Kirk is joined by Lauren Jerome for a conversation about the current state of innovation and how it impacts the new economy. Startup enthusiasts consistently look to thought leaders like Lauren for perspective on where the economy is going and how to build companies that move with it. We hope you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom. Lauren is the Entrepreneur in residence at RAIN in Eugene Oregon, a fabulous developer and co-founder of Mindbox Studios.    Special thanks to Starving Architect for our theme music. Toby, Josh, and Andrew for there work bringing you this podcast. 

Startup Redding

Ep 18 Embracing Innovation And What Craft Beer Can Teach You

Thursday 6/13 we are holding a live event. You are invited to join us at Theory Collaborative at 6:00 p.m. If you can't make it join at the Startup Redding Facebook page where we will live stream at 6:30 p.m. PST. During the event, we will be hearing from Nathan Slafter of Rente, He will pitch his company and then take questions from you the audience. We will also be joined by Eric Hiatt, Joshua Johnson and Josh Miller for a discussion with Nathan. We can't wait to see you in person or on Facebook. 

Big Announcement: It's Time for a Party!

Jenna of Turbans for Tots built a top 100 Esty Store and sells 1000's of baby bows. She manufactures them with a team of seamstresses in Redding, CA. After 5 years she is willing to acknowledge the obvious, she is an entrepreneur. Why has it been hard for her to see when it's obvious to her team? What could happen if she took this role seriously? Well for one will pitch at the Redding Venture Conference with a chance to win a 10k prize and possibly angel investment. Theme music by Starving Architect

Ep 25 Jenna Zint Discovers the Obvious...She's an Entrepreneur

Nathan Slafter, President of Rentevate (www.rente.io) explores how his love of riding bulls as a young man revealed his inner entrepreneur. And, how bull riding is both a great and dangerous way to approach building a startup. Yes, it's a full-throttle ride that requires determination and courage, but sometimes you "break your face." as Nathan did on his final ride. Listen in and get acquainted with Redding's latest startup founder. Music by Starving Architects Sponsor is the Redding Venture Conference.

Ep 24 Nathan Slafter Entrepreneurship and Bull Riding

Lot's of people want to start a business. The upsides are clear: Be your own boss, unlimited earning potential, reap the fruit of your own labor, flexibility...this list goes on and on. But, it's also a scary project and the fear of failure is often what prevents people from taking the leap.  In this episode, Josh Miller and Kirk Wayman explore some of the ways people try to start a business and avoid failure. Turns out it's doable but might not produce the result people are hoping for.  Episode Sponsor: The Redding Venture Conference. Learn more at https://www.startupredding.com/reddingventureconference Special thanks to: Starving Architect for our music https://starvingarchitect.bandcamp.com/ Toby Lyles of Twenty Four Sound for making us sound great.  Email: toby@twentyfoursound.com      

Ep 23 How To Start A Business And Not Fail

Dave Charlson started a company in a space he has succeeded in before. But, this time he was the CEO, in charge of everything. It's a wonderful opportunity and filled with new experiences and challenges. In this episode we begin to tell Dave's story as he works to scale his company. As this story unfolds we will share the ongoing journey of Dave, his company and what it takes to start, build and scale a startup.    All music in this episode is by Starving Architects and can be found on iTunes.  You can purchase WAG dog treats online at chewy.com or at your local pet supply store. 

Ep 22 Dave Charlson on Accelerating Growth: A Story Of Hope Rediscovered

There are lots of reasons to pitch your startup. 10K in free money might be the best. On this episode, Eric Hiatt, Executive Director of the Shasta Angels, describes how to pitch your business to investors. He has raised millions of dollars for his own companies and heard hundreds of pitches. Now he is leading a team to bring investment, startup pitches and all the work the Shasta Angels have been doing to the public in a new event called the Redding Venture Conference. Listen in and get a behind the curtain look at how you could win the 10K prize plus a chance at angel investment for your startup. 

