Stay ConnectedHow to turn nothing into something. Two startup founders interview successful entrepreneurs from around the world to find out what it takes to start with nothing and build a fire 🔥
(Formerly called the WeStrive Podcast: Episodes #1-#70)
Hosted by:
Cory McKane | CEO – WeStriveApp.com
Farhaj Mayan | CEO – HireKanna.com
Carl is one of the brightest engineers there is and he's been building a game-changer of a product that's going to reflect just how talented he is. Carl & his team are representing the good 'ol US of A in the launch of the new Formula One Electric Air Race! It's going to be the world's first electric air race and Carl's team is the only team competing for the USA.
The electric motor he built will be powering the USA plane and in the podcast, we have the breaking news on who the pilot will be.
Make sure you tune in to hear the announcement, hear more about this amazing new racing league, and to learn about how Carl got to where he is today.
Farhaj and I hope you enjoy the episode!
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Angel investor, startup mentor, and now founder himself - Paul Yacoubian has done basically everything in the startup world at this point. After gaining access to a powerful AI (artificial intelligence) software, GPT-3, Paul and his Co-founder Chris decided they wanted to do something powerful with it.
They set out to make the world's greatest copy-generator and they have done just that. Personally, Farhaj and I use Copy.ai at least once a week for our own companies. It's a mind-blowing software and you should definitely check it out after listening to the episode.
Farhaj and I hope you enjoy the episode!
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Yash Santani & Puneet Chadha are the founders of aevus.ai and they are absolutely changing the world. They are both Johns Hopkins grads who are actively trying to improve the lives of diabetics around the world.
"We are building an AI-powered prescription guidance platform for treating Type-2 diabetes - Precision Rx. All it does is give a doctor a second pair of clinical eyes"
They discovered that health systems have been accumulating health data for 30+ years and it basically just sits there. Now, they are taking that data to help doctors more accurately prescribe drugs and they are well on their way to having a live product. They already have access to millions of data points and their team is chalk-full of some of the world's smartest people.
Farhaj and I hope you enjoy the episode!
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Martin Lien has one of the coolest startup stories out there. His story begins in Norway, where he was born and raised...and then he ends up attending the University of Oklahoma (just a bit of a culture shock, no?). After college he found himself working at a company and noticed a problem. The solution to this problem would end up becoming Respond Flow. He was trying to help grow the company through texting and he just couldn't find a single solution that would help him send mass texts to customers.
Going with the, "I can't be the only one having this problem" approach, he set off to build the company that he has today. Throughout the episode, we break down specific concepts like the change in day-to-day tasks (from when he was the only employee to now managing 20+), how to split equity with co-founders early on, fundraising during Covid-19, and so much more!
Farhaj and I hope you enjoy the episode!
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Greg Hallman is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and he's also an extremely successful entrepreneur. A few years ago, he wanted to get into the OKC Thunder Startup accelerator, Stitch Crew, (the same accelerator Farhaj & I have done) but he didn't have a company. He went through his list of company ideas and Ocupath was born.
After a lot of hard work, his company was able to win multiple grants, one of them being a $1 million contract with the US Navy...so awesome! Ocupath is a VR product for Corporate Training. They are, "REDEFINING THE WAY WE TRAIN, RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE NEXT-GEN WORKFORCE.".
Throughout the podcast, Greg breaks down what an SBIR loan is, we go into his side business Crudoolandia, and we cover everything you need to know about the VR world.
I personally learned about 20 things this episode so I hope you enjoy it!
Be sure to check out Ocupath.com
Greg and his wife also own a restaurant chain in OKC called Crudoolandia
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Jordan Walker has been successful in the startup world for a while now. Yac started with an idea and a very successful ProductHunt campaign. After getting thousands of companies on their waitlist, Jordan and his team knew they were onto something big.
Yac is voice messaging for teams and, personally, I’m a huge fan. You can only text so much to your team members and phone calls are mostly unnecessary. Being able to send a quick voice message whenever you want to speak your mind is exactly what the world needs.
Their team has already raised millions of dollars and landed some top-level partnerships with companies the likes of Slack. I hope you enjoy the episode and leave 5-stars if you can 💪
Check them out here: yac.com
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Vincent Dorrian never expected to be the co-founder of a company that exited for $350 Million. When his business partner approached him with the idea for EcoAtm in the early 2000's, the future success was something he could have only dreamed of.
EcoAtm is a company that provides a kiosk that allows you to exchange your old cell phones for cash. Over the past 10+ years they've collected/recycled over 25 million phones and they exited to the parent company of RedBox several years ago.
Throughout the episode, Vincent emphasizes the importance of IP, setting a roadmap, and what it takes to have a $350M exit.
Check them out here: ecoatm.com
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Garrett Scott and his co-founder gave his company the name Pipedream because what they're trying to accomplish sounds just like that...like a dream. Their goal within the next several years is to take advantage of the tunnel systems in cities to deliver goods, supplies, etc. to homes through underground tubes. I'll let Garrett's website blurb explain:
"Pipedream is a network of underground tubes that offers near-instantaneous delivery of objects to and from homes and businesses." BOOM! They are going to shape the future of delivery and we couldn't be happier to have him on our show. Enjoy!
"Someday we'll be able to ship things with teleportation. Until then we'll use Pipedream." - Garrett Scott
Follow his journey here: pipedreamlabs.co
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
I first heard about Adelle while watching Shark Tank years ago. Despite the bright spotlight of being on national television (and having millionaires yell at you), she remained composed and very well-spoken. They even landed a deal with Mark Cuban! Now, years later, their company is growing even faster than they were before and they also just raised a massive funding round!
At Eterneva, they help with your grieving process by turning the ashes of your lost loved ones into diamonds. Adelle and her team do an incredible job of helping individuals through such a terrible event in one's life. Throughout the episode we go through what it took for her to get to where she is today, how the idea started, her experience on Shark Tank, and so much more.
Receive a free Welcome Kit with the code BUILDINGFIRES at checkout at eterneva.com
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Russ Wilde and his business partner started working on a simple sports blog years ago...they never could have imagined what it would become. Most people write a few posts and then quit. Only a few can stick around creating quality content for years and years until they finally find their big break.
After multiple funding rounds, countless staff hires, and 1000's of articles, Front Office Sports is now one of the most successful sports news platforms on the planet. Their articles reach massive news networks on a daily basis and are read by millions. Join us as we dive into Russell's story on how he & his business partner grew Front Office Sports to what it is today.
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Nathan Butorac is a true entrepreneur down to his core. He started his entrepreneurship journey at just three years old and he hasn't stopped since. After working in several startups, he decided to get one going himself. He's run Better Than a Letter (Parent company) for a few years now and underneath that is his flourishing company, Piñatagrams.
If we skip past all the struggles of a typical early-stage entrepreneur, we'll end up with Piñatagrams absolutely blowing up in sales this past March. As soon as the pandemic began, Nathan took a shot with some incredible creatives & Facebook ads...and wow did it pay off. Throughout the podcast, we'll touch on Nathan's business life, how he grew his company, and where he sees his company getting to over the next year.
https://www.pinatagrams.com/
https://www.betterthanaletter.com/
This is the 2nd time that Nathan has been interviewed on our Podcast (Episode #31).
Nathan started off his entrepreneurship journey by selling things online. It started with re-selling college textbooks and led to selling millions of dollars on Ebay. After that, he ran one of the best Freelancer businesses on the planet, Freeeup.com. The best part? He ran his freelancer business...with freelancers. Since Episode 31 was recorded, Nathan has actually sold Freeeup and now runs Outsource school (congrats Nathan).
Nathan Hirsch also founded Ecombalance.com a monthly bookkeeping service for Ecommerce Sellers and Agencies
Throughout the podcast, he takes us through how he got to where he is today, how he ran such a massive freelancer company, and what his life looks like now as he seeks to expand Outsource School.
Outsource School Links;
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outsourceschool1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsourceschool
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/SchoolOutsource
OutsourceSchool: https://www.outsourceschool.com
Email: support@outsourceschool.com
Personal Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathan.hirsch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeeUpNathanHirsch
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/realnatehirsch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhirsch/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realnatehirsch/
First Episode: https://anchor.fm/buildingfires/episodes/31-CEO-FreeeUp-com--Nathan-Hirsch-e4nc2s
This week we had the privilege of interviewing Ara Ghougassian with usefluent.co. His website is beautiful and the product itself is even better. Every language platform on the planet focuses on teaching you a new language by using the same, worn-out methods. With Fluent, you're constantly learning words that you actually care about and want to use for your daily life.
They are currently available in French as a Chrome Extension and plan on expanding to other languages in the near future. Ara did an incredible job of seeing a problem and then solving it. Throughout the podcast, we discuss his experience in the startup world, what it's like growing a language platform, and so much more. Enjoy!
Brian Leonard was the first employee and Co-founder of a company you’ve definitely heard of…Task Rabbit. He and his Co-founder basically pioneered the ‘task’ or ‘local freelance’ market.
By definition, “TaskRabbit is an American online and mobile marketplace that matches freelance labor with local demand, allowing consumers to find immediate help with everyday tasks, including cleaning, moving, delivery and handyman work”.
After years of success and growth, their team had a successful exit and Brian has since moved on to build his own company, Grouparoo. Grouparoo is an open source data infrastructure to keep customer data in-sync between your data warehouse and 3rd party tools. Essentially, it’s an amazing tool that helps teams work & communicate much better together.
Farhaj & I are so excited to have Brian on the show and we hope you enjoy the episode.
Dr. Eric Cole is one of the "OG's" in Cyber Security. After raising his hand in a CIA meeting 25+ years ago asking the simple question, "How do we know if these systems are defensible", his life was changed forever.
Eric was one of the first hackers at the CIA and spent his life figuring out how to make our country's online defenses more defensive. He's worked as a 'cyber bodyguard' for the likes of Bill Gates, The Obama Administration, and so many more. Listen in to hear about how the face of Cyber Security has changed over the years and to learn just what it takes to become a cyber security expert.
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Shrevan started off his career as a Sound Engineer in the UK. After going through a tough situation where his years of working as a Sound Engineer were considered 'invalid', he decided to do something about it. That's when he created Work Simplr.
"Work Simplr is a virtual co-working platform for students, businesses, and professionals to network and collaborate with each other. We aim to create a centralized and professional gig working economy that is fuelled by local communities."
Throughout the episode, we do a deep dive into the growing pains of a startup and what it's like working in the startup world while dealing with immigration.
Be sure to Subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Yoann Bohbot is the founder of dots SPACE, a higher-end co-working space that operates in Beverly Hills and Culver City, California (Los Angeles area). Early in his career, he was a critical piece of an IT company whose biggest clients included Honda, Adobe, Nestle, as well as several high profile real estate companies, doctors, lawyers, celebrities such as Seal, the Fugees, Lindsay Lohan, and more.
He later managed the e-commerce department for Christian Audigier, a French fashion designer known for the Ed Hardy and Von Dutch clothing lines. There, he directed 40 people including purchasing, marketing, and logistics. The company had 100M in wholesale revenues, and only had 1M in online sales. In his first 3 months after joining Christian Audigier, he tripled its online sales to $3M.
Throughout the episode we talk about what it takes to start a co-working space, what sets his apart, and so much more.
Be sure to subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Hirbod is the CEO and founder of Surfboard, a geo-location app platform that allows you to explore your community. In this episode, we talk about his experience immigrating to America as a young adult who barely knew how to speak English, what got him into the startup scene in college, and the state of diversity in venture capital today.
Be sure to subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Dillon Breslin is the CEO of Round2, an AI-powered sporting goods platform connecting youth athletes to affordable gear and equipment. Previously, he spent 6 years doing B2B sales at prominent startups in the NY tech scene. He was inspired to launch Round2 after being snubbed on OfferUp during a trade of Jordan 11's.
Be sure to subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
Farhaj and I want to welcome you to the brand new Building Fires Podcast (originally called WeStrive). For our first episode, we have the incredible Steve Young.
Steve is the CEO of AppMasters.com and he is just that...an App MASTER. Steve knows everything there is to know about the app store, ASO, getting featured, and tons of hidden tips/tricks. Throughout the episode, we cover his early life in startups, what it was like dealing with the App store back in the early days of smart-phones, and Steve MAYBE gives our audience a few hidden gems for App Store Optimization (ASO).
Be sure to subscribe and tune in every Monday to hear more amazing interviews #FireTeam
John Tabis has been at the top of the floral industry for quite some time now...but it wasn't always that way. After moving on from his first startup, John started working at Disney (not the worst career move lol) and after several years he decided he wanted to get back into the startup world.
John felt like he could take the floral industry by storm and he did just that. After years of steady growth and hard work, he appeared on Shark Tank (where I first saw him). He didn't get a deal on the show but he's actually one of the first people ever to get a deal years AFTER the show aired (I don't want to spoil the story so you'll just have to listen).
I hope you enjoy the story of how a brand new CEO created one of the most successful floral/shark-tank companies in history!
First off, I want to congratulate Chase on having his first kid 👶Chase started off by being a key part of a business that scaled to 300,000 students. After this accomplishment, he created one of the most successful 'email travel series' lists in existence and he did it all from scratch. This is when he realized that he had become a master email marketer. Fast forward to today and he runs an email marketing agency, focusing on e-commerce brands, called boundlesslabs and they are working with some of the top brands from around the world. If you're looking to partner up with an amazing email marketing specialist, you can get ahold of Chase below.
The best way for people to connect with Chase: Twitter (here's his profile) and LinkedIn (here's his profile).
Chase's email if anyone wants to email him is chase@boundlesslabs.io
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS/Android for 100's of amazing workouts from certified trainers. If you're a personal trainer, check us out at WeStriveApp.com in order to save time managing your business, to make more money selling fitness plans on our marketplace, and to provide a 5-star mobile experience for your clientele.
Erika Lucas is the Co-Founder of the StitchCrew Accelerator program based out of Oklahoma City, OK.
Growing up in Mexico with 'bootstrapping' entrepreneurial parents, Erika learned early on what it takes to be successful. After moving to Oklahoma, she realized there were so amazing startups in her area that were leaving for big cities like LA, San Fran, and NY. She and her partner created StitchCrew to help fight this problem. They have already made a huge impact on their state through their investment/effort/time and their partnership with the Oklahoma City Thunder,
They have seen nearly 100 startups flourish under their guidance throughout the five cohorts in their program thus far and they are just getting started 💪Click the link below to be a part of the live Demo for Cohort-5 at StitchCrew! Enjoy the episode.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/demo-day-spring-batch-2020-tickets-104666739034
This week I had the privilege of interviewing Laurent Grill with Luma Launch and I'm excited to tell his story. Laurent has been involved with the startup world for years. When the opportunity to become the Lead Investor at Luma Launch presented itself, he took full advantage. He now runs one of the best early-stage VC's in California out of their office in Santa Monica. Keep in mind, the beginning of this interview was included in last week's episode involving Pitch Decks. We dive into pitch decks, what it's like to be a VC, his early life, and all of his future plans. Enjoy!
Lead Investor: Lumalaunch.com
@laurentgrill on twitter
@lumalaunch on Instagram
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Pitch Decks, Pitch Decks, Pitch Decks...that's pretty much all I've heard since I entered the entrepreneurial world years ago. How they look, what pages go where, what investors like what...it goes on and on. That's why I wanted to have an episode to pull three unique perspectives from three incredible entrepreneurs/investors. Farhaj Mayan is the founder of Kanna and has won several pitch competitions with his amazing presentation skills and pitch decks. Laurent Grill is the lead investor at Luma Lunch, has been involved in several startups of his own, and has years of pitch deck experience under his belt. Finally, Vik Sasi is one of the main partners at Dreamers VC (Founded by Will Smith and Keisuke Honda) and he brings a very unique perspective to the pitch deck conversation.
Farhaj Mayan: 2:38 - 19:43
Farhaj's Current Deck: docsend.com/view/75xpx4q
CEO - hirekanna.com
Laurent Grill: 19:48 - 37:17
Lead Investor: Lumalaunch.com
@laurentgrill on twitter
@lumalaunch on Instagram
Vik Sasi: 37:18 - End
Partner: dreamers.vc
Email: vik@dreamers.vc
Pitch Decks references in episode:
Guy Kowasaki 10-Slide: https://guykawasaki.com/the-only-10-slides-you-need-in-your-pitch/
Front - Series A Deck: https://www.slideshare.net/MathildeCollin/front-series-a-deck-64596550
Front - Series B Deck: https://www.slideshare.net/MathildeCollin/front-series-b-deck-91172575
Shortly after graduating from Clemson, Harold realized he wanted to rewrite the ticketing space. He was upset that so many home fan tickets were sold to opposing teams, so many fake tickets were being sold, and he was just frustrated with the ticketing industry as a whole. After years of work, bandwagonfanclub.com is now flourishing and Harold himself has embraced the startup world. His company now has two offices in the US and he has personally invested in multiple startups (one of those startups being Farhaj Mayan - WeStrive episode #52). I hope you enjoy hearing about his journey and all his tips on how to build/grow a startup.
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Daron Roberts has an incredible story. He went from being the Student Body President at the University of Texas (which at the time had over 50,000 students and was the biggest school in the country), to applying to Harvard Law 4 times before finally getting in, to finally getting his law degree...only to go coach at the NFL. Sounds crazy right? But as we discuss on the podcast, life isn't a straight line and when he realized coaching was his true passion, there was nothing going to stop him from pursuing his dream...plus, having a Law degree from Harvard in your pocket isn't exactly a bad thing. Listen in to hear how he went from being a rookie coach in the NFL to now doing 55 professional speaking engagements per year.
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Martin Rowinski is the CEO of boardsi.com (Pronounced Board-Z) which is a platform that connects top-level executives with startups looking to fill out their advisory board. Martin has spent years in the tech industry advising countless companies and founding a few of his own. Over the course of the podcast, we cover his early life, his experience with running a real estate company during the stock market crash, having an exit, and so much more.
How to get ahold of Martin & Boardsi:
schedule@boardsi.com
(916) 542-9379
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Vadi Efe was the co-founder and COO of Dekatlon Buzz which was based out of Istanbul, Turkey. After years of working in the media and tech industry, he decided to create his own media empire. After close to 7 years of working with some of the biggest companies in the world, they finally had an offer they couldn't refuse. Over the course of this podcast, we'll cover the companies Vadi worked for, the way they approached their multi-million dollar exit, his nomination into Fortune 40 under 40, and so much more.
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
This week we have Charlotte Hodgson and basically everything she touches turns to Gold. She grew up with loving parents who she later found out were addicted to hard drugs. At an early age, she was responsible for taking care of her siblings, eventually joined the army, got her Masters in Education, and eventually joined a Charter School. When she joined, the school had 250 students and by the time she left the school had over 35,000.
After seeing an opportunity with her friend's company, Holistapet (holistapet.com), she decided to invest and become a Co-Founder. The company was doing $6,000/month and after 6 months of Charlotte, they were doing around $500K/month. This past year they did $5 Million and are on track to do $10 Million in 2020. Once Charlotte was brought on the team, they also expanded into the human version of their CBD company, Cheef Botanicals (cheefbotanicals.com). I hope you enjoy the episode and can learn something from Charlotte's experience and lessons!
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Stephen George has been an entrepreneur his entire life. In his early 20's, he was one of the Co-Founders of the company Groupon and managed hundreds of employees at the age of 21. After Groupon's multi-billion dollar IPO, he decided to leave the company and traveled around the world for several years. After 3+ years of traveling, he returned to the US and became the founder of Surkus - https://surkus.com/
Surkus offers members exclusive access to paid events and offers from brands in exchange for engagement. It's an amazing app that's transforming the fan-to-brand relationship. I hope you enjoy the episode and can learn something from his amazing journey.
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Kevon Cheung grew up in Hong Kong and at just 15 years old he flew by himself to Boston so he could attend school. He ended up staying in the US for 8 years before heading back to China to pursue entrepreneurship. Kevon has been involved with countless companies over the years. He helped launch/grow First Code Academy (a coding academy that has helped over 15,000 students learn how to code) and now he is the CEO/Founder of his networking software company, Toasty (toasty.ai).
When I was first approached by someone on Kevon's team, I was excited and eager to hear more. As a networking event host myself, it's always hard to find ways to break the ice among attendees...and Kevon's new company does just that! Listen to the episode to find out more!
WeStrive:Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Cory Levy (@Cory on Instagram) is the founder of First Text, Internapalooza, After School, and is involved in countless additional projects. In his younger days, Cory was smart enough to start his career out by interning at incredible companies like Techstars. This is one of the best ways to enter into the tech/startup world and learn as much as you can before creating your own startup. Throughout the episode, we talk about doing things that don't scale when your company is just starting out, different types of growth marketing techniques, what it's like to run a platform with millions of users, and so much more.
I hope you enjoy the podcast. Don't forget to subscribe and be sure to check out Cory's company firsttext.com
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Forrest has been an entrepreneur his entire life. He started working on his own business when he was just a kid and now he's only 23 and has run multiple companies. He' has a great understanding of what it takes to grow a business and his current business, Marketli, is growing rapidly in the eCommerce world. He sold his first company just after his 21st birthday and he's on his way to becoming one of the world's top CEO's.
Enjoy the interview!
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Maeve Garigan is an extremely successful entrepreneur who holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Her company, Roper, is Leading the development and commercialization of high-value technology for smart and sustainable beef production. In other words, they've created a high-tech ear-chip for cattle that allows ranchers to track their whereabouts and vitals. This leads to a much higher quality of beef and makes the rancher's job much easier. Over the years she has held many incredible roles including a role with the NAVY in which she was working on exoskeletons...AKA the coolest job of all time.
Enjoy the interview!
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Smriti & Jacques Zaneveld are two of the most brilliant minds that I've ever had the privilege of speaking to, let alone interviewing. Combined, they have about 40 awards, degrees, masters, PhD's, etc. and they have brought their powers together for the greater good. They currently run Lazarus 3D which is a 3D printing company that creates body parts (blood vessels, tissue, and all) to enable surgeons to master their surgical abilities. Right now, your surgeon more than likely practiced their surgeries in school on fruits and vegetables...it's 2020 and your surgeon practiced on FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. That's just crazy to me. What Smriti & Jacques are doing will definitely save countless lives and I couldn't be more excited for them.
Head to laz3d.com to learn more!
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
For the past 10+ years Heather Pink has worked in the world Sports and now she's moved on to create her own company. Heather spent years as a reporter and editor for Fox Sports & Time Warner until she was hired by the NFL. Heather quickly rose the ranks and became a producer for NFL Fantasy Live and was put in charge of social media for the NFL Fantasy Football accounts.
She realized she wanted to work for herself so she and a colleague left and started pinkdearllc.com
Listen in and follow her journey as she goes from sideline reporter to NFL Media Producer to CEO.
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Brian Hoang is a master of VR and AR technology....so much so that in college he founded the Society for VR and the Society for AR. During his college career he also got started on his first VR company and the rest is history. Since then, Brian has worked at multiple VC firms (soaking up all the information he needed for fundraising), created a new company VR company, and then pivoted to create what is now Survivr.
Survivr is the ultimate VR experience for law enforcement and first responders to train virtually in life-like scenarios to help improve their effectiveness and save lives. Listen in as we break down Brian's journey to get where he is today. Enjoy!
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
Neil Thanedar graduated from college and immediately got to work. His company, Labdoor, is arguably the best company on the planet when it comes to independent research of the supplement industry. I actually purchased a pre-workout off of their website before recording this interview (and if you can get a broke startup-founder like me to spend $40+ on something online, then you know you have a quality product). They have made millions of dollars, raised $7M in funding from notable investors like Mark Cuban, and have transformed the supplement industry.
Some great lessons for founders that he speaks on:
Enjoy the episode!
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately with your clients through WeStrive.
The storyline for the company that was created by Chris Meade and his friends almost sounds made up. They wrote out a list of company ideas and the final thing they didn't erase was '4-way Volleyball'. They quit their jobs, moved away from home, and years later they have millions in sales. Sounds like a fantasy company, right? Well, Chris and his team have endured so much over the years and sacrificed everything to get to this point.
Throughout the podcast, we cover their years of dedication, a few viral videos, and creative marketing strategies that have brought them to the top.
Be sure to buy your CrossNet today! crossnetgame.com
WeStrive: Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
This week I interviewed Farhaj Mayan, CEO & Founder at Kanna (hirekanna.com), and their company helps people find gigs/jobs in the Cannabis industry. Farhaj is one of those stop-at-nothing-to-succeed entrepreneurs and he actually fell on this new company by accident. He previously was running a mobile app for barbers called Fade, already was thinking of transitioning in a different direction, and then he stumbled upon a huge gap in such a growing industry.
Throughout the podcast, Farhaj discusses his life growing up in Dubai, moving to the US, winning robotics competitions, his journey with RedBull, building two amazing companies, and more. Enjoy!
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Andrew Blume & Trevor Hudson are two amazing entrepreneurs that are transforming the ag-tech industry. Trevor is a software engineer who grew up in Asia and speaks fluent Mandarin. Andrew has amassed 10,000 ag-tech hours and has worked in the ag-tech industry with companies like Microsoft, Philips, Ikea, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Southern Company, Agritecture, Square Roots, the Mayor's Office of Atlanta, LACI, Plenty, Aerofarms, and more.
What is their product? Using a combination of logistics, servicing, and smart hardware, they set up customers (restaurants) with a hydroponic edible wall that grows and preserves produce until the moment the food is ready to be eaten. Basically, they have a beautiful display of growing leafy greens in restaurants that can be immediately taken from being grown and placed right on the plate.
Their vision is to make growing food as easy as eating it. They want to improve food systems and create a new paradigm for the farm-to-table experience.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
For our 50th episode, I'm flipping things around and actually posting an interview of myself getting interviewed by Axel York (episode 49).
Throughout the episode, I speak about my journey to get WeStrive to where it is today, all the hurdles I've had to go through, the different lessons I've learned along the way, and so much more.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Axel has been ambitious and adventurous all his life so it makes that when his boss brought up expanding into Asia, he was the first one to raise his hand to volunteer. Moving a business, getting office space, hiring employees, and growing a company may be one of the most difficult things a human being can do...now imagine doing that all in the Philippines. After years of doing this in the Phillippines for another company, (and a successful ongoing career at V3 Electric) he decided it was time to start his own company out of the Philippines. Introducing, Qloud Sherpas, a company that outsources Executive Assistants to the PH AND pays them well. I actually just hired one of these assistants myself so I'm excited to see how things play out.
In addition to all of this, he's currently a board member at multiple charities (one being campaignoaat.org Episode #35).
Enjoy the episode!
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Nick Ordoñez was introduced to me by a previous interviewee, Brodi Nicholas (episode #35), since Nick's company does a lot of work with Brodi's Cancer charity, campaignoaat.org. Nick runs an amazing travel/lifestyle backpacking company called Jetcet that he started several years ago. His passion for travel and hard work are what forged his company and those ambitions all started as a little kid. Nick's best friend/brother has down-syndrome and that had a big impact on how Nick lived his life. After heading off to college, Nick wanted to make his brother proud and that's when he started working on Jetcet. Seeing a need for a sleeker/more compact backpack, Nick and his cousin decided to launch Jetcet and the rest is history.
Throughout the podcast we touch on early life, scaling a company (with a baby at home), his relationship with the Philippines, and so much more.
If you want one of his company's backpacks, here's a 20% discount. Enjoy!
Promo Code: WeStrive for 20% off
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Adam Ayers is a legend in the tech world. He's lead tech teams all over the world and this week he sat down with WeStrive to tell his story. From an early age, Adam was obsessed with technology and that obsession led him into the entrepreneurship world. He went from building websites in his early teens, to starting Entrepreneurs@ASU while attending Arizona State University.
Later in his career, Adam was the head developer or CTO for companies like Five Four Club and Crowdfunder.com and he's led the technology teams for brands like Paris Hilton and Kanye West's Yeezy. This podcast was so long that we broke it into two different weeks. The first week, we'll touch on Adam's early life, the businesses he started, and the companies he was the technical-lead at. In week two, we'll get into his CTO role at Yeezy, growing his company Number 5, and ask him a series of questions to get to know him better.
Enjoy the episode!
Also, he brought two bottles of very nice wine from my birth year. He spent hours picking the right bottles...so cheers to you Adam. He also brought some delicious cheese and crackers that I happily scarfed down after the interview.
Part 1 Summary: Early life, Entrepreneurs@ASU, CTO @ dozens of companies
Part 2 Summary: CTO @ Yeezy, Growing Number 5 as CEO, 20 Questions
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Adam Ayers is a legend in the tech world. He's lead tech teams all over the world and this week he sat down with WeStrive to tell his story. From an early age, Adam was obsessed with technology and that obsession led him into the entrepreneurship world. He went from building websites in his early teens, to starting Entrepreneurs@ASU while attending Arizona State University.
Later in his career, Adam was the head developer or CTO for companies like Five Four Club and Crowdfunder.com and he's led the technology teams for brands like Paris Hilton and Kanye West's Yeezy. This podcast was so long that we broke it into two different weeks. The first week, we'll touch on Adam's early life, the businesses he started, and the companies he was the technical-lead at. In week two, we'll get into his CTO role at Yeezy, growing his company Number 5, and ask him a series of questions to get to know him better.
Enjoy the episode!
Also, he brought two bottles of very nice wine from my birth year. He spent hours picking the right bottles...so cheers to you Adam. He also brought some delicious cheese and crackers that I happily scarfed down after the interview.
