As a Morehead Scholar UNC grad, and with a successful start to his career at Bain Capital, Alex Lassiter could have done anything next.

He chose entrepreneurship, which led to him living in Atlanta over a Chinese restaurant, so poor that he was calculating the cost of beans with his other cofounders and eating blue chicken.

He had dozens of ideas that failed.

And then one hit big.

Today, Alex shares his entrepreneurial journey with host Scot Wingo.

Where to Find Alex Lassiter:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8C%8F-alex-lassiter-b6673b8/
• Website: https://greenplaces.com/

Where to Find Scot Wingo:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/
• Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/
• X: https://x.com/scotwingo

In this episode:

(00:01:59) "I was always an idea a minute person..."

(00:03:42) Alex's first giant check

(00:07:24) He could have been gorged by a bull or met the love of his life

(00:09:27) Alex the Bain intern wins a pitch competition

(00:13:30) Hitting up all the Bojangle's on the East Coast

(00:19:30) The first startup was called Frequenter, which was supposed to be a better Yelp. Then 3 more companies...

(00:20:10) Table, a new app for last minute reservations

(00:25:50) Living above a Chinese restaurant in Atlanta, trash blowing in every day, and eating blue chicken
(00:28:30) You know you're poor when you're calculating cost per bean

(00:29:30) Starting Gather and the first $45K investment

(00:39:30) Learning the SDR model for growth

(00:40:30) Another raise for Gather - this time 7 figures

(00:44:00) Acquiring a competitor
(00:46:30) Vista Equity comes calling -> Gather Exit

(00:53:00) Drake, Ferraris, and Neil Degrasse Tyson
(01:30:00) Starting again with GreenPlaces

Referenced:

• Raleigh sustainability software startup GreenPlaces looks to grow with $13M in funding: https://wraltechwire.com/2023/06/21/raleigh-sustainability-software-startup-greenplaces-looks-to-grow-with-13m-in-funding/
• Triangle entrepreneurs pour $3M into Raleigh ESG startup: https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/inno/stories/fundings/2022/08/26/raleigh-esg-startup-green-places-new-funding.html
• GreenPlaces Secures $4M in Seed Funding led by Felicis: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenplaces-secures-4m-in-seed-funding-led-by-felicis-301648505.html

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Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Earfluence.

Welcome to Triangle Tweener Talks, where we share stories from founders about how they got to where they are today.

The first founder we’re hearing from is the man who will be hosting this podcast - serial entrepreneur and general partner of the Triangle Tweener fund, Scot Wingo.

Where to Find Scot Wingo:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/
• Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/
• X: https://x.com/scotwingo

In this episode:

(00:01:30) Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg? That's not my story.
(00:05:30) Here's how to get a lamborghini.
(00:08:00) USC, first job, meeting Dr Miller at NC State, and being infamous in a bad way.
(00:14:00) We started Stingray Software
(00:16:30) Exit, how Star Wars inspired AuctionRover.com, and the first multi-million $ check
(00:22:00) ChannelAdvisor -> 800 employees
(00:28:00) Ringing the NYSE bell
(00:32:50) What if I reimagined car care?
(00:34:30) Starting the Tweener List -> Triangle Tweener Fund

Referenced:
The FORTUNE Magazine Cover with Bill Gates that Changed it All: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FgLns-9WQAAjxsF?format=jpg&name=large
"Scot Wingo, a serial entrepreneur ‘paying it forward’": https://wraltechwire.com/2019/12/31/tech-legends-scot-wingo-a-serial-entrepreneur-paying-it-forward/
Scot on Mad Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ilacBdzv4
Wingo steps down as Spiffy CEO: https://businessnc.com/wingo-steps-down-as-spiffy-ceo/

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Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Earfluence.