Forward Obsessed

The Future Of Conversational Marketing With David Cancel

David Cancel is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Drift, the world's first conversational marketing and sales technology company. David is a Bronx native who dropped out of college to pursue his career in tech. He has been part of six exits, including HubSpot, where he was the CTO responsible for revolutionizing their products and taking the company from a $100 million valuation to a public company worth $12 billion. He also founded Drift, which is currently the first company to focus on conversational marketing and AI, and recently acquired at a valuation of $1 Billion. His philosophy and dedication to his craft is evident in his achievements and contributions to the tech industry.
 
The interview covers a range of personal and professional topics including cultivating work ethic, how to promote diversity in tech, raising money as a sales process, the importance of branding, discovering arbitrage opportunities in marketing, and intimately knowing one's strengths and weaknesses.
 
David’s experiences and perspectives are fundamentally unique and inspiring - if you have never watched the entirety of an episode, let this be the first. 
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(2:30) -  Early years in the boogie down
(11:39) - Learning how to grow up in a city
(15:43) - First job in a Chinese-owned Warehouse
(19:12) - Why I dropped out of college 
(23:35) - Getting my first job in coding
(27:46) - Transitioning from student to entrepreneur
(30:17) - Being seen as a CTO in the startup industry
(36:40) - Why everyone is too specialized
(39:25) - Breaking into an industry where people don’t look like you
(47:00) - Founding Compete
(52:53) - Why I love raising money for a startup
(01:02:00) - The best way to approach a layoff
(01:08;00) - The concept behind Performable
(01:12:00) - Working for Hubspot after getting acquired
(01:20:00) - Rebuilding the code behind  Hubspot from the ground up
(01:24:00) - What makes a visionary product leader? 
(01:30:50) - How to enter into a good business partnership
(01:39:00) - Founding Drift
(01:43:30) - The importance of branding in a saturated market
(01:54:00) - Transitioning from founder to Executive Chair  
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Episode Transcript: https://ds.link/DavidCancel
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcancel/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dcancel
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cancel
Drift: https://www.drift.com/
Hubspot: https://www.hubspot.com/
Conversational Marketing Book: https://www.amazon.com/Conversational-Marketing-Companies-Chatbots-Generate/dp/1119541832
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 

The Entrepreneur’s Epilogue And Defining Success With A.J Wasserstein

A.J Wasserstein is Lecturer in the Practice of Management at the Yale School of Management, and was previously the Founder and CEO of ArchivesOne, a document storage company that sold to Iron Mountain after 17 years of operation and growth. 
 
School is in session with A.J as he recounts his experiences with choosing an industry for its ideal economic characteristics, using “programmatic acquisitions” to steadily grow into a national brand, and experiencing a sense of loss when he sold his company after 17 years. Learn about the unique world of Search Fund Entrepreneurship, why passion for the product is not necessary when starting a business, and why being a “10x10+” entrepreneur is the best road to achieving happiness in your career. 
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(2:33) - Early years 
(5:11) - Why MBA students don’t usually start their own business
(10:29) - Why economic models matter for entrepreneurs
(12:11) - Understanding economic characteristics
(16:30) - How do you learn to make acquisitions? 
(19:52) - The difference between an acquisition and an integration
(22:00) - How to grow your business with “programmatic acquisitions” 
(26:57) - The three kinds of acquisitions
(31:27) - Is passion for the product necessary in entrepreneurship? 
(35:20) - How to cultivate passion
(37:37) - What is a Search Fund? 
(45:15) - The track, the horse, and the jockey
(49:45) - How fast should an entrepreneur move? 
(53:50) - Using economic characteristics to choose an industry
(59:45) - Why 10x10+ Entrepreneurs are the happiest
(01:04:00) - What is “enlightened human capital”? 
(01:11:00) - How does an entrepreneur achieve balance? 
(01:16:41) - The Entrepreneur’s Epilogue  
(01:28:22) - Defining happiness and success
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Yale University Profile and list of publications: https://som.yale.edu/faculty-research/faculty-directory/j-wasserstein
Stanford Search Fund Study: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/case-studies/2022-search-fund-study-selected-observations
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 

Creative Science and Entrepreneurship With Dr. Ranjit Bindra

Ranjit Bindra is a serial Biotech entrepreneur and Professor of Medicine at Yale University. He is Cofounder of Cybrexa, Alphina, and B3 Therapeutics, and is the Cofounder and CEO of Modifi Bio. 
 