Part 1 Summary: Early life, Entrepreneurs@ASU, CTO @ dozens of companies
Part 2 Summary: CTO @ Yeezy, Growing Number 5 as CEO, 20 Questions
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Alex is actually the former Co-Founder of David Levich's (Episode #1) earlier company before SunStaches. David introduced me to Alex and told me that Alex is not only one of the best guys he knows, but he's also a wizard with SEO...so, of course, I wanted to get him on the podcast.
After years of helping grow the company (now called Sunstaches), Alex decided he wanted to go off on his own. He launched GoPureBrands back in 2006 and he hasn't looked back since. As the CEO/Founder, Alex takes us through his day-to-day operations, the ups and downs of running a company, and what it's like to be a big-time solo founder.
Check them out at gopurebeauty.com
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
After founding/selling multiple companies, Christopher Grey decided to get into Angel investing. Now, he has one of the best angel rates there is with only 3 out of 40 of his investments failing. Typically, around 50-90% of Angel investments end up failing so his rate of only 7.5% is insane.
Throughout the episode, we cover his company CapLinked, what it's like to be an angel investor, how to properly vet companies, and what it takes to succeed in the entrepreneurial world.
For more information in his company, check out https://www.caplinked.com/
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Ari was traveling through Europe when he realized that his closed were constantly wrinkled. He thought to himself, "why isn't there a portable solution for steeming your clothes?". Well, after he got back to the United States, he started working on just that. In just a few months he already had a prototype ready to go and a few months after that his product was featured on HSN. Tune in this week to hear his story on how he created Instasteam and how he's going to change the world of steaming.
Check out their new product at https://www.amazon.com/InstaSteam-Deodorize-Electricity-Free-Smallest-Breaking/dp/B07J4631K6
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Sammy Courtright and her Co-Founder have taken FitSpot from nothing and transformed it into one of the top Corporate Fitness Platforms on the planet. They recently raised their Series A funding (Congrats to them) and are in the process of revamping FitSpot. Listen in to hear about what it takes to grow a company, how/when to pivot, and where FitSpot is going in the next few years.
Check them out at https://fitspotwellness.com/
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Gabriel Stein has been around the block a few times. This guy has started more than 15 successful companies and he isn't slowing down anytime soon. Basically, he finds a problem in the world and then he solves it. At the core of entrepreneurship, this is exactly what you're supposed to do.
A few of his companies, Helpful Systems (https://www.helpfulsystems.com/) and Pure Web Services (https://www.purewebservices.com/) have been around for years and have helped countless entrepreneurs/business-owners grow their business.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Jack Paxton has been involved in the marketing world for years. After gaining almost a decade of experience, he decided it was time to open his own shop. His marketing company, including his own experience, have spent nearly 200 Million Dollars on ads amongst Google, Facebook, Instagram, and more.....200....Million....Dollars. That's a lot of coin, so I think Jack knows what he's talking about.
In addition to spending 1/5 a billion on ads, Jack also runs RGrowth, a Software company with multiple ventures beneath it including Vyper.io and Hyax.com
I hope you enjoy the podcast and learn something from one of the best online advertisers out there.
Jack@vyper.io
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Phil Catudal is many things. He's a father of three, has his MBA, is a celebrity personal trainer, he survived cancer, he created and exited a nutrition company, and he still finds time in life for friends & family. This podcast takes you on a journey through Phil's life and how he got to where he is today. The most important things in Phil's life are his family, friends, and helping people achieve their goals.
Read more about Phil and purchase his new book - Just Your Type - https://trainedbyphil.com/
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Tommy ran SEO for both AirBnb & PayPal so he obviously knows what he's doing when it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Several years ago he decided to branch off on his own and create the company ClickMinded. To date, ClickMinded has helped 1000's of entrepreneurs and business owners dominate SEO rankings over the years.
On this podcast, Tommy takes us through his journey going from a high-end job at AirBnb to all of a sudden being on his own. How will he do in the entrepreneur world? Let's find out.
Link to the ClickMinded SEO Course: https://www.clickminded.com/
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Alexander created Prepdeck based on his love for cooking and the need he found for more organization/tools in the kitchen. After a long creation/design/building process, they decided to launch an Indiegogo. To date, they've raised over $800,000 for prepdeck and are one of the most sought after cooking tools on the planet. I hope you learn a lot from this podcast and if you want to learn more about prepdeck you can visit the link below!
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
After hiking from Mexico to Canada, Sam found himself in Port Orchard, WA. During a Town Hall meeting, he noticed that people in his city had a very difficult time getting fresh fruits and vegetables. On his way home he asked a guy with an apple tree if he could sell the apples for him. After speaking with dozens of people at the gym, Sam found a buyer and Vinder was born. What started off as Sam on his bike running his neighbor-made produce buy/sell/trade platform turned into a viral sensation that spanned across over 15 states. Sam and his team have now won several pitch competitions and have decided to scale back their growth efforts to focus on re-building the platform and mastering the Austin, TX market. Growing an online/in-app marketplace can be very difficult to scale, but if anybody can do it, it's Sam Lillie.
Check out https://www.vinder.com/ and download the app. Maybe you can start your own Vinder community in your city or town.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Brodi Nicholas is a wonderful human being who runs a company that helps kids with cancer and other deadly diseases. It all started when he noticed that the girl who lived across the street from him, who used to play Basketball outside everyday, all of a sudden just wasn’t outside. Brodi discovered that she was diagnosed with leukemia and he was determined to do what he could to help. All she wanted to do was swim with her friends, ride a bike again, and learn to play the drums. He rallied his friends together and was able to grant all three of her wishes. That was the start of what is now Campaign One At A Time.
Now, they've helped hundreds of kids and have privately sponsored over 19, helping them through some of the hardest times in their lives.
If you want to donate, head to campaignoaat.org
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
After spending years in the fitness industry, Sean noticed that none of the supplements he was taking were doing the trick…so he decided to create his own. What started off as mixing certain BCAA’s together has now become one of the most up-and-coming nutrition brands out there. Sean has his products in hundreds of stores on the east coast and is on track to get a 3000 store deal (minimum). In addition, they are all over Amazon and selling around the world.
