DC Entrepreneur

DC Entrepreneur

Hosted by George Mocharko

Work. Wealth. Wisdom. This interview podcast showcases the founders and minds behind some of the most innovative and creative start-ups. Guests from around the DC region and beyond share their unique journeys of becoming entrepreneurs. The show is produced and hosted by George Mocharko who has been documenting the stories of early to mid-stage founders whose voices are often overlooked by corporate business media. You'll enjoy hearing from these local, talented builders speak about their paths to success, and how they've bounced back from failure. Investors, business leaders, Venture Capitalists, and aspiring founders will find out what drives these intrepid...

Jake Kramer, Managing Partner of FedTech

Jake Kramer, Managing Partner of FedTech

Jake Kramer, Managing Partner of FedTech is guest on this season's final episode of DC Entrepreneur. FedTech is a venture builder that thrives at the intersection of US entrepreneurship, breakthrough technologies, and mission-driven organizations. Since 2015, they've been driving forward deep tech ventures across the DoD, NASA, DoE, universities, and federal labs. Through their startup studios, accelerators, internal innovation and corporate venture programs, FedTech works with individ

Dec 4, 2020 • 43:54

Jay Newton-Small, CEO and Founder of MemoryWell

Jay Newton-Small, CEO and Founder of MemoryWell

Jay Newton-Small, CEO and Founder of MemoryWell, a digital storytelling platform for seniors, speaks to George on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. You'll hear how Newton-Small got the idea for the start-up when filling out paperwork to get her father into assisted care after he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. As a TIME Magazine correspondent, journalist, and author of Broad Influence, she wrote his story down to help her father's caregivers understand his past

Nov 6, 2020 • 43:23

Dr. Joseph Cardillo PhD, author of "The 12 Rules of Attention: How to Avoid Screw-Ups, Free Up Headspace, Do More and Be More At Work" "

Dr. Joseph Cardillo PhD, author of "The 12 Rules of Attention: How to Avoid Screw-Ups, Free Up Headspace, Do More and Be More At Work" "

George speaks with friend of the podcast Dr. Joseph Cardillo, PhD, about his new book "12 Rules of Attention: How to Avoid Screw-Ups, Free Up Headspace, Do More and Be More At Work."  Dr. Joe is an inspirational speaker and nationally best-selling author of multiple books in the fields of health, mind-body-spirit, and psychology. In this conversation Dr. Joe talks about how entrepreneurs can get off of autopilot and refocus their attention throughout their daily lives and in their work

Oct 24, 2020 • 46:15

Colin Moffett and Joel Daly co-founders of Artemis Ward, and host of CreativeMornings/DC

Colin Moffett and Joel Daly co-founders of Artemis Ward, and host of CreativeMornings/DC

On this episode George speaks with Colin Moffett and Joel Daly co-founders of Artemis Ward. Colin and Joel met at Mindshare Interactive, one of the old guard of digital agencies, in 2005. They made the move to one of the world’s most prestigious agencies in 2008, building a large team and servicing top clients. Despite this success, Colin and Joel often talked about what life would be like if they could produce the same (if not better) work of a big agency without all the red tape. In 2015, they

Oct 9, 2020 • 33:09

Robert L. Longyear III, VP Digital Health and Innovation at Avenu & Wanderly, and Author of "Innovating for Wellness

Robert L. Longyear III, VP Digital Health and Innovation at Avenu & Wanderly, and Author of "Innovating for Wellness

Robert L. Longyear III, author of "Innovating for Wellness," is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. Innovating for Wellness examines crucial innovations at the intersection of digital health technology and value-based payment. Robert speaks with George for an in-depth conversation about health care policy, innovation, and how that relates to health-tech & mHealth. Their chat delves into how this relates to patient-generated clinical data, human care teams, and telehealth as p

Sep 18, 2020 • 42:59

Erik Rind, founder and CEO of Imagine BC

Erik Rind, founder and CEO of Imagine BC

George speaks to Erik Rind the CEO of Imagine BC on this episode. ImagineBC aims to be for blockchain technology what “You’ve got mail” was for the Internet. It's a membership based platform that helps its community earn money for sharing their data. Inspired by a talk that Jaron Lanier gave, Erik started the company to correct the privacy and ethical issues that big tech companies pose to their users. In this conversation Erik shares his vision for how people can begin to be compensated fo

Sep 4, 2020 • 40:51

Dawn Myers founder THE MOST and DC Director, The Vinetta Project

Dawn Myers founder THE MOST and DC Director, The Vinetta Project

On this episode, George speaks with Dawn Myers, founder of THE MOST and of The Vinetta Project. THE MOST is a beauty-tech company looking to disrupt an $87 Billion dollar Industry featuring natural hair products for women of color, to help address the invisible pain points in textured hair styling. Dawn lives to inspire entrepreneurs to walk in their purpose and build out their visions through her legal background and work as an entrepreneur. Dawn is a start-up ecosystem architect, having launch

Aug 21, 2020 • 35:35

Chad Frey founder and CEO of Attilah

Chad Frey founder and CEO of Attilah

Chad Frey is guest on this episode in a policy discussion about the advancement of the hemp industry as a whole. As a board member of four industry associations, Chad is an expert on the legal initiatives, industry policy and federal compliance regarding hemp and cannabis regulations. As the executive director for the Nebraska Hemp Industries Association—one of the nation’s leading hemp advocacy organizations—Chad works closely with legislators to help create new infrastructure for a new commodi

Aug 7, 2020 • 50:26

Dave Forbes "Saucepreneur" and founder of Disturbingly Delicious Foods

Dave Forbes "Saucepreneur" and founder of Disturbingly Delicious Foods

Dave Forbes is the food entrepreneur and owner of Disturbingly Delicious Foods. His sauce creations are healthier than most of the stuff in the grocery store that also taste great. Dave's first creation was a kale-based substitute for ketchup when Forbes was throwing a high school graduation party for his son. After obtaining a patent on this product, he began selling "Kalechup" at the Falls Church Farmers market. He's since gone on to create over 70 different sauces which he

Jul 24, 2020 • 40:19

Jonathan Wasserstrum founder and CEO of SquareFoot commercial real estate start-up

Jonathan Wasserstrum founder and CEO of SquareFoot commercial real estate start-up

George speaks with Jonathan Wasserstrum the CEO of SquareFoot. SquareFoot is a tech-driven commercial real estate company that helps companies find their next office space by providing transparent access to inventory, brokerage services, and a flexible spaces. The New York City-based start-up, which was created in 2011, raised $16 million in 2019 in a Series B financing round having raised $29 million total since its founding. SquareFoot’s platform features over 300,000 office listings, with 5,0

Jul 10, 2020 • 31:20

Jake Sandler CEO of ChangeRoots, a political fundraising app

Jake Sandler CEO of ChangeRoots, a political fundraising app

Jake Sandler, CEO and Founder of ChangeRoots is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. ChangeRoots is an app designed to help build a post-partisan political system in the United States. The app provides easy access to information about politicians, insights into their behavior, and allows users to easily provide positive or negative feedback through their campaign contributions. The platform also clearly identifies which politicians’ behaviors are partisan or post-partisan. Their mission is

Jun 26, 2020 • 45:57

The Alchemy of Entrepreneurship with Jessica Carson author of "Wired this Way" and Expert in Residence at the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative

The Alchemy of Entrepreneurship with Jessica Carson author of "Wired this Way" and Expert in Residence at the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative

Jessica Carson is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur where she talks about the complex wiring of start-up founders. Jessica is the Expert in Residence on Entrepreneur Mental Health and Wellbeing at Georgetown University, and is the author of “Wired This Way.” She’s also a former Director at NextGen Venture Partners. In this illuminating conversation, which happened back in April, she delves into her new book "Wired this Way" where she talks about the archetypes of creators and th

Jun 12, 2020 • 46:02

Musician Rude Kid-da-ReggaeRap Inventor (AKA Denton Malcolm) the founder & chair of D.A.M. Companies, LLC

Musician Rude Kid-da-ReggaeRap Inventor (AKA Denton Malcolm) the founder & chair of D.A.M. Companies, LLC

George speaks with musician and entrepreneur Denton A. Malcolm, Chairman of D.A.M Companies, LLC known as Rude Kid-da-ReggaeRap Inventor, who has been implementing the new genre ReggaeRap™ over the last fourteen years as part of the Rude Kid Entertainment Label Group. He is currently promoting his new hit single "How We Roll" in rotation in the major US markets, UK, Canada, Costa Rica and the Caribbean. We talk about his work in the fashion, print, and media industries with his other v

May 29, 2020 • 35:57

Mikey Heard, real estate investor and entrepreneur, founder Meetin.org, partner TapDrive

Mikey Heard, real estate investor and entrepreneur, founder Meetin.org, partner TapDrive

George speaks to his friend Mikey Heard, an entrepreneur he met over a decade ago. When working as a web developer he created the social group Meetin.org which he grew from a Washington, DC based events group to a volunteer-run international organization planning real life events in cities worldwide. After working on that idea he worked on Tap Drive, a read only HD with Willie Blount (Episode 4) which his team was able to raise money for, but wasn't able to successfully launch. He talks abo

May 15, 2020 • 26:37

DC Entrepreneur Live Show: How I quit my office job to start a business

DC Entrepreneur Live Show: How I quit my office job to start a business

How I Made the Leap to Starting My Own Business is part of The DC Entrepreneur Live Show which happened on Thursday, May 30 at 7 pm. On the show you'll hear from three different entrepreneurs in a panel discussion: Chad Hall, the founder and CEO of remodelmate, a marketplace for buying, selling, and managing home renovations online. Chad also worked in sales and growth at online daily deals company LivingSocial. Monica Kang, founder & CEO of InnovatorsBox® where she helps companies and

Jan 23, 2020 • 1:08:24

Francesco Amodeo Owner of Don Ciccio & Figli distillery specializing in Italian liquors

Francesco Amodeo Owner of Don Ciccio & Figli distillery specializing in Italian liquors

On this episode of DC Entrepreneur​, George speaks to Francesco Amodeo the owner and president of Don Ciccio & Figli​ on location at his distillery in Ivy City. The establishment, which features both a production facility and tasting bar, is bringing amari-based craft cocktails to DC based on recipes from Amodeo's family from the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Amaro drinks are bitter herbal liquers commonly consumed as digestifs.From Don Ciccio's website: Francesco ‘Ciccio’ Amodeo began hi

Oct 4, 2019 • 25:59

Steve Salis owner of Kramerbooks, Ted's Bulletin & Sidekick Bakery, Federalist Pig, and founder of &pizza and Prefab Partners

Steve Salis owner of Kramerbooks, Ted's Bulletin & Sidekick Bakery, Federalist Pig, and founder of &pizza and Prefab Partners

George speaks with Steve Salis a DC-Based, serial entrepreneur and executive, who has founded an impressive portfolio of brands under his company Salis Holdings. He’s the owner of Kramerbooks and Afterwords cafe—the iconic 44 year old bookstore in Dupont Circle—the owner of Ted’s Bulletin; the founder of Federalist Pig American BBQ restaurant; a co-founder of real estate venture Prefab Partners: and former CEO of &pizza. In Ballston, Virginia he’s recently opened Sidekick Bakery. Steve has i

Sep 20, 2019 • 45:08

Chris Brauckmuller, Chief Product Officer of Fundrise, real estate investment platform

Chris Brauckmuller, Chief Product Officer of Fundrise, real estate investment platform

In this episode George speaks with Chris Brauckmuller, Chief Product Officer and Creative Director of Fundrise. Chris is involved in all investor-facing aspects of the business, from new product development to the visual presentation of the platform. Prior to joining the Fundrise team, Chris ran his own independent interactive design studio for three years and spent two years as an interactive designer at a large digital agency, where he took design leadership on accounts for the Fortune 500, in

