Skip to main content
Michigan VCtalk

Michigan VCtalk

By Ara Topouzian

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series (launched in 2020) developed by the Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA). Each episode will focus on guests such as investors, entrepreneurs, and other thoughtful leaders that are making a difference in the Michigan ecosystem. Hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.
Available on
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Jeff Wesley, Executive Director at Michigan Rise, Red Cedar Ventures and Spartan Innovations

Michigan VCtalkMay 02, 2022

00:00
22:24
Katie Hall, CEO/Founder, Claira

Katie Hall, CEO/Founder, Claira

Ara talks with Katie Hall is the Founder and CEO of Claira Technologies, a pioneering workforce optimization platform tailored for industrial enterprises.
With a decade-long commitment to assisting organizations in navigating the transformative influence of AI on the workforce, Katie's diverse background in business, public policy, and government enriches our discussion with invaluable insights. 

Mar 01, 202431:40
MVCA Venture Fellows Interview: Caroline Wolanin/ Keegan McGuire

MVCA Venture Fellows Interview: Caroline Wolanin/ Keegan McGuire

The Michigan Venture Capital Association is proud to offer the Venture Fellows Program to Michigan’s venture capital community. The program, launched in 2023, is designed to increase the number of venture professionals in Michigan in order to accelerate the fundraising and deployment of capital into early-stage companies. Michigan VCtalk features two of the MVCA Venture Fellows, Caroline Wolanin, Plymouth Growth and Keegan McGuire, Arboretum Ventures. Listen to their track toward getting into venture capital and what they hope to gain our of the Fellows program.

Feb 01, 202422:01
Raffaele Mautone, CEO, Judy Security

Raffaele Mautone, CEO, Judy Security

Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of Michigan Venture Capital Association talks with Raffaele Mautone, former CIO of Duo Security and current Founder and CEO of Detroit-based Judy Security (formerly AaDya Security). Raffaele's strategic thinking and effective leadership have been instrumental and paramount in his career as an IT, sales and operations professional. I talk with Raffaele about his rich background as well as Judy Security which is a cyber security company that offers cybersecurity software solutions for small and medium businesses. (Programming note: since the recording of this episode, the company was rebranded to Judy Security.) For more information: https://www.judysecurity.ai/

Nov 01, 202328:16
2023 MVCA Research Report

2023 MVCA Research Report

Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA), the nonprofit trade association that advocates for more capital and talent for Michigan’s entrepreneurial and investment community, released its 2023 MVCA Research Report, a comprehensive analysis of investment activity that has had a positive impact in the state. Ara talks with members from the MVCA Research Report committee including Dan Kidle, Arboretum Ventures, Jeff Rinvelt, Renaissance Venture Capital and Prem Bodagala, Red Cedar Ventures.


Special thank you to sponsor Michigan Rise.

Sep 07, 202328:15
Andy Fowler, CEO & Co-Founder, Nutshell
May 20, 202325:48
Dr. Dawn Batts, Co-Founder of Commune Angels & Capital Strategist at TechTown Detroit
Apr 17, 202322:42
Johnnie Turnage, Founder, EvenScore

Johnnie Turnage, Founder, EvenScore

This marks Michigan VCtalk's 30th episode! Podcast host Ara Topouzian has a dynamic conversation with Johnnie Turnage, Founder of EvenScore, an impact-focused donation platform startup which began in 2021. Since then, Johnnie has been immersed into the Michigan founder ecosystem as an award-winning grassroots activist and tech entrepreneur. He is passionate about the entrepreneurial community and wants to give back to the community. Special thank you to Michigan Rise as Michigan VCtalk's podcast sponsor. For more information about Michigan Venture Capital Association: http://michiganvca.org/

Feb 23, 202326:45
Ryan Landau, CEO, Purpose Jobs

Ryan Landau, CEO, Purpose Jobs

Ara talks with Ryan Landau, Founder of Purpose Jobs. Ryan set out to create a platform that empowers people to find jobs they will love; a platform that is centered around people, community, education, and culture. Their goal is to create a business that does something important and meaningful in the world. Special thank you to podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit. 

