Purdue Entrepreneurship Class Q&A with Richard Stroupe

Amplified CEO - Chris Capone

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] Co-Produced by Topsail Insider [https://www.topsailinsider.com/] and Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network To learn more about Amplified CEO, visit www.topsailinsider.com/aceo [https://www.topsailinsider.com/aceo] To learn more about Topsail Insider, visit www.topsailinsider.com [https://www.topsailinsider.com/]. To learn more about Richard Stroupe, or Cape Fear Ventures, please contact Christa at (910) 800-0111 or christa@topsailinsider.com.

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] Co-Produced by Topsail Insider [https://www.topsailinsider.com/] and Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network To learn more about Amplified CEO, visit www.topsailinsider.com/aceo [https://www.topsailinsider.com/aceo] To learn more about Topsail Insider, visit www.topsailinsider.com [https://www.topsailinsider.com/]. To learn more about Richard Stroupe, or Cape Fear Ventures, please contact Christa at (910) 800-0111 or christa@topsailinsider.com.

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] Co-Produced by Topsail Insider [https://www.topsailinsider.com/] and Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network To learn more about Amplified CEO, visit www.topsailinsider.com/aceo [https://www.topsailinsider.com/aceo] To learn more about Topsail Insider, visit www.topsailinsider.com [https://www.topsailinsider.com/]. To learn more about Richard Stroupe, or Cape Fear Ventures, please contact Christa at (910) 800-0111 or christa@topsailinsider.com.

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] Co-Produced by Topsail Insider [https://www.topsailinsider.com/] and Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network To learn more about Amplified CEO, visit www.topsailinsider.com/aceo [https://www.topsailinsider.com/aceo] To learn more about Topsail Insider, visit www.topsailinsider.com [https://www.topsailinsider.com/]. To learn more about Richard Stroupe, or Cape Fear Ventures, please contact Christa at (910) 800-0111 or christa@topsailinsider.com.

Purdue Entrepreneurship Class Q&A with Richard Stroupe

In this special episode of Amplified CEO, four Purdue University students from Entrepreneurship 200 interview Richard Stroupe about what it really takes to build, scale, and invest in successful companies. Richard shares candid insights from 30+ years in software, leadership, and venture capital—covering mentorship, investor red flags, product-market fit, ethical growth, founder psychology, and the trends shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a student, an emerging founder, or someone curious about the realities of entrepreneurship, this conversation offers clear, practical lessons and honest reflections from both sides of the table. Send us a text. Leave your phone number if you'd like a reply. Thanks! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434456/fan_mail/new] Co-Produced by Topsail Insider [https://www.topsailinsider.com/] and Cape Fear Ventures [https://capefear.vc/] Edited by Coastal Carolina Network To learn more about Amplified CEO, visit www.topsailinsider.com/aceo [https://www.topsailinsider.com/aceo] To learn more about Topsail Insider, visit www.topsailinsider.com [https://www.topsailinsider.com/]. To learn more about Richard Stroupe, or Cape Fear Ventures, please contact Christa at (910) 800-0111 or christa@topsailinsider.com.