Sound Investments - The Pacific Northwest VC & Startup Podcast with Ed Barker

Ed Barker talks to Laura Ruderman, CEO of the Technology Alliance, about what Washington State's innovation economy.

Ruderman's path to leading the Alliance is anything but straight: she moved to Seattle from New York in the early 90s to stage manage at the Rep, ended up at a small multimedia startup owned by Bill Gates, got swept into Microsoft through an acquisition, then spent years in the state legislature before landing at the Alliance.

The conversation covers a lot of ground - AI-driven workforce disruption, Washington's persistent gaps in postsecondary attainment, and what...

Ed Barker chats to Nicole Doyle, Seattle Director at the Founders Institute and founder of Aspir, about why Seattle needs more early-stage founder support. There's a deep-dive into FI’s non-equity model, its focus on true zero-to-one founders, and its three financial pathways. The conversation touches on agentic-AI imperatives, how AI impacts scaling, and the role Seattle plays in this new world.

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Nicole's Background & Journey

04:47 What Is the Founders Institute?

08:48 FI's Business Model & Warrant Structure

15:26 Sell Before You Pitch Investors

17:51 The End of Free Money & St...

Navigating Venture Capital, Media, and AI

Ed Barker sits down with Arif Gürsel, partner at Uncap Ventures, to discuss his journey from the world of Big Tech to VC. Arif shares his initial hesitance and subsequent embrace of the venture world, and the founding of Uncap Ventures and its mission to support startups with black founders. They dive into the importance of media and storytelling in entrepreneurship, the role of AI in the creative industries, and the challenges of driving investment into underserved communities.

00:00 Introduction 

00:22 Meet Arif Gursel: Background and Ca...

In this episode, Ed Barker talks with Anthony Herman, managing partner at Snowball, an innovation advisory firm specializing in corporate venture capital (CVC). The discussion highlights the dual roles of CVC employees, who balance traditional venture capital duties with corporate stakeholder engagement. Anthony shares his career journey, including his early work in private equity, founding a VR enterprise startup, and his experiences at Amazon Web Services and EQT. The episode delves into the inception and mission of Snowball, emphasizing the importance of having experienced practitioners to guide CVCs, governments, and family offices in innovation and investment strategy. They explore...

Perfecting Your Pitch: Insights from Dana Sather Robinson

In this episode, Ed Barker is joined by Dana Sather Robinson, founder of Pitch4Impact, to discuss common mistakes founders make in their pitches and how to improve them. Dana emphasizes the importance of understanding what investors really want to hear and how to craft a compelling narrative. She highlights the significance of good communication skills in pitching and broader founder communication, including customer interactions, team building, and relationship management. Dana shares her journey and provides practical tips on structuring and refining pitches to captivate investors, emphasizing the...

Navigating the Climate Tech Investment Landscape

Ed Barker sits down with Jeff Canin, an active member of E8 Angels, board member at Virtue Lab, and co-chair of the Clean Energy Institute Advisory Council at the University of Washington. Jeff shares his journey from engineering and business to becoming a leading figure in climate tech and clean tech investing.

00:00 Introduction

05:13 Mission in Climate Investing

09:56 Cycles, Trends, and Opportunities

14:20 Inside E8 Angels

19:46 Investment Sectors

26:32 The Local Ecosystem & Community

31:17 Challenges, Policy, and the Future<...

The Creative Destruction Lab: Connecting Innovation with Impact

In this episode, Emer Dooley, site lead for the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) at the Foster School of Business, University of Washington, discusses the CDL's mission to commercialize deep tech startups for the benefit of humankind. She elaborates on CDL’s mentoring program, which pairs high-caliber mentors with promising startups in the fields of computational health and advanced manufacturing, to guide them through critical objectives over a nine-month period. Emer also explains the program's unique funding model, the process of selecting and nurturing startups, and CDL’s significant impa...

Jonathan Azoff: From Gaming to Scientific Venture - Building SNØCAP Fund’s Model for Commercializing Real Science

In this episode of Sound Investments, Jonathan Azoff, co-founder and General Partner at SNØCAP, traces his nonlinear path from software and gaming through logistics, real estate, and eventually into climate and deep tech. That shift began at Sweet Farm, a nonprofit agricultural and science incubator where Jonathan met researchers whose breakthroughs had no route to commercial funding. The experience led to the viral Goat 2 Meeting initiative, kept the nonprofit alive during COVID, and revealed a pattern that would def...

From Tech to Bananas: A New Investment Horizon

This week, Ed Barker sits down with Luni Libes, one of Seattle’s most quietly influential entrepreneurs and investors. Luni built and ran multiple software companies before launching Fledge, the accelerator network that helped more than 120 founders around the world. His current focus is Africa Eats, an investment company backing a portfolio of food-focused African businesses that are growing far faster - and surviving at rates far higher - than the typical American tech startup.

Luni explains why the standard venture playbook misses the realities of...

Navigating Tech Optimism and AI Innovation with TA McCann of Pioneer Square Labs

In this episode, Ed Barker sits down with TA McCann, Managing Partner at Pioneer Square Labs, to explore what it takes to build ambitious companies in an era defined by artificial intelligence. TA’s background spans founding and scaling startups, leading high-performing teams, and backing the next generation of founders across the Pacific Northwest. That range gives him a clear view of where the opportunity is – and where the hype sits.

We dig into the PSL model and...

Harnessing Innovation: How CoMotion Turns Research into Real-World Impact

In this episode of Sound Investments, we talk with François Baneyx, Vice Provost for Innovation and Director of CoMotion at the University of Washington. François shares his journey from growing up in southwestern France to leading one of the nation’s most forward-thinking university innovation hubs.

We explore how CoMotion helps UW researchers, faculty, and students transform world-class research into real-world startups - from early-stage IP protection to innovation training, gap funding, and incubation through CoMotion Labs.

François discu...

Building the Future: Space Tech, Startups, and the Seattle Advantage with Chris Le

Seattle might not shout the loudest, but it’s quietly becoming one of the most important cities in the space tech revolution. In this episode, Chris Le - Managing Partner at Actuate Ventures - joins Ed Barker to explore how deep-tech founders are reshaping aerospace, why Seattle has the world’s highest concentration of satellite talent, and how “accidental discoveries” from orbit could change everything from communications to earthquake prediction.

Key takeaways

What makes a great angel investor - and how do you build a startup funding ecosystem from scratch?

In this episode of Sound Investments, Ed Barker talks with John Sechrest, Managing Director of the Seattle Angel Conference, about the mechanics of early-stage investing and what it takes to create a thriving investor community.

John breaks down the difference between funding a project and funding a business, why accountability matters more than hype, and how the Seattle Angel Conference trains new investors while connecting them to founders ready to grow. They also discuss how the model...

Bridging Tech Breakthroughs with Sierra Clouse

Ed Barker sits down with Sierra Clouse to unpack Barclo Venture Studio’s model for moving deep tech from research to market in the Pacific Northwest. They cover why “research → roadmap → revenue” beats slideware, how to score opportunities across the future tech stack, and where sovereign security, post-quantum cryptography and data-center realities collide. Sierra traces her path from Microsoft to global ecosystem building, and lays out what it will take for Cascadia to become a true hub for critical technologies.

Key Takeaways:

The Future of AI and Corporate Innovation with Taylor Black

What happens when one of the world’s biggest tech companies leans into the AI boom - while staying connected to the scrappy, risk-taking energy of startups?

In this episode of Sound Investments, Ed Barker sits down with Taylor Black, Director of AI and Venture Ecosystems at Microsoft, to explore the shifting landscape of artificial intelligence, corporate innovation, and venture creation.

Taylor shares his journey from developer in Seattle to a key figure shaping Microsoft’s approach to AI and startups. Along...

Startup Haven: Bob Crimmins on Poker, Founders, and Funding

In this episode, serial entrepreneur and investor Bob Crimmins, the force behind Startup Haven, shares his journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to creating a unique networking platform where poker and startups meet. Bob discusses the importance of curiosity and discipline in founders, the decision-making parallels between poker and startups, and the origins and future of Startup Haven Ventures. He also touches on the challenges of running a fund and his optimistic outlook for the startup ecosystem. Bob's insightful examples and experiences make this episode...

Championing Neurodiversity: Brett Greene’s Journey from Music to Tech

Brett Greene has worn a lot of hats - music industry insider, executive coach, community builder - but around Seattle, he’s best known as the founder of New Tech Seattle. For more than a decade, Brett’s been at the heart of the region’s startup community, creating spaces where people can connect, share ideas, and spark new ventures. In this conversation, Brett talks about his path from music into tech, why community events matter, and how Seattle’s startup scene has changed over the years. He...

How HP's Incubation Director Sees the Future of AI and Innovation

In this episode Ed Barker talks to Elizabeth Scallon, Director of Incubation at HP. Elizabeth discusses the current state of AI adoption, the potential for robots in various settings, and the challenges and opportunities of corporate innovation. She shares her journey from biotech startups to major tech companies like Amazon and HP, emphasizing the importance of iterative development, cross-functional collaboration, and customer validation. Elizabeth also highlights the vibrant startup ecosystem in Seattle and the role of the University of Washington in fostering innovation.

The Heart of Seattle's Startup Ecosystem with Nick Ellingson of WTIA

In this episode of Sound Investments, the host, Ed Barker, dives into Washington's tech ecosystem with Nick Ellingson, the startup ambassador at the WTIA. Nick has spent a decade helping founders navigate the startup landscape, and he shares insights into the unique characteristics of Seattle's founders, the role of WTIA, and the challenges facing the local tech ecosystem. They discuss the importance of solving big problems, the need for better marketing of the local ecosystem, and the dynamics of funding within the region. Nick also...

Building Seattle's Tech Legacy: A Conversation with Chris DeVore

In this episode, Chris DeVore, managing partner at Founders Co-op, shares his journey from an operator to an influential venture capitalist in Seattle, shaping the city’s startup ecosystem. He discusses the evolution of his investment philosophy, the challenges of venture capital outside Silicon Valley, and his commitment to community-driven legacy projects like the waterfront park. Chris also highlights the promising companies in his portfolio, including vertical payments in construction and innovative applications in healthcare. The conversation provides deep insights into the interplay between founders, venture capital, an...

Navigating the Future of Consumer VC with Jason Stoffer of Maveron

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Jason Stoffer, general partner at Maveron, a Pacific Northwest-based consumer VC fund. Jason shares his unconventional journey into venture capital, Maveron's focus on consumer brands, and insights into building a consumer VC fund in Seattle. The discussion also covers current and emerging opportunities in sectors like EdTech, AI, wellness, and retail. Jason shares what he looks for in founders and how the changing media landscape affects consumer product reach. The episode concludes with Jason's thoughts...

Navigating the Seattle VC Landscape with Elisa Lava of Trilogy Equity Partners

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Elisa Lava, Principal at Trilogy Equity Partners in Seattle. They discuss Elisa's journey in venture capital, the distinct qualities of the Pacific Northwest's startup ecosystem, and emerging trends in AI and early-stage investing. Elisa shares her insights on investment strategies, the importance of community building in tech, and the evolving market dynamics affecting early-stage companies. The episode also highlights the challenges and opportunities present in the current investment climate for startups.

00:00...

Building Community-Driven Venture Capital with Pablo Casilimas, Managing Partner of OneSixOne Ventures

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker talks with Pablo Casilimas, co-founder and managing partner of OneSixOne. Pablo shares his journey from a student entrepreneur to venture capitalist, emphasizing the significance of community in venture capital. They discuss how OneSixOne was created, the innovative approach they take to building their fund, and the critical role of community. Pablo also shares insights on the types of sectors they invest in, the importance of founder-market fit, and the future vision for OneSixOne. Throughout the...

Innovating Hard Tech: In-Depth with Amish Patel of Conduit Venture Labs

Sound Investments host Ed Barker chats with Amish Patel, Managing Director of Conduit Venture Labs, about his dynamic career transitioning from Microsoft to launching startups in the hard tech space. They explore Patel's vision for Conduit Venture Labs, its innovative venture studio model, and its emphasis on the synergy between hardware, software, and entrepreneurship. The discussion covers various sectors Patel is passionate about, including health and human performance, physical industries like agriculture and energy, and dual-use technologies. Notable projects include medical devices, AI-powered wearables, and...

