Episodes

  • Investing Beyond the Hubs w/ Alana Sierra Mann from Eleven Wall Ventures

    Investing Beyond the Hubs w/ Alana Sierra Mann from Eleven Wall Ventures
    Jan 30 2026
    In this conversation, Alana Sierra Mann, a general partner at Eleven Wall Ventures, discusses her investment philosophy, the importance of community building, and the evolving landscape of venture capital. She emphasizes the need for founders to have strong sales skills, the significance of diligence in the investment process, and the red flags to watch out for in potential partners. Alana also shares her journey in venture capital and the unique opportunities presented by vertical AI companies.

    Chapters
    00:00 Investing Beyond the Hubs
    02:55 Alana's Journey in Venture Capital
    06:01 Evolving Investment Philosophy
    08:50 Identifying Ideal Founders
    11:49 Red Flags in Founders
    15:00 Practical Advice for Founders
    17:45 The Importance of Humility in Venture
    20:50 Closing Thoughts and Community Building


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    29 mins
  • Mastering the VC Strategy w/ Jasper Vanuytrecht

    Mastering the VC Strategy w/ Jasper Vanuytrecht
    Jan 29 2026
    In this conversation, Chris and Jasper discuss the intricacies of go-to-market strategies for startups, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs, the role of AI in marketing, and the challenges of social media marketing. Jasper shares insights from his experience in the startup ecosystem, highlighting effective cold email strategies and the necessity of delivering value upfront to engage potential clients. The discussion also touches on the importance of separating genuine advice from misleading information in the crowded marketing landscape.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Founders GTM
    01:57 Understanding Go-To-Market Strategies
    03:52 The Role of AI in Strategy Development
    07:07 Navigating Social Media Marketing Challenges
    09:01 Case Study: Effective Cold Email Strategies
    20:56 Final Thoughts and Resources for Founders


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    26 mins
  • Diversity in Venture Capital w/ Lauren Roberts of Forum Ventures

    Diversity in Venture Capital w/ Lauren Roberts of Forum Ventures
    Jan 28 2026
    In this episode, Chris interviews Lauren Roberts from Forum Ventures, discussing her journey into venture capital, the importance of diversity in the industry, and what founders need to do to stand out in a competitive landscape. Lauren shares insights on the current trends in venture capital, including the significance of understanding the problem being solved, the role of AI in startups, and the growing focus on women's healthcare and cybersecurity. She emphasizes the need for founders to articulate their vision clearly and be open to feedback as they navigate their entrepreneurial journeys.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Venture Capital Journey
    02:55 Diversity in Venture Capital
    06:02 Transitioning to Forum Ventures
    08:52 What Founders Need to Stand Out
    12:00 Red Flags in Founder Pitches
    14:56 Industry Focus and Trends
    17:52 Advice for Founders Before Pitching


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    24 mins
  • The Best AI Community w/ AJ Green

    The Best AI Community w/ AJ Green
    Jan 27 2026
    In this conversation, Chris and AJ Green discuss the AI Collective, a global community focused on exploring the intersection of humanity and technology in the AI era. AJ shares insights on the importance of fostering conversations about AI, the benefits for founders in the AI space, and the value of building genuine connections. They emphasize the need for personal branding and community support for entrepreneurs, as well as the future of human connection in an increasingly digital world.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to the AI Collective
    03:00 The Role of Humanity in the AI Era
    05:50 Benefits for Founders in the AI Space
    08:53 Community and Nonprofit Focus
    12:03 The Future of Human Connection
    14:51 Building Personal Brands in AI
    17:52 Joining the AI Collective


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    22 mins
  • Revolutionizing Cancer Care: The Future of Longevity Medicine w/ Ben Blue Ora Biomedical

