Innovations and Breakthroughs

Lesley Hensell is the Co-founder of Riverbend Consulting, an e-commerce and Amazon consulting agency. The company's experts help sellers resolve account listing suspensions and other challenges.  Lesley has personally helped hundreds of third-party sellers get their Amazon accounts and ASINs back up and running for the past 10 years. She is the author of The Amazon Incubator: Grow Your Business or Hatch a New One, to be released in January 2024. In this episode… When Amazon sellers get their accounts suspended, it can damage their credibility among customers, lead to losses, and lower their seller ranking. So, what can trigger a suspension and how can you get your account reinstated? To prevent suspension, familiarize yourself with the policies and know the most common culprits. You should also watch your Amazon account health scorecard or rating to ensure that you don't fall below the recommended threshold. When faced with a potential suspension, you need all the tips and lessons you can get. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Lesley Hensell, the Co-founder of Riverbend Consulting, about strategies for overcoming Amazon account suspensions. They also talk about Amazon brand registry enforcements, common IP complaints on Amazon, and how Lesley's kids work in the family business.

Lucas James is the Co-founder and CEO of Twiz, a digital marketing agency focused on driving leads for B2B service companies and online stores. Based in Los Angeles, Twiz was founded on the idea that traditional marketing companies were charging businesses too much without producing enough results. Lucas is also the Co-host of the podcast, How To Scale an Agency, and produces a variety of other content in the area of AI news and developing tech. In this episode… Entrepreneurship requires taking careful and strategic steps to bring your ideas to life. To increase your probability of success, you need to be innovative, creative, and open to learning new ways of doing business. The most successful entrepreneurs understand their limitations and leverage their strengths to stand out in the industry. They develop creative strategies for solving complex problems, build sustainable lead-generation plans to attract high-value clients, and invest in the right technology. This is all conducive to increasing a company's value.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Lucas James, the Co-founder and CEO and Twiz, about entrepreneurship and lead generation best practices. They also talk about the value of content, the steps to building a successful product, and Lucas' inspiration to build a software platform.

Jordan Ross is the Founder and CEO of 8 Figure Agency, a firm that helps businesses scale their annual revenue through better operational, fulfillment, and management processes. Since its inception, the agency has worked with over 700 agencies and helped add $100 million in annual recurring revenue. Before founding 8 Figure Agency, Jordan was an Operations Lead at Amazon where he ran a division with over 800 people. In this episode… What is the most essential part of scaling a business? Is there a single secret to building a sustainable company? Every entrepreneur aims to create a thriving business with a high customer lifetime value. Meeting your cash flow needs is not enough to stay competitive. You must implement systems for a stronger company culture and hire top talent to deliver exceptional customer experience. This small shift in focus can lead to disproportionately great results. Jordan Ross, the Founder and CEO of the 8 Figure Agency, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to talk about strategies for building recurring revenue. They also discuss tips for maintaining quality services and Jordan's “one-thing” philosophy.

Christene Marie is the Founder and CEO of The Knowing Agency, a brand identity and integrated marketing agency. The company helps empathy-driven brands develop marketing strategies to create connections with their target audiences.  Christene has worked with brands like Amazon, Toyota, NAACP, and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. She is also an international speaker and has a new book coming out this spring. In this episode… How much do you know about the people in your business? What strategies can you use to empower them? Developing interpersonal relationships with your team and customers is a great strategy for building an authentic business. To achieve this, you need to know and understand yourself, your needs, and your goals. You also have to build emotionally intelligent connections with your people, taking the time to understand who they are. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Christene Marie, the Founder and CEO of The Knowing Agency, about how to be a holistic entrepreneur. They also discuss business branding strategies, how to develop your listening skills, and how to incorporate emotional intelligence into marketing.

Laurie Barkman is an M&A advisor and the former CEO of a $100 million revenue company that was sold to a Fortune 50 business. She now guides business owners as an M&A intermediary, facilitating both sell-side and buy-side transactions. Laurie is a dynamic speaker who has consulted, advised, and presented to hundreds of CEOs and business owners. She is the author of The Business Transition Handbook: How To Avoid Succession Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options and is the host of the award-winning podcast, Succession Stories. In this episode… When planning to exit a business, the first step is to create clearly defined goals. You need to assess your current business environment and practices including your finances, record keeping, and your business' worth.  Taking this into consideration, succession planning should start early to ensure a smooth transition out of a business. Working with experienced M&A experts and advisors can help you prepare for a successful exit. A strategic transition plan aligned with your goals will help you avoid the common succession pitfalls. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Laurie Barkman, an M&A advisor, about succession planning best practices. They discuss Laurie's exit planning process, how to avoid regrets after selling a business, and how intellectual property promotes business transferability.

Greg Maddox is a Senior Business Advisor at Cultivate Advisors, a consulting firm that partners with small business owners to help them grow sustainably and rediscover the joy in entrepreneurship. With a background in the financial services industry, Greg works with business owners to plan and maximize their business exits. He is a serial entrepreneur and was also the Founder and CEO of the Maddox Group. In this episode... What does it take to successfully exit a business? How can you make informed decisions and gain the financial freedom you desire after selling? According to Greg Maddox, a certified business exit advisor, there are nine key steps to prepare for a successful exit. You need to understand your current business valuation, develop systems and processes, and find the right experts. His advice is to start this process early and thoroughly plan through using the nine steps.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein sits down with Greg Maddox, a Senior Business Advisor at Cultivate Advisors, to talk about how to prepare for a successful business exit. Greg shares tips for increasing your company's value, getting a higher multiple when exiting, and how to plan for life after selling your business.

Chris Heivly is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and the Managing Director at Build The Fort, an umbrella entity that serves entrepreneurs, and startup companies. He is one of the nation's leading experts on launching startups and has been dubbed The Startup Whisperer.  Chris co-founded MapQuest, which was sold to AOL for $1.2 billion. He is also a public speaker and the author of Build The Fort: Why 5 Simple Lessons You Learned as a 10 year-old Can Set You Up for Startup Success as well as Build the Fort: The Startup Community Builder's Field Guide. In this episode… Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, and without a supportive community, managing a business can be a burdensome challenge. To keep growing, it is important to seek help from other entrepreneurs who have faced similar struggles. Your lack of expertise in a given area can hinder your business. Chris Heivly's advice is to identify your strengths and weaknesses while leaning on your community for support. This includes your industry peers, employees, and business partners as an essential part of reaching the next level.  Chris Heivly, the Managing Director at Build The Fort, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to talk about the need for a supportive community for entrepreneurs. They also discuss the history of MapQuest, the value of giving back, and common mistakes people make when starting a business.

