Skin in the Game VC Podcast
Episodes
Eric Ries: The Dark Side of AI and Why Vibe Coding Could Be the Next Chernobyl
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Skin in the Game, hosts Saxon Baum and Tom Wallace sit down with Eric Ries, the founder and author of the Lean Startup Methodology,...
Abe Smith on Building Zoom to $4.1B, WebEx's Rise, and Why AI Is Bigger Than the Internet
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it actually feel like to be inside a company growing faster than anything the world had ever seen? Abe Smith knows. As one of the key leader...
Brian Hollins: From Stanford & Goldman Sachs to Raising an Institutional Venture Fund
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Skin in the Game, Saxon Baum sits down with Brian Hollins, co-founder of Collide Capital, for a wide ranging conversation on ventur...
Suneera Madhani: The $1B Playbook They Never Taught Women
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The founder behind Orlando's first unicorn, Stax, and now, Worth AI, join sus on a new episode of Skin in the Game. Suneera Madhani shares her scrappy...
Investing on the Bleeding Edge with Felix Hartmann
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Skin in the Game features a deep, candid conversation with Felix Hartmann, founder of Hartmann Capital on what it really means to buil...
The VC Model Most Firms Get Wrong - Mike Collins Explains
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Mike Collins, Founder and CEO of Alumni Ventures, to explore how venture capital is evolving and why network-driven ...
From Real Estate to Restaurants: Andrew Wright’s Entrepreneurial Blueprint
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We sat down with Andrew Wright, founder of Franklin Street, for a fascinating conversation about market dynamics, building resilient businesses, and t...
Grandkids on Demand: The Origin Story of Papa with Andrew Parker
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started as one grandson helping his Papa has grown into one of the most innovative companies in healthcare today. In our latest podcast episode, ...
Pre-Seed Playbook: Eric Bahn on Investing in Grit Over Pedigree
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Skin in the Game podcast, Saxon Baum sits down with Eric Bahn, co-founder of Hustle Fund, to explore the art and science of inv...
From Junk to Generational Success: The College Hunks Story with Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Skin in the Game, Saxon Baum sits down with longtime friends and powerhouse entrepreneurs Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman, the co-fo...
All Gas, No Brakes: Scott Price on Building A-lign into a Cybersecurity Powerhouse
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A-lign founder and CEO Scott Price joins Tom Wallace and Saxon Baum to unpack the “all gas, no brakes” journey behind building a category leader i...
The Founder Aesthetic: What Great Builders Have in Common
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What separates the top 1% of venture capitalists from the rest? For Roger Ehrenberg, Managing Partner at Eberg Capital, it’s the ability — and the...
Betting on Big Ideas with Rohan Shah
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the latest episode of Skin in the Game VC, Saxon and Tom sit down with Rohan Shah, co-founder of Extend, for a conversation that blends grit, humor...
From Broom Closet to Unicorn: Stu Sjouwerman on Building KnowBe4
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Skin in the Game podcast, we sit down with Stu Sjouwerman, founder and CEO of KnowBe4, to discuss how he built one of...
From Goldman to Solo GP: Jenny Friedman’s VC Playbook
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest episode of Skin in the Game VC, hosts Tom Wallace and Saxon Baum sit down with Jenny Friedman, the solo General Partner of Four Acres Ca...
Charting New Frontiers: Clint Graumann on Innovating the Space Industry
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if we could map the Earth—and even the moon—with pinpoint accuracy from space? In the latest episode of Skin in the Game VC, Saxon Baum ...
Leadership, Vision, and the Future of Healthcare with Brent Saunders
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest episode of Skin in the Game VC, Tom Wallace and Saxon Baum welcomed Brent Saunders, Chairman and CEO of Bausch & Lomb, to share his ...
Startups, AI, and Sisterhood: Lessons from Amy and Shannon Wu
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest episode of Skin in the Game VC Podcast featured an inspiring conversation with Tom Wallace, Saxon Baum, and the dynamic sister duo, Amy and...
Bridging Worlds: Ann Berry on Tech, Venture, and Storytelling
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our latest episode of the Skin in the Game VC Podcast, we explored the multifaceted journey of Ann Berry, Founder and Managing Partner of Thre...
Joe Hogue: From Analyst to YouTube Influencer
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Hogue started his career as a traditional equity analyst and venture capitalist but left the corporate world in 2013 to gain more autonomy. By 201...
Dave Sachse: Redefining Venture with Family Offices
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dave Sachse is the founder of Family VC and a leader in the world of family office investing, where he helps family offices navigate venture capital b...
Jeff Gigante: More Than a Meal – The Rise of Experiential Dining
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest episode of the Skin in the Game VC podcast, hosts Tom Wallace and Saxon Baum sit down with Jeff Gigante, co-founder of Next Level Brands...
General Tony Thomas: Beyond the Uniform
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how a military leader transitions to the world of venture capital? In our latest episode of Skin in the Game, we sat down with retired F...
Patrick Murphy: Estimating the Future of AI & Construction
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, we delve into the world of AI and its transformative potential for the construction industry. Our guest, Patrick Murphy, a fo...
Mayor Jane Castor: Tampa's Rise as a Tech Hub
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for an insightful episode of the Skin in the Game VC Podcast with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, discussing the city's thriving tech ecosystem, stra...
Beyond Bitcoin: Unveiling the Future of Finance with Zaid Rahman
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The episode features Zaid Rahman, CEO of Flex, a Florida Funders portfolio company. Zaid discusses his entrepreneurial journey, Flex's rapid growth in...
Frank Smith: From YouTube to Multimedia Mogul
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the fascinating journey of Frank Smith, from YouTube sensation to Multimedia Mogul, in the latest episode of the Skin in the Game pod. Join S...
Charmel Maynard: Creating a Legacy in Finance
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in to the latest episode of the Skin in the Game VC Podcast featuring Charmel Maynard, Chief Investment Officer of the University of Miami. Gain ...
Delian Asparouhov: From Bulgaria to Silicon Valley
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Delian Asparouhov, a Bulgarian-born, self-made software engineer, dives into the rollercoaster of a journey from being an MIT dropout to earning the T...
Lucy Guo: Passes & Perspectives
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Lucy Guo, a prominent entrepreneur and Thiel Fellow, shares her remarkable journey from receiving a Thiel Fellowship at the a...
Steve MacDonald: International Tech Trails & Tales
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode focuses on Steve MacDonald’s unique experience of spending a year in Florence, Italy, while exploring the cultural and historical aspec...
David Goldberg: Navigating the Evolving Tech Landscape
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this particular episode, Tom and Saxon touch on various subjects, such as the bankruptcy of WeWork, the impact of EVs on traditional automakers, an...
Joe Bayen: Journey From Success to Failure and Back
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Bayen, who was Born in Cameroon, shares his journey of moving to the United States as a three-year-old and being raised in Paris, France. Joe shar...
Matthew & Michael Vega-Sanz: Finding Passion in the Ordinary
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Founders of Lula, Michael and Matthew Vega-Sanz joins the episode of Skin In The Game VC Podcast with Tom Wallace and new co-host Saxon Baum.Matthew a...
Laura DiBella: Florida's Tech Bloom
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Laura DiBella, the Secretary of Commerce for the State of Florida as well as the president of CEO of Enterprise Florida, joins us for this episode of ...
Investing in Startups with Brad Feld
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Feld, an avid ecosystem-builder, tech entrepreneur, and early-stage investor for over 35 years shares his insights on the venture capital, startu...
Building a Betr Company with Joe Levy
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Tom interviews Joey Levy. You may have seen him recently all over the news and social media alongside his business partner and top sp...
Building a Tech Community with Lakshmi Shenoy of Embarc Collective
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lakshmi Shenoy is the CEO of Embarc Collective in Tampa, Florida. Tom Wallace discusses her story and how she ended up helping to build and lead the f...
Lessons Learned in Early Stage Tech Investing During Market Downturns
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Florida Funders partners Tom Wallace and Marc Blumenthal discuss the ups and downs of markets and the lessons learned from the past. Learn more about ...
Tony DiBenedetto: Thinking Big
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hello, my name's Tom Wallace, and I'm the Managing Partner of Florida Funders. Welcome to Florida Funders podcast. Our podcast is all about how to mak...
Elias Torres: Elevating Minority Founders
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you paint a picture in your head of the American Dream, what do you see? For many of us, it involves the vision of being ‘self-made’ and desi...
David Blumberg: From the Bay to the Magic City
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's been more than 18 months since the COVID-19 pandemic started and we experienced weeks of lockdowns, quarantines, and a total reconfiguration of t...
Brian Murphy: the Importance of Reinvention
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a brand new tech startup finds itself in the middle of one of the worst financial crises the country has ever seen? With a little lu...