    Revolutionizing Cancer Care: The Future of Longevity Medicine w/ Ben Blue Ora Biomedical
    Jan 26 2026
    In this episode of Next Round Ready, host Chris welcomes back Ben Blue, founder of Ora Biomedical, to discuss the latest advancements in his company focused on cancer care therapies. Ben shares his unique background, growing up in a four-generation household in Alaska, which sparked his fascination with aging and health. Ouro Biomedical aims to develop therapies that enhance the resilience of healthy cells during cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy, addressing a significant unmet need in patient care. Ben emphasizes the importance of narrowing down their focus from broad ideas to actionable solutions that can make a real impact in the near term.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Ouro Biomedical
    01:07 The Journey of Ben Blue and Ouro Biomedical
    02:38 Focusing on Cancer Care Therapies
    06:38 Traction and Funding Success
    10:07 Navigating the Path to Market
    11:57 Fundraising Strategy and Future Goals
    15:12 Vision for the Future of Longevity Medicine



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    17 mins
  • Social Docket: Bridging Law and the Creator Economy

    Social Docket: Bridging Law and the Creator Economy
    Jan 23 2026
    Kameron elaborates on the business model of Social Docket, which operates as a SaaS platform offering a subscription-based service and a usage-based model for contract analysis. She discusses the importance of understanding the creator's workflow and the need for specialized legal tools tailored to the unique challenges faced by content creators. The conversation also touches on Kameron's go-to-market strategy, which includes leveraging social media and hosting engaging events to build community and awareness around the platform. As she prepares for fundraising, Kameron emphasizes the long-term vision of expanding Social Docket's services to encompass the entire digital workforce, aiming to be the go-to legal resource for various professionals in the evolving digital landscape.



    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Kameron Docket
    01:32 The Problem Social Docket Solves
    05:48 Business Model and SaaS Structure
    09:30 Competitors and Market Positioning
    12:42 Go-to-Market Strategy and Community Engagement
    17:52 Fundraising Journey and Investor Insights
    20:25 Long-Term Vision for Social Docket

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    23 mins
  • The Harsh Truth of Venture Capital w/ Ron Wiener

    The Harsh Truth of Venture Capital w/ Ron Wiener
    Jan 22 2026
    The conversation with Ron covers a wide range of topics related to startup funding, venture capital, and the challenges faced by both founders and VCs. Ron's insights provide valuable perspectives on the realities of startup funding, the importance of realistic expectations, and the significance of experience and mentorship in the startup journey. The conversation covers the arrogance of founders, the right approach to VCs, the importance of customer discovery, understanding customer needs, the concept of painkiller vs. vitamin, the role of the CEO in a startup, transitioning from founder to CEO, understanding venture scale, and work-life balance in entrepreneurship.

    Takeaways
    - Serial entrepreneurship
    - Realistic expectations for funding Customer discovery is crucial
    - Understanding venture scale is important for startups
    - The role of the CEO in a startup
    - Maintaining work-life balance in entrepreneurship

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction and Venture Mechanics
    05:01 VC Meeting Realities
    10:34 Effective VC Meetings
    15:55 Startup Leadership and Risk
    21:21 Serial Entrepreneurship and Startup Resilience
    26:55 The Right Way to Approach VCs
    32:03 Talking to Ideal Customers
    41:05 The CEO as a Temporary Position
    47:17 The First Investor in the Company


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    55 mins
  • The Essential Guide to Startup Legalities w/ Marla Miller 9to5 Legal Docs

    The Essential Guide to Startup Legalities w/ Marla Miller 9to5 Legal Docs
    Jan 21 2026
    In this conversation, Chris and Marla Miller discuss the often-overlooked legal challenges faced by startup founders. Marla shares her journey from international tax law to helping early-stage startups navigate their legal needs. They explore the importance of proper legal documentation, the significance of intellectual property, and the necessity of co-founder agreements. The discussion also touches on the role of AI in legal services and the value of human interaction in legal advice. Marla emphasizes the common pitfalls founders encounter, such as not documenting agreements and giving away too much equity too soon. The episode concludes with resources for founders to better manage their legal needs.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Legal Challenges for Startups
    02:50 The Importance of Legal Documentation
    06:03 Intellectual Property Essentials
    09:03 Navigating Co-Founder Agreements
    11:57 The Role of AI in Legal Services
    14:46 The Value of Human Interaction in Legal Advice
    17:44 Common Legal Pitfalls for Founders
    20:49 Conclusion and Resources for Founders


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    21 mins