Yoni Kozminski is the Founding Partner of South Col, an accelerator fund that partners with e-commerce brands to provide capital, strategic advice, operational support, and exit strategy. He is also the Co-founder and CEO of MultiplyMii and Escala, where he helps e-commerce businesses to grow and scale.  Yoni has more than 15 years of experience in digital marketing and creative advertising for top brands like Mercedes-Benz, Mastercard, Sony, and Medtronic. He is also the host of the Successful Scales Podcast. In this episode… Preparing a business to sell takes time. From streamlining your business operations to documenting systems to fixing your finances, the process can take months to complete. To increase an e-commerce brand's valuation and make it more attractive to investors, it needs to stand out from other brands. Build a unique company by optimizing your marketing, branding, and general business operations. All of these adjustments and more can vastly improve your company's valuation.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Yoni Kozminski — the Founding Partner of MultiplyMii, Escala, and South Col — to discuss strategies for preparing an e-commerce brand for exit. Yoni breaks down tips for making a business more attractive to investors, the benefits of intellectual property protection, and why a good exit strategy helps build a solid business.

Jim Padilla is the Founder of Gain The Edge, a company that works with legacy-minded professionals and entrepreneurs to create scalable sales systems. He is known in the personal development and business coaching world as the go-to guy for all things sales. Jim is also a master collaborator whose purpose is to help entrepreneurs leverage the power of collaboration to scale their businesses. In this episode… In a highly competitive market, entrepreneurs need to focus on building sustainable businesses that can run without them. To achieve this, it is essential to create a well-documented system for running sales processes. An effective sales process consists of many components including hiring the right team, identifying and attracting your ideal clients, and nurturing great relationships. Building effective systems around these components will increase company value in the long run and make it easier to sell and exit your business. Jim Padilla, the Founder of Gain The Edge, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to share his strategies for creating an effective sales process. They discuss how systems help build a sellable business, the challenge of teaching people how to sell, and share tips for driving sales.

Gracey Ryback is a content creator, Amazon Live creator, and influencer marketing consultant. She works with e-commerce and Amazon brands to help them leverage the power of influencer marketing. With a focus on TikTok and Amazon Live, Gracey has worked with clients across multiple industries both on and off Amazon. She has grown a community of over one million followers. In this episode… Building a top brand on Amazon has become more difficult and expensive over the last couple of years. This is attributed to increased competition and the high costs of ads. To stand out from other players, Amazon sellers have to leverage different marketing strategies, including influencer marketing.  To create a high-converting influencer marketing strategy, brands have to find the right influencers and create customized product listings. Amazon sellers also need to work with a budget and ensure that their marketing campaigns align with their business goals. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Gracey Ryback, a content creator and influencer marketing consultant, about how to leverage influencer marketing on Amazon. Gracey explains what an A-list Amazon influencer means, shares tips for working with influencers, and discusses the benefits of attending networking events.

David Fairley is the Founder and President of Website Properties, an online business brokerage that has sold over $650 million. Prior to that, he started a hammock import business that eventually became hammocks.com, eventually selling it to a billion-dollar company. David established Website Properties to fill a need in the market, specializing in the listing and selling of profitable internet-based businesses. In this episode... How can you prepare your business for a future exit? When is the right time to start having conversations about selling? David Fairley, an online business broker, advises entrepreneurs to work with experts. They should start by focusing on their financial records, branding, and revenue. Timing is important and business owners need to have clear goals from the time the business is established. What else are you missing when preparing for an exit? In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein sits down with David Fairley, the Founder and President of Website Properties, to talk about secrets to a successful business exit. They also discuss the value of working with experts, how to build a transferable business, and the right time to have conversations about an exit.

Rob Stanley is the Chief Evangelist and CMO at GETIDA, a global leader in Amazon FBA reimbursements and refunds. He has more than 20 years of experience in the e-commerce and marketing spaces, having founded and successfully exited two seven-figure e-commerce brands.  Prior to joining GETIDA, Rob was the CMO at AccrueMe and FeedbackWhiz. He is also a China sourcing expert, co-host of the Sellernomics Podcast, and a YouTube-certified expert with a previous channel that had over 48 million views. Rob is affectionately known as "The MoneyMan". In this episode… When is the right time to pivot or diversify your e-commerce business? How can you identify lucrative business opportunities to invest your time and resources? To build a thriving brand, there are some key steps you need to take. This starts with creating a unique product with unique features to stand out from the competition. For Amazon FBA sellers, optimize your product listings and take advantage of alternative marketing channels like social media to build a memorable brand.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Rob Stanley, the Chief Evangelist and CMO at GETIDA, to discuss e-commerce best practices. They also talk about the effects of AI on marketing, the evolution of Amazon product launches, and strategies for driving traffic to online stores.

Adam Lyons is the CEO of The S.M.A.R.T. Blueprint, which has been instrumental in driving revenue growth for over 2,200 small businesses since 2020. Adam has advised more than 500 brands and experts across the US and Canada, recognized by major media outlets including CNN, MSNBC, and Forbes. He has worked with PepsiCo, Nike, Discovery Digital Networks, and other brands. In this episode... Are there bottlenecks in your company slowing down growth? Do you have the right systems and processes in place?  Building a transferable brand is crucial for entrepreneurs looking to sell their businesses. According to Adam Lyons, an M&A expert, you need to work with the right business partners, employees, and professionals to build a sustainable brand. Adam also advises entrepreneurs to increase their companies' valuation by selling quality products, creating a conducive workplace, and filing for patent protection. Adam Lyons, the CEO of The S.M.A.R.T. Blueprint, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to share tips and strategies for increasing a company's valuation. They also discuss how to grow sales, the benefits of IP protection, and how to build a happy workforce.

Reuben Hendell is an Operating Partner at Madison Alley Global Ventures, a leading independent advisory and M&A investment bank. After a series of successful exits and a fruitful career operating businesses, Reuben now helps companies from a very early stage and sets them on the right path towards scaling, building value, and eventually exiting. He also provides strategic and M&A advisory services to digital marketing, e-commerce, and DTC companies. In this episode… How can you optimize your business for a future exit? What strategies can you implement to increase your business' value? Having spent years scaling and exiting businesses, Reuben Hendell, an M&A expert, has learned the value of preparing for an exit early. It is essential to optimize your business for success by focusing on the right products, team, and market. Reuben advises business owners against waiting until they are ready to exit to start fixing their businesses. He instead helps companies to create more value to be more attractive to potential buyers.  Reuben Hendell, an Operating Partner at Madison Alley Global Ventures, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to talk about how to prepare your business for a successful exit. They also discuss the early days of digital marketing, tips for increasing company value, and how Reuben helps business owners optimize their businesses.

Brian Fouts is the Co-owner and CEO of The Elevation Group, a financial education company that helps individuals to create financial freedom. The company has offered courses to more than 50,000 students worldwide. Brian is also the CEO of the Living Legacy Association. Between both positions, he educates and empowers people about how money, wealth, and real estate investing work. In this episode… What are the essential steps to building wealth? How can you achieve financial freedom and use that to give back to others? According to Brian Fouts, the key to building wealth starts with your mind. Your core beliefs on money will trickle down and influence every decision. Brian advises people to reprogram their minds, develop a solid financial foundation, and acquire the right knowledge about investing in order to build a living legacy. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein sits down with Brian Fouts, the Co-owner and CEO of The Elevation Group, to share tips and strategies for building wealth. Brian also explains why identifying your life's purpose is essential and discusses how to build wealth.

Sumner Hobart is an Amazon, Etsy and Walmart seller who has generated over $1m in sales of his own private label products. His mission is to discover the most efficient ways to generate substantial personal profit online. With his wife, Ali, Sumner helps other sellers build more profitable businesses through online courses and their YouTube channel. In this episode… Building a successful business on Amazon has become more difficult over the years. With more sellers joining the platform, competition is at an all-time high and advertising costs have been on an upward spiral. Businesses have to be smart to stand out and outperform other sellers.  Having spent many years selling on Amazon, Sumner Hobart realized that the secret to growing a successful business is building a product that will stick with customers for years. Instead of purely focusing on profit, try to meet your customers' needs. Sumner also advises sellers to leverage other platforms to grow their business, since older strategies may not create the results you want today. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Sumner Hobart about strategies for building a profitable Amazon FBA business. Sumner also shares his experience working in a toxic work environment, the lessons learned from investing in non-regulated assets, and how he supports Amazon sellers.

Jason Fladlien is the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer at Rapid Crush, a software company that develops solutions for internet marketing. As an expert in sales, marketing, and product positioning, Jason helps businesses to use and improve their webinars. Jason is also the host of The Jason Fladlien Show and author of One to Many: The Secret to Webinar Success. He is best known for his record-breaking webinars, having sold more than $57.9 million in product launch by effectively utilizing webinars. In this episode... Did you know that webinars can help you attract high quality clientelle for your business? Did you also know that webinars offer a great opportunity to win your customers' trust?  As an entrepreneur, it is essential to identify a need in the market and then create a product that solves that problem. Webinars are a cost-effecive marketing method that can help you to identify market needs and reach a specific audience. They can also help you educate your customers about your product, establish market position, and drive sales. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Jason Fladlien, the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer at Rapid Crush, about best practices for marketing and launching products through webinars. They discuss product positioning strategies, how long a webinar should last, and how to successfully execute a marketing strategy.

Izabela Hamilton is the Founder and CEO of RankBell, an agency that helps Amazon sellers to launch products and grow their rank on the platform. She is a highly respected keynote speaker, business strategist, and advocate for helping people create their own financial freedom.  Izabela's mission is to help sellers make an impact with their brands and build sustainable wealth. She also hosted the Seller Sessions podcast weekly for more than two years, where she focused on cultivating a better business mindset. In this episode… To build a business that provides value to others, being in the right mindset is essential. Having an amazing product is not enough. Izabela Hamilton advises entrepreneurs to focus on serving others and building meaningful relationships with customers.  It is also crucial to be conscious of the language you use in your business. Your words are powerful, and when used the right way, they can positively influence other people. With these ideas together, your business can build value for yourself and others. Izabela Hamilton, the Founder and CEO of RankBell, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to discuss how to create value for others. They talk about navigating the Amazon platform, how Izabela overcame life challenges to become a successful entrepreneur, and how RankBell serves entrepreneurs.

AJ Cassata is the Co-founder and CEO of Revenue Boost. He helps digital agency owners and B2B companies get a consistent stream of high-value clients and build the right systems and teams to accelerate growth. AJ is also the Founder of B2B Sales & Marketing Secrets For Agency Owners, a free Facebook community. He is an entrepreneur and sales consultant who is passionate about helping companies systematically scale primarily through outbound and organic strategies. In this episode… There are many viable marketing strategies that companies can leverage to promote their products and services. It is essential for business owners to create or adopt these effective marketing plans that target a unique audience, drive sales, and grow revenue. All of this only works if your marketing is focused on your customer's unique needs. It is not enough to talk about your product to potential leads without considering their problems. Your prospects need to be the right fit for your business.  AJ Cassata, the Co-founder and CEO of Revenue Boost, sits down with Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to talk about outbound sales strategies. AJ shares his sales background, explains how outbound sales marketing works, and shares tips for crafting effective marketing messages.

