Shows / NC Tweener Talks
NC Tweener Talks
A podcast for builders by builders in North Carolina. We explore the startup journey and stories with NC founders, from the idea to the exit and everything in between. NC Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by NC Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West.
Episodes
NC Tweener TalksMike Doernberg: From ReverbNation to PlayMetrics, Spinoffs, PE, and a Lifetime of Building in the Triangle
In Part 2 of this two-part deep dive, Triangle Tweener Talks host Scot Wingo sits down with legendary Triangle founder Mike Doernberg to explore his journey on…
NC Tweener TalksMike Doernberg on Tweener Talks: The Early Chapters of a Multi-Exit Triangle Founder
In Part 1 of this two-part deep dive, Triangle Tweener Talks host Scot Wingo sits down with legendary Triangle founder Mike Doernberg to explore the earliest…
NC Tweener TalksMark Flickinger, BIP Ventures, on the State of Startups 2025: How the Southeast Became a Venture Powerhouse
Mark Flickinger is the COO and General Partner at BIP Ventures, one of the Southeast’s most active venture firms. Based in Atlanta, Mark brings a rare dual…
NC Tweener TalksNavigating the AI Tsunami: A Founder's Guide with Greg Boone
From the world of tech startups to the high-stakes world of sneakers, Walk West CEO and founder Greg Boone is a serial entrepreneur with a unique journey. With…
NC Tweener TalksDr. Doug Kaufman: The TransLoc Story, His Pivot to AI, and Why Every CEO Needs a Coach (part 2)
What happens after you sell a company you helped turn around? For Dr. Doug Kaufman, it’s a story of new ventures and hard-won lessons. In this second part of a…
NC Tweener TalksStartup Life, Crisis, and Chaos: Psychologist Turned Serial Entrepreneur Dr. Doug Kaufman (part 1)
What happens when a classically trained psychologist leaves the world of academia to shift careers? For Dr. Doug Kaufman, it was to become a serial…
NC Tweener TalksWritten Word Media's Ricci Wolman on Immigrating to the US, Entrepreneurial Freedom, and the Paradox of Choice
From her upbringing in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a career spanning Wall Street, an Ivy League MBA, and the early days of e-commerce, Ricci Wolman’s…
NC Tweener TalksFrom Mebane to Ndustrial, Jason Massey is Building Sustainable Tech for the World’s Factories
What happens when a North Carolina native, seasoned by Silicon Valley and Wall Street, returns home to build a company that marries profit with purpose? For…
NC Tweener TalksEric Boduch: Revcast, 24 and Up, and Building the Next Generation of Triangle Startups (Part 2)
In Part 2 of our conversation with Eric Boduch, Pendo co-founder and CEO of Revcast, we explore the world of venture studios. Having left Pendo to pursue his…
NC Tweener TalksEric Boduch: Pendo's Origin Story, Building a Brand, and Product in the Age of AI (Part 1)
From co-founding one of the Triangle's most successful tech companies, Pendo, to quietly building a new venture studio, Eric Boduch has a deep well of…
NC Tweener TalksJason Widen: From Raleigh Founded to Blue Co., Building Community and Creative Coworking
What happens when a seasoned entrepreneur spots a gap in the market and decides to take a risk on something entirely new? For Jason Widen, it’s led him from…
NC Tweener TalksChris Heivly: MapQuest Co-Founder ($1.2B Exit), Triangle Startup Factory, Build the Fort, and More
Chris Heivly’s journey through the tech world is one for the books, literally - thanks to his deep-rooted love of maps. From his early days studying geography…
NC Tweener TalksAllstacks' Hersh Tapadia: Raising $20M+ and Redefining Productivity
If you ask someone what’s at the heart of a successful engineering team, the answer might involve tools, talent, or tech. But Hersh Tapadia, CEO and co-founder…
NC Tweener TalksEngineering Entrepreneurs: NC State Eship and Triangle Legend Dr. Tom Miller
If you ask anyone about the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Triangle, one name that keeps coming up is Dr. Tom Miller. Known as the champion of engineering…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness Championship! ZW vs InviteJet: Who Takes Home the $25K Tweener Fund Investment?
Who will be crowned champion of Tweener Madness and take home the $25K investment from the Triangle Tweener Fund? The championship features two radically…
NC Tweener TalksCivicReach or InviteJet? What Startup Advances to the Tweener Madness Championship?
Who’s Advancing from the Fabulous Four - CivicReach or InviteJet? Welcome back to Triangle Tweener Madness, the high-stakes startup tournament where eight…
NC Tweener TalksUnlocking Leadership Potential: Katherine Krupka on Raleigh Durham Startup Week
What if the most powerful tool for success as an entrepreneur isn’t the latest strategy or tech hack—but the way you perceive and process every challenge you…
NC Tweener TalksMoxie or ZW? What Startup Advances to the Tweener Madness Championship?
Who’s Advancing from the Fabulous Four - Moxie or ZW? Welcome back to Triangle Tweener Madness, where four startups remain in the race for a $25K investment…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Logistics Innovation (Deliveri) vs Bulk Marketing Invitations (InviteJet)
Welcome back to Triangle Tweener Madness, where 8 startups go head-to-head for a $25K investment from the Triangle Tweener Fund! This week, it’s a battle…
NC Tweener TalksWhy Brain Science is Critical for Entrepreneurs, with Phil Dixon (Raleigh Durham Startup Week Keynote)
Guest host Rebecca Ross sits down with Phil Dixon, CEO of the Oxford Brain Institute and expert on neuroscience in leadership. With years of experience working…
NC Tweener TalksValuable App vs CivicReach: The Battle of AI, Government, and Hidden Treasures
Welcome back to Triangle Tweener Madness, where 8 startups go head-to-head for a $25K investment from the Triangle Tweener Fund! This week, it’s a clash of…
NC Tweener TalksExclusive Interview: $45m financing for Inn-Flow with CEO John Erhart
Bootstrapped vertical SaaS software company, Inn-Flow, raised $45m from Mainsail. In this exclusive interview we hear from CEO and co-founder John Erhart the…
NC Tweener TalksMoxie (Jessica Parker) vs TutorSmith (Austin Ketola): Tweener Madness Battle of the EdTechs!
