "dysfunction" that birthed new companies from his own efforts and why he ultimately returned to his roots to build Ndustrial into a global leader in industrial energy management.Tune in to hear:Jason's unexpected journey from Mebane, NC, to Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and back again, shaped by a series of "learning experiences."The wild story of his early angel investment in Tap Tap Revenge, a mobile game that became an App Store sensation.How the "dirty data plumbing" challenge in manufacturing led Ndustrial to pivot from a service business to a SaaS platform for industrial energy management.The critical insight that led to Ndustrial's first major product breakthrough: predicting and managing Coincident Peak energy charges for factories.Why Ndustrial embraces a hybrid model of SaaS and professional services, contrasting with traditional Silicon Valley expectations.His strategic approach to bringing in corporate venture capital from global giants like ABB and GS Energy.Jason's vision for Ndustrial, balancing profitability with environmental impact, and why they aim to build a "sustainable business" rather than chasing a quick exit.The company's significant work in the cold chain industry, including efforts to optimize food refrigeration and reduce energy consumption.The vital role of AI in industrial settings, particularly for contextualizing data and speeding up analysis, even amidst "dirty data."Jason's perspective on the Triangle's clean tech ecosystem and the responsibility entrepreneurs have to support each other by buying from local startups.Where to Find Jason Massey:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmnc/ Ndustrial: https://ndustrial.io/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:06:00) Growing up in Mebane, North Carolina, and his path to entrepreneurship through Wall Street and Silicon Valley. (00:13:00) The velocity of failure in Silicon Valley and his first exposure to clean tech. (00:17:00) Returning to North Carolina and settling in Mebane with his family. (00:20:00) The Tap Tap Revenge angel investment and the lessons learned. (00:28:00) The serendipitous founding of Sustainable Industrial Solutions (SIS) and building foundational tech with NC State engineering students. (00:37:00) The pivot from SIS to Ndustrial, focusing on industrial production data and the Coincident Peak breakthrough. (00:45:00) Why Ndustrial embraces a hybrid model of SaaS and professional services, and their approach to hardware. (00:49:00) Ndustrial's $26 million fundraising journey and the strategic value of corporate VCs. (00:53:00) Dominating the cold chain market and its massive energy and sustainability impact. (01:02:00) The value of being "Switzerland" in the energy markets and building a truly sustainable business. (01:10:00) The significant AI play at Ndustrial, using LLMs for contextualizing data and enhancing user interfaces. (01:15:00) Jason's commitment to mentoring and supporting the Triangle's entrepreneurial community.---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In Part 2 of our conversation with Eric Boduch, Pendo co-founder and CEO of Revcast, we explore the world of venture studios. Having left Pendo to pursue his vision of parallel entrepreneurship, Eric shares how his studio, 24 and Up, identifies, builds, and funds new companies.This episode unravels the unique model of a venture studio, differentiating it from accelerators, incubators, and traditional venture capital. Eric also offers a candid assessment of the Triangle's startup ecosystem, highlighting its strengths and identifying key areas for growth.Tune in to hear:What a venture studio is and how Eric's 24 and Up model co-creates companies with entrepreneurs, acting as an "unpaid co-founder."How the venture studio model provides hands-on support, helping companies grow faster and achieve better outcomes.The origin stories of Revcast (revenue optimization), Wayfound (AI agent performance management), Troop (brand story consistency with AI), and Sesame (digital identity marketplace), including which ideas came from within the studio and which were external.The challenges and opportunities of building companies in a changing macroeconomic landscape.Eric's perspective on managing multiple companies simultaneously and the team structure at 24 and Up.A candid discussion on the Triangle's startup ecosystem, including its strengths in technical talent and successful founders, and areas needing development like early-stage venture capital.Why entrepreneurs have a responsibility to buy from other startups to strengthen the local ecosystem.Where to Find Eric Boduch:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-boduch-a1b61/24 and Up: https://www.24andup.com/Revcast: https://www.revcast.