Feb 17, 202319:56
Brandon Marken, CEO, Lean Rocket Lab
Jan 13, 202327:05
Brandee Cooke-Brown, Executive Director, 100K Ideas

Brandee Cooke-Brown, Executive Director, 100K Ideas

Since joining 100K Ideas shortly after its 2017 launch and becoming executive director in 2020, Brandee Cooke-Brown has helped focus the organization’s purpose, work and ability to engage with the local Flint community. 100K Ideas seeks to relieve the entrepreneurial burden innovators face and help them, through mentorship, create products and services that can fuel startup businesses. Special thank you to our podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit. Background music supplied by Pixabay.

Dec 12, 202233:27
Quentin L. Messer, Jr, CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Nov 06, 202240:28
History of VC in Michigan & MVCA Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Part 2

History of VC in Michigan & MVCA Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Part 2

Part two of a special two part series with Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) narrating the history of how venture capital started to form and grow in the state of Michigan. Included in this podcast are audio clips featuring some of the early pioneers that helped shape venture capital activity in Michigan as well as those responsible for forming an organized community now known as MVCA (which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022). Special thank you to podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit. Background music supplied by Pixabay.

Oct 13, 202226:37
History of VC in Michigan & MVCA Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Part 1

History of VC in Michigan & MVCA Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Part 1

In this special two part podcast episode, Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) narrates the history of how venture capital started to form and grow in the state of Michigan. Included in this podcast are audio clips featuring some of the early pioneers that helped shape venture capital activity in Michigan as well as those responsible for forming an organized community now known as MVCA (which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022). Special thank you to podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit. Background music supplied by Pixabay. 

Sep 07, 202216:16
Michael Cole, President of The Technology Industry Group, Bank of Ann Arbor

Michael Cole, President of The Technology Industry Group, Bank of Ann Arbor

Ara talks with Michael Cole, President of the Technology Industry Group with Bank of Ann Arbor. Bank of Ann Arbor's Technology Industry Group provides a full range of banking products to emerging and later-stage technology and life sciences companies, venture capital firms, angel investors and entrepreneurs. Special thanks to podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit. 

Aug 08, 202222:19
Steve Tobocman & Ernestine Lyons, Global Detroit & Ayush Agarwal, Pencil Learning Technologies (Part 2)

Steve Tobocman & Ernestine Lyons, Global Detroit & Ayush Agarwal, Pencil Learning Technologies (Part 2)

Ara talks with Steve Tobocman and Ernestine Lyons of Global Detroit about the work their organization is doing to support the immigrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The second half of the podcast highlights a native of India, Ayush Agarwal, a product leader and angel investor who has led major initiatives at Google and Facebook. He is the co-founder of Pencil Learning Technologies, a software solution that offers content management, workflows and communications for educators to structure and maximize student learning while saving time. Pencil has raised $5 million in venture capital since joining Global Detroit's Global EIR program in 2020. Recently, Ayush and Pencil were selected to participate in Y Combinator, one of the world’s most successful and prestigious startup accelerators.

Michigan VCtalk is proudly sponsored by Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit.

Jun 28, 202244:59
Steve Tobocman & Ernestine Lyons Global Detroit and Ashok Seetharam, PAXAFE (Part 1)

Steve Tobocman & Ernestine Lyons Global Detroit and Ashok Seetharam, PAXAFE (Part 1)

Ara talks with Steve Tobocman and Ernestine Lyons of Global Detroit about the work their organization is doing to support the immigrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The second half of the podcast highlights founder Ashok Seetharam, PAXAFE and he discussed his startup and how Global Detroit supported his desire to stay in the US. 

Jun 16, 202239:58
Jeff Wesley, Executive Director at Michigan Rise, Red Cedar Ventures and Spartan Innovations

Jeff Wesley, Executive Director at Michigan Rise, Red Cedar Ventures and Spartan Innovations

Ara talks with Jeff Wesley, Executive Director of Red Cedar Ventures, the venture investment subsidiary of the MSU Foundation. In his role, he actively manages and grows the company’s venture investment portfolio. Jeff is also Executive Director for Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III invests in Michigan tech startups to help commercialize innovative technologies.

Prior to Red Cedar Ventures, Wesley served as CFO of Two Men and a Truck from 2008 to 2015, then as the company’s chief executive from 2015 to 2017. Under his leadership, the company grew from $186 million to over $500 million in annual revenues and earned a place among Crain’s Detroit Business’ “Cool Places to Work”.

