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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: Page 6
May 11, 2020

Keith Hamon has over 30 years of operational restaurant experience, with 10 years in active financial management and 7 years of direct experience owning, operating, growing, and stewarding a small group of restaurants. 

 

His firm, Alchemy Financial, serves as a bookkeeper, financial planner, and CFO for clients in the hospitality space.

 

Keith is committed to helping small restaurants and bars survive and thrive using better financial planning and thinking strategically about pricing.

 

In this episode, Keith and Aaron discuss pricing strategy, how restaurants deal with food delivery, and Cloud Kitchens.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Keith Harmon’s Challenge; Be mindful of everything.

 

Connect with Keith Harmon  

Linkedin

We Live to Serve Twitter

Alchemy Financial Website

alchemyboston@gmail.com 

 

If you liked this interview, check out two interviews with award-winning chefs and entrepreneurs. Kevin Sousa’s Superior Motors was named one of the greatest places on Earth and Jamlika Borges is a James Beard semi-finalist.

 

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




Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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May 4, 2020

Ben Hunt is the creator of Epsilon Theory and co-founder of Second Foundation Partners. 

 

Epsilon Theory is a newsletter and website that studies markets using game theory and history. It is read by over 100,000 professional investors and allocators across 180 countries.

 

Ben is the founder of two technology companies, a past professor of political science, and a successful investor. He’s worked in venture capital and subsequently on two long/short equity hedge funds. He evolved to blend his background as a portfolio manager, risk manager, and entrepreneur with academic experience in game theory and econometrics to improve client outcomes.

 

In this conversation, Ben and Aaron discuss how Ben outlined the false numbers coming out of China in a blog post titles Body Count, how to channel anger into Hope, and how he thinks about fatherhood.

 

Essential Reading

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose

Things Fall Apart #1

Things Fall Apart #2



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Ben Hunt’s Challenge; Take Action. Do not allow yourself to be convinced that it’s insignificant.

 

Connect with Ben Hunt

Linkedin

Twitter

Epsilon Theory Website

 

Frontline Heroes

 

If you liked this interview, check out interviews with investors Andy Rachleff, Anthony Pompliano, and Morgan Housel.

 

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



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Apr 27, 2020

Flori Marquez is the cofounder of BlockFi, a fintech firm that provides wealth management products to investors in cryptocurrency.

 

BlockFi currently offers interest-bearing crypto accounts, crypto trading, and crypto-backed loans.

 

In the last year, BlockFi has raised an $18.3 million Series A and a $30 million Series B from investors like Morgan Creek Digital, Fidelity, the Winklevoss twins, and Valar Ventures.

 

Flori has spent her career managing alternative lending products, including a $125MM portfolio for Bond Street (acquired by Goldman Sachs). 

 

In this conversation, Flori and Aaron discuss the founding of the company, the new customers BlockFi is targeting, and why banking people across the world is challenging.

 

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

 

Flori Marquez’s Challenge; Take $100 and invest in something new or different.

 

Connect with Flori Marquez

Linkedin

Twitter

Website

support@blockfi.com

 

If you liked this interview, check out our past blockchain and crypto interviews with Anthony Pompliano, Brendan Eich, and Joe Lubin.





Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Apr 20, 2020

The Coronavirus (rightfully) gets most of the headlines. However, we are also living through an oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia that has worldwide ramifications.

 

Matt Wieszczyk is the Managing Member of Par City Holdings, a land services company that specializes in the acquisition of oil and gas mineral and royalty rights. At PCH, he has placed $15mm for various investors in SW Appalachia.

 

Prior to Par City, Matt was Acquisitions Manager & General Counsel for San Jacinto Minerals. At SJM, he placed $39mm in 15 months, leading the mineral market in Washington and Greene Counties, in PA.

 

In this interview, Matt and Aaron discuss the shale industry in Appalachia and how the price war could positively affect the region. They also discuss Matt’s business model and how he got into the industry.



