How Startups Should Raise and Structure Their First Round of Capital (S18E5)

Aaron Quinonez is a Marine 1st Anglico veteran and the founder of the veteran nonprofit: Q Missions. He received the 2016 Distinguished Service to Veterans award and the 2018 Superior Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs. He was also awarded the 2017 Hometown Hero award from Kiro7 news. Aaron, also known as Sgt Q, found his true purpose when he traded the battlefield for the mission field and began building homes and churches, feeding children, and supplying precious hope to struggling communities. He was called to found QMissions, a pathway for veterans and found healing through the joy of serving.

Adriana has always been fascinated by both human behavior and the complex systems in which it unfolds. This dual interest has led her to consistently seek out innovative solutions to drive progress. At Genentech (2009), Adriana began reinventing programs within complex commercial ecosystems. Recognized for her leadership potential, she received a full-ride MBA from UCLA (2013). Transitioning to tech and business, she worked with companies from startups to as big as eBay, driving visibility for existing platforms and unheard-of traction for new initiatives. At IBM, she guided C-suite innovation across 12 industries (including Estee Lauder, P&G, Chanel, Colgate, Avon, Olam, Honda, and others), generating over $5B in impact (revenue, cost savings, market share) and driving Watson AI adoption. Her team also launched and scaled an AI startup within IBM from $0 to $100M in 18 months. As a corporate investor and advisor, Adriana remained deeply connected to the startup ecosystem, recognizing its role as an early indicator of evolving human behavior. Verizon then recruited Adriana to leverage her understanding of human behavior to develop strategies for new technology businesses built on the 5G network (AI, Blockchain, Quantum, AR, etc.), effectively guiding Verizon’s transformation into a technology company. Adriana’s human behavior insights, as applied to progress and to business, have garnered significant media attention, including TEDx and CBS appearances.

Angela DiCarlo is a dynamic entrepreneur, designer, and business strategist dedicated to helping people and companies thrive. With a career spanning fashion, wellness, marketing, and personal development, Angela has empowered organizations, families, and individuals to achieve greater recognition, growth, and joy. She is the lead fashion designer for Prosperity’s Closet, creating bold Rock Star, festival, and Burning Man-inspired designs, and the founder of Prosperity & Friends, a platform dedicated to helping adults and children design lives they truly love. Her diverse career also includes co-founding a gluten-free health food line before it was mainstream, building youth fitness programs that reached thousands of children, and driving impactful marketing strategies for startups and multi-million-dollar companies alike. After overcoming a traumatic head injury, Angela chose to live as a role model for resilience and empowerment. Whether through strategic planning, team development, motivational training, or creative ventures, her mission is clear: to magnify prosperity and inspire others to be amazing.

Cameron Gilmore is a visionary entrepreneur, international author, podcaster, and professional speaker with over 20 years of experience driving business growth. He’s led companies through multimillion-dollar expansions—including orchestrating $34M in growth in just nine months—by focusing on ownership, operational insight, forecasting, marketing, sales development, analytics, and leadership. As host of the international podcast The Arch Study of YOU—ranked in the top 20% most shared globally—Cameron dives into the layers of childhood, adulthood, and entrepreneurship, bringing peak performers from across industries to uncover their “why.” He’s also the author of I Am Not Your Sales Guru, a top-selling book in its field, and a sought-after international speaker known for motivating and equipping audiences with simple, actionable steps for transformation. Passionate about leadership development and culture building, Cameron helps entrepreneurs, executives, and teams turn challenges into opportunities and achieve lasting success.

Dylan Shively is a discipline-driven coach and founder of JW Group Inc., where he specializes in empowering men to evolve into their strongest selves—personally, professionally, and spiritually. Guided by his mantra, “Become the person you admire and give that version of yourself to the world,” Dylan helps clients break through self-limiting habits, build resilience, and craft lives worth showing up for. A former corporate and credit repair professional turned entrepreneur, Dylan built JW Group Inc. through trust-based, referral-driven growth—reaching seven-figure revenue while serving over 10,000 clients without any advertising. He’s also a motivational speaker who shares his story of transformation—from a rebellious teen to business owner and community advocate—and reminds audiences how powerful their environment and circle of influence can be.

Henry “Hank” Melton is an American Red Cross LGIT and WSIT, and the Owner and Operator of HM Safety. As an American Red Cross Instructor and Instructor Trainer, he brings a rich background in education, communication, and recreation, serving Southern Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and California. Henry is also a seasoned professional in hospitality operations management, with extensive experience in luxury resorts, restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels. His diverse expertise ensures top-tier safety training and operational excellence across various high-end service industries.

John’s passion lies in helping entrepreneurs and startup founders launch amazing software into the market that customers love. He partners with early-stage companies, to help them validate their ideas, to build software that matters and that customers actually want to buy. John has helped many bold entrepreneurs solve big problems that create a lasting impact.

President and CEO of Total Customized Revenue Management (TCRM), Lily is a passionate and devoted leader and practitioner in the revenue management field. Lily earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Management from Johnson & Wales University. Following graduation, Lily’s career encompassed a variety of roles and responsibilities, including positions with independent full-service, boutique and resort hotels, and work with major brands including Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels, and Hyatt, and various management companies. With 13 years of diverse hospitality experience under her belt, Lily founded TCRM in 2012 leveraging her vision to become the premier provider of revenue management services for the hospitality community. In recognition of these efforts, she was named 2015 Revenue Management Professional of the Year by HSMAI’s Arizona Chapter. TCRM continues to grow under Lily’s leadership and has recently begun to expand into international markets.

Nicole Cherie Hesse, also known as the “Mouthy Bartender Turned Mouthy Millionaire”—is a dynamic, self-made business leader. Originally aspiring to become a lawyer, she pivoted to bartending and quickly rose in the mixology world, competing globally and working as a bar consultant for major brands. Despite outward success, Nicole faced personal struggles until sobriety sparked a transformative shift. Within just 13 months, she built a seven-figure business using her bold, authentic approach to marketing—what she calls “Catalyst Marketing”—empowering coaches and entrepreneurs to attract their dream clients without relying on outdated sales tactics. Her brand, Real Unicorns Don’t Wear Pants, along with her reputation as a Forbes-featured mindset mentor and podcast host, highlights her unapologetic energy and focus on mindset as a growth driver.

Meet Patrick Culpillari, a seasoned e-commerce expert whose leadership style is a powerful force of inspiration. Patrick believes that effective leadership should naturally energize people, infusing the soul with enthusiasm to the point that the contagion of his vision becomes unstoppable. Guided by four fundamental principles—Customer Obsession, Brand Passion, Excellence, and Creativity—Patrick brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and passion to the e-commerce landscape. Customer obsession is at the forefront of his approach, ensuring that every decision made is centered around providing exceptional value and satisfaction to customers. Patrick's brand passion is infectious, driving him to cultivate a genuine connection between consumers and the products or services he champions. He believes in excellence as a non-negotiable standard, consistently pushing boundaries to deliver top-tier solutions and experiences. Creativity is the cornerstone of his approach, infusing innovation into every aspect of the e-commerce journey. As a leader, Patrick's goal is not only to achieve success but to inspire and motivate those around him to aspire for more than they thought possible. His leadership philosophy encourages individuals to strive for success not merely because it is expected, but because they have been genuinely inspired to do so. Patrick's magnetic enthusiasm and commitment to these principles create an environment where personal and professional growth are not just encouraged but become inevitable.