May 02, 202222:24
Jeff Ponders, Principal & Portfolio Success, Invest Detroit

Jeff Ponders, Principal & Portfolio Success, Invest Detroit

Ara talks with Jeff Ponders II who joined the ID Ventures team in April 2021 as Principal, Portfolio Success. In this role Jeff works closely with portfolio company founders as they scale toward major growth milestones and reach material valuation inflection points. Jeff is a passionate leader for the entrepreneur ecosystem and it shows in this podcast. Michigan VCtalk is proudly sponsored by Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit.

Apr 01, 202241:51
DEI UnDemo Day 2022, Vince Nystrom, Renaissance Venture Capital

DEI UnDemo Day 2022, Vince Nystrom, Renaissance Venture Capital

Ara had a chance to talk to Vince Nystrom, Partner at Renaissance Venture Capital. Renaissance Venture Capital is organizing the April, 2022 DEI UnDemo Day® which will bring together some of the region’s top early-stage companies and technologies for a virtual event with venture capital investors from around the country. This is the first UnDemo Day® designed exclusively to attract national venture capital to diverse founders. The virtual event will highlight companies from the Midwest and Central U.S. led by women, people of color, and other diverse communities.

Mar 14, 202219:07
Varnum LLP Attorneys Discuss MiSpringboard Program

Varnum LLP Attorneys Discuss MiSpringboard Program

Ara had the opportunity to talk to both Matt Bower and Zach Meyer, attorneys for Varnum LLP. The discussion centered on their program MiSpringboard, a statewide initiative designed to remove some of the barriers associated with starting a business by providing free legal services to Michigan startups.

Varnum launched the MiSpringboard program in 2011 as a way of helping Michigan’s then-struggling economy with a commitment of $1 million in free legal services. MiSpringboard was our way of helping the economy by doing what we do best – providing high-quality legal counsel to qualified businesses and individuals.

Due to the overwhelming success of this program, in 2016 Varnum renewed its commitment to Michigan startups by dedicating a second $1 million in free legal services through the MiSpringboard program.

Mar 03, 202219:51
2021 Year End Review of Michigan Venture Community

2021 Year End Review of Michigan Venture Community

MVCA Executive Director, Ara Topouzian is joined by former MVCA Chair, Michael Gross (Beringea) for a recap on activities that transpired in Michigan during 2021. They discussed talent, deal flow, exits and funding rounds which were notable as well as under the radar.  

Feb 09, 202225:39
Jeff Farrah, National Venture Capital Association - 2022 Policy Priorities

Jeff Farrah, National Venture Capital Association - 2022 Policy Priorities

Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) Executive Director spoke with Jeff Farrah, General Counsel of National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). Jeff discusses NVCA's policy priorities for 2022 as well as provide additional legislative updates. More information on MVCA can be found at michiganvca.org

This podcast is sponsored by Michigan Rise. 

Feb 02, 202251:05
Brad King, CEO, Orbion Space Technology

Brad King, CEO, Orbion Space Technology

Brad’s two decades in the space field and many professional awards recognize his research contributions in propulsion. He holds a Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan, has served on numerous NASA, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community advisory panels, and has published more than 100 papers on space propulsion systems. Brad is a past recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award from President George W. Bush “for innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology, and for the exceptional potential to shape the future.” In 2002, Brad founded Aerophysics Inc. This closely held company has delivered intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance solutions to government customers from multiple agencies. He is currently principal investigator on three satellite missions. Orbion Space Technology has been a two time winner at the Michigan Venture Capital Awards recognizing their achievements. 

Jan 12, 202225:48
Steve Robert, Co-Founder & CEO, Autobook

Steve Robert, Co-Founder & CEO, Autobook

Steve Robert is the co-founder and CEO of Autobooks, the first fully integrated payments and accounting platform for Small Business - delivered through financial institutions. Autobooks provides an embedded receivables solution (invoicing & payments) bundled into a checking account via internet banking which helps banks and credit unions provide “back-office” services that help small businesses get paid faster and automate accounting.

