Culture: Founders, Entrepreneurs & Innovators

Christian Wierød talks digitalization and automation of the residential rental market from Norway and breaking into the NYC market. Christian was a squad leader in the Norwegian Armed Forces, a tour guide around the world, and a club coach ski instructor in Canada. We talk about the inception of Unite Living, lessons he learned along the journey, ProTips for growth, book recommendations and shares awesome Norwegian Folk Tales. Unite Living https://uniteliving.com/ Instagram: @uniteliving Twitter: @UniteLiving Facebook: www.facebook.com/uniteliving

Special Episode Highlighting The Ignitia Open Pitch Competition. On Wednesday June 20th, 2018 Ignitia Office held their first annual pitch competition that featured the 7 finalist competing for $20,000 grand prize consisting of $10,000 in coworking space and $10,000 in cash. Below are the following contestants that we spoke with prior to the big pitch. Padspin, Inc. - Finding an apartment can be a real nightmare. Padspin helps cut down on the pain of the apartment hunt by cutting back broker fees and helps connect residential tenants and landlords directly and efficiently. Founded By Jeff Segal. https://padspin.com/ Geopipe, Inc. - Creates Immersive Virtual copies of real world built by algorithms, instantly downloadable for simulations, games architecture and beyond. Geopipe was Founded by 2 computer scientists Christopher Mitchell- Founder-CEO (PHD NYU) and Thomas Dickerson Founder-CSO (PHD candidate Brown). https://geopi.pe/ Lilu, Inc. is building the next generation of mom-tech products to help mothers pump, track and manage their breast milk supply. Founded By Adriana C Vázquez Ortiz (MIT Graduate) Sujay Suresh Kumar ( UPenn Graduate). http://www.wearlilu.com/ The Lieu– Beauty Bars for workspaces. From the founder Rebecca Lima: “We partner with office properties, workspaces, corporations and events to create self-care beauty bars for women.” https://www.thelieu.com/ Biotrak Therapeudics- Behavioral Therapy to assist with those who suffer from migraine headaches led by Adam Kirell and an incredible team of experts. https://www.haloheadache.com/ Podible. Founded by Sheldon Smickley, Podible uses machine learning to solve both discovery and monetization for podcast authors and listeners. https://podible.co/ Futureproof Retail - Creates high end shopping experiences for both customers and consumers through point of sale technology. Founded by Di Di Chan & William Hogben Futureproof is out to change the way we shop in a big way. https://www.futureproofretail.com/ Hosted by: IGNITIA OFFICE 1002 Dean St, Brooklyn, NY 11238 Phone: 929-269-6777 www.ignitiaoffice.com

Andrew Ackerman Managing Director at Dreamt Ventures, one of the Top 5 accelerators in the world. Andrew is in charge of UrbanTech at Dreamit and investing, advising & mentoring Post-Seed start-up companies. Andrew previously founded Bunk1 and consulted at Booze Allen. Andrew talks about the qualities he likes to see when investing in companies, Dreamit Ventures customer emergence program, what separates his VC from others and finding that “one sentence” that hits the problem, solution & what makes you awesome! Dreamit Ventures Dreamit is a top-10 ranked global accelerator and venture capital firm. Dreamit drives traction and business velocity by providing startups with access to investors, a sales pipeline and a network of resources. Founded in 2008, Dreamit portfolio includes over 300 breakthrough technology companies across a variety of industry verticals. www.dreamit.com Andrew on Social Tiwtter: @andrewackerman

Interview w/ Trevor Sumner CEO at Perch Interactive. Previously Trevor was the President, CMO and CoFounder of LocalVox, a local social & mobile marketing platform for local businesses that was named one of the top startups in NYC by Business Insider, Forbes and Huffington Post, & was acquired by The Blackstone Group. Trevor is a NYC-based entrepreneur, product and marketing executive and recognized startup advisor and angel. We discuss growing up in NYC, tips for the hiring process with 'TopGrading', growing startups, being methodical, the company culture at Perch and words to live by aka the Trevorisms. Also Trevor tells a few great stories that include a live or death situation while scuba diving in Antartica. Perch is the leader in interactive retail marketing technology with proprietary 3D sensing technology and cloud platform enable traditional retail displays to detect and react whenever a customer approaches, touches or picks up a product - and deliver an experience that surprises and delights. www.perchinteractive.com Trevor on Social Twitter: @TrevorSumner Ense: @TrevorSumner http://www.accessoriesgal.com/

