What Are You Working Towards?

What makes an early-stage startup truly fundable — and why do so many founders miss the mark?In today’s episode, I sit down with Ian Levine, Managing Director of Launchpad Venture Group, one of the most active and respected angel investment networks in the United States.Ian has spent 15+ years investing in and syndicating early-stage deals and has helped grow more than 150 companies across New England and New York. Before Launchpad, he built and exited SaaS companies and held executive leadership roles at Bowne & Co., Merrill Corporation, and Iron Mountain. His combination of operator instincts and investor discipline gives him a rare, practical lens into what actually helps founders win.We dig into:• How Launchpad evaluates startups and why capital efficiency matters more than ever• The biggest mistakes founders make when pitching investors• Why distribution — not product — is the real scaling bottleneck• How angel groups fill a critical funding gap missed by VCs• What the Boston startup ecosystem gets right• Ian’s personal journey across startups, corporate leadership, and now operating one of the most influential angel groups in the country• What he’s working toward in the next chapter of his careerIf you’re a founder, investor, operator, or someone growing a team, Ian’s insights will reframe how you think about raising money and building a durable company.⸻Guest LinksLaunchpad Venture GroupWebsite: https://www.launchpadventuregroup.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/launchpad-venture-group/Ian LevineLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilevine/Company: https://www.launchpadventuregroup.com/⸻Host & PodcastChris BrodheadPodcast: What Are You Working Towards?Website: https://working-towards.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbrodhead/Download the free storytelling guide:How to Tell the Best Version of Your Business Storyhttps://working-towards.com/

Download our “Tell a Better Story, Win Better Clients” E-book at https://working-towards.com/What does it take to design, build, and install stainless-steel rooftop pools for some of America’s biggest cities? Greg Carnforth, President of Chester Pool Systems (https://www.chesterpools.com/), joins me to share the remarkable story behind one of the most specialized construction companies in the country.With 35+ years in the industry, Greg has helped transform Chester Pool Systems into the go-to provider for engineered stainless-steel pools across New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Denver, San Diego, and beyond. In this episode, Greg walks through the engineering, logistics, and craftsmanship required to design and fabricate entire pool systems in Indiana — then hoist them onto rooftops hundreds of feet in the air.We also talk through Chester’s transition to a 100 percent employee-owned company, how the ESOP reshaped culture and collaboration, and the unique challenges of building inside billion-dollar high-rise projects.📌 Topics Covered:• How stainless-steel rooftop pools are engineered and fabricated off-site• Why off-site construction is essential for major cities like NYC and Chicago• The logistics, coordination, and “space shuttle launch” planning behind every install• How Chester grew from a small team to 100+ employees over several decades• The decision to become an ESOP and how it strengthened the company’s future• Why developers and general contractors trust Chester for specialty builds💡 Learn more about Greg and Chester Pool Systems:Website: https://www.chesterpools.com/Century Industries (co-owned): https://www.centuryindustries.com/LinkedIn (Greg): https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-carnforth-b54bba14/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chesterpoolsystems5544Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.carnforth.1/🔗 Follow “What Are You Working Towards?” & Host Chris BrodheadWebsite: https://www.working-towards.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Guqegm2CVqkcEfMSLPEDriTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-are-you-working-towards-with-chris-brodhead/id1569041400YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@workingtowardsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/working_towardsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@working_towards⸻⚠️ DisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed on the “What Are You Working Towards?” podcast are those of the hosts, guests, and participants and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

Download our “Tell a Better Story, Win Better Clients” E-book at https://working-towards.com/Chad de Lisle, VP of Marketing at Disruptive Advertising, joins the show to break down what it really takes to build a mission driven, high performing marketing agency. With nearly two decades in digital marketing, Chad shares his journey from an aspiring English professor to leading one of the most respected performance marketing teams in the country.We dive into:• How Disruptive is growing toward a $100M vision• Why pairing purpose with performance drives real long term results• Scaling through people, culture, and clarity• The realities of leading marketing inside a marketing agency• AI’s role in the future of storytelling and brand growth• Chad’s creative passion project: the Heroic Round podcastThis one is full of wisdom for marketers, founders, and creatives who want to build something that lasts.Connect with Chad:"Heroic Round Podcast": https://www.youtube.com/@HeroicRound LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-de-lisle/Website: https://disruptiveadvertising.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noirwhale/X: https://x.com/noirwhaleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/chad.delisle.1/NoirWhale: https://noirwhale.com/NoirWhale Tumblr: http://noirwhale.tumblr.com/🔗 Follow “What Are You Working Towards?” & Host Chris BrodheadWebsite: https://www.working-towards.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Guqegm2CVqkcEfMSLPEDriTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-are-you-working-towards-with-chris-brodhead/id1569041400YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@workingtowardsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/working_towardsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@working_towards⸻⚠️ DisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed on the “What Are You Working Towards?” podcast are those of the hosts, guests, and participants and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent…

Download our “Tell a Better Story, Win Better Clients” E-book at https://working-towards.com/Today’s episode features Bim Dave, CEO of Helm360, a global leader in legal technology transformation. Bim has spent more than 25 years helping law firms modernize their finance systems, compliance workflows, and risk management infrastructure. We explore his journey, the future of legal tech, and the innovation roadmap behind Helm360’s rapid growth.Bim shares how he went from a family-run newsagent business in the UK to leading global teams at Thomson Reuters, and now shaping the next chapter of Helm360. He also breaks down the major pressures facing law firms today, from legacy systems to compliance demands to the shift toward AI powered workflows.Whether you are in tech, legal, consulting, or leadership, Bim’s insights on transformation, customer trust, and scaling people-focused organizations are loaded with lessons you can use immediately.⸻Guest LinksHelm360 Websitehttps://helm360.com/Bim Dave on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bimaldave/The Legal Helm Podcasthttps://helm360.com/the-legal-helm-podcast/⸻Connect With Our GuestLearn more about Helm360’s legal tech solutions, cloud transformations, compliance systems, and AI readiness:https://helm360.com/Connect with Bim on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bimaldave/⸻🔗 Follow “What Are You Working Towards?” & Host Chris BrodheadWebsite: https://www.working-towards.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Guqegm2CVqkcEfMSLPEDriTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-are-you-working-towards-with-chris-brodhead/id1569041400YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@workingtowardsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/working_towardsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@working_towards⸻⚠️ DisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed on the “What Are You Working Towards?” podcast are those of the hosts, guests, and participants and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent…

Download our “Tell a Better Story, Win Better Clients” E-book at https://working-towards.com/Bill Price is one of the most influential minds in customer experience — and he joined us to break down how AI is transforming CX, why 88 percent of customers never complain, and how companies can finally eliminate friction at scale.Bill was Amazon’s first Global VP of Customer Service, where he helped build the customer-centric philosophy that powered Amazon’s explosive early growth. Today he runs Driva Solutions and is the Founder & CEO of Intendra AI, a CX analytics platform that identifies intents, reduces operational drag, and uncovers the “silent sufferers” who quietly churn without ever contacting support.In this conversation, Bill shares insights on:• The real story of Amazon’s early customer-centric culture• Why “the best service is no service”• How large language models are rewriting the rules of customer service• The 88 percent of customers who never complain — and how to find them• Why first-contact resolution is now misleading• How companies across hospitality, banking, ecommerce, and B2B services can proactively fix hidden friction• What Intendra AI is building today and where CX is going nextBill is also the author of four must-read books on CX:• The Best Service Is No Service• Your Customer Rules!• The Frictionless Organization• Zero Complaints⸻Guest LinksIntendra AIhttps://www.intendra.ai/Driva Solutionshttps://drivasolutions.com/Bill Price on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-price-drivasolutions/Bill’s Bookshttps://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JSHFSM/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=a36f7561-fb02-460d-a0ea-ad2cd221d6a4&ccs_id=98438664-2c15-4575-8e8d-dfaa695e3bbd🔗 Follow “What Are You Working Towards?” & Host Chris BrodheadWebsite: https://www.working-towards.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Guqegm2CVqkcEfMSLPEDriTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-are-you-working-towards-with-chris-brodhead/id1569041400YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@workingtowardsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/working_towardsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@working_towards⸻⚠️ DisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed on the “What Are You Working Towards?” podcast are those of the hosts, guests, and participants and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent…