My Biggest Lesson

This week Adam speaks with Ben Siegel, the Co-Founder and CEO of Abode, a modern early-career platform built for Gen Z. Ben has steered the company since its inception during his college years. Under his leadership, Abode has partnered with major corporations such as Fidelity and Amazon, positioning itself as an essential operating system for early career programs. Ben successfully raised over $5 million in venture capital and ultimately sold Abode to 10,000 Coffees in 2025. In this episode, he shares insights from Abode’s evolution, the decision to sell but still lead, and the role of AI in early career hiring, plus his biggest lesson on the importance of consultative selling with customer-centric storytelling. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Raj Babu, partner at BFG Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in emerging food, beverage, and consumer brands. Prior to joining BFG, Raj served as President of Birch Benders, the #1 natural pancake and waffle mix brand and a BFG portfolio company. Under his leadership, the business expanded to four product lines in over 10,000 stores, leading to an acquisition by Sovos Brands. In this episode, Raj talks about the nuances of investing in the food sector, particularly consumer packaged goods (CPG), and the innovation from Colorado's natural food industry with companies like Bobo's Oat Bars and Caulipower as examples of standout successes. He also shares insights on identifying lasting trends versus fleeting fads and emphasizes that great ideas can come from anywhere within an organization. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc This podcast is powered by The Plug Podcast Agency See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with private equity executive, entrepreneur, and Colorado native, Andrew Schremp, to discuss his journey across banking, entrepreneurship and investing. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Colorado PERA providing fiduciary oversight of $65B+ in assets for nearly 700,000 beneficiaries. Formerly, he was the Director at Bow River Capital and prior to that, he was the Founder and CEO of Health Sqyre, Inc., a health tech company acquired by The VGM Group. In this episode, Andrew's shares his unique perspective on the evolution of the Colorado tech ecosystem, valuable insights for navigating the startup scene, plus examples of his biggest lesson on the the importance of building genuine relationships Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Robin Thurston, the CEO and founder of Outside Interactive, Inc., the world’s leading creator of outdoor content and home to iconic brands like Outside Magazine, Warren Miller, MapMyFitness, and others. Through its network of 25 media, digital, and technology platforms, Outside reaches over 100 million active consumers worldwide. Before founding Outside, Robin worked at Under Armour and led a consumer genetics company in Silicon Valley. In this episode, Robin discusses how his entrepreneurial family background helped him navigate his groundbreaking career. He also shares his perspective on the evolution of Denver's tech ecosystem as a Colorado native, his biggest lessons for building sustainable businesses, and his vision for the future of outdoor content and lifestyle brands. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Perry Rosenblum, CEO and co-founder of Motion.io, a cutting-edge client onboarding and collaboration platform for service-based businesses. Previously, Perry founded Brighter Vision, which he successfully bootstrapped and later sold to EverCommerce in 2020. On this episode, Perry provides insights into the ecosystem’s evolution, highlighting his frontline exposure at a startup in the Foundry Group's office to the significance of intentional culture building in startups, recounting his lessons learned while scaling Brighter Vision. With a focus on actionable takeaways, Perry underscores the importance of cultivating a defined company culture early on, tapping into attributes like speed to stay competitive in the fast-paced startup world. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn. Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Andrew Antonio the Co-founder & CEO of Urban Sky, a stratospheric platform company developing a suite of connected hardware, software, and AI-centric products for defense and commercial customers. Recently, the company raised $30 Million in Series B Funding. Prior to Urban Sky, Andrew led Sales & Go-to-Market for the stratospheric space tourism company, World View, from Pre-Seed to Series C. On this episode, Andrew shares his experiences working on record-breaking high-altitude balloon projects like Stratex, how the Colorado tech ecosystem- especially in aerospace- is thriving and offers immense opportunities, plus his biggest lesson around the importance of adjusting to market pull versus push. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Seth Sternberg, the co-founder and CEO of Honor, the largest in-home senior care network in the United States. Seth has become an influential figure in the Colorado startup scene since moving to Boulder. Before Honor, Seth co-founded Meebo, an instant messaging platform which was acquired by Google. On this episode, Seth shares his experiences on the differences in the entrepreneurial ecosystem between Colorado and Silicon Valley- plus his lessons learned on how building a company around a core mission helps sustain motivation and attract top talent. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Andre McGregor, CEO and co-founder of ForceMetrics, a platform that empowers law enforcement with precision policing tools and innovative tech solutions. His experiences growing up in a marginalized community and as a former FBI Special Agent (in cybercrime and counterterrorism), shaped his commitment to creating safer, more informed interactions between police and the public. On this episode, Andre shares insights on user experience in real-world scenarios, the challenges/opportunities for startups in the GovTech space, and the importance of quickly adapting to feedback to meet customer demands. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam Burrows speaks with Adam Kitain, the co-founder of Intelligems, a profit growth platform designed to assist e-commerce brands in making informed decisions through experimentation and personalization. The company is a Techstars 2021 Boulder grad and recently secured a successful funding round. Adam has a strong background in engineering and operations, having previously worked at the ride-sharing company (Via), where he contributed to the development of dynamic pricing models. Kitain shares his journey launching Intelligems and his decision to base it in Colorado over traditional tech hubs. He emphasizes the importance of customer-first strategies, including lessons learned from his experiences during the company’s evolution. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Chris speaks with Nicole Glaros, Co-Founder of ForDenverFC, to dive into her remarkable career and the growth of Colorado’s tech ecosystem. A key architect of Techstars' success, Nicole helped scale its portfolio from just 10 companies to over 2,500, with assets under management skyrocketing from $300K to more than $750M. In this episode, Nicole shares her journey from sports psychology to entrepreneurship, unique insights into Colorado’s tech evolution and he state's leadership in quantum computing plus practical advice for leaders on management and hiring. She emphasizes the importance of fostering team safety and reframing mistakes as learning opportunities. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Kay Henze, Board Director and Strategic Advisor for Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network (BEN) and a prominent figure in the Colorado entrepreneurial scene. Newly transitioned from her executive role, she discusses the evolution of Colorado's tech ecosystem and her experiences from her board work and the strategic challenges faced by tech startups. Kay emphasizes the importance of collaboration and strategic guidance for entrepreneurs and how founders can effectively leverage personal and professional advisory boards to support their growth. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Bennie Fowler III, a former NFL player and Director of Strategic Development with Caprock. Bennie is a Super Bowl 50 Champion with the Denver Broncos and has transitioned to a successful career in wealth management. On this episode, Bennie shares why he chose to remain in Denver after retiring. his insights on the importance of communication, the parallels between professional athletics and entrepreneurship plus his biggest lesson the value of a strong support system. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Scott Trench, the CEO of BiggerPockets, a community and educational platform for 3M+ real estate investors. Scott hosts the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, a top personal finance podcast and is the author of finance books, Set For Life and First Time Home Buyer. Recently Scott and BiggerPockets announced a majority investment by the Chernin Group. In this episode, Scott shares his thoughts on Colorado booming tech scene, the significance of fractional executives, and his biggest lesson around mastering the performance management for leaders. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Matt Blomstedt, Founder and Managing Partner of SpringTime Ventures, a venture capital fund focusing on early-stage tech startups in Denver, Colorado and Atlanta, Georgia. With a background in the energy sector, Matt transitioned into venture capital after moving to Boulder, Colorado. He founded SpringTime with Rick Patch in 2016 and has invested in 50+ early stage technology companies since inception. In this episode, Matt shares how fortunate encounters led him to the world of venture capital. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling for founders and his biggest lesson involving the delicate balance between patience and urgency when investing or running a business. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam Burrows and Chris Erickson and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Adeel Khan, the founder and CEO of MagicSchool.ai. Since launching a year ago, MagicSchool has become the most used AI platform in education and is the fastest growing technology platform for schools ever! Adeel is a former teacher and founding principal of the top performing public high school in Denver. He founded MagicSchool with the mission to bring an AI assistant to every teacher in the world. On this episode, Adeel shares his journey working in education with Teach America, his thoughts on Colorado's status as an innovation hub for both education and technology, plus the strategic aspects of clarity from leadership when scaling organizations. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Craig Nolan, a Partner at Akkadian, a venture secondaries investment firm founded in 2010 with over $750M assets under management. Craig has been instrumental in deploying investment strategies that focus on B2B software within tech while also being a co-producer of the RAISE Conference, the premier launchpad for emerging VCs. On this episode, Craig shares his unique experiences as an investor and Colorado native watching the rise of Denver's tech ecosystem. He provides insights on investment trends for secondary markets, plus examples in his journey on the power of believing your own convictions. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Adam speaks with Kevin Wagstaff, co-founder and President at Spectora, a top rated home inspection software. Kevin, alongside his brother, bootstrapped Spectora to an impressive 8,000 current customers on the platform! Previously he held positions at Charles Schwab, HomeAdvisor (where he met Adam), and in real estate. On this episode, Kevin shares his backstory on switching from finance to tech, the value of running a company with his brother, why Denver is an under the radar startup city, plus his lesson involving the importance of customer engagement to understand their needs. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Kendra Haberkorn, Fractional Chief People Officer & Executive Search at the moderneer. Kendra was also previously the Head of Talent at Range Ventures where she advised portfolio companies on talent strategy and people operations while building a network that connected Colorado's leading early-stage companies with the people who will accelerate their trajectory. Kendra has also led talent initiatives and teams at McKinsey & Company before becoming a member of the executive team at Craftsy (acquired by NBCUniversal) and Guild Education, On this episode, she opens up about 'being drafted" into HR, her evolution into impactful positions, significant changes she has witnessed in Denver's startup ecosystem plus a personal lesson on how performance reviews should focus on human development, not just metrics. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam,Chris and Kendra and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks Josh Mayer the Head of Professional Services at EasyPost, a leading software provider of modern supply chain solutions. He joined EasyPost after its acquisition in July 2022 and has led supply chain consulting firm Summit Advisory Team and Elevate, a SaaS supply chain analytics product. One this episode, Josh talk about his career journey up to this point, how Colorado's influx of talent has a common mindset, plus his lessons on the importance of mentorship for professional guidance and personal development. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Chris speaks with Ashmer Aslam, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Cured, a company specializing in marketing automation tools and CRM platforms for the healthcare sector. Ashmer has an impressive health and tech background that includes roles at Salesforce, Epic Systems, and Accenture. He has raised over $12M for Cured and recently had a successful exit. On this episode, Ashmer details his entrepreneurial journey, from medical school to co-founding a company in the healthcare sector, what contrasts he saw in Denver's tech community compared to Chicago's and why his biggest lesson involves maintaining a strong vision through challenges and opportunities. Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts! Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.