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:00:03) Eric's plea: Entrepreneurs must buy from other entrepreneurs to build a stronger ecosystem. (00:04:46) What is a venture studio? Eric breaks down his model for co-creating and funding companies. (00:06:33) Why Eric chose the venture studio model over accelerators, incubators, or traditional VC. (00:12:00) The birth of Revcast: from an internal Pendo idea to a revenue optimization solution. (00:17:56) The origin of Wayfound: an AI play in agent performance management. (00:21:47) Introducing Troop: leveraging AI for brand story consistency and improving win rates. (00:24:34) Sesame: an external idea for a digital identity verification marketplace. (00:26:17) Looking ahead: New ventures in social selling, e-commerce, and AI agent technology. (00:28:30) Managing multiple companies and the strategic advantage of asymmetric information for early-stage investment. (00:33:15) Building the 24 and Up team and the strategy behind raising more capital for the studio. (00:36:13) Comparing the Raleigh and Pittsburgh ecosystems: strengths, weaknesses, and the need for "Pendo Mafia" spin-offs. (00:43:56) The critical need for early-stage "YOLO" VC funds in the Triangle to back generational companies. (00:49:32) The entrepreneur's responsibility to buy from other startups and foster local growth.Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West.This is Part 1 of Eric Boduch's story. Tune in next week for Part 2! ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

From co-founding one of the Triangle's most successful tech companies, Pendo, to quietly building a new venture studio, Eric Boduch has a deep well of entrepreneurial experience. In this first of a two-part series, Eric sits down with Scot to reflect on his journey, the lessons learned from the dot-com bust, and the evolution of product management.Eric gets into his early days, his path to co-founding Pendo, and the strategic decisions that helped shape its unique brand and culture. If you've ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes of building a high-growth startup and the critical role of product, this conversation offers invaluable insights.Tune in to hear:Eric's early fascination with computers and how he balanced academics with sports from a young age.The story of his first startup with Todd Olson (Pendo CEO) and the valuable, albeit tough, lessons learned during the dot-com crash.How Eric transitioned into marketing and product roles at larger companies, gaining international experience and an understanding of public company dynamics.The origins of Pendo, from its unique name and iconic pink branding to its groundbreaking approach to product experience and company culture.Eric's perspective on the "golden era of product management" driven by AI and why understanding user problems is more critical than ever.The personal decision behind stepping away from Pendo to pursue his long-held ambition of running a venture studio.Where to Find Eric Boduch:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-boduch-a1b61/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode: (00:05:38) Growing up in Western Massachusetts, the home of Friendly's Ice Cream, and his early start in coding and sports. (00:08:28) How Eric chose Carnegie Mellon for computer engineering and developed his entrepreneurial bug. (00:12:22) The founding of Cerebellum with Todd Olson and the tough lessons from the dot-com crash. (00:17:12) Post-Cerebellum ventures, including ProductSoft and his time at Embarcadero and Vitria. (00:22:08) The timing challenges of Smash Technologies and the rise of mobile apps. (00:25:19) The genesis of Pendo: from initial ideas with Todd Olson to the early days of building the product. (00:28:46) Eric's role in Pendo's early marketing, the struggle to define a category, and the origins of the pink dinosaur brand. (00:39:01) The rapid growth and culture-building at Pendo, including the challenges of scaling from 1 to 30+ employees quickly. (00:41:44) His transition to leading Adopt (now Pendo for Employees) and the future of software usage. (00:44:33) Eric's vision for Pendo as a $100 billion company and the critical role of product data in the age of AI. (00:49:06) Why Eric was drawn to venture studios and why now felt like the right time to launch his own.Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West.This is Part 1 of Eric Boduch's story. Tune in next week for Part 2! ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

What happens when a seasoned entrepreneur spots a gap in the market and decides to take a risk on something entirely new? For Jason Widen, it’s led him from founding Raleigh Founded, a cornerstone of the Triangle’s startup ecosystem, to creating Blue Co. – a flexible warehouse solution designed for service-based businesses.In this episode, Jason shares his journey of building community-driven businesses, from his early days working at a ski resort to launching Raleigh Founded and now expanding his vision with Blueco. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to pivot, scale, and truly make an impact in your community, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.Tune in to hear:How Jason’s early entrepreneurial experiences shaped his work ethic and future ventures.The story behind Raleigh Founded and its pivotal role in connecting Triangle entrepreneurs.Why Jason saw a need for Blue Co. – a flexible warehousing solution – and how it supports small businesses like plumbers, electricians, and moving companies.The lessons Jason learned from building and scaling businesses in hospitality, real estate, and co-working.Jason’s future vision for Blue Co. and his strategy for expanding across the Southeast.Where to Find Jason Widen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwidenBlue Co.: https://www.bluecowarehousing.