Tim Jordan is the Founder and CEO of Private Label Legion, a community of sellers and entrepreneurs. He is also the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Carbon6. As a long-term Amazon seller, Tim provides e-commerce consulting services to entrepreneurs within the online marketplace. He has been selling for many years on Amazon and Shopify, and is now selling on Walmart. In this episode... Although the e-commerce space has experienced massive growth over the years, many online sellers struggle to grow sales outside of Amazon.. This has created a dire need to find alternative markets for online products.  Walmart, with its great infrastructure and large distribution system, provides a great opportunity for e-commerce sellers to diversify their market. In addition, strong partnerships with other brands like Google and Shopify make Walmart competitive compared to Amazon and other online marketplaces.  Tim Jordan, the Founder and CEO of Private Label Legion, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to discuss current e-commerce opportunities at Walmart and Alibaba. They also talk about Walmart's selling guidelines, how the marketplace's infrastructure and partnerships drive growth, and why Tim founded Carbon6.

Kara Lorraine McGehee is the Co-founder and Chief of Operations and Experience at ClearSummit, a high-caliber product development agency. She started her career as an attorney before co-founding TuneRegistry, a rights management platform for the independent music community. Through ClearSummit, she aims to bring innovative software development projects to fruition, whether for clients or for internal initiatives. In this episode... Over the few years, innovation has become easier and more efficient due to new technology and artificial intelligence. AI helps entrepreneurs carry out research, brainstorm new ideas, and assess the viability of their ideas. Most of all, it can transform the way we approach product ideation. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Kara McGehee, the Co-founder and Chief of Operations and Experience at ClearSummit, about how to leverage artificial intelligence in product innovation. They also discuss how Kara expresses creativity in her work, her future plans, and her new book.

Nate Lind is a Broker and Business Advisor at Website Closers, a full-service business brokerage company. He started in the real estate industry before becoming a Fortune 100 business consultant and transitioning to e-commerce. He exited his first company in 2016, selling more than $100 million of products online across his businesses. Nate is also the author of Maximum Exit: The Definitive Guide for Internet & Technology-Focused Business Founders where he helps entrepreneurs to sell their online businesses. In this episode... Although the financial health of a business is an essential measurement, customer satisfaction levels are one of the best ways to evaluate a company's worth. Building trust with customers increases a brand's credibility and helps with longevity.  Investors expect a good deal with a high return on investment when evaluating a company to buy. So what strategies can you use to increase your company's value? How can you increase your credibility while protecting your brand? In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Nate Lind, a Broker and Business Advisor at Website Closers, to discuss strategies for increasing company valuation. They talk about common mistakes entrepreneurs make when selling their businesses, the best time to sell, and current market trends in business sales.

Chad Rubin is the Founder and CEO of Profasee, a dynamic pricing platform that enables e-commerce brands to predict the perfect price for their products. He leads the company's operations and oversees strategy. Chad was the founder of Skubana and co-founded Think Crucial and The Prosper Show. He has over 15 years of experience in the e-commerce space and often speaks about e-commerce, Amazon, and leveraging AI strategies on webinars and conferences worldwide. In this episode... Product pricing is a key component in the growth of a business. By implementing the right pricing strategies, you can increase your profits and quickly scale your business.  With over 15 years of experience in the e-commerce space, Chad Rubin knows the benefits of not only creating a differentiated product but also how to leverage pricing and AI to create an amazing brand. So how can you optimize product pricing to maximize sales? What strategies can you implement to increase your return on investments? In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Chad Rubin, the Founder and CEO of Profasee, to talk about e-commerce pricing and marketing strategies. They also discuss Chad's process for building a team, his marketing strategies, and the challenges he has faced growing Profasee.

Angel Tuccy is an award-winning speaker, radio host, TV producer, PR media specialist, and a 15-time best selling author. With her help, clients have been featured in thousands of major media publications, podcasts, magazines, and stages. Angel's top selling book, Get Discovered, is the how-to example for creating media, drawing from over 2,500 broadcasts and interviewing over 5,000 guests.  In this episode… Have you invested in a media marketing strategy? Can media be used to create and nurture great relationships with your target audience? As an entrepreneur, it's helpful to be proactive in sharing your message across various media platforms. This not only increases your visibility but also boosts brand awareness and elevates your credibility. Public relations is a great engine for sharing your expertise and getting discovered by potential clients. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Angel Tuccy, a PR media specialist, to talk about the power of media exposure. They also discuss the evolution of PR, Angel's formula, and the importance of leveraging multiple media platforms.

James Dentley is an entrepreneur and award-winning speaker, having built massive organizations including a publicly traded company. He is the author of The 5 Frequencies of High Performance. James has spoken in over 500 cities in 19 countries and has given more than 7,000 presentations to nearly a million participants. He is passionate about sharing the gift of communication by training others to speak through training. In this episode... How can you recover from adversity and achieve success? How can you use your life experiences to inspire others? Every entrepreneur faces struggles and challenges building a business. Those experiences are critical in teaching key lessons about resilience and building a successful company. You can then use your experience to empower and inspire others to become better entrepreneurs. James Dentley, a long-time entrepreneur, advises fellow leaders to take a step forward, seek help, and be willing to serve.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews James Dentley, an entrepreneur and award-winning speaker, about the principles of high performance. They also discuss how to be a better communicator, James' TV network, and the role intellectual property has played in James' success.

Brian Johnson is the Co-founder and Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Canopy Management, a full-service marketing agency for Amazon sellers. He has been in the e-commerce space for 15 years, starting his career at eBay.  Brian has helped over 25,000 brands increase sales by over $2 billion on Amazon using advertising strategy, conversion rate optimization, and differentiation. Over the course of his career, he has founded the Amazon PPC Troubleshooting Community, Amazon PPC Consulting Association, and Sponsored Products Academy training course. In this episode... What strategies can new product entrepreneurs use to successfully launch products on Amazon? Which tools and software can entrepreneurs leverage to grow their brands? Launching products in the Amazon space and gaining market share can be daunting for many new entrepreneurs. This is caused by increased competition on the platform, changing consumer preferences, and poor product optimization. However, there are many opportunities that can be leveraged to successfully build an Amazon brand. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Brian Johnson, the Co-founder and Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Canopy Management, about how to successfully launch and grow an Amazon brand. Brian talks about the challenges he faced, what entrepreneurs should know when launching a new product on Amazon, and common challenges associated with AI in the e-commerce space.

