In this episode of the Innovators and Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez interviews Melissa Kozak, founder of Citus Health. Melissa shares her journey from being a nurse to launching a successful healthcare startup. She discusses the challenges of raising capital, the importance of aligning with investors, and the value of her nursing background in identifying and solving industry problems. Melissa emphasizes the significance of humility, teamwork, and continuous learning in entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Melissa's work: https://www.resmed.com/en-us/

Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-kozak-rn-bsn-91272aaa.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply Here: https://finstratmgmt.com/be-a-podcast-guest/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

Check out his website at Finstrat Management: https://finstratmgmt.com/

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with Ari Newman, co-founder and managing director of Massive VC, a Boulder-based venture firm specializing in deep tech investments.

They explore Massive’s unique investment thesis focused on early commercial inflection points across four critical domains: the new space economy, energy transformation, 10x data connectivity, and cybersecurity. Ari shares the rationale behind starting Massive using special purpose vehicles (SPVs) instead of a traditional fund structure, highlighting the flexibility and strategic advantages SPVs offer for capturing early-stage opportunities in capital-intensive industries.

The conversation delves into the challenges and nuances of deep tech investing, including how Massive evaluates commercialization milestones, mitigates multiple vectors of risk, and constructs a concentrated portfolio with significant reserves for follow-on investments. Ari also discusses the dynamics of working alongside corporate venture partners, the importance of building trusted relationships with founders, and how their combined operator and investing experience shapes their approach to selecting resilient entrepreneurial teams.

The episode concludes with reflections on legacy, leadership lessons, and the value of authentic partnerships in building both startups and venture firms. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of how Massive VC is carving out a differentiated path in the crowded venture landscape while backing transformative technologies with long-term societal impact.

Learn more about Massive VC's work at: https://massive.vc/

Connect with Ari Newman on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arinewman/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com

In this episode of the Innovators and Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez interviews Nick Mastronardi, co-founder and CEO of Polco. They discuss Nick’s background in data science and economics, the inspiration behind Polco, and the company’s mission to enhance civic participation through data-driven decision-making for public sector officials. Nick emphasizes the importance of passion in entrepreneurship, the challenges faced in building a startup, and the critical role of transparency and team dynamics in managing investor expectations.

Learn more about Nick's work: https://info.polco.us/

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmastronardi/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply to be a guest: https://finstratmgmt.com/podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

Check out his website at: https://finstratmgmt.com/