Dive into the world of a “creative scientist” turned entrepreneur as Ranjit recounts his early years in an entrepreneurial household, developing a passion for science and biology, and finding his personal mission to fight cancer when his father died before he graduated from Med school. Learn about what it takes to make the perfect pitch deck, how to build a team with great chemistry, filtering toxic personalities from the workplace, and tips for time management. 
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(2:30) - Early years
(4:55) - Having creative, entrepreneurial parents
(6:30) - What is a “creative scientist”? 
(10:45) - New questions unlock new possibilities 
(12:58) - Different scientists “personas”
(15:45) - The line between dedication and delusion
(21:45) - Playing in a band in college
(24:30) - My father died of cancer while I was learning about it 
(28:20) - How to join in the fight against cancer
(32:45) - Founding Helix with a pitch deck
(36:30) - The right way to approach entrepreneurship
(38:00) - What makes a winning pitch? 
(45:20) - What failure feels like
(48:30) - What is the chemistry of a great team? 
(51:30) - What is the formula for trust? 
(58:20) - Filtering for toxic personalities in the hiring process
(01:06:00) - Founding Cybrexa
(01:10:00) - Branding in science and biotech
(01:15:25) - Raising money in biotech
(01:21:00) - Signs of a healthy acquisition
(01:22:15) - Founding Alphina
(01:24:45) - Anti-aging technologies
(01:27:30) - Running a virtual company and Zoom Fatigue
 (01:38:15) - Learning to be a CEO for Modifi Bio 
(01:42:15) - Time management techniques
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Ranjit’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ranjitbindra
Ranjit’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjit-bindra-777b174/
Modifi Bio: https://modifibio.com/
Mybrexa: http://www.cybrexa.com/
Article on CEO Time Management: https://hbr.org/2018/07/how-ceos-manage-time
Owl Virtual Work Technology (Mentioned By Pete): https://owllabs.com/
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

The Future Of Modern With John Edelman

John Edelman is the President and CEO of Heller, an American modern design company that makes and sells indoor/outdoor furniture and accessories. John was previously the CEO of Design Within Reach, which was sold to Herman Miller in 2014.
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(4:09) - Early years in an entrepreneurial home
(8:13) - Advice for starting a new company
(11:00) - The Importance Of Taste
(14:20) - Learning to love modern design
(18:30) - The art of the flip
(22:27) - Getting a visit from Andy Warhol
(24:35) - The power of window displays
(27:33) - Tips for running a family business
(29:47) - Changing the strategy at Edelman Leather
(33:25) - Dealing with family in your business
(35:37) - Using your competition to power growth
(40:15) - Discovering the Brazilian show business
(42:50) - Selling the family business
(48:09) - Keeping your family happy while running a business
(50:19) - Almost losing a deal in the last moment
(56:06) - How to motivate your team
(1:07:12) - Selling Design Within Reach
(1:16:26) - The 10/80/10 Management Model
(1:19:33) - After selling Design Within Reach
(1:21:24) - Failing in the vodka industry
(1:24:26) - Having a partnership and also a friendship
(1:27:36) - Running the legendary design brand, Heller
EPISODE LINKS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-edelman-4361a012/
Heller: https://hellerinc.com/
Design Within Reach: https://www.dwr.com/
Herman Miller: https://www.hermanmiller.com/
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 
Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons

Founding Junkluggers With Josh Cohen

Josh Cohen is Founder and President of Junkluggers, one of the largest franchised junk removal services in the world. Step into the world of making trash into treasure as Josh recounts having his “aha-moment” around a fire with some friends in Australia, starting a company with Bar Mitzvah money and a pickup truck called “Old Rusty,” and the winding road to selling his business in 2022. Josh talks about building a robust culture, the risks of growing a company too quickly, tips on how to franchise your business, and finding strength to dig out of the lowest point in your career. 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(2:30) - Early years in Australia
(8;00) - Nearly going out of business three times
(10:50) - Selling Junkluggers on my 40th birthday
(13:00) - Making mistakes and learning from them
(16:00) - How I became a stronger leader
(18:30) - Building a strong culture
(22:45) - Pivoting to a franchise model
(27:44) - Making mistakes in franchising 
(32:24) - Don’t spend too much time planning your business
(36:45) - How to franchise your business
(42:00) - Using financial transparency to build culture
(46:20) - Driving compliance in a franchise 
(53:00) - Working with Larry Janesky and Basement Systems
(57:28) - The lowest point in my career
(1:01:20) - Hitting explosive growth during COVID
(1:07:00) - Shopping for potential acquirers
(1:10:00) - Junkluggers…after being acquired
1:17:00) - Founding Remix Market
EPISODE LINKS:
Junkluggers website: https://www.junkluggers.com/
Josh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/junkluggerjosh/
Josh’s email: josh@junkuggers.com
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 
Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons

The Future Of Cannabis Beverages With Matt Melander

Matt Melander was the Founder, President, and CFO at LEVIA, a cannabis beverage company that has become one of the largest brands in the cannabis edibles industry. After selling his company in 2022, Matt is now focusing on transforming the cannabis industry and developing innovative cannabinoid products.
 