Dive into this episode to learn what it takes to start and grow a nutrition business with https://www.rarinutrition.com/
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Nathan started off his entrepreneurship journey by selling things online. It started with re-selling college textbooks and led to selling millions of dollars on Ebay. Now, he runs one of the best Freelancer business on the planet, Freeeup.com. The best part? He runs his freelancer business...with freelancers. Throughout the podcast he takes us through how he got to where he is today and how he runs such a dominant company day-to-day.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freeeupmarketplace
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/realnatehirsch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhirsch/
FreeeUp: https://freeeup.com/
FreeeUp Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/outsourcingmasters/
My calendar: https://calendly.com/freeeup-nathan
My email: nathan@freeeup.com
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Tom has been a powerful force in the entrepreneurial world for years now. His previous company, Locus Insights, got accepted into two of the top accelerator entrepreneur programs in the country. After only a year of work from company inception, both TechStars & Quake in Austin accepted his company into their program. Throughout the podcast, he touches on his journey as an entrepreneur, what the top accelerator entrepreneur programs are like, and shares advice on truly growing a business.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
After finishing his time with the marines, Jerry set off to become a part of the music industry. After standing outside of MTV, he befriended an employee there and that led to a lifelong business partnership and friendship. The pair have since opened up several music venues around the world, created (and sold) a round-up-your-change-for-charity app, and have hosted parties for some of the most successful people in the music industry. Jerry is now the CEO/Founder of FIX, a music fan's rewards app and they've already had over 600,000 downloads in just seven months. Download the app below to check it out!
Fix IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/music-rewards-fix/id1441912457
Fix Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fixmusicapp.mobile&hl=en_US
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Starting from a rough childhood, homelessness in his 20's, close to three years in a French prison, signing with Ludacris's label, and all the ups and downs of life...Garrain has been through it all. Now, he's at the top of his game and wants to help transform your life.
Garrain is a human being who has seen every low and every high of life. At a young age he was on the cover of magazines and found him self featured in several famous music videos. Things took a turn for a worse and he found himself living in his car for over two years. A random encounter with a stranger saying "change your mindset change your life" completely transformed him (after years of work) into the successful man he is today.
Pay attention to what he says and hopefully you can learn something valuable that can be applied to your life.
Check Garrain out on Instagram @garrain.jones
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Ian Chen runs the number one nightclub app on the planet, Discotech. Discotech dominates the nightlife market & Ian is at the forefront leading his team to now feature over 900 clubs worldwide. Ian started off by wanting to solve a problem in the clubbing industry, and years later Discotech is solving that problem on a huge scale. Him and his team are living the dream and growing their company from a beautiful home/office in the Hollywood Hills.
Also, he has a best man speech that went viral and you can check it out at the link below. You won't be disappointed.
Check out https://www.discotech.me/ to learn more or download DiscoTech in the app store!
Ian's best man speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j75eM-hCHUM
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Mac started an entrepreneurship club, a tech startup, a repair company, and even a party bus all while at Penn State. After getting recruited by Google and working there for a year, he decided to start a digital agency and another repair business. Through hard work the past 4 years, he’s been able to scale those roughly 5000%, while traveling the world and having fun.
If your small business needs help growing visit https://needmomentum.com/ and let Mac and his team help you grow.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Paul has entrepreneurship in his blood. His father has successfully purchased 20+ run-down businesses, rebuilt them, and sold them for a profit. After years in the film industry, Paul decided he wanted to help films that don't have as much cash or connections as some of the blockbuster movies do. Through this, he created Filmocracy. Filmocracy is an online platform that hosts thousands of movies from filmmakers around the world. Filmmakers with smaller budgets can now utilize a platform to gain viewership, generate revenue, and potentially be aquired by a larger film festival or platform...all thanks to Filmocracy.
http://www.filmocracy.com/
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Nancy is one of the most incredible entrepreneurs on the planet. She breaks down what it's like hosting a festival for the first time, growing a business, managing dozens of interns, and much more. She is the founder of Rebel Role Model & Female Founders of Dallas. Nancy has impacted hundreds of people over the years and continues to do so through her RebelCon conferences.
Check out https://www.rebelrolemodel.com/ to learn more about Nancy and her business.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
James Golden AKA TheFitnessPro has dominated the fitness industry in Europe for the past several years. He's trained some of the biggest European celebrities you can think of and currently is building a unique startup of his own. Him and his team run Yolo Retreats outside of London and provide an incredible way to get outdoors and get back to your true self.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Yannis is actively changing the hotel industry by filling in the gaps of a typical hotel schedule. If you aren't checking into a room until 11 PM then what's happening to your room from that 11 am checkout time until 11 at night? Absolutely nothing. Yannis and his team at HotelsByDay.com are capturing those time gaps, bringing more profits to hotels and adding convenience to travelers. Now, instead of sleeping at the airport for your layover, you can crash at a nearby hotel for a few hours and relax! Listen close to this episode and discover how this shark tank veteran gets the job done time and time again.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Yannick is a tech guru and an incredible human being. He's run multiple tech companies, traveled around the world, and currently is in Denver building an incubator to help combat global warming. At one point, he was hired by Toyota to run a 60+ person tech team to revolutionize how they run their business. Any company would be lucky to have him and we're lucky to have him on the WeStrive podcast.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Very few people make in on Shark Tank, even less get their episode aired, and a much smaller percentage of people can land a deal with Mark Cuban. Shaan Patel has done all of those things. Shaan is the founder of Prep Expert, one of the nation's largest test prep providers.
His company has authored eight different #1 bestselling SAT & ACT prep books. Aside from helping thousands of students ace the SAT's, he also co-published a book with Mark Cuban...and he's doing all of this while going through his residency to become a doctor. I literally have no clue how he does it all but his company is doing incredibly well. If you're currently studying for the SAT visit https://prepexpert.com/
And a huge congratulations for Shaan making it in the Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30!