Behind the Curtain: Sarah Applebaum on Hard Tech and Venture Capital

In this episode of Sound Investments, Ed Barker interviews Sarah Applebaum, partner at Pangaea Ventures. They discuss Sarah's journey into venture capital and her work at Pangaea, an investment firm focused on hard tech and sustainability. The conversation covers the startup ecosystem in Vancouver, the importance of hard tech for addressing global challenges, and specific investment sectors like industrial decarbonization, green chemistry, and semiconductor manufacturing. They also dive into the dynamics between Pangaea and its corporate partners and explore current trends and challenges in the...

Inside Illuminate Ventures: A Conversation with Partner Jennifer Savage

In this episode of Sound Investments Ed Barker talks to Jennifer Savage, Partner at Illuminate Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments in enterprise software. Jennifer discusses her journey into venture capital, the unique operating model of Illuminate Ventures, and their focus on impactful enterprise solutions. She highlights the firm's extensive advisory council, consisting of industry leaders who provide hands-on support and strategic guidance to portfolio companies. Jennifer also touches on the growth and challenges of the tech and venture capital ecosystem in the Pacific...

Supporting Female Entrepreneurs: Anne Kennedy and The Mastersfund's Innovative Approach

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker engages in a comprehensive discussion with Anne Kennedy, general partner at The Mastersfund. The conversation delves into the fund's mission to address the underfunding of female founders by leveraging a unique structured exit model that mitigates risk for investors and promotes financial stability for startups. Anne shares her journey from serial entrepreneurship to venture capital, highlights significant growth in portfolio companies, and explains the importance of diversity and profitability in investment strategies. The episode encompasses insights into...

Bridging the Funding Gap: Evan Poncelet's Mission to Empower Underrepresented Founders

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Evan Poncelet, co-managing partner of Dreamwood VC. Evan shares his journey from a career in software engineering to founding a venture capital fund focused on closing the funding gap for underrepresented founders, particularly within the black community. He discusses his family's legacy of economic empowerment through the establishment of the Liberty Bank in Seattle and how this inspired him to Africatown Community Land Trust and, later, Dreamwood Ventures. The conversation covers the challenges and rewards...

Sound Investments - Navigating Cybersecurity and Enterprise Startups with Andrew Peterson

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker is joined by Andrew Peterson, founding partner of Aviso Ventures. They discuss Andrew's journey into venture capital, which is rooted in his experiences as a startup founder and operator. Aviso Ventures specializes in investing in cybersecurity and enterprise infrastructure companies, primarily in pre-seed and seed stages. The conversation dives into the challenges startups face in entering the enterprise market, the importance of offering actionable advice, and the practical aspects of cyber investments. They also explore how...

A Venture into the Tacoma Venture Fund with Dennis Joyce

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker sits down with Dennis Joyce, Director of Investments at the Tacoma Venture Fund (TVF). They explore Dennis' fascinating journey from a young dreamer in New York to leading a venture fund in Tacoma. The conversation covers Dennis' experiences, from his early inspirations in venture capital to the formation and mission of the Tacoma Venture Fund. They discuss the Pacific Northwest's startup ecosystem, the importance of local connections and deep due diligence, and the challenges of early-stage investing...

Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape with Andy Liu of Unlock Venture Partners

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker delves into the Pacific Northwest venture capital scene with Andy Liu, co-founding partner of Unlock Venture Partners. Andy shares his journey from being an entrepreneur to an active early-stage investor, with over 90 investments under his belt. The conversation covers his experiences in launching startups, the investment focus of Unlock VC, tech trends, the challenges and opportunities in the Seattle and LA markets, and the characteristics of successful founders. Liu also talks about the importance of...

Investing in Frictionless Software: An Insider's View with Martin Tobias of Incisive VC

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Parker chats with Martin Tobias, Managing Partner at Incisive VC. Tobias, a seasoned angel investor and startup founder, discusses his unique investing philosophy focused on B2B software that reduces friction at scale. Tobias recounts his journey from his early days at Microsoft to running his own VC firm and creating a successful angel syndicate. Key topics include the importance of founder-market fit, innovative distribution strategies, and identifying previously intractable problems now solvable through technology...