Sep 6, 2019 • 25:58

Mimi Millard founder and CEO of De Lune, locally-made menstrual pain products

Mimi Millard founder and CEO of De Lune, locally-made menstrual pain products

Today's guest is Mimi Millard, the CEO and founder of De Lune. De Lune helps those experiencing period pain find relief through its safe and natural Pain Tonics, PMS Pills and chocolates. The origin of Mimi's products came from when she fainted due to complications from a popular painkiller she used to treat her debilitating period pain. From there, she began experimenting with the different organic herbs and natural ingredients to help with dysmenorrhea, while working out of DC's

Aug 23, 2019 • 27:13

David McCourt billionaire entrepreneur, author of Total Rethink, founder and chair of Granahan McCourt Capital

David McCourt billionaire entrepreneur, author of Total Rethink, founder and chair of Granahan McCourt Capital

David McCourt is an Irish-American entrepreneur and founder of Granahan McCourt Capital. McCourt speaks about his new book "Total Rethink: Why Entrepreneurs Should Act Like Revolutionaries." McCourt is one of the world’s most successful, award-winning business people, widely recognized for using technology and innovation to improve the lives of underserved communities by deploying new revolutionary ways of thinking. Over the last thirty years he has founded or bought twenty companies i

Aug 9, 2019 • 25:24

Shafer Minnick founder of Pulse House of Fitness fitness studio

Shafer Minnick founder of Pulse House of Fitness fitness studio

Today's guest is Shafer Minnick, owner and founder of PULSE House of Fitness which features DC’s first and only VersaClimber fitness studio. Shafer is a former SoulCycle instructor who discovered the VersaClimber when he was undergoing physical therapy after a work-related injury and is betting big that people in the District will love the experience—not to mention the brief, half-hour workouts that take place at PULSE. Shafer also discusses his own personal fitness journey from achieving m

Jul 24, 2019 • 27:22

Dr. Joesph Cardillo author of Body Intelligence: Harness Your Body's Energies for Your Best Life

Dr. Joesph Cardillo author of Body Intelligence: Harness Your Body's Energies for Your Best Life

In this episode we catch up with Dr. Joseph Cardillo, PhD, an inspirational speaker and sought after expert on personal energy with a conversation about how entrepreneurs can stay energized and avoid burn-out. Dr. Joe is a nationally best-selling author of several books in the fields of health, mind-body-spirit, and psychology. His books include Body Intelligence – Harness Your Body’s Energies for Your Best Life; Can I Have Your Attention- How to Think Fast, Find Your Focus and Sharpen Your Conc

Jun 26, 2019 • 27:20

Hannah Olson CEO and co-founder of Chronically Capable, flexible jobs platform for chronically ill workers

Hannah Olson CEO and co-founder of Chronically Capable, flexible jobs platform for chronically ill workers

After getting diagnosed with Lyme Disease, Hannah Olson's mind was intact, but the physical demands of a traditional 9-5 job were not compatible with her treatment—nearly forcing her out of the workforce. Rather than accept this fate, Hannah founded Chronically Capable on the simple belief that no one should ever have to decide between their health or their ambitions. Over 133 million Americans suffer from a chronic illness and have to sacrifice their dreams to accommodate their illness. Wi

Jun 19, 2019 • 27:53

Martin Ditto President and CEO of Ditto Residential

Martin Ditto President and CEO of Ditto Residential

Martin Ditto, President and CEO of Ditto Residential, a leading-edge urban design and development company, is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. Ditto is looking to make his mark in "wellness real estate" and build out a co-living concept in the District. Support the Show.

Apr 17, 2019 • 26:30

Kestrel Linder, CEO and co-founder GiveCampus

Kestrel Linder, CEO and co-founder GiveCampus

George speaks with Kestrel Linder, CEO of GiveCampus on this episode of DC Trep. GiveCampus is a digital fundraising and volunteer management platform for educational institutions which is used by more than 600 leading schools around the country. Kestrel talks about the need to modernize philanthropy for the next generation and how technology can help higher ed institutions keep their alumni engaged by making fundraising an enjoyable and social experience.Support the Show.

Apr 3, 2019 • 26:16

Chad Hall, founder and CEO of remodelmate, renovation start-up

Chad Hall, founder and CEO of remodelmate, renovation start-up

George speaks with Chad Hall, founder and CEO of remodelmate, a marketplace for buying, selling, and managing home renovations online. Remodelmate is a local business whose main focus is bathroom renovations. Homeowners get quotes, plans, permits, materials, and book labor all through their site and the entire process is managed by a project concierge to make sure renovations finish on-time and on-budget.Born to first-generation Jamaican immigrants in New York, Chad has been an innovator and an

Mar 13, 2019 • 27:08

Andrew Dana, co-owner Timber Pizza and Call Your Mother deli

Andrew Dana, co-owner Timber Pizza and Call Your Mother deli

Andrew Dana, is guest on today's episode. He's the co-owner of DC's highly successful, Timber Pizza Co and buzzed-about new sister restaurant, Call Your Mother (a Jew-ish deli.) From the "Boca Raton-meets-Brooklyn" interior at the deli to serving up delicious pies from their mobile wood-fired pizza truck, this native Washingtonian is bringing something new to the DC food scene. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Feb 27, 2019 • 31:54

Jason Fudin, CEO of WhyHotel, hotel pop-up

Jason Fudin, CEO of WhyHotel, hotel pop-up

George speaks with Jason Fudin CEO and co-founder of WhyHotel, an alternative lodging service that operates pop-up hotels in newly built, luxury apartment buildings. His startup recently secured $10 million in Series A funding from Highland Capital Partners after scoring $3.9 million in seed funding earlier this year. WhyHotel has properties in DC and Baltimore and is expanding into Ballston Quarter, Centro Arlington and The Boro in Tysons. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Feb 21, 2019 • 51:45

Justin Antonipillai, CEO WireWheel, former Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce

Justin Antonipillai, CEO WireWheel, former Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce

This episode's guest is Justin Antonipillai CEO of WireWheel, a cloud-based data privacy and protection platform that helps companies manage compliance with global privacy regulations like the GDPR and CCPA. Justin is the former acting Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce working under Secretary Penny Pritzker during the Obama administration. There, he led the Economics and Statistics Administration, which includes two of our nation's leading information agencies: the Cen

Feb 13, 2019 • 37:36

Byron Reese, CEO Gigaom; Author of The Fourth Age, Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity

Byron Reese, CEO Gigaom; Author of The Fourth Age, Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity

Author, futurist, and entrepreneur Byron Reese speaks about robots, AI, and the future of technology and humanity. Find out about the differences between general AI and narrow AI, the ethics of technology and innovation, and if robots will take all our jobs through automation. Byron is a great thinker and thought leader about technology, and his vision of the future is generally an optimistic one. We talk about his book The Fourth Age, which give a history of the evolution of tools in our societ

Feb 6, 2019 • 44:58

Melanie Charlton and Julie Weber, partners at Brllnt marketing company

Melanie Charlton and Julie Weber, partners at Brllnt marketing company

George speaks with Melanie Charlton and Julie Weber, the partners of Brllnt on this episode. We talk about the stark realities of running a marketing agency, the art of compromise in entrepreneurship, and their journey of keeping a marketing design firm afloat during a rough patch. They also talk about what they've learned working for some of their clients, and how they lead their company with both candor and compassion.  Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Jan 23, 2019 • 1:02:49

Casey Berman, Managing Director of Camber Creek venture capital firm

Casey Berman, Managing Director of Camber Creek venture capital firm

In this episode you'll hear from Casey Berman the Managing Director of Camber Creek, a strategic venture capital firm with offices in DC and New York. Their portfolio includes local start-up companies Fundrise, GoCanvas, and WhyHotel. Casey talks about the real estate technology market, Camber Creek's approach to "de-risking" investments, and what he looks for in a start-up as a venture capitalist. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Jan 9, 2019 • 38:14

Toya Gavin, founder of Legally Bold and the Toya Gavin virtual law firm

Toya Gavin, founder of Legally Bold and the Toya Gavin virtual law firm

George speaks with Toya Gavin the founder of Legally Bold, a consulting business designed to help women lawyers find a path to career satisfaction. She's also the founder of Toya Gavin Law a virtual law firm set up to help entrepreneurs with business formation, contracts, and IP law. Toya has a J.D. from George Washington University Law School and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Rutgers University and is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey.Support the show (https://www

Dec 26, 2018 • 28:05

Eric Kozlik, CEO of Modern Bar Cart, Embitterment DC

Eric Kozlik, CEO of Modern Bar Cart, Embitterment DC

George speaks wth Eric Kozlik, founder of the Modern Bar Cart podcast and Embitterment Bitters where he talks shop about entrepreneurship, podcasting, cocktails, and poetry. The Modern Bar Cart Podcast is a cocktail podcast for home bartenders and industry pros alike and features interviews with bartenders, distillers, and cocktail authors. Eric regularly does deep dives into the most important topics in mixology, creating your portal into the shaken, stirred, strained, and garnished world.Suppo

Dec 12, 2018 • 28:14

Gareth Lewis, CEO and founder Sekoyia eco-friendly subscription box

Gareth Lewis, CEO and founder Sekoyia eco-friendly subscription box

George speaks with Gareth Lewis, founder of Sekoyia, a subscription box company that offers environmentally friendly products. We talk about how he is helping build an eco-impact movement empowering subscribers to make a positive environmental difference. Gareth also speaks about why we need to focus on sustainability and creating green-collar jobs.  Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Dec 5, 2018 • 27:17

2018 Timmy Awards Winners and conversation with Peter Korbel StoreMe, Blender Workspace, Fojol Bros.

2018 Timmy Awards Winners and conversation with Peter Korbel StoreMe, Blender Workspace, Fojol Bros.

This episode features the Fourth Annual Timmy Award Winners from the event that took place on October 25 in Washington, DC. Featured are Andrew Aragon, Melissa Theiss, Theresa Hebert of Best Tech Startup Quorum; Best Tech Manager Rochelle Sanchirico of mHelpDesk; Mitch Phillips and Nazanin Ramezani of Whereowhere, Best Tech Work Culture; and Grant Elliot, CEO Ostendio, Best Tech Workplace for Diversity. Also featured is a conversation with Peter Korbel founder of StoreMe an app-based luggage sto

Nov 25, 2018 • 55:48

Marcus Bullock, CEO Flikshop

Marcus Bullock, CEO Flikshop

Marcus Bullock, CEO and founder of Flikshop talks about his journey into entrepreneurship as a returned citizen after he served a prison sentence in his youth. Flikshop is a tech startup that allows users to communicate with an incarcerated family member or friend via a mobile app which prints their digital message out as a postcard and mails it for 99 cents. The idea came from when Bullock remembered how meaningful it was to hear from the outside world while in prison. Bullock also talks about

Nov 14, 2018 • 27:20

Sheena Franklin, CEO and founder Well-Kept Beauty

Sheena Franklin, CEO and founder Well-Kept Beauty

Sheena Franklin, former lobbyist and creator of Well-Kept Beauty is this week's guest on DC Entrepreneur. We talk about how she changed her career path, the state of the FDA's regulations of the cosmetics industry, and how the app she created helps people learn about expiry dates for their makeup and skincare products.  Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Nov 7, 2018 • 30:16

Sahaj Sharda, author of Extinction of the Price Tag, CEO and Founder Dynos

Sahaj Sharda, author of Extinction of the Price Tag, CEO and Founder Dynos

Sahaj Sharda, CEO and founder of Dynos and author of the book Extinction of the Price Tag is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. Sharda speaks about his book, which he published with New Degree Press as part of his studies at Georgetown. He speaks about how companies are benefiting from dynamic pricing, who is using it, and how he became interested in the topic. Sahaj also talks about his company Dynos and how he applied the concept of dynamic pricing to drive customers to the the local re

