Skin in the Game VC Podcast

In our latest episode of the Skin in the Game VC Podcast, we explored the multifaceted journey of Ann Berry, Founder and General Partner of Threadneedle. From Wall Street to private equity, venture capital, and operating, Ann’s career path is a testament to adaptability and innovation.Ann’s professional journey began at Goldman Sachs, where she specialized in leveraged buyouts. Her transition to private equity allowed her to lead as a CEO, navigating a hospitality portfolio company through the COVID-19 crisis. This experience solidified her love for operational leadership and reshaped her investment philosophy. Ann now focuses on leveraging technology to modernize traditional industries.Notable investments include Yuv, a company revolutionizing the hair salon industry with personalized hair color technology; Airship, providing software solutions for HVAC and plumbing contractors; and Reality Defender, tackling deepfake risks in cybersecurity. Ann’s approach emphasizes bridging innovative startups with legacy industries that stand to gain from technological advancements.Beyond investing, Ann has embraced content creation, partnering with Morning Brew to develop Brew Markets. Through her media work, she highlights the interconnectedness of public and private markets, emphasizing the value of storytelling in leadership and entrepreneurship. “Storytelling is endemic in everything we touch,” Ann shared, reinforcing its importance for founders and investors alike.Looking ahead, Ann predicts a resurgence in the IPO market by 2025 and highlights the untapped potential of AI applications, particularly in industries reliant on proprietary data. However, she cautions that overhyped AI startups must prove their scalability and real-world value.This episode offers invaluable insights for founders and investors, from navigating leadership challenges to understanding the role of storytelling in building and scaling businesses. Tune in to hear Ann’s visionary take on the future of venture capital and entrepreneurship.

Joe Hogue started his career as a traditional equity analyst and venture capitalist but left the corporate world in 2013 to gain more autonomy. By 2017, he had transitioned into content creation, launching his YouTube channel, Let’s Talk Money, which now has over 650,000 followers.Joe’s mission is to make investing accessible, blending entertainment with education to empower retail investors. Beyond content creation, he’s innovated by tokenizing his YouTube ad revenue, raising over $250,000 and engaging 700 investors—pioneering blockchain use in the creator economy.In this episode of Skin in the Game VC, Joe shares insights on his journey, the future of markets, and the role of creators in finance. His story is a testament to leveraging innovation to educate, inspire, and redefine industries.

Dave Sachse is the founder of Family VC and a leader in the world of family office investing, where he helps family offices navigate venture capital by building networks, sharing resources, and creating opportunities for collaboration. With a background in managing his own family's single-family office in Wisconsin, Dave has a deep understanding of the unique challenges family offices face when investing in early-stage tech companies. He founded Family VC to connect like-minded family offices, fostering a community of over 200 members who share deal flow, best practices, and strategic insights in venture capital.Dave is passionate about tech innovation and values-aligned investing, favoring pre-seed to Series A stages where family offices can add real value beyond funding. His approach is hands-on and collaborative, leveraging partnerships with experienced VCs and investing in diverse tech sectors across the U.S. Family VC aims to make family offices a lasting force in the venture world, helping these investors move beyond traditional asset classes to become impactful players in early-stage tech.Tune into this episode of Skin in the Game VC to hear more of Dave’s insights on the shifting landscape of venture capital and the role family offices are playing in supporting the next generation of innovation.

In the latest episode of the Skin in the Game VC podcast, hosts Tom Wallace and Saxon Baum sit down with Jeff Gigante, co-founder of Next Level Brands and a major player in Tampa’s restaurant scene. This conversation dives deep into Jeff’s entrepreneurial journey, starting with his first pizzeria at Florida State to now running some of the hottest restaurants in Florida.Jeff shares how his passion for creating unique dining experiences has shaped his career, and he’s candid about the challenges along the way—whether it was opening his first restaurant with a phone tutorial from Italy or navigating the complexities of growing a business during the pandemic.What’s really exciting is how Jeff, Tom and Saxon explore the impact of technology on the restaurant industry. From AI answering systems to cloud-based POS systems and even robotics, it's clear that tech is revolutionizing how restaurants operate. Yet, Jeff reminds us that hospitality is still about human connection, something he believes will always be central to full-service dining.If you’re into startups, tech innovation, or just curious about what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights. Plus, it’s always inspiring to hear from someone like Jeff, who not only talks about success but also how important it is to care for your investors and build lasting relationships.This is a great listen for anyone looking to learn from someone who’s been through it all and come out stronger on the other side.

Ever wondered how a military leader transitions to the world of venture capital? In our latest episode of Skin in the Game, we sat down with retired Four-Star General Tony Thomas to discuss his incredible journey. From leading special operations forces to investing in cutting-edge technologies, General Thomas shares his unique insights on leadership, innovation, and the intersection of the military and the private sector. Listen now to hear about his experiences, his thoughts on dual-purpose technology, and his perspective on the world stage

In this podcast episode, we delve into the world of AI and its transformative potential for the construction industry. Our guest, Patrick Murphy, a former U.S. Congressman and construction industry veteran, shares insights on his company Togalai, which utilizes AI to automate the estimating process in construction.Murphy discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, emphasizing the importance of data and domain-specific expertise. He also addresses the ethical and legal implications of AI in construction, highlighting the potential for both job creation and displacement.The conversation extends to explore the applications of 3D printing and sustainable building materials like RENCO. Murphy outlines Togalai's future goals, including global expansion and the development of new AI features.Overall, this episode provides a valuable perspective on the future of AI in construction, its potential benefits, and the challenges that lie ahead. Tune in to hear the whole episode.

Join us for an insightful episode of the Skin in the Game VC Podcast with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, discussing the city's thriving tech ecosystem, strategic growth during COVID, and the role of AI in governance. Mayor Castor highlights Tampa's appeal as a tech hub, the importance of organic growth in the tech scene, and the city's focus on talent and innovation. Tune in to learn how Tampa is positioning itself for continued success in the tech industry!

The episode features Zaid Rahman, CEO of Flex, a Florida Funders portfolio company. Zaid discusses his entrepreneurial journey, Flex's rapid growth in providing financial services to small and medium businesses, and their expansion plans. He shares insights on talent acquisition, customer marketing, and creating a comprehensive financial platform for mid-market businesses.In a rapid-fire Q&A, Zaid offers his optimistic outlook on the future, predicting AI as a job creator, Bitcoin's rise, Tesla's dominance in transportation, Miami becoming a major tech hub, and even Jake Paul's victory in his upcoming fight against Mike Tyson.