Episodes

This episode is sponsored by J.P. Morgan and Cozen O'Connor. --- In this episode of Founding Philly, I sit down with Charlie Anderson of Burro, Samuel Reeves of Fort Robotics, Joe Biancaniello of J.P. Morgan, and Chris McDemus of Cozen O’Connor for a roundtable conversation on robotics, physical AI, and what it takes to build ambitious companies in Philadelphia. This episode is part of the Roundtable Series, a new format of Founding Philly. Same mission, spotlighting the startup journey...

This episode is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. --- In this episode of Founding Philly, I sit down with Aston Pierce, Director of the BFTP GO PA Fund, to explore how Ben Franklin Technology Partners has supported Pennsylvania startups for nearly 40 years — and why building a durable ecosystem requires more than early-stage checks. We unpack the funding gaps that can stall promising companies and how Ben Franklin’s for-profit follow-on funds were created to keep backing the ...

This episode is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. --- In this episode of Founding Philly, I sit down with Danae Mobley, CEO of Coded By and Executive Director of 1Philadelphia, to explore what it really takes to build a durable startup ecosystem — and why talent, endurance, and consistency matter more than chasing the next big trend. Danae’s path into ecosystem leadership didn’t start in tech. It began in education, teaching fifth and sixth grade through Teach For America, wh...

This episode is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. --- In this episode of Founding Philly, I sit down with Ellen Weber, Executive Director of Robin Hood Ventures, to unpack what really happens when founders pitch angel investors — and what early-stage investors are actually listening for. Ellen’s journey into early-stage investing started in consulting and corporate tech before she helped launch Robin Hood Ventures. She shares how supporting entrepreneurs, building teams, and ...

This episode is sponsored by J.P. Morgan and Cozen O'Connor. --- In this episode of Founding Philly, I sit down with Ted Mann, Mike Petrakis, Mike Crossey, and Joe Biancaniello for a roundtable conversation on what it really takes to start, fund, and scale a company in Philly. This episode is part of the Roundtable Series, a new format of Founding Philly. Same mission—spotlighting the startup journey—now with more voices at the table from across the Philly ecosystem. We kick things off...

This episode is sponsored by JP Morgan. --- In this episode of Founding Philly, we bring you the second installment of our Roundtable Series—recorded live at the Fitler Club—where we gather Philadelphia's top founders and ecosystem builders for a candid conversation about what it’s really like to build in Philly. Joining me for this roundtable are Helena Jaramillo, co-founder of PamPam, a no-code map-building platform; Tito Obaisi, from Comcast Lift Labs, which helps bridge the gap betw...

This episode is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. --- In this episode of Founding Philly, I sit down with three Philly founders—Tiffanie Stanard, founder and CEO of Stimulus, and Adit Gupta and Tom Falzani, co-founders of Lula Commerce—for a candid conversation on what it takes to build, grow, and scale early-stage startups in Philadelphia. This episode kicks off the Roundtable Series, a new format of Founding Philly. Same mission, same great topics—now with more perspectives from a...

In this episode of Founding Philly, I sit down with Matt Wallach, co-founder of Veeva Systems, a cloud-computing company dedicated to pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Starting with just $7M in venture capital, Matt led Veeva to an IPO within just six years, marking it as one of the most capital-efficient success stories ever. Founded in 2007 by Matt Wallach and Peter Gassner, Veeva initially aimed to become the premier CRM solution for the pharmaceutical industry during a time when...

This episode is sponsored by J.P. Morgan. --- In this episode, I interview Andrew Goldberg, Co-founder and COO of HealthVerity, a software company advancing science by synchronizing transformational technologies with the nation’s largest healthcare and consumer data ecosystem. HealthVerity was founded to address a critical need in the healthcare industry: to combine disparate datasets in a HIPAA-compliant manner, revealing patient insights and powering innovation. They leverage innovative te...

In this episode of the Founding Philly podcast, we interviewed the 3 finalists from this year's PACT "Lion's Den" segment—their Shark Tank'-style pitch competition. Over 60 startups pitched throughout the day and only these 3 made it to the finals, walking away with about $1 million in investments (pending diligence). Jo Norris of Carbon Reform, Guru Sethupathy of FairNow, and Lauren Steidl and Ian Adolsek from Integrated Reality Labs discuss their strategies for success and the key elements o...

This episode is sponsored by PACT. --- In this episode, I had the pleasure of moderating the Entrepreneur Panel at this year's PACT Capital Conference. I sat down with Mumbi Dunjwa, Alan Rihm, and Morgan Berman to delve into their experiences building startups in the Philadelphia startup scene, focusing on the lessons learned during the early stages of their journey. During our conversation, we discussed a range of topics from the initial challenges and pivots to achieving product-market fit ...

This episode is sponsored by J.P. Morgan. -- In this episode, I interview Damon Henry, CEO and Co-founder of Asylon, a company at the forefront of robotic perimeter security, redefining the field with drones, robots, software, and AI. Dedicated to revolutionizing physical security, Asylon integrates advanced robotics and AI to boost safety and efficiency across commercial and defense sectors. Damon, an MIT grad and aerospace engineer, began his career at industry giants like GE and Boeing. In...

Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. -- In this episode, I interview John Fazio, CEO and Founder of Nerd Street, a company dedicated to making esports accessible to everyone. Nerd Street facilitates competitive opportunities for gamers at all levels, including youth, high school, collegiate, amateur, and professional scenes. John, a lifelong gamer and technologist, has merged his passions for video games, sports, and technology into creating Nerd Street. From reverse engineering video...

Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. -- In this episode, I interview Laura Plunkett, Head of LIFT Labs and Executive Director of Startup Engagement at Comcast NBCUniversal. LIFT Labs strategically engages startups worldwide, collaborating with teams at Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky to refine strategies and transform products and experiences. During the episode, Laura emphasizes the importance of connecting startup founders with corporate leaders to forge long-term partnerships. She e...

Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. -- In this episode, I interview Dave Latshaw II, CEO and Co-Founder of BioPhy, an AI-driven company committed to bringing better drugs and therapies to market faster. Significant capital is being invested in artificial intelligence for drug discovery, yet traditional drug development remains notoriously slow, inefficient, and risky. This raises a critical question: How is the industry preparing for a future where AI drives faster and more expansive...

In this episode, I interview Kurt Simmons, a Partner at Withum, a technology-driven advisory and accounting firm that provides comprehensive support to emerging businesses in the Philadelphia area. Withum offers a range of services, including audit, tax, and advisory services, tailored to support companies across various niches such as technology, life sciences, and financial services. The firm's Technology and Emerging Growth Services Team brings a dynamic approach, going beyond traditional a...

At this year's PSL Entrepreneur Expo at CYTO PHL, we sat down with a few friends from the local startup ecosystem to discuss their journeys and how they navigated the early days. In this episode, I interview Robbie Verna, Co-Founder & CEO of Let's Rallie, and David Castley, Co-Founder & CEO of RAEV Mobility. Let's Rallie initially launched as a consumer app designed to help users find spontaneous activities and events around their city, such as restaurants, bars, and local happenings. The app...

Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. -- In this episode, I interview Charlie Andersen, CEO & Co-Founder of Burro, autonomous robots that work side-by-side with farm workers to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. Charlie was always the 'machine guy,' and grew up on a family-owned fruit and vegetable farm that also ran a construction company. Constantly exploring ways to enhance productivity with machinery and technology, Charlie recognized the untapped potential for auto...

In this episode, I interview Brandon Aversano, Founder and CEO of Alloy, a platform revolutionizing the way individuals sell gold and other precious metals. Driven by personal hardships from a cancer diagnosis and substantial medical bills, Brandon encountered significant challenges in receiving fair prices for his own gold and jewelry. Alloy offers a customer-centric and transparent approach, enabling people to receive competitive, accurate upfront payout estimates and industry-leading payout...

In this episode, I interview Shannon Morales, Founder & CEO of Tribaja and the curator of Diversitech, one of the largest inclusion and tech conferences on the East Coast. Tribaja is a vibrant community of professionals advancing in modern, high-demand careers. Tribaja has built a dynamic marketplace that connects these professionals with inclusive brands, offering opportunities in high-demand career fields. The organization focuses on the intersections of tech and innovation and is committed ...

In this episode, I had the privilege of interviewing Irene Rombel, Co-Founder and CEO of BioCurie, and Nyron Burke, Co-Founder and CEO of Lithero. Recorded live on 3/28 at Venture Cafe in front of an audience, we explored their companies' innovative use of AI in the Life Sciences sector. Our conversation covered the challenges presented by the legal and regulatory landscape, and the substantial benefits AI offers for patient outcomes and efficiency within the life sciences industry. The discuss...

This episode is sponsored by J.P. Morgan. -- In this episode, I interview Sylvester Mobley, Managing Director of Plain Sight Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm that specializes in investing in product-led, pre-seed to seed B2B SaaS companies led by underrepresented founders. Plain Sight Capital takes a unique approach, focusing horizontally across industries while employing product-led strategies to deliver value to customers, aiming to bypass lengthy and complex sales processes. S...

In this episode, I interview Mike Lahiff, CEO and Co-Founder of ZeroEyes, an AI-based weapons detection solution born from a mission to prevent mass shootings and enhance public safety. Founded in 2018 by a team of Navy SEALs and military veterans, ZeroEyes integrates with existing security cameras to monitor streaming video feeds for firearms. They sought to overcome the limitations of current security systems, which largely depend on human monitoring and reactive measures, by developing a pr...

In this episode, I interview Marshall Darr, co-founder and CEO of StretchDollar, a platform that provides instant, budget-friendly health benefits for small businesses. StretchDollar dramatically simplifies the group health insurance process, making it much more affordable and accessible for small businesses throughout America. Their approach enables employers on their platform to offer tax-free funding, which employees can then use to pay for their individual market plans that best suit their...