Amplified CEO

Matt Cimino | Amped Ventures

From Teenage Web Developer to Multi-Million Dollar Exit with Matt Cimino What does it take to build, scale, and successfully exit a software company? In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Matt Cimino, Managing Partner of Amped Ventures and former founder of Amped, a Wilmington-based software company acquired by Intuit.  Matt's entrepreneurial journey began at just 14 years old building websites for local businesses and eventually led to creating multiple technology companies, scaling teams, navigating product pivots, and closing an eight-figure acquisition. Matt discusses bootstrapping a software business, lessons learned from building products that don't scale, the importance of staying close to customers, integrating into a Fortune 500 organization, and the opportunities AI is creating for the next generation of founders. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcimino https://www.amped.io Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434456/fan_mail/new] Produced by Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/ Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/ LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

Chris Capone | Capone & Associates

What happens when a CPA stops playing it safe and builds something of his own? In this episode, Chris Capone joins Richard Stroupe to share the journey from Deloitte and international finance roles in Switzerland and Bulgaria to launching Capone & Associates in Wilmington. They discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, company culture, financial discipline, and how AI is changing the future of accounting and business. Capone & Associates: https://www.caponeandassociates.biz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-capone-287b2521/ Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434456/fan_mail/new] Produced by Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/ Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/ LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

Tully Ryan | IQExit

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 growth, transition planning, and successful exits in today’s evolving M&A market. The conversation explores AI’s impact on business operations, acquisition entrepreneurship, private equity trends, and the coming “Silver Tsunami” of business owners preparing to transition or sell their companies over the next decade. Richard and Tully also discuss why so many deals fail before closing — from unrealistic valuations and customer concentration to poor succession planning and lack of diligence readiness — and why business owners should begin preparing years before they intend to exit. For founders, operators, advisors, and entrepreneurs interested in business growth, acquisitions, or exit strategy, this episode offers a practical look at what creates long-term enterprise value and successful transitions. Connect with Tully Ryan: • IQExit: https://www.iqexit.com/ [https://www.iqexit.com/] • Murphy Business / Carolina Business Broker: https://carolinabusinessbroker.com/ [https://carolinabusinessbroker.com/] • Wilmington Business Journal: https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/insights/tullyryan/318 [https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/insights/tullyryan/318] • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tully-ryan-93137268/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tully-ryan-93137268/] Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434456/fan_mail/new] Produced by Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/ Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/ LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

Ian Padrick | Ohanafy

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 raving fans Scaling without losing focus 👉 Learn more about Ohanafy: https://ohanafy.com/ 👉 Connect with Ian Padrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianpadrick/ 👉 Learn more about Amplified CEO: https://www.topsailinsider.com/aceo Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434456/fan_mail/new] Produced by Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/ Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/ LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

Andrew Sridhar | The Warrior Poet

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 from comfort to growth. From SEAL training and combat experience to Harvard Business School and leading in tech, Andrew shares powerful insights on ownership, resilience, storytelling, and what it truly means to lead when it matters most. https://thewarriorpoet.com/ [https://thewarriorpoet.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsridhar/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsridhar/] Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434456/fan_mail/new] Produced by Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network The Amplified CEO Podcast - https://capefear.vc/amplifiedceo/ Elevate CEO Retreat - https://capefear.vc/elevate/ LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe