Startup Savant
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Meet Ethan, host of Startup Savant, is a business podcast about the stories, challenges, and triumphs of fast-scaling startups and the founders who run them.
https://startupsavant.com/podcast
@startupsavantpodcast
For feedback, interview requests and more, connect with us at podcast@truic.com
Available episodes
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3 days ago
Defying the Corporate Comfort Zone: Andrew Jamison of Extend
#64: In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Andrew Jamison, co-founder of Extend, a platform that enables businesses to issue and manage digital credit cards. Jamison shares his journey from leaving the corporate world of American Express to embarking on entrepreneurship. He recounts his experience implementing solutions for corporate clients in SAP consulting and developing an interest in payments while working at Amex. Jamison explains that the idea for Extend came from identifying a gap in the market for a solution that would capture spend, reconciliation, and expense management, particularly for the middle market. Jamison also touches on the challenges of starting a company, including the need to secure investments from friends and family before reaching out to professional investors.
Extend Links:
* https://www.paywithextend.com/
* https://twitter.com/PayWithExtend
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/paywithextend
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
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May 31, 2023
CEO of SCORE on Making the Most Out of Mentorship
#63. On this episode of Startup Savant Podcast Bridget Weston, CEO of SCORE, shares her insights on business mentorship. SCORE is a nationwide network of over 10,000 volunteers that offers free one-to-one mentorship, workshops, and assistance with business plans to small business owners across the US. Weston discusses the importance of goal-setting, clear communication, and having skin in the game for success. She also explains how SCORE is using AI to better connect small business owners with mentors who meet their needs. The episode highlights SCORE's track record of success in helping start over 30,000 new businesses and add over 82,000 jobs last year.
SCORE Links:
* https://www.score.org/
* https://www.instagram.com/score_mentors/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/score-mentors/
* getstarted@score.org
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
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May 24, 2023
Navigating API Vulnerabilities: Escape's Path to Startup Success
#62: Ethan chats with Tristan Kalos and Antoine Carossio, the co-founders of the cybersecurity startup Escape. The main objective of Escape is to assist companies in developing secure GraphQL applications by identifying and resolving any security concerns in their API. Tristan and Antoine share how they first met and how their unique skills contributed to the development of Escape. The group discusses their research and development process for Escape and how a research paper inspired their algorithm. Tristan and Antoine discuss their successful recruitment strategies and hiring process for engineers. They explain how their early strategic marketing led to a mass of inbound calls and how Escape's continuing technical blogging marketing strategy has succeeded.
Escape Links:
* https://escape.tech/
* https://twitter.com/EscapeTechHQ
* https://discord.gg/G9FEuFuKfd
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapetech/
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
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May 17, 2023
How to Build a Team That Can Take on the World with Linkby
#61: Adrian Fagerlund and Ethan discuss Linkby, a global two-sided marketplace connecting advertisers and premium publishers. They explore Linkby's role in facilitating this relationship and their plans for future expansion. Their conversation also touches on the other co-founders, Chris and Andrew, their roles, and the group dynamic as a team. Adrian gives Ethan a glimpse at Linkby’s unique hiring process.
Mention the Startup Savant podcast for free services on Linkby!
Linkby Links:
* https://linkby.com/
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianfagerlund/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/linkby/
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
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May 10, 2023
From Zero to $8.3 Billion: How Tipalti's Founder Created a Payment Giant
#60: Chen Amit joins Ethan to chat about his fintech startup, Tipalti, a global, scalable, and holistic payables automation system. Chen recalls the process of creating Tipalti and deciding to start as a one-man show. The pair discuss what factors led to Tipalti’s success and growth, how skills from Chen’s former poker career are useful for business, and his evolutions of leadership. Chen also provides valuable insight on handling difficult situations, creating a high-quality team, and knowing when to say no or walk away.
Tipalti Links:
* https://tipalti.com/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/tipalti/
* https://www.instagram.com/tipalti/
* https://twitter.com/tipalti/
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
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May 3, 2023
Unlocking the Potential of Virtual Fashion with Seamm
#59: Marina Martianova joins Ethan to discuss her innovative web3 digital fashion startup, Seamm, a startup that produces virtual replicas of physical fashions to be utilized in the metaverse, in tandem with fashion houses. The pair chat about the future of the metaverse, refining an investor pitch, and building Seamm as a two-sided marketplace.
Seamm Links:
* https://www.seamm.io/
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-martianova-84198810a/
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
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Apr 26, 2023
Finding Your Startup's 'Why' with Andy Choi of Do Good Points
#58: Andy Choi joins the podcast chat about his mission-driven startup and how he found the 'why' behind his company. Andy is the founder of Do Good Points, a nonprofit and tech startup hybrid that offers a rewards system for charitable donations incentivizing people to give back to their communities.
Check out the Cashing Out podcast: https://cashingout.exitwise.com/
In this episode we dive into:
* How Do Good Points leveraged data to create a hyper-targeted customer base
* Why as a founder you should be searching for solutions, not problems
* The value of Effective Altruism
Do Good Points Links:
* https://www.dogoodpoints.com/
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyhchoi/
* Book recommendation: Startup With Why by Simon Sinek
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
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Apr 19, 2023
Nailing Product-Market Fit & Bringing Back the Landline with Community Phone
#57: James Graham joins Ethan to chat about his telecom startup, Community Phone which provides cell and landline service to users all across America. The pair have a riveting conversation about product market fit, the necessity of experimentation, and how you can generate unique startup ideas in order to disrupt the marketplace.
In this episode we dive into:
* The importance of product market fit
* Why James asks himself simple questions and allows himself to be confused
* Community Phone's experience in Y-Combinator
Community Phone Links:
* https://www.communityphone.org/
* https://www.instagram.com/communityphoneco/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/community-phone/
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/wittedhaddock/
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
* https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast
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Apr 12, 2023
Pivoting to Survive: How a Cross-Country Move Saved GigFinesse
#56: Mir Hwang is the CEO and Co-Founder of GigFinesse, a platform that connects music artists with venues to the benefit of both parties. Mir is an NYU alumni who utilized their extensive entrepreneurial support system to build the startup into what it is today.