Who’s Moving On in the Battle of EdTech? Welcome back to Triangle Tweener Madness, where 8 startups go head-to-head for a $25K investment from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksMyMatR (John Starke) vs ZW LLC (Robert Fu): Let the Tweener Madness Begin!
Welcome to the first-ever Triangle Tweener Madness, where 8 startups compete for a $25K investment from the Triangle Tweener Fund! We kick off the competition…
- NC Tweener Talks
8 Startups Competing for $25K Prize: This is Tweener Madness!
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Michael Jones
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Anthony Rotoli
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Anil Chawla
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Dave Neal
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Jason Caplain
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Tobi Walter
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Randy Myer
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Kevin Mosley
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksBreaking News: Earfluence Walk West - Acquisition Chat with Jason Gillikin and Greg Boone
In this special edition of Triangle Tweener Talks, we’re breaking some big news: Walk West has acquired Earfluence! Jason Gillikin, founder of Earfluence…
NC Tweener Talks$6m Seed, Exclusive Deep Dive: Isaac Park @ Keebler Health.
In this episode, Keebler founder, Isaac Park, shares some great best practices for how to get a seed raise done in the current environment. ------ Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Jenn Summe
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Lister Delgado
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness Selection Show (Recorded Feb 20, 2025 1pm ET)
In this episode we reveal the Tweener Madness "Exceptional Eight" - our eight triangle high-tech startups that 'made the cut' to move forward. Each company's…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Robbie Hardy
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: David Jones
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Mahati Sridhar
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Evan Shear
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Nikin Shah
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Zakiya Alta Lee
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: David Gardner
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Mitch Mumma
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksTweener Madness! Meet the Selection Committee: Jan Davis
Welcome to Tweener Madness, the high stakes startup showdown where 8 promising companies go head to head for a $25,000 investment prize from the Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksIgor Jablokov: From a cave to IBM to Amazon/Alexa, then $160m+ at Pryon
If you ask Alexa who invented Alexa, she'll tell you it was Amazon.com. While that's kinda true, the Alexa foundation was developed by Igor Jablokov and his…
NC Tweener TalksJud Bowman: Founder at 18, Went From .COM bust to Unicorn and Much, Much More!
Few Triangle founders have experienced as many highs and lows as Jud Bowman. From launching his first startup as a high school student to navigating the…
NC Tweener TalksChris Evans: 80s Founder, 40yrs of Davinci (1st Windows Email) and Accipiter Unicorn Exit
Four teenage friends decide to build the world’s first Windows-based email program—and then go on to launch a second venture that scores a legendary dot-com…
NC Tweener TalksRichard Holcomb: Using "Hillbilly Negotiating" to Create an Excel-lent Microsoft Deal
What happens when you grow up on a tobacco farm in rural North Carolina, turn down a million-dollar offer from Microsoft, and then build multiple…
NC Tweener TalksTodd Olson, CEO of Pendo: Pendo Founding story and What Makes Him Tick?
What drives someone to leave a cushy corporate role, start (and sometimes stumble at) multiple tech ventures, and finally build one of the Triangle’s most…
NC Tweener TalksPeter Zaitsev: Open-Source Entrepreneurship and the Percona Story
How do you grow a 350-person, globally distributed tech company—without outside venture funding? In this episode of Triangle Tweener Talks, we chat with Peter…
NC Tweener TalksTina Tang: Finding Product-Market Fit, Raising Pre-Seed, and the Bristles.AI Story
How do you turn a simple “what if?” into a thriving venture—especially when you’re blending creativity, technology, and a dash of entrepreneurial courage? In…
NC Tweener TalksRobbie Allen: Automated Insights and Infinia ML (Exits) -> Bionic Health and Triangle Tweener Fund
How do you transition from corporate life to building a successful startup? What does it take to create a company culture where people genuinely enjoy working…
NC Tweener TalksDr. Joy Bhosai: Raising Millions and Revolutionizing Healthcare with Pluto Health
How can technology close the healthcare gaps that leave so many underserved? What does it take to build a startup that challenges the status quo while…
NC Tweener TalksDr. Alison Fragale: Author of Likeable Badass and UNC Professor and Assistant Dean
What does it take to embrace your unique strengths, navigate the dynamics of power and status, and achieve the success you deserve? In this episode of Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksDusan Babich: South Africa -> Device Magic (Double Exit!) -> New Startup
What does it take to bootstrap a company, achieve a private equity exit, and then score a second windfall with a double exit? In this episode of Triangle…
NC Tweener TalksRobbie Hardy: Her CI Technologies Exit, Women Investing in Women, and Upsetting the Table
Throughout her corporate consulting career in the 1980's, Robbie Hardy continued to rise in the ranks. However, according to Robbie, "I kept thinking there had…
NC Tweener TalksJesse Lipson: ShareFile (Exit to Citrix) -> Raleigh Founded and Levitate
In 2005, Jesse Lipson founded ShareFile, which he bootstrapped until it was sold to Citrix Systems in 2011 - for $93M. So how did he do it? And what inspired…