Kristin Slice is an ecosystem builder who’s a Senior Program Manager with Arizona State Universities, Entrepreneurship + Innovation for the Peoria Forward program. It’s an ambitious grant-funded project that aims to develop the West Valleys entrepreneurial ecosystem and to integrate Arizona State University‘s (ASU) robust international resources directly into local communities. 

Kristin is also an entrepreneur having run multiple businesses both in marketing and communications consulting. She’s an alumnus of ASU and earned her Master’s Degree in...

Scott Sorochak is the CEO of SparkLabs Foundry, the corporate venture capital arm of SparkLabs. Scott brings over 30 years of leadership experience in consumer internet, mobile, and enterprise SAS global organizations, and has been a mentor and advisor to SparkLabs Global Ventures as well as a venture partner at Blarney Ventures in Silicon Valley. He focuses on helping early-stage companies go from zero to over $100 million in revenue while building the operational excellence needed to satisfy demand and boards of directors.  

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll...

Dre Thompson is the executive VP at Startup Tucson and the Festival Director of TenWest Impact Festival. Dre has a diverse background with startups, research institutions, and in the public and private spheres. She’s passionate about understanding why people do what they do to inform programming design and education.  

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• [01:07] Stephanie introduces her guest, Dre Thompson
• [02:37] Speed round with Dre Thompson
• [05:05] Dre’s very first ask 
• [06:24] How empathy can play a role in making an ask...

Mike Jones is the CEO and Managing Partner of Resound, a creative agency that helps companies develop their own compelling story. MIke is a professional brand junkie who excels at strategic thinking and execution to help his clients’ brands become remarkable hence his twitter handle, @remarkamike. He was named one of Arizona’s top 35 entrepreneurs under the age of 35 by the Arizona Republic and he’s a member of the AIGA, Founder Society, Conscious Capitalism Arizona, Local First Arizona. He just got back to Arizona as co-lead of StartUp Phoenix.

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Diana Vowels is the current Vice President of Community at Galvanize Inc., a technology ecosystem for learners entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies. Diana is a strategic sales and operations leader with experience spanning various roles in tech, healthcare and media sectors. She is currently leading Galvanized community teams across dynamic campuses in the US, and she brings together industry leaders, ambitious students, and world-class education, and navigates corporate culture and grid strategy and execution through her no-nonsense, roll-up-your-sleeves approach to get the...

Loretta McCarthy is a managing partner at Golden Seeds LLC, an investment consortium that invests in early-stage women-led businesses. Currently, Golden Seeds is one of the biggest and most active angel investment networks in the US. Loretta Managed the National Golden Seeds Network. She has also previously worked with companies on Wall Street such as American Express and OppenheimerFunds , and has served as a board member of many nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• [1:51] Speed round with Loretta...

Edward Cruz is the founder of Go For Vertical, Arizona’s new catalyst for founders and startups. Edward is a successful enterprise software consultant based in San Francisco and Austin, with a long career helping both startups and Fortune 500 corporations deliver critical software solutions. Edward is a native Tucsonan who is happy to bring his skills and experiences back to Arizona to help the next generation of entrepreneurs and businesses develop their technology and go to market.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• [1:06]...

Amit Bhatti is a principal at 500 StartUps. He is part of its global portfolio management team where he helps select new investments for their flagship accelerator, as well as advise and manage their 500 portfolio. A lawyer by training, he previously served as the firm’s US corporate counsel where he oversaw investments from 500 global funds. Prior to being with 500 StartUps, Amit worked with technology companies on legal and financing issues across all stages of their lifecycle from startup to IPO or M and A (merger and acquisition).

Here’s a...