The Startup Story

Welcome to The Startup Story Jan 07, 2019

As we hear The Startup Story of some of the most successful companies in the world our focus is singular…
To give you the belief and courage to Start Your Story.

Every successful startup began with a single decision. It’s not about the dream, it’s not about the vision, it’s about having the courage to take that very first step -- to start.

How did UBER grow to $50 billion? How did Spanx become massively successful without one dime of venture capital? The stories are out there. But The Startup Story goes even deeper. What exactly did they do to go from idea to launch? What was that first step and how did they decide to take it?

Each week, hear from the courageous founders behind some of the most successful brands in the world as they share their Startup Story. We’ll unpack the early beginnings, and uncover those first steps that ultimately led them to where they are today.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur who’s in the thick of it and not making much progress, or feeling stuck in the fear of failure, not sure if you have what it takes, this podcast was created for you.

David Sellinger, founder of Deep Sentinel Jan 25, 2022

About this episode

My guest this week is David Sellinger, founder of Deep Sentinel.

David’s startup resume is remarkable and includes such highlights as:

Being an early employee at Amazon working directly under Jeff Bezos and co-inventing Amazon Advertising which now generates BILLIONS of dollars in revenue
Co-founding the real estate brokerage RedFin (now a multi-billion company)
Revolutionizing the shopping experiences for major brands like Macy’s and Office Depot with his RichRelevance startup.
Inventing the next HUGE advancement in home security with Deep Sentinel.

Deep Sentinel brings artificial intelligence to the home protection industry. With the Deep Sentinel the technology can identify threats in real time and once a threat is identified a live guard is engaged to notify and warn off the threat. The Deep Sentinel hardware is not just a camera but a sleek yet incredibly intimidating piece of technology that allows the Live Guards to engage while police are on their way.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How being raised by two immigrant parents shaped his ambition and value of opportunities
His learnings about organizational culture from the founding brothers of Dutch Bros. coffee.
Lessons learned from Jeff Bezos as it relates to data-informed decision making
About the next evolution in home security
How important it is to speak honestly about your mental health

Resources from this episode

FREE Access to Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Deep Sentinel Website: https://www.deepsentinel.com/

Deep Sentinel “STOPPED” YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPrVzjHFY6Acoy54iYvo21RW5xjpWNf8m

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Clay Alexander, founder of Ember Jan 18, 2022

About this episode

My guest this week is Clay Alexander, the inventor and founder of Ember. Ember is a temperature control brand that seeks to disrupt how the world eats, drinks and lives. Their very first product was a Travel Mug and was launched in 100 Starbucks locations. Since their launch they have expanded to other product lines.

Clay has an incredible founder story that I hope more people discover because I think it brings encouragement and inspiration to so many. Let me be clear, when I say "encouragement" I am not talking about the type of fuzzy-feelings you get when you receive a Hallmark card. I'm talking about the actual meaning of the word "encourage", to place courage inside of. That is what Clay's story will deliver to you, courage to keep moving forward despite the obstacles or challenges you might be up against.

See Clay grew up incredibly poor, in fact to use his words "dirt poor." Aside from his economic challenges he was diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia, and he still is. Yet despite all these challenges he has founded two amazing companies and invented numerous patented products, that I'm sure when the story is over will deliver well beyond $1-billion in revenue. I know this episode will quickly become one of your favorites but like all other founder episodes we need to start at the very beginning.

In this episode, you'll hear

How Clay's upbringing was not one where entrepreneurship was an inevitable journey for him. In fact, everything about his upbringing would have pointed towards obtaining a steady 9-5 job to help simply put food on the table.
About how his creative and inventive mind was at work from a young age and how he even replicated the famous Inspector Gadget bicycle, including switches for smoke screens
The journey through college helped set the stage for him to refine his lighting expertise and led to his inventing the brightest LED bulb in the world
The steps he took to negotiate a licensing deal with GE for that very bulb he invented
How cold scrambled eggs became the catalyst for the first temperature controlled coffee mug on the planet
The reason why the Ember mug, iPhone, Macbook Pro, and Apple iPad all look so good together
Why any inventor or entrepreneur should never accept the answer of "No" as final and complete
Clay unpack the future of Ember and the various industries that will benefit from his many temperature control solution ideas

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Ember website: https://ember.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Michael Werner, founder of HomeX Jan 04, 2022

About this episode

My guest this week is Michael Werner, founder and CEO of HomeX. Until 2003, Michael served as President and Vice Chariman for his family's 100 year old business, Werner Ladders. The Werner Company continues on today and is now a $1 billion dollar global brand…but Michael has moved on and launched a technology startup within a $500 billion market.

HomeX is the first of its kind home services platform for both homeowners and service providers that is radically improving the complex and fragmented home services industry.

One of the many things that peaked my curiosity about having Michael on the show was that I am just not a handy individual. Despite the fact that I could watch a YouTube video of how to change my garbage disposal I would much rather have an expert walk me through the process, or just do it for me.

Well, that is one of the consumer solutions that HomeX is bringing to the marketplace, direct access to industry experts to guide you through the solution or enable you to hire the expert to come and take care of it for you.

HomeX is truly changing the game for homeowners and service providers. And having just come off a $90 million dollar capital raise, things are about to get very interesting for Michael and the HomeX team.

In this episode, you'll hear:

The importance of reiventing an industry.
The nuance of leading a legacy brand.
Why global manufacturing is critical to business success.
The importance that small business plays to our economy and communities.

Resources from this episode

Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

HomeX for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homex.lightning&utm_source=web&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=newcta

HomeX for iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/app/homex-we-got-this/id1505761821?utm_source=web&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=newcta

Use the code "STARTUPSTORY25" to receive 25% off your first Remote Assist session.

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

TOP EPISODE: Brandon Muñoz, founder of Monkwood Studios Dec 28, 2021

About this episode

Whenever I’m asked which episode of The Startup Story has been my favorite, I truly can’t give an answer. I enjoy every single episode because of how much value every entrepreneur brings to the table and how much I learn from them. However, if I were to be asked which episode stands out the most in my mind, it would have to be one of my earliest episodes: my interview with Brandon “Monk” Muñoz from Monkwood Studios.

Out of all of the interviews I’ve held, I’ve only hosted two founders who were woodworkers. Brandon is one of them. His episode stands out because of how incredibly eclectic his entrepreneurial journey has been.

Brandon was both extremely transparent and vulnerable about his story and amazing at telling it. He explains how both he and his startup, Monkwood Studios, got to where they are today. If you want to learn from a talented and hilarious entrepreneur, tune into this conversation with Brandon “Monk” Muñoz.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Brandon got into woodworking as a kid.
The mentor and friend that taught him how to build furniture.
Why he was inspired to go out on his own.
How much he failed and learned from his mistakes at the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.
Why how you make something is more important than what you make.
Brandon’s experience doing ministry in London and building the unique startup of a church.
Why he became an entrepreneur by need, not by choice.
How he finally niched his business down and began specializing in wooden desks.
The connection he feels with the people who purchase his desks.
The risk all creative entrepreneurs have to take.

Resources from this episode

Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Brandon in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monkwood_/

Monkwood Studios: https://monkwoodstudio.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

TOP EPISODE: Randi Zuckerberg, founder of Zuckerberg Media Dec 21, 2021

About this episode

This week we are featuring Randi Zuckerberg, founder of Zuckerberg Media. If her last name sounds familiar, it should. It’s also the last name of her little brother who had a startup about a book of faces or Facebook or something like that.

Randi Zuckerberg is an entrepreneur, investor, best selling author, and Emmy-nominated tech media personality. She is the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, with the mission of supporting current and future entrepreneurs through investment, mentorship, and media.

Growing up she wanted to be a Broadway actress, yet while in college she had to pivot from that dream to pursue a career in advertising. But what I love about the stories of many of the founders this show highlights, is that we always find our way back to our passion, in one form or another.

Like every Startup Story founder, we need to go back to the early days to find out what life was like for Randi before Facebook LIVE, before two best-selling books, and before receiving two Tony awards. You’ll soon hear how her beginning wasn’t all that different from others who have come before her. This is Randi’ Zuckerberg's startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Her aspirations of becoming an actress and how those dreams got crushed early on
About creating her first ad campaign for the Special Olympics
The transition from working in an ad agency to working for Facebook and becoming the creator of Facebook LIVE
About the time she received a call from the producers of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages and the start of her Broadway career
How her experiences have taught her that none of us have just one calling and there are so many chapters and phases of our lives, each with different callings
Her realization that her best skills were on the production side of the entertainment and Broadway industry; and how she began to apply those skills as an entrepreneur
The founding of Zuckerberg Media and Randi’s hopes and ambitions for her venture

Resources from this episode

Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Zuckerberg Media: https://www.zuckerbergmedia.com/
Michael Littig, Zuckerberg Institute: https://www.thestartupstory.co/zuckerberginstitute

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

TOP EPISODE: Richard Garriott, Video Game Creator and Astronaut Dec 14, 2021

About this episode

As a pioneer, there is not a single roadmap to work from. There’s no way to model your success off of another because there is no other--you’re it. You’re the front runner. There must be an internal competition established within your brain to be constantly improving. Richard Garriot has experienced all of this throughout his time in the gaming sector.

Richard is an investor and private astronaut as well as a pioneer and legend. What drew me to him was his role within privatizing space travel as well as his experience as a video game entrepreneur. However, I had no idea how rich his background in the gaming sector was. Tune into this episode to hear how iconic he truly is and how he reached this level of success.

In this episode, you'll hear

How entering science fairs prepared Richard to be a great independent competitor.
How he published his first product.
His experience as a freelance game creator looking for publishers.
What caused him to start a company with his brother.
Why packaging was important to him even before building a brand.
His experience losing the faith of everyone he worked with and making up his own philosophy from scratch.
How he navigated his business with the emergence of the internet.
The period of time when he took a break from gaming and pursued space travel.
His vision for space and the future of space travel.
The power of being multidisciplinary.
The key things he learned from his failures.

Resources from this episode

Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Richard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichardGarriott
Richard’s website: http://www.richardgarriott.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Matt Meeker, co-founder of BARK (replay) Dec 07, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Matt Meeker, Co-founder of Bark, and while the Bark’s name itself might not cause your ears to perk up in excitement for what's to come in this episode.

Bark’s various product lines are household names. Their flagship product being BarkBox, with over 1.7 million active BarkBox subscribers, BarkBox is the Premier subscription dog toy and treat service. In addition to BarkBox, Bark has various product lines that can be found in over 23,000 retail outlets. Matts entire episode is chock full of value because his journey and his experiences are so extensive.

To start with Matt was one of the digital advertising pioneers, and we discuss what digital advertising was like long before the days of Facebook ads. Matt was also a Co-founder of Meetup, which eventually sold the WeWork for $156 million in 2017. And now in 2021, Matt and the Bark leadership team are navigating the SPAC landscape to bring Bark to the public markets. As I said, Matts episode covers quite a bit of ground and I'm super pumped to bring it to you. But with that said while I know, you're excited to hear his insights into SPAC’s and all things subscription-related we need to start at the very beginning.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How he grew up in a small town in Iowa with his parents who were very different. His father was a conservative accountant and his mother a rebel who encouraged him to form his path.
How he was entrepreneurial from a young age, at school he had many side hustles like running the schools poker games and selling red cups to buy beer.
How he played Racquetball competitively and went on to play at the National Tournament.
Matt went to the University of Minnesota but only lasted one quarter as he only went because everyone expected him to go.
How Matt dropped out of college and joined the Navy and became a weather observer.
Matt went back to university and paid his way through in cash.
After college he joined a Digital Ad Agency in March 1997, the company focused on getting traffic from the website to the store. They had big companies like Disney, Capital One and Discover.
Matt explains what digital advertising was like in 2000.
He shares that the Ad company was very successful but he did sell it, with this he joined forces with one of the companies investors to start a new company.
Matt explains that his next company wasn’t successful and it was all down to the execution of the business. The company had more money they knew what to do with and hired big names in the business world but never made a real product or spoke to a customer.
Matt shares how the founder of the Ad agency Scott started talking about the next business venture.
Matt shares how Scott and himself started Meetup, a company trying to encourage people to get out of their house and meet people online. They also wanted to change the negative narrative of meeting people online.
How Matt and Scott hired their CTO for Meetup from a listing they put on Craigslist.
Matt shares that he left Meetup because it was getting too big with 45 employees and he didn’t want the stress of it.
Matt founded Barkbox in September 2011 and never thought it would grow to over 735 employees.
Matt shares that he started Barkbox as he was living in New York with his Great Dane Hugo, when they went into a pet shop there was nothing for big dogs.
He shares that Groupon brought in half of their customers in the first year.
Matt shares how BarkBox has further developed into different sections like SuperHuman, Bark Bright, Bark Eats and Bark Home.
How BarkBox developed its own dog food as they wanted dogs to be fed as an individual.

Resources from this episode

Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Sponsor Movo: https://movo.cash/

Bark HQ: https://bark.co/
BarkBox: https://www.barkbox.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Ryan Serhant, founder of Serhant and star of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing New York Nov 23, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Ryan Serhant, star of Bravo’s hit series Million Dollar Listing New York, Best Selling Author, and founder of Serhant.

How do the crossroads of reality television and entrepreneurship ever cross? Well, this episode will answer that question very clearly for you. My guest has been the star of Bravo’s hit show, Million Dollar Listing New York for the last 10 seasons as well as launching one of the fastest growing Real Estate brands in the nation. Ryan is an absolute branding genius and he shares his expertise on that very topic, as well as his take on how resilience plays into the startup journey.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Childhood lessons that shaped his entire life’s journey
How hand modeling helped stabilize his income while building his empire
The power of action-taking and not action-thinking
How Real Estate is just like improvisational acting
Why you should plan out what “future you” looks like
How the hardest moments in our life can shape our entire future going forward
How he started selling real estate by leveraging YouTube
How naivete can be of value to launching your business
How selling is the foundation of any business
The importance of branding, regardless of your industry

Resources from this episode

Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Ryan’s Brand Building Course: https://ryanserhant.com/thestartupstory
Sell it Like Serhant: https://amzn.to/3r6hHSH
Big Money Energy: https://amzn.to/2ZidbVQ

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Sean Cannell, founder of Think Media Nov 16, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Sean Cannell, founder of Think Media. His episode was originally released on February 11th of last year. Just 45 days before everything started to unravel from COVID.

Sean is an incredible human being and entrepreneur as well as a best selling author, YouTuber, speaker, and absolute digital marketing mogul that has centered his mission on helping entrepreneurs and creatives build their influence with online video.

Sean’s various YouTube channels have over two million subscribers, his videos have been viewed over 50 million times and he has been featured as one of the “20 Must Watch YouTube Channels That Will Change Your Business” by Forbes.

The stats I just read are incredibly impressive, but what is really impressive is that Sean, and the Think Media team are on a mission to help 10,000 people create a living, doing what they love to do, utilizing online video. That is what I love about Sean’s story, is that it is grounded in helping others achieve something more for themselves.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Sean’s childhood needed a complete redemption story in order to move forward.
Lessons learned from key mentors in his life.
The power of YouTube and why it should not be overlooked.
About the marathon of entrepreneurship and how to avoid burnout.
Why your brand NEEDS to utilize video.

Resources from this episode

Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

YouTube Secrets: https://amzn.to/31YHpOz
Think Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGxjDWAN1KwrkXYVi8CXtjQ
Sean Cannell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancannell/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Evan Goldberg, founder & EVP of Oracle NetSuite Nov 09, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is none other than Evan Goldberg, Founder & EVP of Oracle NetSuite.

The startup story of NetSuite is amazing because Evan and Larry Ellison spent 5 minutes on the phone discussing the idea of selling software from the cloud (which wasn’t called the cloud back in 1999) and then one year later they were selling to customers.

NetSuite is the market leader in small business cloud-based ERP solutions and have over 27,000 customers across the globe. Within my full interview we discuss how he handled the failure of his first software startup, what it was like to build a startup and navigate an IPO as well as a corporate acquisition. We even discuss the fact that Evan had to lead NetSuite through not one financial crisis, but two. The dot com bust of 2000 and the 2008 market crash…and then a third with the COVID pandemic just last year…but we don’t spend any time talking about that because there just wasn’t enough time! I’m telling you…you are going to love this episode.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Evan recovered from the failure of his first startup.
How the origin of a company valued at over $9 billion began from a 5-minute conversation.
How to handle distractions as a startup founder.
The early customer acquisition strategies for a multi-billion-dollar SaaS company.
Learnings from the transition as an independent company to being owned by a corporation.
How startup founders need to capitalize on a down market to improve their business and be prepared for the rebound.

Resources from this episode

Grindology: https://www.grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/
Evan’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-netsuite/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

How to bootstrap your startup to a $12 billion acquisition Nov 02, 2021

About this episode

About six weeks ago one of our past guest experienced a life-changing event with regards to his startup. On September 13, 2021 it was confirmed that Mailchimp had been acquired by Intuit for $12 billion in cash and stock.

Because of the recent headlines that have hit the mainstream tech sites, regarding this acquisition, I thought it would be nice to counter the false “overnight success” narratives with an honest discussion about how Ben Chestnut, co-founder of Mailchimp, really helped to build Mailchimp to where it is today.

Until now, Ben’s story hasn’t received a ton of articles published about the savvy way in which Ben and his co-founder built this billion dollar enterprise without any venture capital. But now that they have been acquired for $12 billion…you are seeing them everywhere.

This is the REAL startup story!

In this episode, you'll hear:

Ben’s early days and what led him to start MailChimp.
Ben’s thoughts on bringing capital into the business.
How he stayed the course despite competitor noise.
Tactics Ben used to acquire his first 10,000 users.
How to determine pricing and consumer tolerance in a SaaS product.
Ben’s key steps to build a $12-billion startup.
Ben’s advice to any entrepreneur who feels stuck.

Resources from this episode

Grindology Magazine: http://grindologymagazine.com/
Grindology on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/grindology

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Ben’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/benchestnut

My LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmckinney1/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

James McKinney, founder of Grindology & The Startup Story Oct 26, 2021

About this episode

In the past month or so, I’ve had a few newer listeners reach out to me asking me when I would share a bit more about my story and how I got to the point of bringing The Startup Story to market. Well, as I responded to each of those listeners, I realized that it has been almost two years since my startup story episode has been released. What I also realized is that, when we did release that episode we were sitting at around 30,000 listeners…well we are now close to 100,000 listeners so it seems like it might be advantageous to replay my story for our newer, and much larger audience.

This is also the only episode of the show where I am not the host. I could not tell my Startup Story without having my wife be part of the telling because so much of what I’ve been through has also been part of her story; and that is just the reality of marriage. There is no compartmentalizing things when you are married. As an entrepreneur, your startup plays an enormous role in your marriage…and that is why I had to have her join the show to ask me the questions that I probably wouldn’t naturally share had she not asked me.

This episode is incredibly raw!

In this episode, you'll hear:

How I watched my dad grow his side hustle into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, and how it shaped my future
Some of my early side hustles, dating all the way back to elementary school
About being kicked out at the age of 16, living on my own, and how my dad delivered discipline in an intentional way
How learning lessons of hard work and determination affected me as I continued to grow
My focus and what I wanted to do with my life and how and why I joined the Marines
About building and growing a promotional product business and recalling on the day I lost it all, and how it affected my wife

Resources from this episode

Grindology Magazine: http://grindologymagazine.com/

Grindology on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/grindology

Larry Namer, founder of E! Entertainment Television: https://www.thestartupstory.co/episodes/larry-namer-founder-of-e-entertainment-television

Ben Chestnut, co-founder of Mailchimp: https://www.thestartupstory.co/episodes/ben-chestnut-co-founder-of-mailchimp

Christina Stembel, founder of Farmgirl Flowers: https://www.thestartupstory.co/episodes/christina-stembel-founder-of-farmgirl-flowers

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

My LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmckinney1/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

How Non-Technical Founders Can Launch a Tech Startup Oct 19, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Neil Shah, a co-founder of ThinkNimble. Neil is a serial entrepreneur and technology expert and ThinkNimble is a software development agency that helps startups and socially-focused companies grow and scale.

As the show has expanded its reach, the demographic that we reach has shifted some as well. Within the last few months I have had some very early-stage founders reach out to me with some very specific questions, and many of them have been tactical in nature.

Questions like:

What does product-market fit really look like?
Are Facebook Ads still as beneficial to the startup as they used to be?
Are subscription-based businesses as great as they sound?
How can I acquire my first 1,000 customers for my SaaS solution?

Yet, despite the various questions I receive is some variation of “How can I launch a technical startup if I’m not a technical person?” Well, that is the exact question that Neil and I discuss in this week’s episode.

In this episode, you'll hear:

The reality of thinking that you are “non-technical”
Common misconceptions that non-technical founders get hung up on
How to think about your budget when building a technical solution
Can no-code solutions help you get to market
How you can move forward on your technical solution

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

ThinkNimble: https://www.thinknimble.com/

Neil’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-shah-85909714/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Eli Harris, co-founder of R-Zero Oct 12, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Eli Harris, is the co-founder of R-Zero. R-Zero is disrupting an archaic industry (disinfection), and in doing so - creating a category around health security + biosafety technology. Eli and his co-founders recognized that the COVID pandemic was going to present a massive shift in health security, much like 9/11 did for physical security.

The opportunity for Eli and the R-Zero team is enormous and we discuss this societal shift in great detail within this episode, but let me be clear…Eli’s story is not one of success without failure. R-Zero is Eli’s second startup and his first is now valued over $1 billion dollars. You read that correctly, his first startup reached the elusive “Unicorn” status. Unfortunately though, he does not get to share in that success because a little over two years ago he was pushed out and let go from the very company he built.

Within this episode we unpack how he processed that moment to get to a place where was capable and emotionally ready to begin building what, from all external signs, looks to be another Unicorn startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Eli put in tremendous work to become fluent in Mandarin Chinese and how that work led to various opportunities in mainland China.
The origin of his first startup, and how it reached a valuation of $1 billion.
The events that led to him being pushed out from that startup.
How he processed and leveraged that traumatic experience to strengthen him for the next chapter of his startup journey.
Historical perspective of the security changes brought on my the events of 9/11, and how the COVID pandemic has created a similar opportunity.
About the future growth opportunities for R-Zero and their recent acquisitions..

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

R-Zero: https://rzero.com/

Eli’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-harris-6a262164/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Joshua Wöhle, co-founder of Mindstone Oct 05, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Joshua Wöhle, CEO & co-founder of Mindstone. Mindstone is an online platform that creates the best learning pathways from the best content available online. Imagine aggregating and curating all the best articles, podcasts, videos, and anything else, to help you learn faster, remember more, and develop your skills and expertise on that given topic of interest.

In a world with unlimited access to information and resources, Joshua and the Mindstone team want to provide anyone, anywhere in the world, with the tools, confidence, and motivation to take ownership of their own learning.

The mission of Mindstone is incredibly ambitious and complex. If you are one of those startup founders, or wantrepreneurs, that find yourself a bit stuck on how to move forward because you too have a massively complex road ahead of you because of industry or technology then this is the episode for you!

In this episode, you'll hear:

How being raised by a Pastor and a Philosopher has shaped how he pursues understanding of complex questions.
Why he dropped out of University twice before he was able to complete a degree program.
What drove him to launch a startup that was centered around making the internet safe for kids, yet he had no kids.
Why he thinks solving a problem based on personal need is not the only way to sustain passion and fullfillment during the entrepreneurial journey.
Why he would leave his first startup after a massively successful exit with a globally recongnized brand.
Why the current cultural foothold held by larger institutions needs to be disrupted.
How Joshua, and the Mindstone team, seek to democratize learning and shift how self-driven learning is perceived by the Corporate & Career sector.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Book: “How we learn” by Benedict Carey - https://amzn.to/3DgB5zt

Mindstone: https://www.mindstone.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Betsy Fore, co-founder of Tiny Organics Sep 28, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Betsy Fore, co-founder of Tiny Organics. For those that might not be aware of Tiny Organics, they are an early childhood nutrition company that focuses on introducing our little ones to their first 100 flavors to kickstart a lifelong health oriented palate. In fact, Betsy says that Tiny Organics mission is to help shift the palate or our children from being sweet oriented to savory oriented. As a dad, what I heard when she described her startup this way was “Tiny Organics is going to help raise less picky kids!”

Betsy, and her co-founder Sofia, recently announced their $11 million series A so in the coming months you are truly going to see some big things out of Tiny Organics.

Betsy’s journey to Tiny Organics is incredibly diverse as it starts on a Tribal reservation and travels through the toy-making industry. Like I’ve said many times, the entrepreneurial journey is incredibly diverse.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How her indigenous roots have played a role in how she seeks to serve all those she engages.
The relevance that toy making has to childhood nutrition.
How an unsuccessful pet hardware startup provided some necessary data points for a future nutrition initiative.
What Betsy wants to do to bring increased visibility to other indigenous founders.
How we, as parents, can capitalize on the 4-7 month window in our child’s development, to increase the desirability of nutritious foods.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Betsy’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyfore/

What I learned when I failed: https://www.thestartupstory.co/episodes/james-mckinney-founder-of-the-startup-story

Tiny Organics: https://www.tinyorganics.com/
Use the code “tinystartupstory30” to receive 30% off of your first Tiny box purchase!

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Jeff Abrams, founder of Rails Sep 21, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Jeff Abrams, founder and Creative Director of Rails. For those that might not be aware of what Rails is what product they provide, allow me to enlighten you.

Rails is a global lifestyle clothing brand that has an incredibly robust women’s and men’s collection. The brand started in 2008 with just a $5,000 investment and Jeff has since grown Rails into a brand that is sold in over 40 countries through 1,500 retail partners. Since 2008, Rails has surpassed half a billion in revenue and accumulated some massively popular celebrity fans like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Gisele, and many more. In fact, his first celebrity fan was Matthew McConaughey…but I will let Jeff share that story.

In this episode, you'll hear:

The exact steps he took to bring Rails to market and how he secured his first 40 retail partners
His strategy for expanding his product catalog
How he managed capital to keep Rails bootstrapped
Why he thinks brick & mortar retail stores are a necessary channel even with a robust web presence
How he kept going in the face of repeated rejection

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Rails Clothing: https://www.railsclothing.com/
Use the code “STARTUPSTORY” to receive 15% off of your purchase

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Danny Wajcman, co-founder of Lucky Orange Sep 14, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Danny Wajcman, co-founder of Lucky Orange. For those that might not be aware of Lucky Orange, this episode will be an absolute treat for you because Lucky Orange is one of the most dynamic website analytic tools available to help you truly optimize the customer journey to increase your conversion.

Most people think of Google Analytics when it comes to website analytics, but Lucky Orange fills some in the gaps that Google Analytics doesn’t address. Google Analytics is phenomenal at telling us how a site visitor comes to our site and how they leave our site, but Lucky Orange informs us on their entire journey across our site. Lucky Orange is truly a powerful tool for conversion analytics.

In this episode, you'll hear:

The influence that his Grandparents, who survived the Holocaust, had on his life
How Danny saw a need to understand user behavior on a website, beyond just numerical metrics
About the significance and power of Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
What distinguishes an entrepreneur and a leader
How ego can impact the entrepreneurial journey and how to keep it in check

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Lucky Orange: https://www.luckyorange.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Mia Plecic, founder of Slick Hair Company Sep 07, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Mia Plecic, founder of the Slick Hair Company and branding genius who brought the Slick Stick to market in the midst of a global pandemic.

Mia is no stranger to the show and was actually our featured founder for episode 19, so she has been part of The Startup Story family from very early on! I highly encourage you to listen to her initial episode because she gets incredible raw with us as it relates to how she processed various startup failures that have occurred along her journey.

Her latest venture, the Slick Stick, is actually her 7th startup and her 6th e-commerce startup. In fact, when she was 22 she launched her first e-commerce startup and reached $30,000 in daily revenue within 6 months. But Mia’s journey was not met without challenge.

In this episode, you'll hear:

What Mia has learned coming off of her third startup failure, and what she will do differently as she builds Slick Stick.
How Tik Tok had an immediate, five-figure, daily impact to her business and brand.
Specific steps take to launch a white-labeled product with a very disciplined, and bootstrapped, approach.
How to navigate an expanded product catalog without needing investment capital.
What the future of Slick Hair Company looks like.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Mia’s very first episode of The Startup Story: https://www.thestartupstory.co/episodes/mia-plecic-founder-of-her-organics
Purchase a Slick Stick today: https://www.slickhaircompany.com
Use the code “startupstory” to receive a 10% discount on your order

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Vlad Magdalin, co-founder of Webflow Aug 31, 2021

About this episode

This week's episode features an interview with Vlad Magdalin, co-founder of Webflow. For those that may not be aware, Webflow (at its core) is a website building platform, but yet it is so much more. Webflow is a platform that has enabled thousands of designers to act as an design and development agency because Webflow allows anyone to design masterfully, and develop online engagements without any need to know how to code. In fact, just a few weeks ago we had Duncan Hamra, cofounder of Memberstack on The Startup Story. In his episode we discovered that Memberstack was built ontop of Webflow. So the reality is that Webflow is not just a website builder but an entire web and software development platform that is democratizing how web design and development is achieved.

Vlad is an incredible storyteller and you're going to love his full episode. But for me, one of my favourite aspects of his entrepreneurial journey. Is the fact that both he and his brother (who is also his co-founder) are refugees from Russia and who grew up in the Shadows of Silicon Valley. Having immigrated to the US only days before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Vlad knows quite a bit about starting over from scratch.

And aside from overcoming many personal struggles as he adapted his life to try and fit in within the United States. It also took him and his brother four separate tries to get their now two-billion-dollar company up and running.

Vlad’s story is so incredibly relatable because the startup story for many companies is not one continuous thread, sometimes it has many starts and stops and Vlad was no different.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Vlad shares how he was born in the USSR and his parents took the massive risk to move him and his siblings to America in 1991.
He shares what it was like growing up in American from the age of 9 and how he struggled with his identity and he tried to hide that he was from Russia.
When Vlad was looking to go to college his parents said he should do a computer course like his brother. He did this for one term then dropped out to go to art school to do 3D animation as he aspired to work at Pixar.
While he was at college Vlad had his first entrepreneurial venture. Vlad was using Quickdot to chat with his friends but the app crashed. So picked up a book on programming and started writing a clone of Quickdot but developed it and started ChatterFox. Here he fell in love with programming.
Vlad shares how he first came up with the idea for Webflow when he was an intern at a design agency. He accidentally saw how the company was charging their clients hundreds of thousands of dollars while Vlad was getting paid $7 an hour. This sparked his entrepreneurial flair and he wanted to fix the problem he saw and make it better for everyone involved.
Vlad shares how he pushed back starting Webflow for 6 years and experienced many ups and downs with this. He almost gave up until one day he randomly receives a trademark certificate for Webflow, that he applied for it over 5 years ago. He took this as a sign to keep going.
How he went viral on Hacker News. In less than 24 hours it was the number 1 post and went viral on Twitter. Vlad shares the posting on hacker news drove over 20,000 sign ups. When Webflow launched only 30 people out of the 20,000 paid to use the software.
Vlad shares that with those first 30 customers they started a group chat, to hear direct complaints, suggestions and requests they were making.
How they think Webflow hasn’t even scratched the surface yet of what’s to come for the website and with their Series B round completed they are on to developing Webflow.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Webflow Website: https://webflow.com/
Webflow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/webflow/
Webflow Twitter: https://twitter.com/webflow
Webflow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/webflow/

Bret Victor, Investing On Principle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUv66718DII

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Chris Ronzio, founder of Trainual Aug 24, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Chris Ronzio, founder and CEO of Trainual. If you're unfamiliar with Trainual their product is the absolute easiest way to train and grow your team. In order to grow your business you have to establish processes, and those processes need to be documented. Well, that is if you want consistent results.

Small and growing businesses across the world are using Trainual to build playbooks, train teams and scale their business. By using Trainual you can greatly accelerate your entire hiring, onboarding and training process. So that your new hires are up to speed in a full contributing fashion months ahead of schedule.

That acceleration without a loss in efficacy is exactly how good businesses become great businesses. In fact, Chris is such an advocate for helping small businesses grow and scale that he and the Trainual team host their PlayBook events series every year. So whether do you need strategies to scale big, marketing ideas that really resonate, or hot tips on anything else small business-related. Their PlayBook events series has exactly what you need. In fact, registration is free so visit PlayBook2021.com to secure your spot.

Chris will be having Gary Vaynerchuk and Shaquille O'Neal joining for this event. And if that wasn’t enough, everyone who registers will receive a copy of Chris's upcoming book titled “PlayBook.” Alright, enough for the hype Machine let's jump into the early days of Chris Ronzio's entrepreneurial journey to understand exactly how he got to where he is today.

In this episode, you'll hear:

His first entreprenurial influence was from his uncle who owns a stain glass window shop.
Chris shares how at the age of 14 he started a video company, which allowed him to have his first taste of entrepreneurship.
Exactly what Trainual is and how it helps businesses with training and creating manuals.
How a someone without formal technical training has developed one of the hottest new SaaS platforms on the market.
What metric Chris needed to see in order to make the pivot to go all-in on Trainual, after he tried to sell it off!
How Chris capitalized the business and how he was able to defer venture capital.
His thoughts on whether or not anyone can be an entrepreneur.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/
ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory
Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Trainual: https://trainual.com/grindology/
Playbook Event: http://playbook2021.com/
LYFT Marketing Automation Roadmap: https://grindologymagazine.com/mag/0633016001629394959/p6

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Melanie Travis, founder of Andie Aug 17, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Melanie Travis founder and CEO of Andie. Andie is a brand created for every woman, every activity and every body with well-fitting swimwear and intimate in sizes 0 to 26. It’s designed for the modern woman, for all of life's occasions.

I first discovered this when looking for an appropriate swimsuit for my teenage daughter. Every single suit these days is super cheeky and yes and Andie does have those suits but they truly do have a swimsuit for every activity, body and coverage preference.

I love Andie’s story, I love how Melanie came to start Andie. But I’m not going to spoil it for you because she is a masterful storyteller and this episode is packed with some tremendous learnings!

In this episode, you'll hear:

About her childhood, where she had no clue what to do with her life and entered college pursuing comparative literature, but found herself bored out of her mind.
While she was at college she found her love for film, before going to grad school she moved to Vienna where she would travel around Europe creating mini-films in which she sent off to get into film grad school. She can now see the similarities between film directing and running a business.
She shares how she funded her first film using the Kickstarter platform. While fundraising there she loved the idea of what Kickstarter could do for creators everywhere and then joined the company.
The origin story of Andie and how it all started in an attempt to solve a "horrendous" shopping experience.
With this little bit of market research and validation from her colleague, she continued to research the swimwear market. When she found enough validation she told her boss, Matt Meeker, she wanted to start her own company. He then provided her with desk space to pursue her passion, and in 4 months her business was up and running.
How she funded Andie via Kickstarter campaign
The power of storytelling and why that matters more than physical product when it comes to preorders or market validation.
How she pivoted the business model within the first few months.
Why her collaboration with Demi Moore was the perfect fit to bring Andie to the next-level.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

Read Grindology: http://grindologymagazine.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Gardyn Giveaway: https://thestartupstory.co/Gardyn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andieswim/

Website: https://andieswim.com/

Fit quiz: https://andieswim.com/pages/fit-finder

AskWonder: https://askwonder.com/

Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Robert Brunner, founder of Ammunition and Chief Designer for Beats by Dre Aug 10, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Robert Brunner, founder of Ammunition and Chief Designer of Beats by Dre. Robert has designed some of the most iconic products that you and I have integrated into our everyday lives. He built Apple’s very first Internal Design Studio. He designed the Ember mug which we featured on The Startup Story last month.

He completely redesigned how we view retail point of sale systems when he designed the Square card reader, as well as, the Square POS unit. He even led the design of the June smart-oven. But it doesn’t stop there! Do you remember when Lyft drivers had those fuzzy pink mustaches attached to their cars. When Lyft wanted to evolve from the pink stache they reached out to Robert, and the end result were those highly colorful LED amp and glowstaches that sat on the dash of the Lyft driver’s vehicle.

Like I said, Robert has worked on so many iconic products that have impacted all of our lives and his Startup Story episode is amazing!

In this episode, we talk a lot about design and how every single entrepreneur needs to think about user-centric design, regardless of what it is you are working on. Whether you have a technology solution, consumer packaged good, a hardware product, or have a service-based industry. User-centric design also known as user experience, matters to all of us and Robert shares his lifelong learning with us today.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Robert grew up in a very entrepreneurial, and very design driven household.
Once Robert left school and started in engineering this pleased his dad but the program didn’t resonate with Robert. So he rebelled and changed course to industrial design.
After college, Robert went to work at a design consultant where he learned a lot about how to deal with clients and developed his desire to launch his own company.
When working for his company, Luna, he started to work with Apple as a client. In this season, Robert was offered a job with Apple but turned them down. He later joined Apple because he had the opportunity to build Apple’s very first internal design studio.
Robert shares how he was at Apple for 9 years but left and went to work for Pentagram, as Pentagram was looking for an industrial design as a partner.
In 2007, Robert left Pentagram to start his current company, Ammunition.
Robert shares what it was like working with Jimmy Lovine and Dr. Dre to launch Beats by Dr. Dre.
How Dr. Dre wanted to create headphones that were made to hear the music exactly how he created it but also it to be designed for a look that was inline with the current generation.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Gardyn Giveaway: https://thestartupstory.co/Gardyn

Intro shout-out: https://wearecapto.com/

Ammunition: https://ammunitiongroup.com/

Robert Brunner’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertdbrunner/

Ammunition’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ammunitiongroup/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Duncan Hamra, co-founder of Memberstack Aug 03, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Duncan Hamra, founder of Memberstack. For those who might not be aware, Memberstack is a credentialing or user account solution, for those that would much rather leverage a polished solution and then try and code their own user-access flow.

If you have content that you want to put behind a user account, Memberstack can solve that for you. Or if you are building a mobile app and you want to allow user-centric customization, Memberstack can be a key part of that flow with a very simple setup. But what I didn't know about Memberstack until this interview, is how unique their entrepreneurial journey is as compared with the 140 found episodes I’ve had thus far.

