Don’t you love a good story?
One where you are snuggled up beside a fire with a mug of tea listening to grandma narrate something about a princess and an ogre?
Adulting makes us forget the simple joy associated with a story. So we bring you something new-
Once upon a start-up
Founders are busy creating their businesses. Most times though they are riddled with self- doubt. They need mentoring. But they do not know whom to approach. How to ask. They need connections. They need strategic partnerships, not financial funding. Investors are a treasure trove of knowledge. So much experience. So
S5 E7- Once Upon A Startup - round 2 with Raul Diaz Morales
Raul Diaz Morales of Ona Patents is back to chat with us about patents and trade secrets, valuation, damages, litigation and all the IP related fun stuff.
7 Sept 2025
S5 E6 Once Upon A Startup- with Steve Hershberger
Today, I’m joined by Steve Hershberger- an entrepreneur, innovator, and endurance athlete with a story that’s nothing short of extraordinary.
Steve has built and led companies across technology, analytics, and manufacturing, and he holds 13 U.S. patents in IoT and decision science. His work has always been about one thing: transforming insights into growth strategies and unlocking new, sustainable profit pools.
But Steve’s journey goes deeper. Over the years, he’s studied what really drives human and organizational Flow and from that, he developed the S.E.A.T. process for Organizational Flow™.
Outside of business, Steve is an endurance athlete who has competed in some of the toughest gravel cycling races across North America and Iceland. And it was on that path that life threw him its greatest challenge. In May 2024, just days before the legendary Unbound 200, Steve was the victim of a hit-and-run that stopped his vitals for several minutes. He came back from a near-death experience with a broken back, broken neck, and a dozen other injuries.
And yet here he is. His recovery and resilience fuel the way he now teaches and leads: helping organizations disrupt the static that short-circuits Flow, shift from “can’t” to “possible,” and build cultures of high performance.
This is more than entrepreneurship. It’s about survival, purpose, and unlocking Flow in business and in life.
7 Sept 2025
S5 E5 Once Upon A Startup- with Alfredo Matthew III
Today I have with me Alfredo Mathew III—a social entrepreneur, educator, and systems thinker who has spent more than 25 years at the intersection of education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.
Alfredo began as a public school teacher in the South Bronx, Oakland, and Pasadena—so dedicated to his students that he was named Teacher of the Year back in 2003. From there, he moved into building bridges between classrooms and careers, leading the Bay Area office of the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship and connecting thousands of young people to Silicon Valley pathways.
He went on to co-found ESO Ventures, an organization that didn’t just support entrepreneurs but actually changed state law in California to fund inclusive entrepreneurship. In just four years, ESO helped incubate over 500 Black and Brown-owned businesses and secured tens of millions in investment for community-rooted enterprises.
Today, Alfredo is the Founder and CEO of SPCC.1—the world’s first Shared Prosperity Community Corporation. His vision is bold: to create a new kind of economic infrastructure where communities can consolidate small businesses, access growth capital, and build their own engines of shared prosperity.
He’s also a TEDx speaker, where he calls for nothing less than sovereign wealth for the people and an economy that is truly owned by the communities it serves.
I’m excited to dive into this conversation with Alfredo, because it’s not just about entrepreneurship—it’s about rewriting the rules of who gets to participate and who gets to own the future.
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