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

 

Matt Wieszczyk’s Challenge; Write someone a handwritten note.

 

Connect with Matt Wieszczyk

Linkedin

Facebook

parcityholdings@gmail.com

 

Mentioned

Henry Hub Natural Gas Futures

Eia.gov




Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Apr 13, 2020

LBRY is a place where they can find great videos, music, ebooks, and more. How? LBRY started as a new protocol that allows anyone to build apps that interact with digital content on the LBRY network. 

 

Apps built using the protocol allow creators to upload their work to the LBRY network of hosts (like BitTorrent), to set a price per stream or download (like iTunes) or give it away for free (like YouTube without ads). The work you publish could be videos, audio files, documents, or any other type of file.

 

Traditional video (or other content) sites such as YouTube, Instagram, and Spotify store your uploads on their servers and allow viewers to download them. They also allow creators to make some money through advertising or other mechanisms. However, there are some well-known drawbacks, especially for people whose material is perceived as not being advertiser-friendly.

 

Jeremy Kauffman created LBRY because he fell in love with the idea of shared, global content registry that is owned and controlled by no one. 

 

In this podcast, Aaron and Jeremy discuss how it works and the challenges of building a new model for media.

 

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

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Jeremy Kauffman’s Challenge; Bet on your beliefs.

 

Connect with Jeremy Kauffman

Linkedin

Twitter

LBRY.tv

 

If you liked this interview, check out other blockchain interviews with Brendan Eich and Anthony Pompliano.

 

LBRY sync with YouTube



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Apr 6, 2020

Two years ago, Ian Rosenberger and his company took a leap forward by launching a backpack. It was made from Thread International’s first product, fabric made from plastic waste that had been recycled.

 

The backpack raised $571,000 on Kickstarter and represented an important new chapter for the business.

 

At the beginning of 2020, they launched two specific brands; Day Owl (for consumers) and First Mile (for brands like Reebok, Puma, and Converse to buy the fabric).

 

In this conversation, Ian and Aaron discuss the strategy behind the rebrand, managing a retail company through the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, and how Day Owl re-tooled their facility to make Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare workers.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Ian Rosenberger’s Challenge; Identify the Day Owls in your world and figure out how you can support them.

 

Connect with Ian Rosenberger

Day Owl Website

Day Owl Instagram

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 336 for our first conversation with Ian Rosenberger where we discuss recycling waste, mission-driven startups, and the grit required to survive.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Mar 30, 2020

Anthony Pompliano is a co-founder & Partner at Morgan Creek Digital. He leads investments in early-stage startups and cryptocurrency.

 

He was formerly a product manager at Facebook.

 

He writes a daily letter analyzing crypto news for institutional investors and a prolific podcast with other top thinkers in finance and crypto.

 

In this conversation, Pomp and Aaron discuss the Bitcoin halving, economic stimulus, and kindness.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Anthony’s Challenge; Remember to be kind to one another.

 

Connect with Anthony Pompliano

Linkedin

Twitter

The Pomp Podcast

 

If you liked this interview, check out our collection of past interviews covering blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Mar 23, 2020

Kyshira Moffett is a digital brand strategist, entrepreneur, and author. She’s built a business as a coach helping other businesses and entrepreneurs market themselves effectively.

 

Kyshira also launched Life of a Bombshell Cosmetics in 2017, offering premium makeup products at an affordable price to businesswomen. 

 

Her experiences in marketing a wide variety of businesses, running a conference (Hustle HER Way Summit), and earning an MBA have given her a wealth of knowledge to call upon. 

 

In this conversation, Aaron and Kyshira discuss live streaming, coaching and launching a cosmetics brand.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Kyshira Moffett’s Challenge; 1. Go live. 2. Find a new book to read.

