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Going Deep with Aaron Watson

Aaron Watson is the CEO of Piper Creative. On this show, you'll hear thoughtful, focused conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and innovators. Guests include Nathan Chan, Kevin Kelly, Bill Peduto, Morgan Housel, Noah Kagan, Tucker Max, and Barry Ritholtz. This is the biggest business podcast in Pittsburgh.
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Now displaying: October, 2020
Oct 26, 2020

Planting soil hasn’t changed much in the last 50 years. Brian Scott wants to change that.

 

Brian is the CEO of PittMoss, a Pittsburgh startup that creates a recycled/upcycled substitute for peat moss. 

 

Pittmoss has been proven in greenhouse trials to outgrow all current peat-based potting soil products when mixed with these products or when plants are grown in nutrient-enriched Pittmoss alone. 

 

He is currently leading a company pivot to the retail market. Brian originally invested in the company as an angel investor, and took over the company when the founder moved on for family reasons.

 

In this episode, Brian and Aaron discuss leading a company through growth, the negative environmental impact of peat moss, and the company’s fundraising history, including money from Mark Cuban.

 

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Brian Scott’s Challenge; Let’s make Pittsburgh the first peat-free city.

 

Connect with Brian Scott

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PittMoss Website



Text Me What You Think of This Episode 412-278-7680




Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative makes creating podcasts, vlogs, and videos easy. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

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Oct 19, 2020

Michael is the CEO and co-founder of Edge Case Research, a company focused on making autonomy safer. Edge Case Research’s ECR’s products and services are geared for customers who build autonomous systems. 

 

The company’s offerings include software that tests for gaps in computer vision systems and consulting focused on prioritizing safety into an engineering department’s culture.

 

Michael’s experience with autonomous vehicles started twenty years ago at Carnegie Mellon University where he built lunar rovers for Red Whittaker, autonomous scientific robots that explored Antarctica, and self-driving technology for tackling harsh off-road terrain.

 

In this episode, Michael and Aaron discuss the origins of the company, how to translate ideas across organizations, and the multitude of industries that will be impacted by autonomous vehicles. 

 

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Michael Wagner’s Challenge; Go see the lunar rover seminar.

 

Connect with Michael Wagner

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Edge Case Research Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out our interview with Argo Ai founder Bryan Salesky about autonomous cars and the episode with Locomation CEO Çetin Meriçli where we discuss self-driving semi-trucks.



Text Me What You Think of This Episode 412-278-7680




Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative makes creating podcasts, vlogs, and videos easy. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Oct 12, 2020

Amanda Dixon is the cofounder of Barney, a mid-market M&A firm that helps entrepreneurs buy and sell digital businesses. They boast a database of more than 15,000 buyers and a dynamic portfolio of past mergers and acquisitions. 

 

Before starting Barney, Amanda had previously started and sold two businesses. After successfully selling both businesses, Amanda became painfully aware of the challenges associated with selling a business worth less than $20 million.

 

Now, Amanda leverages her learnings to helping others exit their business in a way that is simple, focused, and financially advantageous. You can see the companies that are currently for sale through Barney on their website.

 

When she's not working, you can find Amanda with her husband and daughter at the beach or watching Frozen for the 1,000th time.

 

In this episode, Amanda and Aaron discuss how digital businesses get valued, why you shouldn’t share your customer list during due diligence, and what she learned selling her own businesses.



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Amanda Dixon’s Challenge; Make a stranger smile this weekend.

 

Connect with Amanda Dixon

Linkedin

Barney Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 269 with Brent Beshore where we discuss selling family businesses and the unique models of private equity.

 

Text Me What You Think of This Episode 412-278-7680




Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative makes creating podcasts, vlogs, and videos easy. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify 

Oct 5, 2020

Dawn Dickson is a serial entrepreneur that has launched four successful cash flow positive companies since 2002. Most recently, she splits her time between Flat Out of Heels (rollable flats for women to get relief from painful heels) and PopCom (a software solution to

make vending machines more intelligent).

 

Dawn has an expertise in raising traditional and non-traditional business capital. In 2019, Dawn became the first female CEO globally to raise over $1 million using equity crowdfunding. This style of fundraising was made available by the JOBS Act, which was signed into law in 2012.

 

In this conversation, Dawn and Aaron get into a deep discussion of the stairstep approach to entrepreneurship. By starting as a consultant, graduating to a product business, and then moving on to software, Dawn has been able to build upon the knowledge, reputation, and capital she earned in each business.



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Dawn Dickson’s Challenge; Hop on an equity crowdfunding platform and 

 

Connect with Dawn Dickson

Twitter

Instagram

Medium

Linkedin

 

Follow PopCom

Instagram



If you liked this interview, check out episode 445 with Pierre Laguerre where we discuss how he is using technology to improve the lives of truck drivers.

 

Text Me What You Think of This Episode 412-278-7680




Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative makes creating podcasts, vlogs, and videos easy. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify 

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