Refinery VC

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.


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An exploration of how innovation frontiers are emerging in surprising places.Stay up to date with Fast Frontiers by <a href="http://eepurl.com/hbJORv" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribing</a> to our newsletter!

Fast Frontiers

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.


Host Tim Schigel is joined by Co-founder and Chairman of Arrive Mobility, Aashish Dalal, to talk about his journey taking ParkWhiz from inception to present day as Arrive Mobility. Aashish walks through growing the company's footprint, naïveté about investor capital, and ultimately the business lessons and relationships that helped ParkWhiz find success.

CEO, Operator, Entrepreneur, Advisor, and Board Member. Expertise in building and managing world-class, high-growth technology companies.

Aashish Dalal

Founder & Chairman, ParkWhiz (now Arrive Mobility)

Host Tim Schigel is joined by Co-founder and Chairman of Arrive Mobility, Aashish Dalal, to talk about his journey taking ParkWhiz from inception to present day as Arrive Mobility.


S5 Ep 2. Aashish Dalal: Co-founder of ParkWhiz (now Arrive Mobility)

Aashish Dalal of ParkWhiz (now Arrive Mobility) on startup growth and entrepreneurship in the parking industry

Host Tim Schigel is joined by Co-founder and Chairman of Arrive Mobility, Aashish Dalal, to talk about his journey taking ParkWhiz from inception to present day as Arrive Mobility. Aashish walks through growing the company's footprint, naïveté about investor capital, and ultimately the business lessons and relationships that helped ParkWhiz find success. 


Chief Innovation Officer of CVG Airport, Brian Cobb, talks about his career in the aviation industry and seeking innovative solutions that have transformed the airport into a business hub. Along with host Tim Schigel, the two discuss CVG's acceptance of technology and data to solve customer perceptions, aligning with leadership towards business innovation, and the future of the airport with startup incubation and the next generation of technologies.

Highly organized, visionary leader strategically focused on business growth, fiscal strength and brand delivery while inspiring personnel to excel. Tenured in directing inclusive workgroups across the U.S. in operations, sales, production, and services. Persuasive facilitator and public speaker for diverse, global audiences, sharing how change management through innovation builds a culture of collaboration, navigates through crises, attains successive and sustainable wins, and affirms a strategic position throughout business life-cycle curves. Consistently leads beyond title.

Brian Cobb

Chief Innovation Officer, CVG Airport

Chief Innovation Officer of CVG Airport, Brian Cobb, talks about his career in the aviation industry and seeking innovative solutions that have transformed the airport into a business hub.


S5 Ep 1. Brian Cobb: Chief Innovation Officer at CVG airport

CVG's Brian Cobb talks about innovation at the airport and incubation for startups

Chief Innovation Officer of CVG Airport, Brian Cobb, talks about his career in the aviation industry and seeking innovative solutions that have transformed the airport into a business hub. Along with host Tim Schigel, the two discuss CVG's acceptance of technology and data to solve customer perceptions, aligning with leadership towards business innovation, and the future of the airport with startup incubation and the next generation of technologies.


Today we're continuing with part two of the Man Behind the Mic conversation with our friend, Joe Kaiser. Joe is director at Mercato Partners, a private equity firm, where he leads their investment efforts in the Midwest, as well as their performance team. For part two, Joe asked my thoughts, advice, rules, principles, guidelines about how I approach venture capital.

Joe Kaiser

Director at Mercato Partners

S4 Ep 7. Man Behind the Mic Part 2: Interview by Joe Kaiser at Mercato Partners

Today we're doing something different. This is our Man Behind the Mic episode where I'll be interviewed by my friend Joe Kaiser. Joe's a Director at Mercato Partners, a private equity firm where he leads the firm's investment efforts in the Midwest, as well as its performance team. A huge thank you goes out to Joe for coming up with this idea and giving us his time and thoughtful questions. He was kind enough to switch seats and put me in the hot seat for this interview. For part one, we're going to dive into why we started Fast Frontiers, my experience and journey as a CEO, operator, fund to funds manger and VC investor. And we'll also discuss the origin and thesis for Refinery Ventures.

Recent Episodes

SEASON 5

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

S5 Ep 2. Aashish Dalal: Co-founder of ParkWhiz (now Arrive Mobility)

S5 Ep 1. Brian Cobb: Chief Innovation Officer at CVG airport

SEASON 4

S4 Ep 7. Man Behind the Mic Part 2: Interview by Joe Kaiser at Mercato Partners

S4 Ep 6. Man Behind the Mic Part 1: Interview by Joe Kaiser at Mercato Partners

About The Show

Fast Frontiers

Tim Schigel

Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures