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Triangle Tweener Fund
A podcast for builders by builders in the Triangle. We explore the startup journey and stories with local Triangle founders, from the idea to the exit and everything in between. Hosted by serial entrepreneur and founder of the Triangle Tweener Fund Scot Wingo, and produced by Earfluence.
Total 5 episodes
1
Robbie Hardy: Her CI Technologies Exit, Women Investing in Women, and Upsetting the Table
Throughout her corporate consulting career in the 1980's, Robbie Hardy continued to rise in the ranks. However, according to Robbie, "I kept thinking there had to be something more. I was the always the only woman in the room, but I kind of didn't know that was weird because I didn't know anything else."So in 1993, Robbie founded her first company - and then sold it two years later.She's an entrepreneur through and through, and she's passionate about helping women invest in women.Today, we hear her story, including a sneak peek of her next book! Where to Find Robbie Hardy:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiehardy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robbiehardydotcomRobbieHardy.comWhere to Find Scot Wingo:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:02:30) Why Robbie never graduated from college(00:05:50) The idea - and why Robbie bootstrapped her first company(00:12:00) Building to 25 people and getting acquired(00:17:00) What happened after the acquisition (it was a lot of meetings)(00:22:00) Starting to angel invest in 1995, and running an investment group(00:37:45) A Million Dreams Across America(00:48:00) Moving to Hawaii(00:54:00) Writing her books, plus an exclusive sneak peek into the next book(01:01:00) Starting xElle Ventures(01:23:00) Entrepreneur in Residence at Duke University---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Earfluence.
01:30:1014/11/2024
Jesse Lipson: ShareFile (Exit to Citrix) -> Raleigh Founded and Levitate
In 2005, Jesse Lipson founded ShareFile, which he bootstrapped until it was sold to Citrix Systems in 2011 - for $93M.So how did he do it?And what inspired him to start Raleigh Founded coworking and his latest venture Levitate?Let's find out on today's Triangle Tweener Talks! Where to Find Jesse Lipson:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-lipson-625195X: https://x.com/jesselipsonLevitate: https://www.levitate.ai/Where to Find Scot Wingo:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:02:30) Does a Philosophy Degree help with entrepreneurship?(00:06:20) Jess gets caught up in the dot-com boom(00:09:00) An email signature idea that didn't work out(00:13:20) The origin of ShareFile, and the origin of a power couple(00:22:30) Testing Google AdWords - and then spending $300K/mo(00:29:05) How many dials does it take to book a demo? What's the show rate on the demo? What's the close rate on the demo?(00:35:00) Selling ShareFile to Citrix Solutions(00:41:30) Several employees became millionaires because of options(00:46:00) On selling ShareFile, "I can't decide whether I regret it or not."(00:47:45) The origin of Raleigh Founded(00:52:30) On starting Levitate - "I decided I was too young to retire."Referenced:Startup Spotlight: Raleigh startup Levitate, led by Jesse Lipson, lands new partnership: https://wraltechwire.com/2022/03/08/raleigh-startup-levitate-led-by-jesse-lipson-lands-new-partnership/Citrix buys cloudy storage biz ShareFile: https://www.theregister.com/2011/10/13/citrix_buys_sharefile/Progress acquires file management platform ShareFile for $875M: https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/09/progress-acquires-file-management-platform-sharefile-for-875m/---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Earfluence.
01:07:4907/11/2024
Jan Davis: Generation 1 Triangle Founder -> RTP Angel Fund + Carolina Angel Fund
According to her LinkedIn headline, Jan Davis has "doubled the size of three different businesses in different industries in three years or less as an operator."Amazing, but what's even more impressive is that she started her entrepreneurial journey in the 1980's, when female founders were few and far between.Today we hear her story of founding companies in the 80's and 90's, and what she's doing now as a Board member, angel investor, and recent co-founder of the RTP Angel Fund.Where to Find Jan Davis:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janldavis/RTP Angel Fund: https://www.rtpangelfund.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:02:07) They told me I was a risky hire because I was a woman.(00:05:53) What Jan learned by pitching to Chevrolet.(00:10:06) Jan's first exit, selling to AT&T.(00:11:30) Jan's first company death.(00:13:00) My son had his first bottle in a Board meeting.(00:15:00) The next business, raising capital, getting to $20M, and then...(00:18:52) Transition to Warsaw, Poland(00:26:59) Legacy Systems Technical Debt in Direct Marketing(00:30:25) Digital Marketing Transformation(00:36:11) Real-time Testing Revolutionizes Marketing Strategies(00:44:01) Binocular Technology for Retail Analysis(00:49:01) Optimizing Retail Operations through Data Analysis(01:02:45) Technology-Driven Angel Investing with Triangle Angel Partners(01:15:33) Starting the RTP Angel FundReferenced:New angel investor fund launches in Triangle with high-profile backers: https://wraltechwire.com/2023/08/10/new-angel-investor-fund-launches-in-triangle-with-high-profile-backers/---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Earfluence.
