Tweener Talks: Doug Kaufman Mission-Driven Leadership, Board Wisdom, and Founder Mental Health | PART 2 of 2
In part two, Dr. Doug picks up where we left off, moving from hard-earned scars to the systems, mindsets, and missions that define his later-stage journey.
Reminder: Who is Dr. Doug?
Dr. Doug Kaufman is a serial founder with a PhD in psychology and a three-decade career riding the startup “Rocket Coaster.” He’s built companies ranging from early online education ventures to ClearText, Spring Metrics, TransLoc, Belongly, and most recently, Automated Consulting Group. Alongside building, Doug has been a long-time mentor and champion for other founders in the Triangle.
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Lithios Apps - Lithios Apps is a Triangle-based software design and development studio that builds custom mobile and web applications focused on quality and user experience. We help founders and teams bring products to life that drive growth, engage customers, and stand out in competitive markets. We've worked side by side with clients whose products have gone on to earn millions in follow-on funding.
Bank of America – BofA’s Transformative Technology Group helps game-changing tech businesses and founders realize their boldest ambitions across a wide range of technology sectors. With hands-on support, world-class resources, and an extensive network – BofA provides the stability and scalability that tech companies need to rapidly grow today and into the future.
Robinson Bradshaw - A full-service business law firm with a passion for supporting the Triangle entrepreneurial ecosystem. Learn more about Robinson Bradshaw’s startups and venture capital practice here.
ExtensisHR - As a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), ExtensisHR empowers tech founders and growing businesses to scale smarter. We take HR administration off your plate—managing payroll, recruiting, employee benefits and retirement plans, compliance, risk, and more—so you can focus on innovation. For over 25 years we’ve leveraged a people-first approach, customer-centric mindset, and deep industry expertise to ensure employers have the tools needed to stay competitive in today’s market.
Whitley Recruiting Partners - Whitley Recruiting Partners specializes in recruiting top tech talent for growth-stage startups in the Triangle. We target industry-specific, entrepreneurial employees who drive immediate results through a fast, accurate, and scalable recruiting process. Special offer for Tweener Times subscribers: Free survey of available local talent for one of your openings.
EisnerAmper (formerly HPG) - One of the world’s largest business consulting firms, with a dedicated technology practice offering outsourcing, accounting, tax, and advisory services. Our experienced professionals serve more than 2,000 technology companies, from early-stage startups to public enterprises. Discover how EisnerAmper’s stage-specific solutions and industry expertise can help you achieve your milestones whether startup, international expansion, M&A, or IPO: eisneramper.com/tech.
And special thanks to our friends at Walk West for partnering with us to produce this pod!
Listen/Watch Our Interview:
Part 1: Doug’s journey from psychology to startups, ClearText, Spring Metrics, and the early lessons. Catch up with Part 1.
Part 2 (**you are here**): Turnarounds, board craft, mental health, and building with heart. We cover:
Doug’s TransLoc turnaround and eventual sale to Ford
His playbook for healthy, transparent boards
The Belongly pivot in mental health tech and lessons from a tough funding market
Teaching at Duke and executive coaching that aligns head + heart
Joining Robbie Allen’s Automated Consulting Group (Humans + AI approach)
Honest talk on founder mental health and how investors/communities can better support it
Doug’s honesty, humor, and hard-won lessons remind us that the startup journey is about more than exits. It’s about building with purpose, leading with heart, and staying human along the ride.
How to watch:
Visit Tweener Talks to listen for all audio podcast players
We have a video version on YouTube (make sure to subscribe!)
📌 What’s Next
Stay tuned for more founder journeys from across the Triangle. Subscribe for startup news, and we’ll catch you next week!