Oct 21, 2018 • 35:23

Elise Whang, CEO and co-founder of LePrix

Elise Whang, CEO and co-founder of LePrix

CEO and co-founder of LePrix Elise Whang talks about the rebranding of her luxury fashion consignment startup from the initial concept called SnobSwap. A first time founder, Whang talks about how she found her footing as an entrepreneur, how she's gone about fundraising for her company, and her experience as a female founder in the startup ecosystem. Elise has been recognized as one of DC's 40 Power Women, DCA Live Red Hot Entrepreneur, and 40 under 40 in Tech.Send us a textSupport the

Oct 7, 2018 • 48:44

Nathan SooHoo of Trulioo, Global Identity Verification Service

Nathan SooHoo of Trulioo, Global Identity Verification Service

Nathan SooHoo is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. Nathan served as Business Development Manager for Trulioo where he helped build partnerships and worked on strategic sales for the company's GlobalGateway product before moving to Facebook. Nathan is also an investment committee member for the UCLA VC Fund whose portfolio includes Cloudera, DogVacay, Twitter, SolarCity, SmartestK12, RivalMe, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, and Vicept Therapeutics. He is also formerly the lead analyst fo

Sep 30, 2018 • 42:10

Monica Kang, author of Rethink Creativity, CEO and founder Innovators Box

Monica Kang, author of Rethink Creativity, CEO and founder Innovators Box

Monica Kang is this week's guest on DC Entrepreneur. Monica is the author of Rethink Creativity: How to Innovate, Inspire, and Thrive at Work. The book was born out of her own challenge of becoming 'unstuck' by changing up the daily routines and habits to which we are accustomed. Monica is also the Founder and CEO of InnovatorsBox where she helps companies and leaders transform their organizations through the power of creativity. Monica teaches entrepreneurship at BAU Internationa

Sep 23, 2018 • 43:31

Gbenga Ogunjimi, author of Borderless Voice, founder of Go Global, Inc.

Gbenga Ogunjimi, author of Borderless Voice, founder of Go Global, Inc.

Gbenga Ogunjimi is an identity strategist, speaker and advisor who redefined his career as an international entrepreneur. He is the author of "Borderless Voice, The Power of Telling your Story and Defining your Identity" and is the founder of GO Global, Inc. where he is a coach and consultant who regularly speaks to groups about how they can find their brand identity. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Sep 16, 2018 • 50:22

Jonathan Wossene, Founder, MELTED ELEMENT candles

Jonathan Wossene, Founder, MELTED ELEMENT candles

Meet entrepreneur Jonathan Wossene who shares his story about creating Melted Element candles, a premium retail business he started from his apartment in Alexandria, Virginia. Melted Element candles are destination-inspired, soy-based candles which burn clean, something that differentiates them from the rest of the marketplace. Jonathan tells the story of how his cat inspired the business and helped launch him on a new trajectory to create the premium candles, which have appeared at the West Elm

Mar 9, 2018 • 33:39

Dr. Gerald Gordon, President and CEO Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

Dr. Gerald Gordon, President and CEO Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

Dr. Gerald Gordon, President and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. He discusses the resources available for business startups in Fairfax County, which is home to some of the largest private sector employers in the region. Fairfax has the highest density of startups in NoVa according to Fosterly's 2016 census, and is also home to many large IT and government contracting businesses.Send us a textSupport the show

Feb 16, 2018 • 32:14

Jay Kim, Chief Strategy Officer, Upskill

Jay Kim, Chief Strategy Officer, Upskill

George speaks to Jay Kim, Chief Strategy Officer of Upskill. We talk about the Skylight platform for smart glasses, the internet of things, and how Augmented Reality will take over the world as part of Industry 4.0. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Feb 9, 2018 • 40:28

Brett Freeman and Alex DelSordo, founders Grape Intentions wine club

Brett Freeman and Alex DelSordo, founders Grape Intentions wine club

This episode of DC Entrepreneur Radio features Brett and Alex who started Grape Intentions, a wine club that helps do good by giving a percent of their online purchases to select charities. Brett who had training as a sommelier and Alex had run a rowing repair shop, a sport the two friends have in common. They talk about how they developed the startup, the issues and challenge behind shipping a product like wine, and how they developed a 'palate picker' algorithm to help customers conf

Jan 20, 2018 • 26:58

Sam Sabin, Tech Reporter, DC Inno

Sam Sabin, Tech Reporter, DC Inno

George speaks with Sam Sabin, tech reporter with DC Inno, a local blog that covers what's happening in the technology startup scene in Washington, DC. In this episode, we review some of the big tech headlines of 2017 and speak about what's in store for the future of the region. [Full Length edit]Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Dec 21, 2017 • 52:58

Isaac Oates, CEO and founder Justworks HR

Isaac Oates, CEO and founder Justworks HR

George speaks with Isaac Oates, founder of Justworks, via remote conversation in this episode of DC Entrepreneur. The company raised $33 million dollars after their last Series C round for a total of $53 million over the past five years. Isaac talks about his career path from being in the U.S. Army reserve, to selling his company Adtuitive to Etsy. He also speaks about Justworks' value proposition, the tech behind the scenes that runs the company, and the unique regulatory challenges of wor

Dec 8, 2017 • 28:59

Lance Kramer, co-founder, Meridian Hill Pictures, producer, "City of Trees"

Lance Kramer, co-founder, Meridian Hill Pictures, producer, "City of Trees"

Listen to my conversation with Lance Kramer about starting Meridian Hill Pictures, a production company he founded with his brother Brandon, both of whom created the documentary, "City of Trees" (now on Netflix). Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Nov 17, 2017 • 27:36