 

Connect with Kyshira Moffett

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

 

ThePowerCollective.co

 

Google Digital Coaches

 

Kyshira’s Book Recommendations

Stiletto Network by Pamela Ryckman 

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi  

The Brand Within by Daymond John 

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 216 with Noah Kagan where we discuss being at Facebook early, building an internet business, and marketing effectively.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

TikTok

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Mar 16, 2020

Tom Lauwers is on a mission to get robots into classrooms. As the founder and chief roboticist at BirdBrain Technologies, he designs educational tools that show students the basics of coding, engineering, and collaboration.

 

Tom received a Ph.D in robotics in 2010 from Carnegie Mellon, where he initially designed the Finch robot and Hummingbird robotics kit. 

 

The Finch is a small robot designed to inspire students learning computer science by providing a tangible representation of their code. 

 

The Hummingbird is a kit that allows students to create and program robots built from electronic components and craft materials.   

 

In this conversation, Tom and Aaron discuss the design of the learning robot, how to make technology more accessible, and why Tom chose to bootstrap the business.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Tom Lauwers’s Challenge; Reflect on “What could be your superpower for good?”

 

Connect with Tom Lauwers

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

BirdbrainTechnologies.com

tom@birdbraintechnologies.com

 

If you liked this interview, check out these interviews with robotics entrepreneurs Jorgen Pedersen of RE2 Robotics and Jake Loosararian of Gecko Robotics.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

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Mar 9, 2020

The Going Deep podcast returned to Fayette county for a second interview with one of the area’s top entrepreneurs. J.D. Ewing, President of COE Distributing, regained control of his company just after the Great Recession.

 

J.D. had to secure financing from the bank so he could buy inventory. When they asked for a business plan, J.D. estimated the firm would reach $10 million in revenue in 3 years. 

 

COE Distributing ended up blowing past that number to more than $24 million. They did $9 million in the first year.

 

How?

 

In this podcast, J.D. explains how he systematically removed the constraints to business growth, how he hires team members, and the important lessons of leadership that anyone can use.

 

They’ve ridden this process to being named an INC 5000 fastest-growing company for 6 consecutive years.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

J.D. Ewing’s Challenge; Focus on getting engaged with your employees, colleagues, and teammates outside of your normal patterns.



Connect with J.D. Ewing

Linkedin

Instagram

Website

Office Source Furniture

 

Books

Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders by Steve Shallenberger 

The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip & Dan Heath

Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't by Verne Harnish



If you liked this interview, make sure you heard our first conversation with J.D (episode 407).



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify 

Mar 2, 2020

Marco Marandiz is a Co-founder and Head of Marketing for Elliot, a global commerce startup based in NYC.

 

Prior to Elliot, Marco spent time as a strategist for high-potential DTC brands and led digital product teams at HomeAway and CapitalOne. Through building and shipping products that served hundreds of millions of users, Marco learned about what makes products work in the digital realm.

 

In this podcast, you’ll hear Aaron and Marco discuss how commerce on the internet is getting easier, how Twitter threads helped Marco advance his career, and why brands need to have a distinct voice.

 

Marco is speaking at Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart in 2020.

 

Marco Marandiz’s Challenge; Focus on one channel. Communicate your opinion clearly on one topics and be consistent.

 

Connect with Marco Marandiz

Linkedin

Twitter

elliot.store

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 394 with Ryan Kulp where we discuss How to buy small companies, speaking your mind, and managing risk.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Feb 24, 2020

What’s a doctor to do when they become disenchanted with the healthcare system? Dr. Timothy Wong decided the answer was to start his own micro-practice.

 

In his office in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Dr. Wong sees ~20 patients per day and only charges $35 for a visit. 

 

This allow people without health insurance to get the care they desperately need. Dr. Wong believes that healthcare needs to be simple, needs to be about the patient & the doctor, and needs to be accessible.

 

His business model allows that to happen.

 

In this conversation, Dr. Wong and Aaron discuss how he got the idea for iHealth Clinic, how care gets delivered at his practice, and the way this model can spread & inspire change.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Dr. Timothy Wong’s Challenge; Let other healthcare providers know about direct-access primary care.

