Amber Hayes understands that technology can create solutions to common problems, it just requires a little creativity. Amber is the CEO of SecondKeys — a holistic property management platform that's reshaping the management and maintenance process — and the winner of the 36|86 Festival's 2020 Pitch Competition. In this episode, she describes the process of building her startup from the ground up, and she explains how she's navigating the challenge of working in real estate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cheryl Campos knows that investing in startups can be a great strategy for building wealth, but until recently, most Americans couldn't participate. As Director of Growth and Partnerships at Republic, Cheryl is working to help startups scale with equity crowdfunding. In this episode, she explains how crowd investing creates new opportunities for traditionally underfunded groups and non-accredited investors. She also provides an overview of changes that will shape the future of venture capital.

Amit Bhatti, principal at San Francisco investment firm 500 Startups, recognizes that founders who come from less traditional markets often bring a unique level of hard work and determination. Amit invests in founders around the world and manages the fund's portfolio of more than 2,000 companies. In this episode, he explains how COVID-19 has changed the world of startups and fundraising, and he discusses some of the advantages those changes could provide for founders in the Southeast.