Episode Archive - Invent Penn State

Tapping into Niche Media Markets with Industry Dive Co-founders

Dare to Disrupt

Tapping into Niche Media Markets with Industry Dive Co-founders

00:00 / 00:48:41

Sean Griffey and Ryan Willumson are the co-founders of Industry Dive, a digital media company delivering business news and original analysis through targeted newsletters. Covering sectors like healthcare, energy, transportation, retail, and more, Industry Dive serves over 14 million North American users and partners with major clients including Amazon, Salesforce, Uber, IBM, and American Express. The company is known for producing some of the most respected journalism in the business world.

In this episode, Sean and Ryan discuss how they met while working at FierceMarkets, a B2B e-media startup, and what inspired them to launch Industry Dive. They share how they bootstrapped the company, built a loyal audience, and grew the business to $100 million in revenue before its acquisition by Informa in September 2022.

Later in the episode, Lucy Bickel—an incoming senior majoring in advertising with minors in entrepreneurship & innovation: new ventures and digital media trends & analytics—joins the conversation. Together, they explore how Industry Dive developed its code of ethics, its approach to advertising, and the secret behind Sean and Ryan’s enduring co-founder relationship.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Episode Chapters

0:00 – 9:54 Finding their way at Penn State

9:54 – 12:01 Leaving consulting to get MBA to maximize impact
12:01 – 14:21 Ryan joins startup world

14:21 – 20:44 Adjusting to the scrappy startup environment

20:44 – 24:16 Selling Fierce Markets

24:16 – 27:53 Sean and Ryan partner up to launch Industry Dive

27:53 – 31:33 Going deep into niche markets rather than wide

31:33 – 36:17 Not taking on VC funding, impact on culture

36:17 – 40:48 Deciding to take in private equity capital

40:48 – 48:31 Student section

40:48 – 42:41 Establishing ethical journalism practices

42:41 – 45:16 Working with advertising partners

45:16 – 48:31 Secrets to a successful business partnership

About Sean Griffey

Sean Griffey is co-founder and former CEO of Industry Dive. He graduated from Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business with a BS in economics and received an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

About Ryan Willumson

Ryan Willumson is co-founder and former CRO of Industry Dive. He graduated from Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business with a BS in finance and international business.

LIVE from the Venture & IP Conference: Innovating the Future of EV Infrastructure

Dare to Disrupt

LIVE from the Venture & IP Conference: Innovating the Future of EV Infrastructure

00:00 / 00:51:41

Dare to Disrupt LIVE: Innovating the Future of EV Infrastructure brought together three Penn State alumni at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry’s future. This live episode features an engaging discussion with Benjamin Birnbaum (Keyframe, Terawatt), Zander Isaacson (Xeal), and Diallo Powell (Stak Mobility) as they share insights on EV infrastructure, charging technology, and the role of innovation in accelerating adoption. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or EV enthusiast, this conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders driving the future of electric transportation.

Benjamin Birnbaum is co-founder and partner at Keyframe, a New York City-based investment firm focused on the energy transition’s impact on industry. Prior to Keyframe, he founded Terawatt, an infrastructure developer, owner, and operator for large-scale EV charging. Terawatt has raised over $1 billion and provides fleet charging for companies like Pepsi and Waymo. Ben is a graduate of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Diallo Powell is co-founder and CEO of Stak Mobility, which addresses urban mobility challenges with an automated vertical carousel system for vehicle storage and EV charging—combining smart software with space-saving infrastructure. Diallo graduated from the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts.

Zander Isaacson is co-founder and CEO of Xeal, a technology-first EV charging company at the intersection of proptech, energy, and the Internet of Things. Xeal partners with more than 70 of the largest real estate companies nationwide. Zander, a Penn State Smeal College of Business graduate, is also our first-ever repeat guest on Dare to Disrupt.

Together, Ben, Diallo, and Zander discuss the broader trends and challenges shaping the EV landscape, how their companies are uniquely tackling these issues, strategies for scaling and financing capital-intensive projects, and their predictions for the future of the industry.