 

Connect with Dr. Timothy Wong

Facebook

iHealht Clinic website

directaccessprimary.com

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 399 with Hayden Cardiff where we discuss spinning a software company out of another firm, raising a $9 million Series A, and hiring in a high-growth startup.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

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Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Feb 17, 2020

Jack Welsh is the co-owner of LumberjAxes and Sliders Curling. He has successfully transitioned from a union job and bartending gig into running a business that delivers genuinely unique experiences.

 

He and his co-founders first came across axe throwing in Philadelphia and decided to bring the concept to Pittsburgh. It’s been a winner and has grown to multiple locations.

 

To keep the momentum going, he has now opened Sliders Curling in the adjacent lot to offer competitive, bar-style curling to their customers.

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear Jack and Aaron discuss the origins of the company, how Jack transitioned out of his day job, and the capital required to get the company off the ground.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Jack Welsh’s Challenge; Go out of town to find some new entertainment options.

 

Connect with Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing

Instagram

Facebook

Axethrowingpgh.com

 

Connect with Sliders Curling

Instagram

Facebook

Slidersbarandgames.com

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 184 with Ed Bailey & Day Bracey where we discuss comedy, drinking partners podcast, and creative partnership.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

TikTok

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Feb 10, 2020

Bill Sarris has been in the candy business for more than 40 years. Upon graduating from college, Bill joined his father’s business and has overseen significant growth while building a Sarris Candies into a regional leader in chocolates.

 

Sarris Candies was started by his father Frank in the family’s basement. Behind Bill’s efforts, the company grew to include more than 350 employees and $16 million in annual sales.

 

Today, the Sarris Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour fill an area the size of a football field with over 100 yards of chocolate, penny candy, ice cream, and plush toys.

 

In this conversation, Bill and Aaron discuss flying to Europe to buy equipment in the 70s, Sarris’ five channels of revenue, and the strategic acquisition of Gardeners Candies.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Bill Sarris’s Challenge; If you find something you like, go after it.

 

Connect with Bill Sarris

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Sarris Candies Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 306 with Bryan Salesky where we discuss Argo Ai, self-driving cars, and what he learned from the DARPA challenge.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

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Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Feb 3, 2020

Glen Meakem is the founder & CEO of a permanent cloud photo storage and sharing company called Forever. He previously took his first technology startup, FreeMarkets, public in late-1999.

 

FreeMarkets grew up during the height of the Dotcom Bubble and reached a peak valuation of over $10 billion. While the spectacular highs of the bubble could not last, underneath the market Glen was tripling revenues each year and operating.

 

After selling FreeMarkets to Ariba in 2004, Glen started angel and venture investing. Some of his most successful investments include Kiva Systems (sold to Amazon), HotPads (sold to Zillow), and Niche.com.

 

After wrapping up a successful venture career, Glen returned to being an entrepreneurial operator. Forever was built because Glen was frustrated by the short-term business models and incentives offered from other cloud storage providers.

 

In this podcast interview, you’ll hear Glen and Aaron discuss timeless leadership principles, how to recognize a business opportunity, and stories from the tech bubble.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Glen Meakem’s Challenge; Don’t sit on the sidelines. Get in the game and take action. Walk through the door. Be ethical. Be kind.

 

Connect with Glen Meakem

Linkedin

Forever.com

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 303 with Luke Skurman where we discuss founding Niche, recruiting engineering talent, and why follow-through is so important.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify 

Jan 27, 2020

Dr. Gordon Vanscoy is the founding Chairman and CEO of PANTHERx Rare, the nation’s leading rare disease and orphan drug-focused pharmacy.

 

PANTHERx Rare assists patients in navigating the complex process of getting orphan & precision medicines. They also help innovative biotechnology entrepreneurs get their medicines approved by insurers and healthcare providers.

 

Prior to PANTHERx, Dr. Vanscoy developed 7 health care companies while concurrently serving  in various leadership roles at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Today, he serves as Pitt’s Associate Dean for Business Innovation and Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear Dr. Vanscoy and Aaron discuss the growth of precision medicine, why he came out of semi-retirement, and the staggering rate of growth.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Gordon Vanscoy’s Challenge; Do more research on the treatment of Rare Diseases.

