Gritty Founder

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Travis Boersma about how he and his brother started Dutch Bros Coffee. Travis shares terrific advice on the importance of goal setting, designing your life, and finding a business partner. Travis Boersma is the CEO and co-founder of Dutch Bros Coffee, the largest privately held, drive-thru coffee company in the U.S. He is deeply involved in day-to-day operations, but also invested in maintaining the culture that he and his late brother, co-founder Dane, both worked hard to nurture. Some Questions Kreig asks Travis: - What were the first initial steps you took to get traction? (19:49) - How did you come up with the idea to start with a pushcart? (22:00) - What were the initial customers saying about the product? (26:12) - At what point did you realize you need to add more locations? (30:07) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (38:38) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Travis’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:28) - How Travis came up with the idea for Dutch Bros Coffee and started the company with his brother (12:52) - How Travis and his brother grew the business (30:07) - The importance of goal setting (33:04) - Advice on designing your life (38:57) - The danger of becoming complacent (42:43) - Advice on finding a co-founder (48:39) Connect with Travis Boersma: Twitter Dutch Bros Coffee Also Mentioned on This Show... Travis’s favorite quote: “Success isn't owned, it's rented, and the rent is due every day.” Travis’s book recommendation: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

On today’s episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent answers a listener’s question and shares insights on the most important characteristic of a successful entrepreneur. The question asked was: What is one of the most important characteristics of a successful entrepreneur? People tell me it's passion, but I'd like to hear your thoughts. Featured Episode How Ryan Carson of Treehouse is Revolutionizing the Education Space

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Nathan Barry about how he built and grew ConvertKit. Nathan shares terrific insights on the realities of bootstrapping your company, and how you can successfully do it. In previous careers Nathan has been a designer, author, and blogger. After learning the power of email marketing he gave up a successful blogging career to build ConvertKit. Outside of work Nathan spends his time playing soccer, woodworking, and chasing after his two little boys. Some Questions Kreig asks Nathan: - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself that may help other early-stage founders? (40:50) - What was it about the market that convinced you that you could grow ConvertKit to millions of dollars? (42:24) - What is one thing that you believe to be true that most people would disagree with? (43:40) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Nathan’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:25) - How Nathan started ConvertKit (12:53) - Why Nathan considered shutting down ConvertKit (21:13) - The reality of bootstrapping your company, and how you can successfully do it (32:45) - How to take advantage of conferences (39:41) - Why Nathan believes writing is the most important business skill (45:34) Connect with Nathan Barry: Twitter Personal Website ConvertKit Also Mentioned on This Show... Nathan’s favorite quote: “Your greatest gift lies next to your deepest wounds.” ―Philip McKernan Nathan’s book recommendation: Anything You Want by Derek Sivers

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Alex Canter about how he built and grew Ordermark. Alex shares valuable advice on getting out of your comfort zone and the importance of finding mentors and a community of entrepreneurs. Alex is a restaurant industry innovator, in-demand speaker, and passionate advocate for restaurant operators and workers. He was raised in the kitchen of the world-famous Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles, where he and his team invented Ordermark. A fourth-generation restaurateur, the restaurant business has been in Alex’s blood for over 85 years. In addition to being the visionary and leader of Ordermark, Alex is active with the Techstars network and enjoys mentoring other restaurant technology entrepreneurs. A 2019 recipient of the Forbes 30 Under 30, Alex has previously led several technology ventures. Some Questions Kreig asks Alex: - When did you realize you wanted to start something of your own? (6:44) - What are some ideas that you worked on that didn’t work out? (10:49) - Where are you guys with Ordermark right now, and tell us about the company? (18:03) - What are some key lessons you learned from taking Ordermark through an accelerator program? (22:21) - What advice would you give yourself that early-stage founders can learn from? (24:22) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Alex's background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:20) - How Alex started Ordermark (18:03) - The importance of finding mentors and a community of entrepreneurs (22:21) - Get out of your comfort zone, and don't be afraid to lean into things that are uncomfortable (24:28) - Mindset and attitude are more important than experience when hiring (25:24) Connect with Alex Canter: Twitter Ordermark Also Mentioned on This Show... Alex’s favorite quote: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Alex’s book recommendation: Mindset by Carol S. Dweck

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent answers a listener’s question and shares insights on why 98% of startups fail. The question asked was: Why do 98% of startups fail? And what can I do so that my startup is not part of that statistic? Episode Mentioned How Futuristic Visionary VOIP Founder Alex Mashinsky Is Innovating with Celsius Network — After Building Seven Companies with Total Exits over $3 Billion

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Bart Lorang about his journey as an entrepreneur and how he built FullContact. Bart shares valuable insights on emotional intelligence and the importance of staying lean as your business grows. Bart Lorang is co-founder and CEO of FullContact, managing director of v1.vc, lifelong tech entrepreneur and investor. He is the husband to Sarah Lorang and the father of Greyson and Sophie Lorang. He is also passionate about helping fellow entrepreneurs on their long, difficult journey. Some Questions Kreig asks Bart: - How did you come up with the idea for FullContact? (23:37) - Who was your first major customer? (35:00) - What advice can you give founders who are in the early stages of starting a company? (37:33) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? (38:07) - What are some red flags an early-stage founder should be aware of when looking for a co-founder? (40:28) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Bart's background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:20) - The importance of emotional intelligence (16:25) - How Bart started FullContact (23:37) - Don't let your mistakes deter you (37:41) - Stay nimble and lean (38:16) - Bart's thoughts on work-life balance (38:57) - The difference between a business and a product (41:27) Connect with Bart Lorang: Twitter FullContact Also Mentioned on This Show... Bart’s favorite quote: “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” ―George S. Patton Bart’s book recommendation: Principles by Ray Dalio

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Alex Mashinsky about his journey as an entrepreneur and his vision for Celsius Network. Alex shares fascinating insights on the Silicon Valley mindset and decentralization. Alex is a serial entrepreneur and founder of seven New York City-based startups, raising more than $1 billion and exiting over $3 billion. Alex founded two of New York City’s top 10 venture-backed exits since 2000. Some Questions Kreig asks Alex: - When did you decide you wanted to come to the United States? (9:07) - What advice can you give founders who are in the early stages of starting a company? (42:43) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Alex’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:20) - How Alex started his first company, Arbinet in 1995 (16:35) - How Alex built, GroundLink, the idea for Uber in 2004 (33:24) - Sometimes you have to step on or cross over the gray line in order to be successful (42:55) - The mindset in Silicon Valley and thoughts on decentralization (48:03) - About Celsius Network (49:27) Connect with Alex Mashinsky: Twitter Celsius Network Also Mentioned on This Show... Alex’s favorite quote: “The future is here.” Alex’s book recommendation: Any book on decentralization

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Christina Stembel about how she built and grew Farmgirl Flowers. Christina shares terrific advice on bootstrapping a company, marketing your business in the early days, and the work ethic needed to be successful. She is the founder & CEO of Farmgirl Flowers. She used every penny she had to bootstrap her successful floral empire. Experiencing 50% year over year growth, the 9-year old brand has been self-funded since day one. You are about to listen to an inspiring American success story. Some Questions Kreig asks Christina: - Do you remember getting your first customer? (23:34) - What was the process like for hiring your first employee? (29:37) - Did you ever think of quitting? (31:14) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? (36:49) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Christina's background and how she became an entrepreneur (4:26) - Christina's experience trying to raise venture capital (10:51) - How Christina started Farmgirl Flowers (14:55) - How Christina marketed Farmgirl Flowers when she was just starting out (24:59) - Don't care about what people think of you (36:58) - The future or Farmgirl Flowers (41:09) - The difficulty of selling perishable items (41:41) - Success doesn't have to equal venture capital funding (44:34) Connect with Christina Stembel: LinkedIn Farmgirl Flowers Also Mentioned on This Show... Christina’s favorite quote: “Woman in the arena.” Christina’s book recommendation: Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Luis Perez about his journey as an entrepreneur and how he built Remoov. Luis shares valuable advice on hustle, perseverance, and finding the right team. Originally from Venezuela, Luis moved to the US for university. He is passionate about bringing efficiencies to industries lacking it. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, also an entrepreneur, and daughter. Some Questions Kreig asks Luis: - Tell us about Remoov, what does the product do? (10:11) - How did you come up with the initial idea for the company? (15:31) - Can you share a story of failure when you were starting out as an entrepreneur? (16:56) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder to be successful? (19:15) - What drives you to be an entrepreneur? (23:02) - If you could give some advice for entrepreneurs starting out today, what would you tell them? (26:28) - If you could go back in time to before you started Remoov, what advice would you give yourself? (32:24) - What is one thing that you believe to be true that most people would disagree with? (40:18) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Luis’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:22) - About Remoov (10:11) - The importance of hustle and perseverance (19:15) - Make sure there is a market and people who will pay for your product (19:57) - The importance of finding the right team (26:36) - Advice on hiring (27:29) Connect with Luis Perez: LinkedIn Remoov Also Mentioned on This Show... Luis’s favorite quote: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” —Winston Churchill Luis’s book recommendation: A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Paul Berberian about his journey building seven businesses over the course of his career. Paul shares valuable advice on staying future-focused, optimistic, and gritty. Paul Berberian is the former CEO and co-founder of Raindance Communications, a web and phone conferencing services company acquired by West Corporation in 2006. Before founding Raindance, he was co-founder and CEO of LINK-VTC, a video teleconferencing company, which was sold in 1995 to Frontier Communications. Paul is a distinguished graduate of the US Air Force Academy. Some Questions Kreig asks Paul: - When did you decide you wanted to start a company? (7:39) - What was your first tech company? (11:08) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (36:41) - What is one thing that you believe to be true that most people would disagree with? (40:18) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Paul’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:30) - How Paul built and sold his first tech business, LINK-VTC (12:21) - The story of how Paul and his co-founders took Raindance Communications public (30:28) - Founders need to be future-focused and optimistic, but also realistic about what has been created (36:58) - Thoughts on why people have trouble following their dreams (42:56) Connect with Paul Berberian: Twitter Sphero Also Mentioned on This Show... Paul’s favorite quote: “You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time.” —Paul’s father Paul’s book recommendation: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin More resources: Reboot by Jerry Colonna

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with R.T. Custer about how he built and grew Vortic Watch Company. R.T. shares fascinating insights on the watch industry as well as advice on staying gritty and handling emotions as an entrepreneur. R.T. Custer, Founder of Vortic Watch Company, is a 28-year-old Colorado-based entrepreneur who's spent his entire adult life building the coolest watch company on planet earth. Some Questions Kreig asks R.T.: - What was it like growing up on a Christmas tree farm? (5:17) - What do you think is the future of timepieces? (20:12) - Where did you learn to have a positive attitude and always believe that you’ll figure it out? (35:12) - What is one thing that you believe to be true that most people would disagree with? (50:05) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About R.T.’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:15) - How R.T. started Vortic Watch Company (8:17) - The story of how R.T. sold his car to make payroll (30:28) - Advice on handling emotions (36:27) - The controversy around upcycling (40:57) Connect with R.T. Custer: LinkedIn Vortic Watch Company Also Mentioned on This Show... R.T.’s favorite quote: “You can do anything you put your mind to.” R.T.’s book recommendation: Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with David Hose about his journey as an entrepreneur. David shares valuable advice on setting goals, finding a great team, and knowing your customers. David Hose is CEO of AirMap, the world’s leading airspace management platform for drones. He’s a seasoned technology leader and has founded seven businesses over the course of his career. Some Questions Kreig asks David: - How did you persevere when you would build an idea and not see traction? (18:35) - Why do you think so many startups fail? (24:45) - If you were starting a company from scratch, what would you make sure you have in order before starting? (26:55) - What is one skill founders should focus on developing? (36:21) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About David’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:25) - The story of how David built Signalsoft (7:54) - How setting goals will help you persevere (18:51) - Why a great team is more important than a great idea (27:20) - Timing plays a huge role (30:40) - The first order of business is to stay in business (32:41) - The importance of knowing your customer (36:36) - Why David thinks most business success stories are largely because of luck (41:08) Connect with David Hose: Twitter AirMap Also Mentioned on This Show... David’s favorite quote: “Never mistake activity for achievement.” —John Wooden David’s book recommendation: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Rob Biederman about his entrepreneurial journey and how he built Catalant Technologies. Rob shares valuable advice on fundraising, productivity, and the type of mindset founders need to achieve success. Rob Biederman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Catalant Technologies, the market leader enabling the world’s leading organizations get from strategy to execution faster. Biederman is also co-author of a book titled Reimagining Work: Strategies to Disrupt Talent, Lead Change, and Win with a Flexible Workforce. Some Questions Kreig asks Rob: - How has the product at Catalant Technologies changed since the early days? (21:06) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (21:58) - What advice can you give to a founder who is thinking about raising money but is not sure if they should bootstrap their company instead? (31:48) - When you invest what is the most important thing you look for in a founder? (37:01) - What is one thing about life that you believe to be true that most people would disagree with? (38:00) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Rob’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:28) - About Catalant Technologies and how Rob started the business (7:54) - Advice on when and why to raise money (32:09) - How to think about regret (39:43) - Why you need to prepare to win rather than just wanting to win (43:55) - Why coffee is a productivity killer (49:34) Connect with Rob Biederman: Twitter Catalant Also Mentioned on This Show... Rob’s favorite quote: “The pond is fed from within, and pleasure can only spring forward from true internal alignment and congruence. Whereas happiness can be achieved through money or other artificial means.” Rob’s book recommendation: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz More Resources: Good to Great by Jim Collins

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent answers a listener’s question and shares insights on why and how to raise venture capital. The question asked was: Kreig, I’ve been listening to your podcast for the past several weeks, and I’m in the early stages of building a B2B startup. I’m not sure whether or not to start the fundraising process, and I would really like to hear what you think. Should I raise money from a VC? Connect with Kreig Kent: LinkedIn Twitter Personal Website

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Mike Townsend about his journey as an entrepreneur and how he built Redeeem. Mike shares valuable advice on finding cofounders, hiring, and building long term relationships. Mike is a serial entrepreneur, and host of Around the Coin fintech podcast. He raised $23 Million with his last startup HomeHero, and is now bootstrapping a crypto gift card exchange called Redeeem. Some Questions Kreig asks Mike: - What influenced you to become an entrepreneur? (5:55) - Walk us through all the companies you’ve started? (9:13) - How have you been able to find success building a team? (27:42) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (33:24) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? (35:56) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Mike’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:20) - How Mike started Redeeem (20:27) - Advice for finding cofounders (32:01) - You need an eagerness to put ideas into reality as a founder (33:38) - Invest in long term relationships (36:13) - About Mike’s podcast, “Around the Coin” (38:48) - Mike’s thoughts on public funding for education (41:08) - Why we shouldn’t have government programs to put solar panels on top of houses (43:05) Connect with Mike Townsend: LinkedIn Redeeem Also Mentioned on This Show... Mike’s favorite quote: “When you consider that man is a little germ that lives on an unimportant rock ball that revolves about an insignificant star on the outer edges of one of the smaller galaxies — what a put-down that [is]. But, on the other hand, if [I] think about that for a few minutes, I am absolutely amazed to discover myself on this rock ball rotating around a spherical fire. It’s a very odd situation.” —Alan Watts Mike’s book recommendation: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Amiad Soto about how he built Guesty. Amiad shares advice on having perseverance, being optimistic, hiring, and the importance of taking care of your health as a founder. Amiad Soto is co-founder and CEO of Guesty, one of the world’s largest property management platforms for short-term rentals that simplifies and automates all aspects of the property management process. After launching the disruptor in 2013 with his identical twin brother, Amiad grew Guesty from a Y Combinator funded startup to an international enterprise headquartered in Tel Aviv with 10 global offices and 280+ employees worldwide. Some Questions Kreig asks Amiad: - What kind of businesses did you start before Guesty? (9:22) - How did you come up with the idea for Guesty? (12:11) - Do you remember how you got your first customer? (17:11) - Was there ever a low point where you guys felt like Guesty wasn’t going to work out? (20:02) - What advice would you give to a founder who is facing a tough time? (22:11) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for an entrepreneur? (24:32) - How do you get over the fear of starting? (27:36) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? (31:50) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Amiad’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:20) - How Amiad started Guesty (12:13) - Don’t start a company unless you are 100% passionate about what you are doing (22:19) - Be optimistic, but also be able to assess risk in the right way (22:43) - Just get the job done (24:45) - Your team is more important than an idea (25:35) - The importance of taking care of your health (32:33) Connect with Amiad Soto: LinkedIn Guesty Also Mentioned on This Show... Amiad’s favorite quote: “Buckle up. It’s going to be a long ride.” Amiad’s book recommendation: Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Mike Adams about his journey as an entrepreneur and how he cofounded Grain. Mike shares advice on emotional intelligence as well as some valuable insights on building a company in the education space. Mike Adams is a three time co-founder and the CEO of Grain, a start-up based in San Francisco that’s bringing live voice and video communication into the collaborative age. Mike lives in the Bay Area with is wife and 3 kids. Some Questions Kreig asks Mike: - What was your mindset at the point when you left your first startup, and what advice do you have for founders who might find themselves in that same situation? (20:30) - What is some advice you can give to a founder to find a life partner who will give amazing advice and support? (47:06) - What is one thing you believe about life that most people would disagree with? (57:19) - What needs to fundamentally change about our education system? (01:03:34) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Mike’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:20) - The importance of emotional intelligence (20:46) - Have a long term mindset (53:15) - Make time to take care of yourself (55:46) - Output is not the same as outcome (56:25) - Mike’s thoughts on disrupting the education system (01:00:27) Connect with Mike Adams: Twitter Grain Also Mentioned on This Show... Mike’s favorite quote: “I wouldn’t pay a nickel for the simplicity on this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.” Mike’s book recommendation: Inspired by Marty Cagan

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with John S. Kim about how he built and grew SendBird. John shares terrific advice on staying positively tenacious and building a strong relationship with cofounders. John sold his previous startup and was Korea's number one player in Unreal Tournament. He is now the CEO of SendBird, the number one chat API, and they've raised more than 120 million dollars. Their customers include companies and organizations like Reddit, Yahoo!, GO-JEK, Delivery Hero and the NBA. Some Questions Kreig asks John: - What was the biggest lesson that you learned from your social gaming company that you took with you to SendBird? (12:47) - What kept you going when you felt like the product was not working? (19:08) - If you were starting a new company and had to recruit cofounders, what is the most important ingredient you would look for in your cofounders? (24:37) - What is one thing you believe that most people would disagree with? (41:06) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - How John started SendBird (4:30) - About John’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (5:34) - Be resourceful, open-minded, and relentless (13:27) - The importance of expectation management (14:00) - John’s journey as the founder of SendBird and a few key takeaways (16:04) - Stay frugal and capital efficient (17:52) - As a founder you need to have positive tenacity (19:22) - The value of peer pressure and having an accountability group (21:30) - Advice for finding and working with cofounders (24:37) - John’s thoughts on diversity (46:42) Connect with John S. Kim: Twitter SendBird Also Mentioned on This Show... John’s favorite quotes: “Positive tenacity.” “Be better than the best.” “The future is here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.” “Life is in the details.” “Become what you believe.” “This too shall pass.” “People love a guy who rises from the ashes.” John’s book recommendation: Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Emmanuel Straschnov about how he built and grew Bubble. Emmanuel shares valuable advice on launching a product, working with cofounders, and building a team. Emmanuel Straschnov is founder of Bubble, a visual programming software. People have used it to get into YC or raised multi-million dollar rounds. Emmanuel studied at Ecole Polytechnique and received his MBA from Harvard. Some Questions Kreig asks Emmanuel: - How did you get the entrepreneurial bug? (6:03) - Describe the initial few months building Bubble. How did you get traction? (9:40) - What was the first version of Bubble? (17:06) - Who are your competitors? (18:26) - What is the largest application that currently runs on Bubble? (20:21) - What are some limitations of Bubble? (22:53) - What do you think has been the most important ingredient for your success as a founder? (28:28) - If you could go back in time before you started Bubble, what advice would you give yourself? (39:33) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Emmanuel’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:25) - How Emmanuel got the idea for Bubble (7:15) - The story of how Emmanuel met his cofounder (8:06) - How Emmanuel and his cofounder started Bubble (9:52) - Be thoughtful about when and how you launch your product (15:11) - The importance of having persistence as a founder (28:42) - Advice on finding and working with a cofounder (31:12) - Hire slowly and other advice on building a team (34:31) - Don’t make decisions out of insecurity (40:46) Connect with Emmanuel Straschnov: Twitter Bubble Also Mentioned on This Show... Emmanuel’s favorite quote: “Existence precedes essence.” ―Jean‑Paul Sartre Emmanuel’s book recommendation: Existentialism Is a Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Peter Rojas about how he built and grew Gizmodo and Engadget. Peter shares valuable insights on what investors look for in founders as well as tips for building a great product and business. Peter Rojas is a partner at Betaworks Ventures, a seed stage venture fund. He was previously the founder of Gizmodo/Gawker, Engadget/Weblogs Inc, RCRD LBL, and gdgt. Some Questions Kreig asks Peter: - When did you catch the entrepreneurial bug? (6:12) - What is the most important ingredient that you look for in a founder? (37:21) - What is one thing you believe about life that most people would disagree with? (54:06) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Peter’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:25) - How Peter started Gizmodo (6:16) - The story of how Peter left Gizmodo and started Engadget (16:21) - The importance of respecting your audience (21:13) - You need to build a great product that is also able to grow (39:35) - As a founder you have to be fanatical about the product being great (41:37) - Sometimes the best decision is to move on from a project (45:52) - Don’t build a business you don’t want to build and are not passionate about (51:38) - Hard work is not enough (54:06) Connect with Peter Rojas: Twitter Betaworks Also Mentioned on This Show... Peter’s favorite quote: “I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!” ―Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord Peter’s book recommendation: Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Anthony Vennare about how he built Fitt. Anthony shares terrific advice on staying focused and true to your mission as well as tips for building a business in the fitness space. A 2018 honoree of Forbes 30 Under 30 and United States Marine, Anthony is a sales- and product-driven CEO who has closed $10M-plus in partnerships and successfully exited a media startup. Some Questions Kreig asks Anthony: - What went wrong with your first business and what would you have done differently? (13:08) - Do you have any specific advice for entrepreneurs in the fitness business? (16:16) - Who are your biggest competitors? (20:13) - What are you focused on right now in terms of growing the business? (21:59) - What have you found that motivates people to live a healthy lifestyle? (23:23) - Did you make any mistakes when raising capital that you would change if you could go back? (23:02) - How do you take care of your health and wellness as an entrepreneur? (38:35) - If you could go back in time before you just started Fitt, what advice would you tell yourself? (45:25) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Anthony’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:19) - About Fitt (10:41) - Lessons Anthony learned from the first gym he opened with his brother (13:08) - Don’t rush what you’re doing, and don’t compare what you’re doing to overnight success stories (15:29) - Your passion isn’t enough to build a business on (16:29) - Focus on what you do best and what you do better than anyone else (17:00) - Advice on raising capital (28:08) - The importance of having a fitness/health accountability partner or group (38:59) - Trust your gut and don’t get distracted by what’s going on around you (45:37) Connect with Anthony Vennare: Twitter Fitt Also Mentioned on This Show... Anthony’s favorite quote: “You have to be confident and clueless. Confident you can do it, and clueless you can’t.” ―Anthony’s Dad Anthony’s book recommendation: The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Andrea Loubier about how she built and grew Mailbird. Andrea shares valuable advice on finding cofounders, running a remote company, and creating work-life balance. Andrea Loubier is the CEO of Mailbird and among the top tech leaders in Southeast Asia. She's passionate about the future of work, building a healthy relationship with technology. Some Questions Kreig asks Andrea: - How did you come up with the idea for Mailbird? (10:47) - What’s the biggest change to the product since you started? (13:43) - How did you meet your cofounders and decide to build a company together? (14:40) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (20:39) - When did you realize you were gritty? (22:18) - Do you think grittiness and determination are in someone’s DNA or can they be developed? (23:02) - If you could go back in time to when you just started Mailbird, what advice would you give yourself? (27:46) - What is the entrepreneurial ecosystem like in Bali? (31:07) - How do you manage work-life balance? (35:42) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Andrea’s background and how she became an entrepreneur (4:21) - How Andrea started Mailbird (10:56) - Advice when looking for cofounders (18:32) - The importance of determination and finding a way to make it happen no matter what (20:51) - Do the necessary research before executing (28:02) - The importance of learning when to say no to things (28:44) - Advice on prioritization and work-life balance, especially when working remotely (29:15) - Tips on running a remote company (42:00) - There are times when you need to make decisions based on a gut feeling and not just data (43:26) - The importance of team culture and advice for hiring (45:57) Connect with Andrea Loubier: Twitter Mailbird Also Mentioned on This Show... Andrea’s favorite quote: “Balance is the ultimate goal.” Andrea’s book recommendation: Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Greg Mercer about how he built and grew Jungle Scout. Greg shares valuable advice on building a product, as well as tips for those interested in becoming Amazon sellers. Greg Mercer is the Founder and CEO of Jungle Scout, the leading software for Amazon sellers. Greg is a leader in the Amazon selling community, who built Jungle Scout from a Chrome extension into a robust suite of SaaS solutions. Greg is a graduate of Auburn University who loves big data, coffee, and traveling the world with his wife, Elizabeth. Some Questions Kreig asks Greg: - What does selling on Amazon mean, and how do people make money? (13:04) - How do you get started selling on Amazon, and where does Jungle Scout come in? (15:30) - What is the most success you’ve had selling on Amazon, and what was the product? (19:48) - If someone was gettings started today on Amazon, what do they need to learn or be good at? (21:54) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder who is starting out today? (34:42) - What kind of company might disrupt Amazon? (46:04) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Greg’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:23) - How Greg got started selling on Amazon (13:16) - Why and how Greg started Jungle Scout (15:47) - Decrease the scope and increase the simplicity of your project (34:51) - Don’t take no for an answer (36:10) - How Greg initially promoted Jungle Scout (38:40) - Why Greg thinks social proof is becoming more important than brands (43:31) Connect with Greg Mercer: Twitter Personal Website Jungle Scout Also Mentioned on This Show... Greg’s favorite quote: “The reality is great highs, terrible lows and unrelenting stress. Don't think people want to hear about the last two.” ―Elon Musk Greg’s book recommendation: Radical Candor by Kim Scott More resources The Million Dollar Case Study

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Eugenio Pace about how he built and grew Auth0 into a billion dollar company. Eugenio Pace shares valuable advice on taking risks, building a great team, and the importance of being optimistic in life. Eugenio Pace is co-founder and CEO of Auth0, a company that provides an authentication and authorization service for application builders. Before Auth0, Eugenio worked for Microsoft's Developer Division. A native from Argentina, he now resides in the Pacific Northwest with his family. He is an electrical engineer and enjoys traveling, weightlifting, history, philosophy and boat building. Some Questions Kreig asks Eugenio: - What made you want to take a gamble on starting a startup after working 13 years at Microsoft? (17:20) - How did you come up with the idea for Auth0, and what were the initial few months like? (21:19) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (44:03) - What are some things that if you had not fixed initially, your business venture with Auth0 would have probably died? (47:36) - What is one message you want listeners to take away from your journey as an entrepreneur? (57:25) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Eugenio’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:32) - You’ll always regret the things that you don’t do and never try (18:02) - How Eugenio found his cofounder and started Auth0 (21:33) - Opinion is not fact (30:51) - Building a great company is a journey, not a destination (44:07) - The importance of building a great team (47:38) - Why you should welcome the obstacles you encounter in life (51:01) - Appreciate what you have in the moment (54:23) - Feedback and educating yourself is valuable, but nothing replaces the importance of doing (57:37) - Our most precious resource is time (01:02:46) - Question all assumptions (01:03:49) Connect with Eugenio Pace: Twitter Auth0 Also Mentioned on This Show... Eugenio’s favorite quote: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” ―Marcus Aurelius Eugenio’s book recommendation: The Advantage by Patrick M. Lencioni

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Garrett Dimon about how he built and sold Sifter. Garrett shares terrific advice on the importance of listening to customers as well as some tips for selling your business. Garrett spent eight years building Sifter before selling it while dealing with health issues that led to a left below-knee amputation. Now he's turning his experience into a site to help other amputees be more active. Some Questions Kreig asks Garrett: - At what point did you think you wanted to start a company? (8:18) - How big was the team for Sifter? (13:01) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder who is starting out? (14:54) - When things were not going well and you wanted to quit, what would you tell yourself to keep going? (16:11) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you tell yourself? (24:13) - What is some advice you can give to a SaaS founder in the early stages of their business? (30:45) - How did you feel when someone showed interest in buying Sifter? (34:14) - What is one piece of advice for founders who are trying to sell their business? (41:00) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Garrett’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:34) - How Garrett built Sifter (8:22) - The importance of perseverance and sticking with it (15:00) - Listen to customers and be open to feedback (24:29) - Talk to customers in person as soon as possible and forever (30:57) - About the process of selling a business (34:53) - Trust your gut when deciding to sell your business (41:08) Connect with Garrett Dimon: Twitter Personal Website Also Mentioned on This Show... Garrett’s favorite quote: “Everything takes longer than it does.” Garrett’s book recommendations: Christopher Alexander Edward R. Tufte

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Winfield Durham about his journey as an entrepreneur and how he built Sisters Coffee Company. Winfield shares fantastic advice on keeping overhead down and the importance of hard work. Winfield is the founder of Sisters Coffee Company, which is a cafe and roastery in Sisters, Oregon, along with a cafe in the Pearl District in Portland. Some Questions Kreig asks Winfield: - How did you get the entrepreneurial bug? (5:08) - How did you get your first customer for Sisters Coffee? (15:16) - What is your vision for the future of Sisters Coffee? (27:53) - If you could give an early stage founder advice on starting their business, what would you tell them? (33:18) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you tell yourself? (35:51) - What is some advice for entrepreneurs who are thinking about starting a coffee business? (56:15) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Winfield’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:21) - How Winfield started Sisters Coffee Company. (9:33) - Use your off time to education yourself and get better at your craft (36:24) - About the roasting process (44:25) - Advice on managing a team (47:54) - Keep your overhead down, work the hours, and don’t cut corners on quality (56:27) Connect with Winfield Durham: LinkedIn Sisters Coffee Company Also Mentioned on This Show... Winfield’s favorite quote: “Never give up.” ―Winston Churchill Winfield’s book recommendation: Good to Great by Jim Collins

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with John Higley about how he started EQO. John shares why zebra mussels are a huge problem and what his team is building to prevent them from spreading. Founder of EQO, John honed his skills in cancer research. Now he's using that technology to protect and save the environment. Some Questions Kreig asks John: - What are zebra mussels? (7:02) - What happens when zebra mussels are out of control? (7:57) - What is the big vision for EQO? (18:36) - Can you turn this into a billion dollar company? (30:49) - You built a solid company with product-market fit and paying clients, why did you decide to raise money? (37:38) - What drives you as an entrepreneur? (40:28) - What do you look for in a candidate you are interviewing? (46:57) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About John’s background, how he became an entrepreneur, and why he started EQO (4:15) - What zebra mussels are and why you should care about them (7:11) - How EQO services work (25:39) - Be coachable and humble enough to listen to other people (42:36) - Never work with friends (44:24) - Hire carefully. There is no room for drama in an early stage company. (47:03) - There is no such thing as a self-made person (52:38) Connect with John Higley: LinkedIn EQO Also Mentioned on This Show... John’s favorite quote: “All truth is simple ... is that not doubly a lie?” ―Friedrich Nietzsche John’s book recommendation: Call Me American by Abdi Nor Iftin

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Joe De Sena about his entrepreneurial journey and how he built Spartan. Joe shares valuable advice on finding product-market fit, iterating early, and running lean no matter how much money you have. Joe De Sena created the world’s largest obstacle race and endurance brand and is dedicated to ripping 100 million people off their couches and into the Spartan lifestyle. Some Questions Kreig asks Joe: - How did you come up with the idea for Spartan? (15:30) - Describe a Spartan Race, what is it? (27:57) - How did you build the product to manage all the participants? (30:44) - How did you grow the business so rapidly? (31:43) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your former self? (34:50) - What is some advice for founders? (43:58) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Joe’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:23) - How Joe built and grew Spartan (15:37) - Start getting feedback and iterating as soon as possible (27:08) - Spend the time and money to build the right infrastructure and foundation early on (35:19) - The importance of finding product-market fit (36:02) - You need to practice adversity (37:10) - Joe’s thoughts on parenting (38:23) - Even if you raise money, act and operate as if you don’t have money (44:00) - Focus on gaining momentum over margin (44:53) - There is always room to cut expenses (45:26) Connect with Joe De Sena: Twitter Personal Website Spartan Also Mentioned on This Show... Joe’s favorite quote: “Death is the price you pay for life, so make it worth it.” ―Joe De Sena Joe’s book recommendation: Adrift by Steven Callahan

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Khaled Naim about his journey building Onfleet. Khaled shares advice on raising money and the importance of hiring very carefully in the early stages of your company. Khaled is CEO and Co-Founder at Onfleet, the fastest growing last-mile delivery management software platform. Khaled holds an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and a BE in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan. He is based in San Francisco, California. Some Questions Kreig asks Khaled: - When did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? (21:36) - What was your experience raising money for Onfleet and going through StartX? (23:25) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder? (26:50) - What is some advice you can give to founders who are in the early stages of starting a company? (31:59) - Can anyone learn how to be an entrepreneur? (32:49) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your former self? (33:56) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Khaled’s background and how he started an Onfleet (4:24) - Focus on raising money from smaller funds and angel investors in the early stages (23:33) - Why you need grit (27:08) - Hire very carefully (32:12) - Anyone can learn the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur (32:55) Connect with Khaled Naim: Twitter Onfleet Also Mentioned on This Show... Khaled’s favorite quote: “Life is too important to be taken seriously.” ―Oscar Wilde

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Sam Lillie about how he built and grew Vinder. Sam shares incredible advice on being persistent, gritty, and starting a company with very little money. Sam Lillie is the co-founder and CEO of Vinder. He's a local food activist, start-up mentor, speaker, long distance hiker and lover of burritos. Some Questions Kreig asks Sam: - What is Vinder and when did you start building it? (9:11) - What is your big vision for Vinder? (23:29) - What was the most important characteristic that you used to get you where you are today? (24:24) - How important is it for a founder to have EQ? (41:09) - If you could go back in time before you started Vinder, what advice would you tell yourself? (45:48) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Sam’s background and all his entrepreneurial ventures growing up (4:18) - How Sam started Vinder (9:02) - The importance of persistence in entrepreneurship (24:24) - Strategies for leading and managing people (35:41) - Why you need EQ as a founder (41:09) - As a founder you need excellent communication skills (47:13) - You don’t need a lot of money to start a company (48:16) Connect with Sam Lillie: Twitter Vinder Also Mentioned on This Show... Sam’s favorite quote: “A soft, easy life is not worth living, if it impairs the fibre of brain and heart and muscle. We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage… For us is the life of action, of strenuous performance of duty; let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.” ―Theodore Roosevelt Sam’s book recommendation: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Wyatt Jozwowski about how he built and grew Demio. Wyatt shares valuable advice and lessons on hiring technical talent as well as having perseverance during the entrepreneurial journey. Wyatt is the co-founder of Demio, a webinar platform built for marketing teams to drive more engagement from their audience. Some Questions Kreig asks Wyatt: - How did you get started with Demio? (16:20) - Did you ever think about raising money while building Demio? (37:43) - What have you done to grow the company? (39:55) - What would you do differently if you were to start a software company today? (40:59) - What do you think has been the most important characteristic that has brought you this far in your journey as an entrepreneur? (46:05) - What drives you? (51:35) - What’s your vision for Demio? (53:14) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Wyatt’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:15) - How Wyatt started Demio and some of the mistakes he made during the process (16:24) - Identify the problem you are solving, research target customers, and understand your MVP before focusing on anything else (41:10) - Find a technical advisor or someone who can give you technical insights as soon as possible (43:13) - Don’t give up (46:16) Connect with Wyatt Jozwowski: Twitter Demio Also Mentioned on This Show... Wyatt’s favorite quote: “The most successful startups are impatient for a long period of time.” ―Aaron Levie Wyatt’s book recommendation: The Messy Middle by Scott Belsky

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Wil Schroter about how he built Startups.com. Wil shares terrific advice on getting your product in front of customers as soon as possible, as well as insights into the acquisition process. Wil Schroter is the Founder + CEO of Startups.com, the world's largest startup launch platform. Some Questions Kreig asks Wil: - How did you know starting a company was the right thing to do at the age of 19? (11:27) - If you could go back in time before you started your first company, what advice would you give yourself? (16:52) - What was the acquisition process like for the companies Startups.com has acquired? (31:04) - What are the revenue streams for Startups.com? (42:49) - What advice can you give to the founders who are listening? (52:31) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Wil’s background, how he became an entrepreneur, and why he started Startups.com (4:11) - How Wil built and grew Startups.com through acquisitions (31:04) - The story of how Startups.com acquired Zirtual (43:06) - You never start off with the right idea (53:06) - You can only plan so far. Just get your product out there. (56:18) Connect with Wil Schroter: Twitter Startups.com Also Mentioned on This Show... Wil’s favorite quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” ―Wayne Gretzky Wil’s book recommendations: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Renee Wang about how she built Castbox. Renee shares how her team innovates to compete with competitors, as well as her experience moving Castbox from Beijing to Silicon Valley. Founder and CEO of Castbox. Prior to founding Castbox, Renee was a part of the global mobile advertising team for Google Beijing, Dublin and Japan. She was the 7th employee at Umeng, a China-based startup acquired by Alibaba, and was one of the earliest Android developers in 2008. Renee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Peking University. Some Questions Kreig asks Renee: - How did you get the idea for Castbox, and how did you launch it? (12:02) - What does Castbox do as a product, and what is your business model? (31:29) - How did you know Castbox was worth your time and worth the risk? (45:11) - What advice can you give founders who are in the early stages of building a company? (01:02:13) - How do you take care of your mind and wellness as a founder? (01:04:45) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Renee’s background and how she became an entrepreneur (4:32) - How Renee started Castbox (12:21) - Renee’s first impressions after moving to San Francisco (21:16) - Differences between Chinese and American employees and investors (22:33) - What makes Castbox different from other podcast platforms (31:41) - How to compete with big established competitors (43:49) - Never give up. Time solves many problems. (01:02:30) Connect with Renee Wang: LinkedIn Castbox Also Mentioned on This Show... Renee’s favorite quote: “Only fight the battles you think you can win.” Renee’s book recommendation: The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with John Doherty about how he built and grew Credo. John shares advice on starting an agency, attracting clients, and developing the right business model. John Doherty is the founder/CEO of Credo, a marketplace connecting businesses with vetted digital marketing firms. He lives in Denver with his wife, daughter, and dog. Some Questions Kreig asks John: - When did you get the idea to start something on your own? (9:53) - What is Credo’s business model? (15:50) - What has been the most important ingredient throughout this journey that has contributed to your success? (22:20) - What have you done to market Credo? (24:57) - What advice can you give for someone who is starting an agency? (30:02) - How do you identify coaches that can help you as a founder? (38:41) - Can you share a story that at the time felt like a negative experience, but looking back it was a blessing in disguise? (43:03) - What’s your plan for the future of Credo? (46:09) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About John’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:18) - How John started Credo (10:04) - Build a brand that people know and trust (22:32) - Marketing tips and strategies (25:08) - Advice for attracting clients (30:14) - Have a network of peers, coaches, and mentors (36:07) - Thoughts on raising venture capital (41:16) Connect with John Doherty: Twitter Personal Website Credo Also Mentioned on This Show... John’s favorite quote: “Why do people want to be rich and famous? Why not just be rich, being famous is a pain in the ass.” ―Naval Ravikant John’s book recommendation: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Hannah Davis about how she became an entrepreneur and started BANGS Shoes. Hannah shares valuable advice on how to build and grow a social enterprise. Hannah Davis is the Founder & CEO of BANGS Shoes. She founded BANGS at 24 years old to sell adventure-inspired footwear and help people start businesses around the world. Some Questions Kreig asks Hannah: - How much progress have you made with BANGS Shoes since you started? (31:48) - Tell us about the business model. How do you make money and what is your model of giving back? (35:28) - How did you find the manufacturing factory that you work with? (40:33) - What is special about BANGS Shoes? (41:41) - How do you market the product? (43:10) - If you could go back and give your younger self some advice, what would it be? (48:07) - What is some advice you can give a founder who is in the early stages of starting their business? (55:18) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Hannah’s background and how she became an entrepreneur (4:15) - How Hannah started BANGS Shoes and got it off the ground (14:08) - The story of how Hannah met her business partner (21:38) - How BANGS Shoes partners with Kiva to give back (35:36) - Advice for starting a business with social impact (36:38) - Tips for starting a brand ambassador program (43:14) - The importance of getting customer feedback (50:38) Connect with Hannah Davis: Instagram Bangs Shoes Also Mentioned on This Show... Hannah’s favorite quote: “If you're not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late.” ―Reid Hoffman Hannah’s book recommendation: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Brie Thomason about how she built and grew Brie’sta Coffee Company with her husband, Kasey. Brie shares excellent advice on execution and strategies for managing a team. Brie resides in Idaho where she and her husband opened a coffee shop at 20 years old. They have since opened a second shop and has grown from 0 to 42 employees. Some Questions Kreig asks Brie: - How did you decide where to open your first location? (9:38) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder to be successful? (16:18) - Can you share a negative experience that now seems like a blessing? (25:00) - What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned on your journey as an entrepreneur? (28:25) - What is some tactical advice for managing difficult employee situations? (31:33) - What advice can give founders who are in the early stages of building a company? (37:10) - What is your grand vision for Brie’sta Coffee Company? (41:35) - What is it like running a business with your husband, and what advice can you give others who are starting a company with their significant other? (46:43) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Brie’s background, why she became an entrepreneur, and how she started Brie’sta Coffee Company (4:18) - How Brie and her husband started the first Brie’sta Coffee Company location (8:19) - The importance of entrepreneurial DNA (19:07) - The difficulties of managing people, and some advice when confronting employees (28:34) - You cannot plan enough, but you also cannot plan forever (37:31) - Why you should never keep score with your business partner (48:28) Connect with Brie Thomason: Twitter Brie'sta Coffee Company Also Mentioned on This Show... Brie’s favorite quote: “Give a damn. Give more damns than anyone else.” Brie’s book recommendation: The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Jon Sebastiani about how he built KRAVE and Sonoma Brands. Jon shares advice on brand marketing, building a team, and trusting your instincts as an entrepreneur. Jon Sebastiani founded Sonoma Brands, a specialist growth equity firm, in January 2016 and currently leads all aspects of the Firm's investment strategy and portfolio management. Prior to starting Sonoma Brands, Jon founded KRAVE Pure Foods, which he sold to the Hershey Company in 2015. Some Questions Kreig asks Jon: - How did you decide to start a beef jerky company? (13:10) - How long did it take you to see traction? (23:45) - What are some gritty things you did in the early days to get the KRAVE brand off the ground? (26:17) - How did you hire your first employee? (32:48) - What was the transition from running and operating KRAVE to Sonoma Brands? (43:34) - How do you view entrepreneurship? (49:29) - What do you look for when you meet an entrepreneur for the first time? (51:57) - What advice would you give your younger self? (56:31) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Jon's background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:28) - How Jon built KRAVE Jerky (17:04) - Tips for brand marketing (26:32) - Jon's thoughts on equity (38:07) - Only the paranoid survive (50:42) - Enjoy the journey of entrepreneurship (53:45) - The importance of true authenticity, charisma, and the ability to sell your vision (55:02) - Trust your instincts (58:51) Connect with Jon Sebastiani: Twitter Sonoma Brands KRAVE Also Mentioned on This Show... Jon's favorite quote: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ―Martin Luther King, Jr. Jon's book recommendation: Different by Youngme Moon

