S7E10 (episode #70): Jason Mendelson on applying VC skills to Criminal Justice Reform

In this episode, Jeffrey sits down with Jason Mendelson, a recovering Venture Capitalist, attorney, CJR advocate, musician, producer, and all-around badass changemaker and entrepreneur. They discuss his upbringing, the injury that led him away from music for a time, becoming a venture capitalist, and more. He’s written and recorded his own album, played in various bands, and produced for stars like Aloe Blacc, Payge Turner, and many more and also founded CJR organization Breakthrough. 

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zrppDxI_5T0

Learn more:

Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker

Producer: Kait Grey

Editor: Nick Case

Recording date: 7/24/23

Breakthrough:

https://timetobreakthrough.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/timetobreakthrough/

Books:

Venture Deals - https://a.co/d/38pCzmM

How to Be a Lawyer - https://a.co/d/cCAQ2TQ

Jace Allen music:

https://jaceallen.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6PbQjHVCUrghNLctvGturu

https://jaceallen.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen

https://www.instagram.com/jaceallen_music/

https://www.facebook.com/jaceallenmusic

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jace-allen/1365882791

https://soundcloud.com/user-949081121

Gen3 Music:

https://gen3band.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1TPAYfqlShQs2XeMXHOil3?si=OolkMYJISuy14EUj2k0vJw

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gen3/1561047640

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClhSEHtaWhSwVG3-MlenEIg

Bio:

Jason:

I am a musician and work in the criminal justice reform ecosystem. I've written a best-selling book (Venture Deals) and will release my second book "How To Be a Lawyer" in Q2 2022.

In my past, I have been a venture capitalist, startup co-founder, adjunct professor and part-time author in Boulder, CO. Previously, I was an attorney at a large tech Law firm and prior to that, a software engineer.

I won't answer LinkedIn requests for anything pertaining to my tech-world background. If you want to chat about something in the criminal justice reform space or musical (and not music tech / startup), I'm all ears!

Jace Allen Music Bio⁠

0:00 - Intro

8:59 - Importance of Giving Back

11:01 - Education

12:56 - Early Music Career

15:29 - Injury

18:31 - Corporate Life

24:40 - Venture Capital

26:37 - Venture Deals, How to Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist

30:47 - Breakthrough

40:29 - Law Professor

41:14 - How to Be a Lawyer: The Path from Law School to Success

44:04 - SRS Aquium

47:20 - AI

53:11 - Jace Allen

55:08 - Good Noise Studios

1:00:47 - Gen3

1:02:42 - Art Creating Impact

1:08:15 - Stand Together Foundation

1:16:40 - When Work Affected Change

1:21:20 - Ask Jeff a Question

1:23:05 - Most Proud of

1:24:44 - Snap Your Fingers

1:25:54 - How to Support