This is our first Startup Story episode featuring a product that launched on Product Hunt and Memberstack made it to become a featured product. This is the first episode featuring a technical solution where the vision for growth, is not about exponential growth or chasing a unicorn moniker. And it is definitely the first episode where the founder pushes to ensure that people don't work over 40 hours a week. We discuss all of these topics in great.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Duncan was raised in a very supportive household in Virgina, his family originally came from Lebanon. He shares how growing up he would go to family parties where everyone would talk about their businesses.
How he met his co-founder Tyler in kindergarten and from a young age always wanted to build things together and started their first company in high school. He shares how in ninth grade, they would get up every morning at 5 am, and do things before school started to make money. Then later started listening to Pat Flynn’s podcast about creating online business and this sparked their curiosity.
Duncan explains what Memberstack is and how it is a credentialing or user account solution, for those that would much rather leverage of polished solution and then try and code their own user access flow.
Memberstack was founded in 2018 and he explains that by building Mamberstac by themselves they could constantly develop it.
They originally started to build this just for themself but then realized they stumbled on something really big.
Duncan shares how he accidentally arrived at a VC fundraising meeting.
He shares how he successfully launched his product on Product Hunt and how he reached being the number 1 product. He gives tips on how he uses his friend and clients to help them grow on Product Hunt.
He shares how he makes sure that everyone on the team has an even work-life balance and doesn’t push his team to work over 40 hours.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Gardyn Giveaway: https://thestartupstory.co/Gardyn

Memberstack: https://www.Memberstack.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

Lindsay McCormick, founder of Bite Jul 27, 2021

About this episode

My guess is Lindsay McCormick, founder Bite. Bite is an all-natural, zero waste, tube free, toothpaste tablet. And not only did Lindsay take something as common as toothpaste and make it more environmentally friendly, by altering its shape and packaging. But she made it healthier for us as well because Bite toothpaste tablets are 100% vegan, gluten-free and cruelty free. In fact, Lindsay is on a mission to grow into the world's most sustainable personal care company.

Lindsay was named by Fast Company as one of the most creative people in business and started Bite in her living room; because she was tired of creating so much trash every time she traveled for TV shows. But what's interesting is that until my discussion with her I never realized the environmental impact of the TSA regulations that changed after the events of 9/11. I mean think about that, everyone who relies on not checking in luggage is forced to travel with travel size containers of toothpaste and hair products and even skin products. I did some basic research and the retail footprint for travel size products has doubled because of a change in travel requirements.

Now you are going to love Lindsay’s episode because she gets super tactical and discusses the early days of Bite, as well as her preparation for being on ABC hit show SharkTank.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Growing up Lindsay was always super passionate about the environment and even became vegetarian at 7 years old.
Lindsay always had a love for the media and with her job she was travelling all the time. When traveling she had reusable shampoo and face wash, but she was going through so many tubes of toothpaste. Lindsay wanted to stop this, and that became the orgin of Bite.
Lindsay started researching toothpaste, how it is made, how it is tested on animals and how it ends up in landfills. With this she started to make her own toothpaste, but only thought she would make it to solve her own problem and not build it into a business.
Lindsay shared how she started elevating the company by buying a $1000 tablet machine and started selling the toothpaste tablets on Shopify and Etsy.
Lindsay shares how she launched Bite in late 2017 early 2018 with a mission to help and educate people about toothpaste and support the low waste/vegan communities.
In 2018 she had $6000 dollars in sales after one of her videos went viral and immediately started selling hundres of thousands in product.
From that video, the production team from ABC’s Shark Tank reached out to invite them to an audition.
How her company grew through the pandemic as more people wanted a subscription service.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Gardyn Giveaway: https://thestartupstory.co/gardyn

Bite: https://bitetoothpaste.com/

Jaime Schmidt’s episode: https://www.thestartupstory.co/episodes/jaime-schmidt-founder-of-schmidt-s-naturals

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible in sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. So please keep sharing!

FX Rouxel, founder of Gardyn Jul 20, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is FX Rouxel, founder and inventor of Gardyn. Gardyn is re-envisioning how consumers like you and I look at our relationship of food and its production. The Gardyn unit is amazing, it has a super small footprint and can fit anywhere in your home, apartment, and even your office.

Now while the design of the unit is remarkable the technology is groundbreaking. The Gardyn technology is a cross between aeroponic and hydroponic technologies. In fact, they trademarked the term Hybriponic™, because it combines the benefits of both systems.

This benefit allows you to swap plants in and out much like you probably already do with your k-cups or Nespresso pods for your morning coffee. The Gardyn unit uses sophisticated cameras and sensors to capture all the details of the plants. These cameras and sensors analyze the plants development, to ensure that the produce is healthy and expertly tended to. So your lack of a greentherm will not be a hindrance at all. What's amazing about all of this, is the amount of produce that can be grown within a small footprint.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How FX grew up in the suburbs of Paris, his Mother was a civil servant and father worked for the government. At a young age he aspired to travel the world and wanted to use his love for technology to solve big problems.
FX shares he pursued his passion to become a scientist but also had an entrepreneurial flare. His first taste of entrepreneurship was interning in a startup where he was using radio-frequency to make a difference. His next internship was in California.
In the early 2000 the talks of climate change were happening and he wanted to get involved and started working in the Nuclear industry. FX shares how Nuclear can help with climate change and that 80% of France’s power comes from Nuclear energy and as a result the CO2 footprint was reduced.
After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, FX wanted to pursue a new project and moved to America. While he was living there FX started training for. This is where he discovered the rubbish that goes into fast food and wanted a clean diet. This sparked his engineering and entrepreneurial flair to seek to bring change to this area. He already had the technology to solve this. The final piece of the puzzle was when he was in Montreal he saw that you can grow food vertically and then it all came together.
FX shares how he created a food revolution through perfecting Hydroponic™ technology, Gardyn helps people produce a tremendous amount of food in a small footprint.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Gardyn Giveaway: https://www.thestartupstory.co/gardyn

Gardyn Website: https://mygardyn.com/
Use promo code “startupstory” to get $150 discount

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Helena Murphy, founder of Raising Partners Jul 13, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Helena Murphy, founder of Raising Partners. Raising Partners is an investing firm seeking to make it easier for startups to raise early-stage capital. They do this through expert guidance and direct connections with her wide network of investors.

Helena, and the Raising Partners team, boast a 98% success rate on fully managed campaigns. They have helped brands like Thread, Equipsme, Penfold and many raise about $41 million, or £30 millions for my UK listeners.

You and I both know, or have at least heard, that there is money out there to be had and is ready to invest. Yet there are also tens of thousands of startups pitching their decks hoping to get a chance to pitch in person. Well, much like anything else in this world, who you know truly does matter. And Helena has built a business around helping startups and making introductions to those that she knows and the network is extensive.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Helena shares how she grew up in a small town in Glasgow from a working-class family. Her parents had split when she was young and she didn’t experience entrepreneurship until she was older.
Helena shares how she has always been driven to do better and at the age of 8 knew that she wanted to study at St Andrew’s University. She worked from a young age to save up and to be able to support her dream and when she found out she got in she left her small town.
At University she did a degree in Sustainable Development and in her final year she had her first entrepreneurial experience though Entrepreneurial Scotland. With this, she had the opportunity to go to America and work in a startup. This sparked her entrepreneurial interest and when she returned home she knew she wanted to start her own startup. Helena started an Ecommerce business selling sustainable clothing.
She shares how she made multiple mistakes which lead to the company folding. This took a toll on her mental and physical health but she quickly picked herself up and was determined once again to find the root of the problem. Helena spent 12 months speaking to investors about why the company failed and how she could have prevented it. The answer was that she didn’t know how to keep track of the bottom line data and numbers.
Helena shared how she took this information and started to help other people with their startups for free, then with the vast amount of clients approaching her for her help she was able to monetize the business. With this, her company organically grew through word and mouth.
She shares how Raising Partners is helping startups in all areas of investment, from creating exciting and informative pitch decks to understanding why investors don’t invest.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Entrepreneurial Scotland: https://www.entrepreneurialscotland.com/

Raising Partners: https://raisingpartners.com/

Runway: https://runway.raisingpartners.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Geige Vandentop, co-founder of StreamYard Jul 06, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Geige Vandentop, co-founder and CEO of StreamYard. For those that are not aware of StreamYard, they are a livestream platform that allows broadcasters and creators to automatically distribute your video feed to numerous popular platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and even LinkedIn.

As you can imagine their business blew up in a huge way in 2020 as events all over the world were being cancelled, and brands were trying to figure out had a move their engagement online. Well, they responded to the demand successfully and in 2021 they completed the sale of the business to Hopin for around 250 million in cash and stock.

There are various online articles that speak about the acquisition and one of them from TechCrunch actually shares that the time of acquisition Stream Yard has scaled itself to 30 million in annual revenue and they had zero external capital. That is an amazing accompanishment and Geige will unpack his journey in this episode.

In fact, the StreamYard journey is a very quick one, because it was just three to four years from concept to acquisition. So for anyone who has tried to launch a technical solution that timeline has to impress you, and so will his entire startup story journey.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Geige didn’t grow up around entrepreneurs. Instead he followed his fathers path and pursued math and science. This led him to do an electrical engineering degree.
Geige explains that he didn’t like his degree but did enjoy the internship they were sent on, especially his internship at Intel where he met his Co Founder Dan. These Internships provided them with their first entrepreneurial experience. Together they built a music visualizer but the major flaw in their product is that they didn’t speak to customers.
Geige explains how they came up with StreamYard, he shares how they did loads of market research and user testing before writing a single line of code.
How Geige and his co-fonder focused on ensuring that StreamYard was always customer-centric. To the point that every week they would livestream so they could directly to their customers.
Geige explains how they weren’t planning on selling their company but the partnership with Hopin was perfect. He explains that in a 3 to 4 year window the idea was conceived, the solution was developed, the business was scaled and the acquisition was negotiated.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/

Hopin: https://hopin.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Elizabeth Stein, founder of Purely Elizabeth Jun 29, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Elizabeth Stein, founder of Purely Elizabeth. Purely Elizabeth is one of the top natural food brands in the United States. In fact, they are the Premier granola brand in the Natural Foods Category and Top 10 Granola in all categories. Purely Elizabeth is a really big deal and aside from the brand's significance, Elizabeth's entrepreneurial journey is significant because it's so relatable to every single one of us. Elizabeth never thought her side hustle would turn into her full time job, let alone become a multi-million dollar company.

That said, within this episode, Elizabeth shares with me four really important considerations that we all need to be aware of when launching a CPG brand. But let me be clear, these are not about product packaging design, or logistics, or even how to reach out to buyers. You can find that info all over the internet and even in some of my past videos and podcast episodes. No, the things Elizabeth shares in this video are considerations that I have never heard before as it relates to launching a CPG brand.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Elizabeth shares how she always had a desire to build a business or lead a large organization. This influence came from her watching her Dad and Grandad run their own businesses and later observing her mother starting her own company.
When she was in college, she identified that there was a health and wellness problem and a lack of healthy products in America. This sparked her curiosity but she left it for a few years.
While working for a handbag company, she started running marathons. This allowed her to practice goal setting. With this new hobby she continued on her path of health and wellness and went back to school to study holistic nutrition. She learned how food is medicine for the body.
While she was studying holistic nutrition she started helping clients cook with amazing nutritious ingredients like Coconut salt and Chia seeds. She then went on to promote her nutrition service at the Westchester Triathalon. To promote her services she made a batch of blueberry muffins that sold out and everyone was asking where they could buy more. At the end of the day she switched from trying to sell her nutrition service, to creating a mailing list that would provide where they could get the muffins next.
In 2008 she launched Purely Elizabeth, a food company creating products with the most innovative and rich ingredients and making taste number one. Their mission is to help people thrive on their wellness journey through granola, oatmeal, and pancake mix.
She returned to the triathalon in 2009 with the Purely Elizabeth muffin and pancake mix and sold out. The Daily Candy reached out and wrote a feature in their newsletter of the company and in a few hours she received $10,000 in orders.
She even shares how she accidently came up with their signature Granola mix which went on to be the Premier granola brand in the natural foods category and top 10 granola and all categories.
Key points of consideration when developing a CPG brand

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Purely Elizabeth: https://purelyelizabeth.com/

Grindology shoutout: https://rmstechspa.com/

Ember Giveaway: https://www.thestartupstory.co/ember

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Clay Alexander, founder of Ember Jun 22, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Clay Alexander, the inventor and founder of Ember. Ember is a temperature control brand that seeks to disrupt how the world eats, drinks and lives. Their very first product was a Travel Mug and was launched in 100 Starbucks locations. Since their launch they have expanded to other product lines.

Clay has an incredible founder story that I hope more people discover because I think it brings encouragement and inspiration to so many. Let me be clear, when I say "encouragement" I am not talking about the type of fuzzy-feelings you get when you receive a Hallmark card. I'm talking about the actual meaning of the word "encourage", to place courage inside of. That is what Clay's story will deliver to you, courage to keep moving forward despite the obstacles or challenges you might be up against.

See Clay grew up incredibly poor, in fact to use his words "dirt poor." Aside from his economic challenges he was diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia, and he still is. Yet despite all these challenges he has founded two amazing companies and invented numerous patented products, that I'm sure when the story is over will deliver well beyond $1-billion in revenue. I know this episode will quickly become one of your favorites but like all other founder episodes we need to start at the very beginning.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Clay's upbringing was not one where entrepreneurship was an inevitable journey for him. In fact, everything about his upbringing would have pointed towards obtaining a steady 9-5 job to help simply put food on the table.
About how his creative and inventive mind was at work from a young age and how he even replicated the famous Inspector Gadget bicycle, including switches for smoke screens
The journey through college helped set the stage for him to refine his lighting expertise and led to his inventing the brightest LED bulb in the world
The steps he took to negotiate a licensing deal with GE for that very bulb he invented
How cold scrambled eggs became the catalyst for the first temperature controlled coffee mug on the planet
The reason why the Ember mug, iPhone, Macbook Pro, and Apple iPad all look so good together
Why any inventor or entrepreneur should never accept the answer of "No" as final and complete
Clay unpack the future of Ember and the various industries that will benefit from his many temperature control solution ideas

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Ember website: https://ember.com/

Ember Giveaway: https://www.thestartupstory.co/ember

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

The most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Tell another entrepreneurial friend of yours about the podcast. Word of mouth is EVERYTHING to a startup!
Share your favorite episode link on your LinkedIn profile.

Jason Y Lee, founder of Jubilee Media Jun 15, 2021

About this episode

Jason Y Lee is the founder of Jubilee Media, which launched in 2010 with a goal of creating a movement of empathy and connection. While most media brands play for entertainment and devisiveness, Jubilee is desiring to swim against the current for human good.

In this episode, Jason shares openly and honestly about the personal journey he went through to understand what it was that he knew he was supposed to be doing with his life. He had an incredible job working for Bain Capital at the time, and his original co-founder of his first venture, that preceded Jubilee Media, was his brother who was a staffer for President Obama. To make a career decision like leaving those positions, he had to be all-in on his pursuit and purpose. Yet like so many entrepreneurs you never really learn how all-in you are, until it all starts unraveling, and Jason shares all of it in this episode.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Jason was born and raised in America by his Korean parents who immigrated to America. His partners pushed his brother and himself into traditional careers to provide job security for when they were older.
Jason shares how he stumbled into entrepreneurship while he was working as a consultant at Bain Capital. They were being shown pictures of the disastrous earthquake in Haiti. Jason wanted to raise money as quickly as possible so went and busked. This sparked his idea of creating video content to raise awareness and the Jubilee Project was launched as a non-profit organization.
Jason explains how he convinced his brother to leave his job, as a staffer for President Obama, to cofound Jubilee Project with another friend who dropped out of Harvard to join as well. This path lasted for a few years before it all unravelled.
Jason shares his journey and process he went through to figure out a path forward after his cofounders left.
Jason's story is one of understanding your personal value proposition and clarity of mission.
Most founders truly do believe they are fully dedicated to their mission, until it all "hits the fan". It is in that moment you will see who is "in it to win it"

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

Ember Giveaway: https://www.thestartupstory.co/ember

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Jubilee Media: https://www.jubileemedia.com/
Jubilee Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJjSDX-jUChzOEyok9XYRJQ
Jubilee's Tribeca Submission: https://tribecafilm.com/films/accepted-2021

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Borya Shakhnovich, co-founder and CEO of airSlate Jun 08, 2021

About this episode

My guess this week is Borya Shakhnovich, co-founder and CEO of airSlate. AirSlate is a no-code business automation platform. The term ‘no-code’ is incredibly popular right now, and to be honest, I think it is completely misunderstood. I mean there is an actual startup out there that has ads speaking about being able to build another Airbnb platform using no-code. It only takes some preliminary research to know that claim is a bit of an overstatement. Well in Borya’s episode, we discuss what no-code is; what are the limitations and even what economic shifts can no code platform like airSlate bring to the world.

In this episode, you'll hear:

He shares how his lifelong desire to work on something that had a real impact in the world led him to founding airSlate.
He shares how important marketing is for a company, as it isn’t true that ‘if you build it they will come’. With this he combined his first company’s marketing platform with pdfFiller’s product. With this they grew the business to 80 million users, with 30 million monthly users and bootstrapped it to 18 million and then got 40 million in Series A investment.
airSlate was launched in 2020 at the start of the pandemic under the same company as pdfFiller. Borya wanted to cut the costs of API and management for small businesses without making them write code.
airSlate creates hundreds of different bots that can do an array of possibilities to cut down on time and money without writing a single line of code.
He shares how he believes technology that creates an economy upon its platform always wins.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory
Ember Give Away: https://mailchi.mp/thestartupstory/ember

airSlate: https://www.airslate.com

pdfFiller: https://www.pdffiller.com

signNow: https://www.signnow.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Ariela Safira, founder and CEO of REAL Jun 01, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Ariela Safira, founder and CEO of Real. Real is a mental health care company, building a new therapy model. Real offers a digital membership for $28 a month, which gives members access to a suite of mental health products and services. In addition to the monthly mental checking, it's a pretty remarkable story so make sure to visit join – real.com.

Ariela shares that she started Real because a close friend attempted suicide. In this episode of course we talk about her journey to founding Real but we also talked a lot about what mental health is, and why is the US so Illiterate when it comes to mental health.

In this episode, you'll hear:

She shares how the perserverance and influence of her immigrant parents helped shape her curiosity and work ethic
How the suicidal attempt of her friend had a lasting impact on her life and her desire to shape the mental health industry
How the impact of COVID forced a shift in her launch plans in order to meet the increased demand for services
Why the US is so illeterate when it comes to mental health and how we, as a culture, can make real change
She shares her own battles with mental health as a founder
What success looks like to her

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Ember Giveaway: https://www.thestartupstory.co/ember
Sponsor Movo: https://movo.cash/

Real: https://www.join-real.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

UPDATE EPISODE: Christina Stembel, founder of Farmgirl Flowers May 25, 2021

About this episode

If you've been around The Startup Story for any length of time, then you probably know that many times I ask my founder guests something along the lines of "If we were doing a where are they now episode in 3 to 5-years, where would your brand be?" Well this episode is kind of like our first "where are they now episodes". It has only been a year, but I think we can all agree the last year felt like 5 years all rolled into one. I’m so excited to bring this update episode featuring Christina Stembel the founder of Farmgirl flowers. I am such a fan girl of Christina and it’s because her story is truly one of resilience, grit, and excellence in execution.

For those who might not know her story, she pitched more than 100 investors and every single one of them told her no. Yet she continues on, and has now built the business that is marching towards the $100 Million in revenue mark. It's an amazing story! But we’re not going to go into her backstory in this episode. In this episode we talk about the last 12-months of her business, all the lessons she learned about herself, the team, the brand, and what adjustments she had to make in order to survive.

In this episode, you'll hear:

What her profit margin is like at her various revenue milestones.
Christina tells us that she gave the company one year to increase profitability and get up to 10% net.
She explains how February (before the pandemic hit) was extremely challenging as she and her husband got a divorce.
Christina shares that luckily just before the pandemic she had just launched Ecuador and was able to transfer the orders to her South America team.
She shares how she first thought the company wouldn’t make it through to the pandemic and estimated that they would last eight weeks in any scenario. When she came to this conclusion this kicked in her fight-or-flight mentality and she knew she was going to fight her way through the pandemic.
In 2020 she opened additional 2 distribution centers in Ecuador and Miami. With orders being moved to Ecuador she had to give a 2 day crash course to train the employees (who usually plant flowers) on how to make bouquets, all in spanish.
She shares how she opened 4 fulfillment centers, where they trained the farm's workers how to ship the flowers for them. Since then they have opened 5 more.
Christina shares how she keeps her head and heart straight despite the varying stress that she walks through.
She shares how the shipping partners they used for Farmgirl Flowers used covid as an excuse to not honor their money back guarantee. This put her company in jeopardy.
She shares how she started creating video to connect with the customers, as it was the most efficient and direct way to communicate. She also created weekly video updates and video tutorials of flower arranging to give back to her community.
Christina shares how Farmgirl Flowers is not great at marketing but great at brand, which means she only spends 1% on marketing and PR.
She shares how she is transparent to her community about everything that goes on behind the scenes.
Christina shares how her team is over 70% women and she would like to get on site childcare.
She shares the struggles of being a female founder, and how people don’t extend the same level of respect to her as they do her male founder counterparts.

Resources from this episode

Secure your Q2 issue of Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Christina Stembel, Founder of Farmgirl Flowers: https://www.thestartupstory.co/episodes/christina-stembel-founder-of-farmgirl-flowers

Farmgirl Flowers: https://farmgirlflowers.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Matt Meeker, co-founder of BARK May 18, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Matt Meeker, Co-founder of Bark, and while the Bark’s name itself might not cause your ears to perk up in excitement for what's to come in this episode.

Bark’s various product lines are household names. Their flagship product being BarkBox, with over 1.7 million active BarkBox subscribers, BarkBox is the Premier subscription dog toy and treat service. In addition to BarkBox, Bark has various product lines that can be found in over 23,000 retail outlets. Matts entire episode is chock full of value because his journey and his experiences are so extensive.

To start with Matt was one of the digital advertising pioneers, and we discuss what digital advertising was like long before the days of Facebook ads. Matt was also a Co-founder of Meetup, which eventually sold the WeWork for $156 million in 2017. And now in 2021, Matt and the Bark leadership team are navigating the SPAC landscape to bring Bark to the public markets. As I said, Matts episode covers quite a bit of ground and I'm super pumped to bring it to you. But with that said while I know, you're excited to hear his insights into SPAC’s and all things subscription-related we need to start at the very beginning.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How he grew up in a small town in Iowa with his parents who were very different. His father was a conservative accountant and his mother a rebel who encouraged him to form his path.
How he was entrepreneurial from a young age, at school he had many side hustles like running the schools poker games and selling red cups to buy beer.
How he played Racquetball competitively and went on to play at the National Tournament.
Matt went to the University of Minnesota but only lasted one quarter as he only went because everyone expected him to go.
How Matt dropped out of college and joined the Navy and became a weather observer.
Matt went back to university and paid his way through in cash.
After college he joined a Digital Ad Agency in March 1997, the company focused on getting traffic from the website to the store. They had big companies like Disney, Capital One and Discover.
Matt explains what digital advertising was like in 2000.
He shares that the Ad company was very successful but he did sell it, with this he joined forces with one of the companies investors to start a new company.
Matt explains that his next company wasn’t successful and it was all down to the execution of the business. The company had more money they knew what to do with and hired big names in the business world but never made a real product or spoke to a customer.
Matt shares how the founder of the Ad agency Scott started talking about the next business venture.
Matt shares how Scott and himself started Meetup, a company trying to encourage people to get out of their house and meet people online. They also wanted to change the negative narrative of meeting people online.
How Matt and Scott hired their CTO for Meetup from a listing they put on Craigslist.
Matt shares that he left Meetup because it was getting too big with 45 employees and he didn’t want the stress of it.
Matt founded Barkbox in September 2011 and never thought it would grow to over 735 employees.
Matt shares that he started Barkbox as he was living in New York with his Great Dane Hugo, when they went into a pet shop there was nothing for big dogs.
He shares that Groupon brought in half of their customers in the first year.
Matt shares how BarkBox has further developed into different sections like SuperHuman, Bark Bright, Bark Eats and Bark Home.
How BarkBox developed its own dog food as they wanted dogs to be fed as an individual.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Sponsor Movo: https://movo.cash/

Bark HQ: https://bark.co/
BarkBox: https://www.barkbox.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

David Barnett, founder of PopSockets May 11, 2021

About this episode

This week's episode my guest this week is David Barnett the inventor and founder of PopSockets, now I know you know what a PopSocket is because they just sold their 200 millionth grip.

The brand PopSockets are so much more than just the accordion PopGrips they launched with. PopSockets now have an entire catalogue of products that are all designed to increase the functionality of our devices.

In fact, this past March Fast company honored PopSockets as one of the most innovative companies in the world.

Now here's the crazy part about the PopSocket story, did you know that it all started while David, who was a philosophy professor at the time, got tired of having his earbud cord get tangled. In fact, he first tried to solve his problem by gluing buttons on the back of his iPhone 3. But before we can even get to the part where he glues buttons on his iPhone 3, we need to start about 20 years earlier to fully understand where his journey begins.

In this episode, you'll hear:

David shares how he was not raised by entrepreneurs but did take to being an entrepreneur at the early age of 12.
How at the end of High school he turned to having fun and had no big plans apart from business in the future.
He took philosophy course at collage then went to physics as he enjoyed it.
David share that he was working as a Philosophy Professor when he stumbled across a problem with his iPhone earbuds that kept on tangling. This sparked his entrepreneurial flare to start PopSockets.
He explains how he first tried to solve this problem by sticking buttons to his phone case.
David shares that when he showed the product to people they laughed and dismissed him but this only drove him to want to do it more.
David shares how he wanted his Kick Starter Campaign to stand out so he made a dance video.
How he launched his company in 2014 and it had a lot of traction.
How he had many issues with the manufacturer, who would change the pattern of the design without tell him and deliver the wrong product.
He shares how as the company was growing it changed from just being a side business to being his full-time job.
How the impact of celebrities and middle school children were pushing the rapid growth of the product.
How he didn’t have a buyer persona and everyone with an iPhone was his customer.
He shares how he did no marketing or advertising and the business at the begining was very scrappy.
David shares how he would go to consumer market shows and pitch to everyone walking past. This got his foot in the door with Sam’s club,Best Buy and T-Mobile.
He shares that his first big break was T-Mobile, which had a huge operational impact of the company.
David shares how he sold their 200 millionth grip the 7th year of business and was names the 2nd fasted growing company with a growth of 72,000%
David shares how trade shows really helped his success and got him on the map.
He shares the positive impact of influencers and the companies first influencer was Jenna Marbels
How he hired people in the beginning with no business experience but people who could solve problems
David shares how Plant based PopGrips are currently being made. These pop sockets will be 100% decomposable and the ingredients they use to create them are grown by them
He shares the technology side of Pop Sockets with their app.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Sponsor Movo: https://movo.cash/

Pop Socket website - https://www.popsockets.com
Pop Socket app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/popsockets-make-print-art/id1455513437
Kickstarter video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35CFb9q1rJw

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Renae Bluitt, Creator & Executive Producer of She Did That May 04, 2021

About this episode

This week's episode my guest this week is Renae Bluitt, creator of the “She Did That” platform that produces the “She Did That" podcast, as well as she, did that documentary, of which Renae was the executive producer.

“She Did That” focuses on telling the stories of brands and businesses that are founded by black female founders. The “She Did That” documentary can currently be found on Netflix, but it's going away soon so try to view it there. But if you don't get there in time you can also be found on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Vimeo, and YouTube. It is a remarkable documentary that speaks to some challenging topics that are unique to the black female founder experience. A few of those topics are topics that we get to unpack in good detail on this episode. Topics like whether the consumer behavior of black consumers contributes to the venture capital challenges that black founders face.

But long before she even conceived the idea of the “She Did That” platform, her entrepreneurial journey began in an Indiana funeral home.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Renae shares how she grew up in Indiana, in her family funeral business.
As she grew up she saw her the highs and lows of her Grandfather and Father’s entrepreneur journey.
When she went to Illinois State University and it was there that she knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur.
Moved to Chicago after college and worked in PR.
Started her own PR firm Crush Media where she worked with beauty brands.
Started the “In Her Shoes” blog, where she told the stories about many incredible Black Female entrepreneurial stories and gave people the chance to walk the women’s shoes.
Renae shares how black female entrepreneurs have fewer opportunities in business but, in particular, with getting Venture Capital.
She shares how black-owned businesses are highly supported by the black community.
Renae shares how the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs is Black female entrepreneurs.
How black women in corporate position are helping younger black women get into those roles.
Renae explains that she wanted to create the documentary to tell the Black female narrative.
She shares that she started thinking about filming the documentary while she was living in New York and she had people around her to produce the film.
Renae explains that they took the documentary on a tour all around the country.
She Screened it in Ghana Africa, for a large group of black female entrepreneurs.
Renae shares how Ghana is the 2nd largest country for black female entrepreneurs.
Renae shares the lack of funding for black owned businesses and what she is doing to stop this.
She shares the future of "She Did That" platform.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Live Founder Q&A: https://live.grindology.com/

Sponsor Movo: https://movo.cash/app

She Did That documentary (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81194454
She Did That documentary (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud95UtT61xw

She Did That Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-did-that/id1556261212
She Did That Website: https://shedidthatfilm.com
In Her Shoe’s Blog: https://inhershoesblog.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Renata Black, co-founder of EBY Apr 27, 2021

About this episode

This week's episode my guest this week is Renata Black, co-founder and thong slinger of EBY. I reached out to her as her entire founder story and the origin of EBY is based on micro-financing women businesses across the globe. So while the underwear might be super-hot and sexy, it was the fact that she was redirecting the power of seduction to empower female entrepreneurship. And that is what makes this story amazing.

So with that said, Renata’s story has a lot of interesting layers to it. Including partnerships with Sophia Vergara and Deepak Chopra. We even discuss her time studying under a Nobel Peace Prize winner, as well as organizing luxury lingerie shows. But despite the intrigue that those bullet points might arouse, Renata’s story has an origin like no other founder story we have ever told before.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How her parents were killed in a plane crash when she was a baby and was left with her Grandma who neglected her.
She shares how her Aunt and Uncle kidnapped her from Grandma and took her to America to provide her with a better life.
How in high school she had an identity crisis and wanted to return to Columbia to find roots.
She lived by herself in Columbia at 15, when she was there she realized her Aunt and Uncle made the best decision for her moving to American and she asked herself “what is the best use of my life”
She shares how she saved all her money to go back to America and studied really hard and got a scholarship to college.
After college, she went travelling around the world and would volunteer.
She shares that when travelling she found out the people she was helping didn’t want the free products, they wanted to learn and be able to make their own money.
Renata shares how she met Muhammad Yunus and he shows her how they were helping women through microfinance.
How she lived in India for 2 years building the Seven Bars Foundation, providing women with the microfinance program.
Renata shares how she wanted to redirect the power of seduction.
She shares how The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra was very inspirational for her, and when she heard he was looking for a foundation to help she wrote to him and he came and spoke at one of her shows.
She shares how the former CEO of Victoria's Secret Grace Nichols, heard what she was doing and wanted to support you and took her to the factory and taught her everything she knows.
Renata shares how in 2017 she lived in the factory for 3 months, as she needed to really understand the whole production.
How EBY Launched 2018 in really small stores and she would go and watch to see how women shopped for underwear to understand her customers buying habits.
Renata shares how Sophia Vergara helped Co-found EBY.
Renata shares how when the pandemic hit America she asked her customers what they needed and wanted from the company, and EBY pushed forward to deliver on those needs.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

The Startup Story Live event: https://live.grindology.com/

Light Ray Solutions website https://lightraysolutions.com/thestartupstory/

Join EBY: https://shop.join-eby.com/
Discount code 20% off: startupstory

The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra: https://amzn.to/3sSNNP9

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Michael Sharon, co-founder of Taika Apr 20, 2021

About this episode

This week's episode my guest this week is Michael Sharon, Co-founder of Taika. Taika is a stealth health brand that is looking to take CPG products that are consumed by millions of people every day and redesign them to be delicious and truly healthy for you. The brand has tremendous opportunities within many product categories but they're starting with coffee. They take 5 adaptogenic herbs that they bring to you in the coffee and it helps deliver focus and energy to your daily life.

What stood out to me was their packaging, but Michael’s story is incredible!

His story unpacks how he moved from South African and made his way to New York only to discover just how far behind our mobile technology was in 2002 especially as compared to the rest of the world.

This prompted Michael to launch his first mobile start-up. Now you might be asking ‘how does a mobile technology expert get to a place with launching a coffee brand?’, and well that is a great question and one that finds its answers through the halls of Facebook's headquarters in Silicon Valley but much like every start-up Story we need to start at the very beginning and Michael’s beginning is not like any other story that we have ever unpacked before.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Michael was born in Israel then moved to South Africa as a child to a cult
How by the age of 10, he opted out of the cult when he found his love for video games and computers. But kept the vegetarian lifestyle until he was 38.
Michael shared how growing up he didn’t have a clear idea what his future would be, but he knew it would be related to computers.
How Michael went to University in South Africa and originally studied Computer science, mathematics, English literature and Astronomy. But he lost interest in computer science as it wasn’t challenging enough and ultimately, switched his degree to a degree in psychology and law but kept English literature.
While at University he was in a Band and after he graduated he started a production studio to create jingles to fund the production of his album.
How he went to work at Trigger as a brand strategist, this is where he had his first opportunity to sit down with the CEO and tell them the potential of their company.
Michael shares how he was let go from Trigger and used the opportunity to begin a graduate program.
In April 2002 he received a scholarship to NYU, his friends tried to persuade him not to go but he saw an opportunity in New York and wanted to take it.
While at University he was writing about mobile technology.
Michael shares how South Africa was a lot further ahead with mobile and bank technology compared with America, this sparked his entrepreneurial flare.
In 2005 he founded a Startup called Socialight, a location-based mobile social network. Another reason why he co-founded the company was that no one would hire him as he wasn’t an American citizen, so he hired himself.
How Socialight was ahead of its time and didn’t accompany the mobile technology at the time.
Michael shares how he joined Facebook as the Mobile Product Manager in 2008. He could take all of the ideas he had for Socialite and develop them on Facebook.
After 8 years he took a step back and assessed what he wanted to do.
Michael shares how he found the problem to Taika when at Facebook. Due to the high levels of stress, he was dealing with 5 to 6 cups of coffee a day, which wasn’t agreeing with him. So he went searching to understand how to create coffee that has the correct adaptative in it.
How he launched Taika in 2019 and tested it by adding a phone number on the front of it and changing its packaging every two weeks.
Michael explains the importance of creating a community through their CPG company

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

LIVE Founder event: https://live.grindology.com/

Light Ray Solutions website https://lightraysolutions.com/thestartupstory/

Taika Website: https://taika.co
15% Discount Code: startupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Unpacking Product Market Fit Apr 13, 2021

About this episode

This episode we are going to discuss the topic of product-market-fit. Using different examples and strategies to understand what would work for your startup.

This is the 120th episode of The Startup Story and in almost every episode our featured founder has had one startup failure in their past and each failure can be attributed to numerous factors. Factors like team makeup, marketing challenges, financial limitations, and sometimes the failure is a result of technical challenges. With all the various reasons a company might fail, the most prevalent reason was their failure to find product-market-fit.
Is product-market-fit so elusive? Is it something that can only be discovered by venture-backed firms? No, those aren’t true at all of product-market-fit.
The greatest thing about product-market-fit is that most of the work in finding product-market-fit can happen cheaply and at a very early stage in the startup lifecycle. The challenge is that we begin to drink our hype kool-aid and don’t try to assess product-market-fit until we hit hurdles much later on, and after thousands…and sometimes, hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent.
Smart startup founders front-load the work to determine product-market-fit. It truly is foundational for any and all startup projects…especially if you want to succeed.
Your sole purpose, when you are in the idea to MVP stage, is to validate your assumptions and to prove that people want what you are making. Everything…and I mean, everything else is secondary.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How to find product market fit.
How to validate your idea and prove that it will be successful.
How to validate your assumptions and prove that your product will work - using platforms like Reddit and Medium.
How to find a vast amount of customers that have a want or need for the product- that solves their problem
How to keep up with the ever-changing market and keeping your product up to date by looking at the market from a high or low altitude.
A basic process to find product fit - choose target market, find the problem in it, define your unique value (especially your unique MVP) and the test for product market fit.
Shares the ideology that more people that are excited by the product reflects how successful the product will be.
How to not waste money on mockup products.
Shares different ways to test your product - using things like pre-sale and A/B testing

Resources from this episode

FREE 3-Day Livestream Event: https://live.grindology.com/

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

BOOK- Eric Ries Lean startup - https://amzn.to/3sdC1yi
Mockup Tool - https://moqups.grsm.io/tss

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favourite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

This episode was made possible due to the support of our sponsor Grindology. Visit https://grindology.com/ to obtain founder-direct tactics and strategies.

Bill Glaser, co-founder of Outstanding Foods Apr 06, 2021

About this episode

This week’s episode my guest this week is Bill Glazer Co-founder of Outstanding Foods.

Bill is a serial entrepreneur with numerous successful exits. And in this episode, we get to hear about some critical decisions he made in bringing outstanding foods to market. Tactics that if you're bringing a product to market in this category you might want to listen very intently on. The Startup Story continues to deliver the founder’s direct guidance and this week’s episode is no different.

Yet, despite all of the massive successes that Bill has experienced his journey had to start somewhere, and oftentimes that origin Storey isn't too far off from our very own. Yet, it's the many subsequent decisions that make all the difference.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How his father wanted to be an entrepreneur and loved the freedom it.
How Bill has always had an entrepreneurial flair and from the age of five would either sell products o sell his service like mowing the neighbour’s lorn to make his pocket money.
After Bill graduated college he was offered a good job as an investment banker but turned it down the day before, because like his father wanted the freedom of being an entrepreneur.
Bill started his first company at 23, due to finding a gap in the market of US flags made in America. In 3 weeks he generated a 1 million dollar’s worth of purchases orders but his product wasn’t up to standard and lost everything.
Bill has had a plant-based diet for over 30 years and wanted to create a product that will allow customers to easily incorporate more plant-based foods into their diet.
Bill explains that creating plant-based snacks allowed him to ‘reach the most amount of consumers and without having to change any of (their) habits.
Bill explains how he attracted a wide range of celebrities and influencers like Snoop Dogg, Rob Dyrdek and Emily Deschanel to promote his company.
He explains how companies are always going to have obstacles, challenges and opportunities and it's all about your outlook.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory
The Startup Story Live event: https://live.grindology.com/

Outstanding Foods: https://outstandingfoods.com

Book Think and Grow Rich: https://amzn.to/3wu2R8P

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favourite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

This episode was made possible due to the support of our sponsor Grindology. Visit https://grindology.com/ to obtain founder-direct tactics and strategies.

CPG Industry Trends and Insights Mar 30, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Ryan Lewendon, partner at the Law Firm Giannuzzi Lewendon.

We will be talking about all things CPG…and Ryan’s experience in this space is immense! He has worked on deals with Vitamin Water, Pirate’s Booty, Pretzel Crisps, Siggy’s Yogurt, Vita Coco, Essential Water, and even Schmidt’s Naturals which you might remember from our interview with Jaime Schmidt shortly after she sold her brand to Unilever.

All that to say, Ryan knows a thing or two about the CPG space and that is the knowledge sharing that is going to take place today. This entire episode is all about the CPG…so let’s get started!

In this episode, you'll hear:

How plant-based diets are changing from being something you do to survive to now thrive.
Ryan shares how people are looking to unwind particularly in the pandemic, but wanting to avoid the after effect of alcohol.
Ryan shares how he thinks the next big trend is going to be personalized wellness, as more people are looking for efficacy in multifactor products that will get them the most for their money.
How using data and analysis to develop products that are narrowly tailored to the consumers.
Ryan shares how the next generation of targeted ads are going to be more personal to the consumer through the amount of data that is collected online.
Ryan explains the importance of launching your company from a strong foundation and the things you need and don’t need when starting a CPG company.
How founders should build a team that compliments their weaknesses.
How you should build contracts slowly to avoid a little mistake could cripple your business and reputation.
Ryan shares how Founder burnout is real and maintaining a work life balance is important to avoid this.
Ryan explains that founders should remind themselves of why they started their business when times are hard.
How founding a company is a marathon not a sprint.
Ryan explains why it is important to do a self diagnostic about the company before selling it, as you can fix problems to be more desirable to buyers.
Understand why it is important to Identify the founder's involvement to help a smooth transition.
How you can identify who you want to buy your company.
Ryan explains what makes a brand a high target value for an acquisition.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Giannuzzi Lewendon: https://gllaw.us

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

This episode was made possible due to the support of our sponsor Grindology. Visit https://grindology.com/ to obtain founder-direct tactics and strategies.

Elizabeth Grojean, founder of Baloo Living Mar 23, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Elizabeth Grojean, founder of Baloo Living. Baloo living is an ecommerce brand that launched with a singular product…a weighted blanket. Within a few months of her launch the Baloo blanket was on every single Holiday Shopping Guide as “the blanket of the holidays”. Her story is remarkable for a few reasons and I’m super pumped to bring it to you.

First, her business launch didn’t start from a product or service…it started from a channel. Elizabeth knew that she wanted to build an ecommerce brand…she just needed to figure out what category.

Secondly, in this episode she shares with us the tactics she used to discover what category to enter based on her Amazon data analysis. You are going to want to make sure to listen to this full episode with pen and paper in hand because she unpacks each step just for you!

But before we get to the success story…we need to make sure we understand the full journey because every single chapter of our journey contributes to where we are today…ESPECIALLY Elizabeth’s entrepreneurial journey.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Elizabeth grew up in Houston with her dad who was entreperial. She moved to Texas when she was young as her Dad opened a RV Park.
When leaving high school she felt very confused about her future, so thought that doing a marketing degree would open multiple doors for her.
After graduating she still didn’t have an understanding of what she wanted to do, so went and worked for her dad at an Architecture engineer firm. This was a good experience but yearned to move to New York.
She shares how she felt like a failure in her mid twenties because she hadn’t found what she wanted to do in her life.
She shares how she seeked help to understand what was holding her back mentally.
Elizabeth shares how she wanted to work in a startup and ended up working at Casa Dragones as the executive assistant for Bertha Gonzalez Nieves. This experience taught her many valuable lessons that she took forward when running her own business.
How she used her savings and went to Bali to clear her head, this allowed herself to be vulnerable and not hide behind a label of a job title.
Returning from Bali to New York she wanted to find a job that fitted around her new lifestyle.
Elizabeth explains how becoming an entrepreneur she found her passion but now was searching for a product to sell.
How she used E-commerce to find a product to sell, the power in Keyword Volume analytics, brought her to find her weighted blankets.
Elizabeth explains that using a weighted blanket for the first time was a religious experience and she built her brand around expressing that feeling.
She explains that her Dad offered to fund the company, at first she turned down the offer but then accepted it as she knew he believed in her and the product.
How she went back to Bail and launched the company from there.
How using a PR company opened doors for the company and in her first launch she sold out.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Baloo Website: https://balooliving.com/
Jungle Scout: https://www.junglescout.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

This episode was made possible due to the support of our sponsor Grindology. Visit https://grindology.com/ to obtain founder-direct tactics and strategies.

Keith Eshelman, co-founder of Parks Project Mar 16, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Keith Eshelman, co-founder and CEO of the Parks Project. The Parks Project is a social commerce company in that they have created some of the most comfortable clothing you will ever wear AND they have donated over 50% of their profits to over 50 partners such as Yosemite Conservancy, Sierra Club, the National Park Foundation, and many more.

After a weekend volunteering in the Santa Monica Mountains in 2014, Keith and his co-founder, both TOMS employees at the time, were struck by the challenges facing America’s underfunded and underappreciated National Parks. They set out to harness consumer power to help support the enormous backlog of underfunded projects within the national parks system by creating collections of apparel and accessories that would further connect consumers with the parks they love.

Within this episode you will hear quite a bit about the influence that Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS, had on Keith’s journey. And that’s the beauty of entrepreneurship…it’s not a solo journey.

It’s also not an overnight journey, and more times than not…it’s decades in the making.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Keith was born in northern California and grew up around career professionals. He had a conventional path pursing education that would lead him to a successful job.
He shares as a child he wanted to be a doctor and went to UC San Diego Medical School but left after sophomore year as he couldn’t consume the detailed information required for med school. He graduated with a management science degree, minor in Spanish that allowed him to travel.
He shares his love for Brands, but not only for their products but the whole company, and how he wanted to help companies that were making a difference.
Before he joined Toms, we worked in London with Puma and OMD, usually in product marketing.
When working at TOMS he experiences how a purchases can not only for fill the customer but help people and charities in need. Like Toms theory of purchasing a pair of shoes can give another child a pair for shoes.
Keith shares how TOMS allowed him to have his first taste of entrepreneurship by being allowed to run popup shops.
Keith explains his passion for recycling plastic in clothing like board shorts and wanted the product to have its own story.
He shares how he found his problem and why he pursued founding Parks Project, and what he is doing to fix it.
How he started his company from his garage and has been growing his team ever since.
How Parks Project is empowering the next generation, and their mission is to leave it, as you found it.
Keith shares how his company is here to build and innovate the product with useful recycling.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Park Project https://www.parksproject.us

Hint Water Give Away https://mailchi.mp/thestartupstory/hint

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

This episode was made possible due to the support of our sponsor Grindology. Visit https://grindology.com/ to obtain founder-direct tactics and strategies.

Kara Goldin, founder of Hint Mar 09, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint Water. For those that may not be aware of Hint Water, Hint is an unsweetened flavored beverage. In fact, when Kara launched Hint she actually launched a brand new category. Prior to Hint there was no unsweetened flavored water beverage out there. Everything had chemicals and sweeteners.

What is really interesting about Kara’s story is that her background was technology and media, yet here she is leading a multi-million-dollar global beverage brand. I love Kara’s story because she didn’t allow “what she didn’t know” to stop her from moving forward with bringing a product, she created to improve her own health, to the larger market. The reason the doubts and doubters didn’t phase her is because she knew the consumer needed this solution…again…there was nothing else out there when she created Hint. It was her determination and mission that allowed her to silence the noise and focus on what had to be done in order to build the business and the brand the way she wanted to.

As inspiring as she might sound solely based upon my introduction, you can’t forget that NO success story happened overnight…in fact…most success stories start far earlier than many thinks.

In this episode, you'll hear:

She shares her first taste of being an entrepreneur while watching her old brother would fix up old Volkswagen and sell them.
She also talks about the other side of being an entrepreneur growing up her father was a ‘frustrated entrepreneur’, constantly being stuck under management.
At the age of 15 years, she moved away from home and lived with her sister in her college dorm. This taught her how to be independent and responsible from a young age.
She finished collage with a Major in Journalism and a minor in finance.
How she fell into a job at Time Magazine in subscriptions, the lessons she learnt from this first job she uses today in Hint.
She got a call from CNN to work there, then moved to Silicon Valley to find a job with Steve Jobs.
Moving away from the corporate world, Kara wanted to spend more time being a parent. With this she realized she hadn’t shifted the baby weight after having children and started to explore different diets. This is where she found the solution to her problem.
Drinking water is boring and adding fruit to it will spice it up but this is time consuming so creating an unsweetened water will cut down on time.
She did market research and found out that every drink has sweetener in it and so she created the first unsweetened drinks company.
With creating Hint, Kara not only created a new category of favored drinks but is the largest company for unsweetened water.
She calls herself an accidental entrepreneur.
She explains how she had a meeting with Coke Cola and the person dismissed her company and told her Hint will never be successful.
She shared how turning down a job opportunity with Google landed Hint their largest landing Facebook as their next biggest customer.

Resources from this episode

GIVEAWAY: https://mailchi.mp/thestartupstory/hint

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Kara Goldin’s Book ‘Undaunted: Overcoming Doubters & Doubters’: https://amzn.to/2N0L6MA
Kara Goldin Podcast https://karagoldin.com/podcast

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

This episode was made possible due to the support of our sponsor Grindology. Visit https://grindology.com/ to obtain founder-direct tactics and strategies.

Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic Mar 02, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic. In this episode, you are going to hear from the creator of the platform that powers over one-third of the entire internet. Yes, you read that correctly! Wordpress powers one out of every three websites that is accessible online.

There are many unique elements to Matt's story and we cover many of them within this episode. Two main topics that we unpack is the broader discussion around open-sourced software and the economy behind it, as well as his thoughts on the distributed workforce. Both of which, Matt is (without argument) the defacto expert on.

As brands all over the world are scrambling to adjust to a remote workforce, Matt has built his business on this model from day one. As of today, Automattic has a distributed workforce of around 1,300 employees. We discuss why he built it this way, how he has done so successfully, and what other people need to consider if they want to move in this direction.

There is a tremendous amount of value in this episode and I cannot wait for you to hear Matt Mullenweg’s startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How he grew up in Houston in a household that was on the lower end of the middle class, watching his hard-working parents constantly pushing themselves to do more and picking up any extra work they could find.
From a young age he always had an entrepreneurial flair, starting his first company as a window cleaner, then went onto build computers at high school.
How he originally wanted to be a Jazz musician coming out of high school, but through competing in a high school challenge called ‘Federal Reserve Challenge’ Matt found his love for microeconomics. With competing he was able to travel to Washington DC and experience his first taste of the intellectual business world.
How the first 25 years of his life was very modelled after his dad, until he broke away and started to create his own path.
Matt shares his love of Rap music, due to it being the most popular among the Jazz students growing up and he would trade CD’s on and get excited by it.
His views on the Qwerty keyboard layout and how thinks it more functional to use the Dvorak keyboard instead.
Matt explains how he come up with Wordpress and the problem he was solving.
He unpacks the back end of open-source platforms and how to monetize them.
Why he created his other company Automattic
Matt’s advice on remote working
The importance of communication and always communicating with intention and honesty.
How Matt defines success, working alongside people who he love and respects doing the best work of their

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Matt’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/photomatt
Matt’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photomatt
Matt’s Tumblr: https://photomatt.tumblr.com

Matt’s podcast - Distributed: https://distributed.blog
Matt’s interview with Jack Dorsey - https://distributed.blog/podcast/

Matt’s about page: https://ma.tt/about/

Nonviolent communication Book: https://amzn.to/3kB1gIN
Search Inside Yourself book: https://amzn.to/380jxKr
Black Swan Book: https://amzn.to/3b5QfME
Predictably Irrational: https://amzn.to/3kHRAfO

Waking up app - https://wakingup.com
Calm app - https://www.calm.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

This episode was made possible due to the support of our sponsor Grindology. Visit https://grindology.com/ to obtain founder-direct tactics and strategies.

James McKinney, founder of Grindology Feb 23, 2021

About this episode

Today, I am the guest on the podcast. I’ve had a few people reach out and ask how things are going with the startup of Grindology. One friend, in particular, challenged me when I shared with him some of the obstacles I was going through. He mentioned that I constantly talk about how messy entrepreneurship is here on the show, yet I don’t often talk about my own entrepreneurial journey.

That truth hit me. I never want to make this podcast all about me. I want it to be filled with content that supports you in your entrepreneurial journey. However, if many of you are going through the same challenges that I am going through, I want to discuss them.

I am still right in the thick of this journey towards founding and growing Grindology. Today I am sharing some of the lessons I have learned thus far. It’d be much easier to wait until I’ve mastered these lessons, but I don’t want to wait to serve and support you. So, tune in to hear me unpack my Grindology journey and everything I’ve learned throughout the development of this startup.

In this episode, you'll hear:

What Grindology is.
Why I decided to found Grindology.
How focusing on your needs led me to the concept of Grindology.
The power of receiving mentorship and guidance from entrepreneurs who have been through the startup process.
Some of the challenges I’ve faced in building Grindology.
Why we cannot minimize the importance of timing.
Why we must understand our cash flow and not only focus on profitability.
The adjustments I would have made in my business plans looking back.
All about my current struggle of trying to balance cost and quality when leveraging freelancers and outsourcing talent.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Episode with Chris Brownridge, founder of GawkBox: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chris-brownridge-founder-of-gawkbox/id1448729937?i=1000454435661

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Christina Stembel, founder of Farmgirl Flowers Feb 16, 2021

About this episode

So can change in a year. That’s certainly been true for this podcast. Some opportunities were missed in the tumultuous year of 2020, but amazing things happened around here, too. For one, we’ve built up an extremely rich episode vault. I want to take some time to share some of those episodes again.

This week we’re bringing back the episode with Christina Stembel, founder of Farmgirl Flowers. You may recognize Christina from the national Capital One campaign, where she gets to quote the known slogan, "What's in your wallet?"

And if you couldn't guess, Christina's story is unique on many levels, including her challenging upbringing. Christina was born in a small Indiana town where she was raised with the idea that young girls did not have the same future or potential as young boys. For most of her childhood, she felt like an outsider. She was a young girl with big dreams, and that was not the norm in her town.

Despite any of the challenges Christina faced, her childhood was influential and helped her get to where she is today. She's often asked what's the secret sauce to her success? She immediately points back to the most important lesson of her life, and that is where we begin her story. This is Christina Stembel's startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear:

About how she grew up in a small town in Indiana with religiously conservative parents. And how she was continually asking questions and bucking against that system.
Though entrepreneurs didn't surround her, she did learn the value of hard work.
How and why she made a move to New York City after graduation. And later, moving to Chicago, taking classes at Columbia College, and working in a hotel.
Christina shares how she eventually ended up in hotel management in San Francisco. And later, she details her exit from the hotel business.
She describes her time working at Stanford University, first in their catering department, and then with Alumni Relations. Her time planning events for Stanford helped her recognize the amount of money being spent, and in her opinion wasted, on the decor.
She was able to save the university money by buying flowers and making the arrangements herself, rather than buying finished pieces.
Christina could see the gaps in the flower industry but knew she didn't want to be doing events. She researched the e-commerce side of flowers and felt there was something better she could be doing to improve it. That led to Farmgirl.
Early Farmgirl had limited product options with excellent customer service and a minimal marketing budget. Christina shares some of the unique marketing she explored in the early days of her startup.
Some of the frustrations are getting financing in Silicon Valley and her experiences.
The growth of Farmgirl Flowers, including her desire for early regional growth, subsidizing shipping costs, and working on company culture.
Why Christina believes anyone willing to work for it can be an entrepreneur.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Farmgirl Flowers: https://farmgirlflowers.com/

Christina Stembel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-stembel/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Tom Fairey, founder of Stakester Feb 09, 2021

About this episode

This week’s guest is Tom Fairey, the founder of Stakester. Stakester is an entertainment platform that gives gamers a platform to add monetary pride to the online gaming community. Through proprietary technology, Stakestir acts as the third partner in gaming challenges to ensure payouts are handled correctly.

The technology that Tom and the rest of the team over at Stakester uses is truly remarkable. However, the circumstances from which Stakester was born are even more amazing. Tom once got cheated out of his winnings when sparring with a massive Russian; that is where his entrepreneurial journey began.

To hear about the dynamic story of Tom’s major loss and eventual startup of Stakester, tune in. Throughout our conversation, you will also hear how he raised over a half-million dollars using a cold email outreach strategy. This entrepreneur accomplished tremendous feats through unprecedented tactics and he is sharing all about it right here.

In this episode, you'll hear:

The 3 things you must sell when you start out as a founder.
How to get great people on board with your startup to help solve your problems.
What Stakestir is.
How Tom losing money in a Jujitsu match gave him the idea for Stakestir.
Tom’s first startup experience.
What was so appealing to Tom about startups.
The role of resilience in entrepreneurship.
Why it’s so important to focus on the minimum value you provide to your customers.
The first few steps to take to get your startup going.
What you as the founder should do and what you should hire someone else to do.
How to balance your messaging to the 3 core sectors you must communicate to as a founder.
Tom’s funding strategies at the beginning.
The 3 rules he used to send the cold emails that got him tons of investments.
How to define your buyer persona and why that is so integral to your growth.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

Tom's Cold Email Template: https://medium.com/swlh/a-5-step-guide-to-raising-angel-investment-during-the-crisis-3af4ece58258

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasfairey/

Tom’s podcast, The Back Yourself Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-back-yourself-show-with-tom-fairey/id1485236149

Stakester: https://www.stakester.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Eric Girouard, founder of BRUNT Workwear Feb 02, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Eric Girouard, the founder of BRUNT Workwear. BRUNT Workwear is slowly becoming the workwear brand for those who build the things we see and rely on every day. It is a D2C brand that seeks to serve one of the most underserved demographics out there: tradesmen.

If you think about it, how many entrepreneurs begin their business with the target audience of a welder, crane operator, construction worker, or pipeline contractor? Not many startups are geared towards that market. Entrepreneurs are missing a huge opportunity here. Tradesmen are some of the most loyal customers out there. How have they been ignored for so long?

In this episode, Eric Girouard is sharing his thoughts on that question with us. He grew up in that demographic but paid no attention to it when he helped build various other startups. This huge, better-than-average income demographic has been so neglected. Tune in to hear how Eric’s entrepreneurial journey led him to start a company that serves this loyal segment of consumers.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Eric was shaped by being raised in a blue-collar family with extremely hard-working parents.
How he got into entrepreneurism.
His journey from Babson College to BRUNT Workwear.
Why he quit a sales job he loved to enter the startup world.
The key learnings he got from working with serial entrepreneur Ben Fishman.
The importance of learning from those who are ahead of you in business.
Why Eric decided to hold off on founding his own startup.
Why he used a business model where he built more than one brand.
Why a marketplace business takes a unique skill set and is actually very challenging to build.
The passion that led Eric to finally start BRUNT Workwear.
All about the tradesmen market and why they’re the backbone of the country.
How Eric came up with the BRUNT Workwear slogan.
The pushback he received during the launch of the startup and how he addressed and solved those problems.
How he navigated inventory and decided to build the company very lean.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-girouard-8b58159/

BRUNT Workwear: http://www.bruntworkwear.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Brandon Muñoz , founder of Monkwood Studios Jan 26, 2021

About this episode

Whenever I’m asked which episode of The Startup Story has been my favorite, I truly can’t give an answer. I enjoy every single episode because of how much value every entrepreneur brings to the table and how much I learn from them. However, if I were to be asked which episode stands out the most in my mind, it would have to be one of my earliest episodes: my interview with Brandon “Monk” Muñoz from Monkwood Studios.

Out of all of the interviews I’ve held, I’ve only hosted two founders who were woodworkers. Brandon is one of them. His episode stands out because of how incredibly eclectic his entrepreneurial journey has been.

Brandon was both extremely transparent and vulnerable about his story and amazing at telling it. He explains how both he and his startup, Monkwood Studios, got to where they are today. If you want to learn from a talented and hilarious entrepreneur, tune into this conversation with Brandon “Monk” Muñoz.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Brandon got into woodworking as a kid.
His history with music and art.
The mentor and friend that taught him how to build furniture.
Why he was inspired to go out on his own.
How much he failed and learned from his mistakes at the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.
Why how you make something is more important than what you make.
Brandon’s experience doing ministry in London and building the unique startup of a church.
Why he became an entrepreneur by need, not by choice.
How he finally niched his business down and began specializing in wooden desks.
His experience making a desk for James Hetfield.
The connection he feels with the people who purchase his desks.
The risk all creative entrepreneurs have to take.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Brandon in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monkwood_/

Monkwood Studios: https://monkwoodstudio.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Terran and Quinton Lewis, founders of Herb’N Eden Jan 19, 2021

About this episode

There are challenges faced by black founders that those who are not persons of color will never understand. However, the events of 2020, though tragic, helped propel these black founders to heights they had never imagined were possible for them.

Quinton and Terran Lewis are two black founders who have experienced this. They began their startup, Herb’N Eden, in 2015. Herb’N Eden is an all natural plant-based bath and beauty company based out of the Atlanta area. At the end of 2019, Quinton and Terran headed into 2020 with hopes of closing $600,000 in product sales only to exceed that goal by 450%.

In this episode, we discuss the unprecedented success that 2020 brought to these entrepreneurs. They also explain how this unforeseen growth actually brought some challenges to both their business and their personal lives. Quinton and Terrn experienced the challenges mentioned above, both of being black founders when most founders are white and those challenges brought on by the black community, as well. Tune in to hear their raw insights into this important topic.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Quinton’s and Terran’s early experiences with entrepreneurism.
How they both got interested in and transitioned to an urban farm environemnt.
Where and how Herb’N Eden began.
Why they decided to level up Herb’N Eden.
What Herb’N Eden actually is.
How they funded their startup as they grew from nothing.
How they pulled off their first deal with a subscription box company and the growth it provided for them.
How they maintained their idea to document everything despite the challenges they faced.
What took place in 2020 that made it such an incredible year for Herb’N Eden.
The production and customer service problems that arose with their massive growth this year.
How to prepare for a multiplication in your company’s growth.
The uphill battle of gaining awareness as a black business owner.
The pressure they have received from the black commuity to not sell out to big brands.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Quinton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinton-lewis-24a864ab/

Herb’N Eden: https://herbneden.com/
Get 15% off your entire order with this code: STARTUPSTORY

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Matt Barnett, founder of Bonjoro Jan 12, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is Matt Barnett, the founder of Bonjoro. Bonjoro is a customer or lead engagement platform like none other. Matt and his team integrate private video messages with your current marketing and funnel strategies.

Imagine this: within minutes of receiving a lead capture form, that lead receives a personalized video from you. Imagine your e-commerce brand utilizing Bonjoro to say hello to an abandoned cart transaction. Think about the increased amount of engagement, brand affinity, and trust that would develop between you--the entrepreneur--and the buyer.

The potential to elevate your brand and your relationship with your clients by using Bonjoro is remarkable. In this episode, the founder of the startup, Matt Barnett, is breaking down the key strategies he used to develop this amazing company. Even beyond that, we’re discussing all of the twists and turns that led Matt to the success he now enjoys.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Some of Matt’s earliest product designs that got him into business.
How he put a business plan around his earliest idea and pitched it.
What it took to make him realize he wanted to stop running an agency and start doing his own thing.
The first technical solution he wanted to create and how he did it.
What happened with that startup to make it fall apart.
The changes he made in his approach to his second technical solution.
What Bonjoro is.
How to build Bonjoro out to a SAS solution that can go global.
Whether solopreneurs can use Bonjoro as a stand alone solution or by plugging it into a platform.
The funding process for Bonjoro.
How the lead conversion process works and how Bonjoro can help with it.
How Bonjoro works inside of e-commerce.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbjbarnett

Bonjoro: https://www.bonjoro.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

David Roger, co-founder of Felix Gray Jan 05, 2021

About this episode

My guest this week is David Roger, the co-founder and CEO of Felix Gray. Felix Gray is a pioneer in the eyewear industry. They have reinvited computer glasses to be both beautiful and effective. Felix Gray glasses are designed to combat digital eye strain which reduces eye fatigue, headaches, and blurred vision.

If you work on a computer all day, Felix Gray is made for you. They will allow you to work more productively and comfortably on screen. Since their startup in 2016, they have serviced over 200,000 customers with their high-quality lenses embedded with blue light filtering technology.

In this episode, we’re unpacking David Roger’s entrepreneurial journey. We go all the way back to his early years and unpack how Flex Gray eventually came to be. David is an entrepreneur with impressive influences and an incredible startup story. Tune in to hear all about it.

In this episode, you'll hear:

David’s dream of having a bigger impact than just being a cog in someone else’s machine.
His experiences in pre-law and eventual transition out of that field.
His first steps when he decided he wanted to go into business.
What he learned walking alongside and working for Tony Shea.
Why he chose to solve the blue light problem by starting his own business.
His fundraising journey.
Growth tactics he has learned and would use today to get his first 100.
What scaling looks like to him.
What his hiring process looks like and the challenges he’s encountering with that.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-roger-2a9b2632/

Felix Gray: http://www.felixgray.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

2020 Wrap-Up Dec 29, 2020

About this episode

As we put 2020 into our rearview mirror and head into 2021 with renewed passion and ambition, I thought it’d be fun to look back on 2020 and reflect on all the good that has happened this year. And there has been some good produced from this year. Regardless of what 2020 looked like for you, there are some things you can look back on with appreciation.

I started The Startup Story in 2019 because I wanted to give entrepreneurs a place where they could learn from other entrepreneurs. I knew that they understood the limits of their own understanding and the importance of seeking guidance from others.

However, when I began, I noticed how many founders hadn’t experienced disruption and crisis and therefore felt no need to get help from others. Well, 2020 changed all of that. Entrepreneurs found themselves in a crisis just as the country at large did. They were forced to find inventive ways to stay in business.

Through this innovation, startups became stronger than ever before. Similarly, many other good things we didn’t expect came from this year of supposed struggle. Tune in as I reflect on them.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why even us entrepreneurs can look back and appreciate 2020.
The amazing 2-day live stream event where founders came together to talk about how they were navigating this crisis.
How the founder of Airbnb came to realize that he needed guidance from those outside of his usual circle.
The challenges in my own life that brought about Grindology.
A few of the mentoring minutes that have had the greatest impact on all of you.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Text me your reflections on 2020: (214) 214-4933

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Marco Zappacosta, co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack Dec 22, 2020

About this episode

My guest this week is Marco Zappacosta. He is the co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack. Thumbtack is a local service marketplace that helps people like you and me find and hire skilled professionals. With Thumbtack, you can literally find a skilled professional for anything; I could even outsource the “honey-do” list from my wife.

What is so especially amazing about Marco and is his story is that he is a self-taught entrepreneur. He founded Thumbtack as a startup right out of college. During our conversation, Marco shares that he and his partner founded their startup in the least conventional way possible. They didn’t start Thumbtack with a known problem but founded it and then brainstormed what problem they could solve.

Though it may have been unconventional, Thumbtack has grown to some incredible heights. We discuss this success throughout the episode as well as key tactics Marco used to navigate the 7 funding rounds that brought in over 400 million dollars from iconic venture firms. Tune in as we unpack the entrepreneurial journey of Marco Zappacosta.

In this episode, you'll hear:

All about Marco’s childhood with immigrant entrepreneur parents.
Why he didn’t want to be an entrepreneur at first.
How pension reform became a point of interest for him.
How he transitioned from pension reform to Thumbtack.
How he and his partners founded their startup without a known problem.
The solutions they eventually decided to provide.
Which side of their potential audience they focus on.
Challenges and obstacles all entrepreneurs face.
Their challenges in the startup stages of Thumback.
What a winning pitch for capital looks like.
How critical communication has been for Marco as a leader.
Why he reworked the entire experience of Thumbtack.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Marco on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcozappacosta/

Thumbtack: http://www.thumbtack.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Gabi Lewis, co-founder of Magic Spoon Dec 15, 2020

About this episode

Just like many of you, I love cereal. I constantly wish I could indulge in my favorite cereals from childhood. However, with all of the sugar, it’s just not practical. That is why I love what this week’s guest has brought to the market.

Gabi Lewis is the co-founder of Magic Spoon. This company is reimagining your favorite childhood breakfast cereals into a high protein, low sugar, guilt-free daily indulgence. Their cereals are truly amazing and something you all should try. In this episode, I’m talking with Gabi about his entrepreneurial journey from the Scottish Highlands to the disruption of the largest breakfast food category.

In this episode, you'll hear:

When Gabi first knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur.
What EXO, the first company he founded, was.
The thought process across his marketing team for getting people to be open to the idea of insect-based protein.
The premise of Magic Spoon.
What he did differently with Magic Spoon after his time at EXO.
How the team at Magic Spoon decides which retails to partner with in order to stay consistent with their brand.
His greatest challenges in the first 18 months of Magic Spoon.
Why startups should bring certain things internal early on.
What their hiring process looks like and how they streamlined it.
How to move from a business idea to testing and producing a real product.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Capture anonymous email traffic using GetEmails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Gabi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabi-lewis-88483447/

Magic Spoon: http://www.magicspoon.com
Receive $5 off your Magic Spoon order with code STARTUPSTORY

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Dylan Jacob, founder of BrüMate Dec 08, 2020

About this episode

Whenever we hear about extremely successful entrepreneurs, especially those who achieved success at a young age, we tend to assume it happened overnight. However, this definitely is not the case. There are challenges and obstacles every entrepreneur has to overcome to reach their levels of success. The journey starts during our childhood years and continues down a long, hard road. Dylan Jacob’s story exemplifies this perfectly.

Dylan Jacob is the founder of BrüMate. BrüMate is the hottest new brand that designs insulated containers specific to the adult beverage industry. They have built a cult-like following for their growing line of insulated drinkware. BrüMate was also recently named number 14 on Inc.’s 5000 List, which highlights the top 5,000 fastest-growing companies in America. The most amazing thing of all is that Dylan has built all this and he’s only 26. Tune in to hear about the many obstacles he has overcome to achieve the accolades he has today.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Dylan’s history with fighting and drug-dealing.
What caused him to flip the script and change his life.
What happened in a two and a half year period that got him to BrüMate.
His exit plan for his first startup.
How he came up with his first product as a solopreneur.
His perspective on keeping inventory when he started BrüMate.
What’s been his greatest challenge in growing his brand.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Dylan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-jacob-50014475/

BrüMate website: https://www.brumate.com/
Promo code for 15% off your first order at BrüMate: STARTUP

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Anousheh Ansari, CEO of XPRIZE Foundation Dec 01, 2020

About this episode

A guiding principle of this show is to bring authenticity and transparency to the entrepreneurial journey. This includes highlighting the challenges that female founders have to overcome to build their enterprises--challenges male founders don’t have to deal with. I’ve also tried to get an equal amount of female and male guests, which hasn’t proved easy. This week’s guest Anousheh Ansari helped me understand why.

Anousheh is the CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation. Prior to her being named CEO, though, she was the co-founder of an IoT technology firm, the first private female space explorer, the first astronaut of Iranian descent, and the first Muslim woman in space. Anousheh understands deeply the systemic biases female founders must endure to bring their vision to the market.

After our conversation, I had a deeper understanding of the unstated biases that female founders have to navigate as well as how those biases have curbed the ambitions of those female founders. It is so critical for us to elevate that story, so turn into this discussion on the biases that have to cleansed across generations.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Anousheh’s perspective as an immigrant entrepreneur.
How she went from working at MCI to founding a technology startup with her husband.
Her internal wrestling with her direction and purpose.
Her exit strategy success and how that was viewed by her family.
What XPRIZE is and why it exists.
What she is doing to help solve the problem of female-founded companies being underfunded.
How we can get a greater influx of female-founded companies.
Where female founders can go to find funds from people who look at it differently than male founders.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Anousheh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anousheh-ansari-4a40929/

XPRIZE’s Website: http://www.xprize.org

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

James McKinney, Episode 100 Nov 24, 2020

About this episode

In this episode, we’re reflecting on the key entrepreneurial learnings across our 100 founder interviews. To be honest, when I first started The Startup Story, I had no intention of it becoming a full-time venture. I simply wanted to fill a personal void created by a previous employer. However, it is now two years and 100 episodes later and I am all in.

Soon after I decided to be intentional about making The Startup Story my full-time endeavor, COVID hit. When this happened, everything got flipped on its head. I’ve had to lean into the learnings from the entrepreneurs I’ve interviewed over the past two years. I know these learnings have impacted all of you, as well. Tune into this episode to hear and reflect on these key truths that have sustained many of us through 2020.

In this episode, you'll hear.

How The Startup Story came to be.
How failure drove me to seek to understand what successful entrepreneurs were doing.
The worst thing you can do in the midst of challenge or disruption.
The upside of COVID for business owners.
Why entrepreneurship is supposed to be hard and how remembering that truth helped me thrive during COVID.
How entrepreneurship more resembles a journey than a title or role.
Why even hard chapters in our lives aren’t wasted.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/
ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Kelsey Carroll, founder of Stand Up Stations Nov 17, 2020

About this episode

When COVID hit our country, many businesses were forced to make hard decisions. They had no choice but to respond to the changes that were happening in the marketplace. For Kelsey Carroll and her husband, this was even more true. They owned a live events company called Toss Up Events and had to decide if they would sell all their live assets and fold up shop or come up with something that would meet the needs of their clients. They chose the latter and it became Stand Up Stations.

Headlines will tell you that economic downturns are great times to start a business. However, most of the examples they provide are huge venture-backed companies. Kelsey’s story, on the other hand, provides a real-life example of a startup story in the midst of economic disaster. In just eight months, Stand Up Stations exceeded any and all projections they had for their previous live events business. Tune in to hear their story as we put 2020 in our rearview mirror and start to focus on 2021.

In this episode, you'll hear.

How entrepreneurship affected the progression of Kelsey’s relationship with her husband.
What the transition from owning her own business to being an employee at a PR firm was like for her.
How she and her husband’s respective journeys intertwined.
Their plans for their live events business going into 2020.
The discussions they had as things began to get shut down.
How they got to Stand Up Stations from there.
Where they started finding customers and spreading the word.
How they funded their venture as they grew.
What makes Stand Up Stations so unique.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Stand Up Stations: https://standupstations.com/

Kelsey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseycarroll/
Stand Up Stations on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standupstations
Stand Up Stations on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standupstations/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Richard Garriott, Video Game Creator and Astronaut Nov 10, 2020

About this episode

As a pioneer, there is not a single roadmap to work from. There’s no way to model your success off of another because there is no other--you’re it. You’re the front runner. There must be an internal competition established within your brain to be constantly improving. Richard Garriot has experienced all of this throughout his time in the gaming sector.

Richard is an investor and private astronaut as well as a pioneer and legend. What drew me to him was his role within privatizing space travel as well as his experience as a video game entrepreneur. However, I had no idea how rich his background in the gaming sector was. Tune into this episode to hear how iconic he truly is and how he reached this level of success.

In this episode, you'll hear.

How entering science fairs prepared Richard to be a great independent competitor.
How he published his first product.
His experience as a freelance game creator looking for publishers.
What caused him to start a company with his brother.
Why packaging was important to him even before building a brand.
His experience losing the faith of everyone he worked with and making up his own philosophy from scratch.
How he navigated his business with the emergence of the internet.
The period of time when he took a break from gaming and pursued space travel.
His vision for space and the future of space travel.
The power of being multidisciplinary.
The key things he learned from his failures.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Richard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichardGarriott
Richard’s website: http://www.richardgarriott.com

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Steve Jurvetson, co-founder of Future Ventures Nov 03, 2020

About this episode

In our entrepreneurial journeys, we need to think much bigger and therefore set our expectations and goals much higher. By doing so, we’re forced to shift our perspective to play the long game. Steve Jurvetson knows this well and has a comparable perspective when it comes to investable technologies. While most investors want to know what your three to five-year plans are, Steve wants to know what your company will look like in 50 years.

Steve is the co-founder of Future Ventures, current board member of SpaceX, and former board member of Tesla. Prior to Future Ventures, Steve was the co-founder and managing director for Draper Fisher Jurvetson, where he led the firm's investments in SpaceX, Tesla, Planet, Memphis Meats, Hotmail, and Skype. In 2016, former President Barack Obama announced Steve's appointment as a presidential ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship. He has also been honored by Forbes as one of the text best venture investors and by Deloitte as the venture capitalist of the year.

Steve is arguably one of the most brilliant individuals I have ever spoken to. Tune in and enjoy a conversation that will blow your mind.

In this episode, you'll hear.

What Steve thought he wanted to do as a kid and what his parents encouraged him to do.
His experience in electrical engineering and business school.
How he progressed from Bain to venture capital.
The moment he realized he wanted to do venture capital for the rest of his life.
How he developed an intuitive approach to the market.
How he connected with Elon Musk for an investment opportunity.
The core areas he invests in now.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevejurvetson/

Learn more about Future Ventures: https://future.ventures/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Adam Robinson, founder of GetEmails Oct 27, 2020

About this episode

In this episode, we’re talking about anonymous emailing, a topic that may be considered controversial for some people. This is because many of us don’t understand the established laws as it relates to email marketing. Many of us know GDPR because it is the most restricting, but CAN-SPAM, CCPA, and CASL relate to your organization, too. Today, Adam Robinson will teach you how.