 

Connect with Gordon Vanscoy

Linkedin

Twitter

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 340 with Craig Markovitz where we discuss university technology transfer, creating $300m in shareholder value, and building a loyal team.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Jan 20, 2020

Jake Loosararian is the CEO and co-founder of Gecko Robotics, a Pittsburgh robotics startup. Gecko recently announced a $40 million Series B round of fundraising led by Drive Capital.

 

Gecko Robotics builds robots that do unassisted inspections of power plant boilers. The robots’ sensors measure key data including temperature, wall thickness, and other system failure indicators.

 

Jake invested his life savings into the company and was named the top startup in Y Combinator’s Winter 2016 cohort.

 

In this podcast, Jake Loosararian and Aaron Watson discuss the business model of Gecko, how he raised $40 million, and the high bar they have when hiring.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Jake Loosararian’s Challenge; Read a book.

 

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel 

High Growth Handbook by Elad Gil 

 

Connect with Jake Loosararian

Linkedin

Twitter

Website

jake.loosararian@geckorobotics.com

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 400 with Austin Webb where we discuss large fundraising rounds, high growth startups, and robotics disrupting agriculture.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Jan 13, 2020

Kent McElhattan’s entire business career has been dedicated to the safety of workers.

 

In 1985, Kent co-founded Industrial Scientific and built a worldwide leader in IOT and predictive analytics for the safety industry. The company climbed to hundreds of millions in revenue and sold to Fortive.

 

After that success, Kent started another company, Discovery Robotics, aimed to bring robotics technology to the field of janitorial services. Their first product is an autonomous floor-cleaning robot.

 

The company’s mission remains to increase human productivity and safety.

 

In this conversation, Kent and Aaron discuss how he ended up focusing on industrial cleaning, the lessons Kent has taken from Industrial Scientific, and the future of work.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Kent McElhattan’s Challenge; Find something that doesn’t feel like work.

 

Connect with Kent McElhattan

Linkedin

Twitter

Facebook

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 297 with Jorgen Pedersen where we discuss saving lives with robots or episode 400 with Austin Webb where we discuss changing agriculture with tech.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Jan 6, 2020

Anthony Gadient is co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer for Voci Technologies. Voci uses GPU-accelerated, deep machine learning speech technologies to help companies understand what their team members are saying on the phone.

 

Their technology helps clients mine actionable insights from their voice data. It can be applied to customer service, sales, and compliance analysis.

 

The company is built with technology spun out of Carnegie Mellon University. Previously, Anthony co-founded Neolinear, a semiconductor design automation firm that was acquired.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Anthony Gadient’s Challenge; Take some time to think about the implications of computers being able to hear you.

 

Connect with Anthony Gadient

Linkedin

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 303 with Luke Skurman the founder of Niche.com  and episode 361 with Jason Wolfe where we discuss multiple successful technology startups.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

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Dec 30, 2019

2019 was a year of growth and learning. Thank you for being a part of it.

We're planning for even more in 2020.

 

📈

📈 

Dec 23, 2019

David Levine founded NuGo Nutrition Bars in 2000 after raising a small sum of capital from friends and family.

 

NuGo Nutrition uses real dark chocolate to make their protein bars and have been committed to making healthy, high-caliber bars from their inception.

 

The company has developed a variety of SKUs developed for Kosher, gluten-free, organic, vegan, and low sugar diets.

 

David and Aaron discuss the founding of the company, how NuGo has scaled its distribution, and the fake chocolate used by other companies.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

David Levine’s Challenges; 

  1. Learn the difference between real and fake dark chocolate. 
  2. When you’re with your family, put the phone away so you can reflect on your day together.

 

Connect with David Levine

Linkedin

Instagram

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 407 with JD Ewing where we discuss wholesaling, trends in office furniture, and creating a company book club.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

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Dec 16, 2019

Brian Gaudio is the CEO of Module, a design & technology startup based in Pittsburgh. 

