Renegade Ventures

From Academia to a $28M Exit — and Why Diane Prince Is Building Again (Differently)

What happens when you intentionally build a business to sell — and actually do it?In this episode of Renegade Ventures, Ellie sits down with serial entrepreneur Diane Prince, who went from failing out of a PhD program to building and selling a staffing agency for $28 million in just six years — and then doing it all over again.Diane walks us through how she and her co-founder engineered their exit from day one, scaled to $35M in revenue, survived payroll weeks north of $700K, navigated a failed acquisition post-9/11, and ultimately structured a deal that paid out the entire earnout — without staying in the business.Now, she’s building again — this time with offshore talent, a radically different vision, and a focus on leverage, lifestyle, and fun.If you’re an acquisition entrepreneur, operator, or founder thinking about scale, exit, or doing it smarter the second time around, this episode is packed with real-world insight.

The Death of a Deal: An International Misadventure

In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Maggie sits down with Ellie to unpack the deal that didn’t close-one she flew across the world for, fought for, and genuinely believed would reshape her business. The wound is fresh, the emotions are real, and nothing is sugar-coated.Together, they walk through the highs of early hope, the red flags they tried to ignore, and the moment everything unraveled. Ellie shares what it’s like to pour your heart, time, and money into an international acquisition that ultimately slips away-and how she’s navigating the disappointment, self-doubt, and unexpected clarity that followed.This isn’t a victory-lap episode. It’s a candid look at the deals that don’t make the highlight reel-and why the stories we wish we could hide often teach us the most. Whether you’re a founder, leader, or deal junkie, this is a conversation you won’t forget.

Building Blak Koffee: Culture, Community & Courage with Ronyale Smith

In this episode of Renegade Ventures, we sit down with Ronyale Smith, owner of Blak Koffee in Louisville, Kentucky, to talk about what it really takes to build a values-driven business from the ground up. Ronyale shares her journey into entrepreneurship, the vision behind Blak Koffee, and how she’s created more than just a coffee shop—it’s a space rooted in culture, community, and intentional impact. We explore the challenges of ownership, the importance of representation, and what it means to lead with purpose while growing a brand in today’s world. This conversation is honest, inspiring, and a must-listen for anyone dreaming of building something that truly matters.

The Power of ‘I Am’: Transforming Communication with Tina Bakehouse

In this inspiring episode of the Renegade Ventures Podcast, intuitive communications coach and topic expert Tina Bakehouse explores the transformative power of effective communication in both business and personal growth. Invited onto the show for her deep expertise, Tina reveals how shifting our self-perception—especially through intentional and empowering “I am” statements—can help us step into our true potential. Tune in as she shares actionable insights designed to help you communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and authenticity.

Meet the Woman Rebuilding the Whiskey Industry

In this conversation, entrepreneur Monica Wolfe takes us inside her unexpected journey from corporate consulting to becoming one of the most innovative forces in the bourbon industry. Monica shares how learning the business alongside her father opened the door to a deeper understanding of bourbon, ultimately inspiring her to help reshape how modern whiskey brands are built. She walks us through the vision and grit behind creating a 108-acre campus complete with seven cutting-edge rickhouses and a full blending and bottling operation. Listeners interested in the intersection of bourbon and business will learn from Monica's entrepreneurial journey and gain valuable insights into how she navigated fundraising, staffing, and growth. Her ethos?  "If they can do it, I can definitely do it."