In this episode we dive into:
* Going from app to desktop due to consumer demand
* The choice to move from New York to Austin during the pandemic
* Leaving medical school to pursue entrepreneurship
GigFinesse Links:
* https://www.gigfinesse.com/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/gigfinesse/
* https://www.instagram.com/gigfinesse/
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
* https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast
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Apr 5, 2023
Combatting Political Divisiveness with Annafi Wahed of The Flip Side
#55: Annafi Wahed joins Ethan to discuss her political newsletter and social media platform, The Flip Side, which uses “equal bias” in order to explore both liberal and conservative perspectives. The pair chat about the polarization of American politics today, cultivating an audience by utilizing incentives as well as self-created luck, and the dire need for balanced discussion in America’s divided political landscape.
In this episode we dive into:
* Annafi's journey from corporate America to politics
* How The Flip Side is actively combatting political divisiveness in the US
* Why creating your own luck is crucial for founders
The Flip Side Links:
* https://www.theflipside.io/
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/annafiwahed/
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
* https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast
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Mar 29, 2023
How to Leverage Influencer Marketing with Jeremy Barnett of Rad AI
#54: Jeremy Barnett sits down with Ethan to discuss his martech startup Rad AI. A startup that utilizes influencers or what Jeremy calls, “key opinion leaders,” and artificial intelligence to assist companies on their marketing journeys. The pair discuss the makings of a strong content marketing strategy, how AI has impacted the martech space, and how to leverage influencer marketing to grow your business.
In this episode we dive into:
* What you need to know about influencer marketing for your business
* What content marketing is and how you should deploy this kind of strategy
* How much you should anticipate spending with a marketing agency
Rad AI Links:
* Jeremy@radintel.ai
* https://www.radintel.ai/
* https://wefunder.com/rad
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Mar 22, 2023
From Wealthfront to Daffy: Adam Nash's Journey From CEO to Founder
#53: Adam Nash is the co-founder and CEO of Daffy. With an extensive background in Silicon Valley, Nash previously served as CEO of Wealthfront, VP at LinkedIn as well as Dropbox, and Director at eBay. In addition to his role at Daffy, he is also an angel investor and board member at companies such as Acorns and Shift.
Visit Daffy.org/AdamNash/invite for a discount at Daffy!
In this episode we dive into:
* How business model influences company culture
* The key differences between founder and leadership roles
* How Adam uses Twitter and blogging to ideate
Daffy Links:
* https://www.daffy.org/
* https://twitter.com/adamnash
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamnash/
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
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Mar 15, 2023
Finding a Market Opportunity and Going For it with Sufian Chowdhury of Kinetik
#52: Founder and CEO, Sufian Chowdhury joins the podcast to discuss his fast growing and essential startup, Kinetik. Committed to serving the underserved, Kinetik is a non-emergency medical platform which connects patients on medicare or medicaid with transportation services. Sufian dives deep into the logistics of Kinetik, including the origins of Kinetik, how he gained his clientele and the funding of his business. He also proves valuable insight into the significance of mentorship, networking, and removing ego from the process of building a business.
In this episode we dive into:
* The fundraising power of being a mission-driven startup
* Why relationship building is crucial for founders
* Kinetik's hiring strategy during economic turmoil
Kinetik Links:
* https://kinetik.care/
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/sufian-chowdhury/
Startup Savant Links:
* https://startupsavant.com/podcast
* https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
* https://twitter.com/StartupSa…
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Mar 8, 2023
Building a Better Freelance Marketplace with Simone May of Clutch
#51: Co-Founder and CTO, Simone May joins the podcast to discuss her innovative digital marketing freelancing platform, Clutch. Clutch connects businesses who need social media marketing and web design support to college student creators who are able to easily keep up with trends and assist clients meet their marketing goals. Simone breaks down the mission of Clutch, the future of the gig economy, how to make a killer survey, and more!
Clutch Links:
- https://www.thatsclutch.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/thatsclutch_com/
Startup Savant Links:
- https://startupsavant.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
- https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast/featured
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Mar 1, 2023
Disrupting a Legacy Industry with David McFarland of Coterie
#50: Ethan is joined by founder and CEO David McFarland to chat about his cutting edge business insurance company, Coterie. Coterie is committed to providing high quality insurance policies for small businesses who may not have been approved by other companies. David discusses his impassioned decision to start Coterie, how the company is funded, the importance of making insurance simple for entrepreneurs and more.
Coterie Links:
https://coterieinsurance.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmcfarland23/
Startup Savant Links:
https://startupsavant.com/
https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/
https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavant
https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast
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Feb 22, 2023
Easing the Burden of Dietary Restrictions With the Co-Founders of Fig
#49: Andrew Hollar and Max Rebarber are co-founders of the startup, Fig. After discovering their own dietary restrictions, they realized the frustration and isolation associated with not knowing what brands of foods they could eat without flaring up symptoms. Dedicated to helping others with the same plight, the pair started Fig. With the help of TikTok and word of mouth, they have grown to over five hundred thousand users in two and a half years.
In this episode we dive into:
* How the co-founders have overcome challenges
* Fig's customer acquisition strategy
* The importance of consumer feedback
Fig Links:
https://foodisgood.com/
https://www.instagram.com/foodisgoodco/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/fig-food-is-good
Startup Savant Links:
https://startupsavant.com/
https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/
https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavant
https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast
Startup Savant Links:
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Feb 15, 2023
Turning Your Passion into a Business: Katina Mountanos of Kosterina
#48: Olive oil enthusiast and startup founder Katina Mountanos sits down with Ethan to discuss her exceptional company, Kosterina. A startup that is dedicated to making quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO for short), the Mediterranean lifestyle, and its associated health benefits accessible to Americans. Kosterina is a lifestyle brand that has gained overwhelmingly positive reviews, leading Whole Foods to reach out to Mountanos for partnership!
In this episode we dive into:
* The power of 'launching what you know'
* Why Katina believe's in rapid prototyping
* The choice to take on venture capital
Kosterina Links:
https://www.kosterina.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kosterina/
Startup Savant Links:
https://startupsavant.com/
https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/
https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavant
https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast
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Feb 8, 2023
Building Your Startup's PR Strategy with Lexington PR
#47: Suki Mulberg Altamirano is the founder and CEO of Lexington Public Relations. She initially began doing PR in the beauty industry at KENZO and Elizabeth Arden, but after a period of burnout, Suki decided to go independent and start her own company. In addition to Lexington PR, Suki is also a partner at PressReady, which works to provide newer companies and startups with the tools they need to craft their brand and begin DIY PR.
In this episode we dive into:
* The importance of PR and how your startup should start telling its story
* Establishing your value proposition and finding your target audience
* How to ensure your outreach messages are being read
Lexington PR Links:
https://lexingtonpr.com/
Startup Savant Links:
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavant
TikTok:…
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Feb 1, 2023
The Fintech Startup Getting Creators Paid: Tony Tran of Lumanu
#46: Tony Tran is the founder and CEO of Lumanu, a company working to build the financial infrastructure needed for our modern day creative economy. Lumanu currently has over 40,000 users and has raised $12 million in their Series A. Tony studied computer science at MIT and initially began working for big name companies like Google, McKinsey, and Booz Allen, but after learning about the difficulties freelancers and creatives face when billing for their work, Tony changed gears and created Lumanu.
In this episode we dive into:
* Why billing can be challenging for freelancers and contractors
* How to make a rejection valuable
* The importance of growing your network and making meaningful connections
Lumanu Links:
https://www.lumanu.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hieumanity/
Startup Savant Links:
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast
Follow…
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Jan 25, 2023
Pivot: The Tech-Driven Solution to Quitting Tobacco with David S. Utley, M.D.
#45: David Utley, M.D. is the founder and CEO of Pivot, a digital health company helping users eliminate their tobacco use. Pivot has raised over $40 million, and David has over 100 published US patents. David is a seasoned entrepreneur and had previously been a founder at BARRX, which raised $70+ million in VC funding before being acquired in 2012. He has also served on the board of numerous startups and continues to engineer new solutions towards improving health outcomes.
In this episode we dive into:
* Establishing partnerships with employers and large companies
* Why you may want to consider hiring an experienced CEO
* The power of innovating a neglected space
___________________________________________________
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast
Follow Startup Savant:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/
* Twitte…
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Jan 18, 2023
FlyFin's AI Tax Revolution With Jaideep Singh
#44: Jaideep Singh is the founder and CEO FlyFin, a VC backed startup helping automate finances for freelancers and business owners. While he initially began working as a software engineer, he later went on to become a founder of various companies and received an MBA from Wharton. One of his first startups, Spock, worked to create a database of over 1 Billion people to help companies find talent. Jaideep is a serial entrepreneur and says the first step for validating a startup idea involves asking whether you are working on a problem you personally care about.
In this episode we dive into:
* Why paying taxes can be a challenge for freelancers and self-employed entrepreneurs
* How to validate if a business idea is worth pursuing
* Getting your product off the ground in the early stages
___________________________________________________
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.you…
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Jan 11, 2023
Is the Future Free? With Josh Cliffords of FreeWater
#43: Josh Cliffords is the founder and CEO of FreeWater, the world’s first free beverage company. Josh has founded numerous companies, but in 2018, he decided to tackle the world’s water crisis and hasn’t looked back. Josh’s ‘negatively-priced’ business model leverages advertising to make goods and services pay for themselves, and while he is currently focused on growing FreeWater, he has plans to continue expanding this business model into new industries.
In this episode we dive into:
* Their ‘negatively-priced’ business model
* Disrupting industry juggernauts
* Developing new skills as a founder
___________________________________________________
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast
Follow Startup Savant
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* Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavant
* TikTok: h…
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Jan 4, 2023
Building Your Entrepreneurial Pain Tolerance: Parker Graham of Finotta
#42: Former NFL player turned entrepreneur Parker Graham joins Ethan to discuss his startup Finotta, which offers banks a digital platform geared towards improving their customers’ financial health. Parker details his journey from a professional athlete to a startup founder. He discusses how his first company’s initial failures shaped his approach to creating Finotta and ultimately raising over $3 million dollars from one of his early customers.
In this episode we dive into:
* Overcoming difficult obstacles as a founder
* Building company culture by establishing values
* The importance of a founder’s pain tolerance threshold
_____________________
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantPodcast
Follow Startup Savant
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/
* Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavant
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https://www.tik…
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Dec 14, 2022
Strategic Growth & The Danger of Vanity Metrics with Kyle York of York IE
#41: Kyle York is the founder and CEO of York IE. Kyle has advised and invested in 100+ startups and is a board member for several companies. Kyle initially began working in EdTech, and after developing an interest in the tech space, he became the CRO at Dyn, a software company that was later acquired by Oracle. In addition to York IE, Kyle is a co-founder of York Real Estate and York Athletics.
In this episode we dive into:
* The difference between York IE and traditional VC firms
* The market in approach
* Defining success for yourself
* Vanity metrics & their impact on startups
________
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
* https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantTRUiC/featured
Follow Startup Savant
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/
* Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavant
* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast
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Dec 7, 2022
The Guide to Being a CEO with Matt Blumberg
#40. Matt Blumberg is the Founder and CEO of Bolster, a company working to help startups scale by pairing them with executive talent and board members. In addition to running Bolster, Matt is the author of _Startup CEO: A field guide to scaling up your business_, and he runs a popular entrepreneurship blog, StartupCEO.com. Matt has worked with many companies throughout the years, and he has continued to write books dedicated to entrepreneurship.
In this episode we dive into:
* What is and isn't the role of a CEO
* How to scale yourself as a leader
* The importance of a balanced board of directors
______
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantTRUiC/featured
Follow Startup Savant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavant
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast
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Nov 30, 2022
What is a Fractional CFO? With Anthony Nitsos
#38: Anthony Nitsos joins Annaka and Ethan to discuss startup Finances. As a fractional CFO, Anthony works with startups to build their financial systems and ensure that they have the correct figures to make informed decisions. Anthony recommends startups put in the work building a strong financial system in their early stages to help facilitate growth and success.
In this episode we dive into:
* The value of hiring a fractional CFO
* Common pitfalls for young startups building their financial systems
* Key areas startups need to focus on during the early stages of their company
______
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantTRUiC/featured
Follow Startup Savant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartupSavant
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast
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Nov 16, 2022
Social Media Advertising in a Post iOS 14.5 World: Proxima
#38: Alex Song is the CEO and founder of Proxima, which helps brands boost their marketing abilities by using big data and Proxima’s AI-powered software. Alex began his career in finance, but eventually he decided to start his own business. He is no stranger to entrepreneurship and has confounded many companies over the years. While Proxima works to help other companies leverage data to improve marketing, Alex initially built Proxima to help solve problems he had been experiencing with his own ventures.
In this episode we dive into:
* Changes in the advertising industry due to iOS 14.5
* The rise of social platforms and how we consume content
* Audience Personas
* How to target your audience in our new digital age
______
Transcripts, episode summaries, and more can be found at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/@StartupSavantTRUiC/featured
Follow Startup Savant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupsavant/…
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Nov 9, 2022
Why Resilience is Crucial to a Startup's Success: Ksenia Yudina of UNest
#37: Ksenia Yudina joins Annaka and Ethan to discuss her journey founding UNest, a fintech app designed to help families invest in their kids’ futures. Ksenia walks us through the problem she saw with traditional options for families, and she shares her story innovating the finance industry, an industry that is often reluctant to change.
In this episode we dive into:
* Innovating an industry
* Using direct feedback to create changes
* Acquiring another company
* Fundraising and the doubt that can accompany a new founder
Read the full episode summary at StartupSavant.com/podcast!
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Nov 2, 2022
Becoming 'Unapologetically Ambitious' with Shellye Archambeau
Shellye Archambeau serves on the boards of Verizon, Nordstrom, Roper Technologies, and Okta. She previously served as the CEO of MetricStream, a software company focused on risk management and compliance. Her book, _Unapologetically Ambitious _was chosen by Fortune magazine as the business book of the year.
In this episode we dive into:
* Analyzing the risk in order to decide if an opportunity is worth pursuing
* Overcoming imposter syndrome
* Finding mentors and establishing connections with mentors
* Why you shouldn't fall in love with your product
Read the full episode notes and summary on Startup Savant!
Buy Shellye's book here.
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Oct 26, 2022
Unconventional Marketing That Pays Off: Three Wishes
Margaret Wishingrad is the CEO and founder of Three Wishes, a high protein, low sugar, grain-free cereal. After struggling to find a healthy cereal for her son, Margaret decided to create her own. Taking on the cereal industry juggernauts is a daunting task, but having had experience running an advertising agency with her husband, Margaret has used her marketing skills to develop a brand and build a following around a product that she is proud of.
In this episode we dive into:
* How to begin creating, testing, and reiterating a product
* Branding 101 and using your brand to build customer relationships
* Growing retail partnerships
* Unorthodox marketing strategies
Read the full episode summary on Startup Savant!
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Oct 19, 2022
Co-Founder of Match.com & BabyQuip on Building Brand Trust
#34. Fran Maier is the CEO and founder of BabyQuip, the "Airbnb of baby rental equipment." Having been a co-founder for Match.com, Fran is no stranger to the startup world. In fact, Fran has been involved in starting numerous enterprises and continues to invest in other startups. Fran encourages founders to differentiate their business from the market and talk with customers in order to establish a successful brand.
In this episode we dive into:
* Why building brand trust is important
* Co-founding Match.com, TrustE, and BabyQuip
* BabyQuip's unique Shark Tank experience
* Fran's tips for navigating your board of directors
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Oct 12, 2022
How to 4x Retail Partnerships: Alex French of Bizzy Coffee
#33: Alex French is the CEO and founder of Bizzy Coffee. Frustrated by the lack of cold brew coffee available in retail stores, Alex got to work developing what would become the #1 best-selling cold brew coffee on Amazon. Alex leveraged his previous experience at General Mills to better understand the beverage market and ultimately scaled his product from an apartment creation to a profitable business venture.
In this episode we dive into:
* How Bizzy Coffee quadrupled their retail partnerships in a year
* The best tactics for securing funding for a CPG company
* Developing a competitive edge in a saturated market
Read the full episode summary at StartupSavant.com/podcast!
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Oct 5, 2022
Tips for Navigating Economic Downturn From Venture Capitalist Andrew Gershfeld
#32: Andrew Gershfeld is a partner at Flint Capital, a VC firm that has invested in big-name companies such as Source, WalkMe, and Flo. Andrew began his entrepreneurial journey in management consulting and eventually led his own startup. Andrew emphasizes the importance of listening and growing empathy while working with startup founders.
In this episode we dive into:
* Andrew’s journey from a scientist to a startup founder and VC investor
* How investors approach economic downturns
* Strategies for preparing for and navigating economic downturn
Read the full podcast summary on Startup Savant.
Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or by email at ag@flintcap.com
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Sep 28, 2022
How to Get a Mortgage as an Entrepreneur with Greg Giniel
Greg Giniel is the founder of Giniel Financial Group, a real estate startup focused on simplifying the mortgage process. Greg joins Annaka and Ethan to talk about his company Giniel Financial Group, a mortgage company that puts people first. Greg explains why it can be difficult to obtain a mortgage if you are a self-employed business owner, and we discuss the importance of establishing your business’s values.
This episode we dive into:
* Mortgages difficulties for self-employed business owners
* Planning for your future financially
* Greg’s life on the road with his business, his wife, their four kids, and their dog
* The importance of establishing your business’s values
For the full episode notes and summary visit Startup Savant and read our guide to the Best Mortgage Lenders for Entrepreneurs.
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Sep 21, 2022
Using Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Change: MPOWERD
#30: John Salzinger and Seungah Jeong join Annaka and Ethan to talk about MPOWERD, a B Corp whose signature product, the solar-powered Luci Light, aims to help create a more sustainable future while providing light to those without access to electricity. John and Seungah share their story building MPOWERD and how to use business as a tool for change.
This episode we dive into:
* The importance Trademarks and patents
* How creating an impact can be a powerful motivator
* Using corporate social responsibility (CSR) to form partnerships
For a full episode summary and transcript, visit startupsavant.com/podcast!
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Sep 14, 2022
The Path to Y Combinator with Juan Andrade of Rebank
#29: Juan Andrade joins Annaka and Ethan to talk about Rebank, a startup-to-startup software company that provides young businesses with the financial operation systems needed to succeed. Juan discusses the importance of trial-and-error marketing and how his own issues at his previous job led him to conceptualize Rebank.
This episode we dive into:
* Finding a target audience and understanding the problem you solve
* Marketing without an experienced marketer
* The benefits of working with an accelerator and Juan’s experience at Y Combinator
For the full episode summary, visit startupsavant.com/podcast!
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Aug 31, 2022
The Direct Tie Between Leadership and Scalability: Alex Iceman of Genium
#28: Alex Iceman is a serial entrepreneur and, most recently, the founder and CEO of Genium, a tech startup that provides solutions for affordable, quality tech hiring on a global scale. Iceman is also an advisor at Hawaii-based accelerator, Blue Startups, and in his spare time works as a hockey referee for the NHL. In this episode we dive into:
* Hiring and vetting developers overseas
* Iceman's 'reverse pyramid' management style
* What hockey has taught Iceman about entrepreneurship
* His role as a startup advisor: what that means and how he got there
Read the full episode summary at https://startupsavant.com/podcast!
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Aug 25, 2022
Finding Zappos' Wow Factor with Dr. Vik
#27 BONUS EPISODE: This week, Annaka and Ethan are joined by Dr. David Vik or 'Doc' to discuss how he helped Zappos find their 'wow factor' and his top advice for startups looking to establish their competitive edge. Doc is a former chiropractor turned startup advisor, investor, and expert known most prominently for his role in the success of Zappos.
In this special episode we dive into:
* How Doc helped Zappos find their 'wow-factor'
* How your startup can find it's winning strategy
* The flywheel and its importance in startup marketing
* The main takeaways from his book, The Culture Secret
Read the full episode notes at startupsavant.com/podcast
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Aug 24, 2022
Nook Co-Founders on Why You Shouldn't Be Afraid to Pivot
#26: Chadwick Carlson and Marc Gingras join Annaka and Ethan to talk about Nook, a software company working to give users better agency over their scheduling through their calendar tool. Their first product, Nook Calendar, was Product Hunt’s #1 Product of the Day. Chad and Marc walk us through their decision to pivot their business, their philosophy for merging innovation with familiarity, and the importance of building strong teams that can succeed.
This episode we dive into:
* Learning to pivot and navigate a changing environment
* Success on Product Hunt
* The importance of building a great team and why CEOs should see themselves as a head coach
Join Nook's waitlist and let them know you heard them on the podcast to get bumped to the top of the list at support@getnook.app. Read the full episode summary at startupsavant.com/podcast
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Aug 17, 2022
Smart Money & Using Data to Tackle Alzheimer's: Luis Valente of iLof
Luís Valente is the CEO and founder of iLof, a health tech startup using photonic and AI to gather biological data that will be used to improve clinical trials and drug discovery. Luís has an engineering background and prior to iLof he founded a computer hardware manufacturing company.
This episode we dive into:
* How they are using data to help companies develop treatments for illnesses such as Alzheimer's
* Building strong co-founder relationships
* What Luis calls "smart money" and choosing the right investors
* Iterating startup ideas and building your network
Full episode notes at: https://startupsavant.com/podcast
Connect with us on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @startupsavant
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Aug 10, 2022
Disrupting the Rideshare Industry with Joshua Sear of Empower
Joshua Sear is the CEO and founder of Empower, a software platform that targets drivers as their primary customer, taking on the rideshare giants Uber and Lyft.
In this episode we dive into:
* How Joshua created Empower
* What sets this SaaS startup apart from Uber and Lyft
* Innovating an established business model and disrupting an industry
* Finding unorthodox ways to connect and appeal to your target market
Read the full episode summary and notes on https://startupsavant.com/startup-savants-podcast/episodes/empower
Connect with us on social (@startupsavant) on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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Aug 3, 2022
How to Build a Business With Staying Power: Andrew Hoag of Teampay
Andrew Hoag is the CEO and founder of Teampay, a startup working to simplify businesses’ financial processes. Andrew began his career working for the National Science Foundation Internet, and he later went on to work at NASA. Following his time at NASA, Andrew started numerous ventures. Today, he serves as an angel investor for startups and has raised over $21 Million for Teampay.
Teampay links:
https://www.teampay.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-labs-inc./Episode Notes
How Andrew’s own experience and observations led him to create Teampay [1:16]
Getting energized to create [3:45]
What does Teampay do? [5:01]
Acquiring your first customers, using your network, and finding an ideal market [6:20]
Constantly changing your messaging and harnessing the power of second and third degree connections to find customers [8:50]
“If you aren’t explicit about the culture, the culture will form itself” [12:28]
Navigating remote work and building company culture across te…
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Jul 27, 2022
The Entrepreneur Mindset with Troy Bannister of Particle Health
Troy Bannister is the CEO and founder of Particle Health, a startup working to revolutionize data sharing across the healthcare industry. Troy’s experience with patient care began while working as an EMT. He considered pursuing a career in medicine but ultimately went on to work in the healthcare VC space. Troy’s experience within the healthcare industry showed him the difficulties associated with trying to transfer patient data from one healthcare system to another, and he ultimately decided to create Particle Health in order to innovate the digital healthcare space.Episode Notes
From working as an EMT to finding a niche within the virtual health industry [1:10]
The problem: Why can’t we easily get medical records from one doctor to another? [3:34]
Developing an API that connects hospital systems and allows data to be easily shared [6:06]
How Troy quit his job without a plan [7:18]
Learning how to jump into the unknown [9:28]
Working to understand industry laws and researc…
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Jul 20, 2022
Entrepreneurship on Her Own Terms: Alisa Pospekhova of Kindroot
Alisa Pospekhova is the CEO and founder of Kindroot, a supplement company fusing the benefits of herbs into a lozenges that taste like candy. Alisa has a background in global brand marketing, and she used her marketing skills to develop the vision for her company. Alisa always wanted to start her own company, and she developed Kindroot to revamp the lozenges industry, an industry that has seen relatively few changes in the past. When she struggled to find partners willing to manufacture her product, she brought her vision to life and manufactured it herself.Episode Notes
Alisa’s story traveling and the inception of Kindroot [1:08]
What are Adaptogens? [4:30]
After hearing “No” numerous times, Alisa decided to make her own product and launch it herself using a commercial kitchen [6:35]
Staying organized, scheduling activities, and being hyper focused allow Alisa to run her business while still working a traditional nine-to-five job [11:19]
Making the leap to working on your s…
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Jul 13, 2022
Building an Epic Company Culture With James Avery of Kevel
James Avery is the founder and CEO of Kevel, which helps users launch their own custom ad platforms. After working as a consultant, James saw an opportunity to build a platform that helps businesses take control over their advertisements. Although it began as a side project, Kevel now works with brands such as Klarna, Ticketmaster, and Yelp.
Episode Notes
From consulting to building a software focused on advertising [1:02]
Creating the systems needed to allow a company to thrive and prosper in the digital age [3:15]
The mindset required to construct a sustainable, growing company [6:40]
James’s story securing Kevel’s first big client [9:42]
Kevel’s decision to transition to remote teams [14:31]
Building a positive work environment and cultivating company culture while remote [20:44]
Kevel’s approach to advertising — keep it reasonable, seamless, and useful [25:28]
The shifts in the advertisement industry and the importance of targeting [27:53]
Jame’s advice for bu…
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Jun 29, 2022
Raising Venture Capital 101 with Jules Miller of Mindset Ventures
Jules Miller is a partner at Mindset Ventures, an international venture capital firm that invests in early-stage enterprise software companies. Prior to working in venture capital, Jules also founded her own company and worked at a variety of startups. She has an extensive background in blockchain and has been in the venture capital space for quite some time.
Full Show NotesEpisode Notes
From founder to venture capitalist [1:12]
Angel investors vs venture capitalists … what's the difference? [3:38]
Why did Jules decide to become a VC investor after creating her own startups? [4:18]
Funding a diverse group of founders and working to create change in the VC industry [6:01]
Growth and people — the two most important qualities Jules focuses on when funding projects [8:03]
Venture capitalists focus on different business stages and each developmental stage of a startup carries different levels of risks [10:48]
If you are not planning to grow 200% to 300% a year, reconsider seekin…
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Jun 22, 2022
What is an Anti-CRM? with Reuben Swartz of Mimiran
Reuben Swartz is the founder and CEO of Mimiran, a CRM (customer relationship manager) specifically designed for solo consultants. Reuben worked as a consultant himself and wanted a tool for managing clients. Although these tools were abundant for large enterprises, he could not find a tool that met his needs and was made for a one-man team. So, Reuben built the tool himself and created Mimiran. Episode Notes
Reuben’s story creating his own business [1:00]
“There's a right tool for the right situation” so you don’t need to compete with the multimillion dollar companies [3:31]
The power of being authentic rather than mimicking other successful companies in the industry. Focus on helping others rather than selling [5:40]
What is a CRM? [8:48]
Reuben’s anti-CRM is a tool entrepreneurs can use to easily track and manage sales and marketing information [12:10]
Situate yourself in the market so that you can dominate a particular niche [18:45]
If there isn’t a tool out ther…
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Jun 15, 2022
The Importance of Focus with Devon Copley of Avatour
Devon Copley is the founder and CEO of Avatour, a company working to share real places in real time without the need for travel. While at Nokia, Devon worked on a similar product bringing VR technology to cameras. However, Nokia ended up scrapping the project and making cuts to the team. Devon, having had experience working at a variety of startups, chose to continue pursuing his vision for VR technology and created Avatour.Episode Notes
Finding the right cofounder to partner with can be essential to success [4:11]
A clear division of responsibilities is key to an effective partnership [10:15]
From prototyping a VR product to building a business [13:22]
VR and spacial communicators allow Avatour users to feel like they are physically present in the space, which can be useful for audits and inspections [16:47]
Listening to customers to better understand feedback and uncover use cases. Avatour’s main use cases include presenting “show” and investigating “look” [21:31]
Wor…
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Jun 8, 2022
Body Language is a Business Tool with Rachel Cossar of Virtual Sapiens
Rachel Cossar is the CEO and founder of Virtual Sapiens, a SaaS platform that serves as a communication coach helping customers better use nonverbal communication techniques. Rachel previously worked as a professional rhythmic gymnast before becoming a professional dancer. While working as a ballerina, Rachel sustained an injury that forced her to give up dancing and find a new path. She later used the skills she learned as an athlete and dancer to create Virtual Sapiens.
Learn more about Virtual Sapiens and watch Rachel's Ted Talk on Reinvention.Episode Notes
From athlete to business owner, how Rachel found her current path [2:10]
Wielding the power of physicality to promote communication [3:48]
Implementing AI technology to scale and maintain quality over a virtual format [8:00]
Changing the model of coaching “we’ll come to you!” [10:32]
From a virtual perspective, having good lighting, good posture, and a neat room is important for showing body language and posture [18:0…
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May 25, 2022
Entrepreneurship Rooted in Empathy with Courtney Werner of KOYA
Courtney Werner is the CMO and founder of KOYA Innovations, which allows users to send gifts and messages to friends and family from anywhere. Growing up, Courtney’s dad owned his own business, so when he said he wanted to start a family business, Courtney, and the rest of the family, could not say no. Courtney has an extensive background in marketing and spent many years working abroad in the nonprofit sector. She has been involved in the startup sphere for quite some time and is an advocate for creating a more meaningfully connected world.
Follow Startup Savant on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Episode Notes
The origin of KOYA [1:11]
KOYA hopes to help others connect via “a personal message with a gift” [3:18]
Organizing a family and friends funding round then bootstrapping to remain self sustained [6:30]
Transitioning from a B2C (business to consumer) model to a B2B (business to business) model in order to build steady revenue [9:10]
Funding is a partnership, and mone…
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May 18, 2022
Say Goodbye to Debt Shame with the Co-Founders of Debbie
Frida Leibowitz and Rachel Lauren are the founders of Debbie, a platform working to help users create a path towards debt freedom. Frida previously worked in credit risk and product development at Marcus by Goldman Sachs. Rachel formerly worked as a VC at BDMI. Both thought there needed to be better systems in place to help educate consumers about their debt and how to pay off debt. Together, along with their third cofounder Maxime, they have created an entirely remote team striving to fix the debt cycle that plagues far too many people.
