Absolute Return Podcast

August 14, 2023 -  On today’s show we welcome special guest, Bitcoin Depot CEO Brandon Mintz. Bitcoin Depot operates the largest bitcoin ATM network in the world. On the show, we discuss: Brandon’s “bitcoin moment” and what initially got him interested in the cryptocurrencyHis entrepreneurial journey and where he got the idea to start the companyWhy their customers use ATMs instead of online exchanges to buy bitcoinBitcoin Depot’s growth initiatives, including their approach to M&AWhat he believes is in store for the future of bitcoin

February 27, 2023 - On today’s show we welcome special guest and the 2022 Dealmaker of the Year, Danny Rice. Danny was the CEO of Rice Acquisition 1, which merged with Archaea Energy in a $1.15 billion deal and then subsequently sold to BP for $4.1 billion. Danny is now the CEO of Rice Acquisition 2, which recently announced a $1.5 billion merger with NET Power, a clean energy technology company. On the show, Danny discusses: Key lessons learned from the Archaea Energy SPAC merger and subsequent sale to BPA primer on NET Power’s innovative clean energy technologyThe case for U.S. shale gas powering reliable, clean and low-cost powerWhat inspires him as an entrepreneur and business leaderAnd more

January 6, 2023 - On today’s show we welcome special guest Phil Bak, CEO of Armada ETF  Advisors. Phil has been innovating in the ETF industry for over 15 years. He has previously served as Founder/CEO of Exponential ETFs, an ETF issuer and sub-advisor acquired by Tidal ETF Services in 2020. Phil has also served as Chief Investment Officer at Signal Advisors, a venture-backed startup in Detroit and Managing Director at the New York Stock Exchange. On the show, Phil discusses:   Characteristics of ETFs that make them a great tool for investorsSome major innovations in ETFs over the past 15 yearsThe bull case for residential real estateWhat is happening in the private REIT spaceThe major risk investors face in private REITsAnd more

On today’s show we welcome special guest, David Friedberg, Founder and CEO of The Production Board. Dave is an entrepreneur, business leader and investor who founded The Climate Corporation, which was sold to Monsanto for $1.1 billion. He now leads The Production Board, a holding company of businesses established to solve the most fundamental problems.   On the show, Dave discusses: - His early experiences in investment banking, Google, and what it was like working with Larry Page - The founding, growth and sale of his first venture, the Climate Corporation - High potential investment themes that he is focused on - Insight into one of his latest deals: Lavoro, Brazil’s largest agricultural inputs retailer - And more

On today’s podcast we welcome special guest, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus. Intuitive Machines is a diversified space exploration, infrastructure, and services company. On the show, Steve discusses: -Some of his main learning experiences at NASA and what inspired him to leave to launch a startup -The current state of the space race -The potential for long-term lunar infrastructure and commerce -What he thinks is in store for space exploration over the next 50 years -And more

On today’s podcast we welcome special guest, AvePoint CEO TJ Jiang. AvePoint is the largest data management solutions provider for the Microsoft cloud.  On the show, TJ discusses: His journey from new immigrant, to Wall Street, to successful entrepreneur taking his company publicHow he made it through the adversity when founding the companyLessons learned from taking his company publicHis thoughts on the current recessionary economic environmentAnd more

On today’s show we welcome special guests, Newsight Imaging CEO Eli Assoolin and VSAC CEO George Sobek. Newsight Imaging develops high-quality image sensors that can be integrated into industries such as robotics, automotive, mobile and many others. Vision Sensing Acquisition is a SPAC that is set to merge with Newsight. On the show, Eli and George discuss: -A teach-in on vision sensors and chips -Growth opportunities in semiconductors -Market conditions and whether there’s a recession -Their top productivity hacks -And more

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Social Leverage Founder Howard Lindzon. Social Leverage is a venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage and seed-stage investments in the Software, Consumer, and Fintech industries. On the show, Howard discusses: How he initially got into investing and what is appealing about early-stage investingKey lessons learned from his hits and misses within startups, angel investing and venture capitalWhat he thinks is in store for NFTs, crypto and web3 in the futureHis thoughts on the current market environmentAnd more

