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…
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…
Retired Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson joins Richard Stroupe for a candid conversation on leadership, decision-making, and navigating high-stakes environments from the battlefield to the boardroom. Anderson shares lessons from nearly four decades in the U.S. Army—commanding at every level, shaping global operations as Deputy Chief of Staff for G-3/5/7, and leading through some of the…
IDEA Fund Partners is backing bold, early-stage founders from pre-seed to Series A and hunting for the next unicorns. Senior Associate Juan Carlos Pacheco chats with Richard Stroupe, discussing exceptional founders with disruptive ideas, what stands out—grit, self-awareness, real traction—and what kills a deal, from arrogance to shaky numbers. Pacheco also highlights how companies like…
Richard Stroupe sits down with Daniel Summers, CEO and Founding Partner of Electronic Lab Logs — a cloud-based platform helping labs improve compliance, reduce errors, and streamline operations. Daniel shares how digging footings in Georgia’s red clay led him to a 20+ year career in software. He walks us through the early challenges of building…
Justin Whitman went from touring musician to tech founder. Now, as Founder & CEO of UMuseUs, he’s building a platform that gives musicians and fans a new way to connect. In this episode of Amplified CEO, host Richard Stroupe talks with Justin about his journey from music to entrepreneurship, the lessons he’s carried from two…
In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Heather McWhorter, Director of UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a board member at NC IDEA. Heather shares her journey from Penn State to southeastern North Carolina—and how she’s helping shape Wilmington’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. They discuss: Building momentum at CIE and supporting…
What if breaking into the federal market didn’t have to be a bureaucratic nightmare? In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Giles Walger — retired Marine, former AWS mission engineering lead, and founder of OODAx — to talk about what it really takes for startups to succeed in the world of…
Chris Hornbecker — What Comes Next: Founders, Exits, and the Future of AI In this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Chris Hornbecker, a serial founder and former tech CEO with multiple successful exits, including companies like Xgility and Solutions Developers. Together, they explore what life looks like after building and selling…
What does it really take to build a $10M ARR company, survive a financial crash, pivot through a recession, and still come out on top? On this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Tyson Nargassans — Operating Advisor at Jurassic Capital and Founder and former CEO of Saylent — to explore the…