Adam is the founder of GetEmails, an identity resolution service that has the ability to identify one-third of your anonymous website traffic. The GetEmails solution can obtain email and postal information for your anonymous traffic so that you can market to those potential customers immediately. An ongoing challenge for many entrepreneurs is brand awareness and marketing, but GetEmails solves all of that by pointing you to those who have visited your site but not submitted their email on a lead magnet or made a purchase. Tune in to learn more about Adam’s origin story and the incredible service he provides.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Adam’s experience working on the floor of the stock exchange and with the founders of Vimeo.
How he got into email marketing with no technology background.
The things he had to learn the hard way that helped him start GetEmails.
What GetEmails is.
The privacy rules around opt-in/opt-out.
His greatest challenges since day one.
The real-time acquisition and integration of emails that GetEmails provides.
How he solves the churn rate issue.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-robinson-64409348/

GetEmails on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChgG1qKmdGDFF96bL2b08gg

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Cristina Lynch, founder of Mi Golondrina Oct 20, 2020

About this episode

Entrepreneurship often comes from a desire to make a difference in the world. Once we recognize a problem and realize we can be the one who solves it for someone, a fire is lit within us. Crinstina Lynch is somebody who developed a passion like this and decided to do something about. Out of her desire to respect artisan traditions and empower women in Mexico, she founded Mi Golondrina.

For those that don’t speak Spanish, “golondrina” is the Spanish word for swallows. Mi Golondrina is a fashion brand that weaves the beauty and artistry of Mexican artisans throughout their entire line. Cristina believes that the work quality of these artisans rivals that of high-end fashion. The success of Mi Golondrina is truly remarkable. Tune in to hear all that Cristina has achieved and still desires to accomplish.

In this episode, you'll hear.

The entrepreneurial family in which Cristina was raised.
How she shifted from video production to fashion.
How and when she decided to start her own business.
What Mi Golondrina is.
How knowing the stories of her artisans has impacted her branding and messaging.
How she makes century-old pieces of art relevant in today’s culture.
How she brought the story of each artisan into the buying experience and actual creation of the apparel.
The biggest challenge she’s encountered in bringing her brand to the market.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Cristina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-lynch-436500b/

Mi Golondrina’s website: https://www.migolondrina.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Russ Perry, founder of Design Pickle Oct 13, 2020

About this episode

Everyone gets hyped up about a software as a service startup. However, what’s incredibly unique is a service as a service design solution. Imagine a service model with no contracts and a graphic designer who will create anything you need. This is just what Design Pickle is.

Russ Perry is the founder of Design Pickle. Much like their name, they set themselves apart and provide unlimited graphic design work for a flat monthly fee. I use this service myself and it has been amazing. In this episode, Russ answers direct business questions from a live audience. Tune in to hear his highs, lows, successes, and failures.

In this episode, you'll hear.

How Russ grew up.
The steps that led him into entrepreneurship and founding Design Pickle.
Where he lands in the spectrum between pessimism and optimism.
What made him finally decide things had to change in regards to his drinking.
How he grew Design Pickle to where it is today.
Why establishing trust is critical.
Who he looks to for a business model.
Where he wants to see Design Pickle go in the next 5 years.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Get Design Pickle’s free creative bundle + 30% DISCOUNT: https://designpickle.com/startupstory/

Russ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russperry/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Taylor Toynes, co-founder of For Oak Cliff Oct 06, 2020

About this episode

Taylor Toynes is the co-founder and executive director of For Oak Cliff, a community-based nonprofit that seeks to liberate the Oak Cliff community from systemic oppression. Oak Cliff is a community within the city of Dallas that boasts one of the highest crime rates in the area. In fact, the zip code for For Oak Cliff leads the state of Texas with the most people in prison. It has a median household income of just $21,000 a year. As a resident population where 40% of those over the age of 25 don't even have a GED, the same zip code had an entire population of high school students walk out of school due to the poor conditions of the school. And in fact, the middle school that feeds that same high school was shut down due to poor air quality.

The mission of For Oak Cliff is personal to Taylor because Oak Cliff is where he grew up and where he calls home today. But more importantly, it's personal because he believes the residents of Oak Cliff have potential far greater than is being realized. His mission is grand, but his passion is even greater.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Taylor’s early days and how being surrounded by entrepreneurs encouraged him to start his own nonprofit.
The life lessons Taylor learned from his family on what it means to serve others.
The four pillars For Oak Cliff uses to help liberate Oak Cliff from systemic oppression.
How Taylor measures success.
Changes he has seen in the community in the last five years.
Taylor’s greatest challenges.
His advice to any entrepreneur who is not seeing success.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

Taylor Toynes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-toynes-500a8555/
For Oak Cliff Website: https://www.foroakcliff.org/

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Jennifer Bett Meyer and Melissa Duren Conner, founding partners of Jennifer Bett Communications Sep 29, 2020

About this episode

I get contacted by a lot of publicists to feature their clients on the podcast. For the most part, all the pitches sound the same. It takes something really unique to catch my attention and prompt me to give the pitch more attention. Over time, I started getting a lot of pitches from different publicists from one firm, Jennifer Bett Communications. All of the intrigued me and made me want to learn more about the founder. That’s why I thought it would be interesting to hear how this unique firm got started.

Jennifer Bett Meyer and Melissa Duren Conner are the co-founders of Jennifer Bett Communications. They are part of the reason many of our previous guests have made their way onto the show. Tune in to hear the unique startup story of their firm, including the journey of both founders from their beginnings to where they are today.

In this episode, you'll hear.

What both Jennifer and Melissa’s childhoods were like and what their career aspirations were heading into college.
How they crossed paths and began their partnership.
How they set up boundaries, roles, and responsibilities to constantly keep the mission of the business aligned.
How to navigate partnership discussions.
What they do that is different than what we think of when we hear PR.
How they measure success.
What D to C brands need to consider when creating and launching a product.
How those who want to support black female founders can be a part of the solution.

Resources from this episode

Join Grindology: https://grindology.com/

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

Jennifer Bett Communications on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbettcomm/
Jennifer Bett Communications website: https://www.jenniferbett.com/

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Jeff Rogers, founder of Howdy Jeff Sep 22, 2020

About this episode

Creative geniuses are wired differently than the rest of us. Though many of the guests on the show readily do so, most creatives don’t even see themselves as entrepreneurs. This can cause a crisis in identity. I want to bring authenticity and transparency to the entrepreneurial journey so you have a complete picture of how nonlinear it truly is. That is why I brought Jeff Rogers on to tell his startup story.

Jeff Rogers is the founder of Howdy Jeff, a creative agency that focuses on typographical illustrations. He demonstrates how incredibly diverse entrepreneurship really is. Tune in to hear how he journeyed from playing drums in Texas honky-tonks to creating some of the most remarkable typographical illustrations for global brands.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How his dad’s entrepreneurial journey and work ethic shaped Jeff’s future.
When he started to realize he didn’t want to be in the music industry forever.
How he got into the graphic design scene.
The value of humility and being teachable.
What his brand is known for.
The challenges he’s encountered in working for himself.
The importance of pushing ourselves to be the best we can be as entrepreneurs.
The first steps Jeff would take if he was starting now.
How Jeff has wrestled with the notion of being an entrepreneur and a creative.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

Jeff’s website: https://howdyjeff.com/
Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frogers/

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Julie Bornstein, co-founder of The YES Sep 15, 2020

About this episode

A few weeks ago, we held a live stream event for our Startup Story Inner Circle members where they could ask our guest founder, Julie Bornstein, any entrepreneurial questions they had. It was an amazing opportunity to get their questions answered directly from someone who has experienced great success in business. In this episode, we’re sharing a segment of that conversation with Julie. Her retail e-commerce experience is second to none, so she provides entrepreneurial insights beyond comparison.

Julie is the co-founder of The Yes, a shopping app that’s personally tailored to you and your style preferences. She also brought the Nordstrom brand online and elevated the entire online experience for brands like Urban Outfitters and Sephora. After 15 years of experience in retail commerce, she shifted her career to help grow Stitch Fix from a $2 million a year startup to a publicly-traded brand with close to $1 billion in revenue. Julie knows how to execute. If you have a startup and want the opportunity to receive mentorship from a powerhouse founder like her, tune in.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Julie’s childhood and what sparked her interest in entrepreneurship.
How she began to get her passion for e-commerce.
The catalyst that drove her to leave Nordstrom.
Email marketing in the early 21st century and how people were thinking about email and e-commerce together.
How she used loyalty programs and knowledge of the consumer experience to sell support catalogs to consumers.
What her experience with StitchFix was like.
How The YES works and what challenges she is trying to solve with it.
What she sees for the future of retail.
Why you’re never too old to start a company.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → https://www.expressvpn.com/startupstory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

The YES app download: https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/the-yes-platform-inc/id1449564425

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Jeff Biggars, co-founder of Biggar Hat Store Sep 08, 2020

About this episode

Modern-day headlines will tell you that if it’s not a technology startup or a company seeking venture capital, then it’s irrelevant. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Sometimes it is the most unique entrepreneurial story that has the greatest impact on other people’s lives. The startup story featured in today’s episode is the perfect example of this.

Jeff Biggars is the co-founder of the Biggar Hat Store. Not only is he a hatmaker, but a successful entrepreneur with a unique story as well. In middle school, Jeff lost his father, forcing him to learn the value of hard work and leadership at a very young age. In this episode, we’re going to unpack how he journeyed from riding bulls to creating one of the most unique Western hat brands in the country. Tune in to hear all the value that Jeff is going to bring.

In this episode, you'll hear.

What Jeff’s childhood and young adult years were like.
How the hard parts of his childhood impacted his life to come.
The injury that sidelined his military aspirations.
His next step after realizing he didn’t want to ride bulls for the rest of his life.
The mental processes he went through as a manager in retail before deciding it was time for a change.
What made him realize he wanted to become a hatmaker and how he started honing his craft.
The conversation he had at home when he decided to quit his job and start his own business.
How he got his first customers.
How he has employed social media and influencer marketing.
What it takes to be an entrepreneur.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

Biggar Hat Store: https://biggarhatstore.com/

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

Think Branded Media: https://thinkbrandedmedia.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Jason McCann and FUSE Workspace Sep 01, 2020

About this episode

Today’s guest is Jason McCann, founder of the office furniture company Vari. In the episode, we’re focusing on the idea of how to maintain leadership and growth in the new normal. Globally, business has shifted completely as a result of COVID-19. There is a different kind of leadership that is required amidst crisis and Jason has learned this firsthand. He helps us understand how to lead well during this unprecedented time and what the future is going to look like.

Vari is a global brand whose core business is to serve the workspace demands of the world. Vari’s desks can be found in 98% of the Fortune 500 companies and have shipped to most countries on the planet. Though it is an extremely successful company, Vari has experienced the same recent shifts in business like everybody else. To understand this new normal and how to lead through it, tune into this conversation with Jason.

In this episode, you'll hear.

The pivots Vari had to make to meet the needs of consumers in the current climate.
The greatest lesson Jason has learned during this time.
How he communicated to his employees in a way that addressed their core concerns.
Jason’s passion for supporting small businesses right now.
What the workspace of the future looks like and how he views the emerging dynamic workspaces.
What he sees happening to the economy in the next 12-18 months.
How to pull yourself back up after coming out of a failed business.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

Get Emails: https://app.getemails.com/referrals/newaccount?ref=R18HWW5

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

FUSE Dynamic Workspace: https://www.fuseworkspace.com/

Vari: https://www.vari.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZL6BRCmARIsAH6XFDJZEoKEhi15V8c-xCZdRSaLxVSAp-Z_KTQ4l_ZsNRdIOrStYbbw5FQaAmbvEALw_wcB

Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-mccann-varidesk/

Jason’s startup story on episode 1 of the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jason-mccann-founder-of-varidesk/id1448729937?i=1000427698296

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Jason McCann.

Victoria Alonsoperez, founder of Chipsafer Aug 25, 2020

About this episode

Childhood dreams don’t always pan out the way we thought they would. Many future business-owners don’t envision a life of entrepreneurship for themselves. Instead, they have dreams of being in careers that have nothing to do with business. It is not until something sparks the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey that they even consider that possibility. This was certainly the case for Victoria Alonsoperez.

Victoria is the founder of Chipsafer. Chipsafer is a platform that can track and detect anomalies in livestock behavior at any time and in any place. The goal of Chipsafer is to isolate any issues and eliminate catastrophic loss due to illness or disease. In 2001, Victoria’s home country, Uruguay, was hit with an agricultural event that destroyed much of the country’s livestock industry. As a child, she couldn’t solve the problem then and there, but it eventually became the catalyst for the birth of Chipsafer. Today, Victoria shares with us all of the details of her startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Victoria’s dreams of being in the aerospace industry and how she eventually transitioned into entrepreneurship.
How she “accidentally fell” into a successful company by winning a contest.
Her next steps after winning the business contest.
The funding vehicles that helped her set up her infrastructure and start manufacturing.
What Chipsafer is and how it operates today.
The biggest challenges Victoria has faced in business.
Her struggle with self-doubt.
How and why she has located the company in Singapore.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory
Chipsafer: https://www.chipsafer.com/
Victoria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-alonsoperez-a4309118/
Victoria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoria.alonsoperez/
Victoria on Twitter: https://twitter.com/vic_alonsoperez

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Ben Chestnut, co-founder of Mailchimp Aug 18, 2020

About this episode

Ben Chestnut is the CEO and Co-founder of Mailchimp, a leading marketing platform for small businesses and Inc’s 2017 Company of the Year. They democratize marketing technology for small businesses, creating innovative products that empower our customers to grow.

So much of the startup noise today is about how much you've raised or if your startup is even worthy of investment. I want you to understand the idea of entrepreneurship that has been propagated in today's media outlets is not the standard or the norm. You do not need VC money to build your business or to validate that you have something worth pursuing. So when you hear Ben's story, I hope it leaves you walking a bit taller, knowing that it is absolutely possible to build a billion-dollar business one customer at a time and with no investment capital. In fact, Ben learned from a very early age that anything is possible as long as you're willing to put in the work.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Ben’s early days and what led him to start MailChimp.
Ben’s thoughts on bringing capital into the business.
How he stayed the course despite competitor noise.
Tactics Ben used to acquire his first 10,000 users.
How to determine pricing and consumer tolerance in a SaaS product.
How COVID-19 has affected Ben and his leadership team.
Ben’s advice to any entrepreneur who feels stuck.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
Ben Chestnut on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mailchimp/
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

MJ Gottlieb, founder of Loosid Aug 11, 2020

About this episode

As entrepreneurs, we have a tendency to think that our story or hardship is so unique that nobody can relate to us. The reality is our stories are far more similar than they are different. We just don't talk about our stories as often as we should.

Our guest this week is MJ Gottlieb, founder of LOOSID. LOOSID is a mobile app that aggregates global offerings for those living a sober lifestyle or are curious about what it means to live a sober lifestyle.

MJ’s story is littered with decision points that brought him to some very low places as he battled through his addiction to alcohol. Yet MJ’s perspective on the many decades of hardship and devastation is one that will empower and encourage every single one of you.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Why MJ started drinking at an early age.
What led MJ to start a degree in Philosophy.
How he took a risk and started his first business while in college.
How his alcohol and substance abuse led to the creation of LOOSID.
How he funded this project.
The challenges of recovery and sobriety.
How making money is not a purpose.
How MJ plans to expand LOOSID outside North America.
The lessons he’s learned from failure.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
How To Run A Business Without Even Trying - https://amzn.to/2EPEYCe
MJ Gottlieb on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjgottlieb/
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Keith Nowak, founder of Ten Thousand Aug 04, 2020

About this episode

To reach the success we’ve always dreamed of, we must become obsessed with understanding failure. The key is to analyze every decision we’ve made and outcome we’ve seen and figure out what small step we can take to make it better. Navigating and growing through these troubles will make us stronger.

Keith Nowak knows this better than anyone. He is the co-founder of Ten Thousand, an athletic apparel brand for men. Their approach has not been to create an extensive collection of mediocre products, but to create just a few products that are remarkable in their category. This has contributed to its incredible success. Listen in to hear how he went from aspiring soccer player to crazy successful business owner.

In this episode, you'll hear.

The upbringing and experiences that ingrained certain ideas, mindsets, and processes into Keith.
How being obsessed with failure helped him in the long run.
The link between his soccer years and his time at Immersive.
How to see the struggle as part of your journey.
His journey leading up to Ten Thousand.
The first step he took to learn design.
How he executed his launch year.
The catalyst for the growth he saw in 2019.
How he competes in a space with so many big names.
The challenges that came with COVID-19 and what it exposed for Ten Thousand.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Startup Story LIVE: Erik Huberman Jul 28, 2020

About this episode

As everyone pulls back on marketing amidst the COVID crisis, e-commerce businesses are actually making forward progress more than ever before. Businesses do not have to get caught standing on the sidelines. Erik Huberman knows this weel as he’s seen it first-hand with many of his clients.

Erik is the founder of Hawke Media, a full service outsourced CMO agency in Santa Monica, California. Hawke Media launched in 2014 and has since been valued at $60 million. In that time, Erik and his company have also served over 400 brands. Tune in to hear how he has helped some businesses see a 200% increase in business despite the economic chaos that we find ourselves in.

In this episode, you'll hear.

How Hawke Media responded when COVID-19 first hit.
Why businesses should not just shut down but see this time as an opportunity to acquire new customers.
The importance of acting according to data, not emotion.
How to increase your business right now by pivoting online.
How to approach initial customer acquisition efforts.
The role of nurturing in advertising.
What the cycle of coming up with an e-commerce solution from ground zero to making revenue looks like.
How partnerships are being worked in a D2C space.

Resources from this episode

Get marketing help from Hawke Media: https://hawkemedia.com/
ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
Hawke Media on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Chelsie Lee, founder of Shipsi Jul 21, 2020

About this episode

No start-up story follows a direct path. There are often many twists and turns along the way. These varied experiences train and equip entrepreneurs to eventually achieve success. This is especially true for Chelsie Lee.

Chelsie is the CEO and co-founder of Shipsi, a delivery technology platform that allows retailers to offer same-day and scheduled delivery without managing any of the logistics. They help retailers adapt their businesses to meet the Amazon-level expectations of consumers. After just two and a half years, Shipsi has over one million drivers who serve over 850 cities. But, like with any good start-up story, this didn’t happen overnight. It was a lifetime in the making and Chelsie shares that story with us today.

In this episode, you'll hear.

How Chelsie’s childhood (and especially her grandma) shaped her entrepreneurial journey.
Why and how she pivoted to technology.
How to balance having accurate data and not getting too deep into the weeds.
The catalyst for thought for the idea of Shipsi.
How she strategically worked on both the driver and retail side.
The decision points before they went public.
How she avoided having a mindset of desperation.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Shipsi: https://shipsi.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Startup Story LIVE: Jason McCann Jul 14, 2020

About this episode

Complacency is dangerous. It has the ability to destroy entrepreneurship. Businesses must be constantly innovating and never settling for stability if they are going to continue growing. As brands start to come up with new ideas, they will encounter resistance. The key is to keep on pushing and never give up.

Jason McCann is an entrepreneur who has experienced this first-hand. He is the founder of Very, a company that transforms cultures through workspace innovation. The name of his premier product Vera Desk has become the standard name for any desk we see. Since the first launch, they have shipped to over 130 countries that can be found, elevating 98% of the Fortune 500. In today’s episode, we sit down and talk about the challenges he has overcome to get his brand to where it is today.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Why Jason felt the need to rebrand Very.
Whether now is a good time to innovate or to seek stability.
His predictions for how brands will operate post-COVID.
How to maintain a company culture in a distributed workspace.
How he got his very first customers.
Potential service and product opportunities coming out of this season.
Book recommendations for those at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey.
Jason’s initial pricing strategy.
Tools and resources to use for customer feedback.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory

The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney

The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Jason McCann.

Esti Chazanow, co-founder of LIV Watches Jul 07, 2020

About this episode

In today’s episode, Esti Chazanow shares her start-up story. She brings a unique perspective to the show because this is the first husband-wife co-founding team we’ve had. During our conversation, Esti explains the strong entrepreneurial influence her husband had on her. He helped her understand that the skills she’d developed in her early career were exactly what she needed to come alongside her husband and bring their brand to the market.

Esti and her husband are the co-founders of LIV Watches, a direct to consumer Swiss-made watch brand. They launched their very first watch on Kickstarter and from there went on to repeat that launch cycle four times, generating over $8 million. Esti’s journey from the corporate world to starting a business with her husband shows us again how diverse every entrepreneurial journey is. Tune in to hear all about it.

In this episode, you'll hear.

How growing up with 16 siblings made Esti who she is today.
What traveling so extensively in her formative years taught Esti about the world.
How the combination of Esti’s and her husband’s unique gifts led to the development of LIV Watches.
Why those who purchase their watches are called fans and ambassadors, not customers.
What the early days of launching LIV Watches on Kickstarter were like.
What the LIV Design Challenge is and Esti’s objective in creating it.
Why Esti and her husband continued to go back to Kickstarter.
The greatest challenges Esti and her husband faced in launching and growing LIV Watches to where it is today.
The importance of human communication skills in business.
What Esti hopes LIV Watches will become.
Why businesses must be completely authentic.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
Guest’s resource: https://www.livwatches.com/
Guest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esti-chazanow-b5469776/
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Startup Story LIVE: Chris George Jun 30, 2020

About this episode

In today’s episode, I talk with Chris George about his experience with subscription services and other recurring revenue models. Subscription services have risen in popularity over the last several years. They are now utilized by businesses in virtually every industry and are a business model that every company should consider in order to establish a stable revenue stream.

Chris is the co-founder of Gentleman’s Box and has successfully launched and managed seven businesses. He is a leader in helping businesses stabilize their revenue streams. He also established the Subscription Trade Association, using his passion for entrepreneurship to help others with a similar drive. I know this episode will be extremely helpful as we discuss all of this and get into Chris’s story.

In this episode, you'll hear.

How Gentleman’s Box came to be and expanded to what it is today.
How Chris views the subscription model market.
Why the recurring revenue model should be used by every business.
Current trends in the subscription service market.
The two categories of subscriptions.
How to keep customers from cancelling their subscriptions through different pay frequency strategies.
The importance of relationships in subscription services.
Suggestions for different kinds of businesses wanting to start a subscription service.
When and if to collaborate with other brands in creating a subscription box.
How subscription services are expanding internationally.
The difference in marketing to different kinds of customers.

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
Gentleman’s Box: https://gentlemansbox.com/
Chris George on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-george-08775383/
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Carolyn Rodz, founder of Hello Alice Jun 23, 2020

About this episode

Hello Alice is an online step-by-step resource for you in your entrepreneurial journey. Regardless of the stage of your business, Hello Alice can be a resource for you. This week I am joined by Carolyn Rodz, founder of Hello Alice.

What I love about Carolyn's story is the narrative is so incredibly similar to why I started The Startup Story platform. To provide you, the entrepreneur and founder, with direct access to founders of companies so that you can learn from their journey.

The entrepreneurial journey is such a unique storyline, and not a single one is the same. Yet, when we strip it all back and start at the beginning, we can begin to see some commonalities. One of them is that entrepreneurship was foundational in our upbringing, and for some, it was nowhere on the horizon. For Carolyn, it was very much the part of her world. This is Carolyn Rodz's startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear.

The term entrepreneur was never part of Carolyn's early vocabulary, but entrepreneurs surrounded her during her childhood. She shares her first exposure to entrepreneurship, her grandparents' Bolivian bread, cookie, and pasta factory.
She shares some of her early aspirations, including her desire to climb the corporate ladder. She started as an investment banker, and all she wanted to be a corner office at a high rise in Manhattan.
Her breaking point, when she realized the corporate lifestyle was no longer for her and how she broke away from that work-life.
After leaving her job at JP Morgan, she decided she wanted to create something new, starting with a stationery business. And she won Best New Product at the first stationery show she attended.
Carolyn shares what happens following her success at the trade show, including the story arc and her ultimate exit from the company.
Even with the closing of her first venture, she knew she was capable of being an entrepreneur. Carolyn explains how she pushed forward to understand what steps she missed and how she could improve.
About her next venture, a branding, and design company with two team members.
How Carolyn transitioned into what it is known today as Hello Alice - a company that matches entrepreneurs with opportunities, locally and online, to help them start and grow a business.
“Entrepreneurship is not a solo sport.” Carolyn Rodz

Resources from this episode

Hello Alice: https://helloalice.com/
Carolyn Rodz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynrodz
Hello Alice COVID-19 Business for All Emergency Grant: https://helloalice.com/resources/funding/hello-alice-covid-19-business-for-all-emergency-grant
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Startup Story LIVE: Emma Rose Cohen Jun 16, 2020

About this episode

This week I am sharing a Startup Story LIVE session featuring Emma Rose Cohen. In this session, she shares everything she knows about running a successful Kickstarter campaign. Collectively Emma has raised over $2 million across two Kickstarter product campaigns. Her most recent campaign for the FinalWipe launch, even with the challenge of gaining global attention due to a pandemic, exceeded the initial goal in just a few hours of its launch.

Emma Rose Cohen is the founder of FinalStraw. FinalStraw is a collapsible and reusable straw for a sucking alternative that will help reduce plastic waste across the globe. Emma is a Kickstarter genius, and this week I am thrilled to share her Startup Story Live session with you.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Some of the crowdfunding challenges Emma has experienced and what she learned from them.
The tactics and strategies she employed in her successful Kickstarter campaigns.
How long it took her from the pre-launch phase to the launch phase of her first campaign.
Raising awareness of your Kickstarter campaign, including getting press coverage and more.
Some additional strategies people who are looking to drive traffic to the platform can employ.
Questions to keep in mind when preparing to launch and then later to run your campaign: "Why do people need this?" "What is the advantage of this product over, everything else that exists?" "And why should they trust you?"
Keeping backers of your Kickstarter campaign engaged and the product fulfillment process.
Emma's for creating significant video elements for the best conversion

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
FinalStraw: https://final.co/
Emma Rose Cohen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarosecohen/
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Emma Rose Cohen.

Christina Stembel, founder of Farmgirl Flowers Jun 09, 2020

About this episode

This week's featured guest is Christina Stembel, founder of Farmgirl Flowers. You may recognize Christina from the national Capital One campaign, where she gets to quote the known slogan, "What's in your wallet?"

And if you couldn't guess, Christina's story is unique on many levels, including her challenging upbringing. Christina was born in a small Indiana town where she was raised with the idea that young girls did not have the same future or potential as young boys. For most of her childhood, she felt like an outsider. She was a young girl with big dreams, and that was not the norm in her town.

Despite any of the challenges Christina faced, her childhood was influential and helped her get to where she is today. She's often asked what's the secret sauce to her success? She immediately points back to the most important lesson of her life, and that is where we begin her story. This is Christina Stembel's startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear.

About how she grew up in a small town in Indiana with religiously conservative parents. And how she was continually asking questions and bucking against that system.
Though entrepreneurs didn't surround her, she did learn the value of hard work.
How and why she made a move to New York City after graduation. And later, moving to Chicago, taking classes at Columbia College, and working in a hotel.
Christina shares how she eventually ended up in hotel management in San Francisco. And later, she details her exit from the hotel business.
She describes her time working at Stanford University, first in their catering department, and then with Alumni Relations. Her time planning events for Stanford helped her recognize the amount of money being spent, and in her opinion wasted, on the decor.
She was able to save the university money by buying flowers and making the arrangements herself, rather than buying finished pieces.
Christina could see the gaps in the flower industry but knew she didn't want to be doing events. She researched the e-commerce side of flowers and felt there was something better she could be doing to improve it. That led to Farmgirl.
Early Farmgirl had limited product options with excellent customer service and a minimal marketing budget. Christina shares some of the unique marketing she explored in the early days of her startup.
Some of the frustrations are getting financing in Silicon Valley and her experiences.
The growth of Farmgirl Flowers, including her desire for early regional growth, subsidizing shipping costs, and working on company culture.
Why Christina believes anyone willing to work for it can be an entrepreneur.

Resources from this episode

Farmgirl Flowers: https://farmgirlflowers.com/
Christina Stembel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-stembel/
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Startup Story LIVE: Sean Cannell Jun 02, 2020

About this episode

In this week's episode, we unpack the power of video content for your business with Sean Cannell of Think Media. Sean is a best selling author, YouTuber, and speaker centered on helping entrepreneurs and creatives build their influence with online video. Sean's YouTube channels have over one million subscribers, his videos have been viewed over 43 million times, and he has been featured as one of the "20 Must Watch YouTube Channels That Will Change Your Business" by Forbes.

On May 14th and 15th of this year, we held the first Startup Story Live event. It featured thirteen incredible founders from various industries. Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing some of these sessions for you to enjoy. Today, you will hear Sean Cannell's session, where he talked about how he pivoted his business from crisis mode to flourishing. Listen to hear how he used the power of video to catapult his company to the next level, and how you can too.

In this episode, you'll hear

Some of the principles Sean employed during his recession; the first was to protect your focus
If COVID-19 revealed anything to us, it's that you need an online offer.
Sean shares his belief that online video, live streaming, the ability to communicate via the internet and do business online is the new normal of skills we have to develop to keep our businesses protected, diversified, and able to weather the storm.
Why YouTube? Some of the statistics and reasons why you should be creating videos and posting to YouTube. The biggest: YouTube is a discovery machine.
Why it is essential to know what problem or problems you solve.
YouTube is a critical place for entrepreneurs and businesses to plant their flag.
The different kinds of videos you can make and why you should commit to creating content.
Sean answers the questions, "How do you make money with this?," "How do I grow viewership?" and "Where do I draw the line between what I give away for free versus what I sell?"

Resources from this episode

ExpressVPN: Get 3 Months Free → ExpressVPN.com/StartupStory
Sean Cannell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancannell/
Sean Cannell’s Startup Story Interview Episode: https://www.thestartupstory.co/episodes/sean-cannell-founder-of-think-media
The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Sean Cannell.

Recap: Startup Story LIVE May 26, 2020

About this episode

Startup Story LIVE was a livestream event, and it wrapped, and it was a fantastic success. This week on the podcast, I am providing a recap of the event. Initially, the event was supposed to be an in-person conference in Dallas. And then, COVID-19 happened. We had to pivot to that event entirely into an online virtual summit. The event surpassed my wildest dreams and expectations.

During the two-day virtual summit, entrepreneurs and founders showed up to speak, listen, and learn from each other. Entrepreneurs support entrepreneurs, and Startup Story Live was an accurate representation of that. Today, I will share the highlights, some of the challenges I had to overcome to hold the event, and lessons learned along the way.

In this episode, you'll hear

Some of the interesting statistics and results of Startup Story Live: like we streamed to 77 different countries and how Entrepreneur Magazine came on as the presenting sponsor
The tactics and strategies shared during the event by speakers, entrepreneurs, and founders.
Sean Cannell of Think Media shared about the power of video content in today’s marketplace and how YouTube is the 2nd most used search engine on the planet.
Christina Stembel’s session spoke to the power of quick decisions and avoiding paralysis by analysis.
Why you don’t need VC funding to build a business…you require grit, resilience, and an ability to execute well.
Jason McCann of Vari (formerly, VariDesk) talked about how critical it is for brands and entrepreneurs to be innovating and not resting on the various levels of success they achieve.
Luke Fox spoke about the power of traction and gaining micro-wins.
If you missed the livestream event, I share how you can still access all of the founder sessions.

Resources from this episode

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Michael Coles, founder of Great American Cookie Company May 19, 2020

About this episode

This week's featured founder is Michael Coles, founder of The Great American Cookie Company. Michael will share his journey through family hardship and financial ruin, his bankruptcy, and a motorcycle crash that almost destroyed his life. He then takes us through how he started a cookie business, one which would go on to be one of the most successful cookie brands in the country.

Due to the Coronavirus, Michael and I recorded this episode remotely, but I felt like I was sitting right there with him as he walked me through all the various challenges he had to overcome to get to where he is today. We are all fortunate to learn from someone that has (for decades) continued to step up to adversity and push against it. This is Michael Coles’ startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear

How at the age of 10, his family lost their home and watched his dad recover from bankruptcy.
His first venture was raking leaves. He shared how this experience taught him about monopolies and franchising.
He shared fondly about his first mentor, Irving Settler, who owned a department store where Michael worked.
Why and how, in his Senior year, he moved to Massachusetts to live with his brother and focus on school.
After high school, Michael got a job as a sales representative for a clothing company instead of going the traditional route of college.
Grappling with the desire to start his own business, he decided to start a retail company that eventually went bankrupt. He went back to work as a sales rep for a clothing manufacturer. And ultimately, he would go on to launch a clothing company of his own.
A trip to the mall to buy snacks for clients introduced Michael to the concept of 'single-food' stores. He immediately bought ingredients to make cookies, and a scale, so he could try to figure out the cost ratio.
How a call to a friend to buy out his share of the clothing company would lead to the start of the Great American Cookie Company.
Due to lack of oven mitts, their opening day ended with a fire and no cookies to hand out to customers.
Six weeks after starting the cookie company, a motorcycle accident nearly took Michael's life. Michael shared his journey openly and how his rehabilitation led him to set three world records for coast-to-coast bike rides.
Michael credits his experience with manufacturing and sales to his success. He leaves listeners and entrepreneurs with some sound advice.

Resources from this episode

Time to Get Tough! How Cookies, Coffee, and a Crash Led to Success in Business and Life

Michael Coles on LinkedIn

Great American Cookie Company

The Startup Story Inner Circle: https://www.thestartupstory.co/vip
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Jaime Schmidt, founder of Schmidt’s Naturals May 12, 2020

About this episode

Jaime Schmidt started Schmidt’s Naturals after attending a local recreational class on how to make shampoo. From that class, she grew Schmidt’s Naturals to the point that Unilever bought Schmidt’s Naturals just seven years from when she started.

Since Jaime’s sale of Schmidt’s Naturals to Unilever, she continues to represent the brand as an ambassador. However, she is now working on two new ventures, her book, Supermaker, is set to be released in the Fall. And she is also the co-founder of Color, an inclusive funding for early-stage consumer brands venture capital company. Both are centered around elevating the entrepreneurial story for makers and underrepresented founders.

I am so excited for you to hear this episode of The Startup Story podcast because I love Jaime’s story, and I think you will too. Her story paints a complete picture of how incredible entrepreneurship can genuinely be. This is Jaime Schmidt’s startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How entrepreneurship seemed to come naturally to Jaime, from having the best lemonade stand on the block to providing neighbors laminated ‘save the date’ cards weeks in advance of a lemonade sale.
Her business-savvy expanded to babysitting during her preteen years. Her parents’ encouragement to save half of her earnings enabled Jaime to buy her first car.
How growing up, attending college was expected as the next step, so even though Jaime had no clear path in mind, she attended Michigan State University.
She chose a business degree with a focus in Human Resources because she did enjoy working with people.
Her first employer paid for continuing education, which enabled her to get a Masters Degree in Sociology.
Unfulfilled by Human Resources, Jaime took time off to figure out what she wanted to do with her life and her career.
About the fateful Google search, which led Jaime to a shampoo making class, the class inspired her creative side and competitive side.
After creating her shampoos and products, she eventually began to sell at Farmers Markets and used customer feedback to perfect them.
Jaime describes her business journey and how she was able to enter the retail market as a result of being in Farmers Markets.
The growth of her company: manufacturing in her kitchen, to eventually moving to a larger manufacturing space to create products for large retailers.
Why she thinks inserting some of your own story into your brand is necessary; and what she says she would do differently.
What she is doing now: including the release of her book, Supermaker, and the work she is doing with the Color.

“I have never been the type to look too far ahead. I just took every single day at a time and decided that I would NEVER say no to anything.” – Jaime Schmidt, Schmidt’s Naturals

Resources from this episode

Schmidt’s Naturals - https://schmidts.com/
Jaime on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/JaimeSchmidt/
Schmidt’s Naturals on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/schmidtsnaturals/

Jaime’s book, Supermaker: Crafting Business On Your Own Terms, is scheduled to be released on September 8th. If you register for Startup Story LIVE at http://startupstorylive.com you will receive a very special offer for her book!

Color Capital - https://color.capital/

The Startup Story LIVE - Virtual Conference: http://startupstorylive.com
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Jaime Schmidt.

Luke Fox, founder of WhiteFox Defense Technologies May 05, 2020

About this episode

WhiteFox Defense Technologies is a drone mitigation technology company founded by Luke Fox. He was building an organization to manufacture drones in an affordable way for research and humanitarian efforts. In doing so, he started to see that drones were being sought out by people and organizations that had incredibly sketchy purposes for the use of drones.

From those observations, he developed a device that is no larger than a brick. This device is capable of identifying drones, assessing their threat, and then engaging them. The device will immediately force the drone to land, it can crash it, or it can send it back. I've seen the technology in person, and it is unbelievable!

Luke is a global leader in drone airspace security and pioneer of the safe integration of drones into society, WhiteFox products securely manage drones in sensitive airspace worldwide. While the technology Luke and his team have produced is impressive, it is Luke's personal story of triumph that is far more impressive. This is Luke Fox's startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear

About Luke's upbringing surrounded by siblings with both mental and physical disabilities. His responsibility and purpose were to help, which taught him to think of others first.
How his tendency to hide away and 'tinker' with things helped him discover his knack for technology.
His home responsibilities, entering foster care, and how it led him to fall so far behind that, he dropped out of high school.
Getting his GED, entering Community College at age 16, and receiving his first A, proved to him that he was intelligent enough to rebuild his life.
His drive to help people had him wanting to enter law enforcement, though his aptitude for technology had him thinking about combining the two.
His first organization, a non-profit, used technology to help fight against human trafficking.
Wanting to use the new drone technology for better law enforcement surveillance, humanitarian aid, and research led him to develop a more affordable drone; and start Drones for Change.
Drones for Change shifted into WhiteFox Defense Technologies as he sought to develop his universal drone controller. He hoped to give law enforcement tighter control over the air space with counter-drone technology.
At the time counter-drone technology was illegal, so Luke had to work to get Congress to pass laws to create a market for his technology
How his difficult upbringing has helped him strive for the success of his company as he wants it to be. He won't compromise for something lesser.

"No matter where you come from, the traumas you've endured and the mistakes that you have made do not have to define you or defeat you. It is because of those experiences that you are capable of seeing the world in a way that nobody else can." Luke Fox, WhiteFox Defense Technologies

Resources from this episode

WhiteFox Defense Technologies: https://www.whitefoxdefense.com/
Luke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukerfox/
Luke on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lukerfox?lang=en
The Startup Story LIVE - Virtual Conference: http://startupstorylive.com
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Luke Fox.

