Refinery VC

Dave Mawhinney joins host Tim Schigel to talk about a history of entrepreneurship and what the transition was like entering into academia at Carnegie Mellon. Dave is the Executive Director of the The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, and in his role he connects with brilliant minds about developing their innovative and creative solutions. In today's conversation, Dave and Tim offer advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, and discuss the technology output and scene around Carnegie Mellon. Key Takeaways: <ul><li>[00:14&nbsp;-&nbsp;01:26] About Dave Mawhinney</li><li>[01:54&nbsp;-&nbsp;04:28] A serial entrepreneur walks into academia</li><li>[04:30&nbsp;-&nbsp;06:41] How Dave's background as an entrepreneur enables him to communicate to entrepreneurs coming out of academia</li><li>[06:55&nbsp;-&nbsp;10:49] The Swartz Center, Jim Swartz, and his support</li><li>[10:49&nbsp;-&nbsp;18:22] Carnegie Mellon and what separates it from other technology-centric institutions</li><li>[18:23&nbsp;-&nbsp;20:44] Carnegie Mellon's ranking as a top destination for tech talent, it's student population</li><li>[20:45&nbsp;-&nbsp;24:36] The Carnegie Mellon startup scene and it's successes</li><li>[24:37&nbsp;-&nbsp;28:05] Comparing the startup scene between last decade, today, and ten years into the future</li><li>[28:06&nbsp;-&nbsp;29:38] How people can become more involved with activities and events at CMU tech scene</li><li>[29:41&nbsp;-&nbsp;30:48] Network, network, network</li></ul>

Experienced Entrepreneur, Investor and Senior Executive with a demonstrated history of creating valuable companies. Rapidly promoted in higher education for strong classroom performance and creating broad and deep experiential learning programs to benefit students, faculty and alumni. Strong business development professional with a MBA with Distinction focused in Entrepreneurship from Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business. Summa Cu Laude graduate from IUP with a major in Physics and minors in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.

Dave Mawhinney

Executive Director, The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship

Dave Mawhinney joins host Tim Schigel to talk about a history of entrepreneurship and what the transition was like entering into academia at Carnegie Mellon. Dave is the Executive Director of the The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, and in his role he connects with brilliant minds about developing their innovative and creative solutions. In today's conversation, Dave and Tim offer advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, and discuss the technology output and scene around Carnegie Mellon.


S6 Ep. 3 — Dave Mawhinney: The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship

S6 E3 — Dave Mawhinney: The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship

Dave Mawhinney joins host Tim Schigel to talk about a history of entrepreneurship and what the transition was like entering into academia at Carnegie Mellon. Dave is the Executive Director of the The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, and in his role he connects with brilliant minds about developing their innovative and creative solutions. In today's conversation, Dave and Tim offer advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, and discuss the technology output and scene around Carnegie Mellon.

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Fast Frontiers

On today's episode of Fast Frontiers, host Tim Schigel sits down to speak with Mike Kadin, the CEO of RedCircle. The two discuss strategies for managing high-growth companies, lessons learned in hiring and how Mike met his co-founder Jeremy Lermitte. Key Takeaways: <ul><li>[01:55] Meet Mike Kadin of RedCircle</li><li>[05:56] Experiences unique to RedCircle's growth and lessons in high-growth</li><li>[09:55] How far out was RedCircle planning their growth strategy</li><li>[11:10] Hiring takeaways and lessons</li><li>[16:38] When and how Mike and Jeremy met</li><li>[18:56] Mike and Jeremy finding common ground and learning from past workplaces</li><li>[23:01] Be Real and Be Respectful</li><li>[25:31] Continuously learning and different stages of growth</li><li>[29:02] What's attracted Mike to podcasting</li><li>[32:25] The integration of technology in cars and the listening experience</li><li>[33:15] How Mike is helping podcasters, and how the medium has changed</li><li>[37:02] What Mike wants podcasters to know about RedCircle</li><li>[38:28] What the future of podcasts looks like according to Mike</li></ul>

Mike Kadin

CEO of RedCircle

On today's episode of Fast Frontiers, host Tim Schigel sits down to speak with Mike Kadin, the CEO of RedCircle. The two discuss strategies for managing high-growth companies, lessons learned in hiring and how Mike met his co-founder Jeremy Lermitte. 



S6 Ep. 2 — Inside Refinery: Mike Kadin, CEO of RedCircle

Mike Kadin on high-growth and meeting his co-founder at RedCircle

On today's episode of Fast Frontiers, host Tim Schigel sits down to speak with Mike Kadin, the CEO of RedCircle. The two discuss strategies for managing high-growth companies, lessons learned in hiring and how Mike met his co-founder Jeremy Lermitte.