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Ev Kontsevoy about how he founded Mailgun and Gravitational. Ev shares extremely valuable advice and strategies for building successful enterprise software companies. Ev is a Co-Founder and CEO of Gravitational Inc. Prior to that, he co-founded Mailgun, the first email service built for developers, which was acquired by Rackspace. He loves high speed trains and open source software that doesn't require an army of consultants to operate. Some Questions Kreig asks Ev: - How did you come up with the idea for Mailgun? (15:55) - How did you get the idea for Gravitational? (27:53) - What are your thoughts on building enterprise software? (41:21) - How did you develop empathy for users and start looking at things from the end-to-end user experience? (44:29) - What are some things you’ve learned from the HP Way, and how have you applied it to your management style? (47:08) - What drives you as a founder? (52:33) - Can you tell us a story of your founding journey where you experienced something that was negative, but it turned out to be a huge blessing? (56:26) - What is some advice you can give to the Gritty Founders listening? (59:28) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Ev’s background and how he started Mailgun (4:25) - How to find a big problem to solve (21:07) - Staying close to potential customers is important for understanding their needs (37:42) - You don’t have to be an extrovert to go out and talk with customers about their pain points, you just need compassion (39:13) - The importance of healthy team dynamics (47:30) - For every action that we do, there is a lag to see the effects of that action in the real world. Be patient. Things take time. (59:48) Connect with Ev Kontsevoy: Twitter Gravitational Mailgun Also Mentioned on This Show... Ev’s favorite quote: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” ―Seneca Ev’s book recommendation: Zero to One by Peter Thiel More Resources: The HP Way by David Packard

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Brian Wong about his journey as an entrepreneur and how he started Kiip. Brian shares valuable advice on fundraising as well as the importance of taking care of your mind and body as an entrepreneur. Brian Wong is the 28-year-old co-founder and CEO of Kiip, a mobile consumer engagement platform acquired by NinthDecimal in 2019. Brian is also the author of The Cheat Code. Some Questions Kreig asks Brian: - When did you get the idea for Kiip? (24:53) - What was your experience talking to investors and raising money for Kiip? (28:37) - How do people develop the ability to think big? (49:18) - How do you take care of your well being as a founder? (55:54) - What advice can you give someone who is in the early stages of starting their business? (67:03) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Brian’s background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:15) - Why Brian decided to move to Silicon Valley (10:20) - Tips for cold emailing (15:04) - About Brian’s experience working at Digg with Kevin Rose (20:47) - How raising money from VCs has changed over the past ten years (29:24) - Not every business is fundable, and what makes a business fundable (38:32) - Benefits of talking to VCs even if your business is not fundable (44:16) - How traveling can help you develop new, novel ways of thinking (49:18) - Get inspired by others, but don’t mirror them (50:48) - Take care of your mind and body (56:37) - Always remember the reason why you started in the first place (68:32) - About Brian’s book, The Cheat Code (69:43) Connect with Brian Wong: Twitter The Cheat Code Also Mentioned on This Show... Brian’s favorite quote: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ―Mahatma Gandhi Brian’s book recommendations: Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely The Cheat Code by Brian Wong More Resources: Lost Connections by Johann Hari Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Principles by Ray Dalio The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir Simply Being App

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Ben Tossell about his journey as an entrepreneur and how he built Makerpad. Ben shares valuable advice on how to launch your idea as quickly as possible so you can learn from users and see traction. Ben Tossell is the founder of Makerpad, teaching professionals and creators how to build tools without code via instructional videos and a collaborative community. Some Questions Kreig asks Ben: - Why did you decide to raise money for Makerpad? (30:07) - What do you think is one of the most important ingredients a founder needs to launch something successfully and see traction? (32:29) - What do you think is the biggest thing that stops people from launching an idea that they truly care about and want to launch? (33:40) - What products can you use to build certain features for your website or app without code? (39:41) - What advice can you give someone who is in the early stages of launching an idea? (42:11) - Where should a founder who doesn’t have an audience go to launch and talk about what they’ve built? (43:00) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - Ben’s journey as an entrepreneur and how he built Makerpad (4:24) - You can build without code and iterate quickly (32:39) - Don’t let ego, fear of failure, and the need for perfection stop you from launching (33:48) - Build it quicker. Just get your product or idea out there so you can learn and iterate. (42:27) Connect with Ben Tossell: Twitter Makerpad Also Mentioned on This Show... Ben’s favorite quote: “Just do it.” Ben’s book recommendations: Smartcuts by Shane Snow More Resources: Company of One by Paul Jarvis