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Trinity Capital President Kyle Brown. Trinity Capital is a provider of venture debt financing, a smart financing option for high-growth venture capital-backed startups. On the show, Kyle discusses: -A primer on business development companies -The basics of venture loans and equipment leases -How venture debt fits into an investment portfolio -And more

On today’s show, we welcome special guest Dragonfly Energy CEO Denis Phares. Dragonfly Energy is a leader in energy storage and producer of deep cycle lithium-ion storage batteries.  On the show, Denis discusses: Advantages of lithium-ion products over lead-acid batteries The outlook for lithium carbonate prices Key aspects of the business that investors should consider His favourite productivity hack And more

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Delphia's Andrew Peek. Delphia runs an algorithmic investing strategy powered by machine learning.  On the show, Andrew discusses: -Predicting fundamental data using AI to drive investment alpha -Which fundamentals their algorithm trades on -How humans can incorporate machine learning into their investment process -What he finds most compelling about capital markets -And more

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Grove Collaborative CEO Stu Landesberg. Grove Collaborative is a leading sustainable consumer products company. On the podcast, Stu discusses: -How he made the jump from the buy side to entrepreneurship -The opportunity he sees in environmentally friendly home and personal care products -Struggles and successes building a new venture from scratch -His favorite productivity hack -And more

On today’s show we welcome special guest Near CEO Anil Mathews. Near is a global SaaS leader in privacy-led data intelligence on people, places and products. On the show, Anil discusses: Whether entrepreneurs are born or made Characteristics that make enterprise software attractive for entrepreneurs Near’s datasets and why they’re useful The #1 most important attribute for an entrepreneur to have And more

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Moolec Science founder and CEO Gastón Paladini. Moolec is a science-based food ingredient company that is going public through a merger with SPAC LightJump Acquisition. On the show, Gastón discusses: What is molecular farming and how did it originate How they produce meat molecules with plants Why meat alternatives are necessary His biggest challenge as an entrepreneur And more

On today’s show we welcome special guests, Alliance Entertainment’s Chairman Bruce Ogilvie and CEO Jeff Walker. Alliance Entertainment is a distributor and wholesaler of the world’s largest in stock selection of music, movies, video games, electronics, arcades, and collectibles.   On the show, Bruce and Jeff discuss:  Insights, challenges and opportunities in the distribution business The company’s roll-up strategy How Alliance competes and grows in an era of streaming Their thoughts on the current macro environment And more

On today’s podcast we welcome special guest, ClimateRock CEO Per Regnarsson. ClimateRock is a special purpose acquisition company that plans to acquire strategic renewable assets and enabling technologies with large decarbonization potential and strong financial history and prospects.  On the show, Per discusses: What specific types of opportunities the SPAC is looking at His thoughts on the current market environment The outlook for sustainable investing Key segments of the sustainability sector that investors should have on their radar And more

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Getaround Founder and CEO, Sam Zaid. Getaround is the world’s leading fully digital and global carsharing marketplace.  On the show, Sam discusses: His entrepreneurial journey from Ottawa to San Francisco The main benefits of carsharing for both hosts and guests What it’s like being a Softbank portfolio company His favourite productivity hack And more

On today’s podcast we welcome special guest, Footprint CEO Troy Swope. Footprint is a global materials science technology company focused on sustainable solutions. On the show, Troy discusses: -The innovation and improvement available in packaging solutions -How plant-based packaging solutions compare to plastic -Footprint’s business model and estimated total addressable market -Insights into their merger with SPAC Gores Holdings VIII -And more

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Voltus CEO Gregg Dixon. Voltus is a leading distributed energy resource software technology platform. On the podcast, Gregg discusses: -What are distributed energy resources (DERs) and why they are important -Voltus’ recurring revenue business model and strong unit economics -Thoughts on the current market environment and raising a $100 million PIPE financing -Advice to entrepreneurs considering taking their company public -And more

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Rubicon Technologies Founder, Chairman and CEO Nate Morris. Rubicon is a software platform that provides smart waste and recycling solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. On the podcast, Nate discusses: How he launched Rubicon with maxed-out credit cards and a $10,000 line of creditOpportunities in the fragmented $2.1 trillion global waste and recycling industryKey lessons learned in building a $1.7 billion software company from scratchAdvice for future entrepreneursAnd more