Navigating the Seattle Venture Capital Scene with Peter Mueller of Breakwater Ventures

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Peter Muller, founding partner of Breakwater Ventures, to explore his unique journey from Merrill Lynch to the launch of his venture capital firm in Seattle. They discuss Peter's career transitions, the Seattle startup ecosystem, and delve into key areas of interest like AI, fintech, and marketplaces. The conversation covers the challenges and opportunities in Seattle's venture capital scene, the firm's investment philosophy, and promising sectors. Peter also shares insights into raising capital in a...

From Tech Obsession to Venture Capital: Brendan Wales' Journey and Fuse's Vision

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Brendan Wales, founding partner of Fuse, a venture capital firm in Seattle. Brendan shares his pathway from a tech-obsessed teenager to co-founding Fuse, including his early career and nine years at Headline. He details the founding of Fuse alongside partners Kellan and Cameron, highlighting their focus on early-stage companies in the Pacific Northwest, particularly in enterprise software, cloud, and space tech. The discussion covers key investments, differentiating in the VC landscape, and insights into...

Minda Brusse, First Row Partners on Nurturing Pre-Seed Startups

In this episode of 'Sound Investments,' we sit down with Minda Bruce, founding partner at First Row Partners. With over 25 years in the startup ecosystem, Minda shares her journey from early startup roles to teaching investment and entrepreneurship at the University of Washington. She discusses First Row's unique investment strategies and principles, emphasizing support for pre-seed companies across the U.S. Minda elaborates on their role as investors in building strong founder relationships and the value of tech in media, commerce, and ed-tech. The episode also...

Sound Investments: Global Venture Capital and Emerging Markets with Will Poole, Managing Partner at Capria VC

In this episode of Sound Investments, Ed Barker speaks with Will Poole, co-founder and managing partner at Capria VC, about his journey from a tech executive at Microsoft to a global venture capitalist. Focusing on emerging markets in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, Will discusses the unique opportunities and challenges of investing in these regions. The conversation explores Capria's network-driven approach, the impact of generative AI on venture capital, and the promising sectors like healthcare, education, and fintech. Will also...

Sound Investments: Exploring Seattle's VC Scene with Ken Horenstein

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker delves into the Pacific Northwest venture capital ecosystem with Ken Horenstein, Founder and Managing Partner at Pack Ventures. Ken shares his personal journey in venture capital, from his educational roots at the University of Washington to his role in supporting Seattle-based startups. The discussion covers the founding and principles behind Pack Ventures, the fund's focus on UW-affiliated ventures, and the broader Seattle startup scene. Key topics include the diversification of investment sectors, the evolution of the venture space...

Empowering Female Founders: A Conversation with Jessica Kamada of Swizzle Ventures

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Jessica Kamada, the managing partner of Swizzle Ventures, a venture capital fund based in Bellevue that focuses on empowering female founders addressing women's challenges at pivotal life stages. Jessica shares her journey from a competitive figure skater to a growth marketer and eventually to founding Swizzle Ventures. She discusses the inspiration behind the fund, its vision, and the sectors they are investing in, including women's healthcare and financial health. Jessica also delves into her personal...

Inside Venture Mechanics: Reinventing Startup Acceleration with Ron Weiner

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Ron Weiner, CEO and chairman of the Bellevue-based startup launchpad, Venture Mechanics. They discuss Ron's extensive experience as a tech startup CEO and investor, and the innovative business model of Venture Mechanics, which aims to provide a unique, asynchronous approach to mentoring and supporting startups. They delve into the intricacies of raising venture capital, the challenges of building a successful team, and the importance of early customer discovery. Ron also shares insights into the specificity of the...

Empowering Pacific Northwest Startups: Insights from Voyager Capital's James Newell

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews James Newell, Managing Director at Voyager Capital. They discuss the unique investment landscape of the Pacific Northwest, Voyager Capital's focus on early-stage local companies, and the strengths and challenges of the Seattle startup ecosystem. James shares his journey from M&A banking to venture capital, his thoughts on the role of major tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft in shaping the local talent pool, and how Voyager supports founders in bringing their products to market. They...