Redhawk Media Group

THTW Ep:11 - Dr. Anthony Hood

How should universities support startups and local startup ecosystems? What will it take to create more collaboration between entrepreneurs and universities? When will we see more universities make an effort to create a "front door" for founders to walk through? All of these questions and more are answered on this episode of THTW with Dr. Anthony Hood, Director of Civic Innovation and tenured professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Hood is an entrepreneur, academic instructor, researcher, guest lecturer and community activist. He brings a truly holistic and unique perspective of the role universities should play when supporting their community's startups. 

THTW Ep 10: What Does Workforce Development Really Mean?

Most startups don't really think about economic development programs playing a role in their specific business success. However, as the demand for a more technical workforce outstrips the supply, they need to better understand the role played by workforce development programs. This week, we have Waymond Jackson from the Birmingham Business Alliance joining the program to talk about the role Workforce Development needs to play in our local business community. Hear how the BBA, City of Birmingham and other agencies are actively addressing skill development, employee pipelines and job readiness.

TWTW Ep. 9: Lauren Sturdivant- Are you willing to make the sacrifices?

On this episode of THTW, hear Lauren recount the sacrifices she's made to become a successful early-stage founder. She gave up a successful career, moved twice and navigated three kindergartens in one year for her daughter. How did she know it was worth the risk and would you have the same resolve? Download the episode now and decide for yourself...

THTW Ep 8: Conserv- Starting Slow to Move Quickly

On this episode of THTW, hear from Austin Senseman about their nearly year-long work to launch Conserv. Find out why they took their time with customer discovery and market analysis and how that led to almost instant success winning multiple startup competitions, landing angel investors and finding early customers quickly. Learn why their intentional efforts to move slowly ended up creating incredible velocity once they actually launched.

THTW Ep 7: Mission-Driven Entrepreneurship with Domestique Coffee

It's usually a sucker's bet to enter a market saturated with large international competitors. What happens when you do it anyway, using what those competitors do poorly to create a company and brand to compete on a whole different playing field? Tune in to hear how Nathan Pocus, founder of Domestique envisioned the "craft" coffee movement and what strategic moves they've made to play a big role in its development.

THTW Ep 6: Doctor Wellington

You get sick, you call your doctor for an appointment, two days later you're still sick and now sitting in a waiting room for 30 minutes past your scheduled appointment. Doctor sees you for 90 seconds, takes a few tests and sends you to the front desk to pay your $40 copay. Now, imagine if you could do all of this from your bed, have no co-pays or deductibles and get it all for $49 a month. Listen to this week's episode to hear how Doctor Wellington is delivering telemedicine and clinic-based primary care for only $49 per month. Find out how DW cracked the code and is disrupting a broken primary care system.

THTW- Ep. 5: Britney Summerville and Birmingham Bound

In just over a year, Birmingham Bound has played a direct role in recruiting more than a dozen tech operations to Birmingham. Hear about their unprecedented success and how Britney and the Bham Bound team is leveraging the energetic startup community and corporate partners to attract high growth startups.

Plus, learn about Britney's favorite character from "The Wire."

This Has to Work AFF Ep. 4: Are you Ready to Raise Capital?

In this episode, Mickey and Matt review some basics around fundraising prep for startups. When are you ready? What different kinds of investors look for. How to start getting ready for those conversations? Plus a reference to 80's network television...

This Has to Work- AFF Ep. 3: Ecosystems

Ecosystems play a huge role in the success or failure of a startup. Listen to what Mickey and Matt found during the last year through their travels and interactions with different startup communities throughout the country. What was impressive? What was less than encouraging? Hear all about it on this episode.

This Has to Work- AFF Episode 2

Continuing our series on the Alabama Futures Fund after its one-year anniversary, this episode covers what startups they discovered inside and outside the state of Alabama. From space tourism to chicken restaurants, the Redhawk team talked to a wide variety of founders. Hear directly from them about what's at stake when assessing startups and how staying true to the investment thesis is crucial to driving the fund's approach.