Episode Chapters

0:00 – 7:09 The EV industry landscape at large, building infrastructure

7:09 – 16:35 Fleet vs. consumer charging, offline charging, and urban charging

16:35 – 27:10 Scaling capital-intensive companies

27:10 – 36:38 The future of the EV industry

36:38 – 45:19 Advice for entrepreneurs entering this industry

45:19 – 50:33 Audience questions

Dare to Disrupt is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Bringing Research Lab Innovations to Your Toilet: The Story of spotLESS Materials

Dare to Disrupt

Bringing Research Lab Innovations to Your Toilet: The Story of spotLESS Materials

00:00 / 00:36:52

Birgitt Boschitsch is the co-founder and CEO of spotLESS Materials, an advanced materials company and Penn State spinoff commercializing highly repellent anti-fouling coatings.

In this episode, Birgitt shares how her passion for helping others through research led to her co-founding spotLESS Materials. She discusses her formative experiences, academic challenges, and the pivotal moments that shaped her career path, including her time at Princeton and her decision to pursue graduate studies at Penn State.

She discusses the original inspiration behind the idea for a toilet coating that repels sticky waste, as well as the challenges of transitioning from lab work to startup life. She shares the importance of community support and the impact of media exposure on sales.

Towards the end of the episode, Viswanathan Ganesh, a current Ph.D. candidate in the department of architectural engineering at Penn State, joins the conversation. He is the entrepreneurial lead for NexDCCool, a Penn State research-based startup that aims to revolutionize data center efficiency with AI-driven solutions that optimize IT expansion, enhance thermal management, and reduce energy consumption. The startup team recently participated in both the Invent Penn State regional NSF I-Corps short course and the NSF I-Corps National Teams program. Viswanathan and Birgitt reflect on the customer discovery process, and Birgitt offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

This episode is brought to you by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – 6:07 An early interest in science, math, and making a difference

6:07 – 8:46 Being challenged at Princeton

8:46 – 11:38 Choosing Penn State because of now co-founder’s pitch

11:38 – 14:55 Creating a material to repel sticky substances like poop

14:55 – 19:22 Navigating the pathway from lab to startup

19:22 – 23:00 The right timing to launch a consumer product

23:00 – 26:04 Keeping up with demand after NYT Wirecutter feature

26:04 -27:41 Future applications of the spotLESS Materials technology

27:41 – 29:37 Benefits of being based out of State College

29:37 – 36:27 Student section

30:12 – 33:37 Overcoming challenges presented by NSF I-Corps program

33:37 – 36:27 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

About Birgitt Boschitsch

Birgitt is the CEO and co-founder of spotLESS Materials. She graduated from Princeton University with a BSE mechanical and aerospace engineering. She received her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Penn State.

Redefining Curly Haircare with the Sisters who Co-founded OCOA

Dare to Disrupt

Redefining Curly Haircare with the Sisters who Co-founded OCOA

00:00 / 00:50:00

Sisters Cory Varona-Corniel and Nicol Varona Cancelmo are the cofounders of OCOA, providing clean, natural, curly haircare products.

In this episode, Nicol and Cory share their inspiring journey from the Dominican Republic to the United States. They detail how they were able to overcome language barriers, build a community at Penn State Berks, and launch into each of their professional careers. They discuss their close bond as sisters, the influence of their mother, and how their family roots in the Dominican Republic inspired not only the name but also the ingredients and mission behind OCOA.

At the end of the episode, current Penn State student Keia Jones joins the conversation. Keia is a PhD Candidate in Rural Sociology and International Agriculture and Development. She is the founder of BluOrb.co, a platform dedicated to simplifying sustainable fashion. Keia, Cory, and Nicol discuss the challenges the sisters faced in starting their business, the importance of community and sustainability, and their future aspirations for growth and accessibility in the beauty industry.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – 06:50 Growing up in the Dominican Republic

6:50 – 14:08 The challenge of moving to the U.S.

14:08 – 19:41 Building a community at Penn State Berks

19:41 – 25:39 Transitioning to the professional world

25:39 – 31:17 The inspiration behind launching OCOA

31:17 – 35:03 Losing their manufacturer and adapting forward

35:03 – 43:03 Rebranding and building a community

43:03 – 45:27 The future of OCOA

45:27 – 49:33 Student Section

45:27 – 46:38 How the story of their business has evolved

46:38 – 48:07 Keeping sustainability at the forefront

48:07 – 49:24 Plans to expand distribution and grow the OCOA team

About Cory Varona-Corniel

Cory graduated from Penn State Berks in 2011 with a B.S. in business with a finance and accounting concentration. She went on to earn an MBA with a concentration in finance at Penn State Great Valley. She is the co-founder and COO of OCOA.