Jennifer Crawford, DC Podfest, Podcaster, Owner Social Media Rescue

Jennifer Crawford, DC Podfest, Podcaster, Owner Social Media Rescue

Podcaster Jennifer Crawford is guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. We discuss the upcoming DC Podfest on November 10-11, and why she thought DC needed to have its own conference focusing on podcasters. Jennifer discusses the challenges creative entrepreneurs face, and why it's even tougher for creative class to get recognized for their talent. She also talks about her work helping people with their social media campaigns, her work for Podbean, and her improv troupe: the Improv Imps, a

Oct 20, 2017 • 26:37

Nicole Gallub, AKA DJ Neekola, founder and CEO Pelonkey

Nicole Gallub, AKA DJ Neekola, founder and CEO Pelonkey

Nicole Gallub is guest today on D.C. Entrepreneur. We talk about her transformation from cybersecurity analyst into pink-haired DJ Neekola and founder of Pelonkey, an artist management agency that works with performers, DJs, performers, fire spinners, photo booth vendors, graffiti artists and more. You'll also get to listen to her DJ mix at the end of the broadcast.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Sep 22, 2017 • 26:04

Alex Villanueva, CEO, Sprynt

Alex Villanueva, CEO, Sprynt

This episode features Alex Villanueva, founder and CEO of Sprynt, a shuttle service for North Arlington. Sprynt differentiates itself from other ride share services with free rides. Their business model derives from selling advertising to local businesses to get the word out. Alex also talks about his switch from being a CPA to becoming an entrepreneur. Support the show

Sep 1, 2017 • 26:04

Amelia Friedman, co-founder, Hatch; co-director Vinetta Project's DC chapter

Amelia Friedman, co-founder, Hatch; co-director Vinetta Project's DC chapter

Amelia Friedman is our guest on this episode of DC Entrepreneur. She is the co-founder of Hatch, a Y Combinator-funded app and software development startup. Amelia also helped establish the Vinetta Project's DC chapter which helps women entrepreneurs around the region. Her first startup was a non-profit called the Student Language Exchange when she was a student at Brown University. Amelia talks about her experience as a startup founder, her work in the DC tech scene, and how she and her pa

Aug 18, 2017 • 27:53

Sarah Van Dell, CEO Plum Relish

Sarah Van Dell, CEO Plum Relish

In this episode, George speaks with Sarah Van Dell, CEO of Plum Relish, a District startup that offers lunch catering for office workers and events. Sarah speaks about her path as a startup founder, and how the idea began while she was working for the Advisory Board Company. She also talks about her all-women advisory board, her business partnerships, and why "Food Tech" is the next big thing.Send us a textSupport the show

Aug 4, 2017 • 25:01

Kate Glantz, CEO and founder Heartful.ly, SEED Spot

Kate Glantz, CEO and founder Heartful.ly, SEED Spot

George talks with social entrepreneurship founder Kate Glantz who built Heartful.ly Registry, a wedding registry website where couples can raise money to help charities and non-profits. Kate, a Tory Burch Foundation fellow is director of DC Entrepreneur Initiatives at SEED SPOT and involved with Halcyon Incubator, and Vinetta Project. Kate speaks about her journey from serving in the Peace Corps in Tanzania to becoming an entrepreneur, navigating the DC Tech scene, and her take on failure vs suc

Jul 21, 2017 • 26:42

Pierre Malko, CEO and President, Ouli mobile concierge app; Dante, Inc.

Pierre Malko, CEO and President, Ouli mobile concierge app; Dante, Inc.

Today's DC Entrepreneur features a conversation with Pierre Malko, President and CEO of Ouli, a mobile concierge app that serves the local DC area. Ouli helps connect people with local merchants that have great offers for people looking for a place to eat, go out with friends, and celebrate life’s occasions. The business model lets merchants pay for only when customers have come through the app. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Jul 7, 2017 • 27:13

Grant Elliott, Founder & CEO Ostendio

Grant Elliott, Founder & CEO Ostendio

In today's episode of DC Entrepreneur, Grant Elliott, Founder and CEO of Ostendio speaks with George. The word Ostendio in Latin means to show or demonstrate, and Grant helps illustrate his journey from working in the corporate world to founding a Cyber Security & Information Management company. He talks about his work as a Mentor and Instructor to startups and his own unique journey as an entrepreneur. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Jun 24, 2017 • 47:53

Hal Shelton, Author on business plans, SCORE Association board member, angel investor with Blu Venture Investors, LLC

Hal Shelton, Author on business plans, SCORE Association board member, angel investor with Blu Venture Investors, LLC

Hal Shelton, board member of SCORE Association, and angel investor with Blu Venture Investors, LLC is today's guest on D.C. Entrepreneur. Shelton, the author of "The Secrets of Writing Successful Business Plans," shares his advice to entrepreneurs starting to map out their business.Support the Show.

Jun 9, 2017 • 26:42

Daniel Turissini, owner of Recharj meditation and power nap studio

Daniel Turissini, owner of Recharj meditation and power nap studio

George speaks with Daniel Turissini, owner of Recharj--a modern meditation and power nap studio in Washington, DC. Daniel left a career in cybersecurity to focus on creating health and wellness options for District residents. We talk about mindfulness, meditation, and how proper sleep are essential tools for today's entrepreneurs. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

May 19, 2017 • 27:52

Dionna Dorsey of District of Clothing & Dionna Dorsey Design, creative with 202Creates

Dionna Dorsey of District of Clothing & Dionna Dorsey Design, creative with 202Creates

On this show, George speaks with Dionna Dorsey, a Creative Director from Springfield, Virginia. She is the founder of District of Clothing, and head of Dionna Dorsey Design, a creative design boutique that specializes in graphic design, art direction, brand strategy, and website development. Dionna is also a featured creative as part of 202 Creates, an initiative of D.C.'s Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

May 5, 2017 • 26:43

Brandon Luong of WeTogether and DMV Startup

Brandon Luong of WeTogether and DMV Startup

George speaks with Brandon Luong, Product Manager for WeTogether and the brains behind DMV Startup. Brandon was also a co-organizer for the DC Tech Meetup. Brandon speaks about his love for DC Tech, diversity in the tech startup community, and his growing up around entrepreneurs as a "restaurant baby." Support the Show.