Minnie Ingersoll, partner at TenOneTen Ventures Apr 28, 2020

About this episode

TenOneTen Ventures is an early-stage venture fund. The firm personifies entrepreneurial expertise within the technology space. Their mission is to back entrepreneurs who inspire them, then do whatever it takes to help them get the job done. Minnie Ingersoll is co-founder of Shift and partner at TenOneTen Ventures. This week she joins us to share her entrepreneurial origin story, as well as some of the work OneTenOne Ventures, is doing to help other entrepreneurs.

Minnie's story is a fascinating one. Throughout her story, you will hear just how correctly wired she is to help early-stage startups. Her journey displays the power of understanding your strengths and going all-in on them. Of course, we have to start at the beginning. And for Minnie, the start was not one where you would have predicted it would lead her to where she is today. This is Minnie Ingersoll's startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear

Minnie's upbringing, growing up in a home of academics but knowing she wanted to do and be more.
About her desire from a young age to attend Stanford.
How she graduated with a computer science degree as the.COM bust was happening.
Her move to Manhattan after graduation and working for the startup, LivePerson, as a product manager.
How her desire to understand all aspects of business lead her to Harvard Business School.
With an MBA in hand, but still drawn to startups, Minnie decided to move back to Silicon Valley.
A 'We're hiring' screenshot from her mother led her to apply for and land a job at Google.
Minnie shares some behind-the-scenes stories about how Google develops its products.
Minnie's entrepreneurial spirit eventually led her to leave Google and start her own company.
Feeling her skillset is best for the early days of startups, and wanting something different with three young children, she turned her attention to venture funds to finance startups and founded TenOneTenVentures.
The challenges faced by women in venture funding, as well as some opportunities presented to them.
When looking for investments, Minnie looks for a balance between expertise and passion.

“There are many flavors of entrepreneurship. You are uniquely equipped, and you need to lean into that uniqueness.” Minnie Ingersoll

Resources from this episode

TenOneTen Ventures: https://tenoneten.net/
Minnie Ingersoll on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mingersoll/
LA Venture Podcast: https://podcast.tenoneten.net/
The Startup Story LIVE - Virtual Conference: http://startupstorylive.com
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Minnie Ingersoll.

Dave Bolotsky, founder of Uncommon Goods Apr 21, 2020

About this episode

Uncommon Goods is an online marketplace that connects makers and their creations with shoppers looking for genuinely unique goods. It's the online marketplace place to go to when looking for a one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone in your life (hint: like moms, Mother's Day is right around the corner!).

In addition to the incredible items sold directly from the makers, Uncommon Goods key sales strategy is to leverage catalog mailers. My kids love looking through the Uncommon Goods catalog! In today's episode, you'll hear from the company's founder, Dave Bolotsky, on why he decided to use a catalog mailer for marketing his e-commerce company.

Dave joins me to share his entrepreneurial origin story. He journeys us through the birth of the internet and e-commerce, to the .com bubble, and the events of 9/11. This is Dave Bolotsky’s startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear.

Dave details his early entrepreneurial tendencies, first as a young child creating mini-catalogs for baseball cards, and later as a teen when he started a lawn-mowing service.
Dave shares how he had aspirations to start a record label upon graduating high school and his eventual disconnection from this dream
His career as a financial analyst first in retail and later working at Goldman Sachs for twelve years
His discovery of the internet in 1995 and how he began to write out internet retailing while at Goldman Sachs and his ultimate decision to leave Goldman Sachs in 1999 to pursue e-commerce
Dave's e-commerce idea and how close it is to the Uncommon Goods we know today
Some of the early steps taken to launch in the early days of the internet.
How Dave navigated through the .com bubble burst
How and why he decided to create a mailer to promote the products he was selling online.
Dave launched his business in a very challenging season of our economy and globally, during the 9/11 era. He describes what it was like working and leading his company during that time.
Dave shares when he knew he had a sustainable business.
Where he sees Uncommon Goods in five years and beyond

“Whatever decision you make, you need to stop driving while staring in the rearview mirror.” -Dave Bolotsky

Resources from this episode

Uncommon Goods: https://www.uncommongoods.com/
Uncommon Goods on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncommongoods/
Dave Bolotsky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-bolotsky-3b6256/
The Startup Story LIVE - Virtual Conference: http://startupstorylive.com
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Dave Bolotsky.

BONUS: Success Amidst Coronavirus Apr 20, 2020

About the episode

This Bonus Episode of The Startup Story is the type of story we should all be hearing in the midst of this Coronavirus. This startup story doesn't have one that is a "lifetime in the making." No, it was forced upon Chef Zach because of the pandemic we are all living through. So within just 3-weeks from being laid-off from his restaurant job, Chef Zach established a website that allows normal people, like you and I, to request a menu concept directly from him…a reallife CHEF! Once you select the menu option he then walks you through how to make it via a video culinary session!

The amazing part…well there are two amazing parts. First, it starts with you telling him the items you have in your pantry or kitchen. You can literally throw anything at him and he will turn out an incredible meal for you. The second amazing thing about Chef Zach’s story is that he doesn’t charge for it…it’s donation only. While I shouldn’t be surprised at the goodness of humanity, he has said every single donation has been more than he expected. Stories like this are the stories that need to make the headlines. These are the startup stories that can change lives forever.

Resources from this episode

Support Chef Zach Sass - https://chefzachsass.com/

The Startup Story LIVE - Virtual Conference: http://startupstorylive.com

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory

The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney

The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand Apr 14, 2020

About this episode

Meet Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand. Beardbrand works to bring high-quality products to beardsmen. And, in case you could not tell from my podcast cover art, I am not a beardsman. So how did Eric and his company appear on my radar? I discovered Beardbrand because they were a featured success story during a series of commercials during the most recent World Series. Aside from the exposure they received from the World Series commercials, Eric was also on Shark Tank, where he did not get an offer from the sharks, but he did get a flattering beard rub from one of them.

When I approached Beardbrand to feature Eric, I wasn't sure what to expect. I soon discovered Beardbrand was a business grounded on its principles, and crystal clear about who they are as entrepreneurs and what they want to be as a brand. Eric graciously accepted, and well, here we are!

My key takeaway from my time with Eric was the power of clarity. Whether it is clarity of who you are as an entrepreneur, as a person, or as an organization, you need to be crystal clear on that truth. As you gain clarity, you can then navigate the road ahead in a manner that is in full alignment of your vision and purpose. Take the time to find your clarity.

Eric's startup story is one that I am sure will broaden your perspective of what a successful business is or could be. Like all founders featured on this podcast, we need to understand how Eric's story began. This is Eric Bandholdz's startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear.

His early childhood, growing up in a family of entrepreneurs and his desire to be a truck drive or racecar drive as a child
How as Eric got older, into his teenage years, he knew he wanted to be in business, in particular, he wanted to work in sales
His journey graduating from college with a degree in marketing and management, then getting a job out of college at Dell Computer
About his transition from Dell into financial advisement
How and why Eric stepped away from financial advisement and what ultimately led to his first venture and later to Beardbrand
His first venture, Sovereignty, and how it was his first project that made more than $200
How Eric came up with the concept for Beardbrand
Beardbrand's start: how he spent the first few years building community, the starting point mission, and startup phase
Beardbrand as an individual driven company, supporting the individual and recognizing we are all different
About the time, the New York Times did an article on Eric's company and how it was the entryway into the box business.
Some of the challenges of an e-commerce business and the consumer acquisition side of running an e-commerce site
Entrepreneurs supporting other entrepreneurs and BeardBrand's collaboration with ShipStation
The impact on the company as a result of Eric’s appearance on Shark Tank
Eric answers the question, "Can anyone be an entrepreneur?"

“Life isn’t easy and we all have our own adversity. Yet, part of the journey is to recognize that you are here to make a specific mark on this world and in the lives of those around you.” – Eric Bandholz – Beardbrand

Resources from this episode

Beardbrand: https://www.beardbrand.com/

Eric Bandholz on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bandholz

The Startup Story LIVE - Virtual Conference: http://startupstorylive.com

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory

The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney

The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Eric Bandholz.

Naysa Mishler, founder of Everest Effect Apr 07, 2020

About this episode

Our guest this week is Naysa Mishler, co-founder of Everest Effect. Everest Effect is a marketplace that seeks to connect those impacted by disasters directly with brands that can meet the needs of those affected. Including the Nashville tornadoes that destroyed much of a city, the wildfires in Australia or California that seem to occur year after year, or yes, even a global Pandemic like COVID-19. Everest Effect seeks to provide for real needs, from real people, in real-time. Despite the vast ambition we see today, Naysa's journey did not start with such lofty goals. You also will hear during today's episode that the responsibilities of life flavor how we navigate our career and business. This is Naysa Mishler's startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear

Her early childhood and her experience watching (and working in) her father's retail business
Some business lessons learned from her father at a young age, like putting the customer first and also realizing that starting a retail store was not appealing to her at all.
What she was interested in was broadcast journalism and becoming the next Katie Couric, but you'll hear about how later in her college career, she pivoted to journalism and public relations
Her experience following college and realizing that even public relations were not where her real passion was and how she began to put passion first in each new direction she took: "Every time I explore new opportunities, I always start with asking myself 'What am I passionate about?" and then pursue the companies that are doing that well."
Her first role at Citi and how did that season in her life set her up for what would become Everest Effect
She talks about her time working for LinkedIn and what it taught her about 'People and Product.'
Some of the markers in her career journey like leaving a position after less than a year, suffering a blog to her ego and being without job while about to have a baby
Why Naysa left a stable job to start something from the ground up
How the idea of Everest Effect began and how Naysa was determined to answer the need of those impacted by a disaster
Everest Effect's mission, who they help, and how they do it.

“Relationships always matter, but I feel like they matter a little bit more when you are an entrepreneur.” – Naysa Mishler, Everest Effect

Resources from this episode

Everest Effect: https://www.everesteffect.com/

Naysa Mishler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naysamishler/

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory

The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney

The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Naysa Mishler.

Running a Business During the Coronavirus Crisis Mar 31, 2020

About this episode

In this episode, I share a new way to move forward with your business in the face of Coronavirus. Every single one of us has been impacted, in some way, by the Coronavirus. In fact, over the past few weeks, it has been at the top of every headline, discussion forum, and even populated most of the social posts we see. The impact of this virus is far-reaching.

Today, I offer a different way of seeing things amidst the disruption. Later, Tiffany Sorya of Novel Education Group joins me. She was our featured founder in Episode 12. When everything hit the fan a few weeks ago, Tiffany reached out to me and said, "James, entrepreneurs, and business owners are having a hard time navigating the challenge of having to homeschool and run a business."

For many of us, one of the precise boundaries in our life is work and family. Yet, there are no clear boundaries these days. Tiffany shared some tactics that can truly help you navigate business and life in these turbulent times. If there is any takeaway I want you to have from this season of disruption is that there is no playbook for us to lean into for lessons and tactics. We are all going through this together for the very first time. Have some grace and empathy for each other, and look for ways to assist others.

In this episode, you'll hear

I believe it is in seasons like this that there are massive relational investments to be made that will have long-term dividends once all this chaos subsides.
I explain what relational investments might look like in the tactical sense.
Your voice is not going to be heard above the noise of the current virus crisis; find new ways to elevate your message.
How to navigate working from home alongside your children
Some structural homeschooling tactics for parents
Considerations for parents of High School Seniors, specifically navigating school closures in their final year (where they'll potentially miss prom, graduation, grad night, and much more)

Resources from this episode

Tiffany Sorya on The Startup Story, Episode 12: https://www.thestartupstory.co/episodes/tiffany-sorya-founder-of-novel-education-group-a
Novel Education Group: https://www.noveleducationgroup.com/covid19
Tiffany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-sorya-7a4280a4
Follow Tiffany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanysorya

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Tiffany Sorya.

Nate Checketts, founder of Rhone Mar 24, 2020

About this episode

This week's featured founder is an entrepreneur who was miserable in his career with the NFL and decided it was time to create a brand that matters. Meet Nate Checketts, co-founder and CEO of Rhone.

Rhone is an activewear brand specifically for men. You may immediately associate Lululemon as a women's brand. Well, that is what Rhone is for men. Apparel is an incredibly hard industry, and what makes Nate's story so fascinating is that he is not a fashion-forward person, nor does he have a long career in the apparel logistics, or any logistics business.

So, are you still wondering why Nate left the NFL to start a men's activewear brand? Of course, we unpack that part of his story in this episode. But, like every episode, we need to start at the beginning to understand how someone might actually find themselves unhappy working for an icon of a brand like the NFL. Here is Nate Checketts' startup story.

In this episode, you'll hear

Nate starts our conversation with a profound insight: "We are so easily attached to people's successes that we discount what challenges they're going through or what failures they have."
We jump into the Wayback machine and discuss Nate's childhood, including his early desire to be an inventor and how he viewed his father, who was the youngest General Manager in NBA history.
How he had no clue what we wanted to do after high school, but he did know that he wanted to prove that he could be successful on his own
The story of how Nate wrote a business plan about connecting text messaging to restaurants for people to order; long before he graduated from college.
How he pivoted and started his first venture revolving around the sports stadium model.
His transition to working for the NFL, running the sponsorship strategy group on new business development
Nate's struggle while working at the NFL, feeling miserable and knowing it wasn't the job for him
How and when he decided to leave the NFL and the catalyst that led him to launch Rhone
Some of the lessons learned from his first startup and how he applied them to the launch of Rhone
The start of Rhone including funding, launch strategy and demographics
Why Nate believes Rhone can be a billion-dollar brand, but the culture of Rhone must stay rooted in the principals that he founded the company on

"If you look at those who have succeeded in any capacity, their journey is fraught with incredible challenges.” Nate Checketts

Resources from this episode

For updates on The Startup Story LIVE Dallas visit: http://facebook.com/thestartupstory

Fuse Workspace: http://workatfuse.com

Rhone: https://www.rhone.com/
Nate Checketts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natechecketts/

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Nate Checketts.

Rebecca Lima, founder of The Lieu Mar 17, 2020

About this episode

Wouldn’t you love the idea of never having to cart around personal hygiene products to work, ever again? Enter The Lieu. It is a subscription box service dedicated to bringing everything that today’s female hopes their workplace restroom would have. Rebecca Lima is co-founder and CEO of The Lieu, and she is this week’s featured founder.

The Lieu delivers beauty, grooming, and personal hygiene products to offices everywhere to improve the workplace environment for their female workers. Rebecca came up with this idea while she was working on her first startup. She was moving around New York City, from pitch presentation to pitch presentation, and often found herself in need of a little touchup before a meeting. It was not feasible to carry everything with her everywhere.

After talking to strangers on subways and sidewalks, she realized the need for personal hygiene and beauty products in workplace environments was something many women wanted and needed. While that might be the origin of The Lieu, Rebecca’s entrepreneurial roots began with private jets. Her journey then continued as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, and now she sells feminine health products. It sounds more glamourous than it is, but isn’t that also true of entrepreneurship? Here is Rebecca Lima’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Her experience raised by an entrepreneurial father who sells private jets, and how aviation and entrepreneurship have been part of her life since she was very young
Life as a child of parents who immigrated from Brazil and how she traveled to Brazil from the U.S. and back again throughout childhood
Her gratitude towards her parents, who allowed her to grow up and to be born in a country with opportunities, and graduating with a robotics degree in mechanical engineering
All about her first job as a field engineer at gas and oil company, Schlumberger
The decision to move on from field engineer to creating her first startup, Ment which was an airport app to help travelers navigate airports in real-time
Rebecca’s approach to being a female in male-dominated industries, “I take the approach that we need to play the game with the cards you are dealt. As you make little moves to invoke change, change will happen. Just flipping over the table won’t change anything.”
The launch of Ment in tri-state area airports, lessons learned and her eventual exit
How her first startup was a failure, by the world’s standards, but how for her, it was a tremendous learning experience
The story of how she came up with the idea for The Lieu and how she thinks of The Lieu as ‘The Sephora’ for the office bathroom
The importance to surround yourself with the right people and to take advice from people who are ‘in it’ or have already done something themselves

“You need to be able to get hit in the face THOUSANDS of times in order to endure entrepreneurship.” – Rebecca Lima, The Lieu
Resources from this episode

The Startup Story LIVE Dallas! May 7th in Dallas. Tickets on sale now → https://startupstorylive.com

Fuse Workspace: http://workatfuse.com

Vinetta Project: https://www.vinettaproject.com/

The Lieu: https://www.thelieu.com/

Rebecca Lima on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccablima/

You can become part of The Lieu story, visit https://republic.co/the-lieu to learn more.

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Rebecca Lima.

Tucker Max, founder of Scribe Media Mar 10, 2020

About this episode

Why won’t you let yourself succeed? What is holding you back from growing or starting your business? Those are the questions this week’s guest, Tucker Max, the co-founder of Scribe Media, wants you to ponder.

Tucker Max is also a New York Times best-selling author and ghostwriter. He is someone who knows a thing or two about book writing, marketing, and selling. And his company, Scribe Media, builds off of his strengths. Scribe Media helps authors write and publish their books.

In 2014, Tucker and his co-founder launched what would become Scribe Media. At that time, Tucker was the CEO. And, he was terrible at being CEO. The company started falling apart within the first two years. Tucker stepped down, and within just a year of hiring a new CEO, the company doubled its growth.

You must know your strengths and have humility and discernment to be an entrepreneur and staff your startup accordingly. Here is Tucker Max’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

About his early childhood and how he came from a long line of people who were entrepreneurial
How Tucker let his ego get the best of him throughout college and how he got a taste of humble pie after graduating with a law degree; he ended up getting fired from his first small law firm job in two and a half weeks.
About his transition from lawyer to entrepreneur
Tucker came up with his first book idea in 2002 before social media and self-publishing were the norm. He shares his experience sending query letters in an attempt to make a book deal and failing horribly at it.
Following many rejection letters, he decided to publish his content on the internet; his material began to “blow up,” he caught the attention of MTV, and they did a show about him. And then, he finally landed his first book deal.
How he became a New York Times best-selling author, the first time
After several more bestsellers, Tucker decided to pivot his career; you’ll hear how he ended up working for tech startups and even became an angel investor.
Then learn how he went from tech startup to the co-founder and CEO of his own startup, Scribe Media.
Tucker shares openly and authentically his experience as a CEO, how he sucked at it and ultimately turned the job over to someone else, plus what he learned about himself and his organization.
How Scribe Media helps authors write and publish their books.

“There is a way to tell your story that helps you AND other people.” - Tucker Max

Resources from this episode

The Startup Story LIVE Dallas! May 7th in Dallas. Tickets on sale now → https://startupstorylive.com

Scribe Media: https://scribemedia.com/
Tucker Max on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuckermax

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Tucker Max.

Denise Woodard, founder of Partake Foods Mar 03, 2020

About this episode

Denise Woodard started Partake Foods because of an incredibly scary situation involving her daughter and an allergic reaction to food. While Denise’s daughter is now perfectly fine, that event revealed to her the challenges that exist in the food space today. What makes Denise’s story so interesting is the complexity involved with navigating the food industry, which we unpack in this episode.

Denise drops so many truth bombs in this episode, including the idea that you don’t need to jump ship from your stable 9-5 job in order to pursue your entrepreneurial endeavors. She also talks about taking small incremental steps towards bringing your venture into existence.

I love Denise’s story because it is such a great example of not getting caught up in the overwhelming details it takes to start a business. Instead, her journey points to the opportunities that come when you just choose to start! This is Denise Woodard’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Her childhood and seeing how hard entrepreneurship was by watching her dad and her early childhood aspirations of becoming an orthodontist
Graduating high school and deciding to pursue a degree in biology, she soon realized it was something she enjoyed and how in her sophomore year she changed majors and graduated with a degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communications
Getting her first job selling for Philip Morris, and how the job taught her how to listen to customers, and understand their pain points
Moving on to a career at Coca-Cola and how she worked on some of their emerging brands
About her daughter’s severe allergic reaction to corn and how in that moment she learned just how scary food allergies can be
The beginnings of her idea for Partake Foods and the moment someone suggested she submit her idea to a pitch contest
All about how she won the pitch contest without making a food product, without knowing if she could make a product that would be enjoyable and address food allergies
How she came up with the name of the business, Partake Foods
Her experience cooking and testing various products her daughter would actually eat, but yet what she ended up creating wasn’t viable for commercial production
The importance of getting customer feedback and the ingenious way Denise went about getting early feedback for her products
Running a Kickstarter to help with brand awareness where she raised $30,000
The struggles and successes of pitching investors
Making products, getting it into stores, handling sales and all of the many complexities of running a food business where the focus is allergy-free foods

“If you’re working a 9-5, you can still get started. You don’t need to quit to go ‘all in’ right away. There are many small baby steps that you can take to start making progress.” – Denise Woodard, Partake Foods

Resources from this episode

The Startup Story LIVE Dallas! May 7th in Dallas. Tickets on sale now → https://startupstorylive.com

Partake Foods: https://partakefoods.com/
Partake Foods on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partakefoods/
Denise Woodard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisegwoodard/

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory/
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Denise Woodard.

Ali Hynek, founder of Nena & Co. Feb 25, 2020

About this episode

Nena & Co. makes unique one-of-a-kind artisan purses, bags, and accessories. This week the founder of Nena & Co., Ali Hynek, unpacks her startup journey for us. While her company may be known for beautiful bags and accessories, the heart of the company is to support individuals and families in Guatemala by helping to create sustainable income opportunities for everyone they work with. They are changing the lives and future for all the individuals and families that serve them to bring these bags to market.

I learned about Nena & Co. from a listener who reached out to me to inform me of the company's HUGE fan base. In fact, the fans call themselves the Nena-verse. Ali and the Nena team release bags for sale every Friday morning and Friday evening. They are sold out within minutes.

So why do they just release products on Fridays? Everything is made by hand in Guatemala, Mexico, and Morocco. When it comes to growth challenges, you’ll hear that Ali will point to manufacturing as the greatest challenge.

Ali’s story is incredible for many reasons. One key thing that makes Ali’s story rise above the rest is just how deep entrepreneurship is rooted in her family. In fact, I might need to invite Ali’s mom on an episode of her own. This is Ali Hynek’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

About her earliest memory of her parents owning a pinata company
While her parents were entrepreneurs, the idea of becoming one herself never occurred to her; instead she went to college in Hawaii and took longer than anticipated to finish
How she found out travel was one of her passions (traveling to 60 countries has something to do with it!)
Her story of trying to figure out what she was passionate about, including people and culture
About the time she tried to get a job at Lululemon and they wouldn’t hire her, but Restoration Hardware did
The experience and lessons about customer service she learned from her time at Restoration Hardware
How her struggle with infertility led her in the direction of Guatemala and the beginnings of Nena & Co.
The early days of Nena & Co., arranging to buy bags from Guatemala, setting up a website, and selling and shipping merchandise from her home in Orange Co.
Having an intimate knowledge of her buyer persona, how it has affected the growth of Nena & Co., and how she markets the products to her customers
There is so much power in asking your personal network to simply help support you
Her start on Instagram and the story behind how and why she began to start doing sales on Fridays
Having someone believe in you is helpful, but belief in yourself is true empowerment

“As entrepreneurs we do not do a very good job at celebrating the small victories along the way.” – Ali Hynek

Resources from this episode

The Startup Story LIVE! May 7th in Dallas. Tickets on sale now → http://startupstorylive.com

Creedon: Legal partners you want as you build your business and brand. Listeners get a 30-minute brand consultation + $200 discount on a trademark application. Visit http://creedonpllc.com/startupstory

Brex: The credit card specifically for startups. Visit http://www.brex.com.
Listeners, use code StartupStory and get fees waived for life!

Nena & Co.: https://www.nenaandco.com/
Nena & Co. on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nenaandco/?hl=en
Nena & Co. Society on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nenaandcomvp/
Ali Hynek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-hynek-62462a132/

The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory/
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Ali Hynek.

Brian Carrico, founder of The Guild Feb 18, 2020

About this episode

The Guild is looking to bring the 200,000-year-old hotel industry into the new age. In this episode, we highlight one of its co-founders, Brian Carrico. The Guild has over 600 units in 6 major markets and continues to grow. The Guild brings to hotels all the things you love about being home. The goal is to bring all the best of what we desire from a hotel stay and what we love about home into one vacation experience. It's an amazing model. Brian and his team are doing an incredible job scaling in a really smart way.

Today you will hear from Brian just how important it is to seize the learning opportunities that come in moments of challenge, or even failure. You will hear how powerful it is to surround yourself with people that are there to pick you up when you need it most. You will also learn how empowering it can be to fully understand your strength as a founder.

Are you one that can function at a high level as a solopreneur or do you perform better alongside a co-founder? Those nuances make all the difference as you move forward with your business. Of course, another nuance that matters is the very early lessons we learn during our childhood years. This is Brian Carrico’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

How he loved the experience and challenge that came from moving throughout his childhood as his father moved up in his career
A powerful life lesson from his mother that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself
How he went to college and graduated with an environmental engineering degree
His career path after getting his environmental engineering degree, including his starting out as a consultant, moving to Denver, and traveling a lot in between environmental consulting work
How in 2009 he and his wife sold their house in Denver, went to Honduras to work for a water nonprofit and traveled around Central America (and how his mom was terrified and horrified by the decision!)
Brian talks about the idea of the founder’s dilemma
His move to the Middle East to work as an engineer at a new international location and how it was during that move he experienced his first spark of entrepreneurship
the idea of moving from employee to entrepreneur adds so many more processes to figure out your mindset
How an invitation to come back to the U.S. to work in Brian’s wife’s family business (a cabin resort) and how it was a turning point for his journey as an entrepreneur
The most surprising thing about his transition from engineering in Oman to West Texas in the cabin business
His first-time experience pitching to investors, and then deciding to go back to college to get an MBA in business
Transitioning from the cabin business to The Guild, what that looked like, and how he went about transitioning from one entrepreneurial season to the next
Some of the lessons, challenges, and wins Brian has experienced through the growth of The Guild and the progression as an entrepreneur

Resources from this episode

Creedon: Legal partners you want as you build your business and brand. Listeners get a 30-minute brand consultation + $200 discount on a trademark application. Visit http://creedonpllc.com/startupstory

Brex: The credit card specifically for startups. Visit http://www.brex.com.
Listeners, use code StartupStory and get fees waived for life!

Brian and the team at The Guild are offering The Startup Story listeners 10% off your stay at any of The Guild properties. To book your next stay, be sure to visit: theguild.co/startupstory

The Guild: https://theguild.co/
Brian Carrico on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-carrico-15317637/
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory/
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Brian Carrico.

Sean Cannell, founder of Think Media Feb 11, 2020

About this episode

I’d like you to meet Sean Cannell, founder of Think Media. Sean Cannell is a best selling author, YouTuber, and speaker centered on helping entrepreneurs and creatives build their influence with online video. Sean’s YouTube channels have over one million subscribers, his videos have been viewed over 43 million times and he has been featured as one of the “20 Must Watch YouTube Channels That Will Change Your Business” by Forbes.

The Think Media team is on a mission to help 10,000 people create a living, doing what they love to do, utilizing online video. That is what I love about Sean’s story, is that it is grounded in helping others achieve something more for themselves.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into how Sean made it out of a rough season with a new vision for what he could have in this life. While most of us might not be able to directly connect with a journey that includes a myriad of drugs or multi-day bingers, we can definitely relate to the idea of hopelessness or the absence of vision or direction. Even more importantly, we should be able to relate to the idea of being surrounded by people who help when we need it most. Entrepreneurship is not a solo journey. Sean unpacks elements of his story that, he will admit himself, have never been told before. This is Sean Cannell’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

His early childhood, not seeing himself as becoming an entrepreneur, and his upbringing by two fathers; his biological father John (a creative) and later, by his stepfather
About his rough teen years, being expelled from high school, getting into hard drugs; Sean shares his story of hitting rock bottom (which he has never shared anywhere before) and how this led to the most transformational time in his life
Enrolling in Bible College and how by getting his faith in order it sparked his vision for a future beyond the fleetingness of pursuing pleasure
His struggle with imposter syndrome (while in Bible College) and feelings of undeserving of his opportunity; and later how being immersed in the church community changed everything
How an invitation by his youth pastor to start shooting videos for the church was the beginning of his career as a video creator
Going from intern to working within the church and leveling up his skills and entrepreneurial aspirations
The story of how he got into creating videos specifically for YouTube and YouTubers, which includes known YouTuber Benji Travis
How and why he made a shift to move to Vegas to take a position as a Communications Director for a church and what happened next
Some encouragement from Sean to capitalize on the part of your journey you are currently in, whether that season is as an employee and delivering for that employer and figuring out, what are the things that are going to work for your future state
Moving away from his Director of Communications position at the church and moving forward towards his early path to creating Think Media
In October of 2015, Sean lost 90% of income due to clients ending contracts; and while he was very worried about making ends meet, a mentor urged him on, “It seems to me that you just got kicked off the cliff and now it's time to fly.”
Building Think Media and where the company is today

“At some point, as an entrepreneur, you have to jump off the cliff and go all-in.” – Sean Cannell, Think Media

Resources from this episode

Creedon: Legal partners you want as you build your business and brand. Listeners get a 30-minute brand consultation + $200 discount on a trademark application. Visit http://creedonpllc.com/startupstory

Brex: The credit card specifically for startups. Visit http://www.brex.com.
Listeners, use code StartupStory and get fees waived for life!

Think Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGxjDWAN1KwrkXYVi8CXtjQ
Sean Cannell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancannell/

The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Sean Cannell.

Ju Rhyu, founder of Hero Cosmetics Feb 04, 2020

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Ju Rhyu, Co-Founder of Hero Cosmetics. Hero Cosmetics is an acne and skincare brand. Hero started out with the Mighty Patch, an acne patch which provides you with a real solution for pimple emergencies. When I mentioned to my 14-year-old daughter that I was interviewing the founder of the Mighty Patch, she knew exactly what it was.

Ju’s story really paints the picture of how someone can leverage their corporate career to build their own business. Ju’s career includes experience with big-box retail and direct-to-consumer experience. Both channel strategies she now employs with Hero Cosmetics.

Her journey is one of perseverance. Ju tried to bring Hero Cosmetics to market in 2013, but found herself overwhelmed with the cost to do so; so she tabled the idea. Does that resonate with you? Does the weight of what it will take to execute on your idea cause you to not execute? Well, then you are going to find some tremendous value in today’s conversation. This is Ju Rhyu’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

About her childhood, moving from Korea to the U.S. and how much of her entrepreneurial influence came from her dad.
Following high school and how she thought she wanted to be a doctor, but her parents dissuaded her from doing so because they knew it was a hard lifestyle.
Her experience attending Brown University and really struggling with what she wanted to become and how she finally landed on majoring in History and International Relations.
The path she wanted to pursue (marketing) but how she ended up working as a data analyst instead.
Her decision to attend Columbia Business School in New York, how she went on to intern at Kraft Foods in brand management and eventually working there full time after graduation.
About her time working at Kraft, being an intrapreneur, and her transition to product development at American Express, plus how she became Senior Marketing Manager for the brand
Her move to Korea as an ex-pat to work for Samsung Card and how that period in her life was challenging, yet it is also when she first discovered the Mighty Patch
Traveling back to the U.S. following her time in Korea, she began to seriously pursue the idea of bringing the Mighty Patch to market in the U.S., some of the plans she made and how (and why) she ultimately tabled the idea for four years
The launch of Hero Cosmetics in 2017, Ju describes the pre-launch, the steps she and her team made to bring it to market, and her initial sales strategy
How the brand began to gain momentum, grow, and expand.
Some advice from Ju for any founders with a consumer product idea, who found something overseas, they have exclusivity in the US and want to bring the product to market

“Fundamentally everyone can be an entrepreneur, but not everyone will have the ability to withstand the hardships that come with it.” – Ju Rhyu, Hero Cosmetics

Resources from this episode

Creedon: Legal partners you want as you build your business and brand. Listeners get a 30-minute brand consultation + $200 discount on a trademark application. Visit http://creedonpllc.com/startupstory

Brex: The credit card specifically for startups. Visit http://www.brex.com.
Listeners, use code StartupStory and get fees waived for life!

Hero Cosmetics: https://www.herocosmetics.us/
Hero Cosmetics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herocosmetics/
Ju Rhyu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jurhyu/
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Ju Rhyu.

Jeanne Schaaf, co-founder of Ultra Expeditions Jan 28, 2020

About this episode

Meet Jeanne Schaaf, Race Director and Co-Founder of Ultra Expeditions. Ultra Expeditions creates incredible running adventures, organizes races, and develops custom coaching programs for all ability levels.

I’ve interviewed several past founders who, along their journey, created race companies. They’ve even shared some behind the scenes of what is needed to execute one. Yet, for the very first time, during my conversation with Jeanne, I heard a side of the running experience I have never heard before. It was a side which focuses on the journey leading up to the race, and less about the finish line. That is when I realized the running experience closely mirrors the entrepreneurial journey.

Jeanne’s story is rooted in one of the most unique dimensions of an entrepreneurial story, the immigrant story. She takes us through what life was like as a child and how her parents encouraged her to think outside of the box. She shares some insightful thoughts about limiting beliefs, by runners and maybe even aspiring entrepreneurs. This is Jeanne Schaaf’s Startup Story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Her early upbringing, being raised by adventurous parents, and being encouraged to think outside of the box
How the fact that her parents were Americans by choice played into her own overall work ethic
Jeanne’s post-high school aspirations of being an entrepreneur, attending Ohio State University, and what she actually ended up doing right after college
Her experience in food services and being a woman in a male-dominated industry in the 1980s
About her 12-year employment with PepsiCo (turned Yum Brands), including how and when she began working in product development
Her leap of faith moment, deciding to leave Yum Brands at the height of her career to pursue entrepreneurship and the creation of her first venture
How wanting to find balance in her life ultimately led to running and her first meeting with the co-founder of Ultra Expeditions, Jason Gates
Jeanne and Jason began to look around at the running space and realized there weren’t races out there they truly were looking to run; and so the seeds for Ultra Expeditions were planted
Launching the first race in 2015, some of the challenges experienced, and how they built a foundation for the company early on
How Ultra Expeditions is different from other running companies in the marketplace, plus why Jeanne believes anyone can be a runner

“I believe anybody with passion and desire can accomplish quite a bit.”
—Jeanne Schaaf, Ultra Expeditions

Resources from this episode

Throughout the month of January we are highlighting the mission of Destiny Rescue. Visit thestartupstory.co/rescue to help today.
Ultra Expeditions: https://www.ultraexpeditions.com
Ultra Expeditions on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultraexpeditions/
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Jeanne Schaaf.

Patrick Curtis, founder of Wall Street Oasis Jan 21, 2020

About this episode

This week I am joined by Patrick Curtis, founder of Wall Street Oasis. Wall Street Oasis serves more than 2 million people per month through its free discussion forums and its premium online courses all related to finance careers. Over the last decade, Patrick has built Wall Street Oasis into the largest online community focused on careers in finance.

Patrick built Wall Street Oasis as a safety net after he was terminated from his job. Wall Street Oasis began as a backup plan, but Patrick soon realized that there were many in the Investment Banking world who would find value in hearing what it was really like to work in the industry before committing their entire career to it.

Entrepreneurship takes courage because, like Patrick shared, there will be moments where your mission and goals seem so much greater than you think you are capable of pulling off. Sometimes that courage comes from someone else. That is the power of community, like the one Patrick built with Wall Street Oasis and what I hope to build here with The Startup Story.

Of course, every founder’s story has a beginning. And, for Patrick, it was crystal clear for him where his journey began… This is Patrick Curtis’ startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Looking back on Patrick’s youth and picking up the early breadcrumbs that would lead him to become an entrepreneur one day
About how he didn’t really know what he wanted to do after high school, but how he was lucky enough to be surrounded by incredibly smart friends who taught him early on about work ethic
How college allowed him time to figure out what he really wanted to do and to push himself academically; and how entrepreneurship was still NOT on his radar
Why he decided to start his career in Investment Banking following college
Some of the things he learned from being an investment banker and some of the hardships he endured followed by his decision to move to a career in equity banking
About the time he thought he was going to get a $40,000 bonus and he got fired instead
How getting fired became the catalyst for building Wall Street Oasis and where the initial idea spanned from
When he recognized that Wall Street Oasis could be a bigger business and how he began to build and expand

“It takes a special breed to deal with the day-to-day grind to be an entrepreneur. I think anyone could be an entrepreneur, but I DON’T think everyone should be.”
—Patrick Curtis, Wall Street Oasis

Resources from this episode

Throughout the month of January we are highlighting the mission of Destiny Rescue. Visit thestartupstory.co/rescue to help today.

Wall Street Oasis: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/
Patrick Curtis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmanningcurtis/

The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Patrick Curtis.

Randi Zuckerberg, founder of Zuckerberg Media Jan 14, 2020

About this episode

This week we are featuring Randi Zuckerberg, founder of Zuckerberg Media. If her last name sounds familiar, it should. It’s also the last name of her little brother who had a startup about a book of faces or Facebook or something like that.

Randi Zuckerberg is an entrepreneur, investor, best selling author, and Emmy-nominated tech media personality. She is the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, with the mission of supporting current and future entrepreneurs through investment, mentorship, and media.

Growing up she wanted to be a Broadway actress, yet while in college she had to pivot from that dream to pursue a career in advertising. But what I love about the stories of many of the founders this show highlights, is that we always find our way back to our passion, in one form or another.

Like every Startup Story founder, we need to go back to the early days to find out what life was like for Randi before Facebook LIVE, before two best-selling books, and before receiving two Tony awards. You’ll soon hear how her beginning wasn’t all that different from others who have come before her. This is Randi’ Zuckerberg's startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

About her childhood, being raised by doctors who had a true entrepreneur spirit, as well as some of the things she learned from them
Her aspirations of becoming an actress and how those dreams got crushed early on
Randi’s experience pursuing a Psychology degree at Harvard and how college was a place of soul-searching
What she did after graduating from college, including working at a top ad agency and being placed on the digital marketing team
The fact that you can be an entrepreneur even inside the biggest company on Earth
About creating her first ad campaign for the Special Olympics
The transition from working in an ad agency to working for Facebook and becoming the creator of Facebook LIVE
About the time she received a call from the producers of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages and the start of her Broadway career
How her experiences have taught her that none of us have just one calling and there are so many chapters and phases of our lives, each with different callings
Her realization that her best skills were on the production side of the entertainment and Broadway industry; and how she began to apply those skills as an entrepreneur
The founding of Zuckerberg Media and Randi’s hopes and ambitions for her venture

“Anyone who has a platform must consider how they can use that platform for a greater good.”
—Randi Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg Media

Resources from this episode

Throughout the month of January we are highlighting the mission of Destiny Rescue. Visit thestartupstory.co/rescue to help today.
Zuckerberg Media: https://www.zuckerbergmedia.com/
Michael Littig, Zuckerberg Institute: https://www.thestartupstory.co/zuckerberginstitute
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Randi Zuckerberg.

