EPISODE 36

Kevin and Jason sit down with Scout cofounder Tim Barnes to rethink how founders raise capital in an AI-first world. Tim breaks down why most startups overlook trillions in available non-dilutive funding, how AI can automate painful proposal and compliance workflows, and why grants should function as a continuous business development engine—not a last-minute scramble for runway. They explore how climate, deep-tech, and healthcare companies can reposition their work to match shifting federal priorities without losing their mission, how Scout is helping both startups and government agencies modernize the funding ecosystem, and why founders should pursue grants before equity to validate traction and retain ownership. Tim also shares how he thinks about defensibility as foundation models advance, when to integrate grants into a capital strategy, and what it takes to keep founders focused on building instead of pitching.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Why non-dilutive funding matters

01:00 – Rethinking fundraising and bootstrapping in an AI hype cycle

05:30 – How Scout uses AI to unlock and manage grants

10:00 – Packaging your mission for shifting policy without losing focus

16:00 – When to use grants vs equity and how Scout’s fit check works

LINKS

Connect with Tim Barnes

Scout • LinkedIn • X/Twitter

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EPISODE 35

Kevin and Jason sit down with Healthcare AI Guy founder Max Drescher to unpack how AI is actually changing healthcare, from front-desk voice automation and AI scribes to clinical decision tools and consumer apps that give people more ownership of their data. Max shares how a habit of writing internal M&A news briefs at UnitedHealth turned into a fast-growing newsletter and community, why distribution has become one of the most important forms of founder leverage, and what separates real impact from hype in today’s healthcare AI boom. They dig into the rise of tools that reduce burnout and administrative friction, explore longevity, Blueprint-style protocols, and digital twins, and look ahead to a near future where AI-powered biology and smarter clinical support reshape medicine long before fully autonomous AI doctors arrive.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Why AI + health now

06:30 – Max’s path from M&A to Healthcare AI Guy and the power of distribution

12:10 – What’s real vs hype in healthcare AI for providers and patients

18:30 – Longevity, Blueprint, and founders getting serious about sleep

22:00 – The next five years of AI in health and where it’s all headed

LINKS

Connect with Max Drescher

Healthcare AI Guy • LinkedIn • X/Twitter

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EPISODE 34

In this episode, Kevin and Jason break down how founders can turn conferences from low-ROI distractions into high-leverage growth engines. Fresh off a major healthcare event in Nashville, they unpack why most networking fails, how Pretty Good AI turned a platinum sponsorship into a full activation with mini-golf and meeting pods, and the systems that converted casual foot traffic into hundreds of real customer conversations. They dig into founder-mode presence, team ownership, pre-work, follow-up, and the small details that make an event actually move the business forward.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – The Value of Networking Events

01:25 – Challenges of Traditional Networking

02:47 – Reevaluating Event Participation

03:27 – Executing a Successful Conference Strategy

04:24 – Planning for a Major Conference

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