James Whittaker is a three-time bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, and speaker. He has helped thousands of people in more than 20 countries to win the day and has personally coached Olympic gold medallists, billion-dollar CEOs, and Special Forces operators. James is also the host of the Win the Day podcast. He has been profiled in Success Magazine, Money Magazine, and Entrepreneur. He was also featured on more than 600 radio, podcast, and television shows. In this episode... What are the key attributes of entrepreneurial success? What does it take to be a peak performer? Your mentality has a direct influence on your prosperity. You need to be resourceful and resilient, stand out from the crowd, and follow your own path. Start the day ready to conquer and win the day. James Whittaker advises entrepreneurs to learn from their every day mistakes and apply it towards building a better business.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by James Whittaker, an entrepreneur and author, to talk about strategies for winning in life. James discusses best practices for building connections, the benefits of being resourceful and resilient, and the value of having a winning mentality.

Eli Harrell is the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Valhalla.team, a company dedicated to amplifying the impact of entrepreneurs who are solving meaningful human problems. He concurrently serves as part-time faculty for Southwestern University PHINMA and a Strategic Advisor for JobYoDA Inc. Eli is also the host of the Products With Purpose podcast where he tells the stories of people who put everything on the line to create real impact. In this episode… How does your desire for success direct your life? Does your success give back to the growth of your community? One of the best ways to live a purpose-filled life is to contribute to other people's purpose. It is human nature to desire success, freedom, and happiness. As an entrepreneur, you can create impact in your community by serving the needs of the people around you. Create products that make a tangible difference and build a company that solves meaningful problems. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Eli Harrell, the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Valhalla.team, about creating products with purpose. They discuss Eli's strategy for taking an idea from initial concept to final product, how to build a purpose-driven company, and how to be better ancestors.

Eli Harrell is the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Valhalla.team, a company dedicated to amplifying the impact of entrepreneurs who are solving meaningful human problems. He concurrently serves as part-time faculty for Southwestern University PHINMA and a Strategic Advisor for JobYoDA Inc. Eli is also the host of the Products With Purpose podcast where he tells the stories of people who put everything on the line to create real impact. In this episode... How does your desire for success direct your life? Does your success give back to the growth of your community? One of the best ways to live a purpose-filled life is to contribute to other people's purpose. It is human nature to desire success, freedom, and happiness. As an entrepreneur, you can create impact in your community by serving the needs of the people around you. Create products that make a tangible difference and build a company that solves meaningful problems. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Eli Harrell, the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Valhalla.team, about creating products with purpose. They discuss Eli's strategy for taking an idea from initial concept to final product, how to build a purpose-driven company, and how to be better ancestors.

Ben Leonard is the Co-founder of Ecom Brokers, an e-commerce brokerage firm that is based in the UK and works with businesses worldwide. He is also an e-commerce consultant and the Founder of Beast Gear, an independent fitness brand. He grew Beast Gear to an international seven-figure business and successfully exited after three years. Ben now helps other business owners to do the same with his e-commerce consultancy firm. In this episode... What does it take to build a sellable business? What do investors look out for when assessing a company? According to M&A expert Ben Leonard, there are five key areas to look into when building a sellable business — your brand, growth and profitability, risk, transferability, and documentation. Preparing your brand for a future sale early increases your chances of selling it for a higher multiple. Ben also advises business owners to do their due diligence before accepting to exit. Ben Leonard, the Co-founder of Ecom Brokers, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to discuss lessons learned from recent M&A transactions. Ben also shares tips for making a business attractive to investors and how not to sell your e-commerce business.

Steve Hoffman, also known as Captain Hoff, is the Chairman and CEO of Founders Space, a global innovation hub for entrepreneurs, corporations, and investors with over 50 partners in 22 countries. Steve is also a venture investor and founder of three venture-backed and two bootstrapped startups. He is the author of several award-winning books including Make Elephants Fly and Surviving a Startup. In this episode... What makes a startup successful? Is it your business idea, market fit, final product, or fundraising? Steve Hoffman advises entrepreneurs to focus on building a great team. Running a business alone can be an overwhelming burden in the early stages. Finding a competent team can help elevate your products and bring them to market quickly. You need an exceptional team to build an exceptional company. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Steve Hoffman, the Chairman and CEO of Founders Space, about radical innovation and entrepreneurship. They also discuss the most common mistakes startups make, tips for building a great team, and the role intellectual property plays when exiting a company.

Josh Johnston is the Founder of Hydra, a consulting firm that partners with digital agency owners to build and refine their operational systems, processes, and service offerings. He has a proven history of scaling businesses to multiple seven figures and beyond. Josh was the Chief Operating Officer for Welling Media which he helped grow to great success. After he exited in 2020, he launched Hydra to help other agencies scale just as quickly. In this episode... One of the biggest challenges many agency owners face when starting a business is scaling quickly. Building a clientele, hiring great employees, and delegating work are some of the most common difficulties for new companies. When expert Josh Johnston was brought in to help an agency grow, he started by building systems and processes. He also developed key connections and relationships in his industry that opened new doors. Josh advises agency owners to nurture great leaders and develop a leadership structure within their companies, implementing systems that will make hiring and delegation easier. Now he shows you how you can do the same In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Josh Johnston, the Founder of Hydra, about how to leverage systems and relationships to quickly scale a company. Josh discusses tips for developing employees into leaders, the main challenges faced by small businesses, and how he utilized relationships to scale an agency to seven figures.

Lou Diamond is the Founder and CEO of Thrive, a company focused on helping brands flourish through the power of connecting. He is the host of the Thrive LouD podcast where he interviews newsmakers, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and everyday people doing extraordinary things. Lou is also a consultant and the author of the new book Speak Easy: Connect with Every Conversation. In this episode... What strategy can you use to start an engaging conversation? How can you inspire others through those discussions? One of the best ways to build great connections is through conversations. They can help you close a sale, improve company relations, and build personal relationships. Lou Diamond, a master connector, advises people to think about their unique persona and goals when engaging in a productive conversation. Show gratitude and share information that will help the other person grow and thrive. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Lou Diamond, the CEO of Thrive, about the art and power of connecting. Lou explains how to be a better connecter, how to treat every conversation as a gift, and how to make a great first impression.