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:03:00) Jason’s early years and how a ski resort job sparked his entrepreneurial spirit. (00:10:15) The start of Raleigh Founded, a co-working space that grew into a hub for Triangle entrepreneurs. (00:18:00) The inception of Blue Co., a flexible warehouse solution for plumbers, electricians, and moving companies. (00:26:30) Real-world lessons from Jason’s ventures, including the challenges of starting a restaurant and building a real estate empire. (00:38:05) Scaling Blue Co. and Jason’s plans for expanding across the Southeast.---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Chris Heivly’s journey through the tech world is one for the books, literally - thanks to his deep-rooted love of maps. From his early days studying geography and computer mapping to shaping the future of internet navigation with MapQuest, Chris shares an inspiring story of innovation, risk, and community-building.In this episode, we explore Chris’s entrepreneurial journey, discussing everything from his time building map systems for the U.S. State Department to his pivot into founding one of the Triangle’s first startup accelerators, the Triangle Startup Factory.Tune in to hear:Chris’s early fascination with maps and how it led him to become a leader in the tech space.The inside story of MapQuest and its revolutionary role in the rise of online mapping, years before Google Maps.The entrepreneurial lessons Chris learned while transitioning from MapQuest to venture capital.Insights from running one of the first accelerators in the Triangle and how it shaped the region’s startup ecosystem.Stories of standout companies from the Triangle Startup Factory, including the success of Archive Social.Where to Find Chris Heivly:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisheivly/Build the Fort Blog: https://heivly.com/blog/Where to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:03:00) Chris's love of maps and how it shaped his career from geography major to tech innovator.(00:10:15) The breakthrough moment: from computer mapping to building mapping systems for the U.S. State Department.(00:17:45) The story of MapQuest’s creation, why it was so ahead of its time, and how it revolutionized navigation.(00:27:30) Chris’s time at Donnelly and the strategic decisions that led to MapQuest's success.(00:38:05) The evolution from VC to accelerator: Chris’s journey building the Triangle Startup Factory and shaping the local ecosystem.(00:46:52) Chris’s key lessons for startup founders and how to build a lasting legacy.In the news:Going Against the Flow: Chris Heivly, Managing Director of The Startup Factory: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/going-against-the-flow-ch_b_10596620One-on-one: ‘Startup Whisperer’ Chris Heivly talks Raleigh-Durham Startup Week, Triangle’s success, new book: https://wraltechwire.com/2023/04/19/one-on-one-startup-whisperer-chris-heivly-talks-raleigh-durham-startup-week-triangles-success-new-book/---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

If you ask someone what’s at the heart of a successful engineering team, the answer might involve tools, talent, or tech. But Hersh Tapadia, CEO and co-founder of Allstacks, believes it all starts with one thing: measurable productivity. While we all know engineering teams face unique challenges, Allstacks is tackling the toughest one—how to measure and improve engineering productivity at scale.In today’s episode, we talk to Hersh about his journey, from growing up in Raleigh to leading a company that's reshaping the way engineering teams operate. Hersh shares how Allstacks went from a consulting business to a product-driven company, the challenges of raising capital, and what he’s learned about engineering productivity in the process.Tune in to hear:Hersh’s path to founding Allstacks and his early struggles with raising capital.The challenge of measuring engineering productivity and how Allstacks solves it with data.Insights on making the leap from consulting to product development and what tech companies need to understand about the market.The future of engineering productivity—how AI is playing a role in tracking performance.Lessons learned from building a dev-tech startup in a competitive space.Where to Find Hersh Tapadia:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hershtapadiaAllstacks: https://www.allstacks.comWhere to Find Scot Wingo:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode: (00:03:00) From Raleigh to Allstacks – How Hersh’s journey led him to build a product that’s changing the game for engineering teams. (00:10:15) The Early Days – Raising capital, finding product-market fit, and making the leap from consulting to product development. (00:17:45) The Allstacks Approach – How data can drive engineering productivity and why it’s more than just tracking output. (00:27:30) Navigating