Growth Capital Podcast

Building the Future of Pet Adoption with AI and Data with Chloe Fabiani

🐾 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 77 🐾 What happens when a founder combines marketplace thinking, AI, and a mission-driven problem worth solving? In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Chloe Fabiani, Founder & CEO of Paaw, the platform building the operating system for modern pet ownership. After launching Paaw in France and expanding into the U.S., Chloe is tackling one of the most fragmented industries in the world: pet adoption and pet care. With over 60,000 adoptions facilitated in the U.S. alone, PAW is leveraging AI, data, and trust to improve pet-owner matching, reduce shelter overcrowding, and reshape how people adopt and care for pets. 🔍 In this episode, they discuss: • Why pet ownership is becoming a massive global market opportunity • How AI can improve adoption matching and reduce pet abandonment • Building trust in marketplace businesses • Why fragmented industries create the best startup opportunities • How non-technical founders can build products using AI tools • The future of pet ownership platforms and AI-powered services 📲 Connect with Chloe: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-fabiani-94135490/ Platform: https://paaw.co/en 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms. 👉 If you enjoyed this episode: • Subscribe for more conversations with founders, investors, and operators • Like the video • Comment with your biggest takeaway from the episode

From Due Diligence to Do Diligence with Mike Ma

🛠️ Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 76 🛠️ What if the best way to evaluate a founder isn’t a pitch deck, but working side by side with them? In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, Justin Dixon sits down with Mike Ma, Founder & Managing Partner of Sidecut Ventures, to unpack a radically different approach to early-stage investing—one built on execution, coachability, and real-world performance. Instead of traditional diligence, Mike runs a 30-day “do diligence” process: rolling up his sleeves and working directly with founders before writing a check. The result? Deeper conviction, stronger partnerships, and better outcomes. This episode is a must-watch for founders, operators, and investors looking to rethink how great companies and great partnerships are built. 🔍 What you’ll learn: * Why coachability is the #1 trait Mike looks for in founders * How “do diligence” replaces traditional venture evaluation * What most VCs get wrong about value-add * Why founder–investor fit matters more than you think * How to identify real moats in an AI-saturated market 🚀 Whether you're raising capital, deploying it, or scaling a business, this conversation will challenge how you think about early-stage investing. 📩 Connect with Mike Ma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwma/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwma/]🌐 Learn more about Sidecut Ventures: https://www.sidecut.vc/ 👉 Like, subscribe, and comment: Would you go through a 30-day diligence process before taking capital?

From Denials to Dollars: Fixing Healthcare’s Revenue Leak with Dean Margolis

🩺 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 75 🩺 What if one of the biggest opportunities in healthcare isn’t innovation—but fixing what’s already broken? In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, Justin Dixon sits down with Dean Margolis, Co-Founder & CEO of Red Sky Health, to unpack a massive inefficiency hiding in plain sight: healthcare claim denials. With billions of dollars lost each year due to manual processes and outdated workflows, Dean shares how AI is transforming the way healthcare providers recover revenue—while also diving into his broader lessons from building and scaling multiple startups. 🔍 What you’ll learn: * Why the best founders don’t build alone, and how to find the right co-founders * The real reason healthcare claims get denied (and why most never get fixed) * How AI can automate complex, high-volume operational problems * Why “outcome as a service” is replacing traditional SaaS models * How remote hiring unlocks better talent and stronger companies 🚀 Whether you’re a founder, operator, or investor, this episode offers practical insights on building companies, solving real problems, and aligning incentives for growth. 📩 Connect with Dean: dean@redskyhealth.com 🌐 Learn more about Red Sky Health: https://www.redskyhealth.com/ [https://www.redskyhealth.com/] 👉 If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and drop a comment: What’s the biggest operational inefficiency you’ve seen in your industry?

The Founder’s Second Act: From Software Exits to a Bold Media Bet with Jason Kiesel

🎬 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 74 🎬 What happens after a successful exit? For many founders, it’s not retirement—it’s reinvention. In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, Justin Dixon sits down with Jason Kiesel, Co-founder & CEO of Packed House Pictures, to explore what comes after building, scaling, and exiting a company—twice. Jason shares how he went from GovTech entrepreneur to media founder, why he’s betting on vertical storytelling, and how new content formats are reshaping the economics of entertainment. This is a conversation about second acts, emerging markets, and what it really means to build again from scratch. 🔍 In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why founders struggle more with idle time than failure * The rise of vertical micro-content and its billion-dollar potential * How indie creators are being underserved by traditional distribution * Why platform models scale faster than project-based businesses * How AI is transforming production, hiring, and creative workflows 🌐 Connect with Jason: Website: https://linktr.ee/jasonkiesel [https://jasonkiesel.com] Email: jason@packed-house.com 🚀 Whether you're a founder post-exit, an investor tracking new markets, or an operator thinking about your next move—this episode delivers real insight. 👉 Watch now, subscribe, and drop a comment: What would your “second act” look like?

From Chaos to Control: The New Operating Model for Rentals with Shahar Goldboim

🏠 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 73 🏠 What if the future of property management isn’t better software, but software that actually runs your business? In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Shahar Goldboim, Co-Founder & CEO of Boom, to unpack how short-term rental businesses are evolving from fragmented, manual operations into fully integrated, AI-driven systems. Drawing from his experience building and scaling a $150M+ short-term rental platform, Shahar shares why the traditional tech stack is broken and what replaces it. 🔍 What you’ll learn: * Why short-term rentals are one of the most operationally complex asset classes * The shift from “tools that help” to systems that actually run your business * How fragmented software stacks are limiting growth * Where AI creates the most leverage inside operations * Why private equity is moving toward operators—not just assets 🚀 Whether you’re a private equity investor, operator, or founder scaling a portfolio, this episode offers a clear look at where the market is heading and how to stay ahead of it. 📩 Connect with Shahar Goldboim on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahar-goldboim-80820b95/ 🌐 Learn more about Boom: https://www.boomnow.com/ 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with top operators and investors 👍 Like the video and share your biggest takeaway in the comments