Apr 21, 2017 • 24:35

Michael Sabat of @MSSG, a Facebook messaging service for marketers

Michael Sabat of @MSSG, a Facebook messaging service for marketers

In this conversation, George speaks with Michael Sabat, founder of @Mssg which helps marketers increase conversions and decrease Cost Per Acquisitions (CPAs). An organization can connect @Mssg to an existing Facebook Ad Campaign or other page, measure the results, and compare the results to their other touchpoints.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Apr 7, 2017 • 26:14

Stephen Jefferson, Founder of Bloom labs: a geolocation platform for journalists

Stephen Jefferson, Founder of Bloom labs: a geolocation platform for journalists

In this show, George speaks with Stephen Jefferson co-founder of Bloom Labs. Bloom is a geolocation platform that helps journalists and other content creators add a geographic ID tag to where they are covering their stories from. Bloom was created as a part of Stephen's passion for local communities and technology, leading him to become a recent fellow at the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism at CUNY. Stephen grew up in the Washington DC region, working as a web developer and

Mar 24, 2017 • 27:11

Dana Matassa, Royal Blue Fine Clothing

Dana Matassa, Royal Blue Fine Clothing

George speaks with Dana Matassa, Owner of Royal Blue Fine Clothing, a custom-made men's clothier in the Washington, DC area. All Royal Blue suits and shirts are handmade from the highest quality fabrics for a purely custom tailored garment. Dana talks about how he found his passion for clothes and dressing well, and his almost accidental foray into business as an entrepreneur. Dana also shares his insight into understanding dress codes, the marks of quality and style in clothing, and the es

Mar 2, 2017 • 33:28

Frank V. Taylor, co-founder Fosterly, founder RESTIN, WeDC Ambassador organizer

Frank V. Taylor, co-founder Fosterly, founder RESTIN, WeDC Ambassador organizer

George speaks with Frank V. Taylor, Co-Founder of Fosterly, which recently released a new study based on a survey of DC based startups. Frank is also the leader of RESTIN, a massage chair wellness company which he started as a student at the College of William and Mary. Frank is active in the DC Tech community and is the organizer of the WeDC ambassador program which represents the Washington, DC area at the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas. This is the long edit of this interview. Support the s

Feb 10, 2017 • 49:03

Joel Sprechman, One Great Gut

Joel Sprechman, One Great Gut

George speaks with Joel Sprechman, Founder of One Great Gut, a Benefit Corporation, and the #1 science-backed gut health resource. Hear Joel's personal journey and transformation from how he went from being a DC-based IT engineer to starting a health and wellness organization in San Diego. This is the a long edit of the interview. Support the Show.

Jan 13, 2017 • 26:09

Lily Cua, co-founder, Aspire

Lily Cua, co-founder, Aspire

George speaks with Lily Cua, Co-founder of Aspire, a DC based start-up that helps companies make smart investments in offering workplace perks so that they can recruit, engage and retain the best talent. in this conversation, Lily shares her experiences as an entrepreneur and why a company's culture matters. This is the full length interview of the episode. The radio edit which aired [12-9-16] is available on MixCloud.Support the Show.

Dec 9, 2016 • 38:49

Ira Koretsky, CEO, The Chief Storyteller

Ira Koretsky, CEO, The Chief Storyteller

George interviews Ira Koretsky, the CEO of The Chief Storyteller®. Ira shares his experiences about marketing, cross-cultural communications, executive storytelling, and how to perfect your elevator speech. This is the full length interview of the episode. The radio edit which aired [11-25-16] is available on MixCloud.Support the show

Nov 25, 2016 • 44:16

Morgan Hirsh, CEO, Morgan's (now Public Goods)

Morgan Hirsh, CEO, Morgan's (now Public Goods)

George interviews Morgan Hirsh the Montreal-based CEO of subscription-box e-commerce business Morgan's. Morgan's delivers a monthly box of essential toiletries and goods to its members, with a beta-test program now offering its products at-cost.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Nov 11, 2016 • 25:04

Omer Aru, Owner, Escape Room Herndon

Omer Aru, Owner, Escape Room Herndon

D.C. Entrepreneur is back for a second season in this conversation with Omer Aru, owner of The Escape Room in Herndon, Virginia. We talk about solving puzzles, teambuilding, and how solving puzzles has a lot in common with entrepreneurship and business ownership. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Oct 28, 2016 • 27:37

David Ramos, Knowledge Commons DC, KCDC; Design instructor American University

David Ramos, Knowledge Commons DC, KCDC; Design instructor American University

Today, D.C. Entrepreneur is in conversation with David Ramos of Knowledge Commons DC, and graphic design faculty at American University. We talk about the history and background of KCDC and the convergence of technology and design. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Aug 12, 2016 • 27:09

Cherian Thomas, Co-Founder & CEO Spotluck

Cherian Thomas, Co-Founder & CEO Spotluck

George sits down in conversation with Cherian Thomas, Chairman and CEO of Spotluck. Cherian has taken the Spotluck app from a Georgetown University Masters thesis to the number 1 dining app on the iTunes App Store. The app's gamified UX makes it an engaging and useful tool for its users, and a value added customer experience for restaurant marketers. [Air Date 7-29-16]Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Jul 29, 2016 • 24:03

Rob Pegoraro, Tech Columnist, USA Today, Yahoo News,

Rob Pegoraro, Tech Columnist, USA Today, Yahoo News,

George interviews consumer technology journalist Rob Pegoraro of USA TODAY and Yahoo Tech for a conversation about the future of technology. Rob tries to make sense of computers, consumer electronics, telecom services, the Internet, software and other things that beep or blink through reporting, reviewing and analysis. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Jul 15, 2016 • 24:37

Nathaniel Pearlman, CEO of Graphicacy, founder NGP VAN & Graphicacy

Nathaniel Pearlman, CEO of Graphicacy, founder NGP VAN & Graphicacy

D.C. Entrepreneur interviews Nathaniel Pearlman of Graphicacy. Nathaniel founded NGP Software, Inc. (now NGP VAN, Inc.) to join his interests in politics and technology and served as the CTO for the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2007-08. On this episode, he speaks about entrepreneurship, how he first became interested in visual information graphics, and his volunteer work with the Lever Fund. Link to books mentioned on show: tinyurl.com/zaj6plgSupport the Show.