the Tech Space – The challenges of scaling in the dev-tech world and the lessons learned along the way. (00:38:05) The Future of Engineering Productivity – What’s next for engineering teams and how AI is shaping the way they work. (00:46:52) Lessons for Founders – Hersh’s hard-earned wisdom on building a company, raising capital, and navigating the startup rollercoaster.In the news:Allstacks raises $20M to help engineering teams measure productivity: https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/30/allstacks-raises-20m-productivity/How Allstacks is changing the way engineering teams measure success: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hersh-tapadia-allstacks/The Importance of Data-Driven Engineering Teams in 2025: https://www.businessinsider.com/data-driven-engg-productivity-allstacks---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

If you ask anyone about the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Triangle, one name that keeps coming up is Dr. Tom Miller. Known as the champion of engineering entrepreneurship at NC State, Tom has been pivotal in shaping the region’s startup culture for over 40 years. From his early days in eastern North Carolina to founding the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program, his influence is felt across generations of entrepreneurs.Today, we sit down with Dr. Miller to hear his journey, the creation of the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program, his work with students like Bill Nussey and Chris Evans, and his thoughts on the evolving role of entrepreneurship in education.In this episode:Dr. Miller’s Early Years – Growing up in eastern North Carolina and how his humble beginnings fueled his curiosity in technology and entrepreneurship.The Spark at NC State – How a professor’s advice led him to take the leap from big corporations to the startup world.Founding the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program – Building the foundation for NC State's first program designed to foster entrepreneurship in engineers.The DaVinci Story – How students from his program, like Bill Nussey and Chris Evans, founded DaVinci, a revolutionary tech startup.Transforming the Triangle – Tom’s role in developing a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Triangle, impacting thousands of students.The Entrepreneurial Mindset – What it takes to build successful startups and why entrepreneurs should embrace risk and failure.Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs – Dr. Miller’s invaluable advice on navigating university systems, securing funding, and building sustainable businesses.Where to Find Dr. Tom Miller:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tkmiller/Where to Find Scot Wingo:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:03:00) Growing Up in Eastern North Carolina – How Tom’s early experiences shaped his path into technology and entrepreneurship.(00:08:26) From Big Corporations to Startups – The moment Tom took the leap from IBM and Motorola to the world of startups.(00:14:57) Founding the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program – How Tom built the foundation for engineering-focused entrepreneurship at NC State.(00:27:12) The DaVinci Success Story – How Bill Nussey and Chris Evans took the lessons from the program to launch DaVinci and make their mark.(00:39:28) Transforming Education – Tom’s role in reshaping the university’s approach to entrepreneurship and how it impacted thousands of students.(00:52:13) The Entrepreneurial Mindset – Why embracing failure and risk is essential for founders.(01:05:00) Lessons for the Next Generation – Advice Tom would give to young entrepreneurs looking to build their own startups.(01:15:40) The Triangle’s Startup Ecosystem – How the region evolved into a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.In the news:Remembering Marshall Brain, Founder of HowStuffWorks: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/marshall-brain.htmTriangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Who will be crowned champion of Tweener Madness and take home the $25K investment from the Triangle Tweener Fund?The championship features two radically different approaches to innovation: ZW (Robert Fu) – An AI-powered platform helping manufacturers optimize production and R&D in complex industries. InviteJet (Brian Watson & Paul Davis) – A calendar-based marketing solution helping brands reach customers at exactly the right time.ZW (Robert Fu)Platform suite includes ZAI, ZMAP, and ZFastQ—each targeting different needs in manufacturing and R&D.Combines deep manufacturing experience with proprietary AI to handle data-heavy optimization challenges.Focused on proof-of-concept engagements with industrial clients, including those looking to reduce energy use or improve yield.Emphasizes speed over patents—lean team, bootstrapped hustle, and decades of industry know-how.Looking to build out sales and marketing strategy with targeted funding.InviteJet (Brian Watson & Paul Davis)Pioneering “calendar marketing” with branded invites that sync to customers’ calendars for product drops, shipping alerts, and