Ep 21 10,000 Reasons To Pitch An Angel Investor

Everything did not go as planned when Joy Monster received funding from the Shasta Angels two years ago. They learned, pivoted and reorganized. Now Joy Monster finds themselves with a new focus and in their second round of fundraising. In this episode we meet Mark Soderwall, Joy Monsters new CEO and hear the story, the struggle and the dreams to finally scale. Will it become Reddings next startup success story? We don't know. What we do know is that they are a company on the brink. . . .

Ep 20 Joy Monster: A Company On The Brink. . .

Rachel Hatch might have the coolest job in the world. She is a community vitality officer for the McConnell Foundation. The foundation has made a 10-year commitment to supporting the revitalization of Redding's downtown. With much of Startup Redding's focus being concentrated in downtown, we thought it was the perfect time to bring Rachael into the studio to find out how these two efforts intersect. 

Ep 19 Building Our City With Rachel Hatch

Women make up a significant part of Redding Startup ecosystem and help define what it means to be an entrepreneur in Redding. We celebrate this with the Women in Entrepreneurship Award. It was shared by Jenna Zint of turbansfortots.com , Anne Ballard of TheCrowningJewel.com and Christine Sullivan of TwinSparrow.com. They join Kirk to share about their adventures discovering what it means to be women in entrepreneurship. It's a story of struggle, success, discovery and finally owning the term Entrepreneur. 

Ep 17 Women in Entrepreneurship: The Journey - The Struggle - The Awards

Sam Larobardiere and Joel Taylor share a behind the scenes look at what it took to create the partnership that fuels Theory Coffee. It was not easy to build a powerful relationship but it was worth it as they are now award-winning coffee roasters operating one of Redding's preeminent coffee companies. It's not often that two business partners will pull back the curtain and share this kind of story with us. We hope it helps you find the co-founder to kickstart your startup as well.     

Ep 16 Finding a Co-Founder: Theory Collaborative's Story

The 2018 Startup Weekend was another huge success. In this episode, Todd Jones the winning team's founder shares his experience and perspective on Startup, entrepreneurship and leading a team to victory. Todd opens up about the team's valley of sorrows and what it took to break-through and make it to the big pitch.    

Ep 15 Startup Weekend: Todd Jones Built a Startup in 54 Hours.

In this light-hearted episode, JDM and Kirk try to talk you out of becoming an entrepreneur by exploring the hardships of the journey. If you stick with them to the end you may have what it takes to be an entrepreneur or at least be a glutton for punishment. We hope you enjoy the journey.  Theme music by Starving Architects End Music: Death by Low Tide by Head vs. Wall. Copyright info and track can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Head_Vs_Wall/Death_At_Low_Tide/Death_At_Low_Tide  

Ep 14 Six Reasons You Should Not Be an Entrepreneur

It's amazing how hard failing is. If we are not careful it can take us out. In this episode, Kirk is joined by Josh Johnson, Co-founder and President of Mindbox Studios on this episode. He tells the story of his first startup called College Piggy which failed. Pay attention and you will discover that in the midst of this failure he found the dream and partners to create Mindbox Studio. He learned the valuable lesson of how to fail up!

Ep 13 The Origin of Mindbox: A Story of Failing Up

This episode could save you tons of money! Luke Miner joins us to share his thoughts about customer validation as presented in a recent Pub Talk. Listen in as he explores ways to find out what your customers think of your idea or product long before you have invested tons of money and time creating a product that no one wants to buy. Customer validation is a key part of the lean startup model and if you are not doing it you are most likely wasting money and time.  Here is the link to the blog Luke references:  http://paulgraham.com/ds.html

Ep 12 Validation: Don't build a product that is perfectly prepared for a world that doesn't exist.

Created by a group of founders, funders, and entrepreneurs who believe you can create a startup ecosystem in any city in the world. So, they started one in theirs, Redding, CA.