Watch and Subscribe on our YouTube Channel!
Amplified CEO with Richard Stroupe

Videos

Oct. 9, 2025

What VCs Really Look For: The Two Green Flags Every Investor Wants to See

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

View more
Oct. 9, 2025

Juan Carlos | IDEA Fund Partners

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…

View more
Sept. 19, 2025

You Built It… But Can You Build a Company?

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…

View more
Sept. 18, 2025

Daniel Summers | Electronic Lab Logs

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…

View more
Sept. 5, 2025

No Drama, Just Music: Inside UMuseUs with Justin Whitman

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…

View more
Sept. 5, 2025

Wilmington’s Startup Secret: Volunteers | Heather McWhorter @ UNCW CIE

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…

View more
Sept. 5, 2025

The 7-Year Startup Reality | Heather McWhorter @ UNCW CIE

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

View more
Sept. 2, 2025

The UMuseUs Story

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…

View more
Aug. 22, 2025

From Founder Mentality to Billion-Dollar CEO

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…

View more
Aug. 22, 2025

Justin Whitman | UMuseUs

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…

View more
Aug. 2, 2025

Heather McWhorter | UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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: •…

View more
Aug. 1, 2025

👉 The #1 Mistake Startup Founders Make (and How to Avoid It)

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…

View more
July 4, 2025

A Day of Work Takes Six Weeks in Government

“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.

View more
July 4, 2025

Giles Walger | OODAx

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…

View more
June 13, 2025

The Culture Problem in Government

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.

View more
June 13, 2025

Was it a Fluke?

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.

View more
June 13, 2025

Learn from Those Who Built

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.

View more
June 13, 2025

AI | Stakes are High - So are the Possibilities

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.

View more
June 13, 2025

Will We Adapt Fast Enough for AI?

Chris Hornbecker and Richard Stroupe talk about the rapid changes AI is bringing to the workforce. From cloud computing to e-commerce, every tech wave created new opportunities. But are we moving fast enough this time?

View more
June 13, 2025

Chris Hornbecker | VC and Advisor

Chris Hornbecker — What Comes Next: Founders, Exits, and the Future of AI In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Chris Hornbecker, a serial founder and former tech CEO with multiple successful exits, including companies like Xgility and Solutions Developers. Together, they explore what life looks…

View more
May 29, 2025

The Real Win: What Sports Teach You About Business & Leadership

Tyson Nargassans didn’t just play to win — he played to grow. In this clip, he shares how his time as a college basketball player shaped his leadership style, taught him how to build culture, and prepared him to lead in business. Because sometimes, the real win isn’t on the…

View more
May 29, 2025

The Moment I Nearly Gave Up — and Why I’m Glad I Didn’t

When Tyson Nargassans told his coach he might transfer, he was met with a calm but pivotal challenge: “I won’t beg you to stay.” That moment — and his decision to stick it out — shaped how he faces adversity in business and in life. From near quitting to leading…

View more
May 29, 2025

The Shift from Hype to Healthy Growth

Tyson Nargassans shares why the real power lies in listening to the market — and proving people actually want what you’re building.

View more
May 29, 2025

Founders: Don’t Let Fear of Dilution Sink You

Tyson Nargassans explains how taking too little money — just to avoid dilution — can cripple your vision. If you’re fundraising, listen up.

View more