events.Deep integrations with Shopify, Klaviyo, and Mailchimp; strong early traction with eComm brands.Clear technical moat in managing cross-platform calendar compatibility and high-scale deliverability.Future plans include AI-powered segmentation and automation, plus agency partnerships to scale distribution.Big focus on customer education and making a brand’s most important moments unmissable.Selection CommitteeRobbie Allen – General Partner, Triangle Tweener FundNikita Ramaswamy – Partner, Triangle Tweener FundScot Wingo – Host & General Partner, Triangle Tweener FundKey Discussion Topics🧠 ZW’s HighlightsCustom AI models built to solve complex, high-variable industrial problemsStrong market understanding from years inside Corning and similar legacy companiesSales strategy driven by proof-of-concept deals and existing network relationshipsBootstrapped and scrappy: trade shows, peanut butter sandwiches, and real customer tractionPlans to scale with the right sales hire and targeted marketing spend📅 InviteJet’s HighlightsCalendar invites as a new marketing channel—high visibility, minimal friction, big conversion potentialBuilt-in unsubscribe controls, multi-tenant tools, and robust integration roadmapNot chasing trends: AI is in the plan but not the product’s core valueEarly success with brands doing weekly drops and time-sensitive promosClear-eyed about the challenges of educating the market—and excited to lead the way📌 Timestamps (00:00:04) – Championship kickoff with Scot Wingo (00:01:25) – ZW fields questions on product, AI architecture, and industrial go-to-market (00:27:04) – InviteJet dives into scaling, technical differentiation, customer retention, and future roadmap (01:02:47) – Selection committee debrief and reflections on both companiesSo who wins?  🏆 Tune in to find out!This episode wraps up the Tweener Madness series, where eight Triangle startups competed for a $25K investment and plenty of local bragging rights.🎙️ Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Who’s Advancing from the Fabulous Four - CivicReach or InviteJet?Welcome back to Triangle Tweener Madness, the high-stakes startup tournament where eight companies go head-to-head for a $25,000 investment from the Triangle Tweener Fund!We’re down to the Fabulous Four, and this week’s semifinal is a clash between a calendar-powered marketing platform and a voice AI company transforming local government services. Two bold visions. One coveted spot in the finals.Let’s meet the contenders. 🔹 InviteJet (Paul Davis & Brian Watson) – A marketing platform that lets brands send calendar invites—yes, calendar invites—to their customers. With integrations into tools like Klaviyo and Mailchimp, InviteJet gives brands a new channel for time-based marketing. Early traction shows that calendar invites can outperform email when it comes to urgency and engagement, especially with unengaged audiences.🔹 CivicReach (Chip Kennedy) – A voice AI platform built to modernize how local governments serve their residents. CivicReach helps cities and counties automatically answer incoming calls, reducing costs and relieving overworked staff. With integrations into CRMs and payment systems, CivicReach is on a mission to improve public service delivery—without increasing headcount.🎤 InviteJet’s PitchProvides an alternative to crowded inboxes using calendar invites as a persistent, underutilized communication channel.Helps brands boost conversions during product launches, sales events, shipping cutoffs, and re-engagement campaigns.Built-in unsubscribe features, strong deliverability, and a UX designed for different calendar clients.Exploring a pricing evolution from tiered subscription to usage-based.Technical moat in managing calendar clients (Google, Outlook, Apple) and formatting consistent, branded experiences.🎤 CivicReach’s PitchTargets a clear pain point for cities drowning in calls but short on staff or call center support.Focused on voice AI that can route, answer, and assist callers with accurate, up-to-date info—customized to each city’s needs.Emphasizes cost savings, improved customer experience, and integrations with existing systems.Moat includes proprietary speech-to-text and integrations tailored to government use cases, as well as a custom data layer.Structured pilots lead to multi-year contracts, with pricing transparency and ROI baked in from day one.Selection CommitteeZakiya Alta Lee-Hill – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zakiyaaltalee/Antony Rotoli – https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyrotoli/Mitch Mumma – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchmumma/📌 Timestamps (00:00:35) – Scot Wingo kicks off the InviteJet vs. CivicReach semifinal showdown. (00:01:31) – InviteJet answers questions on market education, technical complexity, customer success stories, and pricing models. (00:23:34) – CivicReach fields questions on ROI, government buying cycles, integration strategies, and its founding story. (00:41:36) – Founders reflect on the mission, momentum, and long-term potential. (00:43:12) – The selection committee deliberates. (00:50:33) – One company advances to the Tweener Madness finals!🎙️ Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