Tony Kirwan, founder of Destiny Rescue Jan 07, 2020

About this episode

To kick off Season 2, we are featuring Tony Kirwan, founder of Destiny Rescue. A listener reached out to me last year and suggested that I highlight his story. Destiny Rescue is a nonprofit organization that focuses on rescuing young girls out of the sex trafficking industry, providing rehabilitation services and vocational training. January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, so I felt it was fitting to highlight the work of Tony and his organization.

When we think about founders and entrepreneurs we do not include those who founded a nonprofit organization. For some reason we look at entrepreneurs as those who build for-profit businesses. Yet, the startup story of a nonprofit is almost identical to that of a for-profit business.

In this episode, we spend quite a bit of time unpacking how Tony started Destiny Rescue and the rescue tactics they use. Tony’s entrepreneurship is a journey of choices. At age 22, he chose to purchase a business and try to grow it. He had a great 10-year run with that business, that is until another choice was put in front of him. Like Tony said, whether you choose to do something or nothing…it is still a choice you have to make. This is Tony’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

His first lightbulb moment, realizing he wanted to be hands-on and helping kids overseas
How Tony first learned about human trafficking and how it turned out to be the catalyst to rescuing young girls out of the sex trafficking industry
The story and meaning behind the name, Destiny Rescue
Securing funding and creating a nonprofit organization
For the first five years, Tony’s focus was on helping widows and orphans
Some of the lessons learned in those first few years, including learning to provide enough time to build trust in order to help women and children from sex trafficking
All about his first rescue, what is involved in a rescue, and two of the ways it can take place (with law enforcement or with rescue agents)
What aftercare looks like, including rehab and vocational services
The importance of understanding your strengths and weaknesses as a founder, and putting yourself into a position where you can utilize your strengths for the organization’s greater good
Tony’s biggest lesson and advice to those wanting to start an organization, whether it be for profit or nonprofit

"Everybody has the capacity and ability to do something. It’s a matter of deciding what your ‘something’ is and deciding to do it.”
—Tony Kirwan, Destiny Rescue

Resources from this episode

Throughout the month of January we are highlighting the mission of Destiny Rescue. Visit https://www.thestartupstory.co/rescue or https://2dr.li/5BXh to help today.

Destiny Rescue: https://www.destinyrescue.org/us/

The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney

The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Tony Kirwan.

Key advice from successful entrepreneurs Dec 31, 2019

About this episode

We launched The Startup Story 12 months ago. Over the course of 53 episodes, we've unpacked the authentic and raw entrepreneurial journeys of founders from all industries and stages of growth. During each journey we pause to reflect on key milestones because they are moments that provide incredibly powerful learnings.

This week’s episode is a bit different than most. In every single episode this year, we ended with our founders speaking directly to you, and giving you some pearls of wisdom that comes from their experience. The final words from our founders have produced change in many lives of our listeners. So for that reason, I thought it would be helpful for me to aggregate some of the final words from past episodes as a way to help you to frame up a new vision for yourself as we head into 2020.

A new year is a new life marker for all of us. So let's hear from some incredibly successful founders and take that momentum into the new year. 2020 is the time to truly start your story. That is the startup story..

In this episode you’ll hear

A reminder that there is infinite freedom in life from Paige Robinson
Goli Kalkhoran reminds us of the importance of getting quiet and bringing focus within
Thoughtful advice from Anna Victoria about what to do when doubting yourself and your abilities
Clint Harp shares why perseverance is important to the startup journey
We hear why taking a step back from your idea can give you clarity from Emma Rose Cohen
And, Zack Swire reminds us about passion and how passion can lead you to the right place and the right path
Why raising capital is crucial and how your 9-to-5 job is your first investor, from Scott Paul
Steve Glaveski offer budding entrepreneurs advice on assumptions and how to not let them underpin your success
Mia Plecic shares an insightful reminder about how our past doesn’t define our future
And, Brandon Munoz also offers insight and wisdom on perseverance and how staying the course will eventually lead you to creating “your something”
Why networking is so important to any startup journey from Nick Alexander
Last, but not least, Michael Littig points out why compassion is key to any endeavor

Resources from this episode

The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guests: Anna Victoria, Brandon "Monk" Munoz, Clint Harp, Emma Rose Cohen, Goli Kalkhoran, Mia Plecic, Michael Littig, Nick Alexander, Paige Robinson, Scott Paul, Steve Glaveski, and Zack Swire.

Tiffany Sorya, founder of Novel Education Group Dec 24, 2019

About this episode

When I started The Startup Story I would have never expected to be interviewing a founder
of a homeschool group, but here we are. This week, Tiffany Sorya, founder of Novel Education Group, shares the many unconventional pieces that have comprised her entrepreneurial journey to this point. It makes sense that her story would be unconventional since her goal is to meet the educational needs of those whose lives are unconventional. Her first two clients were Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and she continued working with other high-profile children such as those of Fortune 100 executives.

In exploring her startup story, you will gain insight into how cultural heritage can impact the entrepreneurial journey. Also, Tiffany says, “People shy away from entrepreneurship because of the fear of the ‘what ifs.’” We will discuss not only how paralyzing that can be but also how powerful your story can become once you find yourself free from that fear. You will also learn how important it is to be aware of gaps in the marketplace.

Make sure you listen to the very end of the episode because there is a critical learning that Tiffany shares with us from her relationship with Kylie Jenner. It is at the very end because, while Tiffany’s story may include Kylie and Kendall, her story is so much more. It is one that needs to be heard without the distraction of the Hollywood limelight; especially because her story begins as far from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood as you can possibly
imagine. This is Tiffany Sorya’s startup story..

In this episode you’ll hear

How, after moving to Los Angeles, Tiffany discovered knowledge is power
Connecting with young people through tutoring is where she discovered her entrepreneurial spirit
How she saw a gap in services being provided and knew she could do something better
Having the courage to step out to try a business and overcoming obstacles such as awareness and branding
The importance of having a business plan for several years down the road
The great thing about being an entrepreneur, according to Tiffany
Being smart is cool: Tiffany wants the fans of the students she educates to realize the benefits of education
How looking back on your journey and having gratitude for the people who helped and supported you along the way is important
Understanding, as Tiffany says, “This journey that we call “entrepreneurship” is NEVER linear, so stop comparing your journey to another.”

Resources from this episode

Novel Education Group: https://www.noveleducationgroup.com/
Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-sorya-7a4280a4
Follow Tiffany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanysorya/?hl=en
The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/
The Startup Story on Facebook: https://facebook.com/thestartupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Tiffany Sorya.

Fraser Hall, co-founder of Article Dec 17, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Fraser Hall, Co-Founder and Director at Article. Article is an online-only, direct-to-consumer company that offers beautiful modern furniture that is well made. I speak from first-hand experience as I have a few pieces from them.

What is so fascinating about Article is that they are founded by a team of software engineers, not merchandisers or designers. Article launched in 2013 and reached profitability in 2015, having only raised approximately $5 million in funding. By the end of 2017, Article achieved $100 million USD in revenue and company sales have continued to grow. After hearing Fraser’s story, it became so apparent why Article is having the success they are having. I believe it is Fraser’s eclectic background which has contributed to this success.

His journey started so far from the furniture industry. In fact, his first startup was a heads-up display company. Yet, Fraser’s startup was in the market before Google Glass. And even before he started that cutting edge hardware company he was sailing the seas protecting whales aboard The Sea Shepherd. Like I said, Fraser’s journey is so diverse and fascinating.

Many of our featured founders have spoken about the importance of pursuing something that you are passionate about but nobody, except Fraser, has ever shared the idea that passion can be developed or as a developer would put it, ”incubated.” His journey is varied and those experiences have flavored how he built Article, as well as his new venture capital firm. This is Fraser Hall’s startup story..

In this episode, you’ll hear

His early childhood being raised in an entrepreneurial family and his first foray into entrepreneurship was a mail packing venture at the age of 13
The story of how he leased the land and refurbished a decrepit gas dock and turned it into a boat gas business, in the 11th grade
His views about entrepreneurship, including seeing it as a responsibility and not a right
How he discovered engineering and pursued it in college; how it led to his first career
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: what it is, how he became involved, the lessons he learned from his time on the Sea Shepherd, and how they can be applied to leading a startup
His time working on cutting-edge, heads-up display technology, entering a local pitch contest, and losing to a ceviche restaurant; eventually being approached by big tech to buy the hardware and what experience taught him about deal momentum
The beginnings of Article, where they focused their work early on, how the company evolved, and what they offer to the consumer market today
How being founded by computer programmers plays to Article’s advantage
The importance of receiving customer feedback and making responsive changes
Fraser’s unique and inspiring approach to working with passion: doing things you love and how passion gets you through all the tough times

“Passion is not necessarily something you are born with. Sometimes you need to incubate it.”
—Fraser Hall, Article

Resources from this episode

The Startup Story is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesmckinney
Article: https://www.article.com/startupstory
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Fraser Hall.

James McKinney, founder of The Startup Story Dec 10, 2019

About this episode

This is a very unique episode of The Startup Story because this week I am sharing my story. Listeners reach out to me often, wanting to know more about my story and why I am passionate about what I am doing with this podcast. The hard part for me has been finding the right person to interview me. One of the aspects of The Startup Story that I love so much is the conversational side of the show. I soon realized the perfect interviewer was right in front of me. This week, my wife, Melissa McKinney, helps me unpack my entrepreneurial journey for you.

Allow me to introduce myself, I’m James McKinney, Creator and Host of The Startup Story podcast. With over 30,000 listeners, The Startup Story has unpacked the entrepreneurial journey of some of the most amazing people, including founders like Jason McCann from Varidesk, Larry Namer from E! Entertainment Television, and Clint Harp from HGTV and Harp Design Co.

Throughout our 49 episodes you have heard me relate to founders that have overcome challenges and obstacles. You’ve heard me ask questions about how their marriages were impacted throughout their journey. Those questions are not arbitrary. The reason I asked them was because of my own journey. It’s that relatability to the founder that makes the stories so compelling and why you keep coming back. So, just as we’ve done for the last 49 episodes we have to start each story at the very beginning. My beginning was far from normal. This is my Startup Story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

About my early childhood, being a child of divorce and how it affected me
How as a child, I watched my dad grow his side hustle into a multimillion-dollar enterprise
Some of my early side hustles, dating all the way back to elementary school
How in high school I created one of the first direct to consumer CD distribution businesses and the important (hard) life lessons I learned from the experience
About being kicked out at the age of 16, living on my own, and how my dad delivered discipline in an intentional way
How learning lessons of hard work and determination affected me as I continued to grow
My focus and what I wanted to do with my life and how and why I joined the Marines
What my life was like after the military, including going to Jr. College and starting a bookkeeping services business
Why passion is so important in every person’s journey
About building and growing a promotional product business and recollecting on the day I lost it all
If you are a married entrepreneur then you need to understand that this journey is not just yours
What I did after ending the promotional product business, including working at Disney and looking to provide a stable life for my family
How working at Disney led me to believe in myself and owning the title of entrepreneur
I answer the question, “Do you believe that entrepreneurs are born or do you believe that they're made?”

“There is a ton of value in the lessons learned when you endure the fire.”
—James McKinney

Resources from this episode

Article $50 offer: https://www.article.com/startupstory
James McKinney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmckinney1/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the Podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Ashley Borden, founder of Ashley Borden Fitness Dec 03, 2019

About this episode

This week we are featuring Ashley Borden founder of Ashley Borden Fitness. Ashley is one of the most sought-after experts in her field. She has helped transform some of the biggest names in Hollywood, like Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, and World Series Champions Nick Swisher and Brian Wilson. She is a featured trainer on programs like Khloe Kardashian’s Revenge Body, as well as, The Today Show. Ashley is a true expert in her field.

After a long career helping people 1:1, ,she is now utilizing technology to reach even more. While the use of technology in fitness is not unique, what is unique is Ashley’s journey. Her entrepreneurial adventure has faced tremendous obstacles. Within Ashley’s story we see the epitome of resilience and agility.

Ashley did not enter her industry as an expert, she became an expert when she entered the industry. As she learned the technical side of her craft she also began to master the business side. Her consistent pursuit of self-improvement and her improvement of her brand is what has led her to be the expert she is today. This is Ashley Borden’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Her early childhood, growing up in a household of business owners but not understanding entrepreneurship
Struggling through school with a learning disability and the impact it had on her future
Her realization that working against her nature, she started to learn what worked for her
Ashley’s decision to move to LA, her journey through acting, reaching a breaking point and leaving the industry
Her journey to recovery from an eating disorder through Overeaters Anonymous
Her realization that she needed to find her purpose in life and the importance of focusing on your strengths
Her introduction into the world of fitness training, learning as she went, and her first client experience, working nonstop to make something happen
How working with Christina Aguilera changed everything for her and her fitness training business
How her grandmother funded her first publicist for $2,500 a month
The importance of asking for help

“In training you have to focus on your weaknesses, but in business you are better served to focus on your strengths.”
—Ashley Borden

Resources from this episode

Article $50 offer: https://www.article.com/startupstory
Ashley Borden Fitness & Lifestyle: http://ashleyborden.com
Strengthfinders 2.0, Gallup and Tom Roth: https://amzn.to/2OKfrgt
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you! x

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Ashley Borden.

Ryan Hogan, co-founder of Hunt A Killer Nov 26, 2019

About this episode

This week Ryan Hogan, co-founder and CEO of Hunt A Killer,,, joins me on The Startup Story. Let’s be clear, Ryan is not a bounty hunter that lives a high adrenaline lifestyle. Instead, Hunt A Killer is an entertainment and media platform that has leveraged the incredibly popular box subscription format as one way to distribute their content.

Ryan served in the United States Navy for 15 years and left to pursue his startup, Hunt A Killer. Serving in the military is an all-consuming endeavor. Yes, there is plenty of downtime, but never would I have expected to meet a serial entrepreneur that built numerous businesses while serving on Active Duty. And these were not just small side hustles. While serving in the U.S. Navy, he created a Zombie Adventure Run that brought in close to $8 million in its second year!

There were so many elements of Ryan’s story that were surprising to me. In fact, sometimes on this podcast, a founder will drop some truth that shakes me a bit when I hear it for the first time; because it hits close to home. Ryan’s story includes one of those moments. This is Ryan Hogan’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

His early childhood, having a father who left the police force to pursue entrepreneurship and what it taught him
Ryan’s own early start as an entrepreneur in the third grade and later starting a lawn mowing business
What street racing and nitrous gas has to do with his decision to enlist in the military and his decision to join the U.S. Navy and his 15 years of service
His various business ventures during his time of service, including buying and selling items from local auctions, as well as creating a moisture-wicking shirt business
Starting, running, and executing on a startup while serving in the U.S. military and how the shirt business would ultimately lead to creating a successful zombie adventure run series
The logistics of putting on a running event and how it helped Ryan move over $250k in shirt inventory; plus the eventual shutdown of his running adventure business and some lessons he learned
The unknowns of entrepreneurship, why it can be amazing and scary; and how Ryan puts everything into perspective
The formation of the idea for Hunt A Killer, creating the game design, realizing quickly the original concept wouldn’t scale and going back to the drawing board
Building community around the Hunt A Killer experience, moving to a subscription box model and some lessons Ryan has learned thus far

“Every failed startup attempt is a building block.”
—Ryan Hogan, Hunt A Killer

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, Vortic Watch Co.: https://vorticwatches.com/
Help Support Socks for Heroes: http://scmcsg.org/
Hunt A Killer website: https://www.huntakiller.com/
Ryan Hogan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanehogan/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Ryan Hogan.

Daniel Alarik, founder of Grunt Style Nov 19, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Daniel Alarik, Founder of Grunt Style. Grunt Style is a brand for Patriots; a brand that has reached incredible heights at unbelievable speeds. For the month of November, we have been focusing on Founders who are Veterans. Daniel served in the United States Army for 8 years and left after a tour as a Drill Instructor.

Daniel started Grunt Style with a mere $1,200 and grew the company to one that is exceeding $200 million in revenue today. He shares practical and actionable wisdom about how he got from Point A to Point B in the process. Daniel also shared about the value that comes in building a business without investment capital; it forces you to make decisions based on cash flow and ensure the business is profitable as you scale.

Daniel brought us some tremendous entrepreneurial value. He even put me on the hot seat with a brief interview of his own! Before we go any further, as returning listeners know, his entrepreneurial journey really started a whole lot earlier...well before Grunt Style was an idea. This is Daniel Alarik’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

His early childhood, his dad was an entrepreneur who had a few good years and a few bad years running the family business and how that left a lasting effect on Daniel
What he wanted to do after high school; he knew he wanted to do something bigger than himself, but didn’t know what that was; until an Army recruiter called
His time serving in the Army and Army Reserves (following 9/11), becoming a Drill Sergeant and what he learned from the experience
After 10 years in the military, Daniel began to think about “what’s next?” He loved being in the military, but with a growing family, he needed to figure out what he could do to provide for his family but also keep his connection to the military
His desire to create something that spread the military culture of pride and patriotism and how the concept of Grunt Style was born
The beginnings of Grunt Style and determining his market, “My target market were people just like me. The first people I spoke with about Grunt Style were people just like me. The first products I made were for people just like me.”
Starting out with $1,200 worth of goods and how he scaled from there, including attending a trade show obtaining $8,000 in revenue and almost a year later garnering $64,000 and continued to grow rapidly
The shift he made in Grunt Style’s messaging when he realized that people will always care more about themselves so Grunt Styles messaging had to speak to that perspective
His passionate plea to help us think through why we are even pursuing our business endeavors

“By not taking investment capital in the early days it forced me to focus on building the company the right way.”
—Daniel Alarik, Grunt Style

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, Vortic Watch Co.: https://vorticwatches.com/
Help Support Socks for Heroes: http://scmcsg.org/
Grunt Style’s website: https://www.gruntstyle.com/
Daniel Alarik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielalarik/
FUSE Workspace: https://www.fuseworkspace.com/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Daniel Alarik.

Andy Mackensen, co-founder of SnackNation Nov 12, 2019

About this episode

This week I’d like you to meet Andy Mackensen, co-founder of SnackNation. SnackNation is a healthy snack delivery service for businesses. In 2018, SnackNation was recognized at #24 on the INC 5000 list of fastest growing companies. They were founded in 2014, and after just four full years they hit $24 million in revenue. Andy and his business partner Sean Kelly are killing it!

In fact, Andy is one of the industry's best internet marketers. In this episode, you’ll hear some tactical advice when it comes to internet marketing. But what I hope will really hit home for you (as it did for me) is the idea of focusing on “that one thing.” As Andy puts it, “The only thing that matters is this present moment. And what you can do right now, the one thing, the one most important thing that you can work on right in this moment, that's what you need to focus on.”

With this episode, we are continuing our month-long feature of founders who are Veterans. Andy served in the United States Navy as a Special Warfare Officer. During Andy’s time in service he would spend the evening on operations taking down terrorists and spend the daylight hours applying to MBA programs as the entrepreneurial itch magnified in his life. But his entrepreneurial journey began years before his military service did. This is Andy Mackensen’s Startup Story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

His start as a young entrepreneur in grade school, buying and then selling candy bars
What delivering papers at age 11 taught him about commitment and self-discipline
Starting a lawn mowing business as a freshman in high school and what it taught him about leverage
Applying for and getting a full ROTC scholarship, attending Boston University and what it was like when it was time to report and serve in the U.S. Navy
His experience in the U.S. Navy immediately following 9/11 attacks, providing air defense radar for the entire East Coast in the days following the 9/11 attacks
How and when the desire to start his own business began and the plans he started to prepare, while still serving in the Navy
Entering back into civilian life and working in real estate after graduating business school, and what came next
Getting started selling network marketing products and how he learned all about lead generation, landing pages, and ad marketing
His entrance into the vending machine industry, how helping get a hot vending machine to market paved the way for what was to come
The journey with the vending business and flipping the switch to his current business model, SnackNation

“Life is so counterintuitive. When you do the easy stuff life is hard, and when you do the hard stuff life gets easy.”
—Andy Mackensen, SnackNation

Resources from this episode

Vortic Watch Co.: https://vorticwatches.com/
Socks For Heroes: http://scmcsg.org/

FREE Snack Box from SnackNation: https://snacknation.com/startupstory

Andy Mackensen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmackensen/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Andy Mackensen.

Jim Hogan, co-founder of Socks for Heroes Nov 05, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Jim Hogan,,, co-founder of a program called Socks for Heroes. Jim and his wife Carla started Socks for Heroes after their son, Donald, heroically gave his life in service to his country while deployed to Afghanistan.

Why socks? In the time period that followed the tragedy of losing their son, they spent a lot of time with the Marines who served with him. During each of their conversations with these men, they asked them what they needed the most. Their answer was simple, socks.

So Socks for Heroes does exactly what you would expect. They ship new pairs of socks to U.S. troops that are deployed overseas. They have shipped over 50 tons of socks, hygiene gear, and other essentials to Marine Corps and Army combat Infantry units.

Throughout the month of November, every single episode of The Startup Story is going to feature founders that are Veterans of our Armed Forces. While Jim and Carla are not Veterans, it was their son’s service and sacrifice that became the catalyst for Socks for Heroes and it is a Startup Story that needs to be told.

With that said, this is a story like none we have never told before, so it would make sense that it begins like one has never begun before too. This is Jim Hogan’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Socks for Heroes and the Southern California Marine Corp support group is a partnership between Jim and his wife Carla
Jim and Carla’s childhood, Jim was raised by his Marine father and his mother worked for the IRS, and Carla’s father was a true example of an entrepreneur
The amazing story of how his wife, Carla, and her sister set out to sell some gourmet picnic baskets to fund a trip to Europe, and instead sold $60,000 worth of picnic baskets in one day, leading them to launch a business which was later sold to Aladdin
About Jim and Carla’s son Donald, how he went to college for about an hour and then came home to tell his parents he joined the Marine Corps, how much he loved being a Marine, and later getting the devastating news that he was killed by an IED and how the Marines closed in around them to offer support and care
The story of how Socks for Heroes actually began and the steps they took to create a 501c
About how at the start, they sent 220 pairs of socks overseas and within six-weeks time they shipped 10,000 pairs to Afghanistan
How Socks for Heroes is a program within the Southern California Marine Corps support group and several of the missions and projects they serve as part of the group
The reason Jim and Carla keep going with their mission, “My son was a Marine and every Marine was my son’s brother. Therefore, they are all our children. That is why we keep going.”
How you can help support Jim and Carla’s program, Socks for Heroes, and the other programs served through The Southern California Marine Corps support group

“In this life there are two lines, one to do the work and one to take the credit. Always get in the first line because it’s shorter and you’ll meet better people.” – Jim Hogan, Socks for Heroes

Resources from this episode

Socks for Heroes: http://scmcsg.org/socks-for-heroes/
Email Jim at info@scmcsg.org to see how you can support their mission
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/
Vortic Watches: https://vorticwatches.com/pages/military-edition-info

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Jim Hogan.

John Wilson, founder of STANCE Oct 29, 2019

About this episode

Meet John Wilson, co-founder of STANCE. STANCE has turned socks into one of the world's most exciting accessories in less than five years.

If you think about denim you instantly think of the brand Levi’s. If I were to ask you to think of an iconic brand for sunglasses you would probably say Oakley. And,,, if I were to ask you to name a major brand of socks, you would probably be stumped. Until today, that it is. That is the significance of STANCE. The global market for socks is $20 billion and STANCE entered the game a few years ago.

John was 39 years old when he co-founded STANCE. That age bucks all the narrative standards when it comes to startups. During our time together he shared his belief that entrepreneurial abilities and tendencies show up differently. I tend to agree. So, as you listen to John share his journey, remember how fortunate we are to hear about the building of a future icon because like all founders, the beginning was far from iconic. This is John Wilson’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

His early childhood, entrepreneurship not being a part of his life, and discovering a love for surfing
Getting his first job at a surf shop, the lessons he learned, and how it set the stage for his journey
Attending college at San Diego State, getting a degree in Marketing, and being hired by Oakley just prior to graduation
What it was like for him going from one side of the retail counter (in-store customer sales) to the other (sales and manufacturing side)
His progression at Oakley, what he learned, mentors he learned from, and how he evolved
Entrepreneurship is sometimes incredible and sometimes there's a whole lot of hardship to it
His decision to leave Oakley and take a position at Reef to eventually become their VP of Sales and later, president
How the conversation about starting STANCE began and his transition away from Reef
Learning everything he could about the sock category, from merchandisers, retailers, and designers
Setting out to make the sock category more than just an afterthought, the start of STANCE, and where they are now

“I think everybody has entrepreneurial DNA strands they just show themselves in different ways and at different times.”
—John Wilson, STANCE

Resources from this episode

STANCE: https://www.stance.com/
John Wilson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-wilson-05416321/
Oakley: https://www.oakley.com/
Reef: https://www.reef.com/
Clairemont Surf Shop: https://www.instagram.com/clairemontsurf/?hl=en
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Article $50 offer: https://www.article.com/startupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: John Wilson.

Chris Brownridge, founder of GawkBox Oct 22, 2019

About this episode

This week I’d like to introduce you to Chris Brownridge,, co-founder and CEO of GawkBox. GawkBox was a third party platform that allowed people to tip their favorite live streamers without having to pay anything. They did this through various incentivized actions like installing an app, for example. Unlike some of our past founders, Chris’s startup, GawkBox, is no longer around. He had to shutter his business in July 2019. Chris and his team raised $4.4 million during their three-year run and just could not solve some key challenges.

We're also fortunate enough to hear the lessons learned from someone who accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. In this episode, Chris gets very tactical, explaining what he would do differently in his next startup. Not all founder stories are the same, but there are many parallels that exist. As Chris shared his story, I was often reminded of my own experience with closing my startup.

This episode is a powerful one for each of us because we get to hear from a founder who is still processing the journey after having to close his startup only three months ago. Part of what makes Chris's journey so interesting is that the challenges of entrepreneurship are not foreign to him. He was surrounded by entrepreneurs from a very young age and got to witness the ups and downs that come with it and yet he still chose to make it his own journey. This is Chris Brownridge’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

His early childhood, entrepreneurship being “in his blood,” and what entrepreneurship was like as a child in the U.K.
Experiencing firsthand (through his family’s businesses) the highs and the lows of entrepreneurship as a child, teen, and young adult
Going to college without any real direction of what he wanted to do, experimenting with entrepreneurship using eBay, selling bread bins, and starting a subscription condom company
His first foray into the startup world, moving to Paris after university, working for an AI startup which was later bought by a U.S. company
How his job at the AI startup was a really good springboard for moving forward
His experience of working at Google for four years prior to moving to the USA to work for a startup called Vungle and how he came to work with them
Leaving San Francisco, relocated to Seattle, and laying the foundation for what would become GawkBox
About testing GawkBox with various streamers on sites like YouTube and Twitch for a year, learning the ecosystem of streaming and getting paid for streaming, identifying retention issues but not truly resolving them and launching the app in 2017
Going live with GawkBox, obtaining funding, lessons learned in hindsight of what Chris and his team did right and wrong
Back to the drawing board with the startup, launching tournaments, and other experiments to keep the startup alive; the ultimate decision to close the startup in July 2019

Resources from this episode:

Chris Brownridge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbrownridge/
Pastel Frog: https://pastelfrog.com/
Entrepreneur’s Handbook Article: https://entrepreneurshandbook.co/after-more-than-3-years-we-just-shut-our-company-down-what-did-i-learn-71938679df7d
Brian Burke on The Startup Story:
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

$50 discount from Article: https://www.article.com/startupstory

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Chris Brownridge.

Scott Paul, founder of Wooly Oct 15, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Scott Paul,, founder of Wooly. Wooly allows brands to see who their fans are, what their social reach is, and then reach out to them directly as potential brand ambassadors. It is a startup created to bring authenticity to the influencer marketspace; created by the guy who helped build the influencer marketspace to the heights that it has become today.

In this episode, you will hear how Scott’s mobile startup pivoted from what it was to become one that helped leverage social influencers. Later, he shares how that expertise played a key role in becoming part of a firm that Disney acquired because of the impact on the marketspace. I like hyperbole as much as the next hopeful entrepreneur, but this is 100% legit with zero overstatement.

Scott’s story will take us through his various startups. Like Scott, I hope you’ll hear how the dots all connect or rather how they started connecting from when he was a very young kid. This is Scott Paul’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

His childhood, being diagnosed with ADHD at a young age, and having an interest in how to make money, but having no knowledge of what being an entrepreneur actually was
His tenacity and perseverance as a teen, how he started selling products at 17 years old and how not too long after he was running an ecommerce store
Some of his lessons learned from the world of startup, like, “My first startup involved courage and execution, but I had the wrong idea.” Plus lessons about failing and learning from others who are successful
His experiences with startup exits, how they were life changing for him and allowed him to work on the next project
On becoming an angel investor and the kinds of projects he supports, plus some wisdom for those seeking to work with investors
Trying to get traction and eyes on a mobile app in 2012, paying a fashion Instagrammer to help promote the app and what happened next!
The beginnings of Wooly, what they do, and how they help brands find their true influencers

“After 10 years of having ideas and seeing someone else bring them to market, I got tired of ‘dabbling’ and jumped all in.” – Scott Paul, Wooly

Resources from this episode

Wooly: https://www.wooly.com/
Scott Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottpaul2/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Scott Paul.

Nick Justicz, founder of Gazpacho Oct 08, 2019

About this episode

This week I’d like to introduce you to Nick Justicz,, Founder of Gazpacho. No, not the cold soup, a mobile app that “serves up the best of the internet based on your tastes.” The app is what happens if you merge Pandora and Tinder together - swiping action while building up a database of your likes and dislikes, all based on memes. It’s a unique app and incredibly entertaining.

Nick’s background is not in technology, it is in stand-up comedy and film making. As we unpacked Nick’s Startup Story it made sense that his first entrepreneurial endeavor would be such an entertaining one. What I love about Nick’s journey is that it is one that I know many of you will resonate with as he still has a 9-5 job and is building Gazpacho on the side. Another area of relatability is that, like many of you, entrepreneurship was not something he became aware of until much later in his life.

As we recorded his episode, I was incredibly surprised at how similar film making and entrepreneurship really are… this is Nick Justicz’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Nick’s early childhood, growing up in upper-middle-class Atlanta, seeing what traditional success looked like (his father was a surgeon)
His feeling of never feeling satisfied and yet he had no idea what he wanted to do but did know, with full assurance, what he DID NOT want to do
His decision to go to film school and move to L.A., exploring comedy more in-depth and experiencing a bit of culture shock
Life after film school, working at Showtime, becoming Pauley Shore’s assistant, and what he learned from working with Pauley
The importance of returning favors, expressing gratitude or paying it forward to those who help you at the start of any career or endeavor
Moving on to working in new media, losing your passion for the entertainment industry and what happened next
Starting Gazpacho, his idea, how it all began and how he continues to build it while working a 9-5 job
How the parallels in film making and entrepreneurship are remarkable

“Nobody cares about your idea, they care about whether or not you can execute.” – Nick Justicz, Gazpacho

Resources from this episode

Gazpacho: https://gazpacho.io/
Nick Justicz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjusticz/
Pauley Shore: http://www.paulyshore.com/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/
Jason McCann on The Startup Story: https://www.thestartupstory.co/varidesk

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Nick Justicz.

Marika Meeks, founder of IncredibullStella Oct 01, 2019

About this episode

I’d like to introduce you to Marika Meeks, founder of IncredibullStella, a nonprofit whose mission is to help rescue dogs (with an affinity towards Pit Bulls) and place them in their forever homes. With a name like IncredibullStella, you may be wondering who Stella is, right? Well, Stella is a Pit Bull that came into Marika’s life when she was recovering from Stage 3 Breast Cancer.

In this episode, Marika will unashamedly share how Stella saved her life and now, having fully recovered, how her non-profit (inspired by Stella) helps to save as many animals as possible. In honor of Breast Cancer awareness, I thought it would be appropriate to unpack an entrepreneurial journey of a founder that had to battle through a Stage 3 Breast Cancer diagnosis and come out on the other side of her journey as a cancer survivor and non-profit founder.

IncredibullStella is Marika’s first non-profit, but it is not her first venture. Previously she had an incredibly successful chain of sandwich shops, which was expanding up until her cancer diagnosis. Part of the reason I wanted to share Marika’s story is because of the power of her perspective through her battle with cancer.

And while the tone of this episode starts off a little heavier than usual, I assure you this episode is one that will encourage and inspire you, assuming you allow yourself to hear about lessons learned from someone who came face to face with her own mortality. This is Marika Meek’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

How Marika’s mom and dad were very instrumental in her desire to not only do my own thing, selling Bubblelicious at school, and her desire to always have a hot dog stand
Immigrating to America at the age of 6 with her family, how her mom and dad provided the opportunity to live in the U.S., plus the trials, tribulations, and successes of starting a new life in the States
Her interest in becoming a creative entrepreneur, feeling really lost after high school and her short stint at Community College
Leaving college after only the first semester and realizing (now) that you don’t have to have it all figured out right out of high school
Getting married at 19 and realizing that marriage is not a career path, but it did lead her to start her first business, which she worked in for a year
Moving on from her first business to working for the family business, how doing so made her feel like a fraud, the anxiety she felt, and what she learned during that time
All leading up to her next venture, a sandwich shop franchise
The difficulty she had when telling her parents she wanted to follow her passion and learning this very important life lesson: When you’re feeling fearful, that's what makes you brave because you're doing it anyway
Being diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer, navigating life during that time, and how getting cancer at 41 woke her up to understand what was really important
The inspiration behind IncredibullStella, how it got started, unpacking everything it is today, and Marika’s vision for the future

“There is nothing you can ever do that would actually be considered a failure. Every single step or misstep is setting you up for a new opportunity. It’s preparation and not failure.”
—Marika Meeks, IncrediBullStella

Resources from this episode

IncredibullStella: https://www.incredibullstella.com/
IncredibullStella (the book): https://amzn.to/2nbK6rE
IncredibullStella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/incredibullstella/?hl=en
Marika Meeks on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marika-meeks-9169b814/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/
Alina Vandenberghe, founder of Chili Piper & GipsyBot: https://www.thestartupstory.co/chilipiper
10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, Wayne Dyer: https://amzn.to/2lDI5nD
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches: https://www.jimmyjohns.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Marika Meeks.

Nick Alexander, co-founder of Yoshi Sep 24, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Nick Alexander,, co-founder of Yoshi. Yoshi is disrupting an industry that I am sure NONE of you ever thought about disrupting: gas stations and auto maintenance. Did you ever say to yourself, “You know, gas distribution really needs to be revamped?” Well, Nick and his co-founders did and are making significant waves in 20 major markets.

Nick is an alum of Y Combinator, not just one time but THREE times. So prepare to learn from an incredible founder who is doing big things. Y Combinator is an accelerator that provides guidance to early-stage companies to help them get to a point where they have built something impressive enough to raise money on a large scale. It is not easy to get into as the competition is very high. Companies like Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, Instacart, DoorDash, and many, many more have gone through Y Combinator. All that to say…Nick’s three tours through YC is so incredibly impressive.

Have I hyped his story enough? Are you as excited to unpack his entrepreneurial journey as I am? Awesome! I mean, with a resume like his, entrepreneurship must have been on his radar from the very beginning, right? Well, let’s find out. This is Nick Alexander’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Nick’s early childhood, wanting to be a doctor and how entrepreneurship never had crossed his mind at a young age
His first taste of entrepreneurship right before college when he began working at a newspaper
How and why he made the switch from premed to computer engineering his second year at Duke University
His very first startup while in college, going viral on campus, followed by his next several startups, including a music service called BlueTunes and exiting
About getting a call from a friend that was accepted into Y Combinator, asked to join him to build a product, accepting, and flying out
His first time through Y Combinator, equating it as an extension of college, developing an idea that became TinyCoupon, the largest coupon index in the world
His philosophy when creating his first startups, building something cool that people might want and how that changed (or didn’t) over time
The creation of Yoshi, a subscription service that makes it so you never have to worry about stopping for gas or routine maintenance
Testing the Yoshi business model outside the Silicon Valley bubble and how that led to Nashville being one of their most successful markets
Learning to appreciate the journey

“The story is ALWAYS much more glamorous on the outside than it is on the inside. This is the case for even the most successful startups.”
—Nick Alexander, Yoshi

Resources from this episode

Yoshi: https://www.startyoshi.com/
Nick Alexander on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndalexander/
Y-Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Get the Yoshi app today and Start Moving!
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yoshi!/id992735679?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.callyoshi&hl=en

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Nick Alexander.

Alina Vandenberghe, founder of Chili Piper & GipsyBot Sep 17, 2019

About this episode

I’d like you to meet Alina Vandenberghe, co-founder of Chili Piper and Gipsybot. (Yes, that’s right, she co-founded TWO startups.) Chili Piper is an incredibly powerful sales tool for enterprises. Her second startup, Gipsybot, is a productivity tool to help you prioritize what is important to you, not what others delegate to you.

The reason I wanted to unpack Alina’s story is multi-faceted. First, she is running two startups at the same time, and I find that to be incredibly impressive, as well as quite uncommon. Oh, and one of those startups just closed on a Series A round of funding. Secondly, she is an immigrant from Romania. Immigrant founder stories have a unique layer to them that help frame all of our perspectives. Lastly, she is royalty in the mobile development space. Now, she would never say that about herself, but when you develop one of the first apps for the “yet to be released” iPad and Steve Jobs chooses to use your app from the Apple stage as he is revealing the all-new, never before seen iPad… that is quite a remarkable accomplishment.

