Author: Griffin Connolly

Recently, I spoke with Brian Rose, Deputy Director of Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado. With a background in community banking and over a decade of experience supporting rural businesses, Brian helps entrepreneurs access funding and build more resilient local economies. He highlights the importance of community, the challenges of economic diversification in rural areas, and how trends like local food systems and changing consumer behavior are shaping the future of rural entrepreneurship. His key advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: “Dream big, but plan well”—especially when borrowing money, because having a clear path to revenue is essential for long-term success.

Recently, I spoke with Jesslynn Armstrong, founder and CEO of Tensegrity Medical, pioneering a disruptive, non-invasive medical device that redefines wound care and pain management. Jesslynn’s journey includes involvement with an incubator on the Space Coast of Florida, winning a pitch competition, and partnering with Brandon Clark to launch The Northern Arizona University Venture Studio. Jesslynn shares the importance of maintaining ownership early on, the lifelong learning mindset required to lead in a complex field like healthcare, and why choosing your collaborators wisely is one of the most crucial decisions a founder can make. She also offers advice for student entrepreneurs: control the volume – turn it up on those who challenge you to grow and turn it down on those who’ve never dared to try.

Recently I spoke with Craig Mercure who co-founded and ultimately sold Virtix Health, a medical services company that provides healthcare technology solutions that help health plans streamline operations and improve efficiency. In this interview, Craig shares practical insights about starting and growing a business. He emphasizes the importance of staying authentic and surrounding yourself with people who support your values and mission and stresses the necessity of building a company to create real value for customers. We discuss the emerging role of AI in entrepreneurship and the exciting new trends in tertiary education. Above all, Craig encourages young entrepreneurs to take the leap, to remember that the biggest failure is not jumping in.

Recently I spoke with Grayson Omans, CEO and co-founder of Phoenix LiDAR Systems, a pioneering company that builds custom drone-based mapping solutions for industries like construction, mining, and utilities. With over a decade of experience navigating the challenges of a highly technical and evolving space, Grayson shares the story of how he turned a bold idea into a successful business. He speaks to the importance of relentless belief in your mission, the deep satisfaction that comes from serving customers well, the need to constantly adapt in the face of regulation and market shifts, and the value of building a tight-knit team that feels more like a family.

Jasmine Bhatti is a nurse, entrepreneur, and founder of Navi Nurses, a healthcare company that blends science with compassionate care. In this interview, she shares her journey building a business that prioritizes community, cultural connection, and patient-centered care. She emphasizes the power of authenticity in entrepreneurship, highlighting how staying true to your mission can drive meaningful impact. Jasmine also discusses the importance of resilience, the growing role of technology in healthcare, and why young entrepreneurs should act on their ideas. Her advice is simple but powerful—just start, stay connected to what matters, and use every opportunity to grow.

Recently I spoke with Mat Sherman, an entrepreneur and podcast host, based in Phoenix, Arizona. Mat’s journey includes launching and running SeedScout, a trail blazing startup that connected founders with a network of venture capitalists, and interviewing almost 1000 high potential early-stage startup pioneers on his podcast Forward Thinking Founders. Mat Sherman reflects on the lessons learned from SeedScout and explains pitfalls and potential positive changes in the VC space. He also emphasizes the value of building your own community if you can’t find one that embraces you, the importance of independent thought, and the beauty of the pay-it-forward mentorship dynamic to be found in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Recently I spoke with Keyonte Frager, a sports and entertainment industry brand manager based in Seattle. Overcoming the challenges of not having a four-year degree or entrepreneurial role models growing up, Keyonte truly embraces an entrepreneurial mindset in seeing opportunities where others see adversity. His inspiring story shows us that self-belief and boldness can lead to great things. Mr. Frager speaks of the importance of falling in love with your own story to find fulfillment, the value of having the courage to build yourself a seat at the table, and the joy to be found in helping the people you’re in community with.

Recently I spoke with Kate Sieker, a key figure in Phoenix’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. On a journey from the East Coast to Silicon Valley, and finally to Phoenix, Ms. Sieker has become a champion of fostering innovation and collaboration in the startup community. Kate’s work with Phoenix Startup Week and her role in shaping the local entrepreneurial environment through YesPHX and YesAZ highlight her deep personal commitment to positive growth and community. She speaks to the importance of connection and support and reminds us that the best work is work that’s service.