Best Startup Espresso Podcasts (2025)

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Taking VC Funding Means Taking the VC’s Business Model 2:04

15h ago2:04

2:04

Taking VC Funding Means Taking the VC’s Business Model Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In taking venture funding, the startup is also taking the VC's business model. The VC must provide the Limited Partners a venture-level return. It’s a high-risk, high-reward ende…

1
#21 From University Project to Startup Success: The Espresso Journey 47:10

2d ago47:10

47:10

Send us a text Join David McManus as he sits down with Scott, co-founder of Espresso, to explore the fascinating journey from a university project to a thriving startup. Discover how Scott and his team navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship, from prototyping and fundraising to scaling production amidst global disruptions. This episode is pack…

1
Why We Love Starbucks – 08/25/2025 1:13:49

1d ago1:13:49

1:13:49

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep154 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this week's episode, the boys take a little detou…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Show How Your Startup Is Scalable 2:04

1d ago2:04

2:04

Show How Your Startup Is Scalable Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many startup fundraising pitches focus on the product. It’s important for the investor to know what the product is and its basic functionality. The investor is also interested in how the business wil…

1
Investor Connect 841: From Scientist to Venture Capitalist: A Journey of Innovation with Alicia Castillo 21:04

5d ago21:04

21:04

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin speaks with Alicia Castillo Holly, the founder and general partner of Wealthing VC Club. Alicia shares her intriguing journey from being a scientist concerned about the limited impact of her lab research to becoming an entrepreneur and eventually a venture capitalist. She discusses the inspiration be…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Key Elements of a Seed Pitch Deck 1:58

5d ago1:58

1:58

Key Elements of a Seed Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The goal of the pitch is to bring the investor up to speed on the deal in a short amount of time. Here are some key elements to consider when crafting your seed pitch deck: The core information an in…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Make a Persuasive Pitch 2:11

6d ago2:11

2:11

How To Make a Persuasive Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The goal of the pitch is to persuade investors to support your startup. Here are some key techniques to make a more persuasive pitch: Identify what the audience seeks to do and play to that reward. Inve…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Personalizing Investor Email Outreach 2:15

7d ago2:15

2:15

Personalizing Investor Email Outreach Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Email outreach is a key component of fundraising. It’s an efficient way to reach out to investors to notify them of your fundraiser as well as provide updates on your progress. In reaching out to…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Sharing Your Pitchdeck 2:07

8d ago2:07

2:07

Sharing Your Pitchdeck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pitch deck is the initial document investors want to see. It’s important to have your pitch deck ready to go when engaging investors. In sharing your pitch deck, consider the following: You don’t have to se…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Signs an Investor Is Not Interested in Your Pitch 2:05

9d ago2:05

2:05

Signs an Investor Is Not Interested in Your Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching for funding, look for signs of interest from the investor. Here’s a list of signs indicating the investor is not interested: The investor doesn’t ask probing questions but…

1
Why Your Coffee Shop Line Backs Up (And What to Do About It) – 08/06/2025 13:22

11d ago13:22

13:22

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep153 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Ethan and Ross answer the age old café question: Why…

1
Investor Connect 840: Investing in Deep Tech and Human Capital with Vishal Arora 22:08

12d ago22:08

22:08

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin chats with Vishal Arora, a tech executive and managing partner at VDO capital. Vishal explains how VDO invests in early-stage deep tech startups with a unique approach that leverages a network of over 70 channel partners including incubators, accelerators, and universities to source deals. He high…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Common Mistakes in Fundraising 2:03

12d ago2:03

2:03

Common Mistakes in Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Successful fundraising comes from preparation, focus, and experience. Here are some common mistakes founders make in fundraising: Not having a business plan. This should include what product or service …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Key Elements of a Successful Fundraise 2:10

13d ago2:10

2:10

Key Elements of a Successful Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising takes time, effort, and attention. The startup founder faces many demands from the business, including hiring employees, building products, and signing customers. Here are the key el…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Key Duties of the CFO 2:03

14d ago2:03

2:03

Key Duties of the CFO Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The CFO plays a key role in the early stages of the startup. Here are the key duties of the CFO: The CFO develops and maintains the financial model for the business. This often comes out in the form of a financi…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Feedback From VCs 2:02

15d ago2:02

2:02

Feedback From VCs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors hear many pitches and often give feedback to the startup. Some investors avoid giving feedback for the following reasons: Argumentative-- the founder argues their way out of the feedback. Instead of accept…

1
# 20 SubJourney: Bridging Design and Technology 44:45

15d ago44:45

44:45

Send us a text In this episode, Tom and David explore the journey of creating SubJourney, a groundbreaking user journey mapping tool. Tom shares his experiences from his early days at Deloitte Digital, where he learned the intricacies of large-scale project delivery, to founding SubJourney. The conversation delves into the challenges of early influ…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Negotiating Valuation With an Investor 2:14

16d ago2:14

2:14

Negotiating Valuation With an Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The valuation is a negotiation, not a formula. Startup founders negotiating valuation should consider the following points: Know the current market rate for valuations for your stage and type of…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Founder Experience and Traction 2:01

19d ago2:01

2:01

Founder Experience and Traction Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, there are two key drivers to how much a startup can ask for funding. The first is traction. The greater the traction, the more the startup can ask in a fundraise. Traction includes …

1
Investor Connect 839: Navigating Volatility - A Conversation with Stephen Diggle of Vulpes Investment Management 32:08

19d ago32:08

32:08

In this episode of Investor Connect, Paul Martin sits down with Stephen Diggle, founder of Vulpes Investment Management. From his country house in Umbria, Italy, Stephen recounts his journey from running one of Asia's largest hedge funds during the 2008 financial crisis to managing a family office-backed investment firm. He explains why they decide…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Customize the Pitch for the Investor Type 2:04

20d ago2:04

2:04

Customize the Pitch for the Investor Type Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are many types of investors. Founders should customize the pitch for the investor type. Here are some key investor types to consider: The analytical investor -- this type of investor lo…

1
What Our Mentor Taught Us About Coffee Shops - Roy Keely – 07/30/2025 1:06:44

20d ago1:06:44

1:06:44

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep152 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We had the pleasure of welcoming our longtime friend…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Build a Relationship With the Investor 1:52

21d ago1:52

1:52

Build a Relationship With the Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, it’s important to build a relationship with the investor. Upfront, the investor wants to learn about the business and how it works. Ultimately, the investor wants to know who…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Make Sure the Convertible Note Has a Conversion Point 1:59

22d ago1:59

1:59

Make Sure the Convertible Note Has a Conversion Point Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Convertible notes are useful tools for fundraising. They are easy to set up and often don’t require much legal work. The best part is they don’t require a valuation to be set. Ins…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Talk to Investors As if They Were Already Partners 1:55

23d ago1:55

1:55

Talk to Investors As if They Were Already Partners Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. First-time founders often spend their pitch time selling their product. This fails as it doesn’t focus on the other elements of the business the investor needs to know, such as the t…

1
Investor Connect 838: Empowering Africa's Entrepreneurs with Abdul Golden of Shujaa Capital 20:23

26d ago20:23

20:23

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin speaks with Abdul Golden, an investor, operator, and mentor with a rich background in deep tech and entrepreneurship. Abdul shares the founding story of Shujaa Capital, his venture capital firm focused on democratizing tech investing for diverse and underrepresented founders, especially in undercapit…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Key Steps to FDA Approval for a Therapeutic Drug 2:08

26d ago2:08

2:08

Key Steps to FDA Approval for a Therapeutic Drug Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. FDA approval is a lengthy and involved process with therapeutic drugs that startups must go through. Here’s a list of the key steps to achieve FDA approval: After basic research, the f…

1
Ultimate Coffee Brewing Methods Tier List (Pour Over, AeroPress, Espresso & More!) – 07/23/2025 57:24

27d ago57:24

57:24

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep151 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Which brew method reigns supreme? In this episode, w…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Preparing for a Crowdfunding Raise 2:05

27d ago2:05

2:05

Preparing for a Crowdfunding Raise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Crowdfunding is a viable method for raising funding for a startup. Here are some key considerations before pursuing a crowdfunding campaign: Platform choice. Look for the appropriate platform for yo…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Key Metrics by Stage 2:05

28d ago2:05

2:05

Key Metrics by Stage Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors use metrics to understand the performance of the startup. Here’s a list of key metrics by stage: Pre-seed. User engagement with the prototype. Since there’s no revenue-generating product, look at how of…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Make Your Pitch Deck Look Professional 2:06

29d ago2:06

2:06

How To Make Your Pitch Deck Look Professional Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There’s a big difference between an average pitch deck and a great one. The great pitch deck sends the signal that you are an above-average startup. It shows class and status over other c…

1
Startup Funding Espresso –The Key Component to Investor Updates 2:05

30d ago2:05

2:05

The Key Component to Investor Updates Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Updates to investors throughout the fundraise campaign are a must. Investors want to know you are making progress. It’s important to send weekly or monthly updates about progress on sales, team, …

1
Investor Connect 837: Anshuman Sinha of Startup Steroid and TiE SoCal Angels 17:03

1M ago17:03

17:03

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin welcomes Anshuman Sinha, a veteran entrepreneur, angel investor, and fundraising strategist who’s making waves in the Southern California startup scene. As co-founder of Startup Steroid and a leader at TiE SoCal Angels, Anshuman shares how these organizations are reshaping early-stage investing th…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Get Your Investor To Help With Sales 2:04

