09 May Justin Delaney | IU Ventures Podcast, Ep. 2
Justin Delaney, MBA ‘13 – Managing Partner, Wabi Capital
Welcome back to the IU Ventures podcast! Each month, hear Hoosier founders and funders share the problems they’re solving, advice for aspiring IU innovators, and most importantly, hard-hitting questions like Mother Bear’s or Pizza Express? Little 500 or Homecoming? Sample Gates or Showalter Foundation?
This is Episode #2 and you’ll hear host Jon Barada interview Wabi Capital Managing Partner Justin Delaney. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots – follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying the show!
● Episode Summary & Player
● Show Notes
● Learn more about IU Ventures
IU Ventures Episode #2: Justin Delaney, MBA ‘13 – Managing Partner, Wabi Capital
Justin Delaney is a serial entrepreneur and Managing Partner at Wabi Capital who has grown companies explosively fast with notable exits, including Menguin and Buff City Soap. Hear his favorite memories from Bloomington, how his time getting his Kelley MBA transformed his life, his investors Scott Dorsey and Mark Cuban, fun stories about his friend and partner George Zimmer of Men’s Wearhouse, and his best advice for aspiring IU entrepreneurs. This episode covers everything from tuxes to spots on campus. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:
● Kirkwood or 4th Street?
● What’s Justin’s favorite IU memory?
● Where did the idea for Menguin come from?
● What’s a story Justin can share about George Zimmer?
● How does Justin consider companies to invest in?
● What is his “Never Daunted” moment?
● Who was his favorite professor or class at IU?
● What advice does he have for IU student aspiring entrepreneurs?
Connect with Justin on LinkedIn and IU Ventures at IUVentures.com.
Check out the episode and show notes below for much more detail.
This podcast is presented by Kelley Direct Online MBA. Learn more about how you can go from moment to momentum by earning a Kelley Direct Online MBA at Kelley.IU.edu
Show Notes
○ [0:28] Welcome to IU Ventures
○ [0:31] This podcast is presented by Kelley Direct Online MBA. Learn more about how you can go from moment to momentum by earning a Kelley Direct Online MBA at Kelley.IU.edu
○ [0:44] Jon Barada
○ [0:50] Connect with Justin on LinkedIn and IU Ventures at IUVentures.com
○ This or That: Best of B-Town
○ [3:06] Pizza Express (Pizza X) or Mother Bear’s?
○ [3:17] Nick’s or Kilroy’s?
○ [3:31] Dunn Meadow or the Arboretum?
○ [3:38] Football or Basketball?
○ [3:43] Jiffy Treet or The Chocolate Moose?
○ [3:52] Little 500 (Little 5) or Homecoming?
○ [4:00] HPER or SRSC?
○ [4:19] Sample Gates or Showalter Fountain?
○ [4:24] The Bluebird or IU Auditorium?
○ [4:34] Kirkwood or 4th Street?
○ [4:52] Fall or Spring at IU?
○ Cream & Crimson Q&A
○ [5:12] How did Justin decide to attend IU (Indiana University)?
○ [6:12] Bloomington, IN
○ [6:14] Schuyler F. Otteson
○ [ 7:44] Breaking Away
○ [7:52] What’s Justin’s favorite IU memory?
○ [9:38] Who was his favorite professor or class at IU?
○ [10:08] Dr. Neil Morgan
○ [10:14] Louisville Vegan Jerky Co
Wabi Capital
○ [11:33] Where did the idea for Menguin come from?
○ [12:19] Warby Parker, Bonobos
○ [16:06] What’s a story Justin can share about George Zimmer?
○ [16:38] Marshawn Lynch
○ [18:21] What has Justin learned from Scott Dorsey & Mark Cuban?
○ [20:32] This podcast is presented by Kelley Direct Online MBA, named the #1 Best Online MBA by U.S. News & World Report 2023. Unlike many online MBA programs, the thing that’s great about the Kelley Direct Online MBA is it’s completely designed, taught, facilitated, and managed by full-time faculty and staff. They take pride in creating every aspect of the academic and student experience from the ground up. 85% of Kelley Direct Online MBA students started a new job or reported receiving a promotion or raise while enrolled. Learn more about how you can go from moment to momentum by earning a Kelley Direct Online MBA at Kelley.IU.edu
○ [21:32] What is Buff City Soap?
○ [21:49] COVID-19
○ [26:12] How does Justin consider companies to invest in?
○ [28:00] Inflation
○ [29:24] Whole Foods
○ [30:22] How does Justin approach price promotion?
○ [31:10] Louis Vuitton (LV)
○ [32:31] HELM Boots, Nordstrom
○ [33:17] CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods), Walmart
○ [34:03] Vlasic
Never Daunted
○ [35:35] What is Justin’s “Never Daunted” moment?
○ [37:02] Broadcast.com
○ [38:03] “Belling the Cat”
○ [39:38] What advice does Justin have for IU student aspiring entrepreneurs?
○ [42:14] The Bill Cook Story: Ready, Fire, Aim! by Bob Hammel
○ [43:19] Connect with Justin on LinkedIn and IU Ventures at IUVentures.com
○ [43:33] This podcast is presented by Kelley Direct Online MBA. Learn more about how you can go from moment to momentum by earning a Kelley Direct Online MBA at Kelley.IU.edu
○ Theme Songs: “Indiana, Our Indiana” composed by Karl L. King adapted by Russell Harker and arranged for The Marching Hundred by Ray Cramer and Dave Woodley. “Indiana Fight” composed by Leroy Hinkle, arranged for The Marching Hundred by Ray Cramer
What does IU Ventures do?
Thanks for listening to the IU Ventures podcast. IU Ventures invests to generate significant and long-lasting social and economic impact for IU, Indiana, and the World. Learn more at IUVentures.com. Go Hoosiers!
This podcast is presented by Kelley Direct Online MBA. Learn more about how you can go from moment to momentum by earning a Kelley Direct Online MBA at Kelley.IU.edu