Steve D. Sims is a speaker, coach, and author who delivers unbelievable experiences. He has sent clients down to the wreck of the Titanic, placed some on stage with their favorite rock group, and closed museums in Florence to place a table at Michelangelo's “David” and had Andrea Bocelli come in to serenade them. Because of his reputation for making the impossible possible, Steve has been called the real-life wizard of Oz by Entrepreneur and Forbes. He is also the author of Bluefishing and Go For Stupid. In this episode… What do the most successful people do to achieve the impossible? What can entrepreneurs learn from them? One of the secrets to success is having purposeful conversations on essential subjects. Surround yourself with the right people and offer them value by focusing on their needs. Steve D. Sims advises business people to challenge others and focus on empowering, applauding, and uplifting them. While many make excuses, he says the most successful people don't care about ridicule from others. They do the impossible and push themselves to make life better for others. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Steve D. Sims — a speaker, coach, and author — about the secret to achieving outrageous goals. Steve talks about his career background, tips for building valuable relationships, and the benefits of working with people who will challenge you.

Rich Goldstein is the Principal Patent Attorney at Goldstein Patent Law. He has been in practice for over 25 years and has become an authority in intellectual property rights protection, particularly those relating to patents and trademarks. Rich is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), American Bar Association (ABA) Law Practice Division, New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA), and Licensing Executives Society (LES). He is also the author of The ABA Consumer Guide to Obtaining a Patent. In this episode… Many business owners view intellectual property (IP) as a strategy to slow down their competition and increase sales. However, there are some key points to consider when thinking of IP as an investment. Rich Goldstein says that IP is only valuable if it is part of a profitable business and you need strong IP to benefit from its value. So is there a guarantee that you will increase your company's value and worth by creating IP? Will you get a return on investment even without a good IP? In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein discusses the impact of creating a good IP strategy. He explains how IP influences sales, how growth-oriented entrepreneurs view IP, and how to value a company during an exit.

Rich Goldstein is the Principal Patent Attorney at Goldstein Patent Law. He has been in practice for over 25 years and has become an authority in intellectual property rights protection, particularly those relating to patents and trademarks. Rich is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), American Bar Association (ABA) Law Practice Division, New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA), and Licensing Executives Society (LES). He is also the author of The ABA Consumer Guide to Obtaining a Patent. In this episode… Do you own any intellectual property (IP)? Do you view it as an investment for your business in the long term? Owning intellectual property is a great benefit to entrepreneurs. It plays an essential role in the sale and purchase of a business because it adds value to a company. Having worked with thousands of innovators and entrepreneurs over the years, Rich Goldstein has seen firsthand the benefits of investing in intellectual property.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein discusses how to create and grow intellectual property.  Rich explains what IP protection means, how IP influences the valuation and acquisition of a business, and he shares statistics on the impact of intangible assets on a company.

Heather Pearce Campbell is an attorney and legal coach for online entrepreneurs. She is the Founder of Pearce Law and The Legal Website Warrior. Heather offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their brand by providing the legal support and education they need to protect their online content and programs. She is also the host of the Guts, Grit and Great Business podcast. In this episode… Are you an entrepreneur who conducts business online? Is your business protected with proper documentation in case legal action is required?  Heather Pearce Campbell saw a need for legal representation among growing e-commerce business owners and created a program that ensures businesses have proper legal documentation that protects their products and services. Her mission is to aid entrepreneurs in growing their businesses, protect their online courses and programs, and establish better relationships with their clients.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Heather Pearce Campbell, the Founder of Pearce Law and The Legal Website Warrior, to talk about protecting online content. Heather explains how she built her business based on relationships, what content creators can do to protect their online content, and how her Catalyst Club program works.

Izabella Ritz is the CEO of Ritz Momentum, a company that helps sellers start, grow, and scale Amazon businesses. Since the age of 17, Izabella has created and sold multiple businesses where she developed e-commerce and digital marketing expertise. She started Ritz Momentum in 2019 which has grown to provide everything a new or experienced seller needs to scale their business. In this episode… Did you know that the most common mistake people make when selling on Amazon is launching a product based on high demand and low competition? This is because new entrepreneurs often pay little attention to competitors and ask the wrong questions. Many sellers on Amazon fail because they ignore a very important step when starting their businesses: getting validation for their idea or product. If you launch a business without understanding what your customers want, you are bound to fail. To prevent this, it's important to identify the problems that customers are facing and find out if your product can solve them. So are customers willing and ready to buy from you? In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein hosts Izabella Ritz, the CEO of Ritz Momentum, to talk about the importance of validating product ideas on Amazon. Izabella also discusses the role software tools play in product validation, what to look for when conducting market research, and her entrepreneurial background.

Ken Burke is an all-star entrepreneur and thought leader. He is one of the true pioneers in the e-commerce world and the software realm. He founded MarketLive and sold it to Vista Equity Partners for a ten-figure exit. He runs The EntrepreneurNOW! Network, which provides learning resources for entrepreneurs at all stages.  Ken is also the author of Intelligent Selling: The Art & Science of Selling Online, as well as his recent best-selling book Prosper: 5 Steps To Thriving in Business and Life. In this episode... What is your brand's unique competitive advantage? How do you position and protect your brand in the market? In venture funding, investors want to know what makes your brand unique and competitive. They want to protect their investment by funding valuable companies, making it important for entrepreneurs to position themselves as industry leaders. This is why intellectual property comes in handy. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein hosts Ken Burke, the Founder of The EntrepreneurNOW! Network, to talk about strategies for gaining a competitive advantage through intellectual property (IP). They also discuss the role IP plays in the sale of a company, how to know when to get a patent, and the benefit of investing in a company with IP versus creating a product from scratch.

Nick Hughes is the Founder and CEO of Founders Live, a social platform for entrepreneurs worldwide. Nick is a successful entrepreneur with achievements in social media, digital payments, and e-commerce. He started Founders Live in Seattle in 2016 to create a community that inspires, educates, and entertains entrepreneurs. Since then, it has grown to host virtual and in-person events in approximately 100 cities worldwide. In this episode... Every great business starts with an idea. However, success depends on how well you execute that idea. Entrepreneurs have to take that idea and put it through a trial period to find out if it is viable. You have to identify the unique elements of your idea and learn how you can use it to create memorable experiences for users.  This is the journey Nick Hughes went through with his idea for Founders Live. After seeing its success among fellow entrepreneurs in one city, he started expanding to other locations to bring the experience to the international level.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Nick Hughes, the Founder and CEO of Founders Live, about his work empowering entrepreneurs worldwide. Nick also talks about his brand's core values, growing in different locations, and his advice on IP protection.

