In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits back down with Seth Levine—Founding Partner at Foundry Group—for part two of their conversation, diving deep into the experiences that shaped his path from telecom dealmaker to one of Colorado’s most influential venture capitalists.

Seth takes us back to his early days on Wall Street, grinding through 100-hour weeks at Morgan Stanley during the telecom boom. He recounts witnessing the rise and collapse of competitive carriers, navigating chaotic boardrooms, issuing high-yield debt in a market racing toward overcapacity, and learning the craft of business inside an industry on the brink.

Dan and Seth also revisit the origins of Foundry Group, the unlikely formation of the four-person partnership, and how Brad Feld’s mentorship and generosity influenced Seth’s approach to founders, community-building, and leadership. They unpack what it really takes to be a founder, why comfort with the unknown is a superpower, and how Seth is now thinking about the next chapter of his career.

Check out Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride's new book: Capital Evolution: https://www.amazon.com/Capital-Evolution-New-American-Economy/dp/1637747780

Learn more about Foundry: https://foundry.vc/

⁠Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/book

Listen to Dan's Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretch

Check out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen

To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Boulder artist Will Day, whose unlikely path from architecture to painting began in the middle of the 2008 financial collapse.

Will talks about losing his job, moving his family to Boulder, and slowly building an art practice from a basement with no roadmap and no guarantee it would work. He shares the early challenges—financial strain, uncertainty at home, and the pressure of trying to build a creative career while raising two young kids.

Dan and Will discuss how Boulder shaped his development as an artist, why Black Lab Studios became the right environment for his work, and what it means to create during times of disruption. Will breaks down his process of painting on raw canvas, working across multiple pieces at once, and allowing intuition rather than rigid planning to guide each piece.

The conversation also touches on Boulder’s evolving arts scene, the impact of events like the Sundance Film Festival and Boulder Roots Music Fest, and the role of community in helping local artists gain visibility.

Learn more about Will’s work: https://www.willdayart.com

Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/book

Listen to Dan's Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretch

Check out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen

To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with David Prichard — CEO of Denver Ventures — for a conversation about conviction, community, and the evolution of Colorado’s venture capital ecosystem.

David shares how his unconventional path—from skipping college to leading sales teams before 25—set the stage for his work building one of Colorado’s most active investment platforms. He and Dan dig into how Denver Ventures grew out of the local Denver Angels network, why the best investors look beyond markets to the people behind them, and how “Founder DNA” traits like self-awareness, adaptability, and resilience determine who survives the toughest cycles.

The two explore why 2025 could mark a defining vintage year for venture capital, how Colorado is emerging as a national leader in hard tech, quantum, and AI, and what happens when founders and investors truly align around long-term conviction. David also opens up about his early life, the lessons learned from failure, and his belief that great companies start with great people—not perfect plans.

Learn more about Denver Ventures: https://denverventures.co/Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/bookListen to Dan's Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretchCheck out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com