Dec 14, 202137:18
Jan Garfinkle, Founder & Managing Partner, Arboretum Ventures

Jan Garfinkle, Founder & Managing Partner, Arboretum Ventures

Jan Garfinkle founded Arboretum Ventures on the premise that innovation is key to delivering value in healthcare, a principle she developed working in the medical device industry for over two decades. Her investments focus on promising medical technologies that enable meaningful healthcare system savings while maintain great clinical outcomes. Jan has led and held board seats in more than a dozen investments across five funds. Ara and Jan touch on a variety of topics including her background, the work she has accomplishment working with the National Venture Capital Association and how she started Arboretum Ventures.

Nov 03, 202130:38
Skot Welch, Managing Partner, New Community Transformation Fund

Skot Welch, Managing Partner, New Community Transformation Fund

Skot Welch is the Founder/President of Global Bridgebuilders (GBB). The firm is a results-focused organization with extensive experience in the development and implementation of sustainable, process-focused cultural competency, inclusion initiatives accomplished through comprehensive assessment and measurement systems development.

He is also a Managing Partner of the newly formed New Community Transformation Fund. This is an investment fund based in Grand Rapids, Michigan to support diverse business owners. The fund aims to increase ethnic and racial diversity in business ownership in West Michigan. In addition, it will focus on businesses that intend to provide multi-generational wealth creation within historically disadvantaged groups.

Ara and Skot talk about this new fund as well as other issues surrounding diversity, equity & inclusion. 

Oct 08, 202146:11
Kelly Sexton, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research - Technology Transfer and Innovation, University of Michigan

Kelly Sexton, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research - Technology Transfer and Innovation, University of Michigan

As associate vice president for research – technology transfer and innovation partnerships, Kelly works closely with the vice president for research as well as other leaders across the university to provide visionary and strategic leadership of UM’s innovation, business engagement and technology transfer activities, including the Office of Technology Transfer and the Business Engagement Center. In this role, she supports and encourages university-wide programs for intellectual property development, innovation, and engagement with business and venture communities in the region, across the nation, and around the globe. Ara and Kelly talk about the work happening at the Tech Transfer office and their impact in Michigan as well as a new fund they created. 

Aug 13, 202132:03
Jim Tenzillo, Vice President, Invest Michigan

Jim Tenzillo, Vice President, Invest Michigan

Jim is a Chicago native who joined Invest Michigan in 2016. He has over 10 years of experience in finance, entrepreneurship and business development. At Invest Michigan, Jim sources and leads new deals, manages and supports portfolio companies and serves on the boards of select portfolio companies. Jim and Ara had a great conversation covering a variety of topics including how Invest Michigan was created and the work they have done over the years with the Michigan entrepreneur community but we also discussed his methodology on working with entrepreneurs and managing expectations as well as his advice on how he approaches providing valuable support to them; and then we covered some of the work that is needed to help attack unconscious bias when it comes to helping fund diverse entrepreneurs.

Jul 09, 202132:58
Wayne Embree, Executive Vice President, Rev1 Ventures

Wayne Embree, Executive Vice President, Rev1 Ventures

Wayne Embree, Executive Vice President at Rev1 Ventures (Columbus, OH) is an experienced seed-stage investor with a track record of fueling startups with guidance and venture capital. He’s been involved in over 200 investments, including sitting on over 50 boards and taking more than 60 businesses through exits. Throughout his career, he has maintained his passion and enthusiasm for helping entrepreneurs change the world. Wayne has a BS in Natural Sciences from Western Oregon and an MS in Urban Planning from the University of Oregon. This episode is sponsored by Michigan Rise (www.michiganrise.com)

Jun 01, 202130:56
2021 MVCA Annual Research Report

2021 MVCA Annual Research Report

MVCA recently presented a webinar focused on an analysis of the venture and entrepreneurial community in Michigan through the release of the 2021 MVCA Research Report. This event features Michael Gross (Managing Director, Beringea, MVCA Chair), Jeff Rinvelt (Partner, Renaissance Venture Capital, MVCA Vice Chair & Research Report Chair) and moderated by Ara Topouzian (Executive Director of MVCA). This episode is sponsored by Michigan Rise (www.michiganrise.com)

May 07, 202146:14
Chris Rizik, CEO & Managing Partner, Renaissance Venture Capital

Chris Rizik, CEO & Managing Partner, Renaissance Venture Capital

Chris Rizik is the founder, managing partner, and Chief Executive Officer of the Renaissance Venture Capital, a first-of-its-kind network fund formed by a consortium of Fortune 1000 and major private corporations. Renaissance works to invest in and strategically connect venture capital funds and start-up companies with major corporations. Chris is also the founder and publisher of SoulTracks.com, America’s most popular soul music online magazine. Recorded in October, 2020.