Josh Hadley is the Founder and CEO of an eight figure e-commerce business called Hadley Designs. After receiving an MBA from the University of Utah, Josh began his career in leadership development at American Airlines and started a custom wedding invitation business with his wife at night. Since then, the business has pivoted into a stationary empire with over 1300 products. Josh is committed to keeping manufacturing jobs within the US and proudly says that all of his products are made domestically. In this episode... What does it take to build a sustainable seven figure e-commerce business? What should you do to step away from your business' daily operations? To build a successful business, you need more than just a minimum viable product. You need to be innovative and talk to your customers to know what they really want. As the business grows, you also have to ensure that you have good systems in place to help you diversify and scale. These include systems for new product development, hiring team members, optimizing e-commerce listings, and dealing with competitors. Now you can learn how that translates into a million dollar company. Josh Hadley, the Founder and CEO of Hadley Designs, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to share strategies for scaling a seven figure e-commerce business. Josh shares his systems for creating new products, managing Amazon listings, and protecting products from copycats.

Vance Lee is a brand and marketing strategist turned entrepreneur with 15 years of experience in marketing and 11 in e-commerce. He began with Amazon FBA in 2015 and has since mastered crowdfunding, launching products, and growing brands. Vance has raised over $7 million in successful launches, broken records with two of his launches, and ranked in the top 1% of crowdfunding projects of all time. In this episode… When launching a new product, many entrepreneurs face a big challenge in getting funding. They often look to crowdfunding to get the capital needed. However, there are other benefits to crowdfunding like getting validation, building credibility, and receiving pre-orders before launch. It's also a great way for building a supportive community around your product which comes in handy when marketing new products in the future. So what are the steps involved in a successful crowdfunding campaign? In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Vance Lee, a brand and marketing strategist turned e-commerce entrepreneur, to discuss the steps involved in a successful crowdfunding campaign. They also talk about the benefits of the practice, patent protection, and Vance's Launch Accelerator Blueprint Masterclass.

Mina Elias is the Founder of Trivium Group, an Amazon PPC and DSP marketing group. He started several successful supplement brands on Amazon with his experience as a chemical engineer. He is also an MMA fighter who started his first brand, MMA Nutrition, to change the supplement game. His sights are set on becoming the number one supplement brand for competitive athletes all over the world. In this episode… PPC advertising has become essential in building successful e-commerce brands. However, the cost of investing in an expert PPC agency can be very high for small businesses. This is mostly due to the cost of hiring experts to manage the client's PPC needs. So what can small businesses do? How can they differentiate themselves from other brands without spending a fortune? In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Mina Elias, the Founder of Trivium Group, about how he uses PPC advertising to build successful brands. Mina explains how he structures his team, how helps small businesses, and his session at the upcoming Sell + Scale Summit.

Antoine Allen is an award winning filmmaker and the Owner of Antoine Allen Films, an independent production company. He began his career in film production while successfully managing independent hip hop artists. He has since made four successful feature-length films, including Lola, a film about a female boxer, which premiered in 2020. With his upcoming second Lola film, Antoine will have helped create the first ever female boxing movie franchise. In this episode... Talent is important in coming up with new ideas. However, it is not enough on its own. You not only need to have a vision but also find people that believe in you, your abilities, and what you can achieve. Having grown up poor and in a toxic environment without anyone to empower him, Antoine Allen chose to give back by empowering and guiding other people to become the best versions of themselves. He uses his films to help others grow and advises them on reprogramming their minds for success. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Antoine Allen, the Owner of Antoine Allen Films, about empowering creativity. Antoine explains how he bootstrapped his filmmaking business, how he uses movies to educate people, and the importance of reprogramming the mind for success.

Joe DeMaria is the Founder of TeachToScale and Chief Learning Officer at Academy Builders. He helps coaches, consultants, and peak performers create online courses and group coaching programs to increase their impact, expand their product offerings, and create new pillars of revenue in their businesses. Joe started out in internet marketing and 2011, and after several unsuccessful attempts at developing his own online course, he developed "Dynamic Ascension Training", an 80/20 teaching system that focuses on breaking down even the most complicated skill sets into simple digestible training programs. Since then, Joe has become one of the most sought after course creation consultants on the planet. In this episode… Every entrepreneur desires to take his new idea from concept to a thriving business. Scaling a business is very intentional in nature and needs a good foundation as well as a structured strategy. Business owners must therefore know where they are going with it. However, there is a lot of information shared on different channels that can confuse and intimidate new innovators and entrepreneurs. These range from marketing, branding, finance, to overall business operations. So what can entrepreneurs do to get started and scale their companies without killing them? In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Joe DeMaria, the Founder of TeachToScale, to talk about business growth strategies. They discuss what new innovators need to keep in mind with their business ideas, explain the difference between teaching in person versus online, and talk about the content learning innovations Joe has been taking part in. Stay tuned.

Mike Calhoun is the Founder and CEO of Board of Advisors, a community for founders, entrepreneurs, CEOs, investors, marketers, e-commerce moguls, business developers, and high-level decision-makers. True to Mike's mission, Board of Advisors is made up of people dedicated to helping each other elevate their success.  Mike is also an advisor, owner, and investor in multiple companies. He has worked with numerous products, platforms, and services from the US to Australia, creating successful, revenue-generating, real-world brands and businesses. Mike has a gift for creating opportunities to connect people and cultivating synergistic relationships. In this episode… Anybody can have a great idea. However, there are some key things innovators have to think about when planning to take their ideas to the next level. Here's a helpful hint: nobody can do everything on their own.  The process of innovation involves many players, not just the inventor. Not only do you need to have a great idea, but you also need to connect with the right people to accomplish your goals. That's why Mike Calhoun believes that relationships build the foundation for elevating your success. Mike Calhoun, the Founder and CEO of Board of Advisors, is Rich Goldstein's guest in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, where they discuss the anatomy of an idea. They also talk about the value of connecting with like-minded people, the percentage of bad ideas Rich sees from inventors, and why you should share your idea with a trusted person. Stay tuned.

Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco is a performance coach, dynamic public speaker, tech visionary, and thought leader. He is the Co-founder of Blooprinted, a step-by-step system to sell your vertical market. He is the author of ROCKET FUEL: Convert Setbacks, Become Unstoppable and the host of the podcast, What Are You Made Of? Mike has been doing sales for over 20 years and was featured by Yahoo! Finance as one of the Top Business Leaders to Follow in 2020. He is consumed with the passion to help people break free from the confines of complacency and propel them to untapped levels of success. In this episode… What does it take to live a fulfilling life? What should you do when you keep facing big challenges, obstacles, and setbacks in both your personal and professional life? Mike Ciorrocco advises people to use the discouragements, setbacks, and negativities they face in life to fuel their desire for a better and more fulfilling life. He had a tough childhood, but when he realized at a young age that he had the power to change his life and move from an unhappy, abusive, and chaotic life to a happier one, he chose the latter. Mike Ciorrocco, performance coach, public speaker, tech visionary, and the Co-Founder of Blooprinted, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to share his advice on pushing through challenges and living a happier life. Mike also talks about his innovative tech platform, Blooprinted, and the power of believing in yourself. Stay tuned.

Zane Tarence is an investment banker and a Partner and Managing Director at Founders Advisors. Over the past 20 years, he has led and completed more than 87 technology deals and knows exactly what can make a deal happen and what can cause it to fail. Zane created and sold two tech businesses of his own to publicly-traded companies, which helped him understand the ingredients necessary to close an exceptional deal. He is a renowned speaker and board member for numerous companies and philanthropic organizations. Zane is also the Founder of Silicon Y'all, a SaaS and internet summit, and the author of 17 Reasons Your Company Is Not Investment Grade & What To Do About It. In this episode… What makes a company investment worthy? What can limit a company's prospects of getting many investment bids? Investment bankers and institutional investors want to see growth in any company they're considering investing in. They also want a company with valuable data, effective management teams and advisors, excellent financial records, thorough documentation, and efficient processes. All these help in differentiating a company from its competitors and increasing its value in the eyes of an investor. Zane Tarence, an investment banker, and Partner and Managing Director at Founders Advisors, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to talk about creating a valuable business. Zane discusses the importance of predictability and sustainability in revenue, the value of securing intellectual property protection, why innovation matters, and more. Stay tuned.

Tracy Hazzard is the Co-founder of Hazz Design, a strategic consulting firm, and the CEO and Co-founder of Podetize, a podcasting platform used by over 550 podcasts with over 37,000 episodes to date. With her husband Tom Hazzard, they have launched over 250 products that have earned over $2 billion in retail sales and obtained over 37 patents.  In addition to being an acclaimed product designer, Tracy is a fantastic speaker who speaks about innovation and intellectual property on stages worldwide. She also hosts several podcasts of her own, including Product Launch Hazzards, WTFFF?! 3D Print Podcast, Feed Your Brand, The New Trust Economy, and The Binge Factor. In this episode… Obtaining multiple patents can be very effective for increasing the value of products and ultimately, your company. It also acts as a barrier to entry for other people who may be thinking of creating a similar product. In addition, a company with a big patent portfolio attracts investors and increases the likelihood of not only successfully selling and exiting the company, but getting a high return on investment from it. However, it is important to know the right time to get intellectual property.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Tracy Hazzard, the Co-founder of Hazz Design and CEO and Co-Founder of Podetize, to discuss the role of intellectual property during an exit. They also talk about identifying the right time and reasons for getting a patent, how Podetize was started, and Tracy's journey to creating a podcasting microphone. Stay tuned.

Kris Dehnert is the CEO and a Partner at Dugout Mugs. He helped to grow the simple concept of a baseball-bat-turned-beer-mug into a worldwide phenomenon. The mugs have been featured in major publications such as Forbes and The Wall Street Journal, and have appeared on more than 27 TV news segments.  Dugout Mugs has made custom mugs for brands like Budweiser, Molson, Coors, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum. Their products are sold in all 30 major league baseball stadiums, all 50 states, and seven countries. They have also raised more than $50,000 through the charity, Cheers to Charity. In this episode… If you are an entrepreneur looking to find a business partner and grow your brand, what strategies can you use to find the right person?  According to Kris Dehnert, the first step is knowing who you are, what drives you, what's important to you, and what you stand for. Money should not be at the forefront. After that, you'll know what kind of partner will be right for you: the one who knows what they need to do to help grow the brand and whose values align with yours.   In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Kris Dehnert, the CEO and a Partner of Dugout Mugs, about his strategies for creating the right business partnership. Kris also shares his advice on building a great idea and talks about the role intellectual property has played in the growth of Dugout Mugs. Stay tuned.

Aaron Hageman is the CEO of Delivery Drivers, Inc. (DDI), a third-party human resources and driver management firm. Specializing in the last mile of delivery and operating as part of the gig economy, they're going to make over 100 million deliveries including 10 million meals this year alone. They also project that they're going to onboard and approve more than 300,000 drivers compared to just about 20,000 a few years ago.  Aaron's been an entrepreneur for 25 years, and he uses this experience to provide mentorship and entrepreneurial education to students at all levels. He also donates his time to addressing homelessness in his hometown of Southern California. In this episode… The continuous evolution in technology has presented many new opportunities for businesses. There's been the rapid growth of the gig economy, shifts in public perception about the virtual working space, and, of course, the birth of many solopreneurs.  But what opportunities and challenges do these changes present for innovators? Do they improve business operations, help improve performance, or scale a business faster?  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Aaron Hageman, the CEO of Delivery Drivers, Inc. (DDI), about the role technology plays in gig economy innovation. Aaron also talks about the importance of mentoring entrepreneurs, the benefits of joining a business network, and some of the challenges he has faced scaling his company. Stay tuned.