Inside Startup Investing with Chris Lustrino

This episode into a fascinating discussion with Dutch Mendenhall, CEO of RAD Diversified, Co-Founder of RADD Companies, and author of "Money Shackles." Dutch shares his journey from a baseball coach to a real estate mogul, emphasizing the strategic acquisition of diverse real estate properties from homes to golf courses and farmlands. He elaborates on RAD Diversified's mission to democratize real estate investment, allowing everyday investors to participate in diversified real estate portfolios through innovative financial platforms.

This week, Chris talks with Luca Zambello, founder and CEO of Jurny, a pioneering tech company augmenting the short-term rental and hospitality industry with AI automations. Born from Luca’s early forays into luxury home rentals, Jurny evolved from a property management firm to a sophisticated software provider, addressing the industry’s scalability challenges through innovative technology. Luca dives into Jurny’s development, focusing on its automation capabilities and AI-driven solutions that streamline operations and enhance guest experiences across dispersed rental properties. Highlights include… Automating hospitality industry operations, including property management and communication with guests. (4:33) AI's potential to automate back-office tasks for short-term rental companies, with a focus on specialized AI agents for (8:44) AI-powered software for property management, growth opportunities, and monetization strategies. (12:45)

Chris dives into the innovative world of Infinity Fuel Cell with founder and CEO William Smith. His company, rooted in aerospace and underwater fuel cell technology, has advanced the use of hydrogen fuel cells for various applications, including space and subsea missions. Smith discusses the company's journey from high-stakes government contracts to potential commercial use, highlighting their success in generating clean, efficient electricity and their transition towards green hydrogen systems. Highlights include… Hydrogen fuel cell technology for space and transportation applications. (6:14) Green hydrogen generation and decarbonization. (9:52) Funding, growth, and technology for Infinity. (14:43) Space technology development and commercialization. (18:59)

Inside Startup Investing presents a deep dive into Epilog, a company revolutionizing the autonomous vehicle industry. CEO Michael Mojaver, with his extensive background in vision and physics, has created a device, SideCar, that enables regular cars to become autonomous. This episode covers the intriguing possibilities of transforming any car into a self-driving vehicle for $1,000, vastly more accessible than current market options. Michael details Epilog's journey from an intensive R&D phase to now focusing on commercialization, highlighting the company's potential rapid growth in the AI-powered automotive space. Highlights include… AI-powered vision technology for autonomous driving. (1:33) Advanced driver assistance systems in cars. (10:26) Autonomous driving technology and market potential. (14:59)

Chris speaks with Mark Holland, founder and CEO of Choose Your Horizon, a mental wellness company that offers at-home psychedelic therapy. Mark shares how the therapy works, using ketamine in controlled, low doses to aid in treating conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The episode illuminates how this therapy creates a dissociative experience, enabling patients to gain new perspectives on their mental health issues. Holland highlights the company’s growth trajectory, including its plan to expand to more states and possibly include more psychedelic compounds in treatment. Highlights include… Mental wellness company using psychedelic therapy. (0:03) Ketamine therapy for mental health treatment. (1:56) Ketamine-assisted therapy for mental health treatment. (5:50) Psychedelic therapy for mental health. (12:29) Scaling a mental healthcare business with a focus on psychedelic treatments. (17:57)

Chris talks with Arthur Pierse, the founder of WeClimate, a groundbreaking climate equity crowdfunding platform. Arthur shares his vision of making climate tech investments accessible to a broader audience beyond the traditional realm of venture capitalists and high-net-worth individuals. He delves into the expansive scope of climate technology, touching upon various sectors, from renewable energy to electric vehicles, and the challenges and opportunities within. The conversation also covers the significant role of government incentives in advancing green technologies and Arthur's strategic approach to growing WeClimate. Highlights include… Climate tech investing and its growth potential. (1:33) The adoption of electric vehicles and the challenges faced. (5:15) Renewable energy, government incentives, and consumer behavior. (10:07) The state of investing in climate tech companies. (16:14) Investing in climate tech and the role of venture capital. (20:50)

In this episode, Chris engages in an enlightening conversation with Haley Bryant, a pre-seed investor at Hustle Fund. As a venture capital fund focused on “hilariously” early startups, Hustle Fund is carving a path in the industry by democratizing venture capital through their Angel Squad program and seeking out exceptional founders beyond the Silicon Valley bubble. This episode dives deep into the intricacies of angel investing, explores the evolving landscape of startup funding across different regions, and discusses the critical shift towards a more data-driven venture capital approach. Highlights include… Democratizing access to venture capital. (2:04) Improving diversity in venture capital and angel investing. (8:49) Venture capital, geographic dispersion, and remote work. (12:27) AI, data, and company growth strategies. (18:16) Comparing angel investing, secondary markets, and private capital markets. (24:40)

In this episode Chris chats with Paul Allen, a serial entrepreneur best known for founding Ancestry.com. We learn about Allen's latest venture, Citizen Portal, an AI-driven platform designed to democratize government data access and enhance governance transparency. The discussion traverses Allen's entrepreneurial journey, the transformative potential of AI in politics, and the challenges and achievements in building a platform that empowers citizens with accurate government information. Highlights include… Creating an informed citizenry through AI-powered transcript analysis. (2:30) Using AI to improve government transparency and engagement. (6:28) Improving citizen engagement with government. (13:15) How to inform voters in elections. (18:43)

Chris catches up with Sebastian Duque, the co-founder and CEO of Plei. Known as the "Uber of soccer," Plei is an app that's rapidly gaining traction, currently used in 16 US cities. With a mission to make soccer accessible and convenient, Plei has been a game-changer in connecting players and facilitating matches, with over 100,000 games played. In this episode, Sebastian shares his journey, from the early challenges to significant milestones, and provides an insightful look into how technology is transforming the world’s most popular sport. Highlights include… Creating a platform for on-demand pickup sports games. (5:47) Plei’s platform growth and user experience. (10:27) Growth strategy and sourcing facilities for a sports platform. (15:19) Growing a sports platform with a focus on soccer as the sport trends positively in the US. (20:05)

Chris sits down with Dan Rutstein, President of Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC). With his diverse background spanning journalism, diplomacy, and technology, Rutstein brings a unique perspective to leading a soccer club. He discusses the club's journey in the United Soccer League (USL), its strategies for player development, and its success in fostering a strong, community-oriented fan base. The conversation also covers the club's approach to navigating the complexities of soccer in the U.S., including TV deals and the potential for growth in the sport. Highlights include… Soccer team management and growth opportunities in USL. (2:20) US soccer league structure and TV deal with CBS. (7:44) USL soccer league's financial model and player development. (12:15) Building a sustainable business model for OCSC. (17:10) Sourcing and developing young soccer talent. (21:35) Growing US soccer and investing in a local team. (25:16)