In this episode, step into Matt’s past as he relates the inspirational story of his grandfather, who built a company that survived losing a third of their workforce in 9/11 and fought to support every family through the tragedy. Learn about the deep morals and values that Matt has used to guide his life, from the darkest times to building a cannabis company that has transformed the edibles industry. Hear from Matt on what effective altruism in leadership looks like, how to hold the course against persistent headwinds, and why getting acquired is not always the best path forward.
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(2:30) - Influences from my grandfather
(4:10) - Losing a third of a company in 9/11
(5:46) - What it means to treat a company like “family”
(9:00) - Effective Altruism in leadership
(10:00) - Losing a sibling at a young age
(17:50) - Becoming An Entrepreneur
(21:00) - Entering The Cannabis Industry
(24:45) - Roadblocks to building a cannabis brand
(31:40) - Holding the course against headwinds
(37:00) - Building a brand during the pandemic
(39:00) - We were forced to change the name of our company
(42:00) - Changing lives with an alternative to alcohol
(47:48) - Getting wined and dined by billionaires for an acquisition
(50:00) - Going Through An Acquisition
(58:30) - Lessons For Aspiring Entrepreneurs
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Levia: https://levia.buzz/
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-melander-320b6250/
 
FAVORITE BOOKS:
“The Culture Code” By Daniel Coyle: https://danielcoyle.com/the-culture-code/
“Let My People Go Surfing” By Yvon Chouinard: https://www.amazon.com/Let-People-Surfing-Education-Businessman/dp/0143037838
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 
Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons

From Mom To Exiting Entrepreneur With Claudia Reuter

Claudia Reuter is Director of The Roberts Innovation Fund at Yale Ventures, author of "Yes, You Can Do This!", and host of the Podcast, “The 43 Percent”. Claudia was previously the founder of SchoolChapters, which was acquired by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2014. She was then the General Manager of Americas East for Techstars, one of the largest startup accelerator programs in the world. 
 
In this episode, Claudia describes what almost half of Americans experience in their lives - dropping out of the workforce for their family. Hear her own story of having children, attempting in vain to re-enter the workforce, and finding her successful path through entrepreneurship.We take a look at encouraging a growth mindset, what it means to create a “culture of learning,” and why “leaning in” isn’t the only option for working mothers.  
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(2:00) - Early Years
(6:15) - Learning To Love Web Development At A Young Age
(9:00) - How to Encourage A Growth Mindset
(13:20) - My “Aha Moment" Behind Becoming An Entrepreneur
(17:30) - Founding Little Chapters
(23:00) - Pivoting My Technology To Found A New Company
(27:21) - Raising Money For The First Time
(32:00) - Growing In  A Culture Of Learning
(34:00) - Joining Techstars
(43:00) - Leaning In Vs. Leaning Out As A Female Founder 
(47:30) - Why 43% Of People Drop Out Of The Workforce
(51:00) - What Is The “Motherhood Penalty” In Society? 
(59:00) - Working With Startups At Yale Ventures
EPISODE LINKS:
The 43% Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-43-percent/id1450780307
Yes, You Can Do This, By Claudia Reuter: https://www.amazon.com/Women-Start-Scale-Build-Techstars/dp/1119625602
Claudia’s Website: https://www.claudiareuter.com/
Claudia’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-reuter-6ba4635/
 
FAVORITE BOOKS: 
“Mindset” by Carol Dweck: https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/1400062756
“Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-In-Sheryl-Sandberg-audiobook/dp/B00B3Z5U0G
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons
 

The Future Of Biotech With Kevin Rakin

Kevin Rakin is the co-founder of HighCape Capital, a growth equity firm that finances and assists innovative life sciences companies transition from the initial stages of their business cycle into successful, thriving organizations. 
 
In this episode, we’ll take you through Kevin’s journey and how he founded multiple biotech companies and took them to IPO and acquisition.  
 