 

Module is developing a pay-as-you-go housing solution that enables homebuilders to provide an affordable and flexible entry point for homeownership. One of their distinctive features is a design that allows a buyer to turn a one-bedroom starter unit into a 3 bedroom house.

 

Brian has previously directed a documentary about the housing crisis in South America, worked as a Fulbright Scholar in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and worked in the Blue Sky Department at Walt Disney Imagineering.

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear Brian and Aaron discuss how home construction and financing are interwoven, why pre-fabricated houses are the future, and the capital-intensive nature of the business.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Brian Gaudio’s Challenge; Take one day during the holidays away from any work-related digital devices.

 

Connect with Brian Gaudio

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out all our past episodes with Pittsburgh’s business leaders and innovators.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Dec 9, 2019

J.D. Ewing is the President of COE Distributing, the largest furniture-only wholesale office furniture distributor in the United States. 

 

We traveled out to Uniontown, PA to record this interview at the company’s headquarters, which includes a 300,000 square foot warehouse.

 

The company also operated hubs in North Carolina and Texas, which allows it to serve the entire continental United States.

 

Over the last decade, COE has been growing rapidly. He bought the family business back after an acquirer ran into bankruptcy in 2008/09. Now, they are named an Inc. 5000 company and a Top 100 Fastest Growing Business by the Pittsburgh Business Times year-after-year.

 

In this episode, Aaron and J.D. discuss the start of the wholesaling business, when J.D. has been an opportunistic buyer, and trends in office furniture.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

J.D. Ewing’s Challenge; Optimize your life around work you enjoy.

 

Connect with J.D. Ewing

Linkedin

Instagram

Website

Office Source Furniture

 

Books

Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders by Steve Shallenberger 

Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty by Patrick Lencioni

The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip & Dan Heath

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 396 with Kristy Knichel where we discuss family business, 3rd party logistics, and customer service.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Nov 25, 2019

Jessica Gibson is CEO and Co-Founder of Ariel Precision Medicine, an integrated genomics and digital health company. 

 

Ariel helps patients with complex chronic diseases by using genetics and health information to model the mechanisms and drivers of disease. This enables clinicians to establish an early diagnosis, long-term prognosis, and targeted management plan.

 

Ariel's PancreasDx® is the most comprehensive genetic test for pancreatic disease and is built off of Dr. David C. Whitcomb’s leading research.

 

Aaron and Jessica discuss the mission behind the company, how commercialization efforts have evolved, and the promise of precision medicine.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Jessica Gibson’s Challenge; Understand that you can be the change you want to see in the world.

 

Connect with Jessica Gibson

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 405 with Matt Kesinger where we discuss the development and inspiration behind a medical device that helps people suffering strokes.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Nov 18, 2019

Matt Kesinger’s company, Forest Devices, is developing the medical device ALPHASTROKE to help first responders identify stroke and triage patients to the right hospital.

 

Strokes are the #1 cause of disability worldwide. Lives are changed by how quickly a stroke is diagnosed and treated.

 

Matt was EMT in Boston for two years and learned how hard it can be to diagnose a stroke with just a clinical exam. 

 

While attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Matt conducted and published research on the difficulties of pre-hospital providers diagnosing stroke. He was part of the team that conducted the largest US study on the identification of large vessel occlusive strokes in the pre-hospital environment. 

 

In this conversation, Matt & Aaron discuss how to diagnose a stroke, the testing process for medical devices, and the mission that inspires the team.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Matt Kesinger’s Challenge; Learn the signs of a stroke.

 

Connect with Matt Kesinger

Linkedin

Twitter

Forest Devices Website

matt.kesinger@forestdevices.com 

 

If you liked this interview, check out these past episodes

 

Former UPMC CIO Rasu Shrestha

Highmark VP of Innovation Sarah Ahmad

Chef Kevin Sousa



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

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

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

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