Jul 1, 2016 • 24:27

Margarita Rozenfeld, Incite International

Margarita Rozenfeld, Incite International

In this episode, D.C. Entrepreneur speaks with Margarita Rozenfeld. Margarita is the CEO of Incite International, an award-winning organizational development company providing consulting, coaching, facilitation and training services to non-profit, corporate and public sector clients including Pew Charitable Trusts, World Bank, Wells Fargo, Washington Humane Society, NASA and Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Margarita is a frequent speaker on topics of strategy, leadership, cross-cultural communica

Jun 24, 2016 • 25:49

Wayne Manigo, Comedian, DC Comedy Writers Group

Wayne Manigo, Comedian, DC Comedy Writers Group

D.C. Entrepreneur catches up with comedian Wayne Manigo with a conversation about career reinvention and entrepreneurship. Wayne is a co-founder of the D.C. Comedy Writers Group. Support the Show.

Jun 10, 2016 • 25:04

Matt Blitz, Washingtonian Magazine, Head of Obscura Society DC

Matt Blitz, Washingtonian Magazine, Head of Obscura Society DC

DC Entrepreneur speaks with local writer Matthew Blitz of Washingtonian, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine, Arlington Magazine and Food & Wine. He heads the Obscura Society DC, for Atlas Obscura, by hosting unique, historical, and curious events at different locations in the D.C. region.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Jun 3, 2016 • 26:15

Alex Pessala, VC, Middleand Capital

Alex Pessala, VC, Middleand Capital

Interview with Alex Pessala, VC with Middleland Capital. Alex has helped invest in more than 20 companies including Urban Stems, Hinge, Fiscal Note, Social Tables, Power Supply, Nice Laundry, Contactually, Wedpix, and TinyRX. He was recently named to the Forbes 30 under 30 VC list.Send us a textSupport the show

May 27, 2016 • 50:36

Steven Wynands, Founder, Knockity, real estate startup; Rafael Arie, Zugy

Steven Wynands, Founder, Knockity, real estate startup; Rafael Arie, Zugy

This week's broadcast of D.C. Entrepreneur features an interview with Steven Wynands, founder of Northern Virginia real estate start-up Knockity. The episode also includes an interview with Rafael Ruah Arié co-founder of ZUGY in Milan, Italy. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

May 20, 2016 • 26:01

Darren Stauffer, Arlington Economic Development

Darren Stauffer, Arlington Economic Development

What makes for a good startup community? Local support of course. We find out how Arlington businesses are thriving in this interview with Darren Stauffer of Arlington Economic Development. Darren manages startup and tech related initiatives for AED, including recruiting startup companies, connecting companies to capital, and The StartUp Arlington initiative, which aims to provide resources for technology startup companies in the community. Previously, Darren spent several years at multiple DC b

May 5, 2016 • 38:17

Kristian Bouw and Mike Keung of NotionTheory: Story of a Startup

Kristian Bouw and Mike Keung of NotionTheory: Story of a Startup

This episode features the co-founders of NotionTheory, Kristian Bouw, CEO and Mike Keung, Technical Lead, in a conversation about their experiences as a D.C.-based start-up.Support the Show.

Mar 10, 2016 • 36:00

Willie Blount, Shark Tank participant; founder of BearTek gloves; owner Blue Infusion Technologies

Willie Blount, Shark Tank participant; founder of BearTek gloves; owner Blue Infusion Technologies

This episode features Willie Blount, founder of Blue Infusion Technologies and the creator of BearTek Gloves. He appears on Shark Tank pitching the company with CEO Tarik Rodgers, scheduled to air February 5, 2016 at 9 EST / 8 CT on the ABC network.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Jan 15, 2016 • 30:23

2015 Web Summit Conference, Dublin Ireland

2015 Web Summit Conference, Dublin Ireland

D.C. Entrepreneur interviewed early-stage (Alpha) start-ups at Web Summit in Dublin, Ireland on November 2-3. Start-ups include Brock Stechman, Co-founder of Divvy HQ (US); Kathryn Knight, CEO of Tido (UK), Christian Chalifour, CEO of Prehos (CND); Soraya Syed, Founder of Nuqta (UK); Tolsa Harrison, Founder of PopUpGigs (AUS).Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/georgeindc)

Nov 13, 2015 • 22:30

Interview with Sean McBeth, Future of VR

Interview with Sean McBeth, Future of VR

D.C. Entrepreneur sits down for an in-depth interview with Sean T. McBeth about his work talking about the and future potential of Virtual Reality, including the history of VR, the new Oculus Rift, Gear VR and programming in Web VR through Primose. Sean is Chief Technology Officer at Highland Fundraising Solutions. He's also a freelance software consultant, who has successfully bootstrapped and deployed multiple analytics-heavy OLTP applications for desktop, Web, and mobile Web from concep

Nov 5, 2015 • 26:24

The Startups of DC Tech Day, October 2015

The Startups of DC Tech Day, October 2015

D.C. Entrepreneur speaks with the start-ups and app developers at D.C. Tech Day. Tech Day is a little bit like a science fair for business innovators and disruptors taking place at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. In this episode, we speak with Eric Smeby of TuitionCoin; Mark London of FrontDesk Connect; Cherian Thomas of SpotLuck; Stephan Walters of Grease Monkey, and Max Friedman of Happening; Andy Fine of Valor; and, Vlad Enache of Ignite.Support the show (https://www.patreon.

Oct 15, 2015 • 27:04

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