Interview w/ Rob Krauss CoFounder of Fortina which has 5 tri-state restaurant locations and growing. Rob used his digital marketing experience and customer retention strategies to create BoomLetGo, a new data/ mobile restaurant payment app. Rob talks about his affection for entertaining, pizza, rolling up dead bodies, his sports legacy & how his grandfather may have invented sausage? Rob gives his pro tips for growth, best advice & words to live by. Fortina https://fortinapizza.com Instagram: @fortinapizza Facebook: www.facebook.com/fortinaPizza Rob on Social: Instagram: @bobbypizzas Ense: @bobbypizzas Download Ense: https://ense.nyc/install

Interview w/ Josh Bobrowsky the CEO & CoFounder of Ignitia Office. Josh also founded Icons Consulting, owner and founder of Integrated Fitness and owned J.B. Landscaping. We discuss Josh's mentors in Ari Lightman, Digital Media & Marketing Professor at Carnegie Mellon, lessons learned along his journey, growth tips and the community and culture he is building at Ignitia Office in Brooklyn. Ignitia Office is a premium Coworking space that was recently ranked Top NYC Startups of 2018 and Top 7 Coworking spaces in NYC by Inc. Magazine. www.ignitiaoffice.com Josh on Social Media: Twitter: @joshbobrowsky Ense: @joshbobrowsky LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-bobrowsky-45834212/ Recommended Books: Shoe Dog - Phil Knight The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho The Hard Thing about Hard things - Ben Horowitz Download Ense to ask Josh any follow up questions: https://ense.nyc/install

Interview w/ Ramya Joseph, Founder of Pefin the worlds first AI financial advisor. We talks about the soul of her company Pefin and creating a people first culture. Ramya talk about getting into machine learning and AI from her business experience at IBM and Goldman Sachs. We also talk about growth tips, mentors, growing up in an immigrant family and the influence of her mother. "To do as your duty, let not the fruits of your actions, affect your actions." Ramya on social media: Twitter & ENSE @ramyajoseph www.pefin.com @pefininc

Listen to a few quick clips from the Culture Podcast!

Interview w/ Jesse Levin, Founder of Tactivate which is combining special operation veterans and entrepreneurs to help in disaster relief efforts. Jesse also CoFounded Brooklyn Boulders, is the Founder Active Collaborative Workspace, Founder of Mortar & Pistil and Founder of the Archer Group. Jesse talks about Expeditionary Entrepreneurship, running into drug traffickers while helping in Panama, the importance of relationships, building local capacity and helping rebuild communities. Jesse on Social: Twitter: @ArcherGroupInv Ense: @Tactivate ww.tactivate.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tactivatex Jesse's YouTube PSFK Talk: https://youtu.be/cOpA2BPB6I4 Entrepreneur.com Article: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310161

Interview w/ Ray Edwards, CEO & Founder of PNDULUM a fully integrated consumer product development, innovation company and incubator that is an accelerator for minority entrepreneurs. Ray is a LA-based entrepreneur and early-stage venture professional serving in strategic marketing, finance, and business development functions. Formerly CFO of Derek Jeter's Players Tribune and previously a Director of Finance & Strategy at Violator Management. Ray talks about growing up in Pittsburgh to working under legends like Violator's Chris Lighty, Hip-Hop Legend Busta Rhymes, DefJam CoFounder Kevin Liles, Warner Music Group' s Lyor Cohen and many others. We talk about PNDULUM's company culture, pro tips on personal growth and his famous red Nike's. "Crawl, Walk, Run" - Chris Lighty PNDULUM http://www.pndulum.com Ray on Social Media @CorpAmerica Ray on ENSE: https://ense.nyc/corpamerica To see all Recommended Books, Music and Food www.CharlieNYC.com