Welcome back to Fast Frontiers! In the Season 6 premiere, Gokul Rajaram talks with host Tim Schigel about working as an investor and "company helper." Gokul does a deep dive into his SPADE decision-making framework, about creating compelling products that solve real-world issues, and the rise in product analytics as a function of business. Key Takeaways: <ul><li>[01:20] Introduction to Gokul</li><li>[02:33] Being exposed to high-caliber people</li><li>[03:47] Keep learning and stay humble</li><li>[04:54] Investing and having fun building businesses, making connections</li><li>[07:44] Cold-calling and indulging curiosity as a great "party trick"</li><li>[09:15] The SPADE decision-making framework</li><li>[11:07] Transparency in business operations and decision-making</li><li>[12:58] Diving into SPADE</li><li>[16:18] This framework should not be used for day-to-day reversible decisions</li><li>[19:15] How Gokul sees organizations do a good job of staying focused on the problem and not the product</li><li>[23:05] Evaluating the company mission and making a compelling product that solves problems</li><li>[26:41] The rise of product analytics as a function</li><li>[29:05] Feature launch is not a goal, feature launch is not an outcome. It is an experiment</li><li>[29:47] Technologies Gokul is interested in investing in</li><li>[29:47] Words of wisdom on solving problems and setting goals</li></ul>

Gokul Rajaram is the Product and Business Helper at Doordash and currently in Pinterest and Coinbase as board member.

Gokul Rajaram

Investor and Company Helper

In the Season 6 premiere, Gokul Rajaram talks with host Tim Schigel about working as an investor and "company helper." Gokul does a deep dive into his SPADE decision-making framework, about creating compelling products that solve real-world issues, and the rise in product analytics as a function of business.



S6 Ep. 1 — Gokul Rajaram: Investor and Company Helper

S6 Ep 1. Gokul Rajaram: Investor and Company Helper

Welcome back to Fast Frontiers! In the Season 6 premiere, Gokul Rajaram talks with host Tim Schigel about working as an investor and "company helper." Gokul does a deep dive into his SPADE decision-making framework, about creating compelling products that solve real-world issues, and the rise in product analytics as a function of business.



Rediscover the best podcast around for learning about Refinery Ventures' portfolio of companies and the work those organizations are doing. Host and Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures, Tim Knight, speaks with CEOs, founders, and experts about startups, technology, the future, and more.

Rediscover the best podcast around for learning about Refinery Ventures' portfolio of companies and the work those organizations are doing. Host and Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures, Tim Knight, speaks with CEOs, founders, and experts about startups, technology, the future, and more.  


Trailer: Season 6 is Coming Soon!

Fast Frontiers by Refinery Ventures returning this September 2022!

Rediscover the best podcast around for learning about Refinery Ventures' portfolio of companies and the work those organizations are doing. Host and Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures, Tim Knight, speaks with CEOs, founders, and experts about startups, technology, the future, and more.


Pete Blackshaw joins host Tim Schigel to talk about his efforts at Cintrifuse to create a startup economy in Cincinnati. Pete talks about how his career working with companies like Nielsen BuzzMetrics and Nestle influenced his work with startups, and how programming helps to grow culture and community. The two discuss the impact of transforming Cincinnati's airport into a startup and technology platform, as well as initiatives that excite Pete like sustainability, electrification, and zero waste.

Pete Blackshaw is CEO of Cintrifuse, a syndicate “fund of funds” and startup incubator created by P&G, Kroger, Western & Southern and other major entities in the Greater Cincinnati region. He’s dedicated to developing a world-class innovation ecosystem to fuel economic growth, local attractiveness, jobs and big company innovation. He recently served as VP of Digital Innovation and Service Models, and earlier Global Head of Digital Marketing. & Social Media, at Nestle, S.A.s global headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland. Pete pioneered Nestle’s industry-recognized Digital Acceleration Team (DAT), the Silicon Valley Innovation Outpost (SVIO). the HENRi Open Innovation platform, and the migration of 210,000 employees to the Facebook Workplace collaboration platform. He served as CMO of NM Incite, a joint venture between Nielsen and McKinsey centering around enterprise social media strategy and insights. He is author of a book by Doubleday entitled “Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3000: Running a Business in Today’s Consumer-Driven World,” and periodically authors columns in Advertising Age centered around the book’s themes. Pete founded PlanetFeedback.com <http://PlanetFeedback.com> , one of the web’s first consumer-feedback portals, and co-founded the Word-of-Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA). He recently served as Chairman of the Board of the National Council of Better Business Bureaus and in that capacity sat on the National Advertising Review Council. He’s a 2016 Mediapost "Online All Star" recipient, a 2014 inductee of the World of Mouth Marketing Hall of Fame, and a 2010 Grand Prize winner of the “Great Minds” award from the Advertising Research Foundation. Pete is a graduate of Harvard Business School and the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Pete Blackshaw

CEO, Cintrifuse

Pete Blackshaw joins host Tim Schigel to talk about his efforts at Cintrifuse to create a startup economy in Cincinnati.