About Nicol Varona Cancelmo

Nicol graduated from Penn State Berks in 2013 with a B.S. in business with a marketing concentration. She went on to earn her social media certification from Georgetown University. She is the co-founder and CMO of OCOA.

Electrifying Urban Mobility with Revel Co-founder Paul Suhey

Dare to Disrupt

Electrifying Urban Mobility with Revel Co-founder Paul Suhey

00:00 / 00:42:04

Paul Suhey is the Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Revel, where he drives the company’s mission to accelerate electric vehicle adoption in U.S. cities by focusing on fast-charging infrastructure.

In this episode, Paul shares Revel’s journey from its beginnings as an urban electric moped sharing startup to a company focused on building the EV charging infrastructure for the largest cities across the US.

At the end of the episode, current Penn State student Michael Slesarevich joins the conversation. Michael is a first-year mechanical engineering student and the founder of Shade Shift, an electrically controlled variable tint film for vehicles. He recently participated in the Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank Idea TestLab, and is a member of the Penn State Car Club. Michael and Paul discuss overcoming the challenge of securing that first investment, as well as how Revel views would-be competitors as potential future customers.

Episode Chapters

0:00 – 3:43 Growing up a “glorified nerd,” attending boarding school

3:43 – 8:14 Embracing the bigness of Penn State, Gravitating towards the hard thing

8:14 – 11:30 Getting into the complexities of the energy sector

11:30 – 14:41 From pinball in a corporate machine to big picture discussion leader

14:41 – 16:50 Choosing launching Revel over grad school

16:50 – 18:02 Revel’s mission: electrifying urban mobility

18:02 – 21:50 Evolving methods of sourcing capital

21:50 – 22:29 Handling the frenzy of launching a startup

22:29 – 26:44 Pivoting from electric mopeds to EV charging and rideshare

26:44 – 31:05 Addressing the challenge of novelty in building EV infrastructure

31:05 – 32:36 Seeing a lot more blue in the future

32:36 – Start of Student Section

32:36 – 35:40 Understanding the value propositions to drivers and riders

35:40 – 36:15 Prioritizing charging stations vs. Rideshare service

36:15 – 37:31 Viewing competitors and customers

37:31 – 40:30 Getting that first investment

40:30 –41:35 The importance of the blue

About Paul Suhey

Before co-founding Revel in 2018, Paul worked at Gerson Lehrman Group in New York City and ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He graduated with honors in chemical engineering from the Penn State College of Engineering and the Schreyer Honors College in 2014.

LIVE from The Nittany Lion Inn: Scholar Hotels Founder Gary Brandeis

Dare to Disrupt

LIVE from The Nittany Lion Inn: Scholar Hotels Founder Gary Brandeis

00:00 / 00:45:33

Gary Brandeis is the CEO and Co-Founder of Scholar Hotels, a hotel ownership and management group with a focus on properties close to major college and university campuses. Gary acquired his first hotel in 2006 and has since been directly involved in the hospitality business as an investor, developer, and manager. Scholar Hotels made its State College debut in March 2017, when it opened the 165-room Hyatt Place State College. Since then, the group has expanded its State College properties to include the Scholar Hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott, the Residence Inn by Marriott, The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, and, of course, The Nittany Lion Inn. Gary graduated from the Penn State Smeal College of Business with a degree in accounting.

In this live episode recorded in the 1855 Lounge at The Nittany Lion Inn, Gary shares how his background in accounting prepared him for the real estate industry, the details of the Inn’s renovation, as well as how he thinks about and manages risk.

*Please excuse some of the lower quality audio present in this episode – live events can be unpredictable!

Episode Chapters

0:00 – 3:52

Early life, working first jobs in restaurant industry

3:52 – 8:44

Studying accounting, finding love for real estate at Pricewaterhouse

8:44 – 13:44

Gaining experience, building a network, and forming a track record

13:44 – 17:16

Finding a business partner, developing first property

17:16 – 19:57

The draw of the hotel sector

19:57 – 24:14

Developing the Fraser Center in downtown State College

24:14 – 27:43

Developing the Scholar Hotel

27:43 – 38:10

The Nittany Lion Inn purchase and remodel process

38:10 – 45:30

Audience questions

Delivering Empathy at Scale Using AI and Data with Mario Ciabarra

Dare to Disrupt

Delivering Empathy at Scale Using AI and Data with Mario Ciabarra

00:00 / 00:41:08

Mario Ciabarra is the CEO and founder of Quantum Metric, a customer-centered digital analytics platform for today’s leading enterprise organizations. Since its founding in 2015, Quantum Metric’s approach to in-depth customer understanding has seen rapid adoption from Fortune 500 companies. The world’s largest airline, telco, retailer, healthcare, bank, and more have adopted the Quantum Metric platform.