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Dan Norris about how he built and sold WP Curve, wrote five books, and founded Black Hops Brewing. Dan Norris is a serial entrepreneur, award-winning content marketer, international speaker, and the co-founder of WP Curve. Dan is also the co-founder of Black Hops Brewing, a craft beer brewery in Australia. Some Questions Kreig asks Dan: - How did you come up with the idea for WP Curve? (7:02) - How did you build your audience for WP Curve? (15:02) - What do you think is one of the most important ingredients for a founder to be successful? (20:06) - After hearing other people tell you WP Curve was not a good idea, at what point did you know they were wrong? (22:35) - How do you deal with failure? (28:09) - What advice can you give someone who is thinking about an idea and they are in the early stages of it? (32:43) - What is one thing you find to be true that most people would disagree with? (39:33) - What are all the books you’ve written? (44:58) - How do you take care of your well being as an entrepreneur? (47:47) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - Dan’s journey as an entrepreneur and how he built WP Curve and Black Hops Brewing (4:34) - The importance of taking full ownership as an entrepreneur (20:15) - Don’t be afraid to shut down an idea and move on to something else (33:16) - To take advice from yourself (42:20) - You could do everything right, and things may still not go your way (49:04) Connect with Dan Norris: Twitter Personal Website Black Hops Brewing Also Mentioned on This Show... Dan’s favorite quote: “It’s better to create something that others criticise than to create nothing and criticise others.” ―Ricky Gervais Dan’s book recommendations: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson Bad Blood by John Carreyrou Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Omar Zenhom about how he became an entrepreneur and started WebinarNinja. Omar shares valuable advice for people thinking about entrepreneurship or for those who are just starting out in their entrepreneurial journey. Omar Zenhom is the co-founder and CEO of WebinarNinja. Founded in 2014, over a million people have attended a webinar with WebinarNinja. Omar is also the host of the iTunes Best of 2014 podcast, The $100 MBA Show. With over 100 million downloads and over 1,300 episodes, The $100 MBA Show is ranked as a top business podcast in over 30 countries. Omar has been featured as a top speaker, podcaster and entrepreneur in Forbes, INC., Fast Company, Entrepreneur and Foundr. Some Questions Kreig asks Omar: - What do you think is the most important ingredient for a founder to be successful? (21:58) - How did you start WebinarNinja without funding? (24:52) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? (30:33) - How did you hire your first few engineers to build out the initial version of your product? (32:55) - What is some advice you can give founders who are bootstrapping their companies and don't want to take investor money? (37:26) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - Why Omar transitioned from being a teacher to entrepreneur (4:29) - Some of Omar's early businesses (8:36) - Entrepreneurship forces you to change, improve, and evolve (15:20) - You need to be determined and resilient (22:11) - The importance of self-awareness (23:02) - Don't be afraid to communicate with customers (26:46) - You have to get over your fear of failure (30:53) - Start as early as possible, but if you do start late, you can use your past experiences to your advantage (31:19) - Hire people who are great communicators (36:30) - Find a coach, friend, or more experienced founder who can guide you and give you help or advice (37:41) Connect with Omar Zenhom: Twitter Personal Website The $100 MBA WebinarNinja Also Mentioned on This Show... Omar's favorite quote: “Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” ―George S. Patton Omar's book recommendations: Anyone Can Do It by Sahar Hashemi Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Wade Foster about how he built and grew Zapier. Wade shares valuable advice on building a SaaS company, having empathy with customers, and managing customer feedback when building a product. Wade Foster is the CEO and co-founder of Zapier, a workflow automation and productivity software used by over a million people. Some Questions Kreig asks Wade: - What was the first Zap that you created? (7:03) - At what point did you decide to move to Silicon Valley? (8:56) - How do you use Zapier? (11:34) - Did you always envision the company would be remote? (15:12) - What is some advice you can give founders who are building SaaS companies? (17:25) - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself to help you move faster? (28:53) - What characteristics do you think are important for entrepreneurs? (31:55) - How did you feel when you got your first paying customer? (34:53) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - How Wade and his cofounders started Zapier (4:29) - No one will tell you what the right answer is, you have to figure it out. (17:32) - About managing customer feedback (19:05) - The importance of persistence and empathy (32:09) - The story of how Zapier got accepted to YC (36:59) Connect with Wade Foster: Twitter Zapier Also Mentioned on This Show... Wade’s favorite quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” ―African Proverb Wade’s book recommendation: The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks to Julie Fredrickson about her journey as an entrepreneur and how she started Stowaway Cosmetics. Julie shares valuable advice on running lean and the importance of focusing on your business model and generating revenue. Julie Fredrickson is the Co-founder and CEO of Stowaway Cosmetics. With a background in e-commerce and digital marketing, Julie has worked in house as a brand managers at Ann Taylor and Equinox and with brands as diverse as Gap Nike, and Pepsi. Some Questions Kreig asks Julie: - How did you get Stowaway Cosmetics off the ground? (20:54) - Why did you decide to raise venture capital for this business in particular? (32:36) - How did you get traction and your first few customers? (38:21) - What are some characteristics that you think are important for founders? (49:42) - What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to the time before you started your first company? (53:41) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - How Julie got her start in entrepreneurship (4:48) - The importance of PR. If you build it, they may not necessarily come. (38:27) - Don’t over hire. Every hire is a failure to automate. (44:36) - Figure out how to do it, and learn to do it yourself. (50:02) - It’s going to be so much harder than you think. (53:49) - Starting a company is like riding a roller coaster. (55:23) - Focus on your own journey (57:31) Connect with Julie Fredrickson: Twitter Stowaway Cosmetics Also Mentioned on This Show... Julie’s favorite quote: “F you pay me.” Julie’s book recommendations: The Expanse Book Series by James S. A. Corey The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks to Nick Francis about how his entrepreneurial journey and how he founded Help Scout. Nick shares insights on the benefits and challenges of building a remote team. Nick co-founded Help Scout in 2011, and today their software is used by more than 8,000 companies in 140 countries. Some Questions Kreig asks Nick: - When did you decide you wanted to build a product, and how did you come up with the idea for Help Scout? (12:21) - How did you meet your cofounders? (14:52) - What do you think is the most important ingredient for an entrepreneur to have? (16:29) - What made you decide to build a remote team? (18:16) - What are the tradeoffs of working remotely rather than in an office environment? (22:44) - How do you track productivity? (25:13) - What advice do you have for a founder who is starting a tech company and wants to find a cofounder, possibly remote, to build the idea? (29:24) - What is one process that has worked really well for Help Scout as a remote team? (34:06) - For an entrepreneur who is looking to build a SaaS company, what is some advice you can give them? (40:14) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Nick’s background, his journey as an entrepreneur, and how he started Help Scout (4:21) - The importance of having a desire to be great at a craft and a thirst for learning new things (16:40) - The benefits and challenges of building a remote team (18:21) - Take advantage of the open source community (29:47) - Build something great, in whatever format you can, to show and attract talent. You need to have more than an idea as a founder before you try to bring someone on board. (30:21) - How Help Scout maintains its blog and content creation (35:45) - Why Help Scout raised money after profitability (37:39) - Focus on building a great business (40:28) Connect with Nick Francis: Twitter Help Scout Also Mentioned on This Show... Nick’s favorite quote: “Treat your wife like a cofounder.” Nick’s book recommendation: Barbarian Days by William Finnegan