1M ago2:04

2:04

How To Get Your Investor To Help With Sales Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors can help their funded startup in many ways. In addition to making introductions to other investors, they can also help with sales. Here are some key steps on how to get your inves…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Position Your Bridge Raise 2:11

1M ago2:11

2:11

How To Position Your Bridge Raise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, bridge rounds fill the gap between the stage raises. Startups use bridge raises for many reasons, such as preparing for the next round, increasing the runway, or covering a gap le…

1
Budget to Baller - How to Design Your Home Coffee Setup – 07/16/2025 1:02:31

1M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This week we dove in on how we would build out a hom…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Start Angel Investing 2:06

1M ago2:06

2:06

How To Start Angel Investing Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. First-time investors often wonder where to begin in angel investing. Some join angel groups or syndicate funds. Others start looking for deals to invest in. Either way, here are some key steps to start an…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Win, Expand, Extend in Vertical SaaS 2:07

1M ago2:07

2:07

Win, Expand, Extend in Vertical SaaS Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In a vertical SaaS business model, there’s a strategy for growth called Win, Expand, and Extend. In this model, the startup wins its initial customer application. From there, the business expands …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – More Control Points in Vertical SaaS 2:00

1M ago2:00

2:00

More Control Points in Vertical SaaS Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Vertical SaaS is a great business model for startups to use. It focuses the product on one specific sector. This brings many advantages in funding, competition, application development, and more. …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Control Points in Vertical SaaS 2:06

1M ago2:06

2:06

Control Points in Vertical SaaS Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Vertical SaaS is a great business model for startups to use. It focuses the product on one specific sector. This brings many advantages in funding, competition, application development, and more. A con…

1
Investor Connect 836: Family Office Roundtable - May 2025 Part 01 15:38

1M ago15:38

15:38

On this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Dr. Guy Cooper, MD, an orthopedic surgeon by training, who discusses his company's breakthrough treatment for bladder cancer, the world's most expensive cancer. Dr. Cooper explains that his company, Combat Medical, is seeking $2.3 million to close a $5 million investment round to further their innovat…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Why Invest in Vertical SaaS 2:03

1M ago2:03

2:03

Why Invest in Vertical SaaS Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Vertical SaaS is a venture sector in the tech space. It narrows the scope of the startup to a single application. Vertical SaaS has many advantages as follows: It’s easier to position in the market and mes…

1
Cost of Goods Sold for a Coffee Shop – Valor’s Numbers Analyzed – 07/09/2025 55:00

1M ago55:00

55:00

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep149 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Our two cafes made a million bucks cumulatively from…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Raising an Inside Round 2:01

1M ago2:01

2:01

Raising an Inside Round Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Most startup fundraisers seek capital from outside investors who are new to the round. This brings new investors into the cap table. There are rounds in which the existing investors fund the startup. This is o…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Using Rule 701 To Issue Equity to Employees 1:55

1M ago1:55

1:55

Using Rule 701 To Issue Equity to Employees Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In a startup, it’s helpful to compensate employees with company stock. Most companies use stock options. Rule 701 gives the startup the ability to issue equity to its employees. This works …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Create a Sense of Urgency 2:02

1M ago2:02

2:02

Create a Sense of Urgency Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In running a fundraiser, it’s important to build a sense of urgency into the campaign. Here are some key steps to create that sense of urgency: Break your fundraising into smaller rounds or tranches. Demonst…

1
Investor Connect 835: Family Office Roundtable - April 2025 Part 03 23:41

2M ago23:41

23:41

On this episode of Investor Connect, we are joined by Ron from South Highland Ventures for an enlightening presentation on search funds, touted as the best-performing asset class in the world. Ron dives deep into the 40-year-old model initially developed by Stanford and Harvard, highlighting its relevance and success today in addressing the $10 tri…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – The Role of AI and Data in Fundraising 2:07

2M ago2:07

2:07

The Role of AI and Data in Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup fundraising begins with family and friends and then expands to the founders' network. In that part of the fundraising, founders will engage those they know well. Half the reason these in…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Bring Three Stats for Your Startup Fundraising 1:56

2M ago1:56

1:56

Bring Three Stats for Your Startup Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, it’s important to showcase the key numbers behind your business. Here are three statistics for your startup fundraise: Revenue traction -- show what traction you have…

1
Ep. 148- How this Coffee Startup Grew Their Instagram to Over 63k Followers - Poorboy Coffee 1:09:15

2M ago1:09:15

1:09:15

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep148 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Brandon Sardi built Poorboy Coffee from a $500 pop-u…

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Startup Espresso Podcasts

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