Follow Startup Savant on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and check out our founder series on YouTube!Episode Notes
The American debt cycle affects 40% of families [1:35]
Frida’s experience navigating debt and finding a path towards debt freedom [3:20]
Analyzing the debt payoff market and creating new ways to combat a recurring problem [6:10]
Prioritizing consumers rather than spreadsheet models — we do not always make rational financial choices…
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May 11, 2022
Evan Buist of Melodie: Your Startup's Secret Weapon? Building Relationships
Evan Buist is the founder and CEO of Melodie Music, a copyright-safe music licensing platform and publisher. Evan initially began his career working as an audio engineer. However, he found the music licensing industry to be difficult and confusing and created a platform to help bridge the gap between music artists and the entities that purchase the rights to their music. After some pivots as well as trial and error Melodie was created. The music licensing platform and publisher continues to grow and has worked with industry titans such as National Geographic, Fox Sports, and Nickelodeon.
Check out our Dundas Life founder stories video on Startup Savant's YouTube Channel and follow Startup Savant on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Episode Notes
Evan’s background in music and how his previous company sparked his desire to create Melodie Music [0:20]
Music licensing is an archaic industry and Melodie works to create something intuitive and beneficial to musicians and content creato…
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May 4, 2022
How Can We Make Insurance More Human? With Gregory Rozdeba of Dundas Life
Greg Rozdeba is the founder and CEO of Dundas Life, an insurance company that is bringing empathy and tech to an industry that has remained relatively stagnant. Greg walks us through the process of going all in and finding ways to scale and fund a growing business. Additionally Greg provides his insights on how to market for a new company, how to build your first batch of clients, and how he used his skills from working in the service industry to revolutionize the insurance industry.
Check out our Dundas Life founder stories video on Startup Savant's YouTube Channel and follow Startup Savant on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Episode Notes
Life insurance online — How Greg is using tech to disrupt the insurance industry [2:20]
Putting empathy into work to improve service and build relationships [4:45]
A ubiquitous process that has not seen much change in the last few years [8:28]
COVID-19 sparked Greg’s transition to working full time for Dundas Life [15:20]
Getting to the…
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Apr 27, 2022
How a Year-Old Startup Secured $124M in Funding: Christine de Wendel of Sunday
Christine de Wendel is the founder and CEO of Sunday, which uses QR-code technology to improve the payment process at restaurants while helping generate more revenue and tips. Within Sunday's first year as a company, they’ve raised $124 Million and currently operate across five different countries. Christine previously had experience scaling various startups and has leveraged that experience to help lead the Sunday team to astronomical growth. Episode Notes
How restaurant norm changes during COVID-19 led to Sunday’s conception [1:54]
Obtaining $124 million across two rounds of funding [6:08]
Acquiring competitors to combine forces and grow quickly [10:10]
Why Atlanta? Christine de Wendel’s decision to return home and join Atlanta’s thriving tech scene [11:55]
Running a global startup — the benefits and the difficulties that come from working across borders and using four different languages [14:18]
Adapting Sunday to fit each market’s tipping culture [17:38]
Over-inv…
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Apr 20, 2022
Kaylin Marcotte of JIGGY: The Puzzle Startup Empowering Female Artists
Kaylin Marcotte is the founder and CEO of JIGGY, a company at the intersection of jigsaw puzzles and artwork. While working as the first employee at theSkimm, a digital media company focused on bringing information to audiences in bite-size pieces, Kaylin discovered a passion for Jigsaw puzzles. She later combined her startup experience with her love of jigsaw puzzles to create JIGGY. JIGGY’s designs highlight the work of female artists, and their puzzles can be found in various retailers across the country.
Visit JIGGY at https://jiggypuzzles.com/
Episode Notes
“What would it look like if I made my dream puzzle?” How Kaylin began turning artwork into puzzle designs [0:20]
Initial hurdles and learning how to navigate the supply chain, manufacturing, and customer service [4:30]
Using the product’s packaging to make puzzles a premium lifestyle product [8:42]
Leading with community — how JIGGY tapped into the art community and began to build partnerships that support artis…
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Apr 13, 2022
Turning an iPhone Into an AR-Powered Foot Scanner with Artem Semjanow of Neatsy
Artem Semjanow is the founder and CEO of Neatsy, a B2B company that helps customers find their ideal shoe size using their smartphone’s camera. Artem previously led a machine learning team at Prisma Labs. This experience along with his background in economics empowered him to create Neatsy and change the future of online footwear retail.Episode Notes
How flat feet lead Artem and his brother to develop Neatsy [0:30]
The process of trying various business models before ultimately choosing a B2B (business to business) model [5:28]
Neatsy’s first major hurdle — finding tech precise enough to actually measure foot size [9:50]
Entrepreneurship can involve lots of trial and error, and Neatsy had numerous iterations while attempting to measure a shoe when its shape changes once its slipped onto a foot [14:32]
Using the Mom Test to take something that is difficult and complex and turn it into an easy-to-use product for everyone [17:02]
Using Neatsy’s tech to help people identify p…
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Apr 6, 2022
The Future of Blockchain, NFTs, and Angel Investment with Joe Roets of Dragonchain
Joe Roets is the founder and CEO of Dragonchain, a blockchain-as-a-service provider that works with companies to tackle problems using blockchain technology. A self-proclaimed software guy, Joe has been in the tech space for quite some time and has led multiple ventures. His company Dragonchain originated within The Walt Disney Company and now operates as an independent entity that plans to help the world take advantage of the benefits blockchain has to offer. Episode Notes
Jumping through hoops to get approval for an open-source project [7:00]
Quantifying behavior and building an objective historical record using blockchain [8:30]
The applications of using blockchain to create a living historical record [13:55]
Engineer speech and lawyer lingo: the importance of communicating technical concepts across various teams [24:10]
What are the roadblocks to adopting blockchain? [29:50]
Bitcoin’s creation and the creation of scarcity and value from software [35:20]
How will blockchain…
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Mar 23, 2022
Accessible Justice with Sonja Ebron of Courtroom5
Sonja Ebron is the founder and CEO of Courtroom5, a SaaS startup that assists users trying to navigate the legal system. Having started two other companies prior to Courtroom5, Sonja is not new to the startup sphere. Sonja’s own personal experience in court propelled her to create a product that strives to increase access to justice. Although she is not a lawyer herself, Sonja has a PhD in electrical engineering and draws on her academic and engineering background to develop the tools needed to help others tackle the complexities of the legal system.