What if the most powerful tool for success as an entrepreneur isn’t the latest strategy or tech hack—but the way you perceive and process every challenge you face?In this episode of Triangle Tweener Talks, guest host Rebecca Ross sits down with Katherine Krupka, a leadership strategist and executive coach, to dive into the powerful connection between leadership, perception, and decision-making. Katherine has worked with leaders around the world, from embassies to startups, helping them unlock deeper levels of wisdom and navigate uncertainty. She’s bringing all of her expertise to Raleigh Durham Startup Week as a keynote speaker, and she’s here to share a sneak peek of what attendees can expect.You’ll hear Katherine discuss:The biggest misconception about leadershipHow perception shapes outcomes, both in business and personal lifeWhy founders should cultivate their “inner game” for stronger leadershipHow leveraging unconscious potential can help you make decisions faster and more effectivelyAnd much more!If you’re a founder or executive struggling with uncertainty and high-stakes decisions, Katherine’s talk is not to be missed at Raleigh Durham Startup Week on April 8th. Key Takeaways:Leadership isn't just about strategy and decision-making—it’s about how you perceive and process information.Cultivating both your conscious and unconscious mind (your “inner game”) is essential for navigating the complexities of leadership.The ability to tap into your intuition can help you make better decisions faster and stay calm under pressure.Links Mentioned:Raleigh Durham Startup Week: https://www.raleighdurhamstartupweek.com/Connect with Katherine Krupka on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinekrupka/🎙️ Triangle Tweener Talks is (usually) hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Who’s Advancing from the Fabulous Four - Moxie or ZW?Welcome back to Triangle Tweener Madness, where four startups remain in the race for a $25K investment from the Triangle Tweener Fund!In this week’s matchup, we’ve got two very different companies: one’s building AI to protect the integrity of academic research, and the other’s helping manufacturers optimize glass and ceramics production with deep tech. The stakes are higher than ever—only one will move on to the championship round.The Contenders🔹 Moxie (Jessica Parker) – An AI-powered research writing platform designed for PhD students, faculty, and academic researchers. Moxie helps streamline the writing and review process while preserving intellectual integrity and preventing misuse of generative AI. It’s a closed system, workflow-oriented, and focused on fluency and complexity—going far beyond what tools like Grammarly can do. 🔗 Learn more about Moxie🔹 ZW (Robert Fu) – A precision AI platform for the materials science industry. ZW’s suite of tools helps manufacturers of glass and ceramics reduce R&D time, cut costs, and lower emissions by optimizing material formulas and manufacturing parameters. With traction in enterprise settings and deep subject-matter expertise, ZW is turning AI into ROI for an overlooked vertical. 🔗 Learn more about ZWKey Highlights🎤 Jessica’s Q&A (Moxie)Moxie focuses on research fluency and complexity, not just grammatical accuracy.Sees usage across the research workflow—writing, reviewing, and iteration tracking.YouTube channel and SEO are key drivers of user acquisition.Challenges: Pricing accessibility for international students and educating users on AI trust and data privacy.Long-term vision: Create a full-stack research platform beyond just writing tools.🎤 Robert’s Q&A (ZW)ZW’s AI reduces energy and costs for manufacturers by optimizing material formulas and operational settings.Tailors its models to each customer using proprietary data—ensuring privacy and precision.Already saving enterprise clients millions in throughput and energy.Challenges: Limited sales/marketing bandwidth, need to scale outside of founder networks.Long-term vision: Expand from glass and ceramics into polymers, advanced materials, and beyond.Selection Committee Insights💡 Mahati Sridhar saw opportunity for both platforms to scale but emphasized the importance of refining go-to-market and self-service onboarding. She noted ZW’s long-term expansion potential into other verticals.💡 Jan Davis appreciated Moxie’s collaborative model and grassroots traction via content marketing, while noting ZW’s deeper tech and need for pricing adjustments. She voiced concern about whether ZW can scale without heavy customization.💡 David Gardner leaned toward ZW’s B2B focus and high-value contracts, noting the risk of Moxie being overtaken by generic LLM tools if defensibility isn’t strengthened.Who Will Move On? 