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…
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…
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…
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…
Retired Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson shares how great leaders shape you — and how bad leaders leave a mark. #amplifiedceo #leadership #militaryleadership #usarmy
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…
In this Amplified CEO highlight, venture investor Juan Carlos Pacheco of IDEA Fund Partners breaks down the two traits every successful startup must have. 🎙 Host: Richard Stroupe #VentureCapital #Startups #Entrepreneurship #AmplifiedCEO #FounderMindset
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…
After demoing his software to early investors, Daniel Summers (Electronic Lab Log) was feeling confident — until one of them replied: “It’ll be interesting to see if we can turn it into a company.” That moment hit hard. Because building a product is just the beginning. Turning it into a…
Richard Stroupe hosts 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 the story behind building the company from scratch, raising $5.5 million, launching during COVID, and using AI in unexpected ways — including…
UMuseUs is a focused social platform for musicians and music lovers — all the best parts of your favorite networks, without the noise and drama. Founder Justin Whitman shares his vision for building community through music. 🌐 Learn more about UMuseUs: https://umuseus.com/ #AmplifiedCEO #Entrepreneurship #StartupMindset #Leadership #FounderLife #CEOInspiration #MusicIndustry #Musicians…
What powers one of North Carolina’s most active startup hubs? Not money—people. Heather McWhorter, Director of UNC Wilmington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, explains how 200+ volunteers, mentors, and community leaders fuel programs like 1 Million Cups, mentor networks, and the Blue Economy Alliance. 📺 Full episode: @ #AmplifiedCEO #StartupEcosystem…
The #1 mistake early-stage founders make? Underestimating time. Heather McWhorter, Director of UNC Wilmington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, shares why most “overnight successes” actually take 7 years—and why personal and financial runway are essential to survive. 📺 Full episode: @ #AmplifiedCEO #StartupFounders #Entrepreneurship #FounderLife #StartupTips #BusinessReality
What if the whole band got the spotlight, not just the singer? That’s the vision behind UMuseUs — a platform created by Justin Whitman to empower musicians, support artists, and connect communities through music. 🎧 Watch the full episode: @ #AmplifiedCEO #Entrepreneurship #StartupMindset #Leadership #FounderLife #CEOInspiration #MusicIndustry #Musicians #IndieMusic #MusicCommunity…
Sometimes as a founder, you get horse blinders. At the Elevate Conference, Justin Whitman realized he needed to shift his mindset — from founder mentality to what it would be like running a billion-dollar company. That’s the mindset fueling his journey with UMuseUs, a new platform for musicians and music…
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…
n 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: •…
One of the biggest mistakes early-stage founders make? Building the solution before talking to a single customer. 🎙️ In this clip from Amplified CEO with Richard Stroupe, Heather McWhorter at at UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship breaks down: ✅ Why testing your idea first is critical ✅ Why MVPs…
“The warfighter needs it now—but bureaucracy slows it all down.” Former Marine and AWS leader Giles Walger explains why innovation struggles to reach the battlefield — and what must change to fix it.
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…
Can AI help fix inefficiency in government? From wasted payroll to a culture of complacency, Richard Stroupe and Chris Hornbecker share real stories and real hope for change.
After selling a company, the celebration fades fast. What follows? Doubt. Guilt. Imposter syndrome. Richard Stroupe and Chris Hornbecker discuss the mental shift that hits high achievers once the momentum stops — and the drive to prove it wasn’t just luck.
Chris Hornbecker and Richard Stroupe discuss how mentorship, storytelling, and learning from real entrepreneurs shaped their journey. The best business education comes from those who’ve walked the walk.
AI is coming—whether we like it or not. Chris Hornbecker and Richard Stroupe explore the bigger picture: population trends, national competitiveness, immigration, and the urgent need to create jobs in an AI-powered future.