S5 Ep 5. Pete Blackshaw: CEO of Cintrifuse

Cintrifuse CEO Pete Blackshaw discusses the organization's core role to create a startup economy in Cincinnati 

Pete Blackshaw joins host Tim Schigel to talk about his efforts at Cintrifuse to create a startup economy in Cincinnati. Pete talks about how his career working with companies like Nielsen BuzzMetrics and Nestle influenced his work with startups, and how programming helps to grow culture and community. The two discuss the impact of transforming Cincinnati's airport into a startup and technology platform, as well as initiatives that excite Pete like sustainability, electrification, and zero waste.


Carl Grant joins Fast Frontiers and host Tim Schigel to chat about his career journey, and how experiencing a recession at an early-stage startup influences his insights and leadership in the VC world. Carl also talks about his initiative with Venture Raise, a platform for entrepreneurs to match with venture capital funding, shares tips for building connections as entrepreneurs, and how faith has helped him navigate life and business.

I am a frustrated entrepreneur who no longer has the risk profile to quit my job and do a full-time startup. 

In the mid-90s, I took a break from the startup world to manage the Fairfax County EDA's Capital Attraction Program. There, I learned that venture capitalists (VCs) prefer deals referred by CEOs, limited partners, accountants, lawyers and investment bankers. I became part of that proprietary deal flow network and built a professional network that would propel my career for 20+ years. 

PwC recruited me as their first external business development professional where I figured out how to make audits sound sexy. By positioning PwC as the gatekeeper to VCs for aspiring entrepreneurs, I turned PwC into a magnet for startups.

During the early 2000s, I served on the management teams of two VC-backed startups and the board of one. At EYECAST, the first company to put video on the internet, we raised an NEA-led $36M Series A. At CyberCFO we were positioned to be an early fintech leader. Ultimately, the burst of the tech bubble and 9-11 killed both companies.

From those two failed startups, the High Tech Prayer Breakfast was born. It is an all-volunteer workplace ministry I chaired for 20 years that has enabled me to integrate my faith and work in a way that is very helpful to others. Our annual event draws over 800 people.

While at Cooley, I have helped found VentureRaise.io, a bank, a VC fund and a church; earned private pilots and boating licenses; serve on the advisory boards of an angel group and some technology companies. I have hosted two weekly podcasts called Faith@Work and Rainmakers.

As a trusted advisor to startup CEOs, I am sought out because my vast contacts and professional networking skills. I help them find funding, management team hires, board members, potential acquirers and provide strategic guidance.

Carl Grant

EVP, Global Business Development at Cooley LLP

Carl Grant joins Fast Frontiers and host Tim Schigel to chat about his career journey, and how experiencing a recession at an early-stage startup influences his insights and leadership in the VC world.


S5 Ep 4. Carl Grant: Executive Vice President of Global Business Development at Cooley

Carl Grant on navigating a career in startups and venture capital

Carl Grant joins Fast Frontiers and host Tim Schigel to chat about his career journey, and how experiencing a recession at an early-stage startup influences his insights and leadership in the VC world. Carl also talks about his initiative with Venture Raise, a platform for entrepreneurs to match with venture capital funding, shares tips for building connections as entrepreneurs, and how faith has helped him navigate life and business.


Steve Escaravage, Executive Vice President at Booz Allen, talks about what A.I. is and its uses at Booz Allen, as well as popular ideas surrounding artificial intelligence. Tim and Steve also discuss how entrepreneurs can approach opportunities to collaborate with venture capital firms, hurdles to A.I. development, and Steve's thoughts on where the technology is headed.

Steve Escaravage is the senior leader in Booz Allen’s analytics practice and artificial intelligence (AI) business. He and his teams help clients with the operational integration of data science, machine learning, and AI solutions. Steve drives the firm’s analytics strategy, vision, and technical delivery across all markets and sectors. 


Steve Escaravage

Executive Vice President at Booz Allen

Steve Escaravage, Executive Vice President at Booz Allen, talks about what A.I. is and its uses at Booz Allen, as well as popular ideas surrounding artificial intelligence.


S5 Ep 3. Steve Escaravage: Executive Vice President at Booz Allen

Steve Escaravage discusses applications for artificial intelligence at Booz Allen

Steve Escaravage, Executive Vice President at Booz Allen, talks about what A.I. is and its uses at Booz Allen, as well as popular ideas surrounding artificial intelligence. Tim and Steve also discuss how entrepreneurs can approach opportunities to collaborate with venture capital firms, hurdles to A.I. development, and Steve's thoughts on where the technology is headed.


Recent Episodes

SEASON 6

S6 Ep. 2 — Inside Refinery: Mike Kadin, CEO of RedCircle

S6 Ep. 1 — Gokul Rajaram: Investor and Company Helper

Trailer: Season 6 is Coming Soon!

SEASON 5

S5 Ep 5. Pete Blackshaw: CEO of Cintrifuse

S5 Ep 4. Carl Grant: Executive Vice President of Global Business Development at Cooley

S5 Ep 3. Steve Escaravage: Executive Vice President at Booz Allen

About The Show

Fast Frontiers

Tim Schigel

Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures