Launch SA is a partnership between the City of San Antonio and Geekdom. It functions as a "coffee shop for entrepreneurs", a low-barrier entry point where founders can find mentorship, navigate city permits, and connect with a network of over 70 partner organizations.

📌Host:
Zac Brown: “The Non-Profit Guy” CEO of GiveKit
▸Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacjordanbrown/
▸GiveKit Website: https://givekit.org/

📌Guest:
Matthew Espinoza, Director at Launch SA
▸Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewespinoza/
▸Launch SA Website: https://launchsa.org/

📌Find Us:
▸YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondGivingpod
▸Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50nKlDy81jHuoobIFLwiHy
▸Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-giving/id1803474427
▸Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBoostChannel
▸Website: https://theboost.fm/beyond-giving/

Key Takeaways
1. The "College Advisor" Model
Launch SA doesn't just hand out pamphlets; it provides Business Advisors who act as academic counselors. They help founders at all stages, from the "food phase" fundamentals to scaling a 10-year-old operation, by asking the hard questions that founders often overlook.

2. 1 Million Cups: The Entrepreneurial Town Hall
A cornerstone program mentioned is 1 Million Cups (a Kauffman Foundation initiative).
🔹What it is: A weekly Wednesday morning event where two founders pitch their businesses.
🔹The Goal: It’s not a shark-tank style critique; it’s a community Q&A focused on how the audience can help the founder.
🔹The Value: It forces entrepreneurs to step outside their blind spots and practice clear communication.

3. Beyond the "Checklist" Mentality
Matthew highlights a common pitfall: many new founders come in asking for a "simple checklist" for success.

"Small business ownership is a roller coaster... you almost have to be an expert at everything or figure out how to find the answer. It’s not about studying for a test; it’s about thinking differently."

4. Strategic Priority & Lifestyle Businesses
A major piece of advice Matthew offers is to define what success looks like early on.
🔹Are you building a lifestyle business (which is perfectly valid and successful)?
🔹Are you aiming for an IPO or high-scale exit?
Your priority dictates your strategy; receiving the "wrong" type of advice for your specific goal can lead to misalignment.

The Role of the City & Community
🔹A Public-Private Partnership: The City of San Antonio contracts this work to Geekdom to ensure the support is flexible and "expert-led" rather than purely bureaucratic.
🔹Accessibility: Launch SA is moving toward an "on the road" model, hosting events in local libraries across the north and south sides of the city to meet busy business owners where they are.

Resource Directory
🔹Physical Hub: Central Library, Downtown (Mon-Fri, 9–5).
🔹Launch SA Link: Online directory of 70+ partner organizations.
🔹Advising: 1-on-1 support for finance, legal, and operations.
🔹Website: LaunchSA.org
Use the "Request Assistance" form to connect.

Top Quote
"We may not have the answer, but someone in our network might... We’re here to ultimately bring the community together." Matthew Espinosa

Episode Summary

Founder Thomas James joins the show to discuss Zeo Infinite Robotics, a San Antonio-based nonprofit transforming STEM education through combat robotics. By engaging students in the "Tech Gladiator Challenge," Thomas is bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world manufacturing careers.

Host:

Zac Brown: "The Non-Profit Guy"

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacjordanbrown/

Guests:

Thomas James, Founder of Zeo Infinite Robotics

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zeo-infinite-robotics/

Find Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50nKlDy81jHuoobIFLwiHy

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-giving/id1803474427

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm/beyond-giving/

Key Highlights

🌟The Mission: Giving students a "first shot" at engineering roles by teaching CAD, mechatronics, and manufacturing before they even reach college.

🌟The Tech Gladiator Challenge: A multi-month program where students design, build, and battle robots, learning to troubleshoot mechanical and software errors under pressure.

🌟The Power of Teamwork: Thomas emphasizes that robotics is 10% hardware and 90% strategy and collaboration. Students must reconcile different perspectives to build a winning machine.

🌟The Pipeline: From Gunpla (Gundam model building) for elementary kids to high-stakes combat for high schoolers, the curriculum scales with the students' development.

Current Needs & Growth

Thomas is currently in the foundational "building block" phase and is seeking community support for:

🌟Board Recruitment: Specifically looking for a Treasurer and members with business or financial expertise.

🌟Sponsors & Grants: Funding for robot kits, materials, and travel costs to keep the program accessible.

🌟School Outreach: Introductions to districts in San Antonio (Northside/Northeast) and to underserved areas such as the South Side and rural South Carolina.

Connect with Zeo Infinite Robotics

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zeo-infinite-robotics/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeoinfiniterobotics
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/466679857200055/ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069503631464

Episode Summary

Drew, founder of Bridge, shares how his organization serves as a "startup starting startups" for democracy and justice initiatives across Texas. From his unexpected journey (farmer to sommelier to civic leader) to building a support system for early-stage nonprofits, Drew reveals what it takes to scale impact in the civic engagement space.

Host:

Zac Brown: “The Non-Profit Guy”

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacjordanbrown/

Guest

Drew Galloway - Founder & Executive Director, Bridge

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hdrewgalloway/

Impact (4 Years)

🟢36 organizations started/scaled

🟢$9M in new funding to Texas

🟢First state-based democracy startup accelerator in US

Bridge Programs

🟢Incubator: 15 weeks, $5K grant

🟢Accelerator: $50K funding + $50K+ fundraising campaign

🟢Rest Residency: Sabbaticals for burned-out founders

🟢Collective: Ongoing alumni support

Drew's Journey

Wine sommelier (10 years) → Experienced housing discrimination (2011) → White House intern → MOVE Texas ED (120K voters registered) → Founded Bridge

Key Insights

🟢Fundraising Reality

• "Fundraising problems" are usually identity/clarity issues
• Practice matters most: dedicate 10-20 hours/week
• Treat fundraising like organizing: "Do you want to join us?"
• Can't outsource donor relationships

🟢Leadership Evolution: Founders must shift from programmatic work to strategic/fundraising focus as organizations grow

🟢Money Mindset: Reshape your relationship with money to confidently ask for support

🟢Alternative Revenue: Nonprofits are experts, consider co-working spaces, consulting, event venues

Top Quotes

"Strong leaders build strong movements." "Fundraising is a full-time plus job." "All politics are retail."

Support Bridge

🟢Volunteer: Mentor founders (few hours/quarter)

🟢Websites: bridgeinfrastructure.org bridgemovements.org

🟢Social: @BridgeMovements

Takeaways

1. Clarify identity before fundraising
2. Block 10-20 hours/week for fundraising
3. Embrace strategic leadership transition
4. Explore ethical alternative revenue
5. Prioritize rest