In this episode, Mario shares valuable lessons on integrity and communication learned during his college years. He discusses launching and exiting his first startup in just 11 months, a success that allowed him to briefly retire and travel the world. Mario also explains how Quantum Metric enhances visibility into customer friction points for major industry leaders and how the company integrates generative AI into its solutions. Finally, he reflects on how he approaches building his legacy.

Episode Chapters

0:00 – 3:14
Family Roots and Immigrant Influence

3:14 – 7:14
Switching to Science and Founding YourNotes at Penn State

7:14 – 12:23
Lessons in Integrity, Coding, and Startup Life

12:23 – 14:46
Selling a Startup and Searching for Purpose

14:46 – 19:16
Finding Meaning: From Photography to App Innovation

19:16 – 21:25
Enterprise vs. Consumer Companies

21:25 – 26:28
Quantum Metric: Improving Digital Experiences

26:28 – 29:40
Funding Growth and Capital Decisions

29:40 – 32:48
Generative AI Driving Business Success

32:48 – 36:29
Legacy, Focus, and Advice for Students

Simplifying Solar Investments with Enact Co-Founder Deep Chakraborty

Dare to Disrupt

Simplifying Solar Investments with Enact Co-Founder Deep Chakraborty

00:00 / 00:36:27

Deep is the co-founder and CEO of Enact Systems, a leading software platform revolutionizing the solar and energy storage industry. Deep co-founded Enact in 2014, driven by the vision of creating a scalable and impactful solar solution. Deep has led Enact through exponential growth, nearly quadrupling its staff and expanding its reach to over 35 countries.

In this episode, Deep discusses his journey in building a North American subsidiary of CentroSolar, a German solar company, from the ground up. He also explains how Enact serves diverse customer segments by providing innovative software solutions that streamline the solar implementation process. Additionally, Deep shares his predictions for the future of alternative energy sources and how Enact plans to adapt to industry shifts and trends.

Episode Chapters

01:58 – 00:09:44 Growing up in India, Experience at Penn State, Learnings from Automotive Industry

09:48 – 13:23 Transition from Consulting in Munich to Entrepreneurship

13:24 – 00:17:01 Identifying the Need for a Customer-focused Approach in Solar

17:02 – 20:07 Building a Global Business

20:08 – 21:05 A Software-driven Approach to Solar

22:26 – 23:34 Adapting to Global Markets

23:34 – 25:40 The Two-sided Solar Platform

25:40 – 31:388 The Future of Solar in Renewable Energy

31:38 – 35:27 Student Section

Transforming the Real Estate Landscape with Peter Cocoziello

Dare to Disrupt

Transforming the Real Estate Landscape with Peter Cocoziello

00:00 / 00:36:08

Peter Cocoziello is chairman, founder, and CEO of Advance Realty Investors, a company specializing in real estate development, construction, and property management. Over decades of fluctuating market cycles, Peter led Advance Realty to service major corporations with build-to-suit developments, including G.H. Bass, Phillips Van Heusen, Allied Beverage, FedEx, Bayer, and United National Bank.

In this episode, Peter shares how he launched Advance with only $5,000, and then both entered and eventually dominated various real estate verticals in the northeast. He also discusses how the Penn State Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation is supporting cross-disciplinary collaboration, and what technological innovations mean for the future of the real estate industry.

Episode Chapters

1:53 – 3:32 From humble beginnings in the small town of Fairchance

3:32 – 8:12 The business of a paper route

8:12 – 9:41 From failing exams to becoming an honors finance student

9:41 – 12:37 The banking world as a foray into real estate

12:37 – 17:39 Launching Advance Realty with $5,000

17:39 – 19:42 Entering various real estate verticals

19:42 – 21:27 Taking advantage of the market environment

21:27 – 25:32 Build to suit and buy to suit real estate market

25:32 – 27:25 Launching the Penn State Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation

27:25 – 30:58 Technology’s role in shaping the real estate industry

30:58 – 36:08 Student section