Alina’s Startup Story is fascinating and begins unlike any other founder we have had on the show, so let’s get started. This is Alina Vandenberghe’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Alina’s early ventures (beginning around age 9!) featuring her entrepreneurial spirit and how she didn’t even realize it was entrepreneurship
Her frustration with the corporate world, how others recognized her skills/personality traits as perfect for a startup and encouraged her to begin that journey
The challenges of operating a fully distributed workforce and the benefits of being able to tap into a larger talent pool
How culture is managed with staff members in remote locations and the need for attendance on company calls and occasional meetings in person
The importance of managing mental health during the “founder’s depression” period and having a plan to avoid burnout
How GipsyBot was developed from a need to accurately manage priorities and goals to change the way people work so they can achieve their own goals and not just the priorities of others
The fact that managing two startups is possible
For businesses to succeed and meet future goals, a positive environment must be created for workers and clients so that customers can get the results they want and a big return on their investment

“I know how hard it is to get back up when you’ve been completely knocked down, but it is at that moment in time when big things happen.”
—Alina Vandenberghe, Chili Piper & GipsyBot

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor Podcoin: https://www.podcoin.com - Listen to this episode to grab your special discount code
Chili Piper: https://www.chilipiper.com/
GipsyBot: https://gipsybot.com/
Alina Vandenberghe on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinav/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share this podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Alina Vandenberghe.

Anna Victoria, founder of Fit Body App Sep 10, 2019

About this episode

This week I would like you to meet featured founder, Anna Victoria. She is the founder of Fit Body App. The health and fitness app launched in January 2018; then in 2019, Apple featured it in their “Apps We Love” section. Since then it has become one of 2019’s best fitness apps. Just because numbers are impressive…when Apple featured the Fit Body App in the “Apps We Love” section it generated over 1 million impressions within 24 hours!

I am really excited to share her story with you because of how relatable it is to each of us. In fact, Anna’s journey is one that we can all replicate today. Within a 2-year period Anna grew an email list of close to 1 million people, and most of them were because they purchased something from her. This episode is an opportunity to learn from someone who has done amazing things with creating a community and understanding how to deliver real value so they keep coming back.

If you are wondering how her story is relatable to you, especially if you aren’t in the fitness industry; fitness was never a part of her life until her “aha moment” in 2012, where it all started to come together for her. The lesson? Your “aha moment” can come at any time. What you do with it, that’s simply part of your story. Oh, and fitness wasn’t the only thing that was new to Anna, so was entrepreneurship. Let’s find out how her journey began, this is Anna Victoria’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Her early childhood, growing up with her father and learning an important life lesson that would serve her well later, “Don’t be a salesman, don't try to sell people.”
About her first job after high school in sales, taking her father’s advice to heart, and prioritizing the needs of customers and offering them beneficial solutions
How at a young age she had no real concept of what she wanted to do with her life
The importance of seizing opportunities when they arise, for Anna it included going to community college in Sacramento, soon after moving to San Diego, getting into University of San Diego, studying abroad in Rome, moving to China (that’s just to name a few)
How working out or eating healthy was not a part of her life and how and why that all changed in 2012
Her research on how to live a healthy lifestyle that's balanced and why she still hated living ‘healthy’
Starting her Instagram account as an anonymous user, growing it to about 250,000 followers in 6 months, then finally posting the first photo of herself and what happened next, all the while she still did not have any plans to launch a business or app
And turning a corner: monetizing her Instagram page, launching an ebook, moving to a new Instagram account and essentially ‘starting over’
Building a community of encouragement and accountability and launching the Fit Body Guide in 2015, and how that led to the creation of the Fit Body App
Realizing that many times opportunities come from seeing a need that you have and addressing that need first

“Don’t try to sell people. Just talk to people, figure out what they need, and provide them with solutions.”
—Anna Victoria, Fit Body App

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor Podcoin: https://www.podcoin.com - Listen to this episode to grab your special discount code
Fit Body App (use code: STARTUPSTORY for 20% off the already discounted price): https://bodylove.com/

Fit Body App for iPhone
Fit Body App for Android

Anna Victoria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annavictoria/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Anna Victoria.

John Paul Taylor, founder of Real Life Poets Sep 03, 2019

About this episode

I’d like you to meet John Paul Taylor, founder of Real Life Poets. Real Life Poets is a nonprofit that leverages the creative process of poetry and spoken word as a means to empower youth, that otherwise might find themselves in prison or on the streets. John Paul started Real Life Poets because writing saved him and he wanted to do the same for youth in situations similar to his.

Real Life Poets is the very first nonprofit that we have featured on The Startup Story, as well as the only business out of Alabama that we have featured.

John Paul’s journey is much different than mine, and I suspect much different than yours. But that is the beauty of entrepreneurship. While his journey might be different, his experiences are relatable. He had to overcome friends and family thinking he was crazy for wanting to pursue Real Life Poets. He had to push through personal challenges, including a dissolved marriage. And, he had to have 2-4 different side hustles to try to make things work until he truly understood what it was that he was supposed to be building.

This episode is an example of the diversity of entrepreneurship and a true testament to following a passion and building a business for good. This is John Paul Taylor’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

John Paul’s early childhood in Birmingham, AL and how being in foster care helped him find his gift for writing
When he began to actually use writing as an outlet and how it helped him
The ‘having nothing to lose’ mentality and how it helped John Paul grow as a writer
John Paul’s first corporate job, realizing he wasn’t going to conform to corporate life, getting fired and his shift into entrepreneurship
That writing was his saving grace and how he processed that into something that creates a living
Performing, creating CDs of his poetry, and what Pootie Tang has to do with it all
Starting a nonprofit, learning the rules, following the rules, and building a nonprofit from the ground up
The 10 year anniversary of Real Life Poets and reflecting on the vision he had for the organization when it started, to what it is today

“Once people started telling me that I could not do it, I became driven to prove them wrong.”
—John Paul Taylor, Real Life Poets

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor Podcoin: https://www.podcoin.com - Listen to this episode to grab your special discount code
Real Life Poets: http://reallifepoets.org/
Real Life Poets on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reallifepoet
John Paul Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-paul-taylor-48a94835/
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: John Paul Taylor.

Larry Namer, founder of E! Entertainment Television (replay) Aug 27, 2019

About this episode

This episode marks our 35th episode since we launched in January 2019. When The Startup Story launched we had no audience. Yet, even with not having an audience, Larry Namer, founder of E! Entertainment Television, was gracious enough to share his Startup Story for our launch.

There is a high chance that you have not heard our first few episodes. For that reason, we are going to bring our first two episodes off the shelf to ensure they make your podcast queue. This week is the first of those two episodes. I hope you enjoy this episode as it originally aired on our launch date of January 15, 2019.

This episode of The Startup Story features Larry Namer, founder of E! Entertainment Television. When you think of E!, you may instantly think of the show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Now for the record, Larry had nothing to do with the Kardashians phenomenon. He did, however, have everything to do with the building of this media network giant, which eventually sold for approximately $3,000,000,000 in 2007.

In this episode, you will learn how Larry maneuvered the early days of his startup and how he built his company with little to no funding. Larry also shares openly about how he constantly adapted his business to ensure success, regardless of the external circumstances he faced. Wherever you in your entrepreneurial journey, Larry's story will provide you with a fresh perspective to take into your own endeavors.

In this episode you’ll hear

Larry’s start, not in the limelight of Hollywood, but in the sewers of NYC
How he went from blue collar labor to management, negotiating with unions and how he began to develop a leadership mindset
How qualifying for pension at 30-years old eventually led him to the West Coast
His time at Valley Cable in California helping build the first two-way 61 Channel Cable System ever built
The start of “Movie Time”, the obstacles Larry faced and why he was so convinced to keep moving forward with his idea
How a leap of faith by an investor led to the launch of E! Entertainment Television’s beginnings and how he went on to build E!’s first studio on a freight train rail station
Selecting their first five hosts, like Greg Kinnear, getting coverage and establishing credibility as a network
The origins of E!’s first original content show, Talk Soup (a show that makes fun of other television shows) with host Greg Kinnear and later Joel McHale
Larry fondest memory from his startup story
Larry’s advice to entrepreneurs who may be struggling with getting traction or establishing credibility in their industry

Resources from this episode

Connect with Larry Namer on LinkedIn
E! Entertainment Television
Yuzzl.com

Full Episode Transcript

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Larry Namer.

Jason McCann, founder of Varidesk (replay) Aug 20, 2019

About this episode

This episode marks our 34th episode since we launched in January 2019. When The Startup Story launched we had no audience. Yet, even with not having an audience, Jason McCann, the Founder and CEO of VARIDESK, was gracious enough to share his Startup Story for our launch.

There is a high chance that you have not heard our first few episodes. For that reason, we are going to bring our first two episodes off the shelf to ensure they make your podcast queue. This week is the first of those two episodes. I hope you enjoy this episode as it originally aired on our launch date of January 15, 2019.

Today’s startup story comes from Jason McCann, founder and CEO of Varidesk. While Varidesk is a global company today, Jason's story is not one where you assume everything he has ever done has been a success. Today he shares his early beginnings from selling beach chairs all the way to the burst of the dot.com bubble and later, how Varidesk came to be.

Jason’s startup story is one of resilience. You will learn that every challenge or obstacle has a key learning principle. In fact, Varidesk’s success is a result of Jason's ability to listen and learn. This episode is your opportunity to be mentored by a founder who has built a company with over 270 employees and ships product over 30 different countries daily. Get ready to learn and be inspired. Here is Jason McMann with his Startup Story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Jason’s early beginnings in Galveston, TX, including being introduced to the first entrepreneur/CEO in his life; his mom and how her energy, passion and leadership had an impact on him
How he started his very first business at the age of 14
His start in the hotel management industry and how it led to owning his first restaurant
Moving on from the restaurant industry to selling pogs while working on his Masters degree, plus his time at DSI Toys
Creating a dot.com business, recognizing the dot.com bubble was bursting, his mental space after the ultimate collapse and what happened next
How the idea of Varidesk started with a cardboard box
Prototypes, presentations and adrenaline rushes in the early days of Varidesk
Varidesk’s customer and employee relationship mentality and Jason’s vision for the future

Resources from this episode

Share your Varidesk Story: Varidesk.com/startupstory
Connect with Jason McCann on LinkedIn
Varidesk
Good to Great by Jim Collins https://amzn.to/2HgRID1
Thrive, by Arianna Huffington https://amzn.to/2CYIiYy
Podcoin code: startupstory

Full Episode Transcript

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Jason McCann.

Founders Depression Aug 13, 2019

About this episode

This week instead of featuring a founder’s story, we are going to focus on part of a story that many founders go through — founder depression. Yes, founders can get depressed, very much so, and yet not too many talk openly about it.

The catalyst for this topic occurred when I read an article, recommended to me by Kate Edwards, Co-Founder of Heartbeat, in which she was cited. The article was about founders’ depression. After I read it and reflecting on the past 32 episodes of this podcast, I recalled numerous founders that would talk about anxiety or significant self-doubt that impacted the way they related to their family members. This article struck a chord because I've been realizing that in our founders’ stories, some may have been battling founder depression, but it wasn't given a name, so it was easy to skirt the issue or just chalk it up to being stressed or overwhelmed.

Some areas of a founder’s journey, like mental health, we may easily feel uncomfortable with and not want to discuss. But all facets of our journeys, especially mental health or founder depression, are so very important to talk about because it’s my belief that we can all learn from each other’s journey. And so this week, I’d like to bring attention to founder depression, what it is, how to spot it, and what you can do about it.

In this episode, you’ll hear

The difference between depression and founders’ depression
Why we isolate ourselves and back off from sharing our feelings
We are not meant to go through this journey alone
Not being afraid to identify founders’ depression if you think that is what you are experiencing
The importance of seeing the journey for what it is

Resources from this episode

Founder's Depression Article: https://www.inc.com/wanda-thibodeaux/1183-words-you-need-to-read-before-starting-your-first-business.html?cid=search
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Brian Burke, founder of Sell Your Mac Aug 06, 2019

About this episode

Brian Burke is the founder of SellYourMac.com, a website that helps you to sell your Apple products in a way that ensures you receive top dollar. Brian recently received an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year nomination. Ernst & Young is one of the largest firms in the world and since Brian’s firm was nominated, I definitely wanted to invite him to unpack his story on this podcast.

Brian and his business have a very grassroots storyline, which we go through in its entirety. Why? It helps us understand what it’s like to grow a business without investment capital. Moreover, it allows us to see what it is like to startup a business that is so cash flow dependent. How do you recover from a situation that steals five years of profits from you? We’ll find out in this episode.

Brian shares his encouraging journey, which I hope will give you enough strength to continue on yours, if you are already running your own business. His journey had very clear indicators from his early childhood that SellYourMac.com was going to be his destiny. But I will let him share it all with you and allow you to connect the dots. This is Brian Burke’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

Brian’s early childhood, how his father’s work ethic left an impression on him, and his early aspirations
Creating an income for himself through selling beaded jewelry as a kid and selling cellphones in college
Brian’s interest in the stock market and trading at a young age, his desire to work in an investment bank or for a hedge fund after college and what actually happened once he graduated
His start with selling items on eBay, how it happened, what he sold, and how it paved the way for his future business, SellYourMac.com
The importance of finding something you're passionate about and figuring out how to make a business out of it
Working to prove that his phone business idea was viable to his parents (who wanted him to continue to find a career in finance)
About the burden that debt can play when desiring to launch your business and how it is a ball and chain that will slow down anyone's progress
Getting kicked out of his parent’s after his phone business inventory started taking over their basement, what he learned, how it motivated him, and the eventual birth of SellYourMac.com
How and when his attention turned from phones to Apple products, from selling phones to Apple products on eBay, and what happened next

“If you are building your business in response to your ego it will inevitably fail.”
—Brian Burke, Sell Your Mac

Resources from this episode

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianburke4/
Sell Your Mac: https://www.sellyourmac.com/
Sell Your Apple Products at SellYourMac.com/startupstory and receive an additional $10 bonus when you sell your item.
The Startup Story on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupstory/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Brian Burke.

Michael Littig, co-founder of the Zuckerberg Institute Jul 30, 2019

About this episode

Meet Michael Littig, Co-founder of the Zuckerberg Institute. Their mission is to establish a community of entrepreneurs that encourage and inspire other entrepreneurs as they build their business or start their next venture. Sound familiar? It should because that's what I am hoping to build with this podcast, too.

Michael's journey includes living among Shaman and nomads, speaking before the UN, and even performing in live theater. We're going to hear one of the more unique entrepreneurial journeys we’ve shared to date in this episode.

While his story is incredible, you will hear some themes pertinent to all entrepreneurs that I want to highlight. First, the idea of community, even among entrepreneurs, is the key to survival. Additionally, you’ll hear all about the importance of our experiences, good and bad, and how they can be lifelong lessons which can bring incredible value to our entrepreneurial ambitions. Lastly, you will hear how critical it is to not walk this journey alone. Michael is a master storyteller and I am honored to get to share his story with you today. As always, we start at the very beginning. This is Michael Littig’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

His early childhood traveling between cities to spend with parents (who were divorced), growing up in a single-parent home, his early ambitions of wanting to be an astronaut, and his deep interest in forming disciplines
His growing interest in leadership in high school, how he entered high school wanting to be an astronaut and wanting to join the military, and leaving high school wanting to pursue acting and become a theater artist
Theater life and how he went from auditioning for a Broadway show to traveling to Italy to do theater, and how it shifted his life drastically
His time in Italy and how it shaped him for the experiences he’d go through when he returned
Following his passion to understand belief systems, rituals, performance, and how they all interact with a community.
Some lessons he learned while living and experiencing nomadic culture
Asking the question, “Where am I needed in the world?”
His experience speaking to the United Nations and teaching theater to a refugee camp on the border of Somali
How he went from a transformational period in Somalia to co-founding the Zuckerberg Institute

“Most entrepreneurs are driven toward autonomy, yet community is an absolute key to survival.”
—Michael Littig, Zuckerberg Institute

Resources from this episode

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-littig-150105179/
Zuckerberg Institute: https://www.zuckerberginstitute.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Michael Littig.

Danielle Salinas, founder of Maison de Papillon Jul 23, 2019

About this episode

I’d like you to meet Danielle Salinas, Co-founder of Maison de Papillon. Maison de Papillon is Danielle’s 2nd venture and it started when she lost her sleep mask during her trip at the London Olympics. Yes, you read that correctly and that is what I love about The Startup Story. Our businesses are birthed out of a need in our lives, yet pivot as we learn more about where the opportunities really lie.

Maison de Papillon is not a sleep mask company but is a luxury clothing line with reach in most of the globally recognized resort brands, like Four Seasons.

In this episode, Danielle gets incredibly vulnerable and shares her story openly and honestly. Her journey includes the loss of a son, something that many of us will never have to process. But for those of you that have, you may just find some encouragement through Danielle’s transparency. Today you will also hear just how incredibly hard one’s journey can be, but it is far from impossible. This is Danielle Salinas’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Danielle’s upbringing in one of the poorest regions in South Texas, her long lineage of entrepreneurs, and how her father instilled boldness and empowerment for her pursuits
How her father instilled in her to go to college and get a long term career, how she deviated from that plan when at the age of 18 she got married and decided to start a family first
About how after three months of motherhood and marriage, she realized she couldn’t do it anymore and started a new life, with her son, working in a pharmacy and going to school
Some advice for single moms trying to start a business venture of their own
The story of the loss of her second son and how it was such a difficult time in her life and also how it helped her put into perspective what was important
The catalyst for her first entrepreneurial venture (a dentistry practice) with her second husband
How the Olympics of 2012 and the need for a night mask led to the start of her second (and current)venture, a high-end fashion business called Maison de Papillon
The launch of Maison de Papillon, learning to work in the fashion industry, trials, tribulations, and successes along the way

“Do not let anyone tell you that you are not able to accomplish your goals and dreams. It might be hard, but it is absolutely possible!”
—Danielle Salinas, Maison de Papillon

Resources from this episode

Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-salinas-9b2a165b
Maison de Papillon: https://www.maisondepapillon.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Danielle Salinas.

James Fratzke, co-founder of Fratzke Media Jul 16, 2019

About this episode

Our guest today is James Fratzke, co-founder of Fratzke Media. Fratzke Media is a digital marketing consultancy based in Southern California. What piqued my interest in Fratzke Media was that James and his brother are identical twins. That said…it was not long into our conversation that I realized James’s startup story is much deeper than the fact that his co-founder is his twin.

What I appreciated most about James’s story was how well he articulated the challenges that come from comparison to those around you. The complexities and benefits of being raised by entrepreneurs, and the importance of looking out for family at all times. I think that last point is a unique byproduct that comes from co-founding with your family. The entrepreneurial journey will sometimes lead us to a place where the only people around us to help are those closest to us…and oftentimes that is our family.

In this episode, you will hear what James thinks about seeking validation and affirmation from those around you and how you respond to their reactions. You will also learn the importance of staying focused and how it is key for any small business in the first few years of growth. I hope you find James’s story of value and benefit to you. And now, here is James Fratzke’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

James’s entrepreneurial origin story, how his mom was a visionary and his dad was a hard worker, watching his parents succeed and fail in their business ventures and when he first had aspirations to become a business owner
His time with Disney and Brandify and when he began thinking of what his own venture might be
His transition from employee to entrepreneur and then later, co-founding Fratzke Media with his twin brother
The difference between agency and consultancy
What Fratzke Media does, who they serve, and how they help
The importance of staying focused and not letting the outside noise come in
Understanding that if any decision you make forces you to go into debt, you should think long and hard about that decision

“I can be a visionary to a fault. I need to be intentional with staying focused.”
—James Fratzke, Fratzke Media

Resources from this episode

Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesfratzke
Fratzke Media: https://www.fratzkemedia.com/

Book Recommendation:
Daring Greatly: https://amzn.to/2JuXWy5

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS:

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: James Fratzke.

Paige Robinson, founder of Will Reed Jul 09, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Paige Robinson, founder of Will Reed. Will Reed is a recruiting firm that partners with innovative tech companies and VC-backed startups to scale sales organizations and actualize growth strategies. In other words, they hire the best people to help the best people find the best jobs. It became very apparent that her startup story was going to shake up many preset ideas within our entrepreneurial audience and even within me.

Paige’s story is one of perspective, a perspective that I hope will provide strength and freedom to many listening. In this episode, you will hear Paige talk about flexing your moral compass, how there are things you can do legally and there are things that are right and distinguishing between the two. You will also hear us discuss the idea that if you only live with ambition (and nothing more) then you will miss out a lot on the joy and the journey. I hope you find real value in her journey. Here is Paige Robinson’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Paige’s childhood, being supported by loving parents and siblings, and when entrepreneurship became a part of her journey
How she grew up with a higher risk tolerance than other people her age because she saw that you could bet on an idea and have the potential to lose it all, but if you had your family, it would be okay
About how high school was actually her first run-in with failure and deciding whether or not you press on
The story of when, not long after graduating college, a VP of a Bank she was interviewing at stopped her mid-sentence and said, “We would crush you.” And how that instance played a role in continuing to direct her path, what it taught her, and why she pressed on
About quitting her job in 2012 and evaluating what she wanted to do next
The beginnings of her first startup, which was aimed at helping students find a better way to share their full story and help companies better understand the people they are recruiting
Her journey as a 25-year-old woman raising money in Texas and learning how to put together a pitch deck for VC capitalists
The power of authenticity in leadership
Doing what is right in business, both from a moral and legal perspective
Paige shares her thoughts on balancing ambition with contentment

“Being forced to have those really hard conversations due to my failed startup taught me the power of authenticity in leadership.”
—Paige Robinson, Will Reed

Resources from this episode

Connect with Paige on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigesrobinson/
Will Reed website: https://www.willreed.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Paige Robinson.

Josh Stine, founder of Seat Insiders Jul 02, 2019

About this episode

Our guest this week is Josh Stine, CEO and co-founder of Seat Insiders. Seat Insiders is a concierge ticketing firm that makes ticket buying for sporting events, theater, or concerts unbelievably easy and cost-effective. Josh’s story was compelling because when you think of ticketing you immediately think of Ticketmaster and StubHub. And one has to wonder why you would want to take on those monsters of industry? But that’s the interesting part, Josh isn’t taking them on, he is filling a gap that those companies cannot address, the human aspect of ticketing.

In today’s episode, you will hear how important it is to maintain a learning mindset to maximize your opportunities. You will learn firsthand, from Josh, just how critical it is to establish great physical and mental health disciplines if you want to play the long game with your business. Josh’s story also discusses a topic that I do not think gets enough attention within entrepreneurship, and that is the topic of mental health. But like all Startup Story episodes, I know you don’t want to hear from me, you want to hear from our founder. This is Josh Stine’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Josh’s early days, his upbringing, looking towards the technology field as a child, and the fact that entrepreneurship wasn't on his radar until his senior year of college
His desire to create a club for consultancy in college and what it taught him
The importance of recognizing the small things and how these small victories can leave bread crumbs for what’s to come
Josh’s origin story to his side hustle and how he met his business partner Nick (in college)
Realizing that college is not necessary, but if you are going to go to college, Josh believes the highest value it brings is the community and the network.
About how six months into his consulting career, he battled with terrible anxiety and mental health challenges, which led to him realizing consultancy was not for him
How he developed an exit strategy for his job, including a plan to pay off student debt, build an emergency fund, and have some money to invest in a business and why doing so was so important to him
What anxiety looked like for Josh, what drove him to the doctor to figure out what was going on, and the various practices he’s developed to help cope with mental and physical strains
The ticketing industry, Seat Insiders, and what they do (and how Josh got it started), plus the next generation technology for ticketing

“You need to have really sound physical and mental health disciplines if you want to be able to go the distance.”
—Josh Stine, Seat Insiders

Resources from this episode

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshstine/
Seat Insiders website: https://www.seatinsiders.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Josh Stine.

Catherine Stiles, founder of Barbecue Wife Jun 25, 2019

About this episode

Our guest this week is Catherine Stiles, founder of Barbecue Wife. Barbecue Wife is a cocktail mixer brand that began as a platform to tell the unique stories of some amazing women within the barbeque industry. Barbecue Wife has grown to be a well-recognized cocktail mixer within the state of Texas. After researching the barbecue industry and the beverage industry, I became incredibly intrigued by Catherine’s story and knew it would make for a great episode!

Catherine is an amazing storyteller and entrepreneur. In our time together it became apparent that all of her life’s experiences have never left her and have truly helped shape how she is building her company. In today’s episode, you will hear how important it is to understand that consumers today want the personal story of your brand and not just the imagery. And, you will learn how critical it is to accept help when needed in order to ensure your own personal survival in the early days of your startup.

In hearing Catherine’s startup story you will see this ever-present theme of confidence in the midst of uncertainty. It’s a theme that was instilled in her from a very young age by her mother…but I know you don’t want to hear Catherine’s story from me, so let’s hear it from her… This is Catherine Stiles startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Her childhood, being very creative and the daughter of a real-estate developer and how that prepared her for her entrepreneurial journey as an adult
How she went to college and graduated with a degree in Marketing, what she did after college, and how she got onto the path to becoming an entrepreneur
Her crash course in Business 101 and real-world learning how businesses worked
Barbecue: her husband’s barbecue restaurant, how she became involved in the industry, turning an idea (which came to her at 4am) into a true vision, and executing on it
How powerful collaborations with similar brands can be and how validating it is when the larger brands want to help your startup
How important it is to pay kindness forward
Practicing confidence in the face of uncertainty
Growing Barbecue Wife, the Barbecue Bloody Mary mixer and taking it to retail
Understanding consumers want the personal story of your brand and not just the imagery

“I think the largest hurdle for an entrepreneur is our fear of failure. That fear delays so many founders from getting started.”
—Catherine Stiles, Barbecue Wife

Resources from this episode

Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-stiles-97380815/
Barbecue Wife website: http://www.barbecuewife.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

EPISODE CREDITS

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Special Guest: Catherine Stiles.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Meghan Asha, founder of FOUNDERMADE Jun 18, 2019

About this episode

This week on the podcast my guest is Meghan Asha, founder of FOUNDERMADE. Meghan and the FOUNDERMADE team are focused on bringing consumer brand companies together with some of the largest retail buyers in the world. Meghan has helped hundreds of startups in the consumer product space elevate their brand. She also has a real passion for connecting the right people together for mutual value. I love what this can do for startups in this space and I loved hearing Meghan’s personal startup story.

In this episode, you’ll find out just how important it is to stay focused on, as Meghan puts it, “your 90-year-old self” so that you can build a life you will be proud of when you’re, well, 90 years old! You will also hear how critical it is to shut down all the negative self-talk if you want any chance of success. And finally, you’ll see how important it is to have grace for yourself on this journey of entrepreneurship.

What is so interesting about Meghan’s startup story is that it took various people in her life to see her passion for connecting people together as a business, before she ever saw it as a business herself. But like all Startup Stories, we need to start at the very beginning to understand the full journey. This is Meghan Asha’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

About the Cycle of Entrepreneurship and how it affected Meghan’s decision to become an entrepreneur
How Meghan learned from her past and made specific changes within her business
Her journey from having a big job on Wall Street and her decision to leave to be at CES and start her path to entrepreneurship
How her parents had a big influence on her journey
The art of staying focused
The importance of shutting down negative self-talk
Meghan’s work with advisors, how they shaped her work and the growth of FounderMade

“I had people believing in me long before I believed in myself.”
—Meghan Asha, FOUNDERMADE

Resources from this episode

Connect with Meghan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanasha/
FOUNDERMADE website: https://www.foundermade.com/
The Startup Story featuring Emma Rose Cohen: https://www.thestartupstory.co/finalstraw
FOUNDERMADE Events: https://www.foundermade.com/events-1

Share the episode:

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Contact him today at https://emeraldcitypro.com/startupstory

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Meghan Asha.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Chad Phillips, co-founder of Highpoint Brewing Co. Jun 11, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Chad Phillips, co-founder of Highpoint Brewing Company in San Dimas, California. This episode combines a few things that I love dearly, small business and creativity. When it comes to beer and brewing, I don’t think many people would have thought about the creative side of it all. Chad will discuss just how personal beer making is to him and how his beers are a personal expression of his creativity.

In this episode, you will hear how important it is to maintain long-term focus even if it means you’re starting out with immediate health issues. You will learn, firsthand from Chad, just how critical it is to develop a thick skin when creating a product that is susceptible to public opinion. And lastly, this episode also features a more tactical conversation as we walk through the launching of a brewery, which is fascinating.

Every single founder we have had on The Startup Story has someone in their family they point to as an entrepreneurial influence. Chad’s story is no different. So, here is Chad Phillip’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

His childhood and upbringing, watching his grandfather run his own business (a machine shop) and how his interest in engineering was born
His journey to becoming an engineer, going to college, what he did after he graduated, and how he climbed fast in one of his first jobs
How chronic migraines plague him for many years following college and how the talk of permanent disability gave him a push to start a company and go out on his own
Some of the things that went through Chad’s mind when he thought of entrepreneurship
His love for welding and how it is what drove the idea of handcrafting something as a business, and how that led him to homebrewing.
Learning to homebrew, what he did and how long it took him before he got a batch that was palatable
Sharing his homebrew with the public for the first time, what it was like, and how he went about testing public reception of his own beer before he committed to opening up a brewery
How and when he decided to open up a brewery, plus what went through his mind as he was processing this realization that he was actually going to do it
Dealing with doubt, and the first steps he put into motion to make his vision a reality
The business of running a brewery: who, what, how, and when
Growth and growing of Chad’s brewery business, plus what’s next

“For me, brewing our beers is an expression of my creative talents. It really is more personal
than many would think.”
—Chad Phillips, Highpoint Brewing Co.

Resources from this episode

Connect with Chad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-phillips-b66aa2b7/
Highpoint Brewing Co. website: http://highpointbrewco.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Chad Phillips.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Michael Alvarez Jr., founder of Vision Media Jun 04, 2019

About this episode

I’d like to introduce you to Michael Alvarez Jr., founder of Vision Media. Vision Media is a fulfillment and logistics company that services movie studios and television networks. In fact, if you walk into almost any movie theater today, I am confident that all marketing collateral you see has come through one of Michael’s warehouses. Vision Media has experienced some tremendous success, but Michael’s journey in bringing it to its current state was not without incredible trials.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear how important it is to not allow traumatic events in your life to define your future. You will also hear just how critical it is to have a support system in your life when traveling the road to entrepreneurship. Finally, you will discover how powerful having a deep-rooted self-belief can be to achieve success.

All of our Startup Stories begin with our featured founder unpacking their childhood because I truly believe it plays a role in how we handle the entrepreneurial journey. What I love about Michael’s startup story is how much he values the lessons his parents taught him as a child and how critical those were to his entrepreneurial journey. This is Michael Alvarez’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

How and when he realized he wanted to be an entrepreneur and his early childhood
His desire to do something great with, to play on a major league baseball, or own a major league baseball team.
Michael’s experience getting drafted by the Saint Louis Cardinals, how it changed his life
His baseball journey, plus his experience with a career-ending injury and what he did next
How he got his start in the movies and marketing industry and his early days in fulfillment
The early days of his business, how it was a grind, figuring out what the heck they were doing and realizing his company was really an extension of marketing departments within the studios
How he went about balancing entrepreneurship and raising a young family
Growing his fulfillment company in the 90s, the growth pattern for you, plus selling it in 2002
Being urged to buy his company by his wife and working hard to not let traumatic events define his future
The importance of realizing we are all flawed and how that realization allows you to be more successful

“The greatest gift my dad gave me was the importance of respect, and this gift allowed me to get into doors many couldn’t.”
—Michael AlvarezJr. , Vision Media

Resources from this episode

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-alvarez-6a981476/
Vision Media website: https://visionmedia.com

Donate to: http://www.varietysocal.org

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Michael Alvarez.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Zack Swire, founder of Good Grains May 28, 2019

About this episode

This week I welcome Zack Swire, founder and CEO of Good Grains to the show. Good Grains delivers better cereal, better coffee, and better gear for a happier and healthier day. As you’ve heard in this podcast from numerous founders, there are some aspects of their journey that are similar. And yet, there are others unique to their story. For Zack, his entrepreneurial mindset started at a young age. In fact, by the time he was 16, he already had his second business. Zack’s story is one underlined by familial motivations and aspirations.

In today’s episode, you will hear how early childhood can pave the way for what is to come. You will also learn, firsthand from Zack, the importance of choosing your own path despite the hardships and obstacles you may face. Finally, you will understand how the impact of those that surround you, family, friends, and associates can help make or break your journey. This is Zack Swire’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

How early childhood laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey and why it was so important to him to forge a different path than that of his family
How his brother made a huge impact on his life
About his college years, his love for marketing, and what he wanted to do after he graduated
His experience as a sales and marketing manager for a new startup, right out of college
Realizing when you are not fitting in and knowing when it’s time to pivot
About his first agency, Swire, and how with one ultrasound his entire world shifted
His hopes, dreams, and motivations as a father first and an entrepreneur second
The importance of not putting all your eggs into one basket
The spawn of his next business, which had some very highs and some very low in terms of his business life
How Good Grains was born, taking it from an idea to an actual company, how the original focus shifted to what it is today and Zack’s hope for the future

“In the startup life you never know if it’s ‘going to happen’ until it does; it’s so volatile.”
—Zack Swire, GoodGrains.com

Resources from this episode

Connect with Zack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swire/
Good Grains website: https://goodgrains.com/

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Zack Swire.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Eva Gerrits, founder of Energetek May 21, 2019

About this episode

This week I would like to introduce you to the co-founder and CEO of Energetek, Eva Gerrits. Energetek is an energy brokerage and consultant company that is also focused on renewable alternatives. If you are unaware of the commercial and industrial industry space then know that Eva is paving a way for other female entrepreneurs and leadership as this industry is heavily dominated by males.

As a male, I am well aware that there are certain challenges that I am not going to encounter. Very early on in her career, she was faced with sexism that had career-altering implications. But let me be clear, Eva’s story is not a victim story, it is one of strength, focus, and determination to get the goals that she desired.

In today’s episode, you will hear how important it is to reflect on all phases of your journey because each phase plays a key role in your growth. You will also hear from Eva, how challenging it can be to stay the course in the pursuit of your dreams when it is within an industry that is fraught with sexism. Finally, you will discover that regardless of the challenges, your dreams are your dreams and nobody should detour you from your pursuit. Like every startup story we have told thus far, we need to start at the beginning, and for Eva, it was her early upbringing that set the foundation for her strength and determination. This is Eva Gerrits’ startup story.

In this episode, you will hear

Eva’s early years, being the oldest sibling, having the freedom to make choices, and her early childhood experiences
What Eva thought she wanted to do in her early twenties, what she ended up doing and how it got her to where she is today
The reality that other people's opinions play no role in building your dreams
Her experience at a small company and how it helped her learn many skills she utilizes in her business today and how the big perks to a small company are that you can learn a ton of different aspects of an enterprise that you can't get in a huge organization.
Eva’s experience with unfairness and sexism in the workplace as a woman, including how her work responsibilities were greater than someone who was actually getting paid much, much more and how she dealt with it all
Her mindset during the six months where she was strategically planning her exit from a volatile work environment
Her transition from employee to entrepreneur
Energetek, a female lead company, who they are and what they do
What excites Eva about her work today

“If it was not for the challenges and experiences I’ve had during my journey I would not be the person I am today.”
—Eva Gerrits, Energetek

“Do not ever stop sharing your ideas and your strengths regardless of whatever industry you find yourself in. That industry needs the authentic YOU.”
—Eva Gerrits, Energetek

Resources from this episode

Connect with Eva on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-gerrits
Energetek’s website: https://energetek.biz/
Energetek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energetekbiz/
Energetek on Twitter: https://twitter.com/energetekbiz

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Eva Gerrits.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Ladan Davia, founder of Beeya May 14, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Ladan Davia of Beeya. Beeya is a company that is changing the way recruiters and job searchers are connecting. Improving the job search process has been attempted numerous times, it’s true. But so has online dating and that never stopped innovation. Beeya is the real deal and so is its founder, Ladan Davia.

In this episode, you will hear just how important it is to prioritize correctly to ensure the protection of your startup. Plus, you’ll learn firsthand from Ladan the importance of vetting referrals, even if the referrals come from people you trust. Lastly, you’ll discover that nobody will promote or believe in your venture and dreams more than you.

Ladan’s story is an encouraging one because where she is now is very different than where she expected herself to be. Her story helps us to see that it is okay to change our goals and direction regardless of how long we’ve been following a particular path. It takes a tremendous amount of strength and courage to pivot your entire life. Where does that strength and courage come from? Let’s find out...this is Ladan Davia’s startup story.

In this episode, you will hear

About how and when Ladan caught the entrepreneur bug, hint: it was not as a child!
How at age 20, after receiving a degree in Broadcast Journalism, she realized it was not what she wanted to do and what she actually did instead
Her first experience with tech startup, creating a product, and winning a competition
Ladan shares about her first startup, how it “died,” and what she did next
The beginnings of Beeya, how and when the idea for the software first came to her when she was 21 years old
The first steps she took to take Beeya from an idea into an actual software product and how she went about creating a technology solution when she’s not a “tech” person
Investors, programmers, and building a team - the trials and tribulations of building a startup
Second-guessing and questioning your startup journey
The importance of being a good judge of character when it comes to team building, because NDAs are great, but many startups don’t have the funds to enforce them
What make Beeya different or stand out in the crowd of the various job searching tools and websites available today

“You have to be able to endure the rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship.” – Ladan Davia, Beeya

Resources from this episode

Connect with Ladan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladandavia/
Beeya website: https://www.beeya.com/
Beeya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beeyaofficial/
Beeya on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beeyaofficial/
Beeya on Twitter: https://twitter.com/beeyaofficial

Share the podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Ladan Davia.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Mia Plecic, founder of Her Organics May 07, 2019

About this episode

Our guest this week is Mia Plecic. Mia is 27 years old and has started 6 companies all leading her towards her current startup, Her Organics Australia. Her Organics is a subscription service through which women can sign up to have tampons delivered automatically each month. The company, Her Organics, is Mia’s 6th startup and her 5th e-commerce startup. In fact, when she was just 22 years old she launched her first e-commerce product and reached $30,000 in daily revenue within 6 months! However, that success did not come without some very serious challenges, which we discussed in this fascinating episode.

What makes Mia’s story so incredibly unique is that because she is only 27, we can see how the challenges she overcame as a child played such a significant role in her current success. After all, her teen years were only a decade ago! This is Mia Plecic’s startup story.