Connect with Courtroom5 on social media:
Twitter
Instagram
Who is Sonja Ebron, and why did she start Courtroom5? [0:30]
The difficulty of navigating the legal system — how Sonja’s personal experience dealing with the courts prompted her to create a legal-tech startup [2:30]
What does access to justice mean to Sonja Ebron? [5:30]
Sonja’s prediction for the future — if people cannot afford to pay for legal services, they wil…
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Mar 16, 2022
Telling an Authentic Sustainability Story with Jamie McCroskery of Bluebird Climate
Jamie walks us through the importance of sustainability for businesses, the process of creating brand authority, building a dynamic team based on shared values, and balancing the needs of various stakeholders.
Jamie McCroskery is the founder and CEO of Bluebird Climate, a company striving to improve corporate sustainability efforts while quantifying a product’s environmental impact. Prior to launching Bluebird Climate, Jamie worked as a Product Manager at Glossier and Dropbox. Jamie credits his corporate experience with teaching him how to develop a product and assemble an all-star team.
Who is Jamie McCroskery, and why did he start his startup Bluebird Climate? [0:30]
Glass vs Plastic? The best way to be sustainable varies and often depends on a company’s specific needs as well as their own supply chain [3:08]
What is Bluebird Climate, and how do you help businesses improve sustainability? [4:02]
The two most important metrics for sustainability — carbon emissions and circu…
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Mar 9, 2022
The Power of Backing Yourself with Steven Edwards of Premier Virtual
Steve Edwards is the founder and CEO of Premier Virtual, a virtual platform where recruiters can host online job fairs from the comfort of their own home. A self-proclaimed sales guy, Steve worked various roles in the sales industry and moved his way up to a VP of sales before starting Premiere Virtual. Steve is also a veteran and credits the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division with developing his discipline and his approach to leadership.Episode Notes
Who is Steve Edwards, and how did he start Premiere Virtual? [1:02]
Transitioning to an entirely-virtual environment and the benefits of virtual recruiting [5:22]
How does a platform differentiate itself from other platforms? Developing ways to tackle problems is key to creating something that is both unique and useful [7:40]
Improving user experience by actively seeking out user feedback and continuing to evolve your product [13:33]
A founder’s nightmare — building a tech platform as a non-technical founder [18:33]
Steve’s advic…
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Mar 2, 2022
The Ins and Outs of a Family-Run Startup with DogLog
Lynn Marks and Gideon Marks, a daughter-father duo, join Annaka and Ethan to share their story building DogLog, a family-run startup that allows users to log their dog’s activity and daily health data with their smartphone. Lynn recalls how her family’s own struggles lead them to develop the app which now has 100,000+ downloads. Lynn and Gideon walk us through the process of starting a company with your family, building organic customers, bootstrap funding, and finding a way to monetize your product.
Lynn Marks is the President and Co-founder of DogLog, a data-centric app that helps pet owners track their dog’s daily activities and health information. Gideon Marks is a serial entrepreneur who has mentored and launched numerous startups throughout his career. Lynn combined her background in project management with her fathers’s entrepreneurship experience and her brother’s software background to build Doglog and empower users to log their pet’s data in order to better manag…
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Feb 23, 2022
Combatting Stress Culture with Sol Broady of Leilo
Sol walks us through the R&D process of creating his beverage and how he forged partnerships to grow and expand his relaxation brand, Leilo.
Sol Broady is the founder and CEO of Leilo, a non-alcoholic relaxation beverage. Sol created his company while obtaining his undergraduate degree at Columbia University and leveraged the university community to build his team and launch his relaxation brand.
Leilo Links:
https://www.leilo.com/
https://www.instagram.com/drinkleilo/
https://twitter.com/drinkleilo
Time Stamps:
Who is Sol Broady, and how did he get the idea for his relaxation beverage Leilo? [0:51]
What is kava? [2:20]
How Red Bull defined the energy drink market and what this means for a relaxation drink [8:10]
Bitter taste and difficult to produce — the hurdles of developing a kava beverage [13:01]
Getting students to test a not-always-tasty prototype and the initial steps of R&D [15:10]
Building intrinsic motivation and believing in your vision [20:38]
From horchata…
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Feb 16, 2022
Startup Success as a Non-Technical Founder with Lizia Santos of Citycatt
Lizia Santos is the founder and CEO of CityCatt, a platform that helps travelers discover authentic experiences through the help of local guides (known as catts). Lizia previously worked as a journalist and used her research skills, along with her family’s experience in the hospitality industry, to create Citycatt and build a world-wide community of influencers that are ready to help travelers explore.
Become a Catt or book a trip on https://www.citycatt.com/
Time Stamps
Who is Lizia Santos, and why did she start her travel-focused company Citycatts? [1:00]
Finding authentic, unique, and family-friendly things to do while traveling is a problem [4:10]
What are catts? Building a community of local guides for travelers [7:27]
Validating a business model and learning to pivot in order to overcome early challenges [11:37]
Focus on solving the problem, and be open to exploring various solutions [15:00]
Finding experts, and building a good team that can cover your bases [16:23]
Se…
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Feb 9, 2022
Sabrina Noorani of ClearForMe on Changing Your Mindset
Sabrina Noorani is the founder and CEO of ClearForMe, a SaaS (software as a service) company that helps customers learn about the ingredients that are in their cosmetic products. Before starting ClearForMe, Noorani worked as the only female derivatives trader at NYSE, and she leveraged her expertise working with data to create her company that now partners with big-name beauty brands like Ulta and Credo Beauty.
During our interview, Sabrina shares some advice for other entrepreneurs looking to turn their ideas into an impact.
Learn more about ClearForMe at https://clearforme.com/
Time Stamps:
Who is Sabrina Noorani, and why did she start her data-driven company ClearForMe? [0:24]
The problem with ingredient transparency in the beauty industry [1:21]
How did you validate your idea to the wider market? [5:40]
Finding ClearForMe’s first paying customer at Credo Beauty [7:49]
A mindset shift: prioritizing a goal in order to make tangible progress [9:30]
What is API, and how does…
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Feb 1, 2022
Introducing Startup Savants
Get more exciting entrepreneur content and podcast exclusives on StartupSavant.com.
Watch Startup Savant founder interviews on YouTube and follow us on social:
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LinkedIn
Or, for small business resources, tools, and guides visit HowtoStartanLLC.com.
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