🏆After a close and thoughtful debate, the selection committee made their call. Which of these future-forward startups will compete for the $25K prize in the championship round? You’ll have to listen to find out.Today's Selection Committee:Mahati Sridhar (Revolution's Rise of the Rest) – LinkedInJan Davis (Investor & Entrepreneur) – LinkedInDavid Gardner (Cofounders Capital) – LinkedIn📌 Timestamps(00:00:35) – Scot Wingo introduces the Fabulous Four and the selection committee(00:01:18) – Jessica Parker (Moxie) answers questions on AI defensibility, research integrity, and user acquisition(00:18:58) – Robert Fu (ZW) shares insights into AI optimization, customer savings, and sales strategy(00:36:42) – Judges reflect on both companies, discuss product-market fit, and debate defensibility and growth(00:45:12) – Final votes are cast—who moves on to the final?🎙️ Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Welcome back to Triangle Tweener Madness, where 8 startups go head-to-head for a $25K investment from the Triangle Tweener Fund! This week, it’s a battle between a logistics platform built for scrappy e-commerce sellers and a surprising new marketing tool using your calendar.Only one can move on to the next round. Let’s meet the contenders.The Contenders🔹 Deliveri (Jason Brown) – A full-service logistics tech stack for small e-commerce businesses shipping across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Deliveri helps brands compare rates, insure shipments, automate duties and taxes, and create branded tracking pages—all through a single platform that plugs right into Shopify and other storefronts. 🔹 InviteJet (Brian Watson and Paul Davis) – A marketing platform that lets brands send calendar invites—yes, calendar invites—to their customers as a new way to drive engagement and conversions. With integrations into tools like Klaviyo and Mailchimp, InviteJet is showing strong early traction with e-commerce brands eager for alternatives to crowded inboxes. Key Highlights🎤 Jason’s Pitch (Deliveri)Aims to be the Supabase of e-commerce logistics.Helps early-stage Shopify sellers streamline shipping, returns, insurance, and customs paperwork.Offers discounted rates with major carriers and integrates easily with existing storefronts.Traction: 2000+ shipments pre-launch and a go-to-market partnership with Hello Alice targeting 1.5M small businesses.Challenges: Still pre-launch and entering a crowded space with big players like Shopify and Flexport.🎤 Brian & Paul’s Pitch (InviteJet)Created to solve a problem the founders experienced firsthand—missed time-sensitive e-commerce sales.Converts events like product drops and sales into calendar invites to drive in-the-moment engagement.7M+ invites sent, 35 paying customers, and revenue-per-send metrics that outperform traditional email.Vision: Become the infrastructure for time-based marketing across verticals.Challenges: Educating the market, and early churn may come from limited use cases or seasonal campaigns.Selection Committee Insights💡 Robbie Hardy appreciated that both teams showed strong command of their business and were confident without overselling. She was intrigued by InviteJet’s novel approach and experience-driven founding story.💡 Michael Jones noted how polished both pitches were and was impressed by the capital efficiency of both companies. He saw strong acquisition potential for both Deliveri and InviteJet.💡 Jason Caplain pointed to the early traction InviteJet has achieved with limited resources, calling it "best of class" in terms of scrappiness and growth. He also highlighted Deliveri's strong vision and founder-market fit in the logistics space.Who Will Move On? 🏆After a thoughtful debate, one startup gets the nod to move forward in Tweener Madness and the chance to compete for the $25K investment. Which company did the committee choose? You’ll have to tune in to find out!Today's Selection Committee:Jason Caplain (Bull City Venture Partners) – LinkedInRobbie Hardy  – LinkedInMichael Jones – LinkedIn📌 Timestamps(00:00:35) – Host Scot Wingo introduces the matchup: Deliveri vs. InviteJet and welcomes the judges. (00:01:18) – Jason Brown (Deliveri) kicks off his pitch, outlining a logistics tech platform for small e-commerce sellers. (00:09:59) – Judges ask about scaling, competition, customer fit, and what makes Deliveri sticky as customers grow. (00:24:12) – Brian Watson and Paul Davis (InviteJet) pitch their calendar-based marketing solution. (00:30:53) – Judges dive into potential spam concerns, unsubscribes, and use cases beyond e-commerce. (00:36:41) – Paul shares case studies from his own brand, Mozie Tea, showing 400%+ sales lift from calendar invites. (00:46:51) – Judges reflect on the pitches, share feedback, and cast their votes. (00:51:02) – Final decision and closing thoughts from the selection committee.