In this episode, you will hear

How Mia learned about business and leadership and decided that business was where she wanted to be, and how e-commerce came into her life
How important it is to believe in yourself and know that with your hard work, things can get better if you believe in your goals and are motivated to go after them
How helpful it can be to follow others on social media who have the same goals as you and to recognize that if someone else can do it, so can you
That she discovered branding, marketing, and finding a gap in the market are skills at which she is very good, and how those skills led to her early successes
About the challenges of going from nothing to $1million in revenue in 6 months and how working with a partner can create huge problems, especially when you are inexperienced
A reminder that others go through failure, and you are definitely not alone in those experiences
How amazing new ventures can be born after terrible losses
The importance of bringing a product to the market that fills a niche
Entrepreneurship is not easy, but you must keep on persevering

“I'm never short of an idea. And that's one thing that I pride myself in more than anything is...you can outsource paid marketing, you can outsource branding and marketing, but you cannot buy visionary. And that is my biggest strength...being able to have that ability to visualize a gap in the market or find an everyday product and market it and brand it in a way that targets certain demographic that I want to target or...having the ability to just kind of create a feeling through a product more so than anything else.” –Mia Plecic, Her Organics Australia

Resources from this episode

Connect with Mia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mia-plecic-33830899
Her Organics Australia website: https://herorganics.com.au/
Her Organics Australia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her.organics/

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Mia Plecic.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Jon Verlee, founder of Breeze Apr 30, 2019

About this episode

Jon Verlee is the founder of Breeze Church Management Software. I was given Jon’s name from a friend who was emphatic about Jon’s story being told. Part of her enthusiasm for Jon’s story is that it is one that so many people can look to as a potential template for their journey.

We discussed Jon’s very intentional pathway to entrepreneurship. We talked about how important it is to have a passion and motivation beyond money when you start your business. You will discover that anyone, at any age, under any family dynamics can pursue their entrepreneurial dreams in a way that places family first. In talking with him, it was apparent that he was never seeking to launch a business that would make a fast buck or establish overnight fortunes. No, he was playing the long game with a strong desire to build a great product. This is Jon Verlee’s startup story.

In this episode, you will hear

The importance of satisfying the need of restless creativity and exploring what you feel called to do
What it means to not trade great for good
The importance of recognizing a spark that ignites you even though you may have to wait to act on it - you can see the growth of the passion but wait for the right time to go for it
Entering into a dialogue with a spouse when deciding to follow an entrepreneurial journey and the trust that comes with it
The stages of going from MVP - minimum viable product - to meeting with potential customers offering free trials of the product and looking at the broader picture when paying customers are actually onboard
The importance of not underestimating what customer support levels will be needed and looking into advertising to grow the business
About the challenges of holding a full-time job and traversing the ups and downs of a startup
The slow path of Jon’s startup while hanging on to his stability
The balance that Jon focused on so that he would not sacrifice his family for his business

“Our culture idolizes the story of the entrepreneur that cuts ties of stability and throws all caution to the wind to pursue their dreams. That narrative suffers from a selection bias because you only hear the stories of the survivors.” – Jon Verlee, Breeze

“Start something. Start it small, no need to risk everything for it. Just simply start something.” – Jon Verlee, Breeze

Resources from this episode

Connect with Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-verlee-a42106b4
Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonverlee
Breeze: https://www.breezechms.com/
Breeze on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breezechms/

Share our podcast

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Jon VerLee.

Emma Rose Cohen, co-founder of FinalStraw Apr 23, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Emma Rose Cohen, CEO and co-founder of FinalStraw. FinalStraw is a collapsible and reusable straw for a sucking alternative that will help reduce plastic waste across the globe. The inspirational and educational side of her story includes a Kickstarter experience that many hope for when they launch their Kickstarter campaign. In fact, FinalStraw raised $1.89 million during their campaign.

Today you will hear about Emma’s very high-level pre-launch strategy that helped FinalStraw to raise so much money during their campaign. We also discussed how she spent significant time researching the writers and influencers in the straw movement. In fact, prior to launching her campaign, she had hundreds of authors at-the-ready to help promote the campaign. She knew what thought streams to insert her product into to get people talking about it. You will learn how Emma kept her focus amidst all the noise and the negativity. Finally, we talked about how challenging growth can be for a startup after having such a successful Kickstarter campaign. But, we’ll start at the beginning of Emma’s story. This is Emma Rose’s startup story.

In this episode, you will hear

When Emma started thinking about how privileged she was in the world that she realized she had to figure out what her contribution to the world would be
About her visit to Thailand and how it changed her life as she picked up abandoned straws on the beach
How to maintain your perspective and passion as you begin to work on a new idea
That timing is everything - you can have an idea that you think will change the world, but the timing is so important because the world has to be ready for it
The importance of a pre-launch strategy
How important the valleys are in the process and the need to keep things together with a support network
Good entrepreneurs realize that failures are valuable
That every habit is like a muscle, and with fear of failure it is important to learn to let go of those boundaries and channel your inner self to overcome fear
The importance of having a goal and a symbol for it so that you know when you have succeeded in your mission and don’t accidentally pass it up
Celebrating wins along the way is critical to keeping everything exciting on the journey

“I would walk along a remote beach in Thailand every morning and pick up abandoned straws. Each morning I would collect two handfuls. I had to be part of the change” - Emma Rose Cohen, FinalStraw

“I pivot in my approach quite a bit, but I am ALWAYS moving forward.” - Emma Rose Cohen, FinalStraw

## Resources from this episode
Connect with Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarosecohen
Follow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmasirena/?hl=en
FinalStraw on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_finalstraw_/?hl=en
FinalStraw: https://finalstraw.com/
Tim Ferris 4-Hour Work Week: https://amzn.to/2GlPa2o
Tim Ferris Kickstarter Plan: https://tim.blog/2012/12/18/hacking-kickstarter-how-to-raise-100000-in-10-days-includes-successful-templates-e-mails-etc/
Principles: LIfe and Work by Ray Dalio: https://amzn.to/2Pptt5Q

Share our episode

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Emma Rose Cohen.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Darbie Angell, founder of Darbie Angell Apr 16, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder has a remarkable story and provides powerful inspiration for other entrepreneurs. Today I welcome Darbie Angell, creator/designer/founder of Darbie Angell, a brand icon and maker of bold and fashionable dinnerware.

Darbie started her company without a single contact in the industry. While she was working at one of the largest law firms in the country she went into labor with her daughter when she was five months pregnant. It was then that Darbie was put on bed rest for four months, and while on bed rest, she decided that she wanted to start a company by combining her passion to impact the world with her knowledge in design. The real startup story of Darbie Angell is that Darbie wanted to show her soon-to-be daughter how to dare to dream big!

Darbie’s company was started under very unusual circumstances - on bed rest, without the support of her ex-husband, with no business mentoring, and with no initial capital to fund her business. However, her passion and her purpose - her “why” - fueled her, and she refused to let fear hold her back. As she says, “You have to be willing to face your fear and find your way through it.” That’s exactly what she did. This is Darbie Angell’s captivating startup story.

In this episode, you will hear

How being involved in many things teaches you that it’s okay to fail and how important it is to teach our children that lesson as well
How you can never let fear hold you back from your dreams
What it’s like to deal with different cultures in business and be a woman in business
What challenges she faced as a female founder but also the blessings, and the importance of choosing your “circle”
That no matter what is happening or failing around you, you must go do what you feel you are being called to do
How her factory in Bangladesh is changing the lives of thousands of people and the amazing positive impact it is having on their lives
That persistence pays off when you are trying to get yourself in front of the people you need to meet to move forward with your business
That it is most important to trust your gut and learn how to face your fears
If you have doubts, reconnect with what your passion is, then your reason/driver will keep you focused on your path

Resources from this episode

Connect with Darbie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darbie-angell-33667729/
Darbie Angell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darbieangell
Darbie Angell website: https://darbieangell.com/

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Darbie Angell.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Goli Kalkhoran, founder of USIE Booth and Creator/Host of the Lessons From A Quitter Podcast Apr 09, 2019

About this episode

Goli’s journey brings many different elements together for one dynamic story. She was born in Iran and moved to the United States. She is a self-professed perfectionist and steered her life based upon the praise of others. When she realized that it was her concern for other people’s opinions that kept her from leaving the career she hated, she had a decision to make. Should she continue to live a life that pleases others or should she live the life she was capable of? She obviously chose the latter.

In this episode, you will hear how hard it is to realize you’ve spent your entire life driving for a singular goal only to realize how miserable you truly are. Plus, Goli will share just how crippling a perfectionist mindset can be. Goli’s story is a unique one for The Startup Story because it is the first one where our featured founder was not born in the United States. Goli is an Irani-American immigrant, and if there is anything we have learned in our Startup Story journey, it is that our early childhood is incredibly influential in the shaping of our entrepreneurial future. This is Goli Kalkhoran’s startup story.

In this episode, you will hear

There are strengths in perfectionism, but there is bondage with it as well
Getting away from being a slave to other people’s opinions
The challenge of admitting that you want a change and mentally preparing to even say it out loud
Wrestling with the narrative in your mind that blocks you from doing something
How looking at your skills in the past can be paralyzing until you examine what you like and discover what you want to work towards
The fundamental shift in Goli’s mindset once she started listening to entrepreneurial podcasts, knowing that everyone has the same fears, and slowly building confidence
Learning in entrepreneurship there is no set path and dealing with some of those frustrations as learning experiences
“Perfectionism is your fear of failure disguised”
Realizing future ventures will be more successful because you’re further from where you started

Resources from this episode

Connect with Goli on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/golikalkhoran
Follow Goli on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/?hl=en
Lessons From A Quitter Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-from-a-quitter/id1412305413?mt=2
Lessons From A Quitter Website: http://www.lessonsfromaquitter.com/
Usie Booth: https://www.usiebooth.com/

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Goli Kalkhoran.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Neely Powell, founder of Charleston Shoe Company Apr 02, 2019

About this episode

This week’s guest is an absolute fireball of a human being. I’d like to introduce you to Neely Powell, the founder of The Charleston Shoe Co. Her story runs at 100 mph from the minute her journey gets rolling. She started her business as a side hustle in college. Since then, the growth that The Charleston Shoe Company is experiencing is remarkable. At the time of this recording, Neely has opened 20 stores and is in the midst of opening another 6 stores nationwide within the next 6 weeks!

In this episode, we will discuss how powerful the belief in your own ability can be, even in the most challenging environment. We also talk about how shifting your perspective of an obstacle to an opportunity can change your business dramatically. Also, we will talk about how important it is to stay focused and to not allow the turbulence of a problem to distract you. However, it is important to remember that while we may have zero control of the output, we have full control of the input. Begin to shift your perspective onto the challenges, I mean opportunities, that are facing you at this very moment. I present to you, Neely Powell’s startup story.

In this episode, you will hear

How being raised by entrepreneurs shaped Neely’s lifestyle and how she saw opportunities everywhere through her creativity
The realization that life is short so it’s important to make the best of it - don’t procrastinate
A good perspective is so important - people amplify what the worst case scenario might be and that is what paralyzes them; but Neely says, “I really did not think about the possibility of failure. I just saw how big the opportunity was.”
What it was like opening her store in Savannah, the importance of having fun with customers, and offering a product that customers absolutely love
Dealing with factory issues, wrong orders, and how to make the best of the situation
Expanding the business to a second store in Charleston, trunk shows, a wholesale business, and ultimately many other locations
The fact that she has faith in humanity and continues to trust others even after dealing with fraudulent activity
Overcoming the practice of being involved in all aspects of the business as it grows beyond that level of management and her expectations for the future of the company
The importance of and her gratitude for the family and friends who helped her get to where she is today

Resources from this episode:

Connect with Neely on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neely-woodson-powell-366401148
The Charleston Shoe Company: https://charlestonshoeco.com/ -- Neely has extended a gracious offer to our listeners: enter the code “startupstory” at checkout for a 15% discount on all purchases!
Follow The Charleston Shoe Company at: https://www.facebook.com/CharlestonShoeCompany
https://www.instagram.com/charlestonshoeco/
https://twitter.com/chasshoeco
https://www.pinterest.com/savchashoes/

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Neely Powell.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Ilana Zivkovich, founder of WERQ Mar 26, 2019

About this episode

In January, I posted a call for Female Founders on our LinkedIn company page with hopes of being introduced to more female founders to feature on The Startup Story. Today’s guest was mentioned more times than any other person. After spending some time with her, I am fairly confident I know why she was thought of by so many other people…because she is someone that is always looking to help others.

This week I am joined by Ilana Zivkovich, the founder of WERQ; a strategic leadership advisory firm. WERQ helps teams look at their strategy, process, and people to ensure all of these pillars will best support their business.

Like many of our featured entrepreneurs, their upbringing had a profound impact on their journey. Most of the founder stories featured on this podcast so far did not include parents that were entrepreneurs. Ilana is our first, and the perspective she was able to attain at a young age about the challenges and perks of being an entrepreneur is pretty inspiring.

In this episode, you will hear a few tactics Ilana uses to combat the internal critic. Plus, we’ll talk about the power of accepting encouragement from others. If there is anything that you take away from Ilana’s story I hope it is about the power of curiosity and passion. Then take that knowledge and let it fuel your momentum forward to execute against your passions. This is Ilana Zivkovich’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Ilana’s childhood and early days as a child of entrepreneurs
The reluctant or defeated entrepreneur mindset
Her college journey, social work, and shedding a little bit of light on social work in the private sector
About standing out in the crowd at a company, what was she doing differently than the others?
Asking the question, “What did you fail at today?” and the impression it left on IIana
The challenges that came with that role of director and how it set her up for the future
Realizing she wasn’t able to keep up with a lifestyle or persona that she established
When and why she quit her job, tendering her resignation, and how it was a gift
What she learned when she was a consultant
Her thoughts on being a female founder: is it more challenging, empowering, or a little bit of both?
Her move from consultant to entrepreneur
Going after her dream of founding WERQ, and moving to it being active, breathing, and thriving; what it was like and what she is doing now

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, MovoCash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/MovoCash
Connect with Ilana Zivkovich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilana-zivkovich-07a77529
WERQ: https://werqpeople.com
The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Ilana Zivkovich.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Tiffany Sorya, founder of Novel Education Group Mar 19, 2019

About this episode

When I started The Startup Story I would have never expected to be interviewing a founder
of a homeschool group, but here we are. This week, Tiffany Sorya, founder of Novel Education Group, shares the many unconventional pieces that have comprised her entrepreneurial journey to this point. It makes sense that her story would be unconventional since her goal is to meet the educational needs of those whose lives are unconventional. Her first two clients were Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and she continued working with other high-profile children such as those of Fortune 100 executives.

In exploring her startup story, you will gain insight into how cultural heritage can impact the entrepreneurial journey. Also, Tiffany says, “People shy away from entrepreneurship because of the fear of the ‘what ifs.’” We will discuss not only how paralyzing that can be but also how powerful your story can become once you find yourself free from that fear. You will also learn how important it is to be aware of gaps in the marketplace.

Make sure you listen to the very end of the episode because there is a critical learning that Tiffany shares with us from her relationship with Kylie Jenner. It is at the very end because, while Tiffany’s story may include Kylie and Kendall, her story is so much more. It is one that needs to be heard without the distraction of the Hollywood limelight; especially
because her story begins as far from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood as you can possibly
imagine. This is Tiffany Sorya’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

How, after moving to Los Angeles, Tiffany discovered knowledge is power
Connecting with young people through tutoring is where she discovered her entrepreneurial spirit
How she saw a gap in services being provided and knew she could do something better
Having the courage to step out to try a business and overcoming obstacles such as awareness and branding
The importance of having a business plan for several years down the road
The great thing about being an entrepreneur, according to Tiffany
Being smart is cool: Tiffany wants the fans of the students she educates to realize the benefits of education
How looking back on your journey and having gratitude for the people who helped and supported you along the way is important
Understanding, as Tiffany says, “This journey that we call “entrepreneurship” is NEVER linear, so stop comparing your journey to another.”

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, MovoCash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/MovoCash
Novel Education Group: https://www.noveleducationgroup.com/
Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-sorya-7a4280a4
Follow Tiffany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanysorya/?hl=en

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Tiffany Sorya.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Clint Harp, co-founder of Harp Design Co. Mar 12, 2019

About this episode

This week’s episode was a special one for me to create. Why? Well it was not due to the celebrity status of our featured founder nor was it due to his gift for handcrafted woodworking (although I am fascinated by woodworking). This episode was special because of how incredibly similar my entrepreneurial story was to this week’s guest, Clint Harp.

Yes, this week’s featured founder is Clint Harp, co-founder of Harp Design Co., and America’s favorite furniture maker from the hit HGTV show Fixer Upper. While Fixer Upper made Clint Harp a household name, he was actually just a few years into his entrepreneurial journey before the show took off. There were so many incredible moments he shared. In fact, despite this episode’s length, there was so much we did not cover. You can learn more about Clint in his book, “Handcrafted: A Woodworker’s Story.”

In this episode, you will learn some incredible lessons about being considerate of your family when jumping into a startup. You will also hear, firsthand from Clint, how critical it is to listen to the wisdom of those closest to you. Finally, you will learn that while it might be painful to move on to something different, you have to stay aware or you will miss the next great opportunity. Before Clint started Harp Design Co., his journey included stints in ministry, mission work, and even medical device sales. While that may surprise you now, once you hear about his early days and his upbringing it will all make perfect sense. This is Clint’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Clint’s early childhood, being raised by a dreamer, and rolling around to backwoods churches and big tent revivals with his mother, so she could sing; plus the impact her journey had on him
His dreams and aspirations as a child, including becoming a professional baseball player
His journey as a musician, a ministry worship leader, and finally getting to a point of being honest with himself that a career in music was not going to happen
His transition away from music and what came next: medical device sales
The importance of exercising your brain, vocalizing big, crazy dreams, and seeing where things lead
How and when his adventure into woodworking began
The beginnings of Harp Design Co. and the importance of listening to (and leaning into) your partner or those you are closest to
Startup lessons: realizing startup is going to be a lot harder than anticipated
Clint talks about when he moved to Waco, TX, the struggle he experienced during those years, and how by persevering, it led him to the opportunity with HGTV’s Fixer Upper

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, MovoCash: https://www.ththestartupstory.co/MovoCash
Connect with Clint Harp on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clint-harp-3aa96068/
Harp Design Co.: https://harpdesignco.com
HGTV’s Fixer Upper: https://www.hgtv.com/shows/fixer-upper
Clint’s book, Handcrafted: A Woodworker’s Story - https://amzn.to/2XNymJz

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Clint Harp.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Barry Stiles, founder of TRUEGRID Pavers Mar 05, 2019

About this episode

This week’s featured founder is Barry Stiles, Founder and CEO of TRUEGRID Pavers. Yes, a paving company. My hope in exploring stories like Barry’s is that you will process his challenges and triumphs to see the commonality within your own journey, too. And yes, when most people think of a startup they immediately think of technology. But every single business you interact with was a startup at some point. That is why I love exploring the startup stories of a diverse collective of founders, like Barry and TRUEGRID Pavers.

When I think about Barry’s journey, it is apparent to me that the first 35 - 40 years of his life was simply preparing him for the really hard challenges that he was going to face. In this episode, you will hear just how critical personal commitment is to your ideas and vision. Plus, you will hear firsthand how important a support system can be when life throws you some of the most heart-wrenching challenges. Leadership and courage are not about traversing this entrepreneurial journey alone. It’s about charting a path that most wouldn’t. This is Barry's start-up story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Barry’s early life growing up in New England, early lessons learned, and some of his influences
His dedication to the plastics industry and how hard work provided him with the experience he needed working in factories
How he rose up through the ranks early in his career
His decision to begin a business with a partner and how a tragic event didn’t stop him
Overcoming obstacles and sticking with the business plan
How integrity was his main focus and the need to change things when situations beyond his control prevented him from being able to provide customers with the service he wanted to provide
About starting his next business which had to do with toy bricks and how special a time it was in his life when he worked with charities to raise money
The critical importance of admitting to a mistake and correcting it
The key ingredient for any entrepreneur: being mentally tough no matter what comes your way; knowing you can get through it if you keep moving forward
How Barry eventually found his passion in TRUEGRID; plus, how a life-changing family medical event influenced him to use his skill set as an entrepreneur and as an engineer to provide an environmental solution through recycling

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, MovoCash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/MovoCash
Connect with Barry Stiles on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-stiles-b9791512/
TRUEGRID Paver: https://www.truegridpaver.com/
David Goggins: https://www.instagram.com/davidgoggins/

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Barry Stiles.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Eric Solis, founder of Movocash Feb 26, 2019

About this episode

As you may already know, The Startup Story is a new podcast. And if you are an avid podcast listener, then you know that the production quality of many new podcasts can be...well, less than stellar. But what you probably have noticed is that the production quality of this podcast is really good. And that’s not because of pure luck. The reason the production quality is so good is due to our incredible sponsor MovoCash and its founder, Eric Solis. Because of their sponsorship, we are able to enlist the aid of top notch podcast producers. But I am not here to talk to you today about podcast production, instead I am thrilled to introduce you to Eric Solis, founder of MovoCash. Today, you will get to hear his startup journey.

Eric’s journey is one that illustrates the incredible heights and the dark depths that an entrepreneur experiences. In this episode, you will hear just how important it is to not go forward alone. Plus, you will find encouragement in the fact that some incredible opportunities can come when you are at your lowest and most vulnerable, as long as you keep going!

Eric’s story is one rooted in humble beginnings, which resulted in a, “go and get it for myself,” mindset. Even at a young age, he was determined to not be limited by life’s circumstances. This is Eric Solis’ startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Eric’s early childhood, growing up in a low-middle class family and what it taught him about being tough
How his entrepreneurial mindset formed early on, through lawn mowing, painting fences, and doing whatever he could to make money to afford the things he wanted
The emotional and pivotal moment that occurred between Eric and his mother (who owned a clothing storefront at the time) and how it led him to become involved in many concepts of business
Being told No, time and again, and how Eric still continued to pursue his dreams in the broker industry and persevered
Working at a brokerage firm, then breaking away and starting his own firm; competing successfully with firms on Wall Street
How and when he realized that helping rich people get richer wasn't the burning call deep within his gut and the beginnings of the MovoCash concept
About the time when everything that had worked stopped working in an instant and how Eric dealt with it all
The makings of MovoCash, what the company does and how it helps people, plus why Eric thinks of Movo as a lifestyle

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/MovoCash
Connect with Eric Solis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericsolis/
Download Movocash today for iOS or Android by visiting https://movo.cash/

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. And, there are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Eric Solis.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Brandon "Monk" Muñoz, founder of Monkwood Studio Feb 19, 2019

About this episode

I'm huge fan of incredibly creative individuals, especially those involved in woodworking. And my guest this week, Brandon "Monk" Muñoz, is a handcrafted furniture designer and artist. He is the founder of Monkwood Studio where he designs unique furniture and interiors that change the atmosphere of work, living spaces and retail establishments. His work includes some of the most beautiful studio desks and tables you will ever see.

In this episode, you will hear just how hard it can be for founders, like Brandon, to leverage their creativity to make a living. Plus, you will come to understand that every founder's journey has numerous points of stopping and resetting, but that every founder's journey continues on.

Brandon's story is one of exploration and self-understanding. In fact, he knew he was a creator at an early age, but what he didn't know was exactly how far his creative ability would take him. This is Brandon Monk Muñoz’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

How Brandon was creative from an early age and even created a mural of Jimi Hendrix on his bedroom wall at the age of 13
How inclinations as a child are a huge key to what your passion really is, showcased through Brandon’s own storytelling
The importance of his parents unwavering support as he explored various artistic mediums throughout his childhood
His time at Otis College of Art and Design
How and where he learned the painting techniques he uses in his works today
His first experience with building furniture and how it all seemed so magical to him
About his time working at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and what he learned from the experience
Hitting rock bottom, going back home to live with his parents, and climbing back up, building furniture in their garage and ramping up business from there
His own series of stopping and resetting and how he always continued on, despite failures and hard life lessons
The importance of keeping peers within your industry close; so you can learn and grow
The start of Monkwood Studio: how, when, and where it all began
Brandon’s passion for furniture making, art and creativity

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash
Monkwood Studio: https://monkwoodstudio.com/
Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonmonkmunoz
Follow Monkwood Studios on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monkwoodstudios/
Follow Brandon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monkwood_/

Share our show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. And, there are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Brandon "Monk" Munoz.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Bryan Elliott, founder of The Goodbrain Digital Studios Feb 12, 2019

About this episode

Today, you will hear the startup story of Bryan Elliott, founder of The Goodbrain Digital Studios and creator of Behind the Brand Show. I’ve been following Byran’s work for few years now with intrigue. He has helped to build audiences and engagement for some of the biggest movies. He has also produced original video content (for movies on DVD), managed brand partnerships and movie titles with advertising budgets of over $30M. As you’ll hear in today’s episode, there are many patterns that set us up for what is to come in the future, like the ability to adapt in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. Bryan’s story is one enveloped in resiliency.

In this episode, you will hear how the desire to figure things out helped Bryan move forward in his pursuit of building his own production company. You will also hear how imposter syndrome affects many founders. And you’ll learn the importance of coming back, even from the worst situations. This is Bryan Elliott’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Bryan’s early childhood and being a reluctant leader
How a desire to make a career medicine changed and how he went on to get a business degree from Pepperdine University
His time at Universal Studios in marketing and branding, what he learned and how it set him up for what was to come
Why he decided to branch out, leave Universal and start his own production company
Some good advice from Seth Godin
When Bryan’s “perfect storm” (the recession) hit, how it affected him and how be bounced back
How being flexible, scrappy and creative helped him build The Goodbrain Digital Studios
Behind the Brand Show, why Bryan says it was a happy accident and why he made the decision to move forward with the project. Plus, the amazing privileges that have come from producing it

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash
The Goodbrain Digital Studios: http://thegoodbrain.com/
Connect with Bryan Elliott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryandelliott/
Behind the Brand Show: https://youtube.com/behindthebrand
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, Seth Godin: https://amzn.to/2GDqHYv

Share our Show

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. And, there are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Bryan Elliott.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Steve Glaveski, founder of Collective Campus & author of Employee to Entrepreneur Feb 05, 2019

About this episode

This week we’d like to introduce you to Steve Glaveski, CEO and Co-Founder of Collective Campus and author of Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Earn Your Freedom and Do Work that Matters. Unlike some of the past founders we’ve featured so far on this podcast, Steve had zero aspirations to be an entrepreneur growing up and spent his 20’s navigating the corporate hallways of some of the largest firms in Australia and internationally.

Today through his company Collective Campus, he focuses on helping large organizations tap into the latent potential that is present within their organization. Why, you ask? Well, Steve spent his 20’s as an employee where he met some incredibly intelligent people that had so much more capacity beyond their utilization. He realized that by taking untapped potential and magnifying it by an employee base of thousands, there was a goldmine of potential for organizations.

In this episode, you will hear from Steve about how critical it is to utilize your early adulthood as a season of learning and exploring. You will also hear about some missteps many people take when they make the leap from employee to entrepreneur. And, you'll realize just how tainted our thinking can be about entrepreneurship. Steve's story is one that did not begin with an entrepreneurial background, but instead with an incredibly hard-working immigrant upbringing that set the foundation for what was to come. This is Steve and his startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Steve’s early life and upbringing in Australia and how creative energy always had a place in Steve’s life
His need to be at the top of his class or above average in everything he did, followed by the hard experience of being fired
Running on autopilot and then being forced to reflect on what he was actually good at, his strengths, and what he wanted to do
Stepping out of self-doubt and picking a different path, how he went from completing a Master’s Degree in Accounting to hustling his way into working for corporations like Ernst and Young and KPMG
Developing a healthy relationship with rejection and how rejection is key to being an entrepreneur
What it was like when the idea to be an entrepreneur came into view, his first glance at what things could be, how paralysis analysis held him back and led him to manage a heavy metal nightclub instead
About the catalyst that pushed Steve to take the leap from employee to entrepreneur
Working with corporate mindset in a startup environment and launching and growing Collective Campus
Startup Lessons: destructive mindsets, imposter syndrome, and how serendipity can sometimes offer a little bit of magic
Steve offers some words of advice for the frustrated, reluctant, or defeated entrepreneur

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash
Collective Campus
Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Earn Your Freedom and Do Work that Matters, Steve Glaveski
Connect with Steve Glaveski on LinkedIn
Give and Take, Adam Grant
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

Share this Episode

The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. And, there are three ways you can help.

First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you!

Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us.

With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Steve Glaveski.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Zach Knickerbocker, founder of 14th Floor Apparel Jan 29, 2019

About this episode

In today’s episode you will hear the startup story of Zach Knickerbocker, Founder of 14th Floor Apparel. He’s an Amazon reseller who is very early in his startup journey. While we’ve shared the stories of several founders who have been in business for many years, we also wanted to be sure to share with you startup stories of guests who are still in the thick of the startup process. In the trenches, so to speak, still building their dreams as a side hustle. And that is exactly what Zach is doing, he is building his dream.

Zach discovered a successful way to make money on Amazon, and let’s be clear, there are many avenues on which you can do this. Zach found a process that works for his business model, which was quite impressive. But what I find most impressive about Zach's story is not that he's achieving some level of success with his brand, instead, it is that he implemented systems into his life to help make his dream a reality; all of this despite his battle with anxiety.

Where are you in your journey? Do you have a notebook full of ideas that you want to build upon? Do you feel anxious or scared whenever you think about pursuing your dreams? Well, maybe Zach's story of his early stage startup is one you (or someone in your network) needs to hear right now. That is why I welcome you to sit back and listen to Zach Knickerbocker’s startup story.

In this episode, you’ll hear

The beginning of Zach’s entrepreneurial journey and his infatuation with success
The story of how he created a fansite for an online game, built a community and online platform that made money, which ultimately helped him pay for college
When his entrepreneurial "itch” truly began to emerge
Flipping products on Amazon, how he got started and what Gary Vee had to do with it
How small, daily victories can build into significant opportunity, quickly
Helpful strategies to build a business while dealing with anxiety and changing the negative narrative mindset
The significance of having a powerful purpose for what you are trying to build
Staying the course, pivoting when necessary, and if something is not working, don’t be afraid to change the process
Some action steps on how to get started in the Amazon merchant space
Zach offers some advice to those reluctant to move forward with their dreams or visions and what setting small goals has to do with it all

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash
Zach Knickerbocker on Instagram
14th Floor Apparel
Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee)
Tom Bilyeu
Andy Frisella
Reezy Resells
Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Zach Knickerbocker.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

RT Custer, CEO and co-founder of Vortic Watch Co. Jan 22, 2019

About this episode

This week’s guest on The Startup Story has a bit of a different perspective when it comes to business and startup. Why? Well, because his startup exists in a space where he has had to stand toe-to-toe with watch industry giants since Day One. Our guest today is RT Custer, CEO and Co-founder for Vortic Watch Co. His passion for this unique watch craftsmanship does not reside in the product alone, but also in the process.

In this episode, you will learn how necessary it is to have people around you that believe in what you are doing. You will hear just how important it is to start the journey without having all the answers. And you’ll hear firsthand from RT how powerful it is when business owners support other business owners. His workmanship and startup story, as you will hear, is one that is deeply rooted in old-school work ethic and craftsmanship. This is RT Custer and his startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Early life growing up on a Christmas tree farm and what that taught him about business
About RT’s time running a $129,000 business the summer of his Freshman year in college, at the age of 19 years old
RT’s fascination in college with additive manufacturing and 3D Printing, and how that led to the idea of crafting watches with his friend Tyler
A brief history of watchmaking in the U.S.
How and why RT began asking the question, “Why can’t we make quality watches and watch parts in the U.S.? Why does this always need to be manufactured in Switzerland?”
Which led to launching The American Artisan Series on Kickstarter in December of 2014 to help raise funds to create, produce, and make their first 3D printed watch prototype (and met their goal within 12 hours) and build their company, Vortic Watch Co
How a passion and idea turned into a successful business, and what surprised them the most
The process, creation, engineering, and craftsmanship of their products by adapting vintage pocket watches and merging with 3D printing technology
RT’s thoughts on growing an enterprise that was looking to take on the watch giants of the world and doubts that surfaced
Vortic’s mission and how it keeps the company moving forward time and again

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash
Connect with RT Custer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtcuster/
Vortic Watch Co.: https://vorticwatches.com
The American Artisan Series - The Kickstarter that started it all for RT and Tyler

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: RT Custer.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Dr. Jen Esquer (DocJenFit), founder of the Mobility Method Jan 15, 2019

About this episode

This episode of The Startup Story features Dr, Jen Esquer or as she is known by her hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, Doc Jen Fit. Doc Jen is the founder of The Mobility Method. After spending some time with Jen, I realized how much our bodies are capable of and how little most of us, including myself, truly don't understand. This is especially true in the arena of mobility. Yet Jen’s startup story is not one centered around health or fitness. It's actually a story of an entrepreneur that never had a vision to be an entrepreneur in the first place.

In this episode, you will learn just how incredibly powerful our own narrative (whether it be a positive one or negative one) can impact our life and our decisions. You will also hear how important it is to surround yourself with likeminded people for support and collaboration. Additionally, Doc Jen shares her amazing story of how she grew her Instagram following to over 500,000 by simply being of service to her community. Jen’s story is so compelling because despite being surrounded by people, encouraging her to step out in confidence and start her own business, what actually got her to pursue her dream was her genuine passion to want to help others. This is Doc Jen’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear

About Jen’s childhood and how her upbringing set the foundation for hard work, consistency and diligence
The role gymnastics played in her childhood and making the decision to leave the sport
How her fascination with movement scoped the next few years of college life, grad school, and her studies
How the merging of calisthenics and Instagram laid the groundwork for what was to come
Despite her growing Instagram following, Jen’s purpose and passion continued to be to help others and to become a good physical therapist
Her introduction to the idea of being a physical therapist entrepreneur and how it began to shift her mindset from working as a physical therapist towards being an entrepreneur - but she still hadn’t decide to take the jump, yet
The point at which Doc Jen stopped believing the lie that entrepreneurship was not for her and what she decided to do next
The pivotal moment Jen turned to her Instagram account (of over 100,000 followers at that point) and began seeing it as an opportunity to share educational information rather than being on Insta as “just a hobby”, plus how it was scary to go from fitness persona to an authority on movement and health
A perspective shift occurs, quitting her Physical Therapist job, and taking a leap of faith
Working on her own as a PT, building up a client base, and how The Mobility Method was born
The Mobility Method: what it is, how it works and the overall process to get started
Where Doc Jen sees The Mobility Method in three years
Learning how to make internet marketing work, utilize Instagram for business, and understanding other business processes with the help of some awesome mentors
The importance of bringing an awareness to our surroundings, our mindset and not being afraid to ask for help.

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash
Doc Jen’s website: https://www.docjenfit.com
Doc Jen’s Free Mobility Assessment: docfitjen.com/challenge
The School of Greatness Podcast

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Jen Esquer (DocJenFit).

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Jason McCann, founder of Varidesk Jan 15, 2019

About this episode

Today’s startup story comes from Jason McCann, founder and CEO of Varidesk. While Varidesk is a global company today, Jason's story is not one where you assume everything he has ever done has been a success. Today he shares his early beginnings from selling beach chairs all the way to the burst of the dot.com bubble and later, how Varidesk came to be.

Jason’s startup story is one of resilience. You will learn that every challenge or obstacle has a key learning principle. In fact, Varidesk’s success is a result of Jason's ability to listen and learn. This episode is your opportunity to be mentored by a founder who has built a company with over 270 employees and ships product over 30 different countries daily. Get ready to learn and be inspired. Here is Jason's Startup Story.

In this episode you’ll hear

Jason’s early beginnings in Galveston, Texas, including being introduced to the first entrepreneur/CEO in his life; his mom and how her energy, passion and leadership had an impact on him
How he started his very first business at the age of 14
His start in the hotel management industry and how it led to owning his first restaurant
Moving on from the restaurant industry to selling pogs while working on his Masters degree, plus his time at DSI Toys
Creating a dot.com business, recognizing the dot.com bubble was bursting, his mental space after the ultimate collapse and what happened next
How the idea of Varidesk started with a cardboard box
Prototypes, presentations and adrenaline rushes in the early days of Varidesk
Varidesk’s customer and employee relationship mentality and Jason’s vision for the future

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor Movocash: https://movo.cash/
Share your Varidesk Story: Varidesk.com/startupstory
Connect with Jason McCann on LinkedIn

VARI - https://www.vari.com/standing-desks-converters/

Good to Great by Jim Collins https://amzn.to/2HgRID1
Thrive, by Arianna Huffington https://amzn.to/2CYIiYy

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Jason McCann.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Larry Namer, founder of E! Entertainment Television Jan 15, 2019

About this episode

This episode of The Startup Story features Larry Namer, founder of E! Entertainment Television. When you think of E!, you may instantly think of the show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Now for the record, Larry had nothing to do with the Kardashians phenomenon. He did, however, have everything to do with the building of this media network giant, which eventually sold for approximately $3,000,000,000 in 2007.

In this episode, you will learn how Larry maneuvered the early days of his startup and how he built his company with little to no funding. Larry also shares openly about how he constantly adapted his business to ensure success, regardless of the external circumstances he faced. Wherever you in your entrepreneurial journey, Larry's story will provide you with a fresh perspective to take into your own endeavors.

In this episode you’ll hear

Larry’s start, not in the limelight of Hollywood, but in the sewers of NYC
How he went from blue collar labor to management, negotiating with unions and how he began to develop a leadership mindset
How qualifying for pension at 30-years old eventually led him to the West Coast
His time at Valley Cable in California helping build the first two-way 61 Channel Cable System ever built
The start of “Movie Time”, the obstacles Larry faced and why he was so convinced to keep moving forward with his idea
How a leap of faith by an investor led to the launch of E! Entertainment Television’s beginnings and how he went on to build E!’s first studio on a freight train rail station
Selecting their first five hosts, like Greg Kinnear, getting coverage and establishing credibility as a network
The origins of E!’s first original content show, Talk Soup (a show that makes fun of other television shows) with host Greg Kinnear and later Joel McHale
Larry fondest memory from his startup story
Larry’s advice to entrepreneurs who may be struggling with getting traction or establishing credibility in their industry

Resources from this episode

Our Sponsor Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash
Connect with Larry Namer on LinkedIn
E! Entertainment Television
Yuzzl.com

Full Episode Transcript

Special Guest: Larry Namer.

Sponsored By:

Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast

About this episode

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources from this episode

Share the podcast