We’ll take a look at the exploding industry of Biotech  and its  fast-paced startup culture that clashes with the bureaucracy of some of the biggest businesses in the world. You’ll learn about topics like the difficulties of going through a merger, why buying a failing business could be a good investment, and how to attract the best talent to your team. 
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(2:00) - Early Years
(4:49) - Why Biotech Caught My Attention
(7:00) - Developing Pattern Recognition
(08:50) - The Complexity Of Biotech 
(12:45) - First Principles Of Building A Company
(14:25) - The Thin line Between Crazy And Fraudulence
(16:11) - Vision Without Execution Is Hallucination 
(19:00) - The Mental Shift In Business School
(21:19) - No-one Was Coming To Rescue Us
(24:00) - Difficulties Of Going Through A Merger
(26:40) - Why Big Business Is Not For Me
(29:20) - Buying A Failing Business
(34:46) - Selling A Company The Night Before An IPO
(41:51) - Giving Up Six Feet Away From Gold
(47:30) - Learning To Understand Financial Instruments
(51:29) - Founding HighCape Capital
(57:30) - Founding a SPAC Fund
(1:00:51) - My Best Piece Of Advice For Entrepreneurs
(1:03:42) - How Do You Attract The Best Team? 
 
EPISODE LINKS:
HighCape Capital - https://www.highcape.com/
CTInnovations Page - https://ctinnovations.com/member/kevin-rakin/
LinkedIn Page - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-rakin-13264b4/
 
HIS FAVORITE BOOK: 
 Jim Collins, “Good To Great” https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Companies-_Others-Dont_/dp/B0047T9BDW
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 
Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons

Best Of Forward Obsessed - 2022 Holiday Recap

What a year it has been. 20 episodes, 20 brilliant minds sharing the vast spectrum of the entrepreneurial experience. We heard about “back of the napkin” aha moments, tooth and nail bootstrapping, overcoming every form of adversity, the hardest failures and the sweetest victories. We learned priceless lessons about building partnerships, scrappy fundraising, trusting others, learning to lead, pursuing curiosity, and finding that most elusive concept of all - a true purpose that guides every action in life. To our guests, we have only deep gratitude, for their unique knowledge, and for helping us to make Forward Obsessed into what it is today. 
 
As a parting gift heading into 2023, we decided to compile the top moment from every episode in the last year, as chosen by our viewers and listeners through their engagement.
 
We hope you enjoy these clips, take inspiration from these wonderful minds, and step into the new year refreshed and Forward Obsessed. 
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 
Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons
 

Building Better Biotech with Kevin Rocco

Kevin Rocco was the Founder and CEO of Biorez, a Biotechnology company that invented a regenerative and absorbable ligament brace called the Biobrace. Biorez was acquired by Conmed in 2022 for $250 Million dollars, and Kevin is now working as VP of Bioinductive Technologies at Conmed. 
 
In this interview, get the fresh perspective of a founder that went through every pitfall and pivot imaginable, and how he was able to successfully sell his business at the peak of its valuation. Learn about Kevin’s perspective on engineering innovation within teams, how to “hack” getting a PhD, his learnings from raising money, convincing investors to pivot, and how he turned his lack of experience into an essential asset. 
 
 
OUTLINE:
 
(00:00) - Intro
(3:00) - Origin Story
(4:00) - Large Companies Struggle To Innovate
(5:58) - Entrepreneurs Shouldn’t Avoid Taking Risks
(9:19) - How To Build An Innovation Engine
(15:28) - How I Hacked Getting A PhD
(20:20) - Your Life Doesn’t Have To Stay On A Traditional Track
(23:15) - Being Number Two At A Startup
(28:00) - Experiencing Failure In A Startup
(31:00) - Learning To Raise Money
(36:34) - Your Story Is Your Strategy
(41:20) - The Big Pivot
(43:53) - Can Inexperience Drive Success? 
(48:25) - Learn From Competitors To Beat Them
(52:41) - Venture Capital Incentivizes Businesses To Burn Money 
(58:00) - Raising Money Always Sucks
(1:06:20) - All Deals Take Six Months, and Deals Never Happen
(1:10:00) - Tips For Entrepreneurs
 
 
EPISODE LINKS:
 
Biorez: https://biorez.com/
Conmed: https://www.conmed.com/en-us/
Kevin Rocco on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinrocco/
 
 
HIS FAVORITE BOOK: 
 
Jim Collins, “Good To Great”: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996
 
 
PODCAST INFO:
 
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
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