01:21:5401/11/2024
Alex Lassiter: Gather (Exit) -> GreenPlaces
As a Morehead Scholar UNC grad, and with a successful start to his career at Bain Capital, Alex Lassiter could have done anything next.He chose entrepreneurship, which led to him living in Atlanta over a Chinese restaurant, so poor that he was calculating the cost of beans with his other cofounders and eating blue chicken.He had dozens of ideas that failed.And then one hit big.Today, Alex shares his entrepreneurial journey with host Scot Wingo.Where to Find Alex Lassiter:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8C%8F-alex-lassiter-b6673b8/Website: https://greenplaces.com/Where to Find Scot Wingo:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:01:59) "I was always an idea a minute person..."(00:03:42) Alex's first giant check(00:07:24) He could have been gorged by a bull or met the love of his life(00:09:27) Alex the Bain intern wins a pitch competition(00:13:30) Hitting up all the Bojangle's on the East Coast(00:19:30) The first startup was called Frequenter, which was supposed to be a better Yelp. Then 3 more companies...(00:20:10) Table, a new app for last minute reservations(00:25:50) Living above a Chinese restaurant in Atlanta, trash blowing in every day, and eating blue chicken(00:28:30) You know you're poor when you're calculating cost per bean(00:29:30) Starting Gather and the first $45K investment(00:39:30) Learning the SDR model for growth(00:40:30) Another raise for Gather - this time 7 figures(00:44:00) Acquiring a competitor(00:46:30) Vista Equity comes calling -> Gather Exit(00:53:00) Drake, Ferraris, and Neil Degrasse Tyson(01:30:00) Starting again with GreenPlacesReferenced:Raleigh sustainability software startup GreenPlaces looks to grow with $13M in funding: https://wraltechwire.com/2023/06/21/raleigh-sustainability-software-startup-greenplaces-looks-to-grow-with-13m-in-funding/Triangle entrepreneurs pour $3M into Raleigh ESG startup: https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/inno/stories/fundings/2022/08/26/raleigh-esg-startup-green-places-new-funding.htmlGreenPlaces Secures $4M in Seed Funding led by Felicis: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenplaces-secures-4m-in-seed-funding-led-by-felicis-301648505.html---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Earfluence.
01:15:1525/10/2024
Scot Wingo: Stingray -> AuctionRover -> ChannelAdvisor -> Spiffy -> Triangle Tweener Fund
Welcome to Triangle Tweener Talks, where we share stories from founders about how they got to where they are today. The first founder we’re hearing from is the man who will be hosting this podcast - serial entrepreneur and general partner of the Triangle Tweener fund, Scot Wingo.Where to Find Scot Wingo:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/X: https://x.com/scotwingoIn this episode:(00:01:30) Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg? That's not my story.(00:05:30) Here's how to get a lamborghini.(00:08:00) USC, first job, meeting Dr Miller at NC State, and being infamous in a bad way.(00:14:00) We started Stingray Software(00:16:30) Exit, how Star Wars inspired AuctionRover.com, and the first multi-million $ check(00:22:00) ChannelAdvisor -> 800 employees(00:28:00) Ringing the NYSE bell(00:32:50) What if I reimagined car care?(00:34:30) Starting the Tweener List -> Triangle Tweener FundReferenced:The FORTUNE Magazine Cover with Bill Gates that Changed it All: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FgLns-9WQAAjxsF?format=jpg&name=large"Scot Wingo, a serial entrepreneur ‘paying it forward’": https://wraltechwire.com/2019/12/31/tech-legends-scot-wingo-a-serial-entrepreneur-paying-it-forward/Scot on Mad Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ilacBdzv4Wingo steps down as Spiffy CEO: https://businessnc.com/wingo-steps-down-as-spiffy-ceo/---Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Earfluence.
01:01:2015/10/2024