In Episode 14 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Samuel McVay sits down with Conor Adler, Capital & Investor Programs Lead at Nexus, to discuss his unconventional path through the startup world and why the Midwest deserves far more attention in the venture capital landscape. Conor grew up outside Chicago, studied finance at Providence College, and spent four and a half years grinding through multiple early-stage startups-from a CBD formulations company to an AI-powered sales forecasting SaaS platform to a supply chain logistics startup. At 28, facing the reality that startup equity wasn't paying his bills, Conor made a deliberate pivot toward venture capital and investor relations, ultimately landing in Wichita where he now helps founders navigate capital raising and startup strategy. The conversation reveals how the Midwest is quietly becoming a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, attracting talent and capital despite being overlooked by coastal startup culture.
Conor Adler's career trajectory tells the story of someone who learned business the hard way-by doing it. Growing up outside Chicago with two brothers and an Irish mother from Dublin, Conor was pushed toward the East Coast for college, landing at Providence College in Rhode Island where he studied finance. A natural progression to banking came first, followed by a brief stint in IT recruiting at Insight Global, but neither path satisfied his creative drive.
That's when Conor made a decision that would define the next phase of his career: he moved back home to Chicago and worked two part-time startup jobs simultaneously. One was a CBD company partnering with doctors and professional athletes to develop legitimate cannabinoid formulations. The other was an AI-based sales forecasting software startup using Monte Carlo simulations to help sales teams identify capacity constraints. Both taught him invaluable lessons about startup operations, customer discovery, and the realities of early-stage growth-lessons no MBA could replicate.
But startups come with a cost. After four and a half years and multiple ventures that didn't achieve the exits he'd hoped for, Conor hit a personal inflection point. At 28, wanting to start a family and build real financial stability, he realized that trading equity promises for subsistence wages wasn't sustainable. Rather than retreat to corporate America, he doubled down on the startup ecosystem by pivoting into venture capital and investor relations. He started a Twitter account called "Venture Learner" and began educating himself on how capital actually moves in the startup world.
Today, as Capital & Investor Programs Lead at Nexus, Conor is on the ground in Wichita helping founders understand how to raise capital and scale their businesses. His story illustrates a critical insight: the Midwest isn't a flyover region for startup innovation-it's an emerging hub where founders can access capital, build meaningful businesses, and create real economic value. For entrepreneurs looking to grow their ventures or build sustainable local businesses, understanding how to access the right resources and capital is as important as mastering marketing or sales operations. That's where advisors like Conor bridge the gap between ambition and execution.
What does Conor Adler do with venture capital and startups in the Midwest?
Conor Adler focuses on building and scaling venture capital opportunities and startups across the Midwest region. He recognizes the untapped potential in smaller markets and rural areas that many overlook, helping entrepreneurs and investors see the value in Midwestern communities beyond traditional coastal tech hubs.
How does the venture capital and startup industry benefit from digital marketing and local SEO?
Startups and VC-backed companies need visibility to attract talent, investors, and customers. Local SEO helps them rank for relevant searches in their markets, Google Ads accelerates lead generation, and strong web presence builds credibility with potential partners and funders-critical for growth in competitive funding landscapes.
How does KillerGrowth help startups and emerging businesses get more clients and visibility online?
KillerGrowth provides local SEO to improve search rankings, Google Ads and Meta Ads for targeted customer acquisition, professional website design for credibility, GoHighLevel CRM to manage leads efficiently, and social media management to build brand awareness. These services work together to attract quality leads and scale revenue.
What makes KillerGrowth different from other digital marketing agencies in Wichita?
KillerGrowth specializes in local service businesses and startups with proven strategies that work in Midwest markets. We combine technical SEO expertise, paid advertising mastery, and CRM automation into one cohesive system. Most agencies dabble in everything-we're laser-focused on results for local businesses that want to dominate their markets.
How can a startup or local business owner get started with KillerGrowth?
Book a free strategy call with Samuel McVay at killergrowth.com/booking. During this call, we'll audit your current online presence, discuss your growth goals, and show you exactly how we can help you get more qualified leads and clients through digital marketing.