Episodes

From Teenage Web Developer to Multi-Million Dollar Exit with Matt Cimino What does it take to build, scale, and successfully exit a software company? In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Matt Cimino, Managing Partner of Amped Ventures and former founder of Amped, a Wilmington-based software company acquired by Intuit. Matt's entrepreneurial journey began at just 14 years old building websites for local businesses and eventually led to creating multiple techno...

What happens when a CPA stops playing it safe and builds something of his own? In this episode, Chris Capone joins Richard Stroupe to share the journey from Deloitte and international finance roles in Switzerland and Bulgaria to launching Capone & Associates in Wilmington. They discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, company culture, financial discipline, and how AI is changing the future of accounting and business. Capone & Associates: https://www.caponeandassociates.biz LinkedIn: ht...

In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Tully Ryan, CEO of IQExit and Managing Director at Murphy Business, as well as a contributor to the Wilmington Business Journal. Tully shares his journey from launching a tech company during the dot-com era to advising founder-led businesses on growth, transition planning, and successful exits in today’s evolving M&A market. The conversation explores AI’s impact on business operations, acquisition entrepreneurship, private equity...

Ian Padrick, Founder and CEO of Ohanafy, returns to Amplified CEO to talk about raising the company’s Series A round, scaling after early pivots, and building a repeatable growth engine. Topics include: Series A fundraising Investor readiness Founder pivots Customer success AI and automation B2B technology Wilmington startup growth Building raving fans Scaling without losing focus 👉 Learn more about Ohanafy: https://ohanafy.com/ 👉 Connect with Ian Padrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/...

What does it really take to lead under pressure—and why do most people avoid it? In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with former Navy SEAL Commander and Warrior Poet founder Andrew Sridhar to explore high-performance leadership, decision-making under pressure, and the mindset shift required to move from comfort to growth. From SEAL training and combat experience to Harvard Business School and leading in tech, Andrew shares powerful insights on ownership, resilience, st...

In this special episode of Amplified CEO, four Purdue University students from Entrepreneurship 200 interview Richard Stroupe about what it really takes to build, scale, and invest in successful companies. Richard shares candid insights from 30+ years in software, leadership, and venture capital—covering mentorship, investor red flags, product-market fit, ethical growth, founder psychology, and the trends shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a student, an emerging found...

Retired Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson joins Richard Stroupe for a candid conversation on leadership, decision-making, and navigating high-stakes environments from the battlefield to the boardroom. Anderson shares lessons from nearly four decades in the U.S. Army—commanding at every level, shaping global operations as Deputy Chief of Staff for G-3/5/7, and leading through some of the military’s most demanding moments. He also talks about his current work in senior leadership at Rafael System...

IDEA Fund Partners is backing bold, early-stage founders from pre-seed to Series A and hunting for the next unicorns. Senior Associate Juan Carlos Pacheco chats with Richard Stroupe, discussing exceptional founders with disruptive ideas, what stands out—grit, self-awareness, real traction—and what kills a deal, from arrogance to shaky numbers. Pacheco also highlights how companies like Wilmington’s SkillMaker are fueling a new wave of tech growth across the region. https://www.ideafundpartners....

Richard Stroupe sits down with Daniel Summers, CEO and Founding Partner of Electronic Lab Logs — a cloud-based platform helping labs improve compliance, reduce errors, and streamline operations. Daniel shares how digging footings in Georgia’s red clay led him to a 20+ year career in software. He walks us through the early challenges of building a business from scratch, raising capital in the Southeast, navigating COVID-era uncertainty, and integrating AI to revolutionize lab operations. https:/...

Justin Whitman went from touring musician to tech founder. Now, as Founder & CEO of UMuseUs, he’s building a platform that gives musicians and fans a new way to connect. In this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe talks with Justin about his journey from music to entrepreneurship, the lessons he’s carried from two decades of consulting through JWW, Inc., and why UMuseUs is more than just a platform — it’s a movement to spotlight overlooked talent and reshape how artists and fans inter...

In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Heather McWhorter, Director of UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a board member at NC IDEA. Heather shares her journey from Penn State to southeastern North Carolina—and how she’s helping shape Wilmington’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. They discuss: Building momentum at CIE and supporting high-impact startups The value of entrepreneurial mindset education Heather’s vision for Wilmington’s blue economy ...

What if breaking into the federal market didn’t have to be a bureaucratic nightmare? In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Giles Walger — retired Marine, former AWS mission engineering lead, and founder of OODAx — to talk about what it really takes for startups to succeed in the world of defense and government contracting. From warfighter needs at the edge to the pain points of procurement, Giles shares lessons from his military career, his time at Amazon Web Servic...

What Comes Next: Founders, Exits, and the Future of AI

What does it really take to build a $10M ARR company, survive a financial crash, pivot through a recession, and still come out on top?

What do The Blair Witch Project, Madden NFL, and cutting-edge workforce training have in common?

Scott Chamberlin talks tech banking, venture capital, and AI’s financial future.

From military service to Main Street — how a retired Brigadier General became a biotech founder and bakery owner.

Kevin Green - delivering mission-critical IT solutions and professional services to the defense, intelligence, and homeland security sectors.

What happens when an entrepreneur finally steps away from the grind—only to be pulled back in? Scott Moody, co-founder of AuthenTec—the company behind the fingerprint technology that became a cornerstone of Apple’s Touch ID—joins Richard Stroupe, host of Amplified CEO, to discuss the challenges of retirement, the thrill of reinvention, and why purpose, not just profit, drives him. From his latest mission-driven company, K4Connect, to his venture capital firm, First Talent Ventures, Scott shar...

In this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe sits down with Jeff Peterson, owner of Peterson Properties, to discuss his journey from running an upholstery business to becoming a successful real estate developer. Jeff shares how he got started, the challenges he faced, and his approach to growing a diverse portfolio of vacation rentals, commercial properties, and developments like Peterson Station in Cary. He also talks about working with family, taking risks, and what’s next for his bu...

Can AI change the future of opioid use disorder treatment? On this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe sits down with David Reeser, Founder and CEO of OpiAID, a groundbreaking company using artificial intelligence to transform the way we treat opioid use disorder. From his early passion for healthcare to pioneering predictive analytics, David shares how real-time biometric data and AI-driven insights are reshaping recovery. https://opiaid.ai/ This episode edited by Nomadic Orca | w...

Richard's guest is Ian Padrick, CEO and founder of Ohanafy, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing the food and beverage industry. Ohanafy helps businesses streamline operations, leverage data-driven insights for smarter decision-making, and maximize revenue from start to finish. Ian shares the pivotal moments that led him to leave a secure corporate career, the challenges of building a scalable AI-powered platform, and how his team is modernizing operations for businesses across the industry. ...

Today’s guest is Justin Williams, CEO of Carolina Marketing Co. With over 20 years in regional publishing, Justin’s portfolio includes lifestyle magazines that spotlight communities from Oak Island and Southport to Wilmington and Topsail. His team specializes in graphic design, digital marketing, geofencing, and delivering media and services that connect people and tell the stories of locals and businesses in coastal North Carolina. Website Address: 1010 Evangeline Dr, Ste 201, Leland, NC 28451...

Jim Roberts, Founder of NEW - Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington - sits down with Richard and discusses his journey from growing up in Florida to becoming a pivotal figure in North Carolina’s startup scene. Jim shares his initiatives in Charlotte, Asheville, and Raleigh before ultimately focusing on Wilmington. He shares insights on the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, the role of the CIE at UNCW, and the evolution of Wilmington's innovation landscape. Jim's story highlights the importance...