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Richard has founded and advised for countless companies throughout his career. He currently is an advisor for one of the original Sharks on Shark Tank, Kevin Harrington. Richard discovered that he was incredible at making connections and finding potential through early-stage companies. We cover his rise in the business world and show WeStrive listeners what it takes to become a personal advisor to a Shark Tank Shark.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Alex has started a handful of dominating companies over the past several years. He's sort of a tech/entrepreneur guru. Him and his brother, Alex, are Co-founders of the Tech company StartupSoft.org and they are my favorite people on the planet. Without them, I wouldn't have the app/website that I have today (currently re-branding before our big launch in September as WeStrive). Alex previously started a Facebook-esque company in Ukraine that got up to over 400,000 users before they shut it down due to low retention. He shut down the operation because he knew he could make a bigger and better company and he definitely has done that with StartupSoft.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Take a tech nerd who's passionate for creating and building...and definitely doesn't want the spotlight. Now, take that same techie and put him on Shark Tank in front of millions of people. How do you think he'll do? If you guessed he would do poorly then you're wrong. JD Claridge is one of only two people to ever leave Shark Tank with a deal from all five sharks...and for $1 Million Dollars! His Drone company, XCraft, is revolutionizing the way Drones operate and they are absolutely dominating the field. Also, we might touch on flying cars a bit too.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Jake started off wanting to be a part of radio and ended up going in a completely different direction. When you move to LA it's always hard to find work and get started on your dream. Jake started by interning with Ryan Seacrest and rose the ranks from there. After a few years he opened his own social media management business and currently manages Pentatonix, David Archuleta, and so many more famous artists/entertainers.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Who's Jessica V? Oh, I don't know, she's just one of the best lawyers in the game. Jess brings an exciting twist to the boring world of law. She left her corporate & government jobs so that she could start her own practice. She primarily focuses on working with Startups and constantly gives back to the startup world.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Adam has over 30 years of personal training, nutrition, and strength coaching experience. He's trained 100's of people over the years, countless celebrities, and dozens of famous athletes. He's one of the greatest personal trainers on the planet. Listen close to find out why he's one of only two trainers on the planet to have a private studio inside Golds Gym in Venice, CA.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Brian is the founder of Expert Dojo, a Santa Monica Entrepreneur Accelerator, and stands as an industry leader for entrepreneurship. He runs one of the top accelerators in Los Angeles, he's one of the hardest workers there is,
and there are few people on this planet who find more time to help others than he does.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Coach Tim Adams is one of the greatest fitness, strength, health, mental, wellness, etc... coaches on the planet. He's coached for the Oakland Raiders, The Los Angeles Kings, and was Usher's personal coach for tours. To top it all off, he doesn't have 90% of the bones in one of his knees and still works out every day on both legs. I guess you'll have to listen in order for that one to make sense for you.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
If you've watched the 'Bear Minimum' episode of Shark Tank then you've already seen Tim Krauss. Tim was the man behind the big bear costume and he's also the man behind many prominent companies. He's founded two companies, has consulted for many, and now he's on our podcast! Listen in to hear how his company exits have gone and to learn how to truly be an entrepreneur.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Lee was the first ever female Strength & Conditioning in the NFL. Throughout her career, she has accomplished so many things and broken down countless barriers. She's trained dozens of gold, silver, & bronze olympic athletes and has coached with multiple professional teams. Lee also has multiple unique rehabilitation patents for her creations. Listen close because you just might learn something.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Hayes was homeless at 22, has worked for 3 of the 4 biggest Accounting firms on the planet, and is now the CEO of 8i. 8i is one of the world leaders in virtual & augmented reality. They have a laundry list of patented technology and are untouchable in the space. After getting to see their offices and some of the technology they've created, I'm absolutely mind blown. Enjoy the podcast and try to wrap your head around all the stuff they're building haha.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Emily is a Ted-X Speaker, a connector, coach, presenter, experience creator & obsessive collaborator. She has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs and is the creator of the Conscious Boss Entrepreneur network. Listen in to find out how she's changing the business world, especially for all you ladies out there.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
What is there to say? I mean this guy lost over 200 pounds and now competes in bodybuilding competitions. It takes some pretty big balls to push yourself so hard that you cut your weight literally in half. I'm still out here trying to lose 10 pounds...and I've been trying for over a year haha. This episode is great because Jordan takes us through his weight loss journey and gives a lot of tips and motivation for weight loss and overall life improvement.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Bill started off in music and worked his way to become the Vice President & Creative Director of NFL Media. Follow this crazy journey through HBO, GoPro, QVC, GoFundMe, 11 Emmys, and so much more.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
He might look like a model (and is one) but there's more than meets the eye to this Santa Monica celebrity personal trainer and social media star. Davey has spent years perfecting his craft and has more certifications than I have fingers (counting my thumbs). If you want to learn how to challenge yourself, take a page out of Davey's book (or locker).
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Moving to Los Angeles to become an actor is one of the hardest things to do on the planet. The competition in this city is endless so when you have an opportunity...take advantage. Learn about Kevin's rise in the industry and his growth into a key role on TNT's The Last Ship.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Lauren is one of the most badass people I know. She has opened multiple gyms, has trained hundreds of people, and is known in West-LA as a personal training guru. Lauren has one of the coolest life stories of all time. She's been on multiple reality TV shows and has the craziest stories to go along with them. She currently runs her own wellness program which aims to help people 'Un-Plug' from the world so they can reconnect with themselves. Listen close and enjoy...I think you're gonna like this one!
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
Believe it or not, Blair McHaney, from the small town of Wenatchee, WA, is the reason why fitness challenges exist today. Over 20 years ago he started the Gold's Gym Challenge which eventually led to millions of gym members transforming their bodies and lives. He changed the gym industry into what it is today. He's a world-leader in customer service practices, gym ownership, and is a wonderful human being.
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
The first episode of WeStrive wouldn't be so great if it weren't for David. I'm so grateful he took the time to sit down with me before I even had bought the podcast microphone. David is the founder of SunStaches, a Shark Tank Success, and has seen millions and millions of dollars pass through his companies over the years. The journey this man has been on is ridiculously amazing, entertaining, and inspiring. Enjoy!
Be sure to check out the WeStrive App on IOS, Android, and if you're a personal trainer check us out at WeStriveApp.com to see if you want to sell your fitness plans or train privately on WeStrive.
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