Hugh Campbell - Entrepreneurship as a Team Sport
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Discipline, initiative, and responsibility are all skills you would expect a young person to learn in the military. But what about teamwork and learni...
Arnie Bellini - The Case for Being an Early Adopter
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all had that lightbulb moment at least once in our lives, where we have a striking realization seemingly independent of everyone else around u...
Reuben Pressman - Your Passion Makes a Difference
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had a moment of recognition that an issue you were experiencing was readily solvable, and you might just be the one to figure out how?Re...
Manny Medina - Master of Reinvention
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what it takes for a young immigrant to truly achieve the American dream? Well, you might just be able to learn a thing or two f...
Claudia Duran - Taking Start-Ups to the Next Level
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The world of entrepreneurship is more harrowing, thrilling, and rewarding as ever, but the past year and a half has been especially exciting for Flori...
Rennick Palley - Crypto Crash Course
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To the traditional investor, the world of cryptocurrency can be intimidating. Luckily, my guest today is an expert in the field and helps us break it ...
Brian Butler - From Army Officer to CEO
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Curious as to how military training prepares you for the world of entrepreneurship? If you’ve ever found yourself at a crossroads in your caree...
Steve Raymund - The Keys to Longevity
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what it takes to develop true staying power in an industry as quick and variable as tech?If you’re serious about making it in...
Tom Wallace - The 5 Ds of Angel Investing
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Being a successful angel investor requires a lot of work and commitment. At Florida Funders, our goal is to make it easier for people and increase the...
Tom Wallace - The Journey to Florida Funders
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At Florida Funders, we are helping early-stage companies get access to capital from investors through an online process and crowdfunding. We’re all ...
Ashley Jarocki & Stephanie Markese - The Future of Hiring
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What started as a friendship between two women cheerleading for the Buccaneers ended up in Next Path: a growing company providing hiring solutions for...
Paul Holland - The Precursors of Success
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you hear about a new idea, how can you be sure it’s good or bad? As an investor, you have to be a calculated risk-taker. Of course, there’...
Adam Struck - New Lands of Opportunity
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Just like Florida is known for strawberries and tourism, LA is currently most famous for Hollywood – but things are gradually changing. The technolo...
Jason Calacanis - Be Venture Worthy
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jason Calacanis is an entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and angel investor. He’s invested in more than 150 companies, including four multi-billion do...
Jeff Vinik - Integrity and Persistence: The Two Traits Every Founder Should Have
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
All successful founders, entrepreneurs, or business people have two things in common: integrity and persistence in always getting better at what they’...
Ryan Nece - Bucking the Trend
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Nece’s journey to becoming a venture capitalist is unlike any we’ve ever seen. As a former NFL linebacker, Ryan defied the odds to become suc...
David Goldberg - Adjusting to the New Normal
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
David Goldberg’s trajectory into venture capital is a unique one. Directly after graduating from Law School and Business School, David worked as a c...
Peter Mallouk - 5 Mistakes Every Investor Makes
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Mallouk is a little different than most investors interviewed on this podcast. Peter isn’t really an angel investor, but he is qualified as an...
Chris Sullivan - The Future of the Restaurant Industry
15 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Sullivan has always been passionate about the restaurant business—starting from the time bartending and waiting tables. Chris co-founded Outba...
Scott Gorlick - The Future of Investing
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Gorlick is a native of southern Florida, where he also became one of the first 100 employees to work at Uber. After working at Uber for 6 years,...
Steve MacDonald - The Art and Science of Angel Investing
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Angel investing is part art, part science.Oftentimes you trust your gut when deciding to put your finances, effort, and time into a company. In the ea...
Alexis Ohanian - Investing in Tech Startups
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Currently, Miami is mostly seen as a town to party in or a town for so many other industries that are not tech. These perceptions are about to change,...
Stuart Bertron - Assessing Investment Situations
13 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The investments industry is wrought with decisions—and they’re never easy to make. Stuart is a native of Tampa, Florida. He moved around, wen...
Jake Seid – Keep Up Your Momentum
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes the most thrilling investments are ones that will disrupt society.Disruptive investments—such as investments in transformational technolog...
Zach Coelius - From Entrepreneur to Investor
07 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Investing in your first business can be incredibly daunting.There are so many unknowns and so many what if? questions running through your head. It’...
Alex Sink - To risk, or not to risk?
15 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever played with the idea of investing?Are you an entrepreneur searching for an investor?What’s stopping you?Here at Florida Funders, ou...