Apr 06, 202134:55
Adrian Fortino, Managing Director, Mercury Fund

Adrian Fortino, Managing Director, Mercury Fund

Ara talks with Adrian Fortino, an experienced founder, operator, engineer and investor in the industrial technology sector. He is a Managing Director and leads the Intelligent Manufacturing practice at Mercury Fund (Houston, TX). Mercury Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm. With over $300 million under management, Mercury focuses on entrepreneurs and technology innovation originating in the U.S. Midcontinent. 

Mar 04, 202122:45
Jeff Farah & Justin Field, NVCA - Reflections on 2020 US Presidential election for venture investing

Jeff Farah & Justin Field, NVCA - Reflections on 2020 US Presidential election for venture investing

MVCA hosted a recent virtual webinar with Jeff Farrah and Justin Field from the National Venture Capital Association to discuss venture investing in the year ahead, including the impacts related to the Biden-Harris administration policy items, tax and carried interest, research and tech transfer, and capital markets. 

Feb 02, 202140:26
Razat Gaurav, CEO, LLamasoft

Razat Gaurav, CEO, LLamasoft

Ara talks with Razat Gaurav, CEO of LLamasoft, an artificial intelligence supply chain management company. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, LLamasoft was acquired by Coupa for $1.5B, marking a significant exit for their venture capital investors. Learn more about Razat's background and philosphies of being a founder. 

Jan 13, 202140:16
David Ollila, Entrepreneur / Founder of 100k Ideas

David Ollila, Entrepreneur / Founder of 100k Ideas

Ara talks with David Ollila, whose pivotal work for improving and growing local economies has captured the attention of leaders at all levels and earned him multiple invites to the White House. David had his first idea for a product as a seven-year-old worried about his mother cutting fruit. Though the idea never quite stuck, David hasn’t stopped tinkering to find solutions to problems he encounters. A serial entrepreneur, innovator and inventor, he now holds 16 patents on everything from sporting goods to wearable technology. While constantly thinking about new ideas, David provides his expertise and experience to help cultivate entrepreneurship and opportunity in Flint at Skypoint Ventures, 100K Ideas and the Ferris Wheel Innovation Center. (Special thanks to James Carpp, Rehmann for engineering this episode)

Nov 30, 202030:58
Jennifer Baird, Founder/CEO, Fifth Eye

Jennifer Baird, Founder/CEO, Fifth Eye

This episode features Jennifer Baird, Founder & CEO of Fifth Eye. She is a serial entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience founding and leading high potential startups as CEO. Her vast experience includes raising angel capital, grant funding for early-stage tech companies and raising venture capital funding as companies grow. She currently leads Fifth Eye, an Ann Arbor, MI based medical device software company building clinical early warning systems for hospitals. (special thanks to James Carpp, Rehmann for engineering this episode)


Oct 20, 202022:07
Michigan VCtalks Promo

Michigan VCtalks Promo

Have you ever been interested to listen from individuals that make up the great strength of Michigan’s investment and innovation community? Their strategies, insights, philosophies have had a major impact affecting the overall economic growth and drive job creation in our great state.

Welcome to Michigan VCtalks!  

Our podcast series will spotlight a variety of these guests. We will talk to investors – VC’s and Angels. These conversations will extend to entrepreneurs – Founders and Startups, as well as other thoughtful leaders that are making a difference in the Michigan ecosystem. 

My name is Ara Topouzian, and I am the Executive Director of Michigan Venture Capital Association and also the host of Michigan VCtalks. As the voice of the Michigan entrepreneurial and investment community, our association strives to increase the amount of capital and talent available to venture and angel investors so we can fund Michigan’s most innovative entrepreneurs and work closely with them to transform breakthrough ideas into new companies and industries.

So what do you need to do next? That’s easy….tune in and listen to Michigan VCtalks! Follow, subscribe and share our episodes with others. Thank you! 

Sep 17, 202001:24