TFTSL Ep25 — Lisa Calhoun
“Joining us in the Sky Lounge today is Lisa Calhoun, founding managing partner of Valor Ventures! Lisa shares her journey as a fourth-generation entrepreneur, the importance of relationships in venture capital, and her investment philosophy. She and Todd discuss the current state of the venture landscape, the impact of AI on startups, and advice for young entrepreneurs. Lisa shares her insights on navigating challenges in the industry and the transformative power of travel and personal growth.
Growing up, working for her family’s commercial print shop, cold-calling clients as a teenager, and witnessing the rise of the microcomputer revolution firsthand, Lisa’s got a lot of experience with making things happen in the tech industry. She explains how those experiences shaped her investing philosophy at Valor, where she leads seed-stage AI and SaaS deals across the South.
TFTSL Ep24 – Alan Gold
Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Alan Gold, a marketing and sales strategist with decades of experience in M&A, startups, and growth strategy. Alan has been on both sides of the table—helping companies scale, navigating acquisitions, and leading turnarounds. From being part of the launch team for Wi-Fi technology to working on speech recognition and AI-powered business tools, he’s seen how markets evolve and what it really takes to stay ahead.
We dive into:
M&A trends—why some companies are stuck while others are thriving
The hard truth about growth and why some businesses hit a ceiling
The real role of strategy in marketing (hint: it’s not just about SEO and PPC)
How AI is reshaping sales and marketing, and what’s next for the industry
Why most companies miss the mark when hiring sales leadership
Plus, Alan shares hilarious and wild travel stories, including a baboon with an attitude and getting detained in Colombia.
If you’re in startups, consulting, M&A, or just trying to grow a business, this one’s for you.
TFTSL Ep23 – Antonio Pagano
Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Antonio Pagano, founder of Wawandco and co-founder of Symbol Security. Todd and Antonoio discuss the importance of cybersecurity, focusing on the human element and compliance, the evolution of phishing attacks, and the role of AI in crafting sophisticated scams. Antonio shares insights on real-world cybersecurity incidents, the trends in cyber insurance, and the dynamics of running a business with a remote co-founder. Antonio Pagano shares his journey as a founder, discussing the challenges, successes, and the constantly evolving landscape of entrepreneurship. While Antonio is always challenging himself to learn and develop new skills and understanding, he also highlights the importance of balancing ambition with personal well-being, and that a grounded approach fuels both creativity and success.
TFTSL Ep22 – Bryan Dennstedt
Today in the Sky Lounge, Bryan Dennstedt joins Todd Merrill as they bring their unique perspectives from years in business, technology, and investing for a deep dive into the trends that will shape 2025. From venture capital’s cautious return to the AI-driven reshaping of industries, this episode is a candid discussion about what’s next for tech, work, and investing. Everything from whether AI is going to hit speed bumps or keep climbing, blockchain’s role in authenticity in AI and the future of collaboration tools is on the table!
TFTSL Ep21 — James Rozich
In this episode of Tales from the Sky Lounge, Todd Merrill speaks with Adam Lehde, co-founder of Happen Technologies, about his journey in building a hybrid software development team that leverages talent from Ukraine. They discuss the cultural differences encountered while working with Ukrainian developers, the impact of remote work dynamics post-COVID, and the potential for a thriving startup culture in Ukraine as the country looks towards recovery from conflict. In this conversation, Adam Lehde shares his journey through mobile development, the challenges of cross-platform technology, and the importance of user engagement in apps. He discusses the balance between family and career, his transition to entrepreneurship, and how fitness plays a crucial role in managing stress. Adam also reflects on his travel experiences and the cultural insights gained along the way, emphasizing the value of community and personal growth.
TFTSL Ep20 — Adam Lehde
In this episode of Tales from the Sky Lounge, Todd Merrill speaks with Adam Lehde, co-founder of Happen Technologies, about his journey in building a hybrid software development team that leverages talent from Ukraine. They discuss the cultural differences encountered while working with Ukrainian developers, the impact of remote work dynamics post-COVID, and the potential for a thriving startup culture in Ukraine as the country looks towards recovery from conflict. In this conversation, Adam Lehde shares his journey through mobile development, the challenges of cross-platform technology, and the importance of user engagement in apps. He discusses the balance between family and career, his transition to entrepreneurship, and how fitness plays a crucial role in managing stress. Adam also reflects on his travel experiences and the cultural insights gained along the way, emphasizing the value of community and personal growth.
TFTSL Ep19 – Kathryn O’Day
Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Kathryn O’Day, entrepreneur and partner at Atlanta Ventures. Kathryn shares her journey of building multiple successful startups and being a major part of massive acquisitions. We dive deep into the parallels between endurance sports and entrepreneurship, uncovering how triathlon training taught her key lessons in consistency, grit, and pushing through difficult times.
Kathryn also reveals key insights into startup culture, highlights how Atlanta Ventures finds and molds startups to be their best selves and shares the value of being “positive, supportive, and self-starting”—qualities that shaped her experience at Pardot and beyond. We explore the importance of confidence, especially for women in tech, and discuss why being nice can be a superpower in business.
TFTSL Ep18 Ghazenfer Mansoor
Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Ghazenfer Mansoor, founder and CEO of Technology Rivers. From growing up in Pakistan to becoming a tech entrepreneur in the U.S., Ghazenfer’s journey has been defined by his passion for mobile development and a knack for turning ideas into reality. In this episode, Ghazenfer takes us through his experiences—starting his own software company, transitioning from a secure 9-to-5 job to entrepreneurship, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
He dives deep into the challenges of building a business across multiple continents, explaining how managing teams remotely has its own set of rewards and difficulties. Ghazenfer also discusses how his company focuses on helping startups build scalable products through his unique blueprinting process, drawing on his two decades of experience in software development and mobile tech. His insights into AI, building products that people actually use, and how to successfully integrate technology to boost business efficiency make this episode a must-listen for any entrepreneur or tech enthusiast.
We also explore the personal side of his entrepreneurial journey, including his early ventures in Pakistan, tutoring to earn money, and how his innate drive has always led him to explore new opportunities.