🎙️ Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Guest host Rebecca Ross sits down with Phil Dixon, CEO of the Oxford Brain Institute and expert on neuroscience in leadership. With years of experience working with top companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook, Phil is bringing his insights to Raleigh Durham Startup Week as a keynote speaker.You’ll hear Phil discuss:Why understanding brain science is crucial for entrepreneursHow emotional threats impact decision-making and productivityThe importance of timing when making tough decisionsThe science behind how words shape our mindset and successAnd much more!If you’re an entrepreneur or just interested in the fascinating connection between neuroscience and business, you won’t want to miss Phil’s keynote speech at Raleigh Durham Startup Week on April 10th. Tune in for this eye-opening episode!Key Takeaways:Your brain influences everything you do—understanding it can lead to better decisions and leadership.Timing and emotional responses play a major role in how entrepreneurs operate.Simple changes in language can have a huge impact on the way you approach challenges in both business and life.Links Mentioned:Raleigh Durham Startup Week: https://www.raleighdurhamstartupweek.com/Connect with Phil Dixon: [email protected]🎙️ Triangle Tweener Talks is (usually) hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Welcome back to Triangle Tweener Madness, where 8 startups go head-to-head for a $25K investment from the Triangle Tweener Fund! This week, it’s a clash of categories—govtech vs. asset tech—as two AI-powered platforms pitch their visions for transforming outdated systems. One startup is helping local governments serve residents more efficiently. The other is helping estate sale pros and collectors reclaim time and value in the secondary market.Let’s meet the contenders.🔹 CivicReach (Chip Kennedy) – A voice-based AI platform that helps cities and counties improve the customer experience of government services—think tax appeals, pothole complaints, and zoning requests. CivicReach replaces confusing forms and long hold times with AI that actually solves your problem. 🔗 Learn more about CivicReach🔹 Valuable (Amy Wolpert, John Wolpert, John Bozeman) – A platform for estate sale pros and collectors to inventory, research, and manage valuable items using AI. It’s Kelley Blue Book meets digital asset curation, solving a huge pain point in a growing secondary market. 🔗 Learn more about Valuable🎤 Chip’s Pitch (CivicReach)Replaces clunky government phone systems with voice AI to help residents navigate services.Post-revenue, with their first contract closed and a clear strategy for more.Positions CivicReach as the go-to data and AI layer for local governments.Challenges: Government sales cycles are slow, and voice AI is still a new concept in govtech.🎤 Valuable’s PitchSolves major time and tech inefficiencies for estate sale pros and antique dealers.AI-driven inventory, pricing, and even LIDAR-based measurements make setup faster and smarter.A sticky product that could evolve into a collector-to-auction house ecosystem—or even an insurance asset management tool.Challenges: Early-stage with some features still in testing and refining the monetization model.Selection Committee Insights💡 Dave Neal (Duke Capital Partners): CivicReach impressed with a sharp pitch and a clear understanding of the problem they’re solving—one that affects millions and is long overdue for innovation. Valuable, meanwhile, offers an intriguing product with potential applications beyond estate sales, including insurance and asset management.💡 Kevin Mosley (Jurassic Capital): CivicReach has strong early traction, a capable team, and a clear roadmap to growth, especially as governments look to modernize. Valuable is tackling a unique and under-the-radar opportunity in the secondary market and could evolve into a much larger platform over time.💡 Evan Shear (Oval Park Capital): Valuable has an exciting long-term vision and a product that could scale rapidly into multiple verticals, from collectibles to insurance. CivicReach, on the other hand, is already gaining momentum with a smart, apolitical solution to an outdated civic challenge.Who Will Move On? 🏆After a thoughtful debate, one startup gets the nod to move forward in Tweener Madness and the chance to compete for the $25K investment. Which company did the committee choose? You’ll have to tune in to find out!Today's Selection Committee:Kevin Mosley (Jurassic Capital) – LinkedInEvan Shear (Oval Park Capital) – LinkedInDave Neal (Duke Capital Partners) – LinkedIn📌 Timestamps(00:00:39) – Host Scot Wingo introduces the matchup: CivicReach vs. Valuable, and welcomes the selection committee. (00:02:03) – Chip Kennedy (CivicReach) pitches a voice-based AI platform to modernize local government service delivery. (00:08:06) – Judges dive into Q&A: competition, procurement cycles, onboarding, and why CivicReach resonates across political lines. (00:20:56) – The team from Valuable (Amy, John & John) pitches their AI-driven platform for estate sale pros and collectors. (00:28:02) – Judges ask about business model, market size, product features, pricing, and long-term vision. (00:40:07) – Marketplace models, expansion potential, and monetizing unique features like expert appraisals and asset provenance. (00:43:18) – Final deliberation: Judges weigh immediate traction against longer-term scale potential. (00:45:17) – The votes are in. One company advances to the Fabulous Four. (00:47:00) – Closing thoughts from Scot and the judges.🎙️ Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Bootstrapped vertical SaaS software company, Inn-Flow, raised $45m from Mainsail.  In this exclusive interview we hear from CEO and co-founder John Erhart the history of Inn-Flow, how they got the deal done and what this means going foraward. ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/