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks to Vinay Patankar about his journey as an entrepreneur and how he built Process Street. Vinay shares advice on hiring and managing early team members, as well as strategies for content creation and promotion. Vinay Patankar is the CEO of Process Street, a platform that manages recurring processes for teams and turns businesses into automated, self growing machines. Some Questions Kreig asks Vinay: - How did you initially fund Process Street? (16:12) - What is some advice for founders who are in the beginning stages of starting a business? (21:24) - What was your strategy for finding your cofounder? (28:43) - Can you share a strategy for someone who is looking to hire a CTO but doesn’t have experience hiring engineers? (33:48) - Did you initially do all the UX and UI yourself? (41:32) - In your opinion what is the most important thing when building a company from the ground up? (44:20) - What is an example of a hack you used to build Process Street? (45:58) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Vinay’s background, his journey as an entrepreneur, and how he started Process Street (4:19) - How Vinay found his cofounder and convinced him to work on Process Street (16:31) - Figure out how you can work on your business full time (21:41) - Strategies for managing a small team (26:16) - Strategies for hiring early team members (29:04) - Content creation and promotion hacks (46:28) - How Process Street works (52:55) Connect with Vinay Patankar: Twitter Process Street Also Mentioned on This Show... Vinay’s favorite quote: “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” ―Steve Jobs Vinay’s book recommendation: The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent and Mada Seghete talk with Amanda Bradford about how she built and grew The League. Amanda shares advice on finding product-market-fit, raising money, getting press coverage, and generating revenue when you are just starting off. Amanda Bradford is the Founder & CEO of The League, a dating app that combines data and social graphs from both Facebook and LinkedIn to offer more privacy, more context, and a curated community of ambitious singles who want a partner that shares a similar drive. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon with an engineering degree, she worked at both Salesforce and Google in a variety of technical and product roles before attending Stanford Graduate School of business, where the idea for The League was born. The League raised $2.1M in seed funding in January 2015 and is a membership dating app designed cater to people who want privacy and control over who can view their dating profile. Some Questions Kreig and Mada ask Amanda: - What is some advice you can give founders who are in the beginning stages of starting a company? (4:56) - Can you give some advice to non technical founders on how to find technical talent in order to get an idea off the ground? (8:46) - What is your PR strategy and what is some actionable advice you can give founders looking to get press coverage? (13:44) - What was the biggest challenge and how did you overcome it? (26:45) - What does your day and routine look like? (28:24) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - Know if there is a demand and a clear need in the market (5:15) - Amanda’s experience and thoughts on raising money (11:51) - When pitching a journalist, prepare and put yourself in their shoes (18:44) - Think about revenue early on (32:00) Connect with Amanda Bradford: Twitter The League Also Mentioned on This Show... Amanda’s favorite quote: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ―Mark Twain Amanda’s book recommendation: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Mada Seghete about her journey as an entrepreneur and how she built Branch. Mada shares valuable advice on finding product-market-fit and building company culture. Mada leads community and developer marketing and is one of the co-founders of Branch, a deep linking and mobile metrics company. In the last year, Branch has grown a 22,000-person Mobile Growth community in 53 cities globally and now powers deep linking for over 15,000 apps and 2 billion monthly users around the world. Born and raised in Romania, Mada came to the US to study Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell University and then earned her Masters of Engineering and MBA from Stanford. Mada enjoys playing the latest viral mobile game, binge watching the hottest sci-fi show and photographing Branch events. She was included in Linkedin’s Next Wave, 150 top professionals in 15 industries all 35 & under and sits on the board of the App Developer’s Alliance. Some Questions Kreig Asks Mada: - What are some things you learned that you should not do at a startup? (12:37) - What were the beginnings of Branch? (16:45) - What is some advice you can give to entrepreneurs who are figuring out product-market-fit? (33:24) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Mada’s background and how she became an entrepreneur (5:02) - Lead by example (12:47) - Focus on revenue early (13:00) - Be intentional about company culture and values (13:13) - Don’t get too emotionally attached to an idea and be able to pivot. Your first idea does not have to be the ultimate idea. (33:41) - Understand the market (38:31) - Just keep building and keep trying (40:27) Connect with Mada Seghete: Twitter Branch Also Mentioned on This Show... Mada’s favorite quote: “You can always do better.” Mada’s book recommendations: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Contagious by Jonah Berger Made to Stick by Chip Heath Influence by Robert B. Cialdini Mindset by Carol S. Dweck

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Michael Bryzek about how his parents and childhood influenced him to become an entrepreneur. Michael shares the importance of positivity and believing that nothing is impossible. Michael is the co-founder and CTO of Flow Commerce, a technology platform to make global ecommerce as simple as domestic. Previously, he was the co-founder and ex-CTO of Gilt Groupe, an innovative online shopping destination offering great products at insider prices. He holds a BSc and Masters in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is married with two young boys and a recent ironman distance triathlete. Some Questions Kreig Asks Michael: - How did you get the idea for the first business you started? (26:38) - What is some advice that you can give on entrepreneurship? (30:26) - What advice would you give entrepreneurs who are just starting out? (40:19) - How do you hire amazing people, and how did you motivate them to see your vision for the company? (42:24) - Have you ever felt paralyzed by fear? (47:47) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - How Michael’s parents and childhood influenced him to become an entrepreneur (4:44) - The amazing story of how Michael’s family escaped communism in Poland and came to the US (13:54) - You cannot prove that something is impossible (23:00) - The importance of optimism and surrounding yourself with positive people that support you (30:54) - Success does not come without hard work and stress (39:23) - Find your core value system and your own style of working (40:34) - Create an environment where your employees can feel successful in both their work and personal lives (42:44) Connect with Michael Bryzek: Twitter Flow.io Also Mentioned on This Show... Michael’s favorite quote: “Failure is a mandatory component of success.” Michael’s book recommendations: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Laura Behrens Wu about building and scaling Shippo. Laura shares advice on product development, raising money, company culture, hiring, and finding your own leadership style. Laura Behrens Wu is a co-founder and the CEO of Shippo, the multi-carrier shipping platform. Laura founded Shippo after personally experiencing the obstacles businesses face when setting up shipping operations for her own ecommerce store. Today, Shippo powers shipping for platforms, marketplaces, warehouses, and ecommerce businesses. From one place, companies are able to instantly access multiple shipping carriers for real-time rates, shipping labels, international paperwork, package tracking, and return logistics. Some Questions Kreig Asks Laura: - How did you take the first step when building Shippo? (10:18) - How did you know what to build? (12:58) - What is the most important ingredient a founder needs in order to build something successful? (14:29) - After speaking to over 120 investors, when did you actually hear a ‘yes’? Did you ever want to give up? (16:22) - Other than making the decision to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision that you made? (23:02) - What advice would you give founders who have multiple ideas and are not sure which idea to pursue? (24:25) - What are some of the biggest lessons in your journey as a founder that have impacted the way you work? (31:52) - What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time? (35:02) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - How Laura became an entrepreneur and why she started Shippo (4:43) - How Shippo works (9:21) - Advice on getting customer feedback (11:24) - Be persistent and determined (14:42) - When fundraising, be able to show metrics (16:46) - You will never know what will work and what won’t work unless you try (24:56) - Your product doesn’t need to be perfect in the beginning (25:11) - Laura’s thoughts on hiring and company culture (26:32) - Reference checks for investors are just as important as for employees (30:31) - Hire slow and fire fast (31:40) - Benefits of working with a CEO coach (32:09) - Find your own leadership style, don’t try to be like someone else (33:36) Connect with Laura Behrens Wu: Twitter Shippo Also Mentioned on This Show... Laura’s favorite quote: “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” ―Paulo Coelho Laura’s book recommendations: Waking Up by Sam Harris Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Jesse Draper about starting The Valley Girl Show and Halogen Ventures. Jesse shares her passion for supporting female founders and why women often don’t get enough funding for their companies. Jesse Draper is the founding partner of Halogen Ventures as well as the creator and host of 2015 Emmy nominated television series,“The Valley Girl Show”. She is a 4th generation venture capitalist focused on early stage investing in female founded consumer technology businesses. Her portfolio includes Glamsquad, Laurel & Wolf, Carbon38, Naya Health, HopSkipDrive, The Flex Company & Sugarfina. Through her show -- she’s helped pioneer the way in digital media and she has an initiative to interview 50% women in technology. Previously a Nickelodeon star, she has used her comedic talents to bring an approachable feel to the technology world, and she has produced and distributed over 300 interviews with some of the greatest minds in technology and beyond (including; Ted Turner, Mark Cuban, Sheryl Sandberg, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Jessica Alba, MC Hammer and Eric Schmidt) and was listed by Marie Claire magazine as one of the ‘50 Most Connected Women in America’. Some Questions Kreig Asks Jesse: - What do you look for when you fund a company that is run by a woman? (12:03) - What is the most important characteristic for a founder to be successful? (12:14) - What is one failure that you can shed some light on in your career? (17:16) - Why aren’t female founders getting enough funding? (26:18) - What is one piece of advice you would give someone who is on the verge of starting a company? (36:39) - What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time? (40:06) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - How Jesse started The Valley Girl Show and why she started Halogen Ventures (5:14) - As a founder you need to be malleable, open-minded, and willing to pivot the company (13:17) - Always be striving to improve yourself (15:59) - You need to be able to listen to different ideas and opinions, but filter and figure out what is most important (16:22) - Don’t hear the word “no” (18:59) - There are no bad ideas, it’s all about execution (20:44) - Female founders are held to a much higher standard (33:00) - Don’t try to be perfect. Get your idea out there and tell everyone who will listen. (36:54) - You don’t have to please everybody (41:44) Connect with Jesse Draper: Twitter Halogen Ventures Also Mentioned on This Show... Jesse's favorite quote: “Eighty percent of success is just showing up.” ―Tim Draper Jesse’s book recommendations: Essentialism by Greg McKeown Financially Fearless by Alexa von Tobel