In this episode, Hall welcomes Harold Lavender, Director of Finance & Business Development at ABQid@CNM Ingenuity.

ABQid, powered by CNM Ingenuity, is devoted to helping high-growth startups access the knowledge, resources, and connections they need to prosper.

ABQid is a curriculum-based, investor-funded accelerator program focused on investor ROI and creating great scalable companies. Their efforts are aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and their programs range from introductory, the “Entrepreneurial Bootcamp”​ – that introduces customer validation methodologies, to the intermediate with the “Idea Hacks”​ based upon game-storming methodologies. They co-host these events with community partners and local entrepreneurial mentors. The ABQid Accelerator is based on Lean Startups methods and helps teams refine their ideas over an intensive 3-month process of mentoring ad customer validation that creates nimble companies with demonstrable success at acquiring customers.

Harold is a member of the New Mexico Bar and spent 34 years as a trader at the Chicago Board of Trade. After returning to New Mexico in 2010, after being Of Counsel to two NM law firms, he joined ABQid, a Lean Startup Accelerator as Director of Finance and Business Development. (ABQid merged with CNM Ingenuity in 2019.) He also serves on the NM State Investment Council.

Harold speaks about the investment thesis of the company and advises both entrepreneurs and investors. He shares with Hall how he sees the industry evolving and some of the challenges companies face. 

You can visit ABQid@CNM Ingenuity at www.abqid.com/, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abqid/. 

Harold can be contacted via email at hlavender@cnm.edu, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/haroldlavender/.   

For a full transcript, click here.

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Disclaimer:
Hall T Martin is the director of Investor Connect, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the education of investors for early-stage funding. All opinions expressed by Hall and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Investor Connect. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for the basis of investment decisions.