Business
You probably know about Silicon Valley startups. And Manhattan’s tech chops. But have you seen the new companies that are cooking up in the Midwest? Or, as Ira Weiss, Partner of Hyde Park Venture Partners, calls it: “Mid-Continent.” And he should know. HPVP invests exclusively in early-stage tech companies in the (previously-considered) flyover states. If you’re raising a first or second round of capital, this fund is likely on your radar. Ira has been investing in private companies for 15 years, with over 125 VC & angel investments. He sits on many boards as a director or observer of FourKites, Parkwhiz, ShipBob, and others. And, somehow, he finds time to teach entrepreneurship as Professor at University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. In this 20-minute conversation, Ira shares his many insights about how to successfully scale a